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Thailand's recent deportations of Uyghurs to China have eerie parallels with a large deportation in 2015, in which the country bowed to Beijing, writes historian Jeffrey Wasserstrom.

(Image credit: Chanakarn Laosarakham)

• Dummy units of three iPhone 17 models have appeared
• A hands-on video shows off the new designs
• We also have predicted thicknesses for each of the handsets

If Apple sticks to its usual schedule this year, then we're just six months away from the launch of the Apple iPhone 17, and a new hands-on video leak shows off dummy units for the iPhone 17, the iPhone 17 Air, and the iPhone 17 Pro.

Posted by iDeviceHelp (via @MajinBuOfficial), the video gives us a good look at the designs of the three handsets. These dummy units have apparently been created based on "internal documents" covering the designs and dimensions of the phones.

We can see the rather dramatic redesign that the iPhone 17 Pro is rumored to be getting this year, with a full camera bar across the top of the rear casing. It's an updated look that we've now seen in multiple leaks.

The iPhone 17 Air – apparently replacing the iPhone 16 Plus this year – is getting a similar camera bump on the back, but it'll be smaller. The iPhone 17, meanwhile, is sticking with a more traditional design that's not too far off from the iPhone 16.

Different dimensions

This leaked hands-on video doesn't really reveal too much about the phones besides the designs, but the thicknesses are stated as 0.3 inches (0.72 mm) for the iPhone 17, 0.22 inches (5.59 mm) for the iPhone 17 Air, and 0.34 inches (8.64 mm) for the iPhone 17 Pro.

That would make the iPhone 17 about the same thickness as the iPhone 16, and the iPhone 17 Pro a little thicker than the iPhone 16 Pro – perhaps to fit in a bigger capacity battery (or at least that's what we're hoping.

There's some speculation in the video that the iPhone 17 Air will be too thin to fit in the MagSafe magnets – though wireless charging will still be supported. The most recently launched iPhone, the iPhone 16e, doesn't support MagSafe.

No doubt there'll be a lot more in the way of leaks and rumors between now and September, when these phones are expected to make their debut. They'll be joined by the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which will basically be a larger iPhone 17 Pro.

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• The iPhone 17 is rumored to go big on video recording features
• Leaked iPhone 17 schematics hint at a speaker redesign
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Those clicks and pops aren't supposed to be there! Give your music a bath with this handy guide.

The S Pen has been a feature of Samsung’s biggest and best flagship smartphones since the original Galaxy Note in 2011, but in 2025, you’d be forgiven for questioning its future.

Yes, the now-iconic smartphone accessory is still part of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, but there was no mention of the S Pen on stage Galaxy Unpacked in January – even Samsung’s official press release for the new phone relegates it to the small print – and the company actually removed Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tech from the latest S Pen model, meaning it’s no longer able to carry out Air action shortcuts and remote control features.

In isolation, these changes might seem inconsequential (Samsung told TechRadar’s Lance Ulanoff that it removed the S Pen’s Bluetooth features because so few people were using them). But the accessory is clearly not the high-priority marketing tool it once was for Samsung, which has prompted speculation about its potential discontinuation on social media platforms, Samsung’s own community forum, and indeed here on TechRadar.

So, what does Samsung have to say about the S Pen’s future? At MWC 2025, I put the question to the company’s Mobile Experience (MX) VP of Product and Marketing in the UK, Annika Bizon, and her response should allay the concerns of worried S Pen fans.

Post by @1louisclemmons View on Threads

“Multimodal is really important to us,” Bizon explained. “So [that’s] how people use their phone – whether they're speaking, whether they're writing, whether they’re in a meeting. People do use their S Pens in meetings to write notes. So, I don't see a space where the S Pen is not a key part of our portfolio.

“And honestly, when you look at the Ultra, it’s something people genuinely come back to us around. [They ask us] “Will it have an S Pen?” And it goes back to the Note days. [...] We see the S Pen as something that is key to the Ultra experience at this point.”

In a recent feature piece speculating on the S Pen’s future, we noted that “major advancements in AI mean that some of the unique functions of the S Pen are no longer quite so unique,” but Bizon is confident that the arrival of Galaxy AI on the best Samsung phones hasn’t harmed the S Pen’s appeal: “Creativity is one of our core values. If you’re creative, you want to be able to draw and sketch things. And with Sketch to Image being one of our AI features, you can sketch beautifully using the S Pen. It’s got quite a big design edge."

Bizon concluded: “The research says [consumers are using the S Pen], and it’s something that we’re proud of as being part of our portfolio.”

So there you have it. Unless Samsung has a change of heart between now and next year, you can expect the S Pen to be a feature of the as-yet-unconfirmed Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

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Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, March 8 (game #1139).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1140) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1140) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1140) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1140) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1140) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• I

• W

• R

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1140) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1140, are…

• SKILL
• IDEAL
• WHERE
• REHAB

My three start words today were completely random, but if I hadn't included a word with the letter K (Flack was the best I could summon with the letters I had left), allowing me to guess SKILL, then I doubt I would have checked out after seven turns – still my Quordle PB.

I realize I’m a bit slow on the uptake, but Quordle feels more like a wordsearch than a Wordle roguelike when you have a good start like this. It almost feels like cheating.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1140) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1140, are…

• DEVIL
• NEWER
• ALOOF
• FLAIL

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1139, Saturday 8 March: WATCH, LAPSE, WREST, HEFTY
• Quordle #1138, Friday 7 March: GLEAN, SHINY, DECRY, MANGA
• Quordle #1137, Thursday 6 March: TRICE, EIGHT, BELCH, RIPER
• Quordle #1136, Wednesday 5 March: PLEAD, TWANG, MAJOR, RISKY
• Quordle #1135, Tuesday 4 March: FLOWN, ETUDE, TOPAZ, JOKER
• Quordle #1134, Monday 3 March: FRILL, KAYAK, REBAR, WORDY
• Quordle #1133, Sunday 2 March: TUNIC, GLOSS, DEBUG, LARGE
• Quordle #1132, Saturday 1 March: DENSE, BONEY, KITTY, SMEAR
• Quordle #1131, Friday 28 February: PASTA, RAZOR, PLUMB, DROOL
• Quordle #1130, Thursday 27 February: THIEF, CHAIR, ETHER, GRIME
• Quordle #1129, Wednesday 26 February: LOVER, SPIED, VAPOR, METER
• Quordle #1128, Tuesday 25 February: TWIST, TWEAK, MEANT, CLEAR
• Quordle #1127, Monday 24 February: LEASH, LEVER, TOTEM, CREME
• Quordle #1126, Sunday 23 February: RABID, RELIC, SCRAM, BASIS
• Quordle #1125, Saturday 22 February: ETHER, SONIC, VAUNT, ROUSE
• Quordle #1124, Friday 21 February: STIFF, PRIZE, SCOWL, DONUT
• Quordle #1123, Thursday 20 February: HASTY, DRAPE, FICUS, CRAZE
• Quordle #1122, Wednesday 19 February: ABATE, TROVE, VENUE, DRAPE
• Quordle #1121, Tuesday 18 February: TAMER, SCRUB, BRICK, DRIFT
• Quordle #1120, Monday 17 February: SADLY, WAFER, LITHE, IDIOM

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, March 8 (game #636).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #637) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• SOLID
• METAL
• MICKEY
• MOUSE
• CONCRETE
• PHYSICAL
• STONE
• TABLET
• ABRACADABRA
• MICROPHONE
• FAVOR
• KINDNESS
• BRICK
• SERVICE
• CENTERFOLD
• SCANNER

NYT Connections today (game #637) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: PC peripherals
• GREEN: Construction
• BLUE: It’s nice to be nice 
• PURPLE: Billboard hits 

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #637) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: COMPUTER INPUT DEVICES 
• GREEN: BUILDING MATERIALS 
• BLUE: HELPFUL DEED 
• PURPLE: #1 SONGS FROM 1982 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #637) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #637, are…

• YELLOW: COMPUTER INPUT DEVICES MICROPHONE, MOUSE, SCANNER, TABLET
• GREEN: BUILDING MATERIALS BRICK, CONCRETE, METAL, STONE
• BLUE: HELPFUL DEED FAVOR, KINDNESS, SERVICE, SOLID
• PURPLE: #1 SONGS FROM 1982 ABRACADABRA, CENTERFOLD, MICKEY, PHYSICAL

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: Perfect

METAL MICKEY popped out at me from today’s grid, both the title of an obscure 1980s children’s show directed by Mickey Dolenz and the brilliant second single by the wonderful Suede. It was of course just a diversion on our quest to find the true answers.

None of the #1 SONGS FROM 1982 have aged particularly well, although Steve Miller's ABRACADABRA (not to be confused with Lady Gaga’s fab new TikTok-friendly hit – which title aside nobody ever will) was sampled by Eminem and remains an utter earworm that I will now be singing to myself for the rest of the weekend.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, 8 March, game #636)

• YELLOW: FAUX ARTIFICIAL, FAKE, IMITATION, MOCK
• GREEN: WASHING MACHINE CYCLES/SETTINGS BULKY, COTTON, DELICATE, SPIN
• BLUE: WORDS SAID FREQUENTLY IN THE "BILL AND TED" MOVIES BOGUS, DUDE, EXCELLENT, TOTALLY
• PURPLE: __BOX CHATTER, JUKE, SHADOW, SOAP

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, March 8 (game #370).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #371) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Kitty corner

NYT Strands today (game #371) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• WASP 
• COPS
• SLAG
• WITH
• PURE
• VIBE

NYT Strands today (game #371) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Feline habits

NYT Strands today (game #371) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 3rd column

Last side: bottom, 4th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #371) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #371, are…

• PURR
• HISS
• SNUGGLE
• STRETCH
• SWAT
• BLINK
• POUNCE
• SPANGRAM: CAT BEHAVIOR

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 hint

This puzzle filled with CAT BEHAVIOR does not include the one thing our cats Ringo and Opal do the most: snooze. That said, they do PURR a lot, especially while eating or if there’s the imminent promise of eating.

Once they were always busy – hunting mice, bringing in frogs (we have no idea where from, as there is no water or ponds nearby) and working on month-long projects to entrap some poor baby birds.

The neighborhood explored and conquered, they are both now very much in retirement mode and spend most of their time curled up inside whatever is the latest cardboard box to enter the house, conked out after three minutes of playing with a catnip toy. I think they would have found today’s Strands far too taxing.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, 8 March, game #370)

• PLATOON
• PARASITE
• MOONLIGHT
• CODA
• SPOTLIGHT
• SPANGRAM: BEST PICTURE

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

• Vast photo archives exist, yet most images remain unseen
• Cunard’s exhibition highlights the need for preserving physical memories
• Shared experiences create a lasting photographic record for history

Americans take an astonishing 230 billion photos each year, with the vast majority captured on business smartphones., but new research has claimed these could all be at risk of being lost without warning.

A report from luxury cruise line company Cunard says photo books, once a staple of family memory preservation, have become less common, as only 3% of Americans store images in printed form, with most preferring to keep them on phones or in cloud storage.

The decline raises concerns about whether digital images will remain accessible over time, with nearly three-quarters of Americans fearing that without physical copies, future generations may lose valuable memories.

Shrinking tradition of printed photos

Many people assume their digital photos will always be available, but this is naïve - as over half of Americans have had to delete images due to storage limitations, while others have lost pictures when changing or damaging their phones.

Despite these risks, only a third of Americans surveyed reported using cloud backups, leaving countless moments vulnerable to loss, while 54% believe their digital images will still be accessible in 50 years, discouraging their use.

While Americans take an average of 17.3 photos per week, this number jumps to over 60 when on vacation. The ease of capturing images has led to an ever-expanding digital archive, albeit one with a precarious future.

Similar trends are seen in the UK and Germany; Brits capture 35 billion images annually, while Germans take 38 billion, yet only 2% of Brits and 4% of Germans store them in printed albums.

Concerns about long-term accessibility are slightly more pressing here, with just 51% of Brits and 58% of Germans confident that their digital photos will still be accessible in half a century.

In response to the growing dependence on digital storage, Cunard is encouraging people to share their holiday memories as part of a special exhibition.

“As a unique resource that captures Cunard’s unrivalled 185-year history, the Cunard archive is an incredible collection that is accessible to all. It is exciting to see how today’s events will shape the Cunard archive of the future and capture the stories of those connected to the brand,” said Siân Wilks, Cunard Archivist at the University of Liverpool Library.

Curated by photographer Mary McCartney, this showcase aims to highlight the significance of preserving images beyond digital screens.

The exhibition, which will be displayed at Liverpool’s Liver Building, will feature both historic and newly submitted photographs, offering a visual timeline of nearly two centuries of transatlantic travel.

“For 185 years, our ships have been at the heart of unforgettable moments for millions of guests and crew,” said Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, stressing the importance of the initiative.

“This is a chance to celebrate those memories and the stories they tell. By sharing your experiences, you’ll help Mary McCartney create something truly unique—an exhibition that brings Cunard’s incredible history to life for everyone to enjoy.”

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Turtle Beach Victrix Pro KO: Two-minute review

The Turtle Beach Victrix Pro KO is the latest premium take on the leverless all-button controllers that have been transforming the fighting game community's meta in recent years, built for the current generation of consoles while still backwards compatible with last-gen consoles at the click of a switch (while the controllers are also compatible with PC, you will need to buy separate controllers for PlayStation and Xbox consoles).

It's a much sleeker build than Victrix's previous attempt at a leverless controller while retaining similar features, such as customizable LED lights, a three-meter braided USB-C cable, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a comfortable ergonomic 6.28-degree wrist slope on its surface to prevent fatigue. It also includes L3 and R3 buttons that the Pro FS models lacked, while naturally including a tournament lock switch to disable all the other buttons on the top bar.

Where the Pro KO really stands out from the other contenders vying to be one of the best fight sticks is just how customizable its buttons are, with the space for 16 mappable and movable buttons compared to the default 12 of other leverless controllers. With spare buttons provided within the shell of the controller, an easy-to-pop-open cover, and tweezers that make changing buttons accessible straight out of the box, it's an easily customizable controller where you can add and program new buttons that are most comfortable to reach for your play style. Being available at a better comparable price to similar options at launch makes it an excellent choice for players looking to convert to a leverless control style.

While fighting pros will praise leverless controllers as more precise and immediate compared to a traditional arcade stick, it's still not the superior option without retraining muscle memory and getting used to the layout, even if being able to add a different place for the up / jump button can help with the adjustment. But for those prepared to put in the work and make the transition, the Pro KO is the best leverless controller to make that move.

(Image credit: Future/Alan Wen) Turtle Beach Victrix Pro KO: Price and availability

• List price of $249.99 / £229.99 / AU$399.95
• Comparably priced to other leverless controllers
• Limited availability for PlayStation variant compared to Xbox

Launching in December 2024, the price point of the Victrix Pro KO is about right for other leverless controllers right now. It's much cheaper than the Victrix Pro FS-12 and better priced than its closest competitor the Razer Kitsune, which launched at $299, making it a relative bargain considering the wealth of additional customization offered out of the box.

For pad players looking to take their fighting game prowess to the next level, the Victrix Pro KO is definitely a better price choice than shelling out for its premium arcade stick equivalent the Victrix Pro FS, which is among the most expensive fight sticks at the moment (it is however still my stick of choice).

Stock is unfortunately in short supply for the PlayStation model currently, with Amazon taking orders but warning that shipping can take anywhere from three to six months. It's likely because PS5 consoles have largely been the preferred platform for tournaments, but if you're predominantly playing on PC then you might be better off going for the Xbox version, which is more widely available.

Turtle Beach Victrix Pro KO: Specs

(Image credit: Future/Alan Wen) Turtle Beach Victrix Pro KO: Design and features

• Easily customizable and movable buttons right out of the box
• Sleek design with ergonomic wrist slope
• Tactile Cherry switches and button rings with customizable RGB lighting

Compared to Victrix's previous attempt at a leverless controller with the Pro FS-12, which essentially kept the same bulk and weight of its Pro FS arcade stick, the Pro KO is a substantial improvement, leveraging the leverless controller's strength as a lighter and more compact option. While its dimensions are still larger than competitors like the Razer Kitsune, it's still a comfortable size for taking to tournaments, slipping neatly into my laptop bag, or the strap bars on the side give you the option to add shoulder straps.

The extra real estate is important for your hands though, as the surface incorporates a 6.28° wrist slope just like with Victrix's Pro FS models, which does wonders for preventing fatigue when playing for lengthy sessions. There are also more buttons on the top including dedicated L3 and R3 buttons while the PlayStation version includes the DualSense touchpad on the top left corner, all of which can be disabled with a tournament lock switch on the top-right corner to prevent accidentally pressing them during a heated tournament match.

The 24-millimeter buttons are smaller than typical arcade sticks but the same size as other leverless designs, along with the single 30-millimeter button for the up / jump button that's designed to be within reach of your thumb, similar to a space bar. It's not the only comparison to a keyboard as the buttons are also comprised of Cherry MX Speed Silver RGB switches used in mechanical keyboards, making these buttons just as tactile and responsive as Sanwa Denshi buttons favored by professional fighting game players.

(Image credit: Future/Alan Wen)

While the controller has 12 buttons by default, what you'll notice are four other indents (one to the left of the directional buttons, two below the usual command buttons, and one to the left of the up/jump button) where other buttons can be added. These aren't optional extras, for when you pop out the top cover, by flicking the four switches beneath the controller base, you'll find that it snugly fits four spare buttons and switches, as well as a pair of tweezers that make it easy to remove the round caps and then add new buttons, or even replace a faulty button.

Once added, you simply need to hold the function button on the top bar and then choose the button you want to map the new button to. It's just as easy to customize the color lighting for the button rings, while also adjusting the mode from static to breathing, prismatic, or you can simply turn them off if you prefer.

(Image credit: Future/Alan Wen) Turtle Beach Victrix Pro KO: Performance

• Tactile and responsive buttons, but will need acclimating to if new to leverless controls
• More comfortable advantage with customizable button layout
• Good for playing on your lap or on a desk

When it comes down to it, the reason to own the Victrix Pro KO is because of how much more responsive and reliable just tapping directional inputs is than with a stick. In Street Fighter 6, instead of fumbling two-quarter circles to perform a super, I just need to tap down, forward, down forward, while a charge attack is more immediate if you're just tapping the button instead of moving the stick and back and forth, which may all seem like tiny fractions of milliseconds of a difference, but in any competitive environment, those all count.

Arcade purists may sniff at these controllers, which had also caught controversy for being potentially too advantageous, leading to a few instances of leverless controllers being banned at some tournaments, not to mention that the Victrix Pro KO lacks Sanwa Denshi parts that the Pro FS-12 has. Yet in terms of tactility, the Cherry switches were every bit as clickable and responsive in my testing.

If you're very new to leverless controllers, however, you shouldn't take them as an immediately superior controller compared to other existing options. Using buttons for directions intrinsically requires different muscle memory from using a stick - it's about the placement of your fingers and thumb over all the directional inputs rather than your thumb on a pad or your whole arm when using a stick. Personally, I still find it difficult to adjust to having the up / jump button located at the bottom, even though it's actually where you would expect a space bar to be, and so I found myself less capable of utilizing aerial moves.

(Image credit: Future/Alan Wen)

While there is arguably more precision in button inputs, that's only without factoring in pressure during an actual match. It's one thing to flawlessly execute supers in training mode but against an online opponent, I would still find myself tapping the inputs too fast incorrectly in the same way I can fluff the same inputs with a joystick.

Nonetheless, as far as it goes to learning leverless controls, I found the Victrix Pro KO's button layout better than when I had previously tried the Razer Kitsune, which was a little more spread out and caused my left hand to cramp when trying to keep each digit over a respective directional button. The customizable button placements also greatly help with the adjustment. In my case, adding another jump button further to the left felt more reachable for my thumb, while adding another button just under the other attack buttons meant I could program a one-button parry that's far easier to reach.

Ultimately, while I see myself improving in leverless controls the more I'm using the Victrix Pro KO, I'm still not confident in having it replace my Victrix Pro FS stick as my controller of choice at the next local tournament. After swapping back to a stick, I was simply more comfortable with a mix of air-to-air follow-ups that my brain had been struggling to compute with buttons- alone. If you however don't already have decades of arcade fighting game experience lodged in your brain and are also used to playing games with a keyboard, then going leverless is likely going to feel like a natural progression.

Should I buy the Turtle Beach Victrix Pro KO? Buy it if...

You want one of the most customizable leverless controllers around
Leverless controllers are already touted for their more responsive performance you have an even greater advantage by being able to easily add and program more buttons right out of the box.

You want the same features as the Victrix sticks but with a lighter form factor
The Victrix Pro KO has a lighter and sleeker form factor comparable to other leverless controllers but still has the same great features as its fellow Victrix sticks such as the ergonomic wrist slope and the option to add a shoulder strap for carrying it around.

Don't buy it if...

You're expecting a superior controller overnight
Leverless controllers may offer more precise and responsive inputs in theory but it also requires a lot of practice and mental rewiring if you've been used to arcade sticks or gamepads for many years. But much like with fighting games, it's all about practice.

Also consider...

If you’re still not entirely sold on the Turtle Beach Victrix Pro KO then check out these two excellent similar products for comparison and consideration.

Victrix Pro FS
If you prefer to stick with traditional arcade sticks, this is easily the best one there is despite its very premium price. Not only does it use Sanwa parts, but its ergonomic wrist slope also makes it very comfortable to play for long sessions. It's also available in many different stylish designs based on some of the biggest fighting game series.

For more information, check out our full Victrix Pro FS review

Octopus Arcade Stick
If you want a fight stick that's compatible with generations of platforms with a rich history of arcade fighting games and beat-em-ups, then the Octopus Arcade stick is the one for you, even more so if you happen to be a Dreamcast owner. Just be warned of its weight, size, and the need to spend more on extra compatible cables.

For more information, check out our full Octopus Arcade Stick review

(Image credit: Future/Alan Wen) How I tested the Turtle Beach Victrix Pro KO

• Tested for a week on PS5 and PC
• Used for Street Fighter 6 and Virtua Fighter 5 REVO offline and online
• Compared to the Victrix Pro FS for reference

With Street Fighter 6 being my regular fighting game fixture on the PS5, I swapped out my dependable Victrix Pro FS for the Victrix Pro KO for a week, though occasionally swapping back to get a comparison on the different feel of each controller. Firstly practicing offline with the newly added character Mai I gradually took the courage to adapt to leverless controls against other online opponents, getting my fair share of wins but also plenty of defeats, and making note of where I felt an improvement in using this controller and what felt like new limitations. I also played some matches while using the controller's audio jack with my Corsair Virtuoso Pro wired headset.

On my gaming PC, I was able to test it out on the newly released Virtua Fighter 5 REVO, where I also started with some practice in arcade mode before attempting to take it online and making some progress in ranked matches. This was however an easier adjustment from Street Fighter 6 owing to fewer inputs while the up button is used less for jumping and more for side-stepping. Overall, I played around 8-10 hours with the Victrix Pro KO between both games, though arguably more so on Street Fighter 6 because it really is the best.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2025

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• B360 supports three SSDs, triple batteries, and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity
• Built for extremes, B360 meets MIL-STD-810H and IP66 standards

Getac has launched two new AI-enabled rugged laptops, the B360 and B360 Pro, bringing AI tool capabilities to its rugged products for the first time following the introduction of the F110 and K120 last year.

Getac says these business laptops are designed for professionals working in extreme environments and demanding industries, such as defense, public safety, and utilities, are also the first fully rugged models to feature Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors and Intel AI Boost technology.

In testing, the devices processed text-to-report tasks within seconds, demonstrating the advantages of edge AI over cloud-based solutions.

AI-driven performance in a rugged design

Beyond AI, the B360 supports high-speed data transfer with Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. It also features Wi-Fi 7, which improves wireless performance with faster speeds and lower latency.

The B360 comes with dual batteries as standard and the option to add a third, allowing extended operation without downtime. It supports up to three fast SSDs, providing a total capacity of 6TB.

For professionals handling graphic-intensive tasks, the B360 Pro includes an optional Nvidia Quadro RTX A500 4GB GPU. This enhances visual processing while ensuring smooth performance in applications such as mapping, surveillance, and 3D modelling.

Additionally, the B360 Pro features an optional media bay that can house a third battery, a DVD or Blu-ray drive, or additional storage.

Like most rugged laptops, the Getac B360 and B360 Pro meet MIL-STD-810H and IP66 standards, offering protection against shocks, dust, and water. They can also be fitted with a high-accuracy GPS.

In defence applications, the B360 Pro can be equipped with additional PCMCIA readers for expanded functionality and mounted in vehicles for mobile command operations. At press time, the price of these laptops has not been revealed. However, they will be available in April 2025.

“As the popularity of open source and Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) language models continues to grow at a rapid pace, we have collaborated with industry customers to develop innovative vertical market AI applications that enable them to take full advantage of the operational benefits on offer,” said James Hwang, President of Getac Technology Corporation.

"These advancements will drive demand for rugged Edge AI devices like the next generation B360 and B360 Pro, and accelerate AI adoption across the public safety, utilities and defence sectors."

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