Tony is a computing writer at Tom’s Guide covering laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending too much time on X/Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits involve attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to NYC bars with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and various independent gaming sites.
Latest articles by Tony Polanco

Best gaming laptops that I personally recommend after years of testing and thousands of hours of play
By Alex Wawro last updated
Our best gaming laptops list includes great budget options as well as huge, premium powerhouses. These are the best of the best, based on hours of testing and hands-on reviews.

I played Metroid Prime 4 and this Switch 2 shooter was absolutely worth the wait
By Tony Polanco published
We got to play almost two hours of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and we're already looking forward to more. Here is our hands-on preview of Nintendo's highly anticipated shooter.

SanDisk's new 'Plug-and-Stay' flash drive gives your laptop an extra 1TB of storage in a tiny design for just $119
By Tony Polanco published
This new SanDisk USB flash drive is so small that you can leave it connected to your PC or laptop all day.

I might ditch my gaming PC for the Steam Machine — here's why
By Tony Polanco published
Valve just announced the Steam Machine, and if its claims are true, then it could cause some folks to consider getting it over a gaming PC. Here's why I'm considering making the switch.

Steam Machine console challenges PS5 and Xbox — 6x more powerful than Steam Deck
By Tony Polanco published
Valve is entering the home console space with the new Steam Machine and Steam Controller. Here's everything you need to know.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra vs. iPad Pro M5 — which tablet should you buy?
By Tony Polanco published
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra and iPad Pro M5 offer the best qualities of premium tablets, but which one should you buy? We help you decide.

I tested the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra for a week — here’s what I like and what I don’t
By Tony Polanco published
Brilliant tablet, poor laptop replacement

I just tried Samsung’s new Dex Mode on the Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra — and I don’t think it can replace your laptop (yet)
By Tony Polanco published
Does the new DeX Mode help make the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra a laptop replacement? I went in-depth with this feature to find out.

‘I want other fighting games to copy us’ — Virtua Fighter 6 producer shares his aspirations for the upcoming game
By Tony Polanco published
I spoke with Virtua Fighter 6 producer Riichiro Yamada and learned how that upcoming game aims to resurrect the franchise — and how it could innovate the fighting game genre.

Mac sales are up as Windows 10 reaches end of life — 5 MacBooks I recommend right now
By Tony Polanco published
With Microsoft no longer supporting Windows 10, it should come as no surprise that shipments for Apple PCs have risen. Here's what we know and which MacBooks we recommend.

Does the M5 MacBook Pro prove Apple is ready for serious gaming? I put it to the test
By Tony Polanco published
The MacBook Pro M5 is a truly powerful laptop, but can it run games well? We put this laptop to the test!

The console war is truly over — Halo is finally coming to PS5
By Tony Polanco published
During the Halo World Championship, Microsoft announced Halo: Campaign Evolved. This remake of the original Halo is not only coming to Xbox Series X, but also to PS5.

I just played Ninja Gaiden 4 — and it's the best hack-and-slash action game I’ve played in years
By Tony Polanco published
Ninja Gaiden 4 impresses thanks to its brutal combat and non-stop action, making it one of the finest action games in recent years.

The best gaming keyboard in 2025: Tested and rated
By Tony Polanco last updated
The best gaming keyboard can make a huge difference in both PC gaming and everyday productivity.

I tested the iPad Pro and the MacBook Pro — and this is the M5 device I’d buy
By Tony Polanco published
Which M5 machine is right for you?

The best iPad 2025 — every model tested and rated
By Tony Polanco last updated
From the big, beautiful iPad Pro to the svelte iPad Air, these are the best iPads you can buy right now, based on our hands-on testing and reviews.

I just tested the MacBook Pro M5 — and it’s seriously powerful
By Tony Polanco published
Still the best laptop for power users

iPad Pro M5 review: The most powerful tablet ever
By Tony Polanco published
Apple just raised the bar (again)

After trying out Gaming Copilot on the ROG Xbox Ally, I’m not sold yet — but I see the potential
By Tony Polanco published
Gaming Copilot is currently available to Xbox Insiders. Here's how the AI-driven feature functions on the ROG Xbox Ally X.

M5 MacBook Pro — Specs, price and release date
By Tony Polanco last updated
Apple has just announced M5 MacBook Pro, but just the base model. You'll have to wait a little longer for the M5 Pro and M5 Max. Here's everything you need to know!

iPad Pro M5 vs. iPad Pro M4 — the biggest upgrades
By Tony Polanco published
Here are all the upgrades coming to the iPad Pro M5

Apple M5 chip — everything you need to know
By Tony Polanco published
Apple has just announced three new devices powered by the M5 chip. Here's what the latest slice of Apple silicon promises to deliver.

The next Xbox could be more powerful than the PS6 — here’s what the rumors say
By Tony Polanco published
A new leak claims that the rumored Xbox "Magnus" system could be more powerful than the equally rumored PS6. Here's what we've heard.
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