The best leather sofas adhere to the ABCs of great seating: agnostic design, beautiful texture, and classic silhouettes. Generally, genuine leather is lauded for its durability and longevity—it’s only going to look better with age and some patina. The fabric also makes a wildly comfy, easy-to-clean surface where dirt and dust can be wiped away with a cloth.If you’re on the search for a new sofa that radiates sophistication (and not just single energy), there are a bounty of leather options at every price point, whether you prefer the softness of suede or the supple, lived-in feel of top-grain leather. Ahead, we gathered our favorite leather couches available online, from small-space designs to larger sectionals that will become the anchor for your future hangouts.We also included a few wish-list-worthy collectible pieces from midcentury-modern makers like Tobia Scarpa and de Sede, in case contemporary silhouettes don’t quite measure up to the look you’re going for. Below, some of the most handsome leather styles on our wishlist.Our Top Picks for the Best Leather Sofas:Best Leather Sofa, Overall: Castlery Jonathan Leather Extended Sofa, $4,646 $3,819Best Budget-Friendly Option: Article Cigar Leather Sofa, $2,299Best Design Classic: Percival Lafer 1970s Brazilian Leather Sofa, $5,595Best for Small Spaces: CB2 Serafin Leather Daybed, $2,299Best for Reclining: West Elm Harmony Leather Sofa, $3,679Best Splurge-y Sofa: Design Within Reach Pastille Sofa, $10,095Castlery Jonathan Leather Extended Sofa with OttomanCastlery Jonathan top-grain leather sofa is overstuffed, inviting, and supportive—the holy trinity of comfort. We love the inviting modular design that’s perfect for kicking your feet up on the nearby coffee table or simply lounging around in your modern living space. Rachel Fletcher, AD commerce director, has had the Castlery’s Jonathan sectional since 2022 and still gives it an A. The sofa is streamlined—it’s legless look resembles a seat you might find at one of those dine-in theaters. It’s overstuffed and inviting, but still supportive. Contributor Sarah Madaus said it was so comfortable, she asked her partner to cook dinner so she could keep sitting in it. Choose from caramel or warm taupe colorways—or maybe get both, one for the living room and one for the den.Loon Peak Micheals Leather SofaIf you’re into the look of midcentury sofas but want something a touch more modern, this mixed-media design may scratch that itch. Iron legs anchor an oak panel base that houses a top-grain leather construction. The legs even have built-in protectors to keep your floors scratch-free.Article Cigar Leather SofaYou won’t regret getting the Article Cigar leather sofa, which has the “soft buttery” rawhide tan texture of a baseball glove, but the rounded curves of a marshmallow. The leather upholstery is made to look like suede, for a soft brushed effect. And if you want to kick your feet up when sinking into this sofa, there’s even a matching leather ottoman to pair with it.West Elm Laurent Leather 2-Piece Bumper SofaWest Elm knows how to tug at our heartstrings, and the Laurent two-piece Bumper sofa is definitely on our fantasy seating list. The Art Deco–inspired silhouette with solid wood legs fits just as well in a more casual loft space as it does in a lush parlor room designed for maximum foot traffic. While the matte finish leather feels a bit waxy at first, it’s made to age (and soften) gracefully. If you’re looking for a leather sofa to plop into, this might not be the right choice as the seat firmness ranks 4 out of 5, with 5 being the firmest.Wade Logan Anorea Leather Channel Tufted SofaThis is a fun one. If you’ve got a room full of textures, colors, and far too few spots to park your bottom, consider this chic tufted pick. It comes in five rich colors (including a neat sage green), and the leather has been treated to be water- and stain-resistant in case this creamy hue has you nervous about spills.Afra & Tobia Scarpa “Bastiano” Sofa for GavinaHeirloom may not be the word that comes to mind when thinking of leather couches, but the Afra & Tobia Scarpa Bastiano sofa might just fit the verbiage. It was originally designed for Knoll by the esteemed Italian architect and his wife. The chocolate-hued leather cushions fit perfectly into the rosewood frame that emphasizes the sofa’s angular geometric structure. We’re picturing it right at home in a wood-paneled sunroom, surrounded by plenty of plants.Design Within Reach Pastille SofaTalk about an investment piece for lounging in style. The seat on this DWR sofa is low, but not so low that you feel like you’re inches from the floor. We appreciate the thoughtful details such as topstitching that was not overlooked by Hlynur Atlason, the Icelandic-born designer who created thePastille sofa exclusively for the brand. It comes in 12 leather colorways that include neutrals like the more traditional cognac to the more design-forward rouge and olive. For a smaller footprint, opt for the 80-inch-wide loveseat.West Elm Harmony Leather SofaDubbed West Elm’s “most comfortable sofa ever,” this deep-seated model is a durable and modern sofa design that even comes in your choice of genuine or vegan leather. The ultra-plush pillows on the arms also lend an especially inviting feel.Article Burrard Leather SofaSolid-wood peg legs give this sofa a semi-midcentury flair—a great style choice if you want something that will grow with you from home to home. Tiny details like double-stitched seams and waxed Italian-tanned leather give it staying power. It may not be a couch you’ll want to spend night after night snoozing on, but it will serve your reading sessions very well.CB2 Serafin Leather DaybedJust because you’re working with a small space doesn’t mean you can’t have a “serious couch.” Designed for CB2 by Adam Rogers, the chunky, hardwood base is a total showstopper. This is the kind of sofa that will become an heirloom object—just keep it out of direct sunlight to prevent fading.Vintage Brazilian Leather Sofa by Percival LaferThe Percival Lafer Brazilian leather sofa is something out of a posh Airbnb. Bring home the 1970s aesthetic with its rich coffee-hued leather and cushions you’ll want to sink into. The leather sofa will definitely make a statement with its geometric silhouette that makes us think of stacked chocolate bars. Sweet and contemporary indeed.Quince Italian Leather Midcentury SofaIt’s no secret that AD editors love Quince bedding, but we also have a sweet spot for this Italian genuine leather couch. The midcentury design is simple, but not boring. With a tufted seat and two bolster pillows, the style suits any interior. Add to that three layers of high-density foam and removable cushions which won’t make you feel like you’re sitting on springs. Solid ash wood legs complete the MCM look.Case Kelston SofaWe think this splurgy Kelston Collection design is worth making the focal point of your home decor. Its unique headrests are adjustable to your preferred angle and can also fold away when not in use. Plus, don’t you just want to collapse into the warm embrace of those oversized cushions?AllModern Dionnen Leather SofaAvailable in two stylish brown leathers, this low-profile three-seater is a dreamy lounge piece thanks to supremely comfy padding supported by a solid wood frame.CB2 Mardones Black Leather SofaAnother ’70s style sofa that relies more on curves than hard lines, this large number from CB2 favors a darker and low-slung look that could add a touch of softness to a more minimal and industrial living room.DS2011 by de Sede 20th Century Swiss Leather SofaPersonality is one thing that this vintage de Sede leather couch has no shortage of. Just looking at it makes us want to drape ourselves over the U-shaped frame. Manufactured in Switzerland, the style is all about capturing mid-20th-century craftsmanship that lends itself to comfort. Retro vibes are not to be overlooked.Bruno Genuine Leather SofaWe’ve featured many midcentury-modern silhouettes in this round-up so far, but we also liked the retro ’70s look of this couch from Joss & Main. You can definitely channel some cozy and intimate vibes while sipping on a cocktail and reclining on this piece, and it has a lounge-like look.CB2 Forte Channeled Saddle Leather SofaYou can just tell that some pieces of furniture will get better with age, which is our prediction for this channeled design with a hardwood frame that will instantly upgrade any living room into an ultra-cozy space. Can someone say “library vibes”?Anthropologie Willoughby Two-Cushion Leather SofaAnthropologie’s Willoughby sofa is the ideal balance for people who like leather material but don’t want to sacrifice adding color to their space. The stout maple legs, gold detailing, and cushioned silhouette give this couch an antique look that would pair especially nicely with an eclectic decor style.Albany Park Albany SofaAnd for those who love the classic look of leather, this vegan faux-leather sofa from Albany Park is the real deal: stylish, comfortable, and designed to easily maneuver through tight spaces.Turner Square Arm Leather SofaA classic silhouette available in a variety of sizes depending on your needs, this couch from staple furniture retailer Pottery Barn looks plush and has that perfectly-worn-in soft leather look. Get it with or without nailheads, depending on the look you’re going for.Castlery Hamilton Leather Round Chaise Sectional SofaThere’s a little bit of a retro vibe about the rounded chaise on this design. Deep seats offer up a sink-in feel that’s still easy to pull yourself out of (if you really have to). Made of top-grain leather on top of stainless-steel legs, it’s a great option for larger rooms.Burrow Arch Nomad Leather LoveseatWhen we think of highly customizable, Burrow’s Nomad leather sofa comes to mind. The brand offers three colors, six types of metal or wood legs, and even has an armrest shape selection to help you build a bespoke creation. Our tester, AD contributor Terri Williams tried the camel-colored leather with metal legs. Williams praised the high-end topstitching on the upholstery and the layers of foam in the seat and back cushions, as well as the sofa’s versatility.EQ3 Replay SofaThis couch is truly something borrowed and something new for those that like their furniture to have a little backstory. The Replay sofa is a redesigned homage to EQ3’s 2002 iconic collection. This 2018-introduced reimaging includes high-density foam and feather fill with a flexible back frame. Each EQ3 Replay sofa is custom-made and available in over 130 fabrics or leathers, in addition to a wide selection of sectional configurations.Sixpenny Aria Leather SofaNot too big, not too small: Consider this leather loveseat the ideal lounger for your small space. The lack of arms give it a relaxed feel, but the materials and colors keep it looking classy and refined.Leather Couch FAQsWhy you should buy a leather couch

Nintendo confirms.There have been some concerns raised about the compatibility of the new wireless GameCube controller with "other" games on the Switch 2, so we reached out to Nintendo to ask about the specifics.Firstly, this controller is primarily designed for use with the GameCube classics collection, which is tied to the Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership tier, and can be used as an "optional" way to relive these retro titles. If you do want to use this gamepad with other games on this platform though, there may be some "issues" but it will still apparently be compatible.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

xAI’s Grok chatbot can now answer questions about what’s in view of your smartphone’s camera, similar to real-time vision features available for Google’s Gemini and ChatGPT. On Tuesday, xAI announced the launch of Grok Vision, which lets users point their phone at objects like products, signs, and documents and ask questions about them. Grok Vision is accessible from the Grok app for iOS, but not the Grok Android app just yet. Other new capabilities launching for Grok today include multilingual audio and real-time search in Grok’s voice mode. Grok users on Android can tap those, but only if they’re subscribed to xAI’s $30-per-month SuperGrok plan. Grok has been gaining new features at a steady clip. Earlier this month, xAI added a “memory” component to Grok that lets the bot pull on details from past conversations. Grok also got a canvas-like tool for creating docs and apps.

Anysphere, maker of AI coding assistant Cursor, is growing so quickly that it’s not in the market to be sold, even to OpenAI, a source close to the company tells TechCrunch. It’s been a hot target. Cursor is one of the most popular AI-powered coding tools, and its revenue has been growing astronomically — doubling on average every two months, according to another source. Anysphere’s current average annual recurring revenue is about $300 million, according to the two sources.  The company previously walked away from early acquisition discussions with OpenAI, after the ChatGPT maker approached Cursor, the two sources close to the company confirmed, and CNBC previously reported. Anysphere has also received other acquisition offers that the company didn’t consider, according to one of these sources.  Cursor turned down the offers because the startup wants to stay independent, said the two people close to the company. Instead, Anysphere has been in talks to raise capital at about a $10 billion valuation, Bloomberg reported last month.  Although it didn’t nab Anysphere, OpenAI didn’t give up on buying an established AI coding tool startup. OpenAI talked with more than 20 others, CNBC reported. And then it got serious over the next-fastest-growing AI coding startup, Windsurf, with a $3 billion acquisition offer, Bloomberg reported last week. While Windsurf is a comparatively smaller company, its ARR is about $100 million, up from $40 million in ARR in February, according to a source.  Windsurf has been gaining popularity with the developer community, too, and its coding product is designed to work with legacy enterprise systems. Windsurf did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment. OpenAI declined to comment on its acquisition talks.  OpenAI is likely shopping because it’s looking for its next growth areas as competitors such as Google’s Gemini and China’s DeepSeek put pricing pressure on access to foundational models.  Moreover, Anthropic and Google have recently released AI models that outperform OpenAI’s models on coding benchmarks, increasingly making them a preferred choice for developers. While OpenAI could build its own AI coding assistant, buying a product that is already popular with developers means the ChatGPT-maker wouldn’t have to start from scratch to build this business. VCs who invest in developer tool startups are certainly watching. Speculating about OpenAI’s strategy, Chris Farmer, partner and CEO at SignalFire, told TechCrunch of the company, “They’ll be acquisitive at the app layer. It’s existential for them.”

That's much better than current FSD, but much worse than humans or Waymo. They revealed a number of other interesting details

Earth Day, marked annually on April 22, exists primarily to inspire the global population to work together to protect our planet from environmental harm. But it’s also a chance to celebrate everything that’s special about this unique and wonderful “blue marble.” With that in mind, take a moment to lose yourself in this collection of awe-inspiring Earth images, all of them shot from space.

Nintendo is at it again. The Nintendo Switch 2 is coming later this year and preorders are starting soon. The preorder is the easiest way to beat the line and ensure you get your Nintendo Switch 2 when it comes out on June 5. Starting at the very first second of April 24 (12:00 a.m. ET, i.e. when it hits midnight on Wednesday, the 23 in NYC) you’ll be able to begin your pre-ordering at Walmart via the button below. You’ll be able to get the Nintendo Switch 2 by itself for $449 or the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World Bundle for $499, all with free shipping so long as you order by 8:00 a.m. of your local time on June 4. However, Walmart has very specifically said “while supplies last” for this offer. That indicates that they think there’s a possibility of them selling out. They don’t have an infinite supply of Nintendo Switch 2 handhelds. So, be sure to tap the button below now, just in case, and bookmark this page for later if the preorder is not yet available. Read on for an overview of everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2. Related The Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t out yet, but we still have quite a lot of knowledge about the Switch 2. Part of this is because it looks so similar to the original Switch, which is a good thing because it is backwards compatible. If you compare the hardware of the Switch and Switch 2, however, you’ll start to see glimpses of major changes — a 4K docked video output, a massive storage upgrade, dual USB-C ports, and support for microSD express cards (which the original lacks, meaning you’ll need to upgrade cards). Furthermore, the Switch 2 is going to have new magnetic Joy-Cons that are somewhat larger and can operate in a new mode that’s not entirely unlike a computer mouse. The Mario Kart World Bundle also includes Mario Kart 9, which features classic Mario-style, powerup-infused karting with a twist — transitions from track to track in a set progress seamlessly. We’re also seeing more abilities to pull off skateboard style grind tricks and there’s even a rewind feature to give you a second shot at that jump you missed. Of course, knowing all of this is moot if you don’t get a Nintendo Switch 2 console in your hands. Starting on April 24 you can preorder the Nintendo Switch 2 for $449 or the Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart World for $499 if you tap the button below. Editors’ Recommendations

Spine finding Universities (finally) band together, fight “unprecedented government overreach” New statement is weak—but a start. Nate Anderson – Apr 22, 2025 6:51 pm | 20 Credit: Cavan Images via Getty Credit: Cavan Images via Getty Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more Last Friday, in an op-ed piece on the Trump administration's war on American universities, we called for academia to 1) band together and 2) resist coercive control over hiring and teaching, though we noted that the 3) "temperamental caution of university administrators" means that they might "have trouble finding a clear voice to speak with when they come under thundering public attacks from a government they are more used to thinking of as a funding source." It only took billions of dollars in vindictive cuts to make it happen, but higher education has finally 1) banded together to 2) resist coercive control over its core functions. More than 230 leaders, mostly college and university presidents, have so far signed an American Association of Colleges and Universities statement that makes a thundering call gentle bleat for total resistance "constructive engagement" with the people currently trying to cripple, shutter, and/or dominate them. Clearly, 3) temperamental caution remains the watchword. Still, progress! (Even Columbia University, which has already capitulated to Trump administration pressure, signed on.) The statement largely consists of painful pablum about how universities "provide human resources to meet the fast-changing demands of our dynamic workforce," etc, etc. As a public service, I will save you some time (and nausea) by excerpting the bits that matter: We speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education... We must reject the coercive use of public research funding... American institutions of higher learning have in common the essential freedom to determine, on academic grounds, whom to admit and what is taught, how, and by whom... In their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation. This is fine, as far as it goes. But what are all these institutions going to do about the funding cuts, attempts to revoke their nonprofit status, threats not to hire their graduates, and student speech-based deportations? They are going to ask the Trump administration for "constructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic." This sounds lovely, if naive, and I hope it works out well for every one of them as they seek good-faith dialogue with a vice president who has called universities the "enemy" and an administration that demanded Harvard submit to the vetting of every department for unspecified "viewpoint diversity." As a first step to finding common ground and speaking with a common voice, the statement is a start. But statements, like all words, can be cheap. We'll see what steps schools actually take—and how much they can speak and act in concert—as Trump's pressure campaign continues to ratchet. Nate Anderson Deputy Editor Nate Anderson Deputy Editor Nate is the deputy editor at Ars Technica. His most recent book is In Emergency, Break Glass: What Nietzsche Can Teach Us About Joyful Living in a Tech-Saturated World, which is much funnier than it sounds. 20 Comments

3800+ kills/hour 12-year-old Doom 2 challenge map finally beaten after six-hour, 23K-demon grind Streamer Coincident gets a dream run on the Okuplok's nightmarish "slaughter map." Kyle Orland – Apr 22, 2025 12:31 pm | 17 Piece of cake. Credit: Coincident / Youtube Piece of cake. Credit: Coincident / Youtube Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more Over 12 years ago, a reclusive DoomWorld forum member going by the handle Okuplok released what he called "a slaughter map" for Doom 2. Packed to the gills with 23,211 enemies (often in extremely claustrophobic corridors), the level quickly gained a reputation in the classic Doom player community as being one of the hardest ever constructed. That reputation didn't stop classic FPS streamer Coincident, who has been grinding away at the "Okuplok slaughter map" in some form or another for years. And over the weekend, Coincident became the first player to defeat every enemy and complete the map in a single segment during a livestreamed marathon run that clocked in at just over six hours. A long time coming To be clear, this isn't the first time the Okuplok slaughter map has been completed in any form. In 2023, Coincident managed to take it down in a single segment run on the much easier "I'm too young to die" difficulty, which halves the damage taken and doubles the ammo provided. At the time, Coincident estimated that an Ultra Violence run on the same level would be "eight times more difficult," thanks in large part to randomized damage that could end a run after a single mistake. Tool-assisted speedruns have shown that an Ultra Violence run of the Okuplok slaughter map was technically possible in under two hours with mechanically perfect input. But at that difficulty, humans had only been able to force their way through the slaughter level in multi-segment runs, exploiting save states to preserve their best performances and break up the nerve-wracking tedium. Coincident himself completed one such Ultra Violence run in just two segments last year, an achievement that still took 56 total attempts and what he said was "countless hours of practice." Coincident beating the slaughter level on "I'm too young to die" difficulty in 2023. In the run-up to his single-segment completion, Coincident put together a series of strategy videos that highlight the difficulty of completing even the relatively easy opening sections of this brutal level. There, he outlines the "scientific approach" he takes to movement through each section of the map, making use of rare points of partial cover and using constant movement to prioritize survival and ammo management above all else. In the descriptions for those videos, though, Coincident acknowledged some of the reasons that Okuplok's level has been "deemed impossible to beat in one segment" on Ultra Violence difficulty. Even if you have a perfect strategy mapped out for each segment, "some of the later fights are a pure RNG grind," he wrote. "Losing multiple 5-hour-long [Ultra Violence] runs over and over again that late into the map would drive me insane." Coincident's strategy videos for the slaughter map highlight just how tough even the "easy" sections are to complete. The slaughter level's "wildly varying levels of difficulty between each fight" are "extremely frustrating as a challenge, especially when you die to a difficult fight, after having cleared several easy (and borderline boring) fights for 3 hours," Coincident continued in another video description. "Some consider that the only reason why no one has single-segmented Okuplok on UV yet is because no one even wants to try. I wouldn't be surprised." “It’s over!” Nonetheless, over the weekend, Coincident proved he was willing to try what he once considered an "impossible" task. His grueling, six-hour-long marathon isn't actually that fun to watch at many points. The occasional moments of intense, close-quarters combat are punctuated by long segments where Coincident circle-strafes endlessly around large hordes, waiting for enemies to hurt each other with incidental damage so he can conserve ammunition. He also kills many kited enemies one by one in corridors or through small gaps to keep things as safe as possible. Even if you're not willing to sit through six hours of that kind of meticulous gameplay, it can be thrilling to jump around the stream and revel in the portions where Coincident shows off some extremely precise, near-perfect dodging through arenas filled with projectiles and floors littered with pixelated corpses. The drama gets especially intense near the end, when Coincident's breathing becomes noticeably heavy before finishing the run with a flashy rocket to the face just as he hits the exit panel. "Yes! Fuck yes!" Coincident exclaims after the run is finally over. "Okuplok is done! Done, done, done, done, done! ... Oh my god, what a ride, this was quite the ride... It's done, I don't have to run this again! It's over!" Kyle Orland Senior Gaming Editor Kyle Orland Senior Gaming Editor Kyle Orland has been the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica since 2012, writing primarily about the business, tech, and culture behind video games. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He once wrote a whole book about Minesweeper. 17 Comments

The newly discovered colony of Pavona coral in the Red SeaRed Sea Global Researchers have discovered a giant coral colony on the north-western coast of Saudi Arabia, in a part of the Red Sea that is being developed as a luxury tourist resort. The colony, a feature within a reef made up of one specific type of the tiny coral-building animal known as a polyp, is suspected to be of the species Pavona clavus and measures approximately 30 metres by 21 metres, making it probably the largest discovered in the Red Sea.