The best gaming laptops bring high-performance hardware in a portable package to allow you to game everywhere you go (at least as long as their batteries last), so it's obvious that they would be a hit with PC gamers of all stripes.

Even dedicated gaming rig builders wouldn't scoff at an Alienware laptop with an RTX 3080 Ti and 32GB RAM, but pretty much every gamer would look at you sideways if you told them to buy MacBook Pro.

Even though many of the best PC games are also the best Mac games , Apple has had a gaming blind spot in its MacBook lineup since the very first iBook was announced in 1999.

Over the years, MacBooks and especially MacBook Pros have become more and more categorized as premium, general-purpose laptops or professional equipment that treated gaming as an afterthought, if it even considered it at all.

This has allowed the gaming space to be almost entirely filled by Windows PCs and laptops running third-party hardware, which is how things have been for more than 20 years.

That has started to shift, however, and for several reasons. While there hasn't been a Mac gaming revolution (yet), Apple itself has taken an interest in competing in the gaming space for the first time in decades and it has a lot of things going in its favor.

But PC gaming isn't the kind of thing you can do effectively with half-measures, however, so Apple would need to go big if it plans to make a play for one of the fastest-growing consumer markets in the world.

It has the hardware and the incentive to do so, so what would it look like if Apple said "Screw it, let's do a gaming laptop", and how could it win over skeptical PC gamers?

What kind of hardware would it bring to the table?

Some Apple fans will be quick to point out that the current line-up of MacBook Pros make excellent gaming laptops, especially as you move higher up the configuration stack to the M1 Pro and M1 Max.

They aren't wrong on that point, at least as far as the hardware is concerned. I've recently taken a MacBook Pro 14-inch with M1 Max and 64GB unified memory, and I have worked through a lot of games with dedicated Mac support on Steam to see how well they perform against their Windows counterparts ( Full disclosure: Apple was kind enough to loan TechRadar the device for testing purposes; and while 64GB memory is a huge amount of memory, its impact on gaming performance over a 32GB RAM gaming laptop would be negligible given the demands of current games).

In my experience with Total War: Three Kingdoms and Shadow of the Tomb Raider – both of which have built-in benchmarks making it easy to test multiple devices for comparison – the MacBook Pro with M1 Max is absolutely capable of high-end gaming.

On an RTX 3080 laptop with an Intel Core i7-11800H processor and 32GB RAM, Shadow of the Tomb Raider averaged 50 frames per second (fps) at 1440p and the highest settings. With the MacBook Pro, it was averaging 45 fps at 1600p with the highest settings, so well within striking distance of one of the best processors and GPUs for gaming laptops out there.

The MacBook Pro running Total War: Three Kingdoms at 1600p on ultra settings only got about half the fps of the Windows laptop at 1440p and ultra settings on average: 31 fps to 57 fps, respectively. Scale back the resolution to 1920 x 1200p, which is where many gaming laptops max out, and you get 43 fps on average for the MacBook Pro on ultra settings.

And, if you drop the settings down one notch to high at 1200p, you're averaging 60 fps easily, while similar settings on the RTX 3080 laptop scored about 83 fps. Still, 60 fps is the bar you need to clear with PC gamers, and the MacBook Pro with M1 Max does so with what is essentially integrated graphics. And on a 14-inch screen, if you told me you could tell the difference between ultra and high settings on a Total War battle map without seeing them side by side and zoomed in, I'd call you a liar.

Another point in Apple's favor is how the Retina display on a MacBook Pro makes everything look absolutely gorgeous, even against a 4K OLED display on a Windows laptop. Nearly all OLED displays right now max out at 60Hz, while the Retina display can push as high as 120Hz, so whatever difference in detail might have been noticeable is simply overpowered by the difference in visual quality a Retina display provides. It's honestly not even close.

Ultimately, in my experience playing a variety of games from EVE Online to Disco Elysium to the Tomb Raider trilogy to Metro Exodus, there was little to no difference between it and some of my favorite gaming laptops of the best couple of years. As a professional mobile workstation, the MacBook Pro with M1 Max approaches the gaming performance of the best RTX 3070 laptops , and it's not even trying to be a gaming laptop.

If anything, the MacBook Pro looked and played even better then those other devices entirely by accident, which makes me really wonder what it would be like if Apple actively tried to make a genuine gaming MacBook, with all the gaming specific optimizations that entails, to directly compete with them.

Ok, now let's talk about the design

If you've read any of my reviews for gaming laptops, you might have picked up that I'm really not a fan of the gaming laptop aesthetic. Is it a robot? Is it a car? Maybe it's a stealth bomber? Nope, it's none of these things. It's a laptop, and trying to make it look like something that a high school junior in 2004 would have thought looked totally bad ass is such fallow ground in 2022 that I am honestly running out of snarky ways to say how awful it is.

It's not just unimaginative design, it's anti-imaginative. It's what happens when you have product designers who studied trend-setting designs from a generation ago but can't come up with a genuinely original idea on their own.

Even more likely, it's a problem of corporate bosses taking the daring designs presented to them by talented designers, crumpling them up, and tossing them towards a wastebasket.

"Gaming laptops full of sharp angles with the color of boring sports cars is what we've always done, so I'll be damned if we do anything different," the boss might say as the designer watches the product of months of their hard work miss the wastebasket by a good foot and roll helplessly across the floor, lost in a sea of crumpled up paper balls full of exciting innovations.

Say what you will about Apple, it's not that. It has a world-class product design team over there in Cupertino; and not only that, it's a company that's not afraid of change . Yes, the MacBook lineup has featured the same overall design for a long time now and it's desperately in need of a makeover. But so did the iMac , and it's on its second redesign since it launched in 1998. The MacBook will certainly get one as well, but the same can't be said of just about any gaming laptop out there right now.

What would Apple's take on a gaming laptop look like? I honestly have no idea, but it absolutely would not look like anything on the market today, and if the past is prologue, the design elements of a gaming MacBook would immediately be copied by competitors and it could finally breaking us out of the ugly rut we've been stuck in for ages.

Could a gaming MacBook even appeal to gamers at this point?

So why don't we see Elden Ring and the like on a MacBook Pro? Apple's insistence on tightly controlling the product ecosystem might be to blame here, since some developers might simply find the business side of things too restrictive (i the fight with Epic Games over Fortnite on iOS).

Apple's dragging its feet on Steam support over the years is another culprit, likely because Apple has less control over the distribution channel (and a cut of the revenue, if we're being honest), and this definitely didn't help. Since Steam is the largest PC gaming distribution platform in the world, this kept Apple completely out of the PC gaming conversation for years that it could have otherwise spent changing the hearts and minds of the PC gaming community.

That is changing, but Apple is still making up for lost ground it didn't have to lose in the first place, and it has some ways to go to close that gap. Unfortunately, that gap is about as important as it gets in the PC gaming space.

If major developers aren't developing for the Mac, then there isn't much incentive for gamers to buy a Mac in the first place. And without gamers demanding games on Mac devices, there isn't enough incentive for major developers to put in the time and resources to build their games for MacOS.

This kind of cycles doesn't break on its own; you need something to disrupt it, and honestly, a gaming MacBook could be the thing to do it. A gaming MacBook doesn't need to be the most powerful gaming laptop on the market, it just has to be great, which Apple is already capable of doing with its current hardware.

Put all of that hardware into a laptop with a gorgeous design and Apple would absolutely win a lot of converts. The biggest Achilles heel for Apple is a comparatively smaller catalog of games than Windows, but Apple's catalog is still much, much bigger than most gamers even realize (if you don't own a Mac, why would you even look at Steam's MacOS offerings, after all). Even I didn't appreciate the scope of Steam's MacOS library until just recently, and just about all of the games I play most are already on Mac.

There are some notable exceptions that might be deal breakers for PC gamers, like the aforementioned Elden Ring, or Cyberpunk 2077 . But Apple only has control over the product it puts out, and if it were to build a gaming MacBook that PC gamers can't resist buying, then the developers will have no choice but to follow where the gamers go and the catalog issue becomes moot. It's also something that caters to possibly Apple's greatest strength, since Apple has long mastered the art of getting customers in the door with a great looking product they didn't realize they wanted until they saw it.

Possibly the biggest hurdle for a gaming MacBook would be its price. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Max isn't on sale on Apple's website at the moment, but the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Max starts at $3,499 / £3,299 / AU$5,249. Gamers are used to dropping several paychecks on gaming rigs and laptops, but there are limits to the price we'd tolerate, and $3,499 sure ain't it.

Still, the price is something that is also within Apple's control, and if it wanted to make a play for the PC gaming market, it could afford to eat a loss initially to get a foothold. That's pretty standard business strategy, so a gaming MacBook priced competitively against Razer's premium gaming laptops isn't out of the question.

Now, do I think that Apple will announce an actual gaming MacBook anytime soon? If you asked me a year ago, I'd laugh at you for even suggesting such an idea. But after gaming on an M1 Max, I'm not laughing anymore. Apple is pretty much there already, so now I'm genuinely asking where the hell is it and can I get it in purple ?

Casio's latest G-Shock watch is a brash throwback to 1980s nostalgia

Casio has launched a special edition G-Shock watch in collaboration with British workwear brand MC Overalls , which specializes in tough, practical workwear with a colorful twist.

As reported by G-Central , the DW-5600MCO-1ER watch puts a 1980s-inspired spin on the classic square-faced DW-5600BB, with a plain black case and primary color printed band. Casio says that the dots and strokes on the strap were inspired by the rivets on MC Overalls' original dungarees, which were first sold in 1908.

The company describes the watch as 'indestructible'. It's water-resistant to 200 meters, and has the G-Shock Hollow Core Guard, which protects its internal components from knocks and drops. The face is covered in toughened mineral glass to resist scratches.

Unlike the G-Squad Pro released last year, it's a conventional digital watch rather than a smartwatch , with tools including a multi-function alarm with flashing diode, countdown timer, and stopwatch.

It will be available in the UK from March 25, priced at £119 (about $160 / AU$210). It comes with an exclusive MC Overalls Patch, and the option to buy a special G-Shock x MC Overalls T-Shirt if you're picking up the watch at G-Shock's Carnaby Street store in London. You'll have to move fast to grab one though, as only 300 will be sold.

Retro cool

The launch comes hot on the heels of Casio's collaboration with Indonesian fashion brand Paradise Youth Club, which resulted in a retro-style watch brimming with 1990s nostalgia. The limited edition DW-6900 was based on the original model, released in 1995, which was the first to feature an electroluminescent backlight.

With the 90s still firmly in vogue, we wouldn't be surprised to see more old-school G-Shock watches making their way onto fashionable wrists over the coming months.

Analysis: toughness matters

MC Overalls' colorful dungarees and Casio G-Shock watches have one thing in common: they're made to last, and that's important. Whether it's a piece of clothing or a watch, manufacturing goods uses a lot of resources and generates a considerable amount of carbon dioxide, so the longer you can keep using what you already own, the better – and other tech companies seem to be taking note.

While slim and delicate smartwatches definitely have an appeal, we're seeing more and more companies release more rugged wearables that will withstand some seriously heavy knocks. The Garmin Instinct 2 , Amazfit T-Rex Pro , and Coros Vertix 2 are just some of the sports watches that are taking cues from the G-Shock line and foregoing slender cases for something much more durable. Ultimately, that could mean less frequent replacements, smaller production runs, and fewer emissions.

There are even rumors that a rugged Apple Watch designed for extreme sports may be on the cards, which would be a big change of pace for a company that's made slenderness its top priority since Steve Jobs slid the first Macbook Air out of a manila envelope back in 2009.

The new DW-5600MCO-1ER is definitely fashion-focused, but keeping the watch's face plain was a smart choice, and hopefully means that it's a watch you'll keep using for many years to come.

Yes, you can cook ice cream in an air fryer. And it’s delicious

When it comes to food that can be cooked in an air fryer, fries and chicken wings spring to mind. However, the kitchen gadget is great for sweet treats like brownies and donuts too. So what about ice cream?

Before you write me off as crazy, hear me out. Deep-fried ice cream is a popular dessert often served in Mexican restaurants. Balls of the creamy frozen treat are covered in a crunchy coating and deep-fried for less than a minute to create a warm, crisp shell while the ice cream remains safely intact.

My first taste of deep fried ice cream was a few years ago when I was on holiday in the Caribbean, but as I don’t own a deep fat fryer  - in part to stop me indulging in this style of treats too often - so it’s never something I’ve attempted to recreate at home.

Until now, that is. Spurred on by my success of making Krispy Kreme style donuts in an air fryer , I began to wonder if I could also use an air fryer to make a healthier version of deep-fried ice cream.

Best air fryer deals

Read on to discover what happened when we attempted to make deep-fried ice cream in an air fryer - or, if you’ve already decided you want to invest in this handy kitchen appliance, check out the best prices on the best air fryers we like right now:

It's all about the coating

The ice cream I had enjoyed on holiday was covered in a batter before being deep-fried. Unfortunately, food covered in batter is one of the few things that can’t be prepared in an air fryer, as the thick liquid runs off whatever was initially dunked in it, and makes a mess of the frying basket.

When I used an air fryer to create chicken that rivaled KFC , crushed cornflakes proved to be the best coating to offer a crunch alongside an appetizing golden color, so it made sense to use them to coat my ice cream.

Following some research, I also discovered that crushed graham crackers (or digestive biscuits if you’re in the UK) were being used to coat the ice cream instead of batter. Cookies and Creme is one of the top 10 most popular ice cream flavors in the US , so while pairing well with the ice cream, I thought cookie crumbs would also tick the box for creating a crisp shell, so I decided to put both to the test.

In terms of a recipe, this ice cream dish is so simple I didn’t think I needed to rely on one. I opted for vanilla ice cream, as that’s what I’d had on holiday and then decided to follow the same steps I would when coating chicken by dipping the ice cream balls in beaten egg, followed by the cookie and cornflake crumbs.

Just like with chicken, I decided to double-coat the ice cream, as I know how fragile the coating can be, and given the ice cream would start to melt as it heated up, I wanted to give the coating the best chance possible not to slip off.

I also decided to roll the ice cream balls in flour first to help the egg stick and place the balls in the freezer for a couple of hours after coating to ensure they were as solid as possible.

Let's get air frying

While I felt confident in my knowledge of how to make the coated ice cream balls, I wasn't sure what timing and temperature to use. So I did some more research, but this time on air fryer ice cream recipes - it turns out plenty of people have already tried to make the dish in an air fryer.

This research, coupled with my previous experience cooking with the appliance - for example, when I discovered that cooking cinnamon rolls in an air fryer is better than my usual method - meant I settled on a cooking temperature of 392 F / 200 C degrees and a duration of two minutes.

I pre-heated the Instant Vortex Plus , which is currently top of our best air fryers list, and then placed the ice cream balls, which had been coated and placed in the freezer a few hours before, onto a small sheet of parchment paper  - so should the worst happen and the ice cream melt, at least my air fryer wouldn’t end up a total mess . I then placed this in the air fryer basket.

Finally, I spritzed the balls with a couple of squirts of spray oil to aid the browning process and placed the frying basket in the air fryer.

Part way through cooking the air fryer alerted me that it was time to turn the contents of the basket, so the hot air can reach every inch of the food to ensure a crisp finish. However, I decided to ignore this alert, as I didn’t want to risk damaging the already-delicate ice cream balls.

Verdict

Once the cooking time had elapsed, I was thrilled to see the ice cream hadn't melted and the shells were still crisp. However, while the cornflake coating was still intact, the cookie crumbs had slid off the ice cream balls - so cornflakes were the clear winner in terms of a crunchy shell.

I grabbed a spoon and tried one of the cornflake-crusted ice cream balls. It was creamy but didn’t quite taste as delicious as I had expected. After a few more bites it became clear, the cornflakes weren’t sweet enough to satisfy my sugar-craving, so I decided to rethink the coating.

Honey & Nut Corn Flakes (or Crunchy Nut Cornflakes in the UK) are cornflakes but sweeter thanks to the addition of honey, while the chopped nuts add additional crunch. Ice cream and nuts go well together, which led me to wonder if this sweeter cereal could potentially elevate this desert and make it taste as good as I remembered.

When this batch finished cooking, it was clear I’d cracked it. The coating was crisp and crunchy, while inside the desert was soft, but not melting. The sweet shell married perfectly with the vanilla ice cream, too.

Not only does this dessert taste great, these air-fried ice cream balls will also blow the minds of any dinner party guests you may have. I’ll certainly be making this a go-to dish when I never have people over for dinner, especially given it's healthier and safer than deep frying too. It’s definitely worth trying for yourself too.