PROS: Highly Portable: Lightweight and compact with balanced ergonomics for easy one-handed use Quiet, Efficient Performance: Fanless design runs silently while handling daily tasks smoothly Improved Input Design: Redesigned keyboard and pen integration enhance usability Eco-Friendly Materials: Uses recycled cobalt, aluminum, and packaging to reduce impact CONS: Accessories Sold Separately: Keyboard and charger increase total cost significantly Limited Ports: No USB-A or headphone jack requires adapters Not Built for Heavy Creative Work: Struggles with intensive editing or gaming tasks RATINGS: AESTHETICSERGONOMICSPERFORMANCESUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITYVALUE FOR MONEYEDITOR'S QUOTE:Smart, silent, and travel-ready. The Surface Pro 12 cuts the bulk while keeping the features that matter for real work and play. Microsoft’s Surface Pro 12 arrives with the subtlety of a whisper and the impact of a shout. The newest addition to Microsoft’s 2-in-1 lineup doesn’t announce itself with flashy gimmicks or revolutionary redesigns. Instead, it quietly refines what we’ve come to expect from the Surface family while carving out its own distinct identity in an increasingly crowded market. Smaller, lighter, and more nimble than its predecessors, this 12-inch tablet-laptop hybrid represents Microsoft’s most focused attempt yet at balancing power and portability. Designer: Microsoft I’ve spent considerable time with this device, exploring its capabilities and limitations across various use cases. What emerges is a fascinating study in compromise and calculation. The Surface Pro 12 exists in an interesting middle ground. It’s not the most powerful Surface device you can buy. It’s not the largest or the most premium. But that’s precisely the point. Microsoft has crafted something deliberately positioned to appeal to users who found previous Surface models either too unwieldy or too expensive. Does it succeed? That depends entirely on what you’re looking for. For some, the 12-inch form factor will feel like the Goldilocks zone. Not too big, not too small, but just right. For others, the compromises made to achieve this more compact design might prove frustrating. And hovering over everything is the question of value: at $799 for the base model (without keyboard or pen), is this the Surface that finally makes sense for mainstream consumers? The timing couldn’t be more interesting. As Microsoft pushes forward with its Copilot+ PC initiative, the Surface Pro 12 arrives as one of the standard-bearers for this new AI-focused computing paradigm. With its Snapdragon X Plus processor and dedicated NPU delivering 45 TOPS of AI performance, this diminutive device packs surprising computational muscle specifically tuned for the next generation of AI-powered applications. But specs only tell part of the story. The real question is how all this technology comes together in daily use. Can the Surface Pro 12 deliver on Microsoft’s promises of all-day battery life and responsive performance in a more portable package? And perhaps more importantly, does it justify its existence in a lineup that already includes the more powerful Surface Pro 13-inch? Let’s find out. Design and Ergonomics Pick up the Surface Pro 12, and something immediately feels different. The weight distribution. The rounded edges. The way it nestles into your palm with unexpected comfort. At just 1.5 pounds (686g), this isn’t Microsoft’s lightest device ever, but it might be their most thoughtfully balanced. I found myself reaching for it instinctively throughout the day. Its 0.30-inch thickness, combined with its compact footprint, makes it substantially more comfortable to hold in one hand than previous Surface models. This matters tremendously for a device meant to transition seamlessly between laptop and tablet modes. Microsoft has embraced a more organic design language here. Gone are the sharper edges of previous generations, replaced by gently rounded corners that echo the aesthetic of modern tablets. The bezels have shrunk considerably, though they’re still present enough to provide a comfortable grip without triggering accidental touches. The overall effect is subtle but significant. This feels less like a business tool and more like a personal device. The color options deserve special mention. Beyond the standard Platinum, Microsoft offers Ocean (a sophisticated blue-gray) and Violet. These aren’t the bold, saturated hues you might expect from consumer electronics, but rather subdued, mature tones that manage to feel both professional and personal. The Violet, in particular, strikes an interesting balance. It is distinctive without being flashy. Flip the device around and you’ll notice the integrated kickstand, a Surface hallmark that continues to distinguish these devices from iPad competitors. The hinge feels remarkably solid, with 165 degrees of smooth, consistent resistance. You can position it at virtually any angle, from nearly flat to upright, and it stays exactly where you place it. This flexibility proves invaluable when using the device on uneven surfaces like your lap or a bed. The port selection remains minimal. Two USB-C 3.2 ports with DisplayPort 1.4a support handle all your connectivity needs. They’re well-positioned and work with a wide range of accessories, but the absence of a headphone jack or USB-A port means dongles will remain a fact of life for many users. This minimalist approach keeps the device slim but demands some adaptability from users with legacy peripherals. What about the keyboard? The optional Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard ($149 without pen, $249 with Slim Pen) represents a significant redesign. Microsoft has removed the Alcantara fabric from the palm rest, opting instead for a clean, monochromatic matte finish that feels premium to the touch. The fabric hasn’t disappeared entirely. It’s now relegated to the back of the keyboard cover, providing a pleasant tactile contrast when carrying the closed device. The typing experience surpasses expectations for such a compact keyboard. Key travel feels generous, with a satisfying tactile response that avoids the mushiness common to many tablet keyboards. The layout is thoughtfully designed, with full-sized keys in the central typing area and slightly compressed function and specialty keys at the edges. After a brief adjustment period, I was typing at nearly my full speed. The trackpad deserves equal praise. It’s responsive, accurate, and reasonably sized given the constraints of the 12-inch form factor. Microsoft has clearly prioritized quality over size here, and the result is a tracking surface that rarely frustrates. Perhaps the most significant ergonomic improvement involves the Surface Slim Pen. Rather than attaching to the keyboard as in previous models, it now magnetically snaps to the back of the tablet itself. The connection is surprisingly strong. You can shake the tablet vigorously without dislodging the pen. This redesign serves multiple purposes: it keeps the pen accessible whether you’re using the keyboard or not, it allows for wireless charging of the pen, and it slightly reduces the keyboard’s footprint. The front-facing camera placement requires some adjustment. Located at the top of the display when in landscape orientation, it creates a slightly downward-facing angle during video calls when using the kickstand. This isn’t ideal for presenting your best angle, though it’s a common compromise in tablet design. Switching to portrait orientation provides a more flattering angle but isn’t always practical for extended calls. Audio performance exceeds expectations for a device this size. The dual 2W stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support deliver clear, room-filling sound with surprising bass response. They’re positioned perfectly to create a convincing stereo image when the device is in landscape orientation, making the Surface Pro 12 a legitimate option for casual movie watching without headphones. The most impressive aspect of the Surface Pro 12’s design is not any one feature, but how all the elements work together cohesively. The proportions feel natural, the weight distribution is balanced, and the materials and finishes complement each other nicely. This device has been refined over several generations, and that accumulated knowledge is evident in numerous small details. Performance The Surface Pro 12 introduces an intriguing performance proposition. Microsoft has equipped this compact device with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus processor, an 8-core variant of the chip powering many of this year’s AI-focused laptops. This marks a significant departure from Intel-based Surface devices of the past. The question isn’t whether this processor is powerful. It is. The question is whether it’s the right kind of powerful for your specific needs. For everyday computing, the answer is a resounding yes. The system boots instantly, apps launch without hesitation, and multitasking feels remarkably fluid. I routinely ran multiple Office applications alongside dozens of browser tabs without encountering any slowdown. This responsiveness extends to more demanding productivity tasks like photo editing in Adobe Lightroom, where the device handled 20+ megapixel RAW files with surprising agility. What makes this performance particularly impressive is the complete absence of fan noise. The Surface Pro 12 features a fanless design with no vents whatsoever. Even under sustained workloads, the device remains silent, with only minimal warming of the chassis. This thermal efficiency represents a significant quality-of-life improvement over previous Surface models, especially in quiet environments like libraries or meeting rooms. Benchmark results confirm these subjective impressions. In Geekbench 6, the Surface Pro 12 scored around 2,250 for single-core and 9,500 for multi-core performance. These numbers put it in the same neighborhood as many Intel Core Ultra 5-powered laptops, particularly for single-core tasks where the Snapdragon X Plus shows impressive efficiency. Cinebench results tell a similar story, with scores that would have been considered high-end just a couple of generations ago. Battery life represents perhaps the most significant performance advantage. Microsoft claims up to 16 hours of video playback and 12 hours of active web usage. In my testing, these numbers proved surprisingly accurate. A full day of mixed productivity work (writing, web browsing, video calls, and occasional photo editing) left me with 25 to 30 percent battery remaining. More impressively, the device sips power when idle, losing just a few percentage points overnight. This efficiency means you can confidently leave your charger at home for most workdays. When you do need to charge, the process is refreshingly quick. Using the optional 45-watt USB-C charger ($70), the Surface Pro 12 reaches 50 percent battery in approximately 30 minutes and 80 percent in about an hour. This rapid charging capability further enhances the device’s practicality for mobile professionals. The neural processing unit (NPU) deserves special attention. With 45 TOPS of AI performance, the Qualcomm Hexagon NPU positions the Surface Pro 12 as a capable platform for Microsoft’s growing ecosystem of AI-enhanced applications. Features like Windows Studio Effects, which provides background blur and eye contact correction during video calls, run smoothly without taxing the main CPU. The upcoming Recall feature, which promises to help you find anything you’ve seen on your PC, also leverages this dedicated AI hardware. Memory and storage configurations are straightforward. All models include 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, which proves ample for most productivity workflows. Storage options include either 256GB or 512GB of UFS storage. While not as fast as the PCIe SSDs found in premium laptops, these storage solutions deliver respectable performance for everyday tasks. The absence of user-upgradeable components means choosing the right configuration at purchase time is crucial. Connectivity options enhance the overall performance picture. Wi-Fi 7 support ensures the fastest possible wireless connections on compatible networks, while Bluetooth 5.4 provides reliable connections to peripherals. The two USB-C ports support DisplayPort 1.4a, allowing you to drive up to two 4K monitors at 60Hz, a significant upgrade for productivity. Where does the Surface Pro 12 fall short? Demanding creative applications like video editing or 3D rendering will push this system to its limits. While it can handle these tasks, you’ll experience longer render times compared to more powerful systems. Similarly, gaming capabilities are limited to older titles, cloud gaming services, or less demanding indie games. This isn’t a gaming machine by any stretch. It’s also worth noting that while Windows on ARM compatibility has improved dramatically, you may occasionally encounter software that doesn’t run optimally or requires emulation. Microsoft’s Rosetta-like translation layer handles most x86 applications admirably, but with some performance penalty. Fortunately, major productivity applications like the Microsoft Office suite and Adobe Creative Cloud now offer native ARM versions that run beautifully. The performance story of the Surface Pro 12 is ultimately about balance. Microsoft has created a device that delivers impressive responsiveness for everyday tasks while maximizing battery life and eliminating fan noise. For the target audience (mobile professionals, students, and productivity-focused users), this balance hits a sweet spot that many will find compelling. Sustainability Surface devices have rarely been evaluated through an environmental lens. That shifts with the Surface Pro 12. Microsoft’s latest tablet-laptop hybrid takes a material-first approach to reducing its ecological footprint, applying tangible revisions in sourcing, assembly, and lifecycle design. The battery introduces a foundational change. This is the first Surface Pro to use 100 percent recycled cobalt inside the cell. The shift matters. Cobalt extraction is linked to heavy environmental degradation and labor violations, particularly in regions where the material is most abundant. Using recycled cobalt minimizes dependency on these supply chains while maintaining performance. Microsoft applies similar logic to the enclosure. The casing incorporates at least 82.9 percent recycled content, including fully recycled aluminum alloy and rare earth elements. These metals are essential to core functions like audio and haptic feedback, but traditional sourcing is energy-intensive and harmful to ecosystems. Recycling them cuts the carbon load while preserving durability. The recycled aluminum, in particular, reduces energy consumption by over 90 percent compared to newly smelted metal. Packaging aligns with this direction. Microsoft states that 71 percent of wood-fiber packaging uses recycled material, and all virgin paper is sourced from responsibly managed forests. The result feels considered and premium, but without the typical waste profile seen in high-end electronics. Power efficiency is handled by both certification and architecture. The Surface Pro 12 meets ENERGY STAR criteria. Its Snapdragon processor operates on a performance-per-watt model, reducing heat and load during basic workflows without sacrificing responsiveness. Repairability has also improved. Microsoft includes labeled components and internal diagrams that support technician-guided part replacements. These efforts fall short of true user-repairability, but they increase the odds that broken devices will be fixed rather than discarded. A trade-in program supports hardware recovery for U.S. commercial customers. The initiative encourages responsible disposal and keeps materials in circulation longer. This model moves the Surface series closer to a lower-impact future. Microsoft still relies on proprietary accessories that may not carry forward. The keyboard and pen are not backward compatible with earlier models. That limits cross-generation reuse and could introduce avoidable waste. True modularity is still missing. Even with those constraints, the Surface Pro 12 represents the most focused sustainability effort in the product line to date. Material sourcing, energy use, and packaging all reflect an intention to lower the cost to the planet without compromising design or performance. Value and Wrap-up The Surface Pro 12 redefines how compact Windows hardware can serve practical, real-world needs. Its value isn’t rooted in technical dominance or low pricing. It comes from how effectively the device supports a mobile, focused workflow. This model favors portability and responsiveness over excess. It’s built for those who move constantly between meetings, transit, and flexible workspaces, without wanting to sacrifice the continuity of a full Windows environment. The smaller form factor isn’t a downgrade. It’s deliberate, eliminating clutter and favoring daily-use speed, comfort, and silence. Microsoft’s design choices reflect this purpose. From the near-instant wake time to the magnetic keyboard closure, the experience is tuned to reduce friction. That fluidity helps the device become second nature. It’s not about raw performance. It’s about always being ready. The inclusion of dedicated AI hardware gives the Surface Pro 12 another dimension. As more Windows features become NPU-dependent, this machine stays relevant. You’re not just buying current functionality. You’re investing in a platform with a longer upgrade arc. The accessory pricing remains clunky. But over time, the value balances out through longevity and reduced dependency on external gear. Build quality, battery endurance, and AI readiness all support longer ownership without the usual performance decay. What makes the Surface Pro 12 stand out is discipline. Microsoft didn’t stretch this device to cover every use case. Instead, it doubled down on a clear objective: make a serious, portable Windows tool that respects your time and space. The result is confident and complete.The post Microsoft Surface Pro 12 Review: Compact Copilot+ Windows device built for silence, stamina, and adaptability first appeared on Yanko Design.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet pulled back the curtain on the next Seven-Star Tera Raid battle, as trainers will soon face Garchomp the Unrivaled. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players will have two opportunities to battle and catch a level 100 Garchomp via this Seven-Star Tera Raid event, though the boss Pokemon will be a formidable foe.

See the First Visible Auroras Captured on Mars, Glowing a Hazy Green Above the Planet Scientists directed NASA’s Perseverance rover to take an image of the Martian sky after a solar storm in hopes that an aurora would show up Lillian Ali - Staff Contributor May 16, 2025 1:19 p.m. The first image in visible light of green auroras on Mars (left), compared to the night sky of Mars without auroras. NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU / MSSS / SSI On March 18, 2024, NASA’s Perseverance rover, which usually examines rocks on Mars’ surface, tilted its camera upward. The planet’s entire sky glowed a soft green, and the rover snapped an image of the moment—capturing the first visually observed aurora on Mars. The photograph is the result of several years of planning, waiting and retrying to grab this shot. Researchers led by Elise Wright Knutsen, an atmospheric physicist at the University of Oslo, waited for the right conditions and commanded Perseverance to look up at exactly the right time. They reported their feat in a study published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances. “It took three unsuccessful attempts before we got it right, but when we did, it appeared exactly as we imagined it; as a diffuse green haze, uniform in all directions,” Knutsen tells Gizmodo’s Passant Rabie.Auroras can occur following a solar storm, when the sun suddenly blasts charged particles, energy and magnetic fields into the solar system. These particles can collide with gases in a planet’s atmosphere, energizing them and causing their atoms to emit light in different colors. On Earth, the charged particles from the sun are guided to the poles by the magnetic field, leading to the northern and southern lights. Mars does not have a global magnetic field, “so the charged particles bombarded all of Mars at the same time, which leads to this planet-wide aurora,” Knutsen tells Reuters’ Will Dunham. The Martian atmosphere is much thinner than Earth’s, and it doesn’t have as many gas atoms that could light up in an aurora. But Mars has atomic oxygen, and oxygen on Earth causes a green glow. So, astronomers thought its sky would appear green after a solar storm, although the hue would be fainter and harder to capture than auroras on Earth. Historically, Mars’ auroras have only been observed by orbiting spacecraft in ultraviolet light, which is not visible to the naked eye. An aurora seen from Abisko, Sweden, glows green due to emissions from atmospheric oxygen. Pavel.shyshkouski via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 4.0 Perseverance’s photo surprised some scientists, who had anticipated an image of an aurora to come from a spacecraft instead. “I didn’t really expect it to be seen by one of the rovers,” planetary astronomer James O’Donoghue of the University of Reading in England, who was not involved in the study, tells the New York Times’ Perseverance’s mission is to sample rocks that may contain evidence of ancient microbial life, like “Cheyava Falls,” a rock discovered last year that scientists say bears a potential biosignature. To observe an aurora, researchers applied the rover’s rock-studying instruments to the sky. One of its cameras, Mastcam-Z, could spot green lights. An instrument called SuperCam would chemically analyze whatever was emitting that green light, potentially identifying an aurora. To get their photo, researchers had to accurately forecast the aurora by observing the sun, studying the Martian atmosphere and perfectly timing Perseverance’s movements. After several months, during a period of solar hyperactivity, Knutsen’s team found exactly the right moment. “It was so satisfying,” Knutsen tells the New York Times. NASA's Perseverance rover took this "selfie" on July 23, 2024, with a rock nicknamed "Cheyava Falls." NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS Perseverance’s instruments determined the aurora emitted light with a wavelength of 557.7 nanometers—a green glow that’s visible to the human eye—which told astronomers the source was oxygen. Data from NASA’s orbiting MAVEN mission confirmed the light came from an aurora caused by solar energetic particles. Capturing an aurora on Mars opens new methods of studying the planet’s atmosphere and weather. It also shows how scientists can continue to track solar activity, which is especially relevant as a solar flare caused radio blackouts internationally this week. For now, though, Knutsen’s team gets to celebrate capturing the first visible Martian aurora. She tells the New York Times about being one of the first people to see “a black horizon and a softly glowing green sky” on Mars, saying, “I cried a little bit.” Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.

Upon the Nintendo Switch 2’s announcement, its official website briefly claimed that the console would feature support for Variable Refresh Rate (or VRR) in both docked and undocked modes, only for that information to be promptly and quietly removed. Now, Nintendo has offered official clarification on the extent of the feature’s support with the upcoming next-gen console. In a statement to Nintendo Life, Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 will support VRR only in handheld mode, which means it won’t be supported in docked mode. The company says the aforementioned information on the website was published in error, as many have guessed since then, and apologized for the error. “Nintendo Switch 2 supports VRR in handheld mode only. The incorrect information was initially published on the Nintendo Switch 2 website, and we apologise for the error.” But does that mean VRR for docked mode could be added in as a feature with an update at some point in the future? Nintendo says it has “nothing to announce on this topic”- but it’s not a no, at least. The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch worldwide on June 5, with Mario Kart World releasing as its launch title. Nintendo recently also confirmed free Switch 2 enhancements releasing on the same day for several Switch 1 titles, including several Mario games, Zelda titles, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, among others.

While some OG Nintendo Switch games will be receiving paid Switch 2 upgrades, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, several others will receive performance upgrades for free. Though a game like New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe already looked and played pretty great on the original Switch, you know Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet are going to need all the help they can get. Through a system update, “you can download free updates for selected games that may improve graphics or add support for features such as GameShare. The contents of these free updates will differ depending on the game,” Nintendo said. Most of the games currently listed will receive improvements to optimize their display for the Nintendo Switch 2’s screen and higher resolution TVs. Some, like Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, will get boosts to their frame rates, and others, like The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening and Echoes of Wisdom, will receive HDR support. Perhaps most notable are the GameShare and GameChat additions for certain games. For example, Super Mario Odyssey is receiving an update so that “two people can play together, with one player controlling Mario and the other controlling Cappy. Share locally or share online via GameChat.” GameChat is one of the Switch 2’s biggest new features as it’ll integrate Discord-like video and audio chat so you can hang with your buds while playing a game together. However, after the “Welcome Offer” expires on March 31, 2026, GameChat will require a Nintendo Switch Online membership to use it. Head to Nintendo’s official site to read about all the performance upgrades ahead of the Nintendo Switch 2’s launch on June 5. That’s right, folks — it’s almost here.

News Switch 2 Won’t Support VRR in Docked Mode, Nintendo Confirms "The incorrect information was initially published on the Nintendo Switch 2 website, and we apologise for the error," Nintendo says. Posted By Shubhankar Parijat | On 17th, May. 2025 Upon the Nintendo Switch 2’s announcement, its official website briefly claimed that the console would feature support for Variable Refresh Rate (or VRR) in both docked and undocked modes, only for that information to be promptly and quietly removed. Now, Nintendo has offered official clarification on the extent of the feature’s support with the upcoming next-gen console. In a statement to Nintendo Life, Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch 2 will support VRR only in handheld mode, which means it won’t be supported in docked mode. The company says the aforementioned information on the website was published in error, as many have guessed since then, and apologized for the error. “Nintendo Switch 2 supports VRR in handheld mode only. The incorrect information was initially published on the Nintendo Switch 2 website, and we apologise for the error.” But does that mean VRR for docked mode could be added in as a feature with an update at some point in the future? Nintendo says it has “nothing to announce on this topic”- but it’s not a no, at least. The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch worldwide on June 5, with Mario Kart World releasing as its launch title. Nintendo recently also confirmed free Switch 2 enhancements releasing on the same day for several Switch 1 titles, including several Mario games, Zelda titles, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, among others. Tagged With: Elden Ring: Nightreign Publisher:Bandai Namco Developer:FromSoftware Platforms:PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PCView More DOOM: The Dark Ages Publisher:Bethesda Softworks Developer:id Software Platforms:Xbox Series X, PS5, PCView More Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Publisher:Sony Developer:Kojima Productions Platforms:PS5View More Amazing Articles You Might Want To Check Out! Red Dead Redemption 2 is in the Works for Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X/S – Rumour Rockstar Games' acclaimed open world Wild West epic is headed for current-gen consoles and Nintendo's upcoming... Switch 2 Won’t Support VRR in Docked Mode, Nintendo Confirms "The incorrect information was initially published on the Nintendo Switch 2 website, and we apologise for the ... Rockstar’s Next Move Might Be a GTA 4 Remaster, But a Basic Port Won’t Cut It If GTA 4 returns to the limelight, it needs to do so with more than a simple port. Elden Ring Nightreign Trailer Details the Guardian’s Passive and Skills Use Steel Guard to block massive amounts of damage or fly into the area to divebomb enemies and protect your a... Take-Two Interactive CEO is “Reasonably Confident” The Company Won’t be Affected by US Tariffs During a recent earnings call, Strauss Zelnick spoke about how the company already has a consumer base on ever... The First Berserker: Khazan Missed Internal Sales Targets But Nexon Doesn’t Mind In its recent earnings report, Nexon said that the game achieved its objective of bringing global attention to... View More

Scent is one of the most powerful ways to immortalize a moment in time, many thanks to the olfactory system’s direct line to the amygdala and hippocampus (the parts of the brain responsible for emotion and memory). It’s why a whiff of a familiar fragrance note can trigger déjà vu or nostalgia for something or somewhere long gone. And while perfumers often look to far-flung destinations for fragrance inspiration, some of the most compelling scents take cues from the spaces we frequent, like the interiors of a home or a hotel room.When perfumer Jérôme Epinette, the nose behind all of Byredo’s iconic scents, was drumming up inspiration for the brand’s iconic library-inspired Bibliothèque scent, he began with a leather couch, which he associates with sitting down to relax with a book. “That’s how I came up with the biotech [elements], which have a little bit of violet, suede, leather, and wood of course,” he explains. Elsewhere, hints of patchouli are meant to evoke a Mad Men–era image of someone lighting up a cigar among the shelves, he says, “even though we don’t smoke in the library anymore.”Similarly, Abel’s master perfumer Isaac Sinclair had a clear idea of setting when he was creating The Apartment, an interpretation of a Hausmannian Parisian flat overlooking the Arc de Triomphe (a very real place where the scent was concocted in person). Rather than pencil in the framework of a home note for note, The Apartment instead evokes sex appeal and sophistication through gourmand notes of cherry and rum that suggest the after-hours revelry that happens between those very walls. Sinclair says that, unlike other perfumes that revolve around one or two core notes, this fragrance captures a vibe and a sexy atmosphere.He compares the process of constructing a perfume to architecture itself. “Usually you start with a foundation and then you start building on top of that,” he says, rather than going roof-first. Sticking to the storyline is also important for the cohesiveness of a scent, he explains, drawing out the design metaphor. “Sometimes you can add something to a fragrance and it smells amazing, but you’ve actually lost the story.”Danish designer Oliver Gustav, whose studio in Copenhagen features a beautifully curated assortment of furniture and decor from all over the world, also has his own line of scents colored by his love for design and interiors. “I wanted something to bring me back to certain special places and times—sometimes a place with present-day significance, and [other times] a place almost ancient but with dreamy and inspirational significance to my work and life as a designer and collector,” he explains of his fragrances.Here a closer look at some of these intriguing scents out there inspired by interiors, along with the stories behind their makeup.Abel Apartment Eau de ParfumTo bottle up the sexy, cosmopolitan allure of Paris, The Apartment needed to match the same energy. Sinclair says the rum note in it came about after plenty of experimentation—and alludes to the debauchery of a long night after-hours—while the cherry that forms the heart of the perfume (derived from pure cherry extract) is another gourmand note with sultry connotations.Byredo Bibliothèque CandleBibliothèque is one of our favorite candles to recommend as gifts for bookworms and beyond. It plays with contrast through plum and peach notes that Epinette says lend a creaminess to the leather and patchouli at its heart for a well-balanced rendering of a place filled with cushy seating and bound books.Comme des Garcons Odeur 71 Eau de ToiletteComme des Garçon’s oddball Odeur 71 is a slice-of-life perfume inspired by everyday smells you might encounter in an office setting, like the dust on a lightbulb or pencil shavings. It was name-dropped by one of the guest editors for AD’s first Scent Week, DS & Durga cofounder Kavi Moltz, who describes it as an unorthodox perfume that showed her how far you could push the boundaries of fragrance. “It’s the scent I wore before we started DS & Durga—it’s meant to smell like copy machine toner and hot lightbulbs,” Moltz shares."MMXXI" Potpourri on Iron StandAs a designer and collector, Gustav had a special room in mind when creating the scent MMXXI. “It is my own calming living room in a crooked 1638 house where I can withdraw from the bustling world to one of soothing gray tones, beautiful books, deep comfortable chairs, and a crackling fireplace,” he says. He set the scene with notes of worn leather and tabacco, softened by violet to evoke the calm of the space.Vilhelm Parfumerie Room Service Eau de ParfumVilhelm Parfumerie’s Room Service was inspired by Old Hollywood glamour, with actress Greta Garbo as its ultimate muse. The scent places her in New York City’s Carlyle Hotel, draped in satin and drawing a bath topped with flower petals. Notes of musk and sandalwood nod to the sensuality of the scene that’s playing out, while the florals and citrus can be interpreted as a literal spin on the creature comforts of a well-stocked hotel room.Byredo Tree House CandleTree House is another architectural take on a tiny home. Notes of wood and hay bolster this cedar-and-bamboo-heavy fragrance, while earthy notes of myrrh and sandalwood elevate this youthful structure into a sacred place.Maison d'Etto Durban Jane Eau de ParfumMaison D’Etto’s woodsy Durban Jane is less a depiction of a specific house and more of an abstract expression of belonging and comfort. Perfumer Celine Barel captures the “cocoon-like feeling of home” through cedar and sandalwood notes that nod to the bones of a house, plus earthy notes like orris and labdanum (with its traces of leather) that heighten the cozy factor of this scent.

10 incredible new tabletop games for you to play in summer 2025 Lucy Orr Published May 16, 2025 2:00pm Pokémon TCG is in for a hot summer (The Pokémon Company) GameCentral looks at the most exciting new summer tabletop releases, including adaptations of Final Fantasy, Assassin’s Creed, and Citizen Sleeper The tabletop games industry has become an unlikely victim of Trump’s tariff trade war. Just after it was recovering from Covid supply chain issues it now sees itself hit with manufacturing issues and an uncertain future. It’s so bad that board game developer CMON has already shut up shop and Stonemaier, famous for the hugely successful Wingspan, is suing the Trump administration. Meanwhile Cephalofair, developer of fan favourite Gloomhaven, can’t even get their product on to the shelves, as it’s stuck in China. While I don’t expect any empty shelves at the UK Games Expo this month, there’s definitely panic in the air. Although one company that doesn’t seem to be too concerned is Games Workshop, who have always manufactured most of their products in the UK – although accessories and terrain for your favourite Warhammer army might become harder to find in the future. After everyone got into it during lockdown, the tabletop industry was riding a huge boom, with recent industry projections of the market doubling to around £20 billion by 2030. But US tariffs have left the industry reeling and could see the price for tabletop games around the world rise significantly. Despite the doom and gloom there’s plenty of exciting new products already out this year and many more on the way from massive brands such as Pokémon and Disney, as well as new Kickstarters that you can print yourself, thereby completely bypassing any manufacturing issues. There’s also never been a better time to support your local board game shop or Dungeons & Dragons club, as their overheads rise, so here’s a selection of games you might find on their shelves right now and those coming soon, that I’m excited to play during the summer break. Magic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy Square Enix’s iconic Final Fantasy franchise is stepping onto the cardboard battlefield with Magic: The Gathering, and the result is as gloriously nostalgic as it is mechanically exciting. The Universes Beyond initiative brings beloved characters, summons, and settings into Magic’s gameplay, with Cloud Strife leading the charge. The Final Fantasy Starter Kit offers two pre-constructed 60 card decks, packed with flavour and function and perfect for newcomers attracted by the sight of a Chocobo or Moogle. Each deck includes five rares, a foil mythic legendary, deck boxes, and digital codes for Magic: The Gathering Arena. But the real draw? The cards themselves. They are stunning. Cloud channels Final Fantasy 7’s environmental and emotional themes, with equipment-focused synergies that feel spot-on. Stiltzkin the Moogle is a flavourful support piece for donation strategies and the terrifying Tonberry arrives with Deathtouch and First Strike, which is fitting for a creature that’s haunted players for decades. With gorgeous full art treatments by amazing artists such as Takahashi Kazuya and Yoshitaka Amano, underpinned by clever mechanical call backs, this crossover is more than fan service, it’s a lovingly crafted bridge between two gaming giants that’s bound to fly of the shelves. £15.99 on Amazon – releases June 13 Warhammer 40,000 Kill Team: Typhon There’s a possible future where Games Workshop is the final tabletop company left standing, as they dodge tariffs and take down licence infringers like a particularly vicious swarm of tyrranids. You too can act out this future in Kill Team: Typhon, which delivers the chaos of Warhammer 40,000 in a claustrophobic, subterranean brawl between flesh-rending Tyranid Raveners and a desperate Adeptus Mechanicus Battleclade. The latest Kill Team box looks stunning and turns up the tension with asymmetric forces: a lean, elite brood of Raveners – deadly melee predators that can tunnel through terrain – versus a jury-rigged Mechanicus strike team, built from repurposed servitors and guided by a technoarchaeologist scouring ancient relics. But this isn’t Helldivers 2. The Raveners can be customised into deadly variants like the Tremorscythe and Felltalon, each armed with bio-engineered weapons designed for close-quarters carnage. On the other side, the Mechanicus bring massed, lobotomised firepower: breachers, gunners, medics, and overseers to allow for some tactical coordination. Also included are Hormagaunts, the swarming Tyrranids shock troops and new Tyranid-infested terrain – always the standout feature of these kill team boxes, in my opinion, and perfect for narrative or larger 40K battles. Typhon embraces Kill Team’s strength: cinematic asymmetry and high stakes. Price TBA – releases June Scalpers are going to love this (The Pokémon Company) Pokémon Trading Card Game Scarlet & Violet – Destined Rivals Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box This red and black box is going for gangbusters on eBay, before it’s even supposed to be out. The Scarlet & Violet Destined Rivals set reintroduces the beloved Trainer’s Pokémon mechanic, but now with a twist where players can align with iconic duos like Arven’s Mabosstiff and Ho-Oh ex or Cynthia and Garchomp ex. Or fall in with Team Rocket under Giovanni’s command, fielding heavy hitters like Mewtwo ex. It’s a rich throwback to the Gym Heroes era, with cards that spotlight specific trainer and pokémon bonds, each emblazoned with the trainer’s name. The expansion includes 83 cards branded under Team Rocket, 17 new Pokémon ex cards (10 of which are Trainer’s Pokémon ex), and a trove of high rarity collectibles: 23 illustration rares, 11 special illustration rares, and six hyper rare gold-etched cards. But the pre-launch hasn’t been all Sunflora and Jigglypuffs. Since its full reveal on March 24, pre-orders have sparked a frenzy amongst scalpers, with sellouts and early store hiccups are already marring the rollout. Still, between the nostalgia bait and villainous charm, Destined Rivals is shaping up to be one of 2025’s hottest trading card releases. RRP £54.99 – releases May 30 Finspan One game I just can’t put back on the shelf at the moment is Finspan; who’d of thought fish could be so much fun? Since Wingspan took flight in 2019, it’s become a modern classic: part art piece, part engine builder, and a benchmark for gateway games. Finspan, the third entry in the series, swaps feathers for fins, inviting players to explore marine ecosystems across oceanic zones in a beautifully illustrated, medium-lightweight game that last about 45 minutes. Mechanically, Finspan is more accessible than Wingspan, thanks to forgiving resource generation and a gentler deck structure. Strategic depth is still there, whether you chase high value fish, go wide with schools, or balance both. It’s more of a solo puzzle, and less about blocking opponents, which might suit more casual groups. Replayability is strong, and with one to five player support it scales well. The art is stunning, and the fish facts make you feel like a would-be marine biologist. But I missed the funny components (no birdhouse dice tower), so this is missing some of that Wingspan magic. Finspan is a fantastic entry point to the series and an accessible and fun addition to the franchise. It’s not as perfect as Wingspan, but it swims confidently in its own current. Could we see whale and crustacean expansions? I hope so. RRP £41.99 – available now Star Wars Unlimited – Jump To Lightspeed While you might have missed the Star Wars Celebration in Japan last month, and be bereft over the end of Andor Season 2, don’t worry – there are plenty of alternatives for Star Wars fandom. Fantasy Flight Games is revving its hyperdrive with Jump To Lightspeed, the fourth set for trading card game Star Wars Unlimited. A dramatic shift from previous ground-focused releases, this set propels players into orbit, with an emphasis on space combat and a host of gameplay refinements. Headlining the release are two new Spotlight Decks, each featuring a classic rivalry, such as Han Solo vs. Boba Fett. These 50-card preconstructed decks introduce Pilots, a brand-new card type that changes how space units operate. Pilots can be deployed to enhance ships with improved health and damage dealing abilities, offering fresh tactical depth. The set also debuts the Piloting keyword, a hyperspace mechanic, and five special rarity cards per deck, including one new Leader per Spotlight release. It’s a sleek continuation of Unlimited’s mission, with deep strategy wrapped in Star Wars flair. Fantasy Flight isn’t just releasing a new set; they’re effectively entering year two of the game with a soft reboot, that smartly rebalances and refreshes. For new and returning players, the standalone Spotlight Decks offer a refined on-ramp into the meta, while the stellar art and fan favourite make this one of the best sci-fi trading card games around. RRP: £34.99 – available now An indie tabletop game adapting an indie video game (Jump Over the Age) Citizen Sleeper: Spindlejack I was gutted I didn’t manage to nab some physical Cycles of the Eye Data-Cloud dice from Lost in Cult, before they sold out, so I was ecstatic to see the shadow drop of Citizen Sleeper: Spindlejack, especially as it’s completely free. It’s a lean, solo tabletop role-player set in the neon-drenched corridors of the Far Spindle, part of the Citizen Sleeper universe. Released on May 5th (aka Citizen Sleeper Day), it’s a print-and-play experience that trades dense narrative for kinetic delivery runs and tactical movement through a crumbling space station. Inspired by Kadet, the courier from Citizen Sleeper 2, Spindlejack casts you as one of the eponymous daredevils: airbike mounted messengers who dodge cargo haulers and urban decay to deliver sensitive payloads in a haunted, half-dead network. The draw? Not just the cryo or reputation, but the thrill, the competition, and the culture. Using your 10 six-sided dice, a pencil, and some printed sheets you’ll chart courses across randomly generated intersections, upgrade your bike, and edge toward Spindlejack legend status. Designed by Gareth Damian Martin, with stylish, gritty art from Guillaume Singelin, this is a tight, systems-focused dive into a beloved sci-fi setting. No campaign scheduling. No group required. Just you, your dice, and the Spindle’s rusted arteries. For fans of Citizen Sleeper or those craving a focused, atmospheric solo experience, Spindlejack is a no-brainer. DIY or DIE. Available now Disney Lorcana has become a certified hit (Ravensburger) Disney Lorcana – Reign Of Jafar Set 8 and Illumineer’s Quest: Palace Heist The internet has been on fire with the announcement that forthcoming Lorcana sets are to include Darkwing Duck and The Goofy Movie cast, emphasising that Disney Lorcana has become something of a juggernaut since its 2023 debut, captivating collectors and competitive players with a blend of nostalgic charm and evolving mechanics – judging scandals aside. During the Next Chapter of Lorcana livestream earlier this month, Ravensburger dropped major news. The autumn 2025 set, Fabled, will introduce Lorcana’s first ever set rotation, a sign the game is maturing into a competitive force. To support this shift, Fabled will include reprints from earlier sets, while also debuting two new rarity levels: epic and the ultra-rare Iconic. Reign Of Jafar, the game’s eighth set, sees Jafar rise as the new central villain, corrupting Archazia’s Island and bringing a darker twist to the narrative. Familiar faces like Mulan, Stitch, Rapunzel, and Bruno return, alongside new cards and accessories, including updated sleeves and deck boxes featuring classic Enchanted artwork. The new Illumineer’s Quest: Palace Heist PvE box expands on the beloved Deep Trouble, letting players face Jafar co-op style. Expect pre-built decks (Amethyst Amber and Ruby Steel), booster boxes, and enough lore-packed cardboard to fuel your summer break. £16.99 starter pack – releases May 30 The Lord Of The Rings: Fate Of The Fellowship While Finspan might be missing a dice tower, Fate Of The Fellowship more than makes up for that with a dice tower Barad-dûr. This is a one to five player co-op strategy game that builds on the Pandemic System but adds enough fresh features to feel distinct, deeper, and more precious than ever. Players take on the roles of Fellowship members and allies, racing to protect havens from surging shadow troops and helping Frodo sneak past the Nazgûl en route to Mount Doom. Unlike previous Pandemic adaptations, Fate Of The Fellowship leans hard into narrative mechanics. You’ll juggle four resources – stealth, valour, resistance, and friendship – across a sprawling map as you battle despair and shifting objectives. Each player commands two characters, with asymmetric abilities and layered decisions every turn. With 24 rotating objectives, a constant threat from the Eye of Sauron, and a cleverly tuned solo mode, designer Matt Leacock has crafted his richest Pandemic variant yet. I’ve seen plenty of tabletop gamers saying this will be their must-play at UK Games Expo. RRP £69.99 – releases June 27 Assassin’s Creed Animus Animus brings the Assassin’s Creed universe to the tabletop in a wholly fresh, narrative-driven experience. Up to four players select historical eras, each tied to a legendary assassin like Ezio or Eivor, resulting in distinct, asymmetric playstyles, unique objectives, and specialised mechanics. Rather than a miniatures skirmish, this is a competitive, timeline-jumping adventure where players dive into ancestral memories via the titular Animus. Strategic stealth and precision matter: while one player might rush to the end, victory favours those who stay synchronised with their ancestor’s memory by completing tasks efficiently and, of course, stealthily. While there’s still not much information about this game at the moment, Animus looks to employ modular and evolving dynamics driven by interactive card play. Players can impact each other’s timelines, which will hopefully keep the experience reactive and organic. With deep lore integration, and Ubisoft’s full support, this could the most ambitious Assassin’s Creed tabletop title yet. Crowdfunding starts summer 2025 Some like it Hoth (Days of Wonder) Star Wars: Battle Of Hoth Days of Wonder, the studio behind tabletop classic Ticket To Ride, has unveiled its next major release, with Star Wars: Battle Of Hoth. Designed for two to four players, aged 8 and up, this fast-paced board game runs around 30 minutes per session and leans on the accessible, card-driven Commands & Colors system. More Trending Players will face off as Imperial or Rebel forces across 17 scenario-driven missions, with options to escalate into campaign mode. Leader cards introduce familiar names like Vader, Luke, Leia, and Han to influence the tide of battle. Although it should be easy to learn, concerns linger about the scope of the battlefield. A cramped board could reduce tactical play to simple dice duels, something fans of strategic depth may find frustrating. Questions also remain about unit range and movement dynamics. Still, Battle Of Hoth promises cinematic nostalgia and the potential for layered tactics, and all for a very reasonable price. RRP: £49.99 – crowdfunding starts summer 2025 Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. GameCentral Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Sun Launches Its Strongest Solar Flare of the Year So Far, Causing Radio Blackouts Around the World The new sunspot responsible for this powerful blast is rotating into view, which could bring more solar activity—and potential aurora-causing coronal mass ejections—to Earth in the coming days The sun launched a powerful solar flare on May 14, 2025, captured here by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. NASA / SDO The sun has had quite a busy week hurling solar flares at our planet, causing blackouts across the globe. “After weeks of calm, solar activity is suddenly high again,” reports Spaceweather.com. This is not totally unexpected, as scientists announced in the fall that the sun has reached the peak of its natural, 11-year cycle of activity, a high level known as the solar maximum. During this phase, the sun has more sunspots—dark, cool regions with tangled-up magnetic fields that can erupt material out into space. The recent flares came from a pair of sunspots, including a new one that emerged earlier this week. Called AR4087, the spot is not completely aligned with Earth, but it’s currently turning toward our planet. “If the explosions continue for a few more days, however, Earth will find itself squarely in the strike zone,” with the potential for aurora-causing coronal mass ejections (CMEs) to arrive, writes Spaceweather.com. Solar flares are bursts on the sun’s surface that send electromagnetic radiation, including X-rays and extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV), hurtling through space—and sometimes, they’re pointed at Earth. These forms of energy can ionize, or charge, low layers of the planet’s ionosphere on the sun-facing side. That can affect high frequency radio waves used for long-distance communication, because they bounce off the ionosphere’s upper layers to get around the globe. When the lower layers are ionized, however, these waves lose energy or become completely absorbed, causing radio blackouts. A solar flare’s intensity is classified as either A, B, C, M or X, with X being the most powerful and each letter representing an increase in strength by a factor of ten. Radio blackout intensities are ranked on a scale from R1 to R5, with R1 corresponding to an M1 flare and R5 corresponding to X20, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). On Tuesday, a sunspot named AR4086 shot out an X1.2 solar flare. The very next day, the new sunspot AR4087 followed up with an M5.3 flare before a significantly stronger X2.7 flare—then topped it all off with another M7.7 flare, as reported by Live Science’s Jess Thomson. The AR4087 explosion caused “strong” R3 radio blackouts in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, per Space.com’s Daisy Dobrijevic.Specifically, the X2.7 flare—the strongest so far this year—took place while the sun was over the Middle East and interrupted high frequency radio signals in the area for around ten minutes, explains Shawn Dahl, a space weather forecaster at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, to NBC News’ Denise Chow. “Other than the likelihood of [high-frequency] communication degradation due to some shortwave fade issues, we are unaware of any other likely or possible impacts,” Dahl says in a written statement to NBC News. However, as sunspot AR4087 rotates to face Earth head-on, we might be in for more solar activity. The powerful X2.7 flare also came with a CME, a burst of plasma and magnetic fields that can supercharge auroras. But rather than being pointed at Earth, that CME was launched at Mars, and it could cause auroras on the red planet this Sunday, per Live Science. “This is getting intense, especially as this active region turns closer into view,” Vincent Ledvina, an aurora chaser and photographer in Alaska, wrote in a social media post on Wednesday. “What does this AR have planned over the next days… we’ll have to wait and see.” Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday.