Hey, everyone! I'm Ethan K, and welcome to the Tech Center's Weekly Newsletter! In this week's newsletter, we're talking about the new Steam Hardware (Steam Controller, Steam Machine, and Steam Frame), we're celebrating Techsgiving (or Thanksgiving, but Techsgiving sounds way cooler), and we're shining a spotlight on the iPhone 16e!

Let's start with the biggest news! On November 12th, Valve announced three new Steam hardware that will release before April 2026. The new hardware is the reiterated Steam Controller (which looks ugly in my opinion, but more about that way later on in a future Spotlight), the Steam Machine (6 times more powerful than Steam Deck, can run 4K60fps), and the Steam Frame (a new VR headset).

So, let's break down each piece of hardware:

• Low-latency 2.4GHz wireless connection via 'Puck' (which is also a charging station) and USB-C wired connection


• New magnetic thumbsticks, resulting in less stick drift. Additionally, it has two haptic touchpads for a mouse-like control, gyro aiming, four programmable back buttons, and HD rumble motors


• Designed to work with any other Steam hardware, PCs, and anything else running Steam or Steam Link


• Has up to 35 hours of battery on a single charge (bear in mind that the DualSense controller lasts up to 12 hours, so almost a 300% increase with the Steam Controller)!

• Six times the performance of the Steam Deck, can handle 4K60fps


• Compact (roughly 6 inches tall) and quiet!


• Has 2 storage options - 512GB or 2TB


• Key features include fast suspend and fast resume, cloud saves, and being able to connect to up to four Steam Controllers at once

• Wireless VR headset that can play Steam games that support VR, and even those that don't!


• 110° field of view, up to 144Hz, dual 2160 x 2160 LCD panels (per eye)


• 16GB of RAM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, and runs SteamOS without needing a PC


• Has eye tracking, and renders only what the user is looking at, saving bandwidth


• Uses same magnetic thumbsticks as Steam Controller, has haptic feedback, and uses single AA batteries

Now, let's get to our next part of this week's newsletter - Techsgiving! As you know, Thanksgiving is on Thursday, and here at the Tech Center, we wanted to celebrate with you, except with a tech twist. So, here are some tech-related things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving:

• Phones - for keeping us connected to our family, and getting answers quick


• Computers - whether it be for work, school, personal life, or gaming, these are the center of technology


• The Internet - for access to endless information


• Video games - to keep us entertained; like that best friend who's there for you on a good day or a bad day


• Streaming services - for endless entertainment with our favorite streamers


• Social media - for staying in touch with friends and family, and to make new friends


• Wearable technology - to keep us up-to-date on our health


• Smart home devices - convenience and security at its best

Here at the Tech Center, we're thankful for all of the amazing technology we have access to, and we want to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving!

Now, let's get to our weekly Spotlight! This week, we're shining a spotlight on the iPhone 16e!

• Display: 6.1-inch, 60Hz refresh rate


• Chip: A18


• Storage and RAM: 128GB-512GB storage, 8GB RAM


• Camera: 48MP Fusion Main with optical-quality 2x zoom, 12MP Front


• Battery: 4005 mAh, 20W wired (USB-C), 7.5 wireless (supports Qi but suprisingly not MagSafe)


• OS: Ships with iOS 18, at least 7 years of updates and security patches


• Assistant: Yes (Apple Intelligence)


• Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC


• Price: Starts at $599


• Colors: Black, White


• Released: February 28, 2025


• Misc: IP68 water and dust resistance, 167g, no Dynamic Island

Now, let's get to the review. Overall, the iPhone 16e is a solid phone for its price. The A18 chip is powerful and efficient, and the camera system is great for photography enthusiasts. The battery life is decent, and the phone is lightweight and easy to handle. However, the 60Hz display is a bit disappointing, especially considering that many budget phones now offer higher refresh rates. Additionally, the lack of MagSafe and the limited color options may be a drawback for some users. Overall, if you're looking for a budget iPhone and don't mind the lower refresh rate, the iPhone 16e is worth considering.

Well, that's it for this week's newsletter! Next week, we'll be talking about PlayStation's new monitor, the crazy PlayStation Black Friday sale, and we'll be shining a spotlight on the S25 FE!

By the way, as you probably noticed (I mean, how could you not), the Tech Center has a limited-time Thanksgiving theme! Additionally, there are now Quick Buttons at the top and bottom of the page to easily navigate to different sections of the website. Check them out! Last, there's a new FAQ page below the Update List, so check that out as well, and there's also a new Tech Center Hall of Fame (which will be added in V. 1.5)! We'll have a few patches releasing this week, but other than that, we here at the Tech Center hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving/Techsgiving with your friends and family!

That's it for now - we'll see you next week!