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At least 36 new tech unicorns were minted in 2025 so far | TechCrunch

At least 36 new tech unicorns were minted in 2025 so far | TechCrunch

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With AI igniting an investor frenzy, every month, more startups obtain unicorn status.

Using data from Crunchbase and PitchBook, TechCrunch tracked down the VC-backed startups that became unicorns so far this year. While most are AI-related, a surprising number are focused in other industries like satellite space companies like Loft Orbital and blockchain-based trading site Kalshi.  

This list will be updated throughout the year, so check back and see the latest powerhouse startups who are now worth over $1 billion.

June

Linear — $1.25 billion: This software development product management tool last raised an $82 million Series C, valuing the company at $1.25 billion, according to Pitchbook. The company, founded in 2019, has raised more than $130 million in funding to date from investors including Accel and Sequoia Capital. 

Gecko — $1.62 billion: This company makes data-gathering robotics that climb, crawl, swim, and fly. Founded in 2013, the company last raised a $121 million Series D, valuing the company at $1.6 billion, according to Pitchbook. The company has raised more than $340 million in funding to date from investors including Cox Enterprises and Drive Capital. 

Meter — $1.38 billion: This company, which offers managed Internet infrastructure service to enterprises, last raised a $170 million Series C, valuing the company at $1.38 billion, according to Pitchbook. The company, founded in 2015, has raised more than $250 in funding to date, from investors including General Catalyst, Sequoia Capital, Sam Atlaman, and Lachy Groom. 

Teamworks — This sports software company last raised a $247 million Series F, valuing the company at $1.25 billion, according to Pitchbook. The company, founded in 2006, has raised more than $400 million in funding to date from investors including Seaport Capital and General Catalyst.  

Thinking Machines — This AI research company, founded just last year by OpenAI alumn Mira Murati, raised a $2 billion seed round, valuing the company at $10 billion, according to Pitchbook. The company’s investors include a16z and Nvidia. 

Kalshi — $2 billion: The popular prediction markets company, founded in 2018, last raised an $185 million Series C, valuing the company at $2 billion, according to Pitchbook. The company has raised more than $290 million in funding to date, from investors including Sequoia and Global Founders Capital. 

Decagon — This customer service AI agent company, founded in 2023, last raised a $131 million Series C, valuing the company at $1.5 billion, according to Pitchbook. The company has raised more than $231 million in funding to date, from investors including a16z and Accel. 

May

Pathos — $1.6 billion: This drug development company, founded in 2020, last raised a $365 million Series D, valuing the company at $1.6 billion, according to Pitchbook. The company has raised more than $460 million to date from investors, including General Catalyst and Altimeter Capital Management. 

Statsig — $1.1 billion: This product development platform, founded in 2021, last raised an $100 million Series C, valuing the company at $1.1 billion, according to Pitchbook. The company has raised around $153 million to date, from investors including Sequoia, Mardona, and ICONIQ Growth. 

SpreeAI — $1.5 billion: This shopping tech company last raised an undisclosed round, according to Pitchbook, that valued the company at $1.5 billion. The company, founded in 2020, has raised more than $20 million to date from investors including The Davidson Group. 

Function — $2.5 billion: This health tech company, founded in 2020, last raised a $200 million round, according to Pitchbook, valuing the company at $2.5 billion. The company has raised more than $250 million in funding to date, from investors including a16z. 

Owner — $1 billion: This restaurant marketing software company, founded in 2018, last raised a $120 million Series C, valuing the company at $1 billion, per Pitchbook. The company has raised more than $180 million in funding to date, from investors including Headline, Redpoint Ventures, SaaStr Fund, and Meritech Capital. 

Awardco — $1 billion: This employee engagement platform last raised a $165 million Series B, valuing the company at $1 billion, per Pitchbook. The company, founded in 2012, has raised more than $230 million in funding to date, from investors including General Catalyst. 

April

Nourish — $1 billion: This dietitian tele-health company last raised a $70 million Series B, according to Pitchbook, valuing the company at $1 billion. The company, founded in 2020, has raised more than $100 million in funding to date from investors including Index Ventures and Thrive Capital. 

Chapter — $1.38 billion: This Medicare guide health tech company, founded in 2013, last raised a $75 million Series D, valuing it at $1.38 billion, according to Pitchbook. The company has raised $186 million in funding to date, with investors including XYZ Venture Capital and Narya. 

Threatlocker — $1.2 billion: This Orlando-based data protection company last raised a $60 million Series E, valuing the company at $1.2 billion, according to Pitchbook. The company, founded in 2017, has raised more than $200 million in funding to date, from investors including General Atlantic and StepStone Group. 
Cyberhaven — $1 billion: This data detection company last raised a $100 million Series D in April, according to Pitchbook, valuing the company at $1 billion. The company, launched in 2015, has raised more than $200 million in funding to date, with investors including Khlosa Ventrues and Redpoint Ventures.

March 

Fleetio — $1.5 billion: This Alabama-based startup creates software to help make fleet operations easier. It last raised a $454 million Series D at a $1.5 billion valuation, according to PitchBook. It was launched in 2012 and has raised $624 million in funding to date, with investors including Elephant and Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives.

The Bot Company — $2 billion: This robotics platform last raised a $150 million early-stage round, valuing it at $2 billion, according to PitchBook. The company, which was founded in 2024, has raised $300 million to date in funding. 

Celestial AI — $2.5 billion: The AI company raised a $250 million Series C led by Fidelity that valued the company at $2.5 billion, per Crunchbase. The company, based in California, was launched in 2020 and counts BlackRock and Engine Ventures as investors. It has raised more than $580 million in capital to date, per PitchBook. 

Underdog Fantasy — $1.3 billion: The sports gaming company last raised a $70 million Series C valuing the company at $1.3 billion, according to Crunchbase. The company, founded in 2020, has raised more than $100 million in capital to date, per PitchBook. Investors include Spark Capital. 

Build Ops — $1 billion: This software company last raised a $122.6 million Series C, valuing it at $1 billion. Build Ops, which was launched in 2018, has raised $273 million in total, according to PitchBook, with investors including Founders Fund and Fika Ventures. 

Insilico Medicine — $1 billion: The drug research company raised a $110 million Series E valuing the company at $1 billion, per Crunchbase. It launched in 2014, has raised more than $500 million to date in capital, and counts Lilly Ventures and Value Partners Group as investors. 

Olipop — $2 billion: This popular probiotic soda company last raised a $137.9 million Series C at a $1.96 billion valuation. It was founded in 2018 and has raised $243 million to date with investors including Scoop Ventures and J.P. Morgan Growth Equity Partners. 

Peregrine — $2.5 billion: This data analysis and integration platform, launched in 2017, last raised a $190 million Series C with a valuation of $2.5 billion. It has raised more than $250 million in funding to date, according to PitchBook, with investors including Sequoia and Fifth Down Capital. 

Assured — $1 billion: The AI company helps process claims and last raised a $23 million Series B, valuing the company at $1 billion. It was launched in 2019 and has raised a little more than $26 million to date, with investors including ICONIQ Capital and Kleiner Perkins. 

February 

Abridge — $2.8 billion: This medtech company, founded in 2018, last raised a $250 million Series D at a $2.75 billion valuation, per PitchBook. The company has raised more than $460 million to date in funding and counts Elad Gil and IVP as investors. 

OpenEvidence — $1 billion: This medtech company, founded in 2017, last raised a $75 million Series A at a $1 billion valuation, per PitchBook. The company has raised $135 million to date in funding and counts Sequoia Capital as an investor. 

Hightouch — $1.2 billion: The data platform, founded in 2018, last raised an $80 million Series C at a $1.2 billion valuation, per PitchBook. The company has raised $171 million to date in funding and counts Sapphire Ventures and Bain Capital Ventures as investors.

January

Kikoff — $1 billion: This personal finance platform last raised an undisclosed amount that valued it at $1 billion, according to PitchBook. The company, founded in 2019, has raised $42.5 million to date and counts Female Founders Fund, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and basketballer Steph Curry as investors. 

Netradyne — $1.35 billion: Founded in 2015, this computer vision startup raised a $90 million Series D valuing it at $1.35 billion, according to Crunchbase. The round was led by Point72 Ventures.

Hippocratic AI — $1.6 billion: This startup, founded in 2023, creates healthcare models. It raised a $141 million Series B, valuing it at $1.64 billion, according to Crunchbase. The round was led by Kleiner Perkins. 

Truveta — $1 billion: This genetic research company raised a $320 million round valuing it at $1 billion, according to Crunchbase. Founded in 2020, its investors include the CVCs from Microsoft and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. 

Clay — $1.25 billion: Founded in 2017, Clay is an AI sales platform. The company raised a $40 million Series B, valuing it at $1.25 billion, according to PitchBook. It has raised more than $100 million to date and counts Sequoia, First Round, Boldstar, and Box Group as investors.  

Mercor — $2 billion: This contract recruiting startup raised a $100 million Series B valuing it at $2 billion. The company, founded in 2022, counts Felicis, Menlo Ventures, Jack Dorsey, Peter Thiel, and Anthology Fund as investors. 

Loft Orbital — $1 billion: Founded in 2017, the satellite company raised a $170 million Series C valuing the company at $1 billion, according to Crunchbase. Investors in the round included Temasek and Tikehau Capital. 

This post was updated to reflect what Peregine does.

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Beyond the script: creating characters that think

The most noticeable impact of AI falls on the inhabitants of these virtual worlds, Non-Player Characters (NPCs). We’ve all seen a classic city guard who repeats the same line of dialogue endlessly or an enemy running along a predictable path. Modern AI leaves these simplistic automatons behind.

Instead of a rigid script, today’s NPCs perceive and react to the world around them. They utilize complex algorithms to navigate difficult environments, find cover, or coordinate group attacks. More impressively, they learn from player behavior. Imagine an enemy that notices you always use stealth and begins setting traps. This creates a much more engaging experience, the world feels less like programmed challenges and more like intelligent agents with their own goals.

  • Dynamic pathfinding: Characters don’t follow predefined routes. They can analyze the environment in real time and figure out the best way to the destination point. Remarkably, they cope with that even if the terrain changes suddenly.
  • Behavioral trees: Developers apply complex decision-making models. This allows NPCs to choose from a wide range of actions based on current situations, making them highly unpredictable.
  • Machine learning: Some advanced systems train NPCs by having them observe human players. This allows them to adopt effective strategies that a developer might never have programmed manually.

Worlds without end: the magic of procedural generation

Creating a whole world where gamers will learn to survive takes much time and effort. Building every tree or mountain manually is a rigorous task. AI-driven Procedural Content Generation (PCG) turns out to be a solution here. Designers, technical artists, and engineers use the PCG as a toolset of helpful components. The framework creates game content automatically and generates believable environments.

AI technologies allow designers to avoid manually scattering random trees if they need to depict a credible forest landscape. Instead, the AI algorithm learns the rules of a forest ecosystem. The combination of realistic views and the engineer’s initial intent in the setting captures players and makes them enjoy the game. For example, No Man’s Sky used PCG to create a virtual galaxy with billions of planets. Planets have their unique flora and fauna. Players can fight with alien species or trade with them to get necessary resources or equipment. The game fosters a sense of exploration and impresses with its scale. The future of AI in GameDev lies in this ability to create believable worlds.

A game that knows you: the personalized experience

The Ghost in the Machine: How AI is Crafting the Future of Gaming Worlds For decades, playing a video game was like following someone’s elaborate script. Every character and branching path was meticulously created by a developer. While impressive, these environments were ultimately finite and predictable. They had boundaries, not just on the map, but in their very code. Modern reality has changed it. Artificial intelligence is transforming the virtual world from static landscapes to dynamic systems with no pre-written steps. The gaming environment is becoming smart, and the players enjoy total immersion and engagement in the process. Beyond the script: creating characters that think The most noticeable impact of AI falls on the inhabitants of these virtual worlds, Non-Player Characters (NPCs). We’ve all seen a classic city guard who repeats the same line of dialogue endlessly or an enemy running along a predictable path. Modern AI leaves these simplistic automatons behind. Instead of a rigid script, today’s NPCs perceive and react to the world around them. They utilize complex algorithms to navigate difficult environments, find cover, or coordinate group attacks. More impressively, they learn from player behavior. Imagine an enemy that notices you always use stealth and begins setting traps. This creates a much more engaging experience, the world feels less like programmed challenges and more like intelligent agents with their own goals. Dynamic pathfinding: Characters don’t follow predefined routes. They can analyze the environment in real time and figure out the best way to the destination point. Remarkably, they cope with that even if the terrain changes suddenly. Behavioral trees: Developers apply complex decision-making models. This allows NPCs to choose from a wide range of actions based on current situations, making them highly unpredictable. Machine learning: Some advanced systems train NPCs by having them observe human players. This allows them to adopt effective strategies that a developer might never have programmed manually. Worlds without end: the magic of procedural generation Creating a whole world where gamers will learn to survive takes much time and effort. Building every tree or mountain manually is a rigorous task. AI-driven Procedural Content Generation (PCG) turns out to be a solution here. Designers, technical artists, and engineers use the PCG as a toolset of helpful components. The framework creates game content automatically and generates believable environments. AI technologies allow designers to avoid manually scattering random trees if they need to depict a credible forest landscape. Instead, the AI algorithm learns the rules of a forest ecosystem. The combination of realistic views and the engineer’s initial intent in the setting captures players and makes them enjoy the game. For example, No Man’s Sky used PCG to create a virtual galaxy with billions of planets. Planets have their unique flora and fauna. Players can fight with alien species or trade with them to get necessary resources or equipment. The game fosters a sense of exploration and impresses with its scale. The future of AI in GameDev lies in this ability to create believable worlds. A game that knows you: the personalized experience It is interesting to play a game as long as it is unpredictable. AI allows for tailoring playing experiences to individuals. This is possible due to the AI analyzing the skill levels, performance, and preferences of players. The game adapts to your style of playing and makes subtle adjustments to the game in real time. This is far more than just a simple “easy, normal, hard” difficulty setting. Dynamic difficulty adjustment: The system detects your performance and adjusts the game levels accordingly. For example, it might slightly reduce enemy numbers or provide more resources. Vice versa, if you’re doing well, the algorithm keeps the challenge. Personalized content: It’s great to know your decisions impact the storyline of the game. AI might notice you prefer a certain weapon type and start dropping more powerful versions of it. In narrative games, it can alter future plot points based on the choices and emotional reactions it observes from the player. Besides, the system might adapt in-game rewards to players’ preferences. For example, you can receive new gear, abilities, or characters.   Social customization: AI may suggest players with the same skill levels to keep the competitive environment. At the same time, it may also offer personalized NPCs, which adds to the general immersive experience. Conclusion To summarize what was mentioned before, AI allows for never having the same gaming experience twice. This makes gameplay exciting for gamers, yet the development process becomes challenging and demands high competence from the specialists. Therefore, game studios partner with a specialized AI development company in the United States to create unforgettable playing grounds. And the amazing news is that it is only the beginning. AI continues to develop and inspire improvements in all the spheres where it is applied. #Ghost #Machine #Crafting #Future #Gaming #WorldsAI

It is interesting to play a game as long as it is unpredictable. AI allows for tailoring playing experiences to individuals. This is possible due to the AI analyzing the skill levels, performance, and preferences of players. The game adapts to your style of playing and makes subtle adjustments to the game in real time. This is far more than just a simple “easy, normal, hard” difficulty setting.

  • Dynamic difficulty adjustment: The system detects your performance and adjusts the game levels accordingly. For example, it might slightly reduce enemy numbers or provide more resources. Vice versa, if you’re doing well, the algorithm keeps the challenge.
  • Personalized content: It’s great to know your decisions impact the storyline of the game. AI might notice you prefer a certain weapon type and start dropping more powerful versions of it. In narrative games, it can alter future plot points based on the choices and emotional reactions it observes from the player. Besides, the system might adapt in-game rewards to players’ preferences. For example, you can receive new gear, abilities, or characters.  
  • Social customization: AI may suggest players with the same skill levels to keep the competitive environment. At the same time, it may also offer personalized NPCs, which adds to the general immersive experience.

Conclusion

To summarize what was mentioned before, AI allows for never having the same gaming experience twice. This makes gameplay exciting for gamers, yet the development process becomes challenging and demands high competence from the specialists. Therefore, game studios partner with a specialized AI development company in the United States to create unforgettable playing grounds. And the amazing news is that it is only the beginning. AI continues to develop and inspire improvements in all the spheres where it is applied.

#Ghost #Machine #Crafting #Future #Gaming #WorldsAI">The Ghost in the Machine: How AI is Crafting the Future of Gaming Worlds For decades, playing a video game was like following someone’s elaborate script. Every character and branching path was meticulously created by a developer. While impressive, these environments were ultimately finite and predictable. They had boundaries, not just on the map, but in their very code. Modern reality has changed it. Artificial intelligence is transforming the virtual world from static landscapes to dynamic systems with no pre-written steps. The gaming environment is becoming smart, and the players enjoy total immersion and engagement in the process. Beyond the script: creating characters that think The most noticeable impact of AI falls on the inhabitants of these virtual worlds, Non-Player Characters (NPCs). We’ve all seen a classic city guard who repeats the same line of dialogue endlessly or an enemy running along a predictable path. Modern AI leaves these simplistic automatons behind. Instead of a rigid script, today’s NPCs perceive and react to the world around them. They utilize complex algorithms to navigate difficult environments, find cover, or coordinate group attacks. More impressively, they learn from player behavior. Imagine an enemy that notices you always use stealth and begins setting traps. This creates a much more engaging experience, the world feels less like programmed challenges and more like intelligent agents with their own goals. Dynamic pathfinding: Characters don’t follow predefined routes. They can analyze the environment in real time and figure out the best way to the destination point. Remarkably, they cope with that even if the terrain changes suddenly. Behavioral trees: Developers apply complex decision-making models. This allows NPCs to choose from a wide range of actions based on current situations, making them highly unpredictable. Machine learning: Some advanced systems train NPCs by having them observe human players. This allows them to adopt effective strategies that a developer might never have programmed manually. Worlds without end: the magic of procedural generation Creating a whole world where gamers will learn to survive takes much time and effort. Building every tree or mountain manually is a rigorous task. AI-driven Procedural Content Generation (PCG) turns out to be a solution here. Designers, technical artists, and engineers use the PCG as a toolset of helpful components. The framework creates game content automatically and generates believable environments. AI technologies allow designers to avoid manually scattering random trees if they need to depict a credible forest landscape. Instead, the AI algorithm learns the rules of a forest ecosystem. The combination of realistic views and the engineer’s initial intent in the setting captures players and makes them enjoy the game. For example, No Man’s Sky used PCG to create a virtual galaxy with billions of planets. Planets have their unique flora and fauna. Players can fight with alien species or trade with them to get necessary resources or equipment. The game fosters a sense of exploration and impresses with its scale. The future of AI in GameDev lies in this ability to create believable worlds. A game that knows you: the personalized experience It is interesting to play a game as long as it is unpredictable. AI allows for tailoring playing experiences to individuals. This is possible due to the AI analyzing the skill levels, performance, and preferences of players. The game adapts to your style of playing and makes subtle adjustments to the game in real time. This is far more than just a simple “easy, normal, hard” difficulty setting. Dynamic difficulty adjustment: The system detects your performance and adjusts the game levels accordingly. For example, it might slightly reduce enemy numbers or provide more resources. Vice versa, if you’re doing well, the algorithm keeps the challenge. Personalized content: It’s great to know your decisions impact the storyline of the game. AI might notice you prefer a certain weapon type and start dropping more powerful versions of it. In narrative games, it can alter future plot points based on the choices and emotional reactions it observes from the player. Besides, the system might adapt in-game rewards to players’ preferences. For example, you can receive new gear, abilities, or characters.   Social customization: AI may suggest players with the same skill levels to keep the competitive environment. At the same time, it may also offer personalized NPCs, which adds to the general immersive experience. Conclusion To summarize what was mentioned before, AI allows for never having the same gaming experience twice. This makes gameplay exciting for gamers, yet the development process becomes challenging and demands high competence from the specialists. Therefore, game studios partner with a specialized AI development company in the United States to create unforgettable playing grounds. And the amazing news is that it is only the beginning. AI continues to develop and inspire improvements in all the spheres where it is applied. #Ghost #Machine #Crafting #Future #Gaming #WorldsAI

AI in GameDev lies in this ability to create believable worlds.

A game that knows you: the personalized experience

The Ghost in the Machine: How AI is Crafting the Future of Gaming Worlds For decades, playing a video game was like following someone’s elaborate script. Every character and branching path was meticulously created by a developer. While impressive, these environments were ultimately finite and predictable. They had boundaries, not just on the map, but in their very code. Modern reality has changed it. Artificial intelligence is transforming the virtual world from static landscapes to dynamic systems with no pre-written steps. The gaming environment is becoming smart, and the players enjoy total immersion and engagement in the process. Beyond the script: creating characters that think The most noticeable impact of AI falls on the inhabitants of these virtual worlds, Non-Player Characters (NPCs). We’ve all seen a classic city guard who repeats the same line of dialogue endlessly or an enemy running along a predictable path. Modern AI leaves these simplistic automatons behind. Instead of a rigid script, today’s NPCs perceive and react to the world around them. They utilize complex algorithms to navigate difficult environments, find cover, or coordinate group attacks. More impressively, they learn from player behavior. Imagine an enemy that notices you always use stealth and begins setting traps. This creates a much more engaging experience, the world feels less like programmed challenges and more like intelligent agents with their own goals. Dynamic pathfinding: Characters don’t follow predefined routes. They can analyze the environment in real time and figure out the best way to the destination point. Remarkably, they cope with that even if the terrain changes suddenly. Behavioral trees: Developers apply complex decision-making models. This allows NPCs to choose from a wide range of actions based on current situations, making them highly unpredictable. Machine learning: Some advanced systems train NPCs by having them observe human players. This allows them to adopt effective strategies that a developer might never have programmed manually. Worlds without end: the magic of procedural generation Creating a whole world where gamers will learn to survive takes much time and effort. Building every tree or mountain manually is a rigorous task. AI-driven Procedural Content Generation (PCG) turns out to be a solution here. Designers, technical artists, and engineers use the PCG as a toolset of helpful components. The framework creates game content automatically and generates believable environments. AI technologies allow designers to avoid manually scattering random trees if they need to depict a credible forest landscape. Instead, the AI algorithm learns the rules of a forest ecosystem. The combination of realistic views and the engineer’s initial intent in the setting captures players and makes them enjoy the game. For example, No Man’s Sky used PCG to create a virtual galaxy with billions of planets. Planets have their unique flora and fauna. Players can fight with alien species or trade with them to get necessary resources or equipment. The game fosters a sense of exploration and impresses with its scale. The future of AI in GameDev lies in this ability to create believable worlds. A game that knows you: the personalized experience It is interesting to play a game as long as it is unpredictable. AI allows for tailoring playing experiences to individuals. This is possible due to the AI analyzing the skill levels, performance, and preferences of players. The game adapts to your style of playing and makes subtle adjustments to the game in real time. This is far more than just a simple “easy, normal, hard” difficulty setting. Dynamic difficulty adjustment: The system detects your performance and adjusts the game levels accordingly. For example, it might slightly reduce enemy numbers or provide more resources. Vice versa, if you’re doing well, the algorithm keeps the challenge. Personalized content: It’s great to know your decisions impact the storyline of the game. AI might notice you prefer a certain weapon type and start dropping more powerful versions of it. In narrative games, it can alter future plot points based on the choices and emotional reactions it observes from the player. Besides, the system might adapt in-game rewards to players’ preferences. For example, you can receive new gear, abilities, or characters.   Social customization: AI may suggest players with the same skill levels to keep the competitive environment. At the same time, it may also offer personalized NPCs, which adds to the general immersive experience. Conclusion To summarize what was mentioned before, AI allows for never having the same gaming experience twice. This makes gameplay exciting for gamers, yet the development process becomes challenging and demands high competence from the specialists. Therefore, game studios partner with a specialized AI development company in the United States to create unforgettable playing grounds. And the amazing news is that it is only the beginning. AI continues to develop and inspire improvements in all the spheres where it is applied. #Ghost #Machine #Crafting #Future #Gaming #WorldsAI

It is interesting to play a game as long as it is unpredictable. AI allows for tailoring playing experiences to individuals. This is possible due to the AI analyzing the skill levels, performance, and preferences of players. The game adapts to your style of playing and makes subtle adjustments to the game in real time. This is far more than just a simple “easy, normal, hard” difficulty setting.

  • Dynamic difficulty adjustment: The system detects your performance and adjusts the game levels accordingly. For example, it might slightly reduce enemy numbers or provide more resources. Vice versa, if you’re doing well, the algorithm keeps the challenge.
  • Personalized content: It’s great to know your decisions impact the storyline of the game. AI might notice you prefer a certain weapon type and start dropping more powerful versions of it. In narrative games, it can alter future plot points based on the choices and emotional reactions it observes from the player. Besides, the system might adapt in-game rewards to players’ preferences. For example, you can receive new gear, abilities, or characters.  
  • Social customization: AI may suggest players with the same skill levels to keep the competitive environment. At the same time, it may also offer personalized NPCs, which adds to the general immersive experience.

Conclusion

To summarize what was mentioned before, AI allows for never having the same gaming experience twice. This makes gameplay exciting for gamers, yet the development process becomes challenging and demands high competence from the specialists. Therefore, game studios partner with a specialized AI development company in the United States to create unforgettable playing grounds. And the amazing news is that it is only the beginning. AI continues to develop and inspire improvements in all the spheres where it is applied.

#Ghost #Machine #Crafting #Future #Gaming #WorldsAI">The Ghost in the Machine: How AI is Crafting the Future of Gaming Worlds

For decades, playing a video game was like following someone’s elaborate script. Every character and branching path was meticulously created by a developer. While impressive, these environments were ultimately finite and predictable. They had boundaries, not just on the map, but in their very code. Modern reality has changed it. Artificial intelligence is transforming the virtual world from static landscapes to dynamic systems with no pre-written steps. The gaming environment is becoming smart, and the players enjoy total immersion and engagement in the process.

Beyond the script: creating characters that think

The most noticeable impact of AI falls on the inhabitants of these virtual worlds, Non-Player Characters (NPCs). We’ve all seen a classic city guard who repeats the same line of dialogue endlessly or an enemy running along a predictable path. Modern AI leaves these simplistic automatons behind.

Instead of a rigid script, today’s NPCs perceive and react to the world around them. They utilize complex algorithms to navigate difficult environments, find cover, or coordinate group attacks. More impressively, they learn from player behavior. Imagine an enemy that notices you always use stealth and begins setting traps. This creates a much more engaging experience, the world feels less like programmed challenges and more like intelligent agents with their own goals.

  • Dynamic pathfinding: Characters don’t follow predefined routes. They can analyze the environment in real time and figure out the best way to the destination point. Remarkably, they cope with that even if the terrain changes suddenly.
  • Behavioral trees: Developers apply complex decision-making models. This allows NPCs to choose from a wide range of actions based on current situations, making them highly unpredictable.
  • Machine learning: Some advanced systems train NPCs by having them observe human players. This allows them to adopt effective strategies that a developer might never have programmed manually.

Worlds without end: the magic of procedural generation

Creating a whole world where gamers will learn to survive takes much time and effort. Building every tree or mountain manually is a rigorous task. AI-driven Procedural Content Generation (PCG) turns out to be a solution here. Designers, technical artists, and engineers use the PCG as a toolset of helpful components. The framework creates game content automatically and generates believable environments.

AI technologies allow designers to avoid manually scattering random trees if they need to depict a credible forest landscape. Instead, the AI algorithm learns the rules of a forest ecosystem. The combination of realistic views and the engineer’s initial intent in the setting captures players and makes them enjoy the game. For example, No Man’s Sky used PCG to create a virtual galaxy with billions of planets. Planets have their unique flora and fauna. Players can fight with alien species or trade with them to get necessary resources or equipment. The game fosters a sense of exploration and impresses with its scale. The future of AI in GameDev lies in this ability to create believable worlds.

A game that knows you: the personalized experience

The Ghost in the Machine: How AI is Crafting the Future of Gaming Worlds For decades, playing a video game was like following someone’s elaborate script. Every character and branching path was meticulously created by a developer. While impressive, these environments were ultimately finite and predictable. They had boundaries, not just on the map, but in their very code. Modern reality has changed it. Artificial intelligence is transforming the virtual world from static landscapes to dynamic systems with no pre-written steps. The gaming environment is becoming smart, and the players enjoy total immersion and engagement in the process. Beyond the script: creating characters that think The most noticeable impact of AI falls on the inhabitants of these virtual worlds, Non-Player Characters (NPCs). We’ve all seen a classic city guard who repeats the same line of dialogue endlessly or an enemy running along a predictable path. Modern AI leaves these simplistic automatons behind. Instead of a rigid script, today’s NPCs perceive and react to the world around them. They utilize complex algorithms to navigate difficult environments, find cover, or coordinate group attacks. More impressively, they learn from player behavior. Imagine an enemy that notices you always use stealth and begins setting traps. This creates a much more engaging experience, the world feels less like programmed challenges and more like intelligent agents with their own goals. Dynamic pathfinding: Characters don’t follow predefined routes. They can analyze the environment in real time and figure out the best way to the destination point. Remarkably, they cope with that even if the terrain changes suddenly. Behavioral trees: Developers apply complex decision-making models. This allows NPCs to choose from a wide range of actions based on current situations, making them highly unpredictable. Machine learning: Some advanced systems train NPCs by having them observe human players. This allows them to adopt effective strategies that a developer might never have programmed manually. Worlds without end: the magic of procedural generation Creating a whole world where gamers will learn to survive takes much time and effort. Building every tree or mountain manually is a rigorous task. AI-driven Procedural Content Generation (PCG) turns out to be a solution here. Designers, technical artists, and engineers use the PCG as a toolset of helpful components. The framework creates game content automatically and generates believable environments. AI technologies allow designers to avoid manually scattering random trees if they need to depict a credible forest landscape. Instead, the AI algorithm learns the rules of a forest ecosystem. The combination of realistic views and the engineer’s initial intent in the setting captures players and makes them enjoy the game. For example, No Man’s Sky used PCG to create a virtual galaxy with billions of planets. Planets have their unique flora and fauna. Players can fight with alien species or trade with them to get necessary resources or equipment. The game fosters a sense of exploration and impresses with its scale. The future of AI in GameDev lies in this ability to create believable worlds. A game that knows you: the personalized experience It is interesting to play a game as long as it is unpredictable. AI allows for tailoring playing experiences to individuals. This is possible due to the AI analyzing the skill levels, performance, and preferences of players. The game adapts to your style of playing and makes subtle adjustments to the game in real time. This is far more than just a simple “easy, normal, hard” difficulty setting. Dynamic difficulty adjustment: The system detects your performance and adjusts the game levels accordingly. For example, it might slightly reduce enemy numbers or provide more resources. Vice versa, if you’re doing well, the algorithm keeps the challenge. Personalized content: It’s great to know your decisions impact the storyline of the game. AI might notice you prefer a certain weapon type and start dropping more powerful versions of it. In narrative games, it can alter future plot points based on the choices and emotional reactions it observes from the player. Besides, the system might adapt in-game rewards to players’ preferences. For example, you can receive new gear, abilities, or characters.   Social customization: AI may suggest players with the same skill levels to keep the competitive environment. At the same time, it may also offer personalized NPCs, which adds to the general immersive experience. Conclusion To summarize what was mentioned before, AI allows for never having the same gaming experience twice. This makes gameplay exciting for gamers, yet the development process becomes challenging and demands high competence from the specialists. Therefore, game studios partner with a specialized AI development company in the United States to create unforgettable playing grounds. And the amazing news is that it is only the beginning. AI continues to develop and inspire improvements in all the spheres where it is applied. #Ghost #Machine #Crafting #Future #Gaming #WorldsAI

It is interesting to play a game as long as it is unpredictable. AI allows for tailoring playing experiences to individuals. This is possible due to the AI analyzing the skill levels, performance, and preferences of players. The game adapts to your style of playing and makes subtle adjustments to the game in real time. This is far more than just a simple “easy, normal, hard” difficulty setting.

  • Dynamic difficulty adjustment: The system detects your performance and adjusts the game levels accordingly. For example, it might slightly reduce enemy numbers or provide more resources. Vice versa, if you’re doing well, the algorithm keeps the challenge.
  • Personalized content: It’s great to know your decisions impact the storyline of the game. AI might notice you prefer a certain weapon type and start dropping more powerful versions of it. In narrative games, it can alter future plot points based on the choices and emotional reactions it observes from the player. Besides, the system might adapt in-game rewards to players’ preferences. For example, you can receive new gear, abilities, or characters.  
  • Social customization: AI may suggest players with the same skill levels to keep the competitive environment. At the same time, it may also offer personalized NPCs, which adds to the general immersive experience.

Conclusion

To summarize what was mentioned before, AI allows for never having the same gaming experience twice. This makes gameplay exciting for gamers, yet the development process becomes challenging and demands high competence from the specialists. Therefore, game studios partner with a specialized AI development company in the United States to create unforgettable playing grounds. And the amazing news is that it is only the beginning. AI continues to develop and inspire improvements in all the spheres where it is applied.

#Ghost #Machine #Crafting #Future #Gaming #WorldsAI

Open-style wireless earbuds are all the rage these days, but not all the major brands are on board yet. Samsung, for example, still has its semi-open-ear Galaxy Buds 4, but nothing quite as open as the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds or Nothing’s Ear Open. I should say Samsung doesn’t have anything fully open yet.

According to a leak from SammyGuru, Samsung is working on a new pair of Galaxy Buds called the Galaxy Buds Able, and it looks like that unreleased pair might opt for an open-style clip design if illustrations found in recent One UI firmware are anything to go by.

In addition to the open-style design, SammyGuru is also reporting that the Galaxy Buds Able will use bone conduction, which is suited for delivering sound without needing to plug up your ears with silicone ear tips. Another benefit of bone conduction is that it’s not prone to sound leakage, which is often a downside of most pairs of open wireless earbuds. Bone conduction is also often used in more fitness-focused wireless earbuds, so there’s a chance the Galaxy Buds Able might lean into running and other exercise applications.

While clip-style open wireless earbuds aren’t novel—Sony, SoundPeats, and JBL all have their own pairs now—it’d be a departure for Samsung and a big indicator that open wireless earbuds are having a huge moment right now. If the leaks pan out, one of the things I’m most interested to see is whether Samsung endeavors to provide any kind of noise reduction. Though full-on active noise cancellation (ANC) isn’t possible without ear tips, brands like Shokz have managed to provide a surprisingly effective level of noise reduction that scratches a similar itch. Shokz’s OpenFit Pro, for example, are its only pair with noise reduction, but they do have a bulkier design. They’re not exactly clip-style; instead, they loop around the back of your ears with a sound module that nestles into the outer ear.

Since the Galaxy Buds Able aren’t official yet, there’s no word on price or release date, but there’s a chance they could end up being unveiled this summer at Samsung’s next Unpacked event.

#Samsungs #Pair #Galaxy #Buds #Huge #Departureaudio,Galaxy Buds Pro,wireless earbuds">Samsung’s Next Pair of Galaxy Buds Look Like a Huge Departure Open-style wireless earbuds are all the rage these days, but not all the major brands are on board yet. Samsung, for example, still has its semi-open-ear Galaxy Buds 4, but nothing quite as open as the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds or Nothing’s Ear Open. I should say Samsung doesn’t have anything fully open yet. According to a leak from SammyGuru, Samsung is working on a new pair of Galaxy Buds called the Galaxy Buds Able, and it looks like that unreleased pair might opt for an open-style clip design if illustrations found in recent One UI firmware are anything to go by. In addition to the open-style design, SammyGuru is also reporting that the Galaxy Buds Able will use bone conduction, which is suited for delivering sound without needing to plug up your ears with silicone ear tips. Another benefit of bone conduction is that it’s not prone to sound leakage, which is often a downside of most pairs of open wireless earbuds. Bone conduction is also often used in more fitness-focused wireless earbuds, so there’s a chance the Galaxy Buds Able might lean into running and other exercise applications. Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Buds Able, spotted in One UI firmware, feature a unique clip-on bone conduction design that keeps your ears open while delivering sound in a whole new way. Would you trade premium sound quality for more awareness and comfort in your daily listening?… — SammyGuru (@sammygurus) April 20, 2026 While clip-style open wireless earbuds aren’t novel—Sony, SoundPeats, and JBL all have their own pairs now—it’d be a departure for Samsung and a big indicator that open wireless earbuds are having a huge moment right now. If the leaks pan out, one of the things I’m most interested to see is whether Samsung endeavors to provide any kind of noise reduction. Though full-on active noise cancellation (ANC) isn’t possible without ear tips, brands like Shokz have managed to provide a surprisingly effective level of noise reduction that scratches a similar itch. Shokz’s OpenFit Pro, for example, are its only pair with noise reduction, but they do have a bulkier design. They’re not exactly clip-style; instead, they loop around the back of your ears with a sound module that nestles into the outer ear. Since the Galaxy Buds Able aren’t official yet, there’s no word on price or release date, but there’s a chance they could end up being unveiled this summer at Samsung’s next Unpacked event. #Samsungs #Pair #Galaxy #Buds #Huge #Departureaudio,Galaxy Buds Pro,wireless earbuds

semi-open-ear Galaxy Buds 4, but nothing quite as open as the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds or Nothing’s Ear Open. I should say Samsung doesn’t have anything fully open yet.

According to a leak from SammyGuru, Samsung is working on a new pair of Galaxy Buds called the Galaxy Buds Able, and it looks like that unreleased pair might opt for an open-style clip design if illustrations found in recent One UI firmware are anything to go by.

In addition to the open-style design, SammyGuru is also reporting that the Galaxy Buds Able will use bone conduction, which is suited for delivering sound without needing to plug up your ears with silicone ear tips. Another benefit of bone conduction is that it’s not prone to sound leakage, which is often a downside of most pairs of open wireless earbuds. Bone conduction is also often used in more fitness-focused wireless earbuds, so there’s a chance the Galaxy Buds Able might lean into running and other exercise applications.

While clip-style open wireless earbuds aren’t novel—Sony, SoundPeats, and JBL all have their own pairs now—it’d be a departure for Samsung and a big indicator that open wireless earbuds are having a huge moment right now. If the leaks pan out, one of the things I’m most interested to see is whether Samsung endeavors to provide any kind of noise reduction. Though full-on active noise cancellation (ANC) isn’t possible without ear tips, brands like Shokz have managed to provide a surprisingly effective level of noise reduction that scratches a similar itch. Shokz’s OpenFit Pro, for example, are its only pair with noise reduction, but they do have a bulkier design. They’re not exactly clip-style; instead, they loop around the back of your ears with a sound module that nestles into the outer ear.

Since the Galaxy Buds Able aren’t official yet, there’s no word on price or release date, but there’s a chance they could end up being unveiled this summer at Samsung’s next Unpacked event.

#Samsungs #Pair #Galaxy #Buds #Huge #Departureaudio,Galaxy Buds Pro,wireless earbuds">Samsung’s Next Pair of Galaxy Buds Look Like a Huge DepartureSamsung’s Next Pair of Galaxy Buds Look Like a Huge Departure Open-style wireless earbuds are all the rage these days, but not all the major brands are on board yet. Samsung, for example, still has its semi-open-ear Galaxy Buds 4, but nothing quite as open as the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds or Nothing’s Ear Open. I should say Samsung doesn’t have anything fully open yet. According to a leak from SammyGuru, Samsung is working on a new pair of Galaxy Buds called the Galaxy Buds Able, and it looks like that unreleased pair might opt for an open-style clip design if illustrations found in recent One UI firmware are anything to go by. In addition to the open-style design, SammyGuru is also reporting that the Galaxy Buds Able will use bone conduction, which is suited for delivering sound without needing to plug up your ears with silicone ear tips. Another benefit of bone conduction is that it’s not prone to sound leakage, which is often a downside of most pairs of open wireless earbuds. Bone conduction is also often used in more fitness-focused wireless earbuds, so there’s a chance the Galaxy Buds Able might lean into running and other exercise applications. Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Buds Able, spotted in One UI firmware, feature a unique clip-on bone conduction design that keeps your ears open while delivering sound in a whole new way. Would you trade premium sound quality for more awareness and comfort in your daily listening?… — SammyGuru (@sammygurus) April 20, 2026 While clip-style open wireless earbuds aren’t novel—Sony, SoundPeats, and JBL all have their own pairs now—it’d be a departure for Samsung and a big indicator that open wireless earbuds are having a huge moment right now. If the leaks pan out, one of the things I’m most interested to see is whether Samsung endeavors to provide any kind of noise reduction. Though full-on active noise cancellation (ANC) isn’t possible without ear tips, brands like Shokz have managed to provide a surprisingly effective level of noise reduction that scratches a similar itch. Shokz’s OpenFit Pro, for example, are its only pair with noise reduction, but they do have a bulkier design. They’re not exactly clip-style; instead, they loop around the back of your ears with a sound module that nestles into the outer ear. Since the Galaxy Buds Able aren’t official yet, there’s no word on price or release date, but there’s a chance they could end up being unveiled this summer at Samsung’s next Unpacked event. #Samsungs #Pair #Galaxy #Buds #Huge #Departureaudio,Galaxy Buds Pro,wireless earbuds

Open-style wireless earbuds are all the rage these days, but not all the major brands are on board yet. Samsung, for example, still has its semi-open-ear Galaxy Buds 4, but nothing quite as open as the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds or Nothing’s Ear Open. I should say Samsung doesn’t have anything fully open yet.

According to a leak from SammyGuru, Samsung is working on a new pair of Galaxy Buds called the Galaxy Buds Able, and it looks like that unreleased pair might opt for an open-style clip design if illustrations found in recent One UI firmware are anything to go by.

In addition to the open-style design, SammyGuru is also reporting that the Galaxy Buds Able will use bone conduction, which is suited for delivering sound without needing to plug up your ears with silicone ear tips. Another benefit of bone conduction is that it’s not prone to sound leakage, which is often a downside of most pairs of open wireless earbuds. Bone conduction is also often used in more fitness-focused wireless earbuds, so there’s a chance the Galaxy Buds Able might lean into running and other exercise applications.

While clip-style open wireless earbuds aren’t novel—Sony, SoundPeats, and JBL all have their own pairs now—it’d be a departure for Samsung and a big indicator that open wireless earbuds are having a huge moment right now. If the leaks pan out, one of the things I’m most interested to see is whether Samsung endeavors to provide any kind of noise reduction. Though full-on active noise cancellation (ANC) isn’t possible without ear tips, brands like Shokz have managed to provide a surprisingly effective level of noise reduction that scratches a similar itch. Shokz’s OpenFit Pro, for example, are its only pair with noise reduction, but they do have a bulkier design. They’re not exactly clip-style; instead, they loop around the back of your ears with a sound module that nestles into the outer ear.

Since the Galaxy Buds Able aren’t official yet, there’s no word on price or release date, but there’s a chance they could end up being unveiled this summer at Samsung’s next Unpacked event.

#Samsungs #Pair #Galaxy #Buds #Huge #Departureaudio,Galaxy Buds Pro,wireless earbuds

I was delighted to see that the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 didn’t skimp on a crappy touchpad. That goes a long way toward improving the experiencing of actually using the laptop on a moment-by-moment basis. I wasn’t annoyed every time I had to click-and-drag or select a bit of text. This one’s biggest weakness is definitely the screen, which is true of just about every cheap Chromebook I’ve tested. The colors are ugly and desaturated, giving the whole thing a sickly green tint. It’s also not the sharpest in the world, as it’s stretching 1920 x 1200 pixels across a large, 16-inch screen. But in terms of usability and performance, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 is a great value, combining an Intel Core i3 processor with 8 GB of RAM and a 128 GB of storage. For a Chromebook that’s often on sale for $350, it’s a steal.

While we’re here, let’s go even cheaper, shall we? Asus has two dirt-cheap Chromebooks that I tested last year that I was mildly impressed by. The Asus Chromebook CX14 and CX15. Notice in the name that these are not “Chromebook Plus” models, meaning they can be configured with less RAM and storage, and even use lower-powered processors. That’s exactly what you get on the cheaper configurations of the CX14 and CX15, which is how you sometimes get prices down to as low as $130. I definitely recommend the version with 8 GB of RAM, but regardless of which you choose, the both the CX14 and larger CX15 are mildly attractive laptops. You’d know that’s a big compliment if you’ve seen just how ugly Chromebooks of this price have been in the past.

With these, though, I appreciate the relatively thin bezels and chassis thickness, as well as the larger touchpad and comfortable keyboard. The CX15 even comes in a striking blue color. The touchpad isn’t great, nor is the display. Like the Acer Chromebook Plus 516, it suffers from poor color reproduction and only goes up to 250 nits of brightness. It only has a 720p webcam too, which makes video calls a bit rough. But that’s going to be true of nearly all the competition (and there isn’t much).

Of the two models, I definitely prefer the CX14 though, as it doesn’t have a numberpad and off-center touchpad, which I’ve always found to be awkward to use. Look—no one’s going to love using a computer that costs the less than $200, but if it’s what you can afford, the Asus Chromebook CX14 will at least get you by without too much frustration.

Whatever you do, don’t just head over to Amazon and buy whatever ancient Chromebook is selling for $100 for your kid. It’s worth the extra cash to get something with better battery life, a more modern look, and decent performance.

Other Good Chromebooks We’ve Tested

We’ve tested dozens and dozens of Chromebooks over the past years, having reviewed every major release across the spectrum of price. Unlike Macs and Windows laptops, Chromebooks tends to stick around a bit longer though, and aren’t refreshed as often. I stand by my picks above, but here are a few standouts from our testing that are still worth buying for the right person.

Image may contain Computer Electronics Laptop Pc Computer Hardware Computer Keyboard and Hardware

Photograph: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster

#Chromebooks #Correctchromebooks,laptops,buying guides,google">The Best Chromebooks Are Doing Their Best to Course CorrectI was delighted to see that the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 didn’t skimp on a crappy touchpad. That goes a long way toward improving the experiencing of actually using the laptop on a moment-by-moment basis. I wasn’t annoyed every time I had to click-and-drag or select a bit of text. This one’s biggest weakness is definitely the screen, which is true of just about every cheap Chromebook I’ve tested. The colors are ugly and desaturated, giving the whole thing a sickly green tint. It’s also not the sharpest in the world, as it’s stretching 1920 x 1200 pixels across a large, 16-inch screen. But in terms of usability and performance, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 is a great value, combining an Intel Core i3 processor with 8 GB of RAM and a 128 GB of storage. For a Chromebook that’s often on sale for 0, it’s a steal.While we’re here, let’s go even cheaper, shall we? Asus has two dirt-cheap Chromebooks that I tested last year that I was mildly impressed by. The Asus Chromebook CX14 and CX15. Notice in the name that these are not “Chromebook Plus” models, meaning they can be configured with less RAM and storage, and even use lower-powered processors. That’s exactly what you get on the cheaper configurations of the CX14 and CX15, which is how you sometimes get prices down to as low as 0. I definitely recommend the version with 8 GB of RAM, but regardless of which you choose, the both the CX14 and larger CX15 are mildly attractive laptops. You’d know that’s a big compliment if you’ve seen just how ugly Chromebooks of this price have been in the past.With these, though, I appreciate the relatively thin bezels and chassis thickness, as well as the larger touchpad and comfortable keyboard. The CX15 even comes in a striking blue color. The touchpad isn’t great, nor is the display. Like the Acer Chromebook Plus 516, it suffers from poor color reproduction and only goes up to 250 nits of brightness. It only has a 720p webcam too, which makes video calls a bit rough. But that’s going to be true of nearly all the competition (and there isn’t much).Of the two models, I definitely prefer the CX14 though, as it doesn’t have a numberpad and off-center touchpad, which I’ve always found to be awkward to use. Look—no one’s going to love using a computer that costs the less than 0, but if it’s what you can afford, the Asus Chromebook CX14 will at least get you by without too much frustration.Whatever you do, don’t just head over to Amazon and buy whatever ancient Chromebook is selling for 0 for your kid. It’s worth the extra cash to get something with better battery life, a more modern look, and decent performance.Other Good Chromebooks We’ve TestedWe’ve tested dozens and dozens of Chromebooks over the past years, having reviewed every major release across the spectrum of price. Unlike Macs and Windows laptops, Chromebooks tends to stick around a bit longer though, and aren’t refreshed as often. I stand by my picks above, but here are a few standouts from our testing that are still worth buying for the right person.Photograph: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster#Chromebooks #Correctchromebooks,laptops,buying guides,google

Asus Chromebook CX14 and CX15. Notice in the name that these are not “Chromebook Plus” models, meaning they can be configured with less RAM and storage, and even use lower-powered processors. That’s exactly what you get on the cheaper configurations of the CX14 and CX15, which is how you sometimes get prices down to as low as $130. I definitely recommend the version with 8 GB of RAM, but regardless of which you choose, the both the CX14 and larger CX15 are mildly attractive laptops. You’d know that’s a big compliment if you’ve seen just how ugly Chromebooks of this price have been in the past.

With these, though, I appreciate the relatively thin bezels and chassis thickness, as well as the larger touchpad and comfortable keyboard. The CX15 even comes in a striking blue color. The touchpad isn’t great, nor is the display. Like the Acer Chromebook Plus 516, it suffers from poor color reproduction and only goes up to 250 nits of brightness. It only has a 720p webcam too, which makes video calls a bit rough. But that’s going to be true of nearly all the competition (and there isn’t much).

Of the two models, I definitely prefer the CX14 though, as it doesn’t have a numberpad and off-center touchpad, which I’ve always found to be awkward to use. Look—no one’s going to love using a computer that costs the less than $200, but if it’s what you can afford, the Asus Chromebook CX14 will at least get you by without too much frustration.

Whatever you do, don’t just head over to Amazon and buy whatever ancient Chromebook is selling for $100 for your kid. It’s worth the extra cash to get something with better battery life, a more modern look, and decent performance.

Other Good Chromebooks We’ve Tested

We’ve tested dozens and dozens of Chromebooks over the past years, having reviewed every major release across the spectrum of price. Unlike Macs and Windows laptops, Chromebooks tends to stick around a bit longer though, and aren’t refreshed as often. I stand by my picks above, but here are a few standouts from our testing that are still worth buying for the right person.

Image may contain Computer Electronics Laptop Pc Computer Hardware Computer Keyboard and Hardware

Photograph: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster

#Chromebooks #Correctchromebooks,laptops,buying guides,google">The Best Chromebooks Are Doing Their Best to Course Correct

I was delighted to see that the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 didn’t skimp on a crappy touchpad. That goes a long way toward improving the experiencing of actually using the laptop on a moment-by-moment basis. I wasn’t annoyed every time I had to click-and-drag or select a bit of text. This one’s biggest weakness is definitely the screen, which is true of just about every cheap Chromebook I’ve tested. The colors are ugly and desaturated, giving the whole thing a sickly green tint. It’s also not the sharpest in the world, as it’s stretching 1920 x 1200 pixels across a large, 16-inch screen. But in terms of usability and performance, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 is a great value, combining an Intel Core i3 processor with 8 GB of RAM and a 128 GB of storage. For a Chromebook that’s often on sale for $350, it’s a steal.

While we’re here, let’s go even cheaper, shall we? Asus has two dirt-cheap Chromebooks that I tested last year that I was mildly impressed by. The Asus Chromebook CX14 and CX15. Notice in the name that these are not “Chromebook Plus” models, meaning they can be configured with less RAM and storage, and even use lower-powered processors. That’s exactly what you get on the cheaper configurations of the CX14 and CX15, which is how you sometimes get prices down to as low as $130. I definitely recommend the version with 8 GB of RAM, but regardless of which you choose, the both the CX14 and larger CX15 are mildly attractive laptops. You’d know that’s a big compliment if you’ve seen just how ugly Chromebooks of this price have been in the past.

With these, though, I appreciate the relatively thin bezels and chassis thickness, as well as the larger touchpad and comfortable keyboard. The CX15 even comes in a striking blue color. The touchpad isn’t great, nor is the display. Like the Acer Chromebook Plus 516, it suffers from poor color reproduction and only goes up to 250 nits of brightness. It only has a 720p webcam too, which makes video calls a bit rough. But that’s going to be true of nearly all the competition (and there isn’t much).

Of the two models, I definitely prefer the CX14 though, as it doesn’t have a numberpad and off-center touchpad, which I’ve always found to be awkward to use. Look—no one’s going to love using a computer that costs the less than $200, but if it’s what you can afford, the Asus Chromebook CX14 will at least get you by without too much frustration.

Whatever you do, don’t just head over to Amazon and buy whatever ancient Chromebook is selling for $100 for your kid. It’s worth the extra cash to get something with better battery life, a more modern look, and decent performance.

Other Good Chromebooks We’ve Tested

We’ve tested dozens and dozens of Chromebooks over the past years, having reviewed every major release across the spectrum of price. Unlike Macs and Windows laptops, Chromebooks tends to stick around a bit longer though, and aren’t refreshed as often. I stand by my picks above, but here are a few standouts from our testing that are still worth buying for the right person.

Image may contain Computer Electronics Laptop Pc Computer Hardware Computer Keyboard and Hardware

Photograph: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster

#Chromebooks #Correctchromebooks,laptops,buying guides,google

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