This week, Microsoft rolled out a surprise update to Windows 11 with the designation KB5037853. This update — optional for now, but expected to be rolled out of all users next Patch Tuesday — introduced a heaping helping of handy new quality-of-life features. Unfortunately, many users have also experienced various problems with the Taskbar after installing the update.

According to Microsoft’s support document, the Taskbar may suddenly disappear or refuse to respond after installing the update.

Fortunately, Microsoft has now sent out a fix, but it may take up to 24 hours before it shows up for affected users. You can check Windows Update now to see if it’s available to you immediately. (If you’re installing optional Windows Updates like KB5037853, you know how to check Windows Update.)

Windows Latest also points out that it is not possible to install KB5037853 if you run Windows 11 via the virtualization program Parallels. The site says Microsoft is investigating that bug.

Further reading: Warning: Windows 11’s major 2024 update removes these features

Windows

Father’s Day is just around the corner on June 16, and if you want to celebrate Dad this year, get him a gift that will keep on giving. For globetrotting dads, you can’t do much better than a Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus+ Plan. During our Father’s Day Sale, you can get a lifetime membership for just $69.99.

Dollar Flight Club is a leading flight alert service, with more than one million members worldwide. With this intuitive service, all Dad has to do is input his departure airport(s) and Dollar Flight Club will scour sources to find the best deals to destinations all over the world. When they find something great, they’ll send the deal directly to Dad’s inbox with instructions on how to book. Greece on a budget? Why not?

Find out why Forbes writes, “A great paid service is Dollar Flight Club, which boasts an impressive average of $500 saved per ticket.”

During our Father’s Day Sale, you can get a lifetime Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus+ Plan for just $69.99 (reg. $507).

 

Dollar Flight Club: Lifetime Membership (Premium Plus+ Plan) – $69.99

See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Entertainment

By now you’ve probably heard that Qualcomm is pushing hard to get its Arm-based processors into Windows machines, including the new Surface devices revealed in May.

Without getting them into our lab, we don’t know if all those performance boasts actually hold water. Fortunately, Gordon got ahold of some hard data and covered it in the latest PCWorld YouTube video below.

Sponsored analyst firm Signal65 has some relevant benchmarks of the new Surface Laptop with a Snapdragon X Elite processor. They compared it to a Surface Laptop 5 rocking an Intel 12th Gen laptop CPU, the newer Intel Core Ultra 7 Meteor Lake in an MSI Prestige, Apple’s newest M3-equipped MacBook Air (also an Arm processor), and an older Surface Pro 9 5G with the Qualcomm-supplied Microsoft SQ3 chip.

The benchmarks were wide—including heat and noise levels—but the real meat of the results come elsewhere. For example, the new Surface Laptop beats out all the competition with 21 hours of local video playback.

That’s more than double the Surface Laptop 5, nearly double the Surface Pro 9, and past the MacBook Air by a healthy margin. Similar results were achieved in Procyon Productivity testing. Of course, battery life isn’t exactly an apples-to-apples (or indeed Apple) comparison, since each machine varies in battery size, screen size, resolution, etc.

What about raw number-crunching? There again, the new Snapdragon X Elite handily beats previous-gen Windows machines and beats the older Qualcomm-equipped Surface Pro 9 by nearly double in Geekbench. The MacBook’s M3 wins out by a 15 percent margin in single-threaded performance, but loses by the same percentage in multi-threaded tasks.

We see similar results in Cinebench, including the MacBook’s edge in single-thread and the Snapdragon X Elite’s in multi-thread. In Handbrake video transcoding, the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H is a surprise champ, offering 40 percent faster performance than the Snapdragon X Elite. But the new Arm-based Surface Laptop still beats the rest of the field handily.

In Chrome, running natively on Windows and macOS in both x64 and Arm varieties, the MacBook wins easily. It bested the Surface Laptop with Snapdragon by 27 and 40 percent on Speedometer and JetStream tests. Again, the newest Windows machine beats out the rest, though only narrowly besting the Intel Core Ultra 7-equipped MSI laptop.

In Microsoft Office tasks, the field was mostly even except for the Surface Pro and its previous-gen Arm chip, with the MacBook getting a significant edge only in the PowerPoint test.

In terms of graphics, the Snapdragon X Elite isn’t looking so hot. While it easily bested the older machines in the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme demo, it only narrowly beat out the Intel Core Ultra 7, while the MacBook’s M3 smoked it by 31 percent. The Core Ultra 7 and M3 also performed better on the Solar Bay test. And though there’s no Mac version of Steel Nomad, the latest Intel chip beat Qualcomm’s by a commanding 35 percent. It’s clear that if you want gaming performance, a Snapdragon PC may not be for you—at least this generation.

And what about those vaunted NPU metrics every manufacturer seems so hot to trot out? While neural processing units have yet to truly prove their utility, Qualcomm is winning that race by a country mile, for whatever it’s worth. It doubled the performance of both the older SQ3 Arm processor and the Apple M3, and tripled the performance of the Intel Core Ultra 7 in Procyon’s AI Computer Vision test.

These results give us a good idea of what to expect from this latest round of Snapdragon X-equipped laptops: very-good-but-not-miraculous battery life, excellent performance in most basic tasks, and graphics that are underwhelming compared to other integrated designs.

But, of course, for a more in-depth look we’ll need to wait until we get some review units. Until then, be sure to subscribe to PCWorld on YouTube to stay informed on the latest in the world of laptops.

CPUs and Processors

I have way too many devices that need to stay plugged in — and I’m sure you do, too. From your laptop to your extra monitors, from your phone to your router, they all need to get juice somehow.

The Anker 321 Power Strip is a fantastic gadget that doesn’t just keep your devices powered but keeps your desk clutter-free. It’s currently available for $15, down from its usual $26.

This compact power strip is less of a “strip” and actually a cube, and it’s perfect for when you need to efficiently plug in multiple monitors and devices without taking up too much space.

The Anker 321 Power Strip features 3 AC outlets, 2 USB-A ports, and 1 USB-C port. For my own desk setup, it would support my laptop and my two monitors with the AC outlets, and the USB ports would charge my phone, my headphones, and (amusingly) my power bank.

And by the way, the USB-C port supports 20W Power Delivery, so iPhone users can charge up their phones in a blink.

It’s a gem of a power strip thanks to its compact size, great for keeping everything on your desk powered with a single unit. Whether you’re working from home or traveling, this power strip ensures you have enough outlets for all your devices.

Replace your bulky power strip with this nifty power cube! The Anker 321 Power Strip is a great deal for $15 — that’s 43% off its normal listing — and it’s not going to last long at this price.

Get the Anker power strip for $15 on Amazon

Mobile Phone Chargers, Power

I have way too many devices that need to stay plugged in — and I’m sure you do, too. From your laptop to your extra monitors, from your phone to your router, they all need to get juice somehow.

The Anker 321 Power Strip is a fantastic gadget that doesn’t just keep your devices powered but keeps your desk clutter-free. It’s currently available for $15, down from its usual $26.

This compact power strip is less of a “strip” and actually a cube, and it’s perfect for when you need to efficiently plug in multiple monitors and devices without taking up too much space.

The Anker 321 Power Strip features 3 AC outlets, 2 USB-A ports, and 1 USB-C port. For my own desk setup, it would support my laptop and my two monitors with the AC outlets, and the USB ports would charge my phone, my headphones, and (amusingly) my power bank.

And by the way, the USB-C port supports 20W Power Delivery, so iPhone users can charge up their phones in a blink.

It’s a gem of a power strip thanks to its compact size, great for keeping everything on your desk powered with a single unit. Whether you’re working from home or traveling, this power strip ensures you have enough outlets for all your devices.

Replace your bulky power strip with this nifty power cube! The Anker 321 Power Strip is a great deal for $15 — that’s 43% off its normal listing — and it’s not going to last long at this price.

Get the Anker power strip for $15 on Amazon

Mobile Phone Chargers, Power

Feel like your patio or backyard could use some pizzazz? Want to transform your outdoor space with lights that’ll impress your guests? Govee’s Outdoor Pathway Lights will do just that.

Now available for $110 — that’s 35% off of its normal price of $170 — these smart outdoor lights have never been cheaper. This is the perfect chance to infuse your outdoor space with RGB magic.

The Govee Outdoor Pathway Lights bring a cool and modern touch to your home, providing ambient atmosphere in whatever colors you want. Its color temperatures range from 2000K to 6500K, allowing you to create the exact mood you need for any situation.

One standout feature is the multi-color display enabled by RGBIC technology. Each light stick can be set to a different color, and there are some 16 million colors to pick from.

Constructed from durable aluminum with a lacquered finish, the Govee Outdoor Pathway Lights are designed to withstand adverse conditions. Unlike solar-powered alternatives, this wired set ensures a steadier connection and a higher brightness of 250 lumens.

However, while these lights are IP65 waterproof (they’ll withstand rain just fine), they shouldn’t be immersed in water. And the power adapter is only rated as IP44, so you’ll want to find a sheltered spot for it.

The total length of the wire is 42 feet, so you’ll need to plan the placement according to whatever outlets you have around your home.

Controlling the Govee Outdoor Pathway Lights is super easy with the Govee Home app. You can set timers, pick scene modes, adjust color temperatures and brightness, and more. These lights can even pulse with your music, which is fun during parties, and they’re compatible with voice control through Alexa or Google Assistant.

If you want to have a super fun summer this year, you should definitely pick up the Govee Outdoor Pathway Lights for 35% off. This is a limited-time deal so don’t miss it.

Snag this RGB pathway lights deal on Amazon

Lighting

The Computex trade show starts in Taipei next week, and it’s kind of a big deal. While CES tends to get headlines for general tech, Computex is where manufacturers pull out all the stops for desktops, laptops, and all the PC stuff that goes along with them. And we’re going there, of course. Wanna come along? You can, by following PCWorld’s social media accounts.

For instant, easy-to-snack-on coverage of the coolest stuff at Computex, you can check out our short-form videos on TikTok. These shorts will give you bite-sized info on the coolest stuff at Computex, from the biggest names to the smallest niches.

For more in-depth coverage, check out PCWorld’s YouTube channel, where new videos covering the latest hardware from the show floor will be posted. If you want to see hands-on exploration of new laptops, motherboards, PC cases, and all that jazz, this is the place to do it. Oh, and we’ll also probably have some other tech YouTubers on just for some different perspectives. Subscribe to make sure that you don’t miss anything.

Want something a little more meaty? Then the next stop is The Full Nerd podcast, which now has its own dedicated YouTube channel for easier subscriptions and backlog binging. We’ll have at least one episode from Computex, including interviews with big players in the PC and gaming space you won’t want to miss.

And if you prefer to get all of this in a more glanceable social feed, follow PCWorld on Facebook and Twitter. We’ll post all the new videos, plus our main website’s stories for news, reviews, features and opinion posts, how-tos, and the best deals on technology.

Desktop PCs

If there’s one trend in PCs for 2024, it’s “AI” in everything. That’s inescapable. (Ugh.) But if there are two, then the second one is OLED monitors finally gaining steam.

Case in point: Acer just showed off three brand new designs in its Predator lineup, all sporting gorgeous and speedy OLED panels.

Acer Predator X27U F3

The fastest of the bunch happens to be the smallest, although esports fans will probably still dig its 26.5-inch panel and WQHD (2560×1440) resolution. The Predator X27U F3 also boasts an impressive 480Hz refresh rate — not the fastest in the world, but not far off either.

And at .03 milliseconds of grey-to-grey response time, it’s literally faster than the human eye. (My human eyes, anyway. I don’t know if esports athletes qualify as merely human.) Naturally, it’s compatible with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync.

This isn’t a one-trick pony. Ports include DisplayPort 1.4, double HDMI 2.1, and even USB-C with a maximum power output of 90 watts. That should be more than enough to handle most gaming laptops.

You also get a pair of standard USB-A ports and… two 5W speakers. Seriously, why do all these monitors include crappy speakers no one will ever use?

Acer Predator X32 X3

For a bigger and bolder presentation, you can step up to the Predator X32 X3. At “just” 240Hz, its 31.5-inch OLED panel isn’t as fast as the smaller monitor, but that should be plenty for gamers interested in showing off the latest titles at 4K resolution.

But if you need speed in a pinch, you can step down to 1080p resolution to bump up that refresh rate to 480Hz.

This 32-inch monitor has all the same ports and extras, yes, including those dumb speakers. Oddly, it’s exactly the same price: both will start at $1,200, though the X27U F3 will come sometime in Q3 2024 while the X32 X3 will come along in Q4 2024.

Acer Predator X34 X5

As a fan of ultrawide excess, I have to say my favorite of the trio is the Predator X34 X5 (header image, right).

It features the usual 34-inch ultrawide form factor and a 3440×1440 resolution — essentially a 27-inch QHD stretched out to 21:9 aspect ratio — plus a subtle 1800R curve. It can handle 240Hz at that resolution, no options for shifting down and going higher.

The 34-inch model has all the same goodies as the other two monitors, but for some reason it’s slightly cheaper at “just” $1,100. It’ll come along in Q4 2024.

And keep in mind that for almost all OLED monitors, we’ve seen some significant sales just a few months after launch. So, if you’re looking for a deal, I’d hold out until about February of next year for these beauties.

Further reading: The best gaming monitors right now

“Smart” monitors with Google TV

In addition to the OLED gaming displays, Acer is launching a new series of “smart” monitors with Google TV onboard. Basically, miniature versions of the smart TVs you can’t escape in any electronics store.

In addition to the usual HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C (65W) inputs, they’ll be able to run Google TV streaming apps and Android-based games all on their own.

The standard DA1 model will come in 27-inch and 31.5-inch varieties, both VA-LCDs with 4K resolution, plus a pair of standard USB-A ports and those 5W speakers (which make a little more sense now that these are just itty-bitty TVs). Naturally, they feature Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for downloading apps and connecting controllers.

The DA271K will cost $350 and the DA321QK will be $400, both launching in Q4 2024.

If you need something a little more competitive, the same designs will be offered in “Nitro” form. The 27-inch GA271U P (header image, left) is the better pick if you ask me, since it’s offering a 2560×1440 panel with fast IPS for better color accuracy. While not blazing by any means, 180Hz is still enough for most gamers.

The 31.5-inch version (GA321QU P) offers the same resolution and speed, but has to settle for a cheaper VA display panel. Since the 27-incher is slightly cheaper — $330 versus $380 — I’d opt for the former when they go on sale in Q4 2024.

Monitors

We’re spoiled for choice now with gaming mice. Some just hit ridiculous heights in performance — mice like the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 and Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro, for example, are just two that come to mind.

Yet these mice are missing something that I would have thought was essential for pro gamers — a dedicated DPI switcher button. So, what’s the story? Why do these mice adopt such a minimalist design, free of the old DPI switcheroo?

Further reading: The best gaming mice

What is a DPI switcher anyway?

Most gamers have some familiarity with DPI. In a nutshell, it’s the dots-per-inch resolution that determines how sensitive the mouse sensor registers movement. A DPI of 1,600 or lower makes movement slow and precise, whereas a high DPI setting of 8,000 or above makes it extremely sensitive and quick.

Gamers use different DPI settings for different games, and even for different player classes within games to find a performance edge.

Take a gamer playing a first-person shooter as an example. They may prefer the accuracy and micro control of movement that a low DPI of 1,600 gives them when wielding a sniper’s rifle, but enjoy the more fluid movement that a DPI of 3,200 gives them when strafing with a sub-machine gun.

A dedicated DPI switcher button can usually be found just behind the mouse wheel in some gaming mice like the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless. Some mice like the Razer Cobra Pro even have two switcher buttons, one to switch up DPI and one to switch down DPI.

The beauty of DPI switchers is that they allow gamers to quickly switch between DPI settings mid-game without having to pause and load up their mouse’s companion app, which would naturally disturb the gameplay — not to mention the fun!

Then why the missing switcher in some esports mice?

There are quite a few reasons why some of the best esports mice don’t have a dedicated DPI switcher.

The most obvious reason is that in esports competitions, where mere ounces can be the difference between winning or losing, mice need to be as lightweight as possible.

You can see this in action in the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro and Logitech G Pro X Superlight, which weigh just 2.2 ounces (63 grams) and 2.1 ounces (60 grams), respectively.

These mice have been stripped of all non-essential features — things like flashy RGB lighting, thumb rests, and extra buttons.

Where competitions sit on a knife’s edge there’s also player consistency to be considered. If there’s no DPI switcher, pro gamers don’t have to worry about miss-clicking it in the heat of battle, accidentally changing their DPI and throwing out their performance.

Another big reason is that a top-side DPI switcher just isn’t necessary for most pro gamers. Indeed, some pro gamers choose not to switch DPI on the fly at all since they think it’s going to cause inconsistency in their performance.

Those who do still have options to change their DPI that don’t involve using a DPI switcher.

Mice like the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro have discreet DPI switcher buttons on their underside. Admittedly, this makes switching on the fly and not getting fragged a little difficult, but players might like to use this option between rounds.

What’s easier than that is setting up one of the existing buttons to switch DPI on the fly in the mouse’s companion app.

Logitech G Hub software, for example, allows you to set any button on your Logitech G mouse as your DPI shifter, so some gamers that use the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 opt to use one of the small buttons on the mouse’s left-hand side.

Another great option that some pro gaming mice now offer is the ability to change DPI by pressing a combination of buttons on the mouse itself. This is one of the best features in the Keychron M3 mini 4K Metal Edition, and one reason why I rated it so highly in my recent review.

Gaming, Mice

Just a few weeks after an extensive attack on Eventim, another report of stolen accounts on a ticket site has emerged.

As Bleepingcomputer reports, there’s been a huge data leak at Ticketmaster and now millions of customers are at risk of their personal data being sold illegally online.

According to the report, a hacker known as ShinyHunters has put up the personal and financial information of a total of 560 million Ticketmaster customers for sale on the hacker forum BreachForums — and he’s asking $500,000 USD for it.

The data reportedly includes full customer names, private addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers, as well as information on ticket sales, orders, and credit card numbers.

The estimated time period of this data goes back to 2012, but also affects Ticketmaster’s current databases.

Ticketmaster data allegedly about to be sold

ShinyHunters told BleepingComputer that there are already some interested buyers, one of them allegedly Ticketmaster itself. He didn’t answer the question of when and how the data was stolen, but there are clear indications that the data is genuine. (Ticketmaster has not yet officially confirmed the authenticity of this data.)

According to statistics, Ticketmaster’s website has over 116 million users worldwide every month. The last data hack on the company took place in 2018, when around five percent of all Ticketmaster data was stolen. British customers in particular were affected.

Further reading: How to check if your email address is being misused

How do I know if I am affected?

It isn’t yet possible to say for certain how many people have actually been affected by the Ticketmaster data leak. As a precaution, however, you should check whether you still have access to your account and you should also change your password.

We’re still waiting for a statement from Ticketmaster to be able to assess the next steps. In the meantime, see our guide on how to protect your digital accounts from hackers.

Security Software and Services

If you have an account on the Epic Games Store, you can download Chivalry 2 for free until June 6. The regular price is $40, and it’s worth every penny. Getting it for free is an amazing opportunity. Available DLC is also on a deep sale right now.

Chivalry 2 is a hack-and-slash game from 2021 where you fight massive medieval battles on foot or from the back of a horse, with a wide variety of period-appropriate weaponry likes swords, bows, maces, spears, and more. It’s an absolute chaotic blast, especially when two opposing forces clash and arrows start raining down overhead.

Here’s the trailer, which can only hint at the anarchy:

To play the game, you need to be running Windows 10 or 11 and have at least 35 gigabytes of free space on your computer. As for graphics cards, you need to have Nvidia Geforce GTX 660 or better, or AMD Radeon HD 7870 or better. It’ll run on most modern gaming PCs without issue, in other words.

Video Games

On May 29, Microsoft began rolling out an unscheduled update for Windows 11. Patch KB5037853 is currently still optional, but the changes are expected to be applied to everyone during June’s Patch Tuesday.

The new features in Windows 11’s patch KB5037853 include:

• Account management improvements
• Sharing updates
• Personalization options

What’s changing in Windows 11 account management

Windows 11 now provides a page called “Add linked devices” in the settings under Accounts. There you can see and manage all PCs and Xbox consoles that are linked to the system.

However, this option is only available for the Home and Pro editions if you sign in to Windows with your Microsoft account.

The new Account Manager is now in the Start menu for easier management of account settings. If you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows, you can get an overview of your account benefits here. In the Start menu, you can also enter an email address to recover your account.

You can now also save your sound settings and transfer them to another device. This is in the settings under Accounts, then Windows backup. There you need to tick the box next to “Save my settings” and also activate the boxes next to Personalization and “Other Windows settings.”

With the new update, it’s also possible to sign in to your Microsoft account in the Windows Backup app. This app saves backups to your account.

Changes to sharing in Windows 11

The new update also brings additional features for sharing under Windows 11, like preventing you from accidentally closing the Windows sharing window when you click outside the window.

It’s also now possible to send emails to yourself via the Windows sharing window. (You’ll receive the email at the email address in your Microsoft account.) You can also create QR codes for website URLs and cloud files directly from the Windows sharing window.

Other features in the update

Once the patch is installed, you can use the mouse to drag files between breadcrumbs in the File Explorer address bar. This makes it easier to navigate under Windows 11. The update also simplifies operation via voice input in apps and on the web.

Last but not least, the KB5037853 update for Windows 11 fixes a few bugs. The complete list of changes can be found on the corresponding support page.

Windows

Today’s video games can take up a lot of space, so it’s not uncommon to find yourself needing more storage — even on a Steam Deck.

The WD Black SN770M is one of our favorite SSDs for handheld gaming, and the 1TB model is currently available for $84. Down from its usual $130, this is the lowest price we’ve ever seen for it.

This is a fantastic deal to jump on if you need to expand your Steam Deck’s storage. It’s one of the best drives on the market and 1TB will store a ton of extra games. (For comparison, the 500GB model is about $66, so you get twice as much for just $20 more.)

In our review of the WD Black SN770M, we gave it a whopping 4.5 out of 5 stars. Our expert appreciated its small form factor, its great performance, and its 5-year warranty.

The WD Black SN770M is an M.2 2230 NVMe SSD from a brand we love and trust. It’s designed for compatible handheld devices — like the Asus ROG Ally and Valve Steam Deck — and able to deliver speeds up to 5,150MB/s. This means games install faster and load up in the blink of an eye, so you can jump in and play without waiting.

The nice thing about this SSD is that while it’s ideal for handhelds, that isn’t the only way to use it. In fact, the WD Black SN770M can breathe life into any M.2 2230 SSD-compatible laptop, including many Microsoft Surface and Dell models.

Even if you haven’t run out of space yet, you probably will in the future — and when you do, you’ll wish you had grabbed this hot deal. Get the WD Black SN770M for 35% off while you can!

Expand your handheld storage by 1TB for just $84

Computer Storage Devices

Acer has unveiled their new TravelMate laptops mere days ahead of Computex. These business laptops are traditionally known for their slim form factor and long battery life. In fact, the 2023 version of the TravelMate P6 nabbed a top spot on our best laptops roundup, earning the title of “Best Ultraportable.”

The new models announced today come loaded with more power-efficient Intel Core Ultra CPUs as well as useful AI capabilities. There’s also a 2-in-1 version and a clamshell with a bigger 16-inch display, and they all use recycled materials in both design and packaging. Heck yeah.

Configurations, hardware, and availability

Acer puts forth three offerings on the table: Acer TravelMate P6 14, Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14, and Acer TravelMate P4 16.

Acer TravelMate P6 14

The Acer TravelMate P6 14, a traditional clamshell and the first to lead the charge, is powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and comes with up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage.

The 14-inch touch-optional display is a real stunner with its 2880×1800 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, and 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut support for sharp-looking pictures with rich colors.

It even comes with Wi-Fi 7 (gotta go fast!) and Thunderbolt 4 support — both ideal if you’re connecting high-performing devices. It has a starting price of $1,429.99 and will be available to purchase in July 2024.

Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14

The Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14 is the convertible version of the business lineup. That means you can swing the screen around a full 360 degrees and use it in various positions, like tent or tablet mode. It weighs 3.29 pounds, making it super travel-friendly.

The machine also comes with up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, a 14-inch touch-optional 1200p display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. The taller aspect ratio makes scrolling through web pages a much more comfortable experience.

This versatile device has a starting price of $1,329.99 and is expected to launch in July 2024.

Acer TravelMate P4 16

Looking for a laptop with a bigger screen? The Acer TravelMate P4 16 is your girl. Like the other models above, it’s packing the latest Intel Core Ultra processor.

However, you can load this one up with up to 64GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage. 64GB is a lot of RAM — and that’s a good thing, especially if you typically work with video editing software.

The 16-inch display has a 1920×1200 resolution and 100 percent sRGB, so the picture and color quality should be quite good. The starting price is $1,229.99 and you can start ordering it in July 2024.

New AI capabilities

Everybody’s embracing AI these days, so it’s no surprise to see Acer jump on that bandwagon. You’ll find a number of AI features in the Acer Experience Zone on the TravelMateSense application.

Need to remove something in the background of a photo? Acer LiveArt has you covered. You can also generate “depth maps on 2D images,” according to Acer.

The TravelMate laptops also come with Acer PurifiedView 2.0, which uses the CPU’s neural processing unit to create more seamless, free-flowing AI experiences. This is useful for when you need to blur your background during a videoconferencing call.

Enterprise Chromebooks

Speaking of business laptops, Acer’s got two new business Chromebooks on tap: Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515 and Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise Spin 514.

Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515

The Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515 has a spacious 15.6-inch 1080p display and an equally spacious keyboard with a number pad. The number pad is key for both workers and students alike, especially if your day-to-day consists of punching in numbers (data entry is no joke).

The Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515 has a starting price of $649.99 and will be available in June.

Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise Spin 514

The Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise Spin 514 is the convertible model, meaning you can prop it up like a tent or flip the screen around and use it like a handheld tablet. It also has Google AI-powered video call tools, which automatically enhances the webcam picture.

The Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise Spin 514 will hit the market in August with a starting price of $749.99.

For regular customers, there’s also the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514. It comes with up to an Intel Core 7 150U processor and 16GB of RAM. It has a starting price of $549.99 and will become available in August.

Laptops

The Nerubian army floods the beach of Tranquill in the first minutes of World of Warcraft: The War Within. Thousands of magical projectiles whizz across the horizon, arachnoid infantry hack the armor of our troops to pieces.

As Orc Warlocks, we throw ourselves into battle, a water spirit at our side pushing back the enemy troops, but General Thrall can barely hold the line.

He gives us orders to bring the wounded to a protected assembly point, while easily 100 arachnoids attack us in close formation. It’s a bit like Starship Troopers. If you’re having a lot of fun with Helldivers 2, you’ll get your money’s worth here.

It feels like Blizzard is finally ready to throw off the shackles of the old WoW and take World of Warcraft into the next generation.

In recent years, WoW has seemed too old-school, too unambitious, too little staged. Why couldn’t we have Game of Thrones-style aerial battles between dragons in Dragonflight?

Blizzard had hardly any competition in the MMO segment for many years, but now Funcom wants to saw at their chair with the most powerful blockbuster brand that Hollywood can currently muster. Dune Awakening, a work in Unreal Engine 5 with the directorial power of Oscar-winner Greg Freiser in barreling in fast — and it looks like Blizzard is up for the challenge. The War Within blew us away during a one-day hands-on event in London and made a lasting impression.

Reading tip: Exploring Azeroth is one of the most beautiful WoW novels about the area where The War Within starts.

The War Within: A new era of staging

First we are confronted by hundreds of Arachnoid infantry who slash the armor of our soldiers. There’s also a tough intermediate boss fight not long in coming, against the Queens Guard Zitrix.

She gathers a whole line of Warspinner bodyguards around her – time to hop on our trusty Dragonflight dragon to get an overview of the battlefield and find weak points in the enemy’s defense.

It is striking how well The War Within works for solo players. It’s less hard grind, more fun action and emotion, where Blizzard has taken inspiration from the great fantasy pop culture.

As we fly towards the fortress city of Dornogal on Stormgrasp, a majestic metropolis emerges that feels a little like Minas Tirith – only built by machine dwarves with titan technology. Like Minas Tirith, it is carved directly into the stone, with pillars rising above the city streets and piercing the azure sky.

There are nooks and crannies in every alleyway, the city stretches across many levels that combine a classic dwarven design where a Gimli would feel at home, with glowing blue veins of magical energy that power many defenses and guns.

It’s also nice to see how varied this battle is, and not just on the ground. We also hurl lightning bolts and launch orbital bombardments from our assault attack on the attacking arachnoids.

The Delves: mini-dungeons as a 15-minute snack

Delves are the Snickers of the MMO world: instead of a long grind, they’re a quick snack for anyone who loves WoW but doesn’t have the time for a big raid. We are all busy and generally have more responsibilities as we get older, which Blizzard has recognized:

“We keep hearing from players who say, ‘I have a family, I have a job, I can’t play WoW for three hours every day anymore,'” Executive Producer & Vice President Holly Longdale tells us during our interview in London.

A delve takes around 10 to 15 minutes, and we can tackle it solo with an AI companion or in a team of up to 5 players.

As Game Director Ion Hazzikostas also tells us, Blizzard already tested and trialled this feature in the Zaralek Caverns in its May 10.1 patch. Zaralek Caverns is basically a huge underground landmass, the likes of which WoW has never seen before.

“When we go in with our NPC companions, it feels like an epic solo quest with a really cool buddy,” explains the Game Director.

By buddy, he means Brann Bronzebeard, for example, a legendary historian with the epic dwarf beard. At the beginning, we choose a tier, i.e. a difficulty level – the higher the tier, the better the XP yield and loot.

We can specialise Brann as a healer or sniper, which unlocks different ultimates for him – as a damage dealer, he summons his combat grip and hurls lightning hammers at the arachnoids on the ground. The longer we play with him, the more he levels up and unlocks new abilities.

For delve kings: Fully level up Bann Bronzebeard and unlock a damn cool golden airship as a mount

“Dungeons have so often been these epic, important places, but we had to deliberately separate them and make them offshoots of the main storyline… Now we can, if it makes sense, run the main storyline right through these places, which is very cool and gives us a lot of freedom in the storytelling,” Game Director Ion Hazzikostas explains.

The same 12 delves await us at launch, with a different story NPC accompanying us each season, and there are even delve bosses such as the armoured mutant crab Zevzik.

Delves are also designed to be replayable and change dynamically: one day we might have to save dwarf miners from the Nerubians. The other day we might have to work with the Arathi in the same place to burn down all those Nerubian nests.

At the end of the delve, a treasure chamber awaits with chests. Everyone gets guaranteed rewards, but there are also special delve currencies that can only be used for special skills for “delving”, as Blizzard calls it.

And then there’s a particularly cool mount to unlock – Bronzebeard’s golden propeller plane. We have not yet been able to try out how it flies. And ultimately it’s just a cosmetically customizable aircraft. But there will certainly be some cool races and who knows, we would still like to see a lot more action and aerial combat in WoW. Maybe they’ll surprise us with The Last Titan. It would certainly fit thematically.

Warbands: Account-wide levelling and banking

Hands up, who feels the need to constantly create alts? Now we no longer have to level them up individually. Warbands is that much desired account-wide levelling and banking that WoW has been wanting for many, many years.

Our warband not only shares a level, but also a bank – so we can simply move items, weapons, mounts etc. back and forth.

Incidentally, this even applies to Delve progress, which is pretty cool. Fancy switching to Master Panda and want Mr Orc to go on holiday? No problem – thanks to Warband you can continue in the same delve.

This is also a real game changer for all transmog fans: completing quests unlocks every transmog option for our account, regardless of the weapon or armor type. So if we receive a pair of leather boots as a quest reward, we automatically unlock the corresponding equivalents for chainmail, plates or cloth armor.

A bit of a shame: Blizzard insists on its current system, i.e. an Evoker can’t just run around with a cool golden plate armour because it doesn’t match his class. Blizzard could go a few steps further here and open up all armor sets to all classes, even retroactively. We all have plenty of powerful transmogs from past expansions that we would like to have as a complete set.

World of Warcraft: The War Within will launch exclusively for PC in 2024 and can now be played in alpha.

Gaming

If you walk in on a team of graphic designers, you may be believe you’ve just stumbled into a PC gaming tournament. To power 3D intensive applications, many of those users seek out powerful gaming laptops. They can carry them to the field as a bonus, with or without the RGB.

Video editors are similarly enticed by gaming laptops. They’re often right behind gamers in the queue when a new model sees light of day. Bleeding-edge hardware and new screen technology constantly ups the ante for these users who depend on the best.

Are gaming laptops a good choice for a budding video editor or graphic designer? We’ll go over the hardware typically required, the all-important screen, and the drawbacks you will be dealing with by going this route.

Further reading: Best gaming laptops 2024: What to look for and highest-rated models

Performance

On the surface, it makes a lot of sense why professional users go on this RGB-laden path. Robust gaming laptops such as the Razer Blade 16 are filled to the brim with an overabundance of hardware. They’re chock full of RAM and the fastest mobile CPUs. The Intel Core i9-14900HX and Powerhouse GPUs such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 with 16GB of VRAM delivery astounding levels of performance.

It’s simple: PC games demand maximum performance of the GPU, CPU, and RAM. This means that gaming laptops are conveniently equipped to deal with non-gaming tasks. Video editing relies heavily on the GPU, with some CPU backup. 3D Graphics workflows are likewise dispatched intuitively, taking advantage of the same potent hardware.

Utilitarian workstation laptops may have unnecessary specialized hardware that adds to the price. Much of consumer grade hardware is well-suited for workflows such as Blackmagic Design’s Davinci Resolve or Adobe Photoshop.

Nvidia’s CUDA on its GPUs make easy work of 3D tasks, along with available Studio Drivers on consumer hardware.

Desktops can have higher performance for a lower price, but with a lack of mobility as a caveat.

Let’s break down what you’re getting in a high-end laptop. Workflows with video editing or 3D graphics will depend on the GPU. The CPU plays a vital role with photography and overall performance.

CPU

The fastest gaming laptops will pack a CPU such as the Intel Core i9-14900HX or an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HX. Power draw is lower than desktop counterparts due to thermal limits. The Intel Core i9-14900HX utilizes a whopping 24 cores and 32 threads. This means it will breeze through synthetic benchmarks such as Cinebench R23 and software such as Handbrake.

Adobe Creative Cloud users with apps such as Photoshop will benefit from these fast CPUs. The highest clock speeds are shy of their desktop counterparts, but they remain capable. Encoding and decoding can also be a benefit with modern CPUs for video editors where the GPU is not needed.

New chips such as the Intel Ultra Core lineup have built-in AI capabilities, which help to regulate performance and power usage.

A drawback of these powerful CPUs will come down to cooling. Thermal limits are quickly reached and result in throttled performance. Higher fan noise will be expected unless power settings are tweaked by the user. Laptop cooling pads will be essential for prolonged sessions. Video editing or 3D design software can often have similar demands as gaming on the hardware.

Gaming laptops have sizable power bricks to supply their ample performance. Battery life is typically poor, irrespective of the large power supplies. The high performance on tap and bright screens makes for quick depletion of batteries. Mark Hachman shared some of his thoughts on these power adapters in his review of the MSI Raider GE78.

RAM

Gaming laptops often pack 32GB of fast DDR5 RAM. Some models, such as the MSI Titan 18 HX, can handle upwards of 128GB of RAM. The sweet spot for most will fall between 32GB and 64GB of RAM. It remains one of the most upgradable components on gaming laptops, which is a major plus.

GPU

Ah, the GPU. It’s the star of the show for users seeking 3D performance. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 with 16GB of VRAM can breeze through many tasks with aplomb.

Video editors who use Blackmagic’s Davinci Resolve or Adobe Premier Pro have seen tremendous results. A powerful GPU can help with timeline scrubbing, adding affects, exporting, and overall snappiness. 3D graphics artists using software such as Blender will be all too familiar with GPU grunt to aid in workflow.

VRAM is vital in video editing or 3D work such as the 16GB found in the top-end Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090. These mobile GPUs are not the full versions found on desktop, as power limits enter the fray in mobile hardware.

Gaming laptops will have both an internal GPU such as on an Intel chip and a discreet GPU such as an Nvidia GeForce RTX. The switch is often seamless and can aid with battery life. The internal GPU can sometimes aid in tasks like encoding when the CPU is involved, too.

There are some caveats with even the fastest laptop GPUs, though. They remain less powerful than their desktop counterparts for those requiring maximum performance. For example, a desktop Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 will be far superior to its mobile brethren. The laptop version is more on the level of a GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. This is par for the course due to mobile’s smaller size and thermal constraints.

Storage

Professionals rely on storage much like oxygen and gaming laptops do not disappoint. The Alienware M16 laptop above features multiple slots for fast NVME SSDs, which can be placed in RAID setups. With large and fast sizes readily available, internal storage can accommodate the workflows of professionals with ease.

Along with RAM, NVME drives account for the only user-accessible upgrades that can be done. The drawback here is that you’re stuck with the CPU and GPU for the life of the machine.

Ports

If the internal storage isn’t sufficient, many gaming laptops pack a bevy of ports to accommodate professionals. With Intel based machines, Thunderbolt 4 is available with the fastest transfer rates.

Various flavors of USB are also abundant on gaming laptops, along with the prerequisite HDMI outputs. Connecting to external monitors will be essential for professionals, and gaming laptops have that capability built in.

Screens and usability

Gamers are not alone in chasing the best screen technology available. Video editors, photographers, and graphic designers rely on accurate, bright screens.

Creators enjoy working with high resolution 4K screens with maximum pixel density. Gaming laptops do not disappoint with numerous models such as the Razer Blade 16 offering such screens. One drawback will be screen size, as the biggest laptop currently tops out at 18 inches. The MSI Titan 18 HX packs a 120Hz 4K mini LED display, accompanied by a jaw-dropping price of around $5,000.

Image fidelity is essential for professionals and gaming laptops understand this dual nature. The Titan MSI 18 HX laptop has a 100 percent DCI-P3 screen capable of HDR 1,000, for example. Adobe RGB and sRGB are typically respectable and acceptable for most. Professional calibrated monitors may be preferred and they can easily be attached to most gaming laptops externally.

Lower priced gaming laptops such as the Alienware M16 will come with 2550×1600 resolution LCD screens. These are still high quality and may be adequate for all but the most precise work needing top color accuracy.

The ergonomics of gaming laptops come with its own pros and cons. First, many gaming laptops will have great keyboards such as the low-profile mechanical MX Cherry keyboards found on top-end units. Tactile response and accuracy are important for professional work, benefiting from the gaming-DNA.

Trackpads are often large and responsive, but one always has the flexibility of connecting external peripherals for more accurate inputs.

Audio is another component that will be important for users such as video editors. Laptop speakers are notoriously flimsy, but some high-end models such as the Razer Blade series have adequate speakers. Most professionals will turn to external solutions or headphones for mission critical work, however. Spatial or surround sound aspects of many gaming laptops will also be lost on professionals.

Conclusion

If you look past RGB aesthetics adorning most gaming laptops, they’re stellar professional machines. With hot-rod levels of hardware to power demanding games, it translates directly to many professional workflows.

Adobe Photoshop users will find powerful CPUs with high-clock speeds very capable. 3D graphics artists and video editors will benefit from the powerful GPUs with more than sufficient VRAM. Fast NVME drives and abundant RAM limits means that many demanding apps can have a home on these mobile powerhouses. Nvidia Studio drivers are available for professional applications and feature widespread support on consumer hardware. it’s a no-brainer that creators venture towards gaming laptops.

The garden variety of gaming laptops, such as those curated by PCWorld, is a big help to creators. Not everyone wants or needs a $5,000 laptop, so there are plenty of cheaper offerings available. With upgradability in the form of RAM and NVME drives, there’s also flexibility built-in for future proofing.

Mobility will be important for many who rely on travel and need portability. Poor battery life, loud fans, and smaller screens are often outweighed by the performance on tap. When the work is done, you’ll also have the benefit of playing the latest games for some leisurely activity if you so desire. The only choice you’re left with is if you’ll leave the RGB on or off.

Gaming Laptops

Price When Reviewed

1TB: $110 I 2TB: $165

Best Prices Today: Teamgroup PD20M

While being a decent 20Gbps USB SSD with light workloads, the Teamgroup PD20M is not the drive for writing large data sets on a continual basis. The parsimonious 20GB of cache on our 1TB test unit had it dead last overall in our performance ratings.

That’s a shame, because it’s also one of the lightest and most attractive SSDs we’ve tested — i.e., it travels well, especially with the handy carrying case that Teamgroup bundles.

Further reading: See our roundup of the best external drives to learn about competing products.

What are the Teamgroup PD20M’s features?

The PD20M is a 20Gbps USB 3.2×2 external SSD sporting a thin, but squarish profile measuring 2.45-inches wide, by 2.75-inches long, by a mere 0.32-inches thick. The top is rounded, while the bottom is perfectly flat.

Unusually, there’s no anti-skid material on the bottom of the unit, but it makes perfect sense: The PD20M weighs a mere 1.1 ounces on its own, and only 1.3 ounces with the Type-C cable that plugs into one edge. With so little heft for gravity to effect, you’d have to use semi-adhesive tape to secure this featherweight puppy in place.

The PD20M is the lightest SSD we’ve ever tested.

The large upside is that if you’re looking for an SSD you can dangle off of a port without damaging it, this is it. Performance concerns aside, that is. Just be careful that you don’t forget it’s in your pocket and put it through the wash!

Teamgroup warranties the PD20M for three years, but no mention is made of the warranty’s TBW (terabytes that may be written) rating. Given the drives slow write rate when cache runs out, which was rather early on the 1TB version we tested, you should never have to worry about writing so much data that the company considers it unfair usage.

How much does the Teamgroup PD20M cost?

The PD20M is available in 1TB and 2TB capacities, which retail for $110, and $165, respectively. Given the performance, that’s a tad pricey. Indeed, when we checked Amazon, the mighty 1TB Crucial X10 Pro, a far superior SSD, was available for $100. Hopefully, the PD20M will drop in price significantly in short order.

How fast is the Teamgroup PD20M?

In our initial testing, the Teamgroup PD20M turned in a far lower (364MBps) CrystalDiskMark 8 sequential write number than the 2GBps claimed on the box. It finally wrote at 1.8GBps, but only after I reduced the size of the 64GB data set I normally use four-fold to 16GB.

Ie’ve included both the 64GB and 16GB results to illustrate exactly how important cache, and the lack thereof can be.

Note again, that the PD20M we tested was a 1TB drive. The Corsair EX100U on the charts, which experienced similar slowdowns at one point or another, was a 2TB drive. If Teamgroup has sent us the 2TB version, it likely would’ve outpaced the Corsair.

The Crucial X10 Pro is a much faster drive, and given that it’s currently $10 less for 1TB, and only $10 more than the PD20M for 2TB, there’s little reason to opt for latter other than weight.

The parsimonious caching again showed up in our real-world transfers. While the PD20M was not the slowest external SSD we’ve tested (there are four or five slower 10Gbps units), it was easily the slowest 20Gbps SSD we’ve seen.

Below you can see where the PD20M ran out of cache — at around the 20GB mark.

The story was no better in the 450GB write, which basically proceeded at 364MBps from the relative get go. Slow.

In truth, few users write even 48GB at a time, so like the Corsair EX100U, the RD20M will do the job the majority of the time when writing — and all of the time when reading.

Should you buy the Teamgroup PD20M?

The PD20M is fine for light duties, but the write slowdowns occur far to early, at least on the 1TB model, for me to recommend it for anything other than a light-duty drive. Also, compare prices. At least at the moment, there are numerous 20Gbps SSDs, some of them far more consistent performers, for less.

How we test

Drive tests currently utilize Windows 11 (22H2) 64-bit running on an X790 (PCIe 5.0) motherboard/i5-12400 CPU combo with two Kingston Fury 32GB DDR5 modules (64GB of memory total). Intel integrated graphics are used. The 48GB transfer tests utilize an ImDisk RAM disk taking up 58GB of the 64GB total memory. The 450GB file is transferred from a Samsung 990 Pro 2TB, which also contains the operating system. For external drives, the motherboard’s dedicated Thunderbolt 4 and 20Gbps USB ports on the rear panel are used.

Each test is performed on a newly NTSF-formatted and TRIM’d drive so the results are optimal. Note that as any drive fills up, performance will decrease due to less NAND for secondary caching, and other factors.

The performance numbers shown apply only to the drive we were shipped as well as the capacity tested. SSD performance can vary by capacity due to more or fewer chips to read/write across and the amount of NAND available for secondary caching (writing TLC/QLC as SLC). Vendors also occasionally swap components.

If you ever notice a large discrepancy between the performance you experience and that which we report (systems being roughly equal), by all means—let us know.

Computer Storage Devices, Storage

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There are courses on ChatGPT and automation, web and app development, game development, and much more. With leading instructors like Jose Salvatierra (4.6/5-star instructor rating) and John Purcell (4.5/5-star rating), you’ll be in good hands from the jump.

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StackSocial prices subject to change.

Accessories

Price When Reviewed

$749

Best Prices Today: Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG

Those looking for an OLED monitor have a lot of choices in 2024, but if you want a 27-inch 1440p display, those choices have primarily used Samsung’s QD-OLED panel. Now, however, Asus is changing that with the ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. This new 27-inch 1440p 240Hz gaming monitor has an OLED display from LG. It is similar to QD-OLED in many respects but takes the lead in HDR performance.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG specs and features

You wouldn’t know the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG from other OLED monitors by glancing at the spec sheet. It is a 27-inch display with a 2560×1440 resolution and a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz. Also, like similar monitors, it sticks to HDMI and DisplayPort for video input and keeps USB connectivity minimal with just two USB-A ports.

• Display size: 27-inch widescreen
• Native resolution: 2560×1440
• Panel type: Glossy WOLED
• Refresh rate: Up to 240Hz
• Adaptive sync: Adaptive Sync 240, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Nvidia G-Sync
• HDR: Yes, HDR10
• Ports: 1x DisplayPort 1.4 DSC, 2x HDMI (v2.0), 1x earphone jack, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB Type-B (upstream)
• VESA mount: 100x100mm
• Speakers: None
• Price: $749 MSRP

The key difference, of course, is the type of display panel used. WOLED stands for “white OLED,” and it’s a type of panel manufactured by LG that has a subpixel layout with an additional white OLED pixel that joins the red, blue, and green OLED pixels.

This is rather unique, as nearly all LCD and OLED displays throughout history stick to a red, blue, and green sub-pixel layout, and achieve white by lighting all three simultaneously. LG says the unique white sub-pixel can increase the display’s maximum brightness.

The is a successor to the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM, which also had a WOLED panel. That monitor aged poorly as QD-OLED competitors quickly leaped ahead of it. The XG27AQDMG fairs better.

Further reading: See our roundup of the best gaming monitors to learn about competing products.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG design

The Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG’s design, much like its spec sheet, is difficult to tell apart from other OLED monitors at a glance. It strikes a modern look from the front, with slim bezels along all sides and a glossy display panel. Unlike some competitors, however, Asus branding remains prominent thanks to a glowing red ROG logo.

From the back, the monitor’s thin profile stands out, and some subtle etching makes the monitor’s gaming intent clear. The monitor includes an RGB-LED accent in the shape of the Asus ROG logo. It can be customized using the on-screen menu or coordinate with other RGB-LED devices via Asus’ Aura Sync.

Asus wisely chooses to use a compact, flat stand for the ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. This reduces the amount of space the monitor takes up on your desk and keeps the space it does consume usable, as you can still place items on the stand. The stand adjusts for height, tilt, swivel, and pivots 90 degrees for use in portrait orientation. A 100x100mm VESA display mount is available, which means that third-party monitor stands and arms are an option.

The monitor stand includes a threaded mount on the top of the stand. It can be used to attach a peripheral like a webcam, microphone, or LED light, and it’s a useful feature for streamers and other video content creators. You’ll likely need a spacer or adjustable mount to use it, however, because the top of the display will block a peripheral mounted here unless the stand is adjusted to its lowest height.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG connectivity and menus

Asus sticks to the basics with connectivity. The ROG Strix XG27AQDMG has one DisplayPort 1.4 port and two HDMI 2.0 ports, both of which support VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) for compatibility with modern game consoles.

It should be noted that this monitor does not support HDMI 2.1, and as a result, it can’t display its maximum refresh rate of 240Hz over HDMI. This could be a problem if you want to connect a PC over HDMI. I always prefer to see a monitor support its maximum refresh rate across all available display inputs, and it’s disappointing to see this omitted.

USB-C connectivity is not available, and the monitor has only two USB-A ports for connecting wired peripherals. These can be accessed through a USB-B upstream connection. This is basic connectivity for a gaming monitor, but similar to competitors.

The monitor’s on-screen menu system is accessed through a joystick centered on the bottom bezel. It is responsive and easy to use. Asus on-screen menus are logically arranged and well-labeled, so navigating them to find features is simple.

Image quality adjustment is extensive. It includes a number of preset modes as well as color gamut modes that target sRGB and DCI-P3. Color temperature and gamma are adjustable as well, and both target specific numerical values instead of vague labels like “cool” or “warm.” Six-axis color customization is included for further fine-tuning if it’s required.

Gamers can elevate the brightness of dark areas of the screen to make enemies hidden in shadowy areas easier to see. The display also includes several aspect ratio modes, which can change the size of the viewable area on the display. That might be useful if you want to restrict the viewable area to a 24-inch 1080p equivalent for esports titles. There’s also a 4:3 mode, which is handy if you want to play a very old PC game that lacks proper widescreen support.

The monitor’s features can be adjusted in Windows with Asus’ DisplayWidget software. It’s quicker and easier to use than the on-screen menu. Most monitor makers offer similar software, but DisplayWidget is more attractive and easier to use than similar software from competitors like Gigabyte and MSI.

Speakers are not included, so you will need to use external speakers or a headset. I always prefer to see bundled speakers, but competitive gaming monitors also exclude them.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG SDR image quality

The Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG, like every other 27-inch OLED gaming monitor on the market, serves up 2560×1440 resolution. But while competitors use Samsung’s QD-OLED panel technology, the XG27QDMG instead relies on LG’s third-generation WOLED. So, how does it stack up?

The ROG Strix XG27AQDMG reached a maximum full-screen SDR brightness of 260 nits. That’s competitive with peers like the Alienware AW2725DF, but it’s still not amazing.

Brightness is said to be a perk of WOLED panels, yet in SDR the XG27AQDMG is barely brighter than alternatives with a Samsung QD-OLED panel. The monitor’s full-screen brightness is fine for a room with good light control, but bright overhead lighting or a sunny window can create a lot of glare and make the monitor uncomfortable to view.

WOLED does have an advantage in HDR brightness, though, as I’ll explain in more detail in the next section of this review.

Contrast is a strength of the ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. The monitor achieved a minimum brightness of zero nits at every display brightness setting, which is effectively a perfect result and boosts the contrast ratio into the millions.

The monitor’s excellent contrast is noticeable across everything viewed on the display, but it’s especially useful in darker games and movies like Diablo IV or Blade Runner. OLED avoids the grayish, foggy look common to less expensive monitors with an IPS panel.

All modern OLED monitors benefit from OLED’s contrast ratio, so contrast is not a reason to buy one OLED display over another. Still, it’s good to see the WOLED performs as well as expected.

The ROG Strix XG27AQDMG’s color gamut results are interesting. It achieves 100 percent of the sRGB color gamut, 96 percent of DCI-P3, and 89 percent of Adobe RGB. These are excellent results, but they’re a bit behind recent QD-OLED monitors. Most QD-OLED monitors released in 2024 can reach 98 percent of DCI-P3 and 94 percent of Adobe RGB.

Gamers shouldn’t fret over this, as the difference will be difficult to notice while playing games. Even content creators probably won’t find the XG27AQDMG’s slightly reduced color gamut a problem.

Still, if maximum color gamut is a priority for you, a QD-OLED monitor is the better choice. It’s also wise to consider a Mini-LED monitor with quantum dots, such as the RedMagic 4K Gaming Monitor. They achieve unparalleled color gamut results.

The XG27AQDMG’s wide color gamut and superb contrast make it excellent for games and movies.

WOLED’s color performance continues to lag behind QD-OLED in color accuracy, as the XG27AQDMG posted results that lag the QD-OLED monitors that PCWorld has tested this year. The XG27AQDMG’s color looks realistic and remains great for gaming, but content creators may want to calibrate the display.

The XG27AQDMG also had slight issues with color temperature and gamma performance. I measured a gamma curve of 2.3 when the setting was at 2.2, meaning content looked a tad darker than it should. Color temperature was also a bit off, with a measured color temperature of 6600K when the monitor was set to 6500K. That means the monitor looked slightly cooler and more sterile than ideal. Both of these variances are fairly minor, though, and not likely to be an obstacle for gamers.

Sharpness is a more noticeable problem. The WOLED panel’s unique subpixel layout can cause color fringing issues around details like small text and fine, high-contrast edges. Small fonts were pixelated and at times showed off-colors along their edges. Asus includes a ClearEdge feature, which is supposed to minimize the problem, but it wasn’t effective in my testing. In fact, at times the monitor looked worse with ClearEdge on than with it off.

This issue is also present on modern QD-OLED monitors, especially 27-inch monitors 1440p resolution, but I do feel it’s a bit more noticeable on the WOLED panel.

The XG27AQDMG’s overall SDR image quality is at once impressive and disappointing. Its wide color gamut and superb contrast make it excellent for games and movies. However, the WOLED panel slightly underperforms QD-OLED in some respects, and its lackluster sharpness stands out. I can recommend the XG27AQDMG if you just want to game, but shoppers looking for a game that’s equally great for gaming, office productivity, and content creation should be wary.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG HDR image quality

The Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG’s SDR performance slightly lags behind its OLED peers, but it strikes back in HDR.

I measured a maximum sustained full-screen HDR brightness of 269 nits, which basically ties the monitor’s SDR brightness. However, the monitor hit a maximum sustained brightness of 724 nits in a 10 percent window, meaning 10 percent of the display was lit. QD-OLED displays, like the Alienware AW2725DF and Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDM, achieved about 400 nits in this scenario.

The Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG also hit a maximum sustained brightness of 608 nits in a 50 percent window, meaning half the display was lit. That, too, is better than QD-OLED alternatives, which are lucky to sustain 300 nits.

To put it simply, the XG27AQDMG’s WOLED panel delivers better HDR brightness than QD-OLED. Higher brightness is important because it provides more detail in luminous areas of a scene. The accretion disc around the black hole in Interstellar’s Gargantua scene is a great example. The disk seems like a uniform, glowing uniform mass in SDR, but HDR reveals subtle colors and added detail that was invisible in SDR.

The XG27AQDMG is also great for HDR gaming. Games that have HDR support frequently have attractive particle effects and other small, flashy elements that appear only briefly on the screen. The XG27AQDMG looks exceptionally bright and detailed when displaying these effects. QD-OLED monitors also look good in HDR games, but the XG27AQDMG is superior.

If HDR is at the top of your list of priorities, then the XG27AQDMG is an excellent choice. Its brightness is defeated only by Mini-LED monitors like the AOC Q27G3XMN. Mini-LED monitors have their own disadvantages, though, like halos around small bright objects and, in most cases, less motion clarity. The XG27AQDMG’s combination of brightness, contrast, and motion clarity makes it ideal for HDR gaming.

Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG motion performance

Motion performance is a strength of OLED monitors, and the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG is no exception. Scrolling test images from games like League of Legends and Dota 2 revealed good detail around character silhouettes. The names and hitpoint bars displayed above characters were generally legible in motion, though not always easy to read. Small, fast moving objects remain identifiable and significant detail is visible in decent vistas when panning the camera in a 3D game.

While the XG27AQDMG’s motion clarity is good, it’s defeated by QD-OLED alternatives that hit 360Hz, such as Alienware’s AW2725DF. These competitors are more expensive, but their improved refresh rate can provide a slight motion clarity boost. Keep in mind, however, that a game must achieve a frame rate of up to 360 frames per second for the 360Hz refresh rate to prove useful. That’s difficult, or impossible, with many modern PC games.

Asus offers a backlight strobing mode called ELMB, which rapidly flickers the image to reduce perceived motion blur. It’s effective, but it also lowers the brightness of the display. That can be a problem in SDR content, as there’s not a lot of brightness to spare. The ELMB mode also supports a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, and it doesn’t work with HDR. These limitations take away most of its appeal.

The XG27AQDMG’s official adaptive sync support is extensive. It includes certifications for VESA Adaptive Sync 240, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. The monitor also works with the variable refresh mode on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

All OLED competitors offer adaptive sync support, but many companies choose not to pursue official certification with both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync. Technically, monitors without the certification will usually work with both, but I like the peace of mind Asus offers by including official support for both standards.

Should you buy the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG?

The Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG is a viable alternative to QD-OLED monitors that performs slightly worse in some situations and better in others. The monitor’s HDR performance is its greatest strength, as it achieves a level of HDR brightness that’s significantly higher than QD-OLED monitors. In SDR, however, the XG27AQDMG slightly lags behind QD-OLED competitors in color performance and sharpness.

Pricing works in Asus’ favor. The XG27AQDMG carries a retail MSRP of just $749.99. A few QD-OLED monitors, like the MSI MAG 271QPX, are available for $750, but most are $50 to $100 more expensive. That makes the XG27AQDMG a great choice for gamers who want OLED but still need to be mindful of their budget.

Monitors

If you want to be competitive in PC games these days, you can forget about using a run-of-the-mill office mouse. Instead, you’ll need a powerful device that’s optimized just for gaming.

Manufacturers go to great pains to design specialist devices that give players an edge, with enhancements like unique body sizes and shapes, customizable weight, and extra grips to increase speed and accuracy. On top of that, the best gaming mice have unique hardware enhancements like highly sensitive sensors and complex button configurations to keep up with fast-paced games.

Deciding on the right mouse is a highly personal decision that needs careful consideration. Factors like the size and shape of your hand, your preferred grip style, the types of games you play, and the number of buttons you need, are all factors in your quest for the best gaming mouse.

Why you should trust us? PCWorld has delivered in-depth product reviews and news going on 40 years now. Our reviewers aren’t just peripheral geeks, they’re also avid gamers on a mission to find the best gaming gear for themselves. Because of that they know the ins and outs of gaming gear, what’s good and what’s not.

Every mouse we review is put through a rigorous testing process by our expert reviewers. We appraise everything from the device’s comfort, and reliability, to its performance in games. We also compare each product to competitors to sum up whether or not they represent value for money. See our article on how we test gaming mice for more details.

Updated May 30, 2024 to include the Keychron M3 mini 4K Metal Editon, which earns our pick for best buttons. The buttons feature Huano 80M Micro Switches which are very soft and have an exceptionally quick debounce. We also added the Swiftpoint Z2, which is the most customizable gaming mouse we’ve ever reviewed, boasting not only 13 programmable buttons but also a mini-OLED display, haptic feedback, a gyroscope, and an accessory that turns it into a joystick.

How we test gaming mice

To ensure that our gaming mice selections are the pick of the crop, the PCWorld team subjects them to extensive play testing as well as a legion of other tests. We scrutinize everything from how well a mouse perform in games, to the size and shape of it in the hand, to comfort and ergonomics, to customizations. Here are the main categories our tests fall under:

• Gaming performance: At the end of the day it doesn’t matter how a mouse looks; it’s how it performs that matters. To evaluate a mouse’s performance we look specifically at how sensitive and responsive its sensor is and also how well the sensor tracks movement. Precision is also a key consideration, with mice that are more accurate generally scoring better in our reviews than those that aren’t. In wireless mice we also evaluate the speed and strength of the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals, keeping a look out for red flags like signal dropouts or interference. Some mice also come with software enhancements that determine the mouse’s lift-off distance, which we also examine in our testing.
• Design and ergonomics: You won’t find another tech device for which design plays a more crucial part of a user’s experience. And, while it’s true that there’s no one shape, size, or configuration that fits every gamer, there’s enough variation out there for every gamer to find their own perfect fit. When looking at design, we consider the size and shape of the device itself and the type of hand it fits. Gamers tend to use one of three common grip types—palm, claw, or fingertip—so a mouse’s compatibility with one or all of those types is a big consideration.
• Software: Being able to tweak settings like your mouse’s DPI and polling rate and create specific profiles for your favorite games can make or break your gaming experience, which is why a mouse’s software support is so important. Our PCWorld reviewers’ focus here is to consider the range and scope of software support and how readily settings can be modified, changed, and saved for future use.

For more details about our testing process, see our article on how we test gaming mice at PCWorld.

Gaming, Mice

Don’t let your favorite music and movies go to waste as you play them through your laptop’s built-in sound system. Your audio can come out sounding weak and lifeless with even the best laptop speakers. External PC speakers — along with a good set of headphones — are essential for getting the best fidelity from your media files.

Luckily, you don’t need to buy a complete 7.1 surround sound system to make up for it. For less than $100, you can find some affordable speakers that provide quality audio. It’s true that at this price point you will need to make a few compromises, but the best budget computer speakers can still offer a satisfying listening experience while saving you money, and that’s what we call a win-win.

Why should you trust us? Because our PC speaker reviewers have tried most of the budget speaker models on the market, so they know the ones that stand out from those that don’t quite hit the mark. Our testing criteria is also as thorough as it gets. To test each speaker, we set it up in a typical environment — on a desk in a home office — and play a variety of audio tracks while pushing a speaker system’s sound capabilities to the limit. We consider everything from how practical the design is, to the audio fidelity. We also compare and contrast models to make recommendations based on our findings.

To get insight into our extensive testing process, you can read our article “How we test PC Speakers at PCWorld.”

Business, Computer Accessories, Speakers

April Fools’ Day is the bane of any tech news writer’s existence. Never mind that these sad attempts at comedy from marketing people are sometimes barely distinguishable from real products — especially when they come days or weeks before April 1st. I always have to be on guard, and Nvidia has decided to make my job even harder.

Back in 2017, Nvidia made an April Fools’ joke introducing the “GTX G-Assist,” a USB device you could plug into your gaming PC that would literally play games for you.

The tongue-in-cheek video described a system that was essentially a game bot, which would mimic your personal play style and even emote and taunt when appropriate. Less believable parts included ordering pizza for you or alerting you when your energy drinks were sufficiently cooled in the fridge.

Last night, Nvidia’s GeForce account retweeted its original post from seven years ago, adding the missive: “The future is never far away…” With Computex right around the corner and AI being the inescapable buzzword of the industry (boosting Nvidia to obscene profits), it’s hard not to read between the lines.

As Tom’s Hardware points out, it’s extremely unlikely that Nvidia will actually release a tool that plays games for you, doubly so for any kind of online multiplayer game. (That already exists — it’s called a bot — and it’s not “AI” even in the very loose sense of the term being used right now.)

But Nvidia has been putting AI features, or at least an “AI” label, onto more and more of its products lately. Some kind of in-game helper system isn’t out of the question, perhaps as an extension of the existing Nvidia App overlay. Such tools are already being developed to a greater or lesser degree of actual utility.

We’ll have to wait for Computex to see if this is a teaser leading up to an actual product or merely an Nvidia social media person bringing up a timely joke.

Graphics Cards

I love multiple monitors. I love Legos. (And yes, fellow LEGO addicts, I know it’s not supposed to have an ‘s’ on the end, but I have to write for the normals.) Because of that, this new concept from HP might just be my favorite thing ever.

The idea? A series of microLED displays connected by near-seamless couplers that can assemble giant monitor arrays like puzzle pieces. It’s barely even a concept at the moment — just a technical paper proposing various ways to do it — but it still has me excited.

There are three core components to this idea:

1. Small microLED LCD panels with no bezel
2. Magnetic connectors that link up physically and electrically (the kind of daisy chain setup that never seems to work right with DisplayPort)
3. “Anchors” that connect to a PC and some sort of bracket or stand

You start with a display panel, or multiple panels connected together directly as it may be. Set them up on a base. Then add tiny magnetic couplers to any side of the screen. These couplers connect directly to other display panels, or panel arrays, connected to another base.

Using either near-invisible thin bezels or some much more complicated hardware that scatters light in rays right over them, you can create a massive grid of monitors in a staggering number of combinations.

There’s a lot of potential in this idea, and HP’s technical paper goes into the gritty details. The auto-connecting magnetic couplers between displays are both useful and complex. They can be straight or curved, allowing your displays to wrap around your desk while still being connected to each other.

They can also restrict placement of panels to only configurations that are both electronically possible and physically safe. If a big secondary array of panels isn’t currently connected to a base that can support its weight, the couplers refuse to connect.

But the thing that excites me most is this: the connection across monitors is the same physical device that aligns them perfectly, in either the straight or curved configuration.

I have spent hours — hours — aligning my three monitors to get them in the perfect configuration across three individual VESA mounts. In the end I had to resort to duct tape… and one of them is still a few millimeters off. This coupler system could make that fiddly process a thing of the past.

This system could be a huge boon for both consumers like me and small businesses that want to quickly and cheaply assemble large displays.

Sadly, it’s going to be a long, long time before we see it in reality — if we ever do. Right now it’s merely the brainchild of three HP designers, not even a patent application. And as Digital Trends points out, a similar monitor design from Samsung has yet to even be seen in person after its debut earlier this year.

Monitors

Have you ever wondered whether your USB ports are really delivering maximum power? There are several ways to find out. Windows offers you built-in functions to check the performance of your USB ports. At the same time, third-party apps and physical tools such as a voltmeter can provide information.

Start with the Device Manager in Windows: Typing device manager in the search bar of the Windows taskbar opens the doors to a detailed view of your hardware.

Under “Universal serial bus controllers” you will find everything you need to know about your USB ports. Right-click on “USB root hub” or “Generic USB hub” and select “Properties.”

Further reading: The best USB-C cables for charging and data transfers

Then click on the “Details” tab. Under “Property,” select “Power data.” This data reveals the power classification, which ranges from D0, the highest power, to D3, the lowest.

For those who prefer a more visual or user-friendly method, the free USBDeview software offers an excellent alternative. As a portable program, it saves you having to install it.

The tool provides detailed information on the specifications of your computer’s USB ports. After downloading and running the tool, you will see the USB ports in a list. Check the “Power” column to find out how much power the port is using.

Alternatively, you can also use a USB voltmeter. The small measuring hardware is not only suitable for computers, but also for other devices such as smartphones and power banks.

The small but powerful tool can be connected directly to the USB port and instantly measures voltage, current, and power. It offers a direct, uncomplicated method of testing performance and ensuring that you are charging your devices optimally.

We recommend, for example, the YOJOCK Tester 2-in-1 designed for USB-A and USB-C ports from $17 or the USB-A DROK USB Tester from $14. For testing USB cables, the simply designed but efficient Treedix USB cable tester is available from $15.

All methods are simple and suitable for determining the actual performance of your USB ports. A deeper understanding of your USB ports can be useful in many ways: for satisfying your curiosity, for troubleshooting, or simply to make sure your devices are getting the power they need.

Further reading: The confusing world of USB-C charging, explained

Personal Software

I love my home office, but sometimes I prefer taking my laptop to a nearby coffee shop to work. What I don’t like, however, is having to rely on a single laptop screen when I’m on the go.

A portable extra screen would be so useful, wouldn’t it? Imagine my surprise when I saw that the Arzopa A1 Gamut Slim is down to $76 for Amazon Prime members. Normally available for $130, this 14-inch portable monitor is an absolute bargain at this price.

While we didn’t review this “Slim” model, we did review the regular A1 Gamut model and found it to be a great monitor with good image quality and lots of connectivity options. It was so good that it became our pick for best budget portable monitor!

The Arzopa A1 Gamut Slim is similar but tweaked for maximum portability. For starters, it’s incredibly thin at just 0.16 inches thick and super lightweight at just 1.1 pounds. You’ll barely feel this one in your bag, neatly tucked in beside your laptop.

The 14-inch 1080p anti-glare IPS display offers vibrant image quality and screen brightness. The 300 nits make it suitable for bright indoor areas, but don’t expect it to do well in direct sunlight.

One of the coolest things about this portable monitor is its flexibility of screen orientation. You can switch between horizontal and vertical modes with ease, allowing you to multitask however you want, whether you’re coding, using editing tools, or just browsing.

No worries about connectivity, either. On the side you’ll find two USB-C ports and a Mini HDMI port, so you can easily connect it to most modern laptops, smartphones, and even gaming consoles.

Need extra screen space while traveling with your laptop? The Arzopa A1 Gamut Slim is a solid solution — and it’s currently 42% off for Amazon Prime members. (Not a Prime member? Get started with a 30-day free trial and snag this deal!)

Get this ultra-portable monitor for $76 on Amazon

Monitors

If you’re in the market for an inexpensive laptop for day-to-day tasks, you’re in luck. We’ve got a list of our top picks below. That said, it’s important to be smart about your choices. Although you may need to deal with a couple of minor drawbacks like a dim display or short battery life, it’s still possible to score a sub-$500 laptop with strong performance.

Why you should trust us: It’s in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We’ve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who’ve applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We’re also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.

If you can manage to stretch your budget a little bit further, check out our best laptops roundup for even more suggestions.

Updated May 30, 2024: We updated our list of recent laptop reviews to include the Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight, a remarkably thin and lightweight machine, and the HP Envy x360 14, which features a beautiful OLED display. Make sure you check those out near the bottom of the page!

The best laptops under $500

Recent laptop reviews

We’ve reviewed several new laptops recently, though many cost more than $500.

• Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Dell’s Latitude 7450 Ultralight is the lightest and thinnest of the three Latitude 7450 models. It’s a real go-getter in the performance stakes and ideal for mobile professionals.
• Alienware x16 R2: The Alienware x16 R2 is a premium 16-inch gaming laptop at a premium price. But its mechanical keyboard and the highest-end hardware will cost you extra.
• HP Envy x360 14: The HP Envy x360 14 has a gorgeous OLED screen and great build quality, but performance could be better.
• Dell XPS 13 (2024): The Dell XPS 13 has been a force to reckon with some years, but this isn’t one of them. It’s performance lags behind its cheaper competitors, and it doesn’t lead them in the battery department either. It may be thin and light, but by a narrow margin that doesn’t make up for its shortcomings.

How we tested

The PCWorld team puts each and every Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against others we’ve tested.

Chromebooks, on the other hand, go through a series of web-based tests. It wouldn’t be fair or possible to run the same kinds of tests on a Chromebook, as they’re Chrome OS-based machines. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of each test and the reasons why we run them. For a much deeper look at our review methodology, check out how PCWorld tests laptops.

Windows laptops

• PCMark 10: PCMark 10 is how we determine how well the laptop handles lighter tasks like web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets, and so on.
• HandBrake: HandBrake is more intensive than PCMark 10. It basically measures how long a laptop’s CPU takes to encode a beefy 30GB file.
• Cinebench: Cinebench is a brief stress test of the CPU cores. It does this by rendering a 2D scene over a short period of time.
• 3DMark: 3DMark checks if 3D performance remains consistent over time by running graphic-intensive clips.
• Video rundown test: To gauge battery life, we loop a 4K video using Windows 10’s Movies & TV app until the laptop dies.

Chromebooks

• CrXPRT 2: The CrXPRT 2 benchmark tests a Chromebook’s battery life.
• Speedometer 2.0: This test determines a Chromebook’s web browser performance. It simulates this by adding, completing, and removing a to-do list.
• Basemark Web 3.0: This benchmark gauges how well a Chromebook can handle web-based applications.
• Kraken 1.1: Kraken 1.1 is a JavaScript performance benchmark.
• Jetstream 2: Jetstream 2 is a combination of WebAssembly and JavaScript benchmarks. This is a way to gauge how well a Chromebook runs advanced workloads.

What kind of laptop should you get?

Ah, here we are at the billion dollar question. Do you spring for a basic Chromebook or go for a Windows laptop with more features? Well, it really depends on your lifestyle and your expectations of a sub-$500 machine. At this price point, you’re not going to find a powerful workhorse. However, there are plenty of affordable laptops out there for those who need the basics.

Chromebooks, for example, are a great low-cost option and offer phenomenal battery life. I use a Chromebook as my primary work laptop, as it has everything I need for both editing and writing. If you travel for work, it’s probably a good idea to invest in a laptop that weighs less than three pounds. If you’re still unsure, don’t sweat it. I’ve put together a list of quick buying tips below.

• Laptop type: There are many different laptop types that fall in the sub-$500 category: clamshells, 2-in-1’s, Chromebooks, and much more. The displays on convertible laptops (aka 2-in-1’s), for example, can swing around 360 degrees. This allows you to use the laptop like a tablet. They can also be propped up like a tent for viewing movies or participating in video calls. Chromebooks come in various shapes and sizes, and exclusively run Google’s web-focused Chrome OS. With a Chromebook, all you need is a Gmail account and, boom, you’re in.
• CPU: When it comes to the sub-$500 Windows laptops, you can expect to find Intel Core i3 or i5 processors. An i5 processor obviously provides a little more oomph. That said, basic office and web work does just fine on a Core i3. As for AMD options, the Ryzen 3 is good for basic productivity and web browsing, while Ryzen 5 chips rival Intel’s Core i5 as solid all-arounders. For Chromebooks, Snapdragon and Pentium processors are more powerful than MediaTek chips.
• Graphics: At this price range, you probably won’t find a laptop with a powerful discrete graphics card. Instead, you’ll encounter laptops with integrated graphics, which are integrated with the CPU and use less power as a result. This is perfectly fine for everyday tasks, especially if you’re not doing anything that’s graphics-intensive—like 3D gaming.
• RAM: Always go for 8GB of RAM. That’s plenty enough for firing up applications and loading web pages. Most Chromebooks are equipped with 4GB of RAM, which is the bare minimum. You need a decent amount of memory on these machines, as they’re primarily web-based. If there’s an 8GB RAM option, I’d recommend springing for that.
• Display size: If you’re a video editor or someone who does a lot of multimedia work, you’ll want a display that’s anywhere from 15- to 17-inches (but these machines usually cost far more than $500). The sweet spot for budget laptops is really anywhere from 13- to 14-inches. The bigger the display, the heavier your laptop is going to be. A 13- or 14-inch display is the best in terms of portability and value.
• Resolution: I wouldn’t go for anything less than 1080p, as there’s nothing more annoying than a slightly fuzzy image. 1080p produces a picture that’s sharp enough for watching Netflix or working in Excel. At this price range, you won’t really find many (if any) laptops with 1440p resolution or higher.
• Battery life: If you plan on taking your laptop anywhere with you, aim for something that can last 10 to 12 hours on a single charge. That’s more than a full work day, so it should theoretically get you through long flights or a day of classes. Obviously, more is always better. Just know that the bigger the battery, the heavier the laptop.
• Price: The price really depends on your budget. If you’re strapped for cash (been there, trust me), go for a Chromebook or an entry-level business laptop. These laptops are a good choice for students or young professionals. If you shop smart, you can even find 2-in-1’s in the $500 range.
• Ports: A wide array of ports is always a plus, as it eliminates the need for an adapter. I’d recommend a laptop that has both USB-C and USB-A. An HDMI port is good, too. This is especially useful for hooking up to an external monitor.

Budget Laptops, Chromebooks, Laptops

Whoa! We can hardly believe our eyes, but this RTX 4070 Asus laptop is on sale for just $1,100! Originally $1,400, you’ll save $300 on this purchase and get a ton of value for your money.

You could easily pay upwards of $2,000 for an RTX 4070 gaming laptop, so the price of this Asus TUF laptop is simply incredible.

What else is included? Well, it’s powered by the latest Intel Core i7 processor, guaranteeing top-notch performance for your gaming and productivity needs. This is a laptop that’s built to impress.

With 16GB of DDR5 memory, you’ll get speedy performance whether you’re playing games, editing videos, or just browsing the web. If that’s not enough, you can upgrade to 32GB of RAM.

The 15.6-inch FHD display is excellent, too. It boasts a 144Hz refresh rate and adaptive sync technology, which minimizes screen tearing and provides a seamless gaming experience.

It also comes with a 1TB SSD, so there’s plenty of storage space for anything you want to install or store. The SSD ensures quick access to your files and fast boot-up times for games.

But it’s the Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics card that makes this laptop an absolute gem. Expect stunning visuals in the maaaany long hours of gaming ahead — and yes, it’s also great for all those boring work tasks or whatever else you need to do.

Despite its powerful internals, this Asus TUF gaming laptop is quite portable. Weighing just 4.85 pounds, it’s easy to carry and fits comfortably into small bags and cases.

Worried about connectivity? This laptop has plenty of ports: a dedicated USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 support, a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and an RJ45 LAN port. (Is that not enough? Consider getting this Anker hub for six more ports.)

Again, an RTX 4070 gaming laptop for just $1,100 is an absolute steal. Snag the RTX-powered Asus TUF 15.6-inch gaming laptop at this price before the deal expires!

Get this RTX 4070 gaming laptop for $1,100 at Best Buy

Gaming Laptops

Wireless mice are awesome for freedom and comfort, but there’s no response time quite as good as with wired mice. One reason why the Logitech G502 was such a legendary gaming mouse.

In 2022, an evolved model came out: the Logitech G502 X. When we reviewed the Logitech G502 X, we concluded it had the best button configuration of any gaming mouse. It’s currently our second-favorite wired gaming mouse.

Further reading: The best gaming mice right now

Right now, the Logitech G502 X is available for just $60, down from its original price of $80. This is a fantastic deal if you’re in need of a fast and highly precise gaming mouse at a good price.

“Few gaming mice, if any, have such an accessible button layout, one that invariably makes this new model one of the best all-rounder wired gaming mice,” noted our expert reviewer.

The G502 X features LIGHTFORCE switches, described by Logitech as hybrid optical-mechanical switches that are responsive and reliable. It’s also equipped with Logitech’s Hero 25K gaming sensor, renowned for its high-precision accuracy.

Despite its robust look, the G502 X is actually designed with a weight-reduced thin-wall exoskeleton. Even the scroll wheel is light, putting this model’s weight at a sleek 89 grams.

The Logitech G502 X Wired Gaming Mouse is a spectacular deal at just $60 (25% off its normal price). This deal won’t last forever, so if you need a new wired gaming mouse, grab it while you can!

Get the Logitech G502 X gaming mouse for $60 on Amazon

Mice

Price When Reviewed

2663

Best Prices Today: Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight

Dell’s Latitude 7450 Ultralight is the kind of laptop that you’re really going to want if you’re a busy working professional who’s always on the run. Lightweight and thin, it’s a real satchel crammer’s dream. But the laptop’s excellent connectivity and large, spacious QHD+ touchscreen display will also win over a few PowerPoint presenter’s hearts too. Read on to find out more!

Looking for more options? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Specifications

Dell’s website allows you to tailor your Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight to best suit your working needs. Mocking up different configurations, I found I could choose from up to five Intel Core Ultra processors, then select from either 16GB or 32GB of RAM and between a FHD+ non-touch or QHD+ touchscreen display. Three SSD options were available, including 256GB, 512GB or 1TB storage. The exact specifications of my review unit are as follows:

• CPU: Intel Ultra 7 165U
• RAM: 32GB DDR5 / 6400 MT/s
• Graphics: Integrated Intel Graphics
• Display: 14-inch, QHD+ (2560x1600p) resolution, touch sensitive, 60Hz refresh rate, Comfortview+ low blue light,
• Storage: 512MB PCIe NVMe Gen 4 SSD
• Webcam: 5MP IR Windows Hello compatible camera
• Connectivity: 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm audio jack, wedge-shaped lock slot.
• Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.2
• Battery capacity: 57WHr
• Dimensions: 12.32 x 8.67 x 0.71
• Weight: 2.33lbs (1.058kg)         
• Cost: $2,663

For me the big question around price is how the Ultralight might compare to rivals, some of which have step-up OLED panels, like the Asus ZenBook 14 Flip OLED. Just doing a quick price comparison and on Asus’s e-store you can pick up a 14 Flip OLED for a starting price of $999. Dropping all the hardware selections down to the lowest specs on Dell’s website for the Ultralight and the cheapest model I could find cost $2,000. That makes the Ultralight a bit pricey in my view.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Design and build

Dell’s Latitude 7450 is built for busy working professionals that don’t want to lug around monster-sized laptops. It comes in three model types: a flexible 2-in-1, rigid aluminum laptop, or a thin Ultralight design, each one boasting a slightly different chassis.

My review unit, the Ultralight, was the lightest and thinnest of the three. It measured just 0.71 inches across and weighed 2.33 pounds, which made it super easy to carry around my office and showoff to colleagues.

The laptop’s tall display is ideal for any modern productivity applications, spreadsheet work, browsing, and running multiple programs. The Ultralight took everything I loaded up on it in its stride, with ample space to display multiple windows at once. That spaciousness is due to the laptop’s ultrathin bezels and the taller 16:10 aspect ratio. Indeed, the display towered over my old Latitude 7330’s smaller 16:9 aspect display and I didn’t have to crane my neck down so much.

Everything else about Latitude 7450 Ultralight is a class act, too. From its sides covered in useful ports to the robust but attractive materials Dell has used in its construction, this laptop just gels together so nicely.

Dell has incorporated recycled materials into the chassis, which I found didn’t take anything away from how tough it felt. The base of the chassis is comprised of 90 percent magnesium, yet it felt remarkably strong and supportive. The lid, although plastic, didn’t flex until I applied a ridiculous amount of pressure.

The hinges were remarkably tough, too. They bend back just past the horizontal so you can lay it flat and draw on the touchscreen like you would a tablet. Mind you the keyboard gets in the way when you do that, you don’t get a nice compact unit like you would with the 2-in-1 model.

My 7450 Ultralight came in a stunning River Blue color. It’s different enough to the sea of grey and black laptops out there to catch a few complimentary comments, but still subtle enough to not attract too much attention. If blending into the crowd is what you like to do, then this laptop is still great for that.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Keyboard and touchpad

Typing on the 7450 Ultralight’s full-sized keyboard was very comfortable thanks to its large size. It stretched almost the full length of the base, so I could relax my arms and ease into my writing.

If you’ve used a Latitude in the past, the keys will feel mostly the same as before. They’re soft, but not mushy, so typing feels quite effortless, much nicer than the Dell Vostro keys. That said, the keyboard backlighting could have been stronger. I could still see the keys in low light, but a stronger light would have made visibility even easier.

While the keyboard has a standard configuration for a laptop this size, the extra functionality in the laptop’s Collaboration Trackpad is the showstopper. It features conferencing icons along its top, which allowed me to access Zoom and Microsoft Teams directly with just a few presses.

I could also control functions like Mic, Share Screen, and Mute, which meant I didn’t have to fuss about looking for these commands in the programs themselves. The convenience here can’t be understated – it saved me plenty of time and awkwardness fussing about in meetings.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Connectivity

With two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a HDMI port, as well as two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack on the laptop’s flanks, the Latitude 7450 has enough connectivity to confidently see mobile working professionals through busy productive days.

To prove my point, I hooked up two displays to stream a 4K video clip externally, one connection I plugged into a Thunderbolt 4 port and the other to the HDMI port. While that was going on, I began copying a 30GB file to my desktop via the other Thunderbolt 4 port. On the right side where the USB-A ports are, I hooked up a wireless mouse and a wireless keyboard.

The Latitude 7450 Ultralight handled all these varying activities effortlessly. My take away from this little experiment is that in an office environment you can easily be jumping through hoops, loading stuff up, showing off videos and have your peripherals attached all at once and the Ultralight will do just fine, it won’t make a fool of you.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Display

The Latitude 7450 Ultralight’s 2560x1600p display isn’t just tall and spacious, it’s suitably detailed and color accurate for what it’s mostly going to be used for – that is, rendering 2D or 3D images, showing videos, and displaying dashboards in programs and applications.

The display produced crisp pictures with a color saturation that’s quite decent for an IPS grade LCD panel. Admittedly though, it’s a grade below the mesmerizing colors and contrast I’ve recently seen in some OLED displays this year. Still, I came to enjoy the fine detail I saw in the changing Windows 11 desktop backgrounds when I booted the laptop up.

The touch sensitivity was the thing that impressed me the most about the laptop’s panel. I found it was accurate to a very fine point and responded immediately to my fingertip jabs. Quite often I find myself having to repeat a swipe on a touchscreen, but not this time. It registered my fingertips first go.

In regard to brightness, I measured 400 nits with my LUX meter. A truer test, however, was using the laptop near my sunny living room window, where I could still see the brightly colored bird in my Windows 11 background, without squinting my eyes or cranking the brightness to maximum.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Audio and webcam

The Ultralight comes with a 5MP IR camera which produces natural-looking images in meetings. I also found the microphone’s sound quality could convey sound clearly, with an absence of tinniness or static.

The camera supports Dell technologies like ExpressSign-In for hands free sign-in and screen locking and Intelligent Privacy which helps keep your image safe when others look over your shoulder. You also get a physical privacy shutter for when you want to go completely incognito.

The Ultralight’s upward facing speakers produce clear sound suitable for playing music and producing sound effects. But don’t expect the audio soundscape to be too detailed. As you’d expect in a laptop this thin, the treble and mid tones are conveyed well, but the depth of the bass won’t knock your socks off.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Performance

Intel’s Core Ultra chips are a significant advancement over the company’s 13th generation Intel Raptor Lake chips. Their 7nm hybrid architecture includes a CPU, GPU and NPU (Neural Processing Unit) the latter of which provides a range of low-power AI acceleration and CPU to GPU offload benefits.

My review unit featured an Intel Core Ultra 165U processor. Intel says this chip offers an 11 percent improvement in multi-threading performance compared to rival chips like the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U. It’s also more energy efficient than previous intel chips.

To test out how well it could handle a range of productivity tasks and applications in the Latitude 7450 Ultralight I ran PCWorld’s usual productivity benchmarks. The results were then compared against other light and thin laptops in our charts.

In the first test, Maxon Cinebench’s Multi-Threaded benchmark, the Ultralight scored 3,573. This test fires all the Cores of the laptop’s Core Ultra chip in a similar way to how a very taxing task like encoding might do the same. The Ultralight’s result infers it’s a moderate performer in similar tasks.

In our HandBrake test that tasks the laptop to encode a 30GB MKV file to MP4 using the Android Tablet preset, the Ultralight finished in the task in 1518 seconds. This isn’t a bad result for a laptop with a chassis as thin as this one.

It shows that despite its sleekness, the Ultralight can keep rising thermal temperatures in check and successfully power on through difficult tasks to finish them reasonably quickly, when compared to other thin and light laptops of its ilk.

Next up was PCMark’s Productivity benchmark, which provides a snapshot of how the laptop is likely to perform in different work applications. Among our comparisons the Ultralight’s performance seemed to be slightly lacking compared to our comparisons.

3Dmark’s Time Spy 1.2 provided me with a snapshot of how the Ultralight should handle graphics-based tasks like 3D rendering. Ultra-books as light and thin as the Ultralight aren’t usually known for their tremendous graphics processing power, but then again, the Ultralight came second in our field of comparisons indicating that it does have some grunt for these tasks.

To sum up these results, they show that the Ultralight has decent processing power and graphics performance power for tasks like video conferencing, essential apps like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Adobe Photoshop.

As the HandBrake test shows, it will also run heavier tasks reasonably well for a laptop so thin. In other works, it’s ideal for mobile professionals that need a highly portable laptop for a range different tasks, be that general office applications, or a few heavier tasks, but that don’t need dollops of power like you’d find in a gaming laptop.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Battery performance

I ran our usual battery test that involves looping a 4K video on repeat and timing how long it took to go into standby mode. Before I started the test, I set the laptop up by turning off the keyboard backlighting, setting Wi-Fi to airplane mode and setting the sound to 50 percent. I also plugged in a cheap pair of headphones to control noise.

The Latitude 7450 Ultralight lasted for 10 and a half hours. While that’s not exceptional for a productivity laptop, it’s still enough to comfortably get you through a working day, which means that ultra mobility and portability you’re getting won’t go to waste.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Conclusion

The Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight does what it’s made for very well – it’s exceptionally thin, remarkably light and has enough power for both light applications and some heavier tasks. The connectivity is also excellent and a host of Dell technologies go a long way to making life so much easier.

Its Achillies heel, however, is its high price point compared to some rivals. Still, it does have the advantage of an Intel Core Ultra processor, which could be a worthwhile edition to your working life.

Laptops

Sightful’s Spacetop, the laptop with no screen that we saw demo’d last year, has entered commercial availability with the Spacetop G1, a faster, more polished version that will be available later this year for a relatively reasonable $1,900.

The Spacetop uses a pair of augmented reality (AR) goggles — in this case, a modified version of the Xreal Air 2 Pro — as a display interface. So while the SpaceTop G1 looks similar to the “early access” Spacetop that we went hands-on with last year, the performance should be significantly better. The specs are improved, and more PC-like (16GB LPDDR5, 128GB SSD) but the field of view on the glasses appears to have narrowed by a hair.

The idea behind the Spacetop, though, remains the same: A typical laptop has a single screen, but the Spacetop uses the AR glasses to project a “100-degree virtual workspace” in front of you, to which you can affix virtual windows. The remainder of the Spacetop, which includes the real-life physical keyboard tray, sits on the desk in front of you. Spacetop argues that this makes excellent sense in the cramped environs of a plane, or just in a world where you want to have the benefits of multiple monitors without the encumbrance of actual hardware.

Spacetop offered us a chance to go hands-on with the Spacetop G1; I was forced to decline, as I just couldn’t make it work with my travel schedule.

What has improved in the Spacetop G1

The Spacetop G1 improves on its predecessor in a number of ways.

Sightful’s Spacetop begins with the glasses, and the company says “a variety of modifications” have been made here. The glasses now project at 90Hz, rather than 72Hz, at the same 1080p resolution as before. But the display panels are now OLED, which generally offers a more pleasant visual experience on desktop PCs, at least.

The field-of-view (FOV), however, has shrunk. Sightful says that the FOV measures 50 degrees, down from 53 degrees in the early-access product. But that’s not bad, compared to, say, older Xreal glasses like the Air XR (46 degree FOV). Apple hasn’t disclosed the FOV of the Vision Pro, but it’s surmised to be more than 90 degrees in either direction, according to Macworld. That can present a tradeoff: A wider FOV means more distance between the pixels, resulting in a grainier view. Spacetop has left the pixels-per-degree (PPD) fixed, at 42.

Sightful also says that it has tweaked the structure of the glasses, adjusting the comfort and balance. The latter was a weak point in the early device, in my opinion. One of the interesting twists is that Sightful is still offering custom prescription lenses for the glasses, from =8.00D to +6.00D. If you enter your prescription while buying the Spacetop G1, the lenses will ship right in the box.

Inside, Sightful also includes a faster processor: the Qualcomm QCS8550, a chip designed for Internet-of-Things applications, rather than a laptop chip like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite. A Sightful spokesman said that the chip inside the Spacetop G1 includes 48 TOPS of compute power. In any event, that should produce snappier interactions.

It’s not clear whether there’s a bigger battery, but the Spacetop G1 also includes more battery life: seven hours, up from five hours. It can be charged from 0 percent to 85 percent in less than two hours. But the weight of the device has slightly dropped, too, to just 3.08 pounds, including the glasses, which weighs a lighter 0.19 pounds.

The Spacetop G1 still looks like the early-access model: a squished burrito that unfolds into a more conventional keyboard and workspace. From my older experience, the glasses panned smoothly about the virtual workspace, which was essentially Android; at the time, the windows and apps weren’t as smooth as a real PC.

I don’t know if Sightful has solved that problem. But with a faster processor and more memory, things look more promising.

Laptops

For many years, Microsoft sold its productivity software Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and so on in a bundle called Microsoft Office. In 2013, the company saw where the software industry was heading and began a transition to a subscription-based model.

The suite of applications and a growing set of services continued to be called Office 365 until 2020, when it was given its current name, Microsoft 365. The company would like to see all Windows users have a subscription, and is doing its best to entice them with advertising in Windows. This seems unnecessary, as the service is one of the most affordable subscriptions on the consumer market. In this article, I’ll go through why this is the case, what’s included, and which subscription you should choose.

Further reading: Outlook: How to set up breaks between your meetings

Everything included in Microsoft 365

From being basically just the three basic Office programs and a few helper functions, Microsoft 365 has grown to consist of around 10 programs and a number of services. Some are also available as free versions without much difference, but most are significantly more powerful in the paid version. Here are the programs and services that are only included with a subscription.

Word
Microsoft’s advanced word processing program has hundreds of features and can do most things with text, except possibly make it look good in print.

Excel
The world of finance would stand still without Microsoft spreadsheet software. There are alternatives, but the Windows version of Excel is by far the most capable of working with huge amounts of numbers.

PowerPoint
Presentations may not be as important to home users, nor as common in businesses as they once were, but they still have a place and a tool to create them: PowerPoint.

OneDrive with 1TB of space
Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud storage service can be used either like Dropbox to sync data between different devices and the cloud, or as a fully cloud-based storage for files you don’t want to offload from your computer. With a subscription, each account gets 1TB of space.

Outlook
Tired of webmail and prefer a real email program? Microsoft Outlook is one of the best, even for home users. Confusingly, subscribers also have increased storage space on the separate Outlook.com email service — 50GB instead of 15GB.

OneNote
If you’ve never tried OneNote, it can be hard to understand what it’s for, but it’s widely used in schools and elsewhere. The program is a kind of digital bulletin board where you can collect text, images, and other things.

Clipchamp
Microsoft’s equivalent of Apple’s iMovie — a simple video editing program that allows you to do a little more with all the videos you record with your mobile phone. For example, you can edit a holiday film.

Publisher
This desktop publishing program is a better way than Word to produce printed materials such as posters, leaflets, and more, although it’s not in the same league as Adobe Indesign or Quarkxpress. Available only as a Windows program.

Access
Databases. You might think it’s just for businesses, but in fact a database program like Access can serve as a relatively easy way to create your own applications. Like Publisher, Access is only available as an old-fashioned Windows program.

Microsoft Editor
A new AI-based tool embedded in Word and Outlook and available as a Chromium extension. Editor helps you write better by suggesting language improvements and spelling and grammar corrections.

Microsoft Forms
Helps you create and distribute surveys. Very useful for some, completely uninteresting for others.

Skype
Skype is not nearly as popular today as it was 10 to 15 years ago, but in one area it is hard to beat: international phone calls. A Microsoft 365 subscription includes 60 minutes of calls to many countries every month.

Individual or family

Microsoft 365 for consumers comes in two flavors: Personal and Family . Personal costs $69.99 a year or $6.99 a month, Family costs $99.99 a year or $9.99 a month. Paying annually gives a 16.7 percent discount. But see below for a tip on how to reduce the price further.

The difference between the two subscriptions is that Family includes up to six separate accounts, each of which gets 1TB of OneDrive space and 60 Skype minutes. Each account can also activate the Office programs on up to five devices. In other words, you get six accounts for the price of 1.43 accounts.

For those who don’t have a family to share the subscription with, it might seem natural to choose Personal, but it’s not quite that simple. 5TB more cloud space for $30 extra a year is nothing to sneeze at, although it does require a bit more fiddling to utilize than a cloud storage service that provides all the space in one account.

Further reading: How to get Microsoft Office 365 for cheap

I can give a personal example that illustrates the benefit of choosing Family even for a single user. I use two of my six Family accounts solely for backing up my computer; one account each for two 1TB SSDs. I use the Arq Backup software, which is sold as a one-off license, and the cost per year is much lower than with Backblaze, for example. It won’t work for everyone, but is definitely worth considering.

Another option is to get a Family subscription with some friends or relatives you don’t live with and share the cost. Each account is its own, separate account and the ‘administrator’ — the one who pays for the subscription and invites the others — does not have access to any other members’ data. So no one has to worry about being spied on.

Buy discounted activation codes

When you subscribe to Microsoft 365, the company will activate auto-renewals that each month or year will deduct the regular price. But there’s another way to renew your subscription — with activation codes you buy from other stores.

Activation codes are often sold at a discount, especially around Black Friday but also during the rest of the year. You can activate for up to five years, so if you find a really good price, you can grab several codes at once, as long as you know you’ll want the Office programs for that long.

Business subscriptions

Businesses and other organizations have a different set of Microsoft 365 subscriptions to choose from:

• Business Basic – $6 per month per user, web and mobile versions of Office applications only (not including Windows or Mac applications).
• Business Standard – $12.50 per month per user, same as Basic but with the desktop programs.
• Business Premium – $22.00 per month per user, same as Standard plus advanced security features.
• Business Applications – $8.25 per month per user, just the desktop applications for Windows and Mac plus 1TB of OneDrive storage.

In addition to the above programs and services, a number of business-oriented features are also included that are not available in personal subscriptions. These are mainly SharePoint, Exchange (email) with support for your own domain, the web version of the powerful Visio visualization tool, and the “real” version of Teams.

These prices are exclusive of VAT as it is aimed at businesses. In practice, there is nothing to stop self-employed people buying a private subscription and using it at work, for those who don’t need their own domain for email or have it otherwise, and don’t need any of the other unique features.

Standalone license – usually a bad choice

For those who refuse to pay for subscriptions, Microsoft actually still sells a standalone Office package on license, called Microsoft Office Home & Student. It costs $149.99 and the last update came in 2021 so the programs are not the latest versions. However, Microsoft has announced that it plans to release a new version towards the end of 2024.

What is included is Word, Excel, and PowerPoint — no other programs, nor any services. For most people, this is a worse buy than the subscription, as the programs are not updated with new features and functions like OneDrive are not included. But there are situations where it’s still better, for example for a computer that won’t have internet access and where you want to be able to use the basic programs without restrictions indefinitely.

Extended support

Free users will have to make do with support documents and Microsoft’s support forums, but Microsoft 365 subscribers will have access to manned support via chat or phone. That can make a big difference if something goes wrong.

This extended support applies not only to the components of Microsoft 365 but also to Windows 10 and 11, so you can get help from a human being if Windows updates are failing, if you’re worried you might have been hit by malware, or anything else.

Customers who buy a standalone license for the Office programs also get support via chat but not by phone.

Stingy? What’s included in free accounts

Some of the features included in Microsoft 365 are also available for free to anyone who gets a Microsoft account. Here’s what’s included even if you don’t want or can’t afford to pay.

Web and mobile apps for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Has all the basic features of the three main programs in the old Office suite, but only via a web browser.

OneDrive with 5GB
Free accounts don’t get a lot of room to move around, but the Windows program to sync files and folders is included and it works great for those who, for example, have a folder of important files they want to access on all devices.

Outlook on the web and for mobiles
Microsoft has not made it easy to understand the jungle of different versions of Outlook, but for free users there are two completely separate Outlooks. The web mail client and email service Outlook.com is free and gives you an @outlook.com address with 15GB of space, and the Outlook mobile app for Android and iOS is free and works with most email services such as Gmail, Apple iCloud, and Yahoo Mail.

Skype and Teams
You don’t have to pay anything to use Skype or Teams for individuals, although Skype does have a bonus for subscribers.

Options – full office suite or individual programs and services

Don’t like subscriptions, or just tired of Microsoft’s programs? There are plenty of alternatives, both free and paid programs. What’s right for you depends a lot on what you’re actually looking for. There’s so much included in Microsoft 365 that you can’t replace the whole package with a single option from another developer.

If you’re mainly looking for something to replace Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, the best options are free and open source, like Libreoffice and Freeoffice.

For OneDrive, there are many options, from Google Drive and Apple iCloud to smaller players like Shadow Drive and pCloud. You can also create your own cloud storage service that synchronizes folders between different devices using tools such as Syncthing and Seafile.

Further reading: Best cloud backup services

The best thing to do is to look for alternatives to the particular program you want to replace, and to think about what you need it for. If you use Word to write books, you have very different choices than if you use it to write emails and need features like Mail Merge.

Personal Software

It’s a heavyweight matchup between the two VPN giants: ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN. They are the Godzilla and King Kong, Gates and Jobs, or Packers and Bears of the VPN world. Both offer some of the fastest, most secure, feature-rich services on the market. So which one should you choose? 

NordVPN might be cheaper in the long-term and it offers more servers, but ExpressVPN has a better privacy record and more consistent access to streaming services. While both are neck and neck, I recommend ExpressVPN for most folks. It’s our pick for best VPN overall due to its ease-of-use, unrivaled transparency, and excellent streaming support. That’s not to take anything away from NordVPN, which is also an exemplary choice. The differences are nuanced so let’s break it all down in more detail below to help you choose the best VPN for your own needs.

If you’re interested in all of our top picks for VPN head over to out best VPNs article for more great options.

ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN: Features compared

	ExpressVPN	NordVPN
Server network	3,000+ servers, 105 country locations	6,000+ servers, 110+ country locations
Simultaneous connections	8	10
Average speeds	71% of base download, 80% of base upload	72% of base download, 80% of base upload
Protocols	OpenVPN, IKEv2, Lightway	OpenVPN, NordLynx (WireGuard), IKEv2
Available platforms	Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, iPadOS, Fire TV, Apple TV, Linus, Browsers, Routers	Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, iPadOS, Fire TV, Apple TV, Linus, Browsers, Routers
Business location	British Virgin Islands	Panama
Cost	$12.95 per month, $59.94 for six months, or $99.84 per year	$12.99 per month, $82.35 for first year (then $99.48 per year), or $126.63 for first two years (then $99.48 per year)

Best for speed: NordVPN (by a hair)

In my testing both NordVPN and ExpressVPN ranked with stellar speed scores. Along with Hotspot Shield they’re the fastest VPNs available. While all VPNs will slow down your internet speeds to some degree, these two slow it down the least. 

In my latest tests, ExpressVPN resulted in an average of 71 percent of the base internet speed for downloads and 80 percent of the base for uploads. NordVPN nosed it out, though, with 72 percent of the base download speeds and 80 percent of the base upload speeds. Those are razor-thin margins and the one percent difference is likely unnoticeable in daily use. 

Whichever you choose, you can expect it to handle bandwidth-heavy tasks, such as gaming and 4K streaming, with ease. However, the winner for speed — by the slimmest of margins — is NordVPN.

Best for cost: NordVPN

ExpressVPN only has one subscription tier, which will set you back $12.95 monthly, $59.94 for six months, or $99.84 for one year. NordVPN, on the other hand, offers three subscription tiers: Basic, Plus, and Ultimate. To make an equal comparison for services provided I’ll focus on NordVPN’s Plus plan, which runs $12.99 monthly, $82.35 for the first year, or $126.63 for the first two years. It’s worth noting, though, that both NordVPN’s 1-year and 2-year plans rise to $99.48 annually after their respective renewal periods.

While in the end, both services charge you practically the same prices for their annual subscriptions, NordVPN offers much better upfront discount incentives. These introductory prices mean that you can initially save a bit if you choose NordVPN over ExpressVPN. It pretty much equals out in the long term, but NordVPN’s upfront savings give it the nod in terms of costs.

Best for privacy and security: ExpressVPN

Both ExpressVPN and NordVPN are the trend-setters in the industry when it comes to comprehensive and innovative security features. Taking VPNs beyond just anonymizing your internet connection, these two companies have expanded to provide users with an entire suite of security add-ons such as ad- and tracker-blocking, password managers, and more.

If it came down to just total features, NordVPN wins. It offers multi-hop, and Onion Over VPN — both of which are currently lacking in ExpressVPN. In addition, NordVPN also gives its Plus subscription users access to cloud storage and robust malware protection.

However, many would argue that the main point of a VPN is to maximize privacy and engender trust among users — something I wholeheartedly agree with. And ExpressVPN simply has a better track record of privacy and transparency. While NordVPN has undergone four independent audits in its history, ExpressVPN went through 12 audits in 2022 alone.

Both services use AES-256 encryption and RAM-only servers to wipe data after each server reboot, thereby increasing data privacy. But ExpressVPN goes even further by using its own signature TrustedServer technology. This system reloads the latest software stack, OS and all, with each reboot, eliminating the chance for bugs and inconsistencies across servers which could lead to VPN vulnerabilities.

Despite the slight numerical feature advantage of NordVPN, the unparalleled transparency and privacy features of ExpressVPN give it the edge here — it’s second only to Mullvad in our privacy rankings.

Best for streaming: ExpressVPN

VPNs are mainly used for privacy and security, but they can also be used for entertainment purposes, unblocking geo-restricted content. Whether you’re traveling or just want to access region-locked content — looking at you, Netflix England’s entire selection of Ghibli movies — using a VPN to spoof your location is a great way to watch all of the content you want no matter your physical location.

In my testing, both ExpressVPN and NordVPN came through with flying colors when attempting to access streaming services in different locations. They successfully unblocked Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, and a handful of other services as well. 

The differences in streaming performance lie mostly in the different app interfaces. I personally found that ExpressVPN’s apps (Windows, AppleTV, Fire TV, etc.) were a bit more intuitive and easier to use than NordVPN’s apps. It might be a personal preference here, but I’m going to give the win in streaming to ExpressVPN — but, again, only by the narrowest of margins.

Bottom line

You can’t really go wrong with either of these VPNs. I gave both ExpressVPN and NordVPN 4.5 out of 5 stars in their respective reviews and both garnered Editors’ Choice awards for their outstanding VPN services. That being said, ExpressVPN is our pick for best VPN overall and for good reason. It provides excellent security features, top-notch speeds, terrific geo-unblocking, a great user interface, and incomparable transparency.

NordVPN is the fastest VPN on the market and does provide some nice-to-haves that ExpressVPN does not. But the speed difference is negligible and these extra features are really only useful for power users. Still, whenever someone asks me for a VPN recommendation I usually turn to ExpressVPN first.

VPN

Creating content is resource-intensive. It takes you a long time, or it costs a pretty penny to hire outside help. If you’re looking to scale your content output without breaking the bank, look no further than Scribbyo. During our Memorial Day Sale, you can get a lifetime subscription to this AI assistant for just $59.97.

Scribbyo is an all-in-one AI suite, giving you tools to write content, create images, generate code, generate voice overs, and even transcribe audio and video to text. It supports 37 languages and offers more than 50 templates to help you create all kinds of content with just a few data inputs. Whether you’re building a blog, coding a website, creating a podcast, or practically anything else, Scribbyo can help.

User John K. writes, “Scribbyo has been an amazing tool for my eCommerce business. The AI content generator has helped me create high-quality and unique product descriptions for my website, while the AI image creation feature has allowed me to generate professional-looking product images in just a few clicks. The ready-made prompt templates have also been a huge help in creating marketing campaigns. If you’re an eCommerce business owner, I highly recommend giving Scribbyo a try.”

Get the AI help you need for a discount. Now through 11:59 pm PT on 5/31, you can get a lifetime subscription to Scribbyo for just $59.97 (reg. $684).

 

Scribbyo: Lifetime Subscription – $59.97

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StackSocial prices subject to change.

Accessories

Gaming has gotten more complicated and sophisticated than ever these days. If you yearn for a simpler time of gaming, then the My Arcade Atari Game Station Pro may be for you. Inspired by the original Atari design, this innovative console is the first to integrate Atari 2600, 5200, 7800, and Arcade into a single console, and it’s half off for a limited time.

Unlike many pre-loaded game consoles, this one actually includes officially licensed and fully playable games. Connect to your TV via HDMI and dive into 200 built-in Atari and bonus titles, like Asteroids®, Centipede®, PONG®, Breakout®, Missile Command®, and Warlords®. Using the dual 2.4GHz wireless joysticks, you can play with a friend and save your progress to continue playing games from where you left off.

Get yourself a modern Atari. During our Memorial Day Sale, you can get the My Arcade Atari Game Station Pro for half off $99 at just $49.99.

 

My Arcade Atari Game Station Pro: Video Game Console with 200+ Games (New – Open Box) – $49.99

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StackSocial prices subject to change.

Gaming

Modular laptop maker Framework just announced the latest iteration of its Framework Laptop 13, now with the latest Intel Core Ultra processors and a high-resolution display with a fast 120Hz refresh rate.

We really vibe with Framework laptops here at PCWorld. In fact, in our review of the Framework Laptop 13’s bigger sibling, the Framework Laptop 16, we loved the well-rounded performance and easy upgradability so much that we gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

Not only is Framework throwing a new laptop model into the mix, but they’re also introducing new configurations and customization options. Read on for the details.

Further reading: The absolute best laptops to get right now

Upgraded CPU, webcam, and display

The new Framework Laptop 13 is the fourth iteration and it comes equipped with the more-efficient Intel Core Ultra CPU, a webcam with a powerful 9.2MP image sensor, and an optional 2880×1920 display with a 120Hz refresh rate (for both AMD and Intel systems).

I’m especially impressed with the display’s high resolution and refresh rate, and I hope it looks as sharp as I imagine it to be. Framework even claims the webcam offers great 1080p performance in dimmer environments. Only time will tell!

There’s one strange thing to note, though. Well, it’s not really strange, it’s just a quirk. The corners of the new 2880×1920 display option are actually rounded, which Framework says is because they reworked a customized panel that was meant for a different company.

Better cooling, fan noise, and graphics

According to the Framework blog, they have also “upgraded nearly every part since first shipping in 2021,” which is pretty impressive. They’ve actually redesigned the thermal system to better cool down the hardware inside, and a new fan control algorithm means quieter operation.

Graphics got a face lift, too. The architecture contains up to six performance cores and eight efficiency cores. It can even support up to a colossal 96GB of DDR5 memory, which may very well have a positive impact on gameplay.

So, when can you pre-order the new Framework Laptop 13? Right now, actually! It’s available to pre-order here with a starting price of $1,099. Shipments will begin in August.

Framework’s new configuration options

Framework is introducing a new configuration of the Framework Laptop 13 Edition with AMD Ryzen 7040 Series GPU. It comes with the option of the new 2880×1920 display, the new webcam with better sensor, and a larger 61Wh battery.

The manufacturer also slashed the prices of the current Ryzen 7040 Series and 13th Gen Intel Core models. The prices are now $949 for the pre-built ones and $799 for the DIY Edition.

More customization, too

Framework laptops are unique for their modular design. You can easily swap out or replace any part of the laptop. The USB ports work much the same way. They look like little cards, and all you have to do is slot them into the machine.

Now you can get four new USB-C port colors, which you can see in the image above. Those little pops of color are nice and will stand out against the laptop’s silver color scheme. (Want more ports? The new SD Expansion card is also now available to pre-order.)

Further reading: The most important laptop features in 2024

Laptops

Who wants to wait around while their phone charges? When you need your phone charged fast, a GaN charger can make a big difference.

The Spigen ArcStation Pro is now available for just $8, a huge cut down from its usual $25 price tag. This wall charger is perfect for iPhones and other USB-C devices, offering a blend of speed and convenience at an unbeatable price.

The Spigen ArcStation Pro provides a 20W output, which means you’ll quickly fill up the battery of your iPhone 15 or iPhone Pro. It may take a bit longer to charge a Max or Plus model, however, since those need a bit more oomph due to their bigger batteries.

Of course, it doesn’t only charge iPhones. It will work just fine with any phone or tablet, from your iPads to your Galaxy phones or your Pixel devices, to name a few.

The most intriguing bit about this Spigen model is that it uses GaN technology, which means it’s compact, it doesn’t heat up as much, and it’s a lot faster than regular chargers.

Lastly, the Spigen ArcStation Pro features a foldable plug, making it easier to carry around without fear of damaging the prongs.

You can’t go wrong with this GaN wall charger for $8 (69% off), especially if you’re like me and have way too many cables and not enough blocks to plug them into.

Get this GaN charger for $8 on Amazon

Consumer Electronics, Mobile Phone Chargers

No matter which laptop you buy, one of the most frustrating things is the lack of ports. Thankfully, this is easily fixed with a tool such as the Anker 6-in-1 USB-C hub, which is now on sale for $30, down from its regular $55.

This versatile hub will enhance your device’s functionality without breaking the bank. It also helps that it’s super portable, about the size of a magic marker with a thickness of just 0.7 inches.

And it’s not just portable, it’s versatile as well. This Anker hub offers massive expansion capabilities, featuring a Power Delivery input port, HDMI port, Ethernet port, USB-C data port, and two USB data ports. The wide range of ports ensures you can connect multiple devices simultaneously, making it perfect for both work and play.

Talking of work, one of the coolest things about this absolutely tiny hub is that it has an HDMI port that allows you to connect an external monitor up to 4K at 30fps. Another standout feature is the powerful pass-through charging. Simply connect a 65W wall charger to the Power Delivery input port, and you’ll enjoy high-speed charging for your PC while keeping other devices connected.

While we didn’t test this Anker hub ourselves, it has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon based on over 2,600 reviews, with most customers appreciating the performance, quality, and portability.

So go ahead and place your order for the Anker 6-in-1 USB-C hub because you know you need this one on your desk.

Get the Anker 6-in-1 USB-C for just $30

Docks and Hubs

Hello, my name is Michael, and I’m a multi-monitor addict. If I don’t have at least three screens in front of me at all times, I feel like I’m not being productive enough. It’s gotten so bad that I’ve taken to packing a portable monitor along with my laptop—but maybe if I get this new dual-screen design from GPD, I won’t have to anymore.

You might recognize GPD as the China-based manufacturer of neat little gaming emulator devices. In recent years, they’ve branched out into full laptop designs, albeit smaller ones with game controls attached.

The GPD Duo is a radical departure, both from the company’s bread and butter and conventional laptop designs. The big news is that it sports two 13.3-inch OLED displays that are stacked one on top of the other.

We’ve seen a few dual-screen laptop designs lately—including the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i we reviewed last month—but these have essentially been standard clamshell laptops with the keyboard portion replaced with a second screen and a detached keyboard making up the difference. GPD takes its Duo in a different direction, with a secondary screen hinged above the first one while keeping the keyboard section intact.

It makes for a club sandwich of a laptop, with three body sections connected with two sets of (hopefully very sturdy) hinges. The secondary screen is suitable for a dual-screen setup with one on top of the other, or you can fold the screen back for mirroring and showing someone behind you. VideoCardz reports that the base is a counterweight, but what that means for actual weight isn’t mentioned.

Other hardware details are scarce, though GPD’s Twitter post says that the folded-up laptop is “the size of an A4 sheet of paper” (that’s 8.27 x 11.69 inches or 210 x 297 mm) and that the 10-point touchscreens are compatible with the Surface Pen stylus.

What’s powering all this? A Ryzen setup like GPD’s recent mini laptops, an Intel alternative, or a newer Snapdragon or other Arm setup? No idea! And there’s no indication of a price, either.

That last point might just be the most variable. GPD’s portable gaming PCs and mini laptops range from $550 to over $1,200 while dual-screen designs from Asus and Lenovo are $1,500 and $2,000, respectively. We’re dealing with a very wide range here, and GPD tends to launch new designs on Indiegogo. Hopefully more information will be available soon.

Laptops

Arm has confirmed that it will be offering its next-gen Arm compute platform, called Arm CSS for Client, at Android smartphones. Executives also mentioned that they could be used for PCs as well.

The announcement follows an earlier report that indicated that Arm might expand its traditional business model. Arm has traditionally sold CPU designs, not silicon, to partners like Qualcomm. Those companies have the freedom to adjust Arm’s designs — depending upon their license agreement — and then ask foundries like TSMC to actually manufacture the chip.

Arm representatives said that Arm will offer “validated and production-ready implementations of the new Arm CPUs and GPUs,” basically maintaining its existing model. (An earlier version of this story said Arm would be selling its own Arm processors fabricated at foundry customers, which is not the case.)

What’s new here is twofold: First, Arm is extending its services to include working with foundrieson 3nm chip designs first focused on smartphones and AI. Second, Arm is launching its next client platform, CSS for Client, led by the Cortex X925 extreme core, the Cortex A725 performance core, the Cortex A520 efficiency core, and the Immortalis G925 graphics engine with ray tracing. Arm is claiming that the new cores will offer the most performance yet, with a 36 percent boost in the Geekbench SC benchmark, running on Android.

“We’re making it easier to build and deploy Arm-based solution and leaving nothing to chance, enabling new performance points, compute capabilities, and helping speed time to market,” said Chris Bergey, senior vice president and general manager of the client line of business at Arm.

There’s a twist, though. Arm is not announcing an AI core, like Qualcomm’s Hexagon. Instead, it’s providing software libraries, called KleidiAI, to target the CPU for AI workloads. Normally, the NPU is seen as the most efficient way of performing AI. According to James McNiven, Arm’s vice president of product management for client, the software will be enhanced for “new features that we’ll be building into the CPUs going forward.”

Phones first, PCs second

Arm is targeting Android phones first, but executives implied that PCs are next up.

“The CPU is a natural first target for AI on Android devices,” Bergey said. “It’s performance and pervasive, and for 70 percent of third-party Android ML [machine-learning] workloads, that’s where they stay.”

Arm, of course, has been welcomed back into the limelight with the new Copilot+ PCs Microsoft just launched with its partner Qualcomm, whose Snapdragon X Elite and Plus chips power them. Nvidia and Arm have also been said to be working together, with reports surfacing last week that the two may be targeting 2025 for a launch. Arm CEO Rene Haas is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the Computex show in Taiwan next week, where he may offer more details.

What is Arm’s new CSS for Client?

Not surprisingly, Arm says that the new CSS for Client is designed with AI, specifically generative AI, in mind. It’s an Arm V9 architecture, which was launched in 2021 with AI-specific instructions.

Arm isn’t telling us how fast its new CSS platform is, which means that most of the questions an enthusiast would have can’t be answered yet. When I asked about how many TOPS of AI power the CPU and its AI libraries would produce, company representatives demurred. (Arm CSS stands for Arm Neoverse Compute Subsystems, and Arm debuted the first chips for the platform for the data center late last summer.)

“TOPS is a high-level metric that is dependent on frequency, IP choices, and configuration,” the company followed up in an emailed statement. “We are confident that the capabilities offered by our CPUs and GPUs, when complemented with an appropriate frequency and configuration (e.g CSS for Client), can easily achieve the needs of AI PCs and next-gen AI smartphones.”

James McNiven, Arm’s vice president of product management for client, said that the X925 name was changed to show how different that the X925 was from its predecessors. (The 36 percent improvement in Geekbench is a combination of the instructions-per-clock (IPC) improvement and a faster, undisclosed frequency, McNiven said.) It has a wider design, with larger (3MB) private level-2 caches to increase the TOPS count by 50 percent over its predecessor. The time to generate a response in the tiny-Llama AI metric has become faster, with a 41 percent improvement.

The platform’s Immortalis G925 graphics engine “delivers 37 percent more performance on a wide range of graphics applications,” McNiven said.

All told, Arm is promising that the platform will perform web browsing 23 percent faster on Android (via Speedometer 2.1), process YouTube 40 percent more efficiently through software-optimized AV1 video decode, and consume 25 percent less power while gaming. Ray-tracing performance should increase by 52 percent.

The Cortex A725 will be 35 percent more efficient than the A720, McNiven said, and the Cortex A520 efficiency processor will consume 30 percent less power while gaming.

So will these new CSS for Client cores be used in laptops? “We cannot comment on specific customer engagements, and the mobile cadence is pretty well known,” Arm’s Bergey said. “Things like laptops will potentially be a different cadences. But I think there’s considerable amount of interest around Windows on Arm and we think that this is a great solution that can be applied to that market. So stay tuned.”

Correction: Arm is not physically building and selling chips, as an earlier version of this story stated. It will continue to work with partners like MediaTek and Samsung.

CPUs and Processors

The only downside to a fluffy feline companion is having to scoop up after them every day. Catlink understands this, so they created a device that handles this nasty chore for you.

The Catlink Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box has a rotating inner bin that automatically sifts your cat’s waste after they’ve done their business, separating it from clean litter and dumping it into a waste drawer.

And right now, this self-cleaning litter box is available for just $340, a massive savings from its original price of $600.

The 13-liter waste drawer is large enough to contain up to 14 days of waste for a single cat. The waste drawer uses trash liners for convenient cleanup, sanitary disposal, and easy replacement. And smells aren’t an issue because a built-in filter absorbs and neutralizes odors.

The device itself is stable and well-ventilated, and it’s equipped with sensors that detect when your pet enters and leaves. This safety feature stops the inner bin from rolling and prevents accidental injuries.

Overall, the system not only ensures a consistently clean environment for your feline friend but also saves time and reduces litter costs. It’s pretty big, though, so make sure you have enough space to fit it. The whole thing measures approximately 24 x 24 x 28 inches.

Unlike similar self-cleaning cat litter boxes, this one by Catlink doesn’t need Wi-Fi or mobile apps to set up. It also doesn’t require any assembly because it arrives in one piece.

This limited-time deal is going fast, so treat your cat (and yourself) to the Catlink Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box for $340 while it lasts and free up more time to spend with your furry pal.

Get this self-cleaning litter box for $340 at Amazon

Consumer Electronics

“This graphics card is just entirely too inexpensive for my taste,” said no one, ever. While we’re past the incredibly inflated prices of the pandemic and crypto crunch, high-end graphics cards are still far from affordable.

And they’re about to get even more expensive in the US, thanks to a little international saber-rattling between America and China.

The US had temporarily halted the 25 percent tariff on some Chinese electronics imports in 2022, but the administration has decided to let that stay expire at the end of this month. Starting June 14th, we’ll begin to see a climb in retail prices for relevant hardware.

These tariffs were initially put in place during the Trump administration, with certain categories temporarily excluded after a statutory review in 2022. But after yet another review, the US Trade Representative has announced a plan to reimplement the tariffs, with relevant hardware including “printed circuit assemblies for rendering images onto computer screens.” That’s trade lawyer speak for graphics cards.

Other components covered under the tariffs include high-end laptop trackpads, “unfinished logic boards” (i.e., motherboards without installed hardware like a CPU or RAM), power supplies, PC case enclosures, and a bunch of other minor hardware that might be triggered by dozens of other categories.

Major items in other categories include LCD controller assemblies, water and air filters, small electric motors, medical hardware (like blood pressure monitors and pulse oximeters), rear-view mirrors, bicycle helmets, and crab meat.

There’s a lot of other stuff in there, too. In short, many imported products from China are going to get noticeably more expensive.

Further reading: The best graphics cards for every budget

US companies affected by the tariffs can apply for exceptions, but most are rejected. Typically these rejections are because the companies applying for them haven’t presented plans to replace Chinese hardware and components from sources outside the country anytime soon. And since China remains the world’s premier source for manufacturing—especially in electronics—that’s unlikely to change before the summer 2025 expiration of these tariffs.

There’s a lot to be said about how and why China became a powerhouse for producing goods at all price levels, the practicality of trying to incentivize companies to manufacture in the US and elsewhere, and whether or not the initial goal of these tariffs are being achieved. (Unsurprisingly, as noted by PCMag, tech industry lobbyists aren’t pleased.) But frankly, that’s all outside PCWorld’s wheelhouse.

The bottom line is that you shouldn’t be surprised to see prices for computer parts going up in a couple of weeks, extending for a little less than a year (assuming the tariffs aren’t renewed). These price increases still won’t be as high as, say, the typical Value Added Tax seen in most of western Europe, but buying new PC hardware is definitely going to bite harder on your wallet.

Further reading: The best gaming laptops worth their salt

Graphics Cards

Hot-swap keyboards are a revolutionary development in the world of mechanical keyboards, allowing users to swap individual switches without soldering. This feature opens up a whole new dimension of customizability and maintenance that is attractive to both beginners and experienced users. Some enthusiasts can’t live without it.

But what exactly makes a keyboard “hot-swappable”? And how do switches and sockets work with this technology?

A hot-swappable socket is a special device on the printed circuit board (PCB) of a keyboard that allows you to easily plug and unplug mechanical switches. These sockets are designed to mechanically hold the switch in place while making an electrical connection without soldering. This means that users can swap switches at will to customize the feel, sound and performance of their keyboard.

Further reading: The best mechanical keyboards

The switches are the centerpiece of a mechanical keyboard. They determine how a key feels and sounds when pressed. There are different types of switches, which can be divided into three main categories: linear, tactile, and clicky. Linear switches provide a smooth typing feel with no noticeable resistance. Tactile switches have a tactile resistance point that provides feedback without producing an audible click. Clicking switches combine tactile feedback with a distinct clicking sound that many typists appreciate.

Mechanical keyboards with a hot-swap function offer an excellent opportunity to try out different switch types. This allows you to find your own preference without having to invest in multiple keyboards. In addition, it is a practical solution for those who shy away from technical challenges such as soldering, as defective or unwanted switches can be replaced simply by pulling out and inserting new ones.

Other advantages of hot-swap technology are durability and future-proofing. If a switch wears out after intensive use, it can be easily replaced. This avoids the need to replace the entire keyboard. Thanks to hot-swap compatibility, you can also equip the keyboard with completely new switch types. This also applies if the switches only came onto the market after the keyboard was purchased. Once purchased, the keyboard proves to be a long-term investment: a device that never loses its relevance.

Further reading: The best gaming keyboards

Hot-swap keyboards are therefore not only a flexible and user-friendly option for a personalized typing experience. They are also an economical and sustainable choice for anyone who values quality, customizability, and durability.

Desktop PCs, Gaming Desktop PCs

Top-notch gaming laptops can be quite the investment… unless you’re quick enough to jump on a sweet deal when it happens.

Right now, you can save a hefty chunk of cash—a generous savings of $350—on this HP Victus gaming laptop, which has dropped down to a cool $950 for a limited time.

The HP Victus gaming laptop is a versatile powerhouse, designed to cater to the needs of both gamers and power users.

With an Intel Core i5 processor and 16GB of RAM, it’s ready to handle your gaming sessions and power-intensive tasks with ease. There are better CPUs for gaming, but it’s a decent model nonetheless, especially in this price range. If you’re looking for an extra boost, you can even upgrade the RAM to 32GB for extra performance.

The HP Victus features a 16.1-inch FHD display with a 144Hz refresh rate and an anti-glare coating. (The 300 nits brightness probably won’t suffice if you intend to use it outdoors.) Equipped with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU with 6GB of dedicated memory, it provides enough power for stunning visuals no matter what you play.

This laptop also sports plenty of storage space with its 512GB SSD. As with all SSDs, that means super-fast boot times, short loading times, and speedy access to all your files.

The HP Victus laptop is portably light at just a little over 5 pounds, so you’ll have no issues carrying it with you anywhere.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic deal and upgrade to the HP Victus gaming laptop for just $950. We don’t think this deal will last very long, so make sure you get your hands on it sooner rather than later.

Get this RTX 4050 gaming laptop for $950

Gaming Laptops

One of the less pleasant news in this autumn’s major upgrade of Windows 11 (24H2) is that the built-in support for Dolby Digital audio is removed.

If you have files that use the codec in question, i.e. AC-3, you will not be able to play them in Windows Media Player or other accompanying apps.

Microsoft points out in a support document that the change only applies to new installations. Updating your current system will not remove support for Dolby Digital.

This isn’t a show-stopper though. You can also use third-party applications like the legendary do-it-all VLC to play Dolby Digital files if desired. That can’t be said for all the other Windows 11 features disappearing soon, however.

Windows

Look, we know that ultrawide monitors can be expensive, but the Gigabyte G34WQC A is actually affordable at just $290. That’s a sizable discount, saving you $110 off its list price of $400, and an absolutely killer price for an ultrawide monitor in general. It’s rare to find good ultrawides going for under $350.

Featuring a 34-inch display with a 3440×1440 resolution, this curved monitor promises stunning visuals. With its 21:9 aspect ratio and 1500R curvature, it will help you immerse yourself into your games with a wide view that spreads from end to end.

This monitor also boasts a 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, delivering gameplay that’s smooth and lag-free.

While the VA panel isn’t exactly ideal for color accuracy, it’s not a bad trade-off considering what you get at this price point—and it’s not all bad given that it has HDR10 support, which helps improve color vibrancy and contrast, sweetening the deal a bit.

Of course, the wide viewing angle and high resolution aren’t just good for gaming. The Gigabyte G34WQC A curved monitor is also a solid choice for any office setup, offering lots of screen space for productivity.

While we didn’t review this exact model, we did review the similar Gigabyte GS34WQC and quite enjoyed it—enough to give it 4.5 out of 5 stars, which is rather high praise. That’s our current favorite ultrawide for gamers on a budget, in fact — and this on-sale model is both faster and cheaper.

If you’ve never tried an ultrawide curved gaming monitor, now’s a good opportunity to get this Gigabyte G34WQC A for just $290 (28% off) and take your current setup to the next level.

Get this 34" ultrawide curved monitor for $290 on Amazon

Monitors

A good laptop is only as good as its ports. That’s a saying I just made up but there’s some truth to it. While there are some ultraportable laptops that can make do with just a couple of USB-C connections, trusting you to use adapters for everything else, most people will prefer to have a wider selection on-board. The odd legacy connection, a video output for using external monitors, and that ever-useful headphone jack are handy to have.

Fortunately, most manufacturers appear to have moved beyond the trend of leaning-out laptops to the point of limited connectivity. Many of the best laptops in 2024 come with a solid selection of port options — and, yes, you can always use a hub or docking station to get more.

If you’re buying a new laptop and want to make sure it has all the connections you need, though, what are the ports you should really look out for? While some of these may be more important to you than others, these are the ports you should definitely consider for your next laptop upgrade.

USB-C

USB-C has the dubious honor of being the most successful and confusing USB standard in quite some time. Coming off the back of the mess that was USB 3.0 naming, that’s saying something. Where USB-C has made USB technology far more simple — it’s reversible and just about any USB-C device will work with just about any USB-C port — there are a number of caveats to this recommendation.

You want a USB-C port on your laptop for its pure simplicity. Even the weakest of USB-C ports can handle power delivery and basic data transfer speeds up to 5Gbps. And, since just about every new electronic device with USB connectivity is also now using USB-C, you want USB-C on your laptop. But which type of USB-C?

For the absolute best, fastest, most capable USB-C connection, you want Thunderbolt 4. It has the strongest mandated minimum specifications of any USB-C connection and ensures that you get a 40Gbps bidirectional data transfer rate, a minimum of 15W USB power delivery for device charging, and support for up to two 4K displays. You can get up to 100W charging speed on some devices, too, making them great for charging up your laptop.

USB 4 is worth looking for as an alternative, and can in some cases offer even faster data transfers and charging speeds, but it’s not guaranteed in the same way as Thunderbolt 4, so you’ll have to read the fine print. The same goes for Thunderbolt 3, which can be as good as its newer sibling, but typically isn’t.

Ultimately, though? Just make sure a laptop has USB-C at a minimum. It’s the only real “must-have” on this list.

Further reading: Best USB-C cables for charging and data transfer

USB-A

While not essential, because you can just plug an adapter, hub, or dock into your laptop’s USB-C port, it’s nice not to have an additional expense. Why bother with extra adapters and cables when you can just have a couple of native USB-A ports?

These ports can only offer up to USB 3.2 Gen 2 speeds, which works out to 10Gbps, but often you’ll have the slower USB 3.0 5Gbps speed. USB-A can also offer power delivery to connected devices, though it’s usually limited to 12W.

While those specs might sound a little paltry compared to the newer USB-C standards, it’s not a massive concern. These ports are perfect for plugging in external keyboards and mice, the majority of which are still built around USB-A cabling. Unless you’re transferring massive files regularly, too, then a USB-A connection is just fine for most external drives, as well.

3.5mm headphone jack

This is the one that has its firm fans and detractors, but if my 2023 smartphone can come with a headphone jack, my new laptop should have space for it too. As convenient as Bluetooth and wireless headphones and headsets can be, they don’t offer the same low latency or high bit-rate of a wired connection. If you consider yourself any kind of audiophile, then a wired headphone connection is a must.

It’s also great as a backup solution when your battery-powered headset is out of juice and you just want to get into a game with your friends right now. Sure, it’s a little bulky in 2024, but it’s no Ethernet jack. Bonus points if your laptop comes with two 3.5mm jacks for the microphone and headphone separately, too.

HDMI

Arguably the least “essential” of the ports we’ve discussed here, an HDMI port is still one of the easiest ways to address the biggest limitation of most laptops: Their screens are just too small compared to a desktop PC. If you want to use your laptop for regular office work, a bigger screen can make a massive difference, and there’s just no substitute for a big gaming monitor when you really want to enjoy your favorite games.

While USB-C certainly has the specifications to handle this task itself, most monitors are designed around HDMI or DisplayPort connections, and unless your laptop has a new DisplayPort 2.0 connection, HDMI 2.1 is the fastest display connector out there. If your laptop comes with one of those, it can easily output to a 4K 120Hz display and enjoy it in its full glory. Even HDMI 2.0 is fine for 4K 60Hz, or higher refresh rates at lower resolutions.

For the sheer convenience of it all, an HDMI port lets you plug in any HDMI cable you have lying around and get a big screen picture on any big display you have. No adapters, no dongles, no finagling required. Grandma wants to see your holiday photos on a bigger screen and the Chromecast is acting up? Connect your laptop to your TV and away you go.

Honorable mention: Ethernet

Ethernet is more of a personal favorite, and certainly not something that most would consider essential, since it’s just not that common on modern ultrabook designs. It’s too big, too bulky, and for most people, completely unnecessary thanks to modern Wi-Fi standards.

But. And it’s a big but. Wi-Fi is temperamental. Wi-Fi can be insecure. Wi-Fi can be congested. When wireless lets you down, or you just want to get online quickly, there’s no real substitute for just plugging in an Ethernet cable and enjoying the consistent quality connection of wired networking, especially if you’re gaming.

Although, like all the ports on this list, you can get excellent Ethernet performance with a USB-C adapter, that’s one more piece of equipment you need to carry with you for if and when you might need it. To avoid that, a built-in Ethernet port is a must-have for some of us. You can even get a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connection if you want to make your Wi-Fi jealous.

Laptops

Microsoft Word is one of the most widely used programs in the world, yet it’s also one that many complain about. The most common criticism? That it’s heavy, slow, and a typical example of “feature bloat.”

Which is true. Word is packed with tons of features. And while some critics think that most people only use it because everyone else is using it, Word is actually quite powerful and capable.

It’s just a matter of getting to know it, and not beating it to death, so to speak. Word has some quirks that can drive a user crazy, but in most cases it’s a setting that can be changed or a behavior that can be circumvented with another feature or the right handling.

In this guide I go through a number of more advanced or unfamiliar parts of Word, in the hope that you, the reader, will find at least a few goodies you can use. You might even start to like the program.

Stop Word’s automatic formatting

Of all the things users have found most annoying about Word, automatic formatting is probably the most common. Word tends to think it knows best, and doesn’t wait for you, the user, to choose to create a “real” list, for example.

Word has always insisted on pasting text while maintaining formatting, but this spring an update has added settings to choose how you want to do it by default. This means that you can change it so that Ctrl+V pastes text only, with the same formatting as the surrounding text. There is also a new option called Merge formatting, which keeps the bold/italic/underline/overline and list formats but matches the target font, color, and size. This makes it possible to copy, for example, a formatted list from a document in Helvetica to one in Word’s standard font Aptos.

The program also likes to automatically change, for example, a paragraph starting with a number to a numbered list as soon as you press return to create a new paragraph. You can easily change this behavior in the settings. Go to File > Options > Proofing. Click on the Autocorrect options and select the tab Auto format. Here you’ll find lots of tick boxes for things you might not want, like automatic bullet points.

Another annoyance for many is that Word insists on highlighting whole words. For example, if you want to delete a sentence from the first letter to halfway into the fourth word, it can seem impossible to get the highlighting right so that pressing the backspace key once will delete just that bit, because as soon as you pass a space, Word starts highlighting one word at a time and not one character.

This can also be easily fixed by opening File > Options > Advanced and ticking off When selecting, automatic select entire word. Just like that, Word will highlight exactly as you want. You can uncheck the Customize paragraph markup option if you don’t want Word to automatically add a new paragraph mark when you select a whole paragraph, so that you can paste the paragraph into another paragraph.

Change the default stylesheets

Have you ever wondered why on earth Word has multiple stylesheets with blue text? Or how you can change the default fonts in new documents? These days it’s surprisingly easy.

Right-click on a style, for example Heading 1, and select Modify. Make any changes you want, such as switching to black text or changing the font. When you’re happy, click New documents based on this template, then OK to save the changes to the default template. If you make changes to the style sheet Normal it will also affect several other templates based on it: No spacing, Subheading, Quote, Strong quote, and List piece for example, have the same font as Normal.

Mastering the search function

As you probably know, Word has a search function. You’re probably also familiar with the slightly more advanced Find and Replace function. But Word’s search function is actually much more powerful than that, and you can search for things you might not have thought of.

Click on Find to the right of the fonts in the Home ribbon, and then click Advanced find. The dialog box that opens has three tabs, where Replace is the usual search and replace function, and Go to is a way to quickly get to a page number or bookmark, for example. But in the Find tab, you’ll find the More button, which shows a bunch of settings for searches (for example, to search only for whole words, or to ignore punctuation).

There are also two drop-down menus with additional search functions. The Format menu allows you to search for parts of text that, for example, use a particular font or are italicized. The Special menu is used to find, for example, special characters such as line breaks and hard spaces.

Transcribing recorded calls

Do you have an audio recording you don’t want on “paper”? Word now has a built-in AI-based transcription feature that makes it easy. Just click on Dictate on the right side of the Start tab in the ribbon and select Transcribe and the feature will open in the right column.

Select English if it is not already preset, and click on Upload audio to send a recording you have on file to the Microsoft server. The transcription may take a while and Word will tell you when it is ready. When it is, click on Add to document where you have four options for how the text should be formatted (with or without speakers and timestamps).

The results when I’ve tested it have been full of errors, so it can’t be used directly in any texts. But it works well enough to understand from the context what the speakers have said and can be written cleanly if needed.

Share documents with others and co-edit

When Google started to take market share from Office, one of the reasons was how easy it is for multiple collaborators to co-edit a document or spreadsheet. Microsoft realized the importance of this co-editing and introduced similar features in 2013.

Today, it’s easy to invite others to edit documents in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and they can edit either in the desktop applications or the web apps. To get started, make sure the document is saved on OneDrive. Then click on the Share button at the top right. There are two options here: Invite and share with selected people or create a link that anyone can use. The former is obviously a bit safer, but if you don’t know what email address the person you’re inviting uses for their Microsoft account, a link is easier.

If more than one user has a document open for editing, everyone can see where in the document the others are working, which reduces the risk of editing conflicts that can arise if two people make changes in the same place at the same time. Should a conflict still arise, Word helps to resolve it.

Read and restore older versions of documents

Saving your documents on OneDrive gives you several advantages over storing them locally. Firstly, autosave is activated so that you do not have to sit and press Ctrl+S all at once. Sure, Word has a recovery function in case the program crashes, but many users can tell horror stories about large documents that they forgot to save and which disappeared without a trace and could never be recovered.

Another advantage is that OneDrive saves version history so you can revert to previous versions of the document without having to save a bunch of different versions. “Report_last_draft_final_final_final.docx” becomes a thing of the past.

Here’s how to find older versions:

1. Open the document from OneDrive.

2. Click on the file name above in the Word window.

3. Select the Version history and the current version will be displayed, with a list of previously saved versions on the right.

4. Click on a previous version to view it.

5. You can restore the old version by clicking on the button Restore button in the yellow strip that appears below the toolbar, or select and copy text that you can then paste into a new document or into the last saved version to restore just that bit.

Draw

Word has long had features for placing images and shapes in documents, but did you know it now also has drawing tools? Microsoft added it to make Word more usable on computers and tablets with a touchscreen and/or pen, but it can also be used with a mouse or trackpad.

Click on the Draw menu tab to see the different options. On the left are different pens, erasers, and two types of markers. The next button is Ruler, which places a virtual ruler over the document you can use to draw straight lines. To change the angle of the ruler, simply hold the pointer over the ruler and scroll the scroll wheel on the mouse (or drag with two fingers on the trackpad). To move it, click and drag.

Other functions are not that interesting, except possibly Ink to math, which makes it easy to print formulas and equations with correct formatting.

AI writing assistance with Microsoft Editor

Microsoft Editor is a modern, AI-based upgrade to the classic spell and grammar checker that has been in Word for many years. It’s built into Word and Outlook on Windows and Mac, but also available as an extension for Chromium-based browsers like Edge and Chrome.

In Word, you can find the Editor under the Editor button on the right of the Start tab in the Ribbon, and it opens in a column on the right of the window.

At the top of the Editor, a judgement of the document is displayed in the form of a percentage. As you fix the various flaws the feature has found, the percentage increases. Below the judgement you will find four sections: Corrections, which shows spelling and grammar errors; Refinements, where the program suggests changes to make the language more formal and clear; Similarity to test how similar your text is to online sources; and Insights, which is a shortcut to the old Readability Statistics feature with figures such as number of sentences per paragraph and number of words per sentence.

Click on each subcategory to go through the Editor’s suggestions. As with the old spelling feature, you can change, ignore, or add words to the glossary, and follow or ignore other suggested changes.

Best alternatives to Word

There are plenty of programs for writing and processing text in different ways, to say the least. If you don’t like the subscription model, or just find Word unwieldy, you have other options. Because Word can be used for so many different things, I’ve categorized my recommendations by need:

Simple needs? Word Online or Google Docs
If you don’t necessarily need a full-blown Windows program, you can get by with Word Online — included in free accounts — or Google Docs. Both have all the usual features you might need for word processing, and on top of that you get the ability to co-edit with others you invite.

Packed with functionality? Libreoffice Writer
The closest thing to a full Word clone you can get today is Libreoffice Writer. Like Word, it’s packed with features for all kinds of word processing, but it’s open source and free.

Do you really want to layout? Scribus or Affinity Publisher
Scribus is a powerful open source program. If you are willing to pay a bit more, Affinity Publisher is more polished and similar to Adobe Indesign, with very powerful features while being fairly easy to get started with.

Are you writing a book or thesis? Scrivener
The Scrivener payment program is very popular among writers, translators, journalists, lawyers, and academics, and for good reason. The program simply makes it easier to work with long texts.

Personal Software

“The year of the AI PC” got off to a strange start.

All the “AI PCs” sold by manufacturers for the first half of the year are now effectively out of date. They won’t be able to run Windows Recall, the Windows Copilot Runtime, or all the other AI features Microsoft showed off for its new Copilot+ PCs.

Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC certification just taught us a valuable lesson in buying PC hardware: Never buy hardware based on the promise of what it might be able to do in the future. Only buy PC hardware because of what it can actually do today.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen PC hardware that promised a glorious future end up not panning out and needing a new generation before really managing to deliver. It’s happened many times before.

Further reading: What exactly is an AI PC?

Why the first “AI laptops” are already outdated

Intel, Microsoft, and PC makers have been promoting “AI laptops” since the start of 2024. PC makers have been talking a lot about how Intel’s Meteor Lake “Core Ultra” hardware has a built-in neural processing unit (NPU) that can accelerate AI tasks.

These systems certainly do have NPUs, and those NPUs aren’t totally worthless. You can use Windows Studio Effects for “AI-powered” webcam effects and you can hunt down a collection of third-party, mostly open-source utilities that take advantage of the NPU.

While that’s all true, it’s really just the beginning—or not.

If you thought these AI laptops were “future-proof” because of their neural processing units (NPUs), you were in for a rude awakening when Microsoft recently branded them “too slow” for new AI features.

Intel’s NPUs deliver 10 TOPS (trillion operations per second) while AMD’s NPUs deliver up to 16 TOPS. Neither are fast enough to meet Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC baseline standard of at least 40 TOPS.

To be fair, no one promised that these first-generation AI PCs would be able to run future Windows AI features. But I feel like a lot of people in the PC industry wanted us to believe they would be ready for and capable of the AI features coming to Windows.

Or maybe we just wanted to believe.

I recommended not going out of your way to buy an AI PC near the start of 2024, yet even I’m surprised to see them left behind so quickly.

Again, here’s the lesson: You shouldn’t buy PC hardware based on its potential future. Wait until that future arrives, and then you can buy the right hardware to take advantage of it.

Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 20-series GPUs were early, too

When Nvidia announced their GeForce RTX 20-series GPUs back in 2018, they delivered transformative technology. These were the first graphics cards that could provide real-time ray tracing in games—something that was long considered the holy grail of gaming graphics.

They also included the first generation of Nvidia’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology, which could run games at a lower resolution and then upscale them to a higher resolution, delivering similar graphical quality with much higher performance.

It all sounded great. And honestly, today, it is great! Ray tracing is actually here and functional. If you’re a gamer and you haven’t experienced ray tracing in the Metro series or Cyberpunk 2077, you really should give it a try—because it’s amazing. Nvidia’s DLSS technology is up to DLSS 3 now, and it works very well. Lots of games support these things.

But things weren’t so great back in the first few years after the big launch. Gamers who bought those first-generation RTX 20-series GPUs based on the promise of transformative changes had to wait a while. Windows didn’t even support ray tracing when the GPUs were released, and game developers were slow to implement support for ray tracing and DLSS into their games.

By the time these technologies started becoming reasonably widespread, Nvidia was already launching GeForce RTX 30-series GPUs. Those 20-series GPUs weren’t immediately made obsolete, but if you wanted games that supported these technologies, you could’ve skipped those first-generation GPUs and gone straight to the faster 30-series hardware for an even better experience.

Our Nvidia RTX retrospective from a few years back gets into all the details, and I recommend you read it.

The curse of the early adopter repeats itself

This isn’t the first time “future-proof” hardware has proven anything but. Call it the curse of the early adopter. Don’t believe me? Let’s look back at just a few things that didn’t quite pan out in the PC space:

DirectX 12

DirectX 12 launched in 2015 and AMD talked up how its R7 and R9 300-series GPUs would be compatible, but many games were stuck with DirectX 11 for years.

There was no point in buying AMD’s GPUs to “future proof” your gaming PC. You were much better off waiting until DirectX 12 support became widespread in games and buying a current graphics card then.

3D monitors

Remember 3D monitors? Everyone was pushing those a few years ago. I hope you didn’t buy one based on the promise of an explosion in 3D content, because they didn’t take off and the media and software never really arrived for them.

Windows Mixed Reality

How about Windows Mixed Reality and Microsoft’s plan to run “universal” Windows apps on VR headsets? That didn’t pan out. In fact, Microsoft just removed Windows Mixed Reality from Windows.

Want Windows apps in VR headsets? This week, Microsoft started talking about how it’s now working with Meta on “Windows Volumetric Apps” for Meta Quest headsets.

You’ll want a Meta Quest headset for that sort of thing—not an out-of-date Windows Mixed Reality headset—but I wouldn’t buy a headset for this purpose until the software materializes!

Be an early adopter at your own risk

It happened before, it’ll happen again. Not everything pans out—and even when a technology does take off, the first-generation product may not be powerful enough to participate (which is what we’re now seeing with first-generation AI laptops and Microsoft Copilot+).

Now, if you’re all about bleeding-edge technology, I get it. So am I! I need to play with this stuff so I can share my hands-on experiences here on PCWorld and with the readers of my free Windows Intelligence newsletter. But you have to know what you’re getting into.

If you only care about the best and most reliable experiences, you’re better off avoiding the bleeding edge. Let other people get cut while the new products get polished.

Then, when it makes sense to upgrade, when there’s widespread support for the new hardware, you can swoop in and get an even more refined product—often for less money than you would’ve spent on that first-generation hardware. Score.

Desktop PCs, Laptops

PDFs can be a real nuisance. Yet, we continue to use them because they’re stable, small files that are easy to share. But when you have to make an edit, that’s when they’re a pain. Fortunately, with a tool like PDF Converter Pro, working with PDFs is much easier, and it’s on sale for Memorial Day.

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