TechRadar brings you an early appraisal of the next generation of console gaming. We've collected our E3 coverage, as well as reviews of the latest in cameras, components, ultrabooks and tablets. Check out the Lenovo ThinkPad Helix; for the money, we wish it had Haswell, but it's not a bad machine otherwise.
TechRadar's hottest reviews
Hey business travelers, if you found a magic lamp in the overhead compartment on your next flight, what would you wish for? Unlimited frequent flyer miles? Free first class upgrades for life? Leg room the length of a bowling lane? Or maybe you'd dream big and try to lighten the load in your carry on?
Lenovo is no genie, but that's one wish it's looking to grant. Its ThinkPad Helix is a convertible Ultrabook, a Windows 8 tablet that hooks into a custom dock for laptop style productivity.
Lenovo has owned the ThinkPad name since acquiring it from IBM in 2005. Its maintained the brand's reputation with excellent laptops like the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, but its forays into hybrid machines have been more mixed.
While the ThinkPad Helix improves on the design of devices like the ThinkPad Tablet 2, it's not a Windows 8 dream machine. Lenovo has made some questionable design choices with the Helix, including an overhaul of the ThinkPad's signature trackpad that could dismay its most dedicated fans.
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix review
This generation's console war is still in the arms race phase, but the PlayStation 4 has found its big guns. At Sony's PS4 press conference on June 10th, the crowd roared with approval when SCEA President Jack Tretton announced that the new console would allow used games, disc sharing and not require any sort of online check-in.
It's all excellent counter-programming to Microsoft's Xbox One, which has presented a confusing message as to its daily internet check-ins, used games policy and loaning out of discs (which Microsoft has been changed since this review was originally posted). The PlayStation 4 also launched one more potentially devastating strike: a $399/£349 price tag that makes it $100 cheaper than the Xbox One, thanks to selling its non-integral PlayStation Eye separately.
On the show floor at E3 2013, we had the chance to scope out the PlayStation 4's angular design, put our hands on the redesigned DualShock 4 controller and play some of the titles for Sony's new system.
With its cheaper price point and less restrictive DRM policies, the PS4 already seems to have the Xbox One on the run. We still think it would be naive to consider Microsoft's system down for the count, though.
Hands On: PS4 Review
Microsoft is touting the size and scalability of its next-generation games as proof that cloud and internet connected gaming isn't just a requirement, it's a necessary evolution. Offloading the system's processing power to Microsoft's server gives developers the ability to create better, more complex games.
Xbox One doesn't have that Halo 5 launch title as a killer app, but what it does boast is horsepower to make its game and entertainment experiences that much better. Even the company's first-party titles look as if they're able to compete with Sony's in-house software without having to be named Halo of Gears of War.
With Microsoft having already sold out of pre-orders on Amazon, early adopters of technology and its Xbox Live-loving diehards are already going to pony up the $499 on day one. The question remains whether or not the company can convince everyone else that these benefits outweigh some of the negative spin that's been thrown its way.
Hands On: XBox One Review
Here it is, then - our first taste of Asus's new Z87 generation, replete with fancy gold medallion accessories. Actually that's a bit unfair, because this board is pretty low-key if you look past the gaudy detailing.
There's decent clearance around the socket for your cooling solution of choice and Asus has provided some pretty chunky hunks of metal to cool the MOSFETs, though there's no facility for hooking up water cooling for the board and chipset itself.
In reality, the stock specs are only of academic interest, since the really big differences come with overclocking. Here again the Asus is level pegging with Gigabyte, and Intel's frankly a bit off the pace. That makes the Asus Z87-Pro one of two excellent options, which is the kind of dilemma we're happy to have.
Asus Z87-Pro Review
Other Reviews on TechRadar This Week
Cameras
Sony RX100 II Review
Canon IXUS 140 Review
Hands On: Fuji X-M1 Review
Panasonic G6 Review
Panasonic LF1 Review
Samsung Galaxy NX Review
Hands On: Sony RX1-R Review
Gaming Consoles
Hands On: Mad Catz Mojo Android Console Review
Hands On: Ouya Review
Laptops
Gigabyte P2742G Review
HP Pavilion TouchSmart Sleekbook 15 Review
Lenovo IdeaPad Z500 Touch Review
11-inch MacBook Air 2013 Review
Hands On: Samsung Ativ Book 9 Plus Review
Hands On: Samsung Ativ Q Review
Sony Vaio Duo 13 Review
Hands On: Toshiba Excite Write Review
Hands On: Toshiba Satellite C50 Review
Hands On: Toshiba Satellite P50 Review
Hands On: Toshiba Satellite S50 Review
Motherboards
Intel DZ87KLT-75K Review
PCs
Samsung ATIV One 5 Style Review
Phones
Huawei Ascend P2 Review
Hands On: Huawei Ascend P6 Review
LG Escape Review
Nokia Lumia 925 Review
Samsung Galaxy Fame Review
Hands On: Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Review
Hands On: Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini Review
Hands On: Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom Review
Hands On: Sony Xperia Z Ultra Review
Operating Systems
Hands On: Windows 8.1 Review
Processors
AMD FX-6450 Review
Intel Core i5-4570 Review
Intel Core i5-4670K Review
Tablets
Hands On: Samsung Ativ Tab 3 review
TVs
Sony KD-65X9005A
Misc.
GolfSense 3D Golf Swing Analyzer Review