My RTX 3080 now spends most of its life switched off, and that’s exactly how I want it. For years, I’ve wanted my mini PC to game like a desktop without bringing back a desktop’s heat, noise, and footprint, and USB4 finally makes that practical. Ugreen’s LinkStation eGPU Dock puts a full-size graphics card on the end of a single cable, and after a few weeks of plugging it in only when it’s time to play, it’s become my favorite PC gaming accessory.

Most of the time, I open Microsoft Edge to get something done, not to spend half an hour being chased by a giant sea monster. But the browser's built-in Surf game is an easy distraction to get hooked on. With several modes, power-ups, and a kraken on your tail, it offers more variety than Chrome's famous dinosaur game.

A TV is an infrequent purchase, and every time that opportunity comes by, there is a whole list of new technologies and features to contend with.