If you’re looking to score a fast laptop at a killer price, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re on the hunt for a blazing fast gaming rig, an affordable laptop under $500, or an everyday Chromebook, we’ve assembled a list of the best laptop deals available right now, using our finely honed editorial judgement to only recommend truly compelling deals on worthwhile notebooks.
Today only? In addition to the highlighted deals below, Best Buy is blowing out Chromebooks for as little as $149 in a limited time sale. If you’re fine skipping Windows and mostly working on the web, Chromebooks are a secure, straightforward option that can handle virtually all basic tasks — and today they’re on sale for a song. Hit the link to check out our highlights from Best Buy’s Chromebook sale.
For more notebook options, check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now. We’ve got can’t-miss picks for every use case and budget, putting our thousands of hours of hands-on testing to work for you.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is another good option for everyday work, school, or home use because of its Intel Core i3-1315U processor and robust connectivity options. You should be able to zip right through office tasks or binge your favorite show on Netflix, and the large 15.6-inch 1080p matte display is sharp enough for those types of tasks. The port selection includes one USB-C 3.0, two USB-A 3.0, one HDMI, and one audio–effectively eliminating the need for an adapter. Similar to other laptops in this price range, it has a 720p webcam, which isn’t the best, but it’s a reasonable sacrifice in the budget laptop realm.
The HP Envy x360 is powerful, lightweight, and versatile. The 2-in-1 form factor means you can fold the screen back and use the laptop like a tablet, and it comes equipped with a good amount of RAM (16GB) and storage (512GB SSD). The 1080p display is quite large at 15.6-inches and it’s a touchscreen, which is perfect for habitual notetakers and doodlers. The keyboard is also full-sized and has backlighting–useful for when you’re using the laptop in low light environments.
The Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 is a good entry-level machine for the budget-minded gamer. Thanks to the Intel Core i7-13700H CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, a powerful combination, it should have no problem flying through the latest triple-A titles. The 1080p display is also quite roomy at 15.6-inches and it has a refresh rate of 144Hz, so visuals should be free of any screen tearing, making for a more enjoyable gaming experience. This laptop also comes with a 1080p webcam, dual 85-blade fans, and Super Rapid Charge technology (in other words, this laptop will reach a charge of 30 percent in just 10 minutes, according to Lenovo).
The HP Dragonfly Pro is a lightweight laptop with a lovely 1200p touchscreen display. It weighs just 3.1 pounds, which is hardly a back breaker–great news if you’re a frequent traveler. It’s also powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7736U CPU and AMD Radeon 680M graphics, so you shouldn’t experience any slowdowns with office work or daily tasks. The 14-inch 1200p touchscreen display has an aspect ratio of 16:10 and a maximum brightness of 400 nits. The taller aspect ratio is nice because it makes scrolling through documents and webpages a lot easier. Connectivity options also include two USB-C and one USB-C 3.1. Overall, this is a solid laptop, especially for $600 off.
The Dell XPS 13 is a good laptop for office work, school work, everyday activities, and so on. It’s rocking an Intel Core i7-1250U CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage–that’s more than enough power for watching movies, writing papers, surfing the web, and more. The 13.4-inch display has a resolution of 1920×1200, a refresh rate of 60Hz, and a maximum brightness of 500 nits. That means the display is capable of producing a vibrant, sharp-looking picture. Additional bits include an aluminum chassis, a 51 watt-hour battery, and a chic Sky colorway.
If you can get by with a mere 8GB of RAM and just 256GB of SSD storage, that configuration is also on sale for $599. We’d strongly recommend the $799 model unless you primarily use the web for work and play, however.
The Acer Swift Go 14 is one of the most well-rounded laptops you can buy. We awarded it 4 out of 5 stars in our review, praising how well-rounded it is. It features plenty of connectivity options, a wonderful typing experience, a zippy processor, and much more. The model that’s on sale today has less storage than the one we reviewed, but other than that they’re nearly identical. According to our review, it outperforms other laptops with the same processor, so you should be able to blitz through office work, coursework, everyday tasks, and so on. The 14-inch display also has a resolution of 1920X1200 and is touch-enabled. It’s fine for casual use, but black colors look washed out.
If you’re looking for a powerful gaming laptop, the XPG Xenia will certainly fit the bill. You don’t see many gaming laptops with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU go on sale for under $1,000 often, so this is a true deal. Between the Intel Core i7-13700H CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, you should be able to play triple-A titles on the High or Ultra graphics detail. This machine even comes with 1TB of SSD storage, which is good news if you’ve got a massive backlog of games. The 15.6-inch 1080p display should also provide fluid gameplay thanks to the 144Hz refresh rate. If you can afford it, this would be a better long-term gaming option than the $800 models listed above thanks to the RTX 4060’s much faster performance.
The Lenovo Flex 7 is a great laptop for those who want an affordable 2-in-1. You’re getting a lightweight design as well as a decent amount of power for just over $1,000. It has an Intel Core i7-1355U CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. Zipping through spreadsheet work, everyday tasks, and so on should be no problem for this machine. In addition to the 2-in-1 form factor, in which the screen swings back 360 degrees, it also weighs just 3.53 pounds. That means you can easily slip it in a backpack or messenger back and take it with you anywhere.
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i is a good option for those who play more intensive titles. We say this because of the display’s ridiculously high 240Hz refresh rate. Gameplay should be as smooth as your mother’s freshly churned butter. There’s a lot of power behind that display, too. You’re getting an Intel Core i7-13700HX CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, 32GB of RAM (that’s a lot!), and 1TB of SSD storage. Other goodies include an Ethernet port, an RGB backlit keyboard, and a 1080p webcam.
Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1: $1,199.99 ($450 off at Best Buy)
The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 is a powerful, versatile machine with a stunning 4K display. What more could you ask for? Underneath the hood, you’ll find an Intel Core i7-1360P CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage–so it should have no issues zipping through day-to-day tasks, spreadsheet work, and so on. The 14-inch touch display, which has a resolution of 3840×2400 (4K!), is a real stunner, too. This is the kind of display that’s meant for watching movies, graphically-intensive work, and so on. It also comes with a stylus, which is great because you don’t have to pay extra for a standalone accessory.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon: $1,391.42 ($1,007.58 off at Lenovo)
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a competent business laptop with a lot of great features. First, let’s talk hardware. This machine weighs well under three pounds and yet it manages to squeeze in an Intel Core i5-1335U, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage. It has a decent amount of power, especially for such a lightweight laptop. You should be able to zip through office work, everyday activities, and more. The 14-inch 1200p display has a maximum brightness of 400 nits and a refresh rate of 60Hz, which should be clear enough for productivity tasks. Plus, you’re getting a 1080p webcam, a backlight keyboard, a fingerprint reader, and ThinkPad’s famously comfortable keyboard with the red nub in the middle.
You’ll want at least 8GB, though 16GB is preferable, especially if you play games. Don’t buy laptops with under 4GB of RAM or 128GB of SSD storage—though on a Chromebook or a budget Windows machine, this configuration is acceptable. Check out our article on how much RAM does a laptop need for more in-depth info.
2.
What’s the difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop?
The one big difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop is the operating system. Chromebooks run ChromeOS and Windows run, well, Microsoft Windows. Chromebooks make good everyday machines because they’re designed for browsing the web, checking e-mail, and so on. They use less resources and are generally more affordable than the Windows variety. They also don’t need antivirus protection. A Windows laptop is a lot more versatile in what it can do, and not just in terms of running local programs. You can really pump a Windows laptop up with a ton of RAM, storage, and so on.
3.
When should I look for a laptop deal?
You’ll likely find the best laptop deals during Prime Day (mid-July), Black Friday (November 29th), and back-to-school season (June-August). Sure, you’ll find good laptop deals throughout the year, but if you really want to save big, we’d recommend scoping out your favorite online retailers during those times.
4.
Which retailers offer the best deals?
You can find all kinds of deals across a wide range of online retailers such as Newegg, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, and so on. However, we’d recommend checking out deals from laptop manufacturers like Lenovo, HP, and Dell. You’ll usually find many different configurations on sale and the discounts can be pretty darn steep.
For more options, check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now.
Whether you’re looking for a productivity desktop, a gaming PC powerhouse, or a stylish all-in-one Windows machine, we’ve got you covered. The team at PCWorld sort through all of the daily computer sales and put together a curated list of the best deals available. But not all deals are really deals, so we only choose those offered by reputable companies and that include great hardware to ensure you get the best value for your money.
We’ve also included some helpful answers to common questions about buying a computer at the bottom of this article. If you’re considering a laptop instead, be sure to check out our best laptop deals, updated daily.
Note: Tech deals come and go quickly, so it’s possible some of these computer discounts will have expired before this article’s next update.
Best gaming desktop computer deals
Alienware Aurora R15, Ryzen 9/RX 7900 XTX/64GB RAM/1TB SSD, $2,099.99 (30% off on Dell)
Alienware Aurora R16, Core i7/RTX 4070 Super/32GB RAM/2TB SSD, $1,899.99 (14% off on Dell)
Legion Tower 7i, Core i9/RTX 4080 Super/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $2,393.99 (24% off on Lenovo)
CLX SET Gaming Desktop, Ryzen 7/RTX 4080 Super/32GB RAM/2TB SSD/6TB HDD, $3,099.99 (21% off on BestBuy)
Omen 40L, Core i5/RTX 4060/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $799.99 (46% off on HP)
Yeyian Yumi, Core i5/RTX 4060/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $799.99 (33% off on Newegg)
ABS Cyclone Aqua, Core i5/RTX 4060 Ti/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $929.99 (15% off on Newegg)
My top picks:
Dell is offering two great deals on Alienware gaming desktops this week. The first is an Aurora R15 for $900 off and the second is the updated Aurora R16 model for $310 off both on Dell’s website. Each has their advantages. The R15 model is loaded with high-end AMD components such as a Ryzen 9 7900X CPU and RX 7900 XTX GPU, plus a whopping 64GB of RAM. The R16 model is a bit more mid-level, but comes with Alienware’s upgraded case and the latest-gen RTX 4070 Super GPU. If you can swing it, the R15 is the better deal with its excellent overall hardware, but you can’t go wrong with either.
If you’re in the market for a top of the line gaming rig then the CLX SET Gaming Desktop on sale for $800 off on BestBuy is the deal to get. It comes loaded with a powerhouse Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU, an RTX 4080 Super GPU, and a massive 8TB of onboard storage. With so much storage and firepower, it could easily double as a great content creation machine as well.
Best mainstream desktop computer deals
IdeaCentre Mini, Core i5/8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $474.99 (26% off on Lenovo)
Apple Mac Mini, M2/8GB RAM/256GB SSD, $499.00 (17% off on Amazon)
My top picks:
Those looking for a mini-PC are in luck as the excellent IdeaCentre Mini is on sale for $175 off on Lenovo. It is one of the best small form-factor PCs on the market and this version not only gives you a respectable Core i5-13500H CPU, but also plenty of onboard storage—double what you usually get with a mini-PC.
If you’re more of a Mac fan, then there is a rare deal on an M2 Mac Mini for $100 off on Amazon. The M2 is still a solid CPU and considering, if rumors are true, the M4 Mac Mini isn’t set to be released until later this year, it’s the perfect time to buy the older version at a discount—you’ll still get a great mini desktop without the exorbitant price of a new-gen Apple product.
Best all-in-one computer deals
All-in-one desktop computers combine a PC’s hardware with a modern display to make a desktop computer that has both form and function. Since everything is built together, you can save precious desktop space with an all-in-one. They make capable work computers and they can also be excellent home computers with the wide range of features appealing to the whole family.
Lenovo IdeaCentre AiO 5i, Core i7/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/24-inch 1080p touch display, $854.99 (24% off on Lenovo)
HP Envy AiO 34, Core i5/RTX 3050/16GB RAM/1TB SSD/34-inch 5K display, $1,479.99 (27% off on HP)
Lenovo IdeaCentre AiO 3i, Core i3/8GB RAM/256GB SSD/24-inch 1080p touch display, $479.99 (29% off on BestBuy)
Acer Aspire C27, Core i5/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/27-inch 1080p display, $699.99 (22% off on Amazon)
My top picks:
Lenovo’s AiO 5i model on sale for $275 off Lenovo is a great all-in-one model with solid specs. Not only do you get good performance components and a crisp 1080p touch display, but you’ll get the reliability that comes with all Lenovo products.
Alternatively, you could go big with the HP Envy AiO 34 deal for $570 off on HP. The flagship all-in-one from HP is an absolute beauty with tons of screen real-estate thanks to its 34-inch 5K display. Plus, it even comes with an RTX 3050 discrete graphics card—a rarity in an all-in-one computer.
Computer deals FAQ
1.
What are good websites to find computer deals?
There are a ton of sites that sell computers, and scouring through all of them would take you a lot of time—that’s why we do it for you here and highlight the best deals we find. However, to save you some time and frustration, you need to be smart about where you look at any given time of the year.
If you’re looking for a new computer during the holidays or around popular sale periods such as Black Friday or back-to-school, then you are likely to find great deals directly through first party vendor websites. These include the retail storefronts of popular computer manufacturers such as HP, Dell, and Lenovo.
However, if you are looking in between sales periods, it’s generally a good idea to search through large third-party retailers such as Amazon, Adorama, Walmart, BestBuy, and Newegg. Oftentimes these websites will offer limited Deals of the Day type sales in hopes of getting rid of excess stock. On the upside, you can score still-decent PCs at a steep discount.
2.
When’s the best time to shop for a PC computer?
Typically you’ll want to time your PC computer shopping around a prominent sales period. The biggest sales periods are Black Friday/Cyber Monday in late November and Amazon Prime Day in early-to-mid July. The best sales often occur leading up to and during these two events and they are great times to snag a new PC computer for cheap. Other holiday shopping periods such as the New Year sales in January, President’s Day sales in April, and the back-to-school sales event in August are also good times to find discounts on computers.
3.
What type of desktop should I get?
You’ll see a ton of options when searching for a desktop computer, but they all mainly fit into four main categories: productivity tower PCs, gaming PCs, mini PCS, and all-in-ones (AiO). Which you should end up buying is entirely dependent upon what your needs are and what you want to do with your computer. If you are looking for something that will work in a home office or family room, then a productivity PC or AiO with a solid CPU and lots of RAM and storage is probably the way to go. If gaming is your main concern, a gaming PC can offer a lot more bang for your buck than a laptop and you should focus on getting the best GPU possible. Or if you just want something that can fit anywhere and provide basic computing then a mini PC is a good bet.
4.
What CPU and GPU should I get?
When looking at your new computer’s CPU, get at least an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5, both of which will provide plenty of processing power for everyday computing tasks. If you don’t intend to do any PC gaming, then feel free to save some money by going with integrated graphics. However, if you are looking to get your game on, we recommend at least an Nvidia GeForce 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, as these are the least expensive discrete graphics cards that can handle ray tracing well. If you aren’t interested in those cutting-edge lighting effects, however, the RTX 3050 and Radeon RX 6600 also provide good 1080p gaming performance at even lower prices.
5.
How much memory and storage does my PC need?
As for RAM, we think its best to shoot for 16GB at the minimum for productivity and gaming, but for family computers and internet browsing, 8GB should suffice.
Storage size is dependent upon your personal needs, but it is generally a good idea to opt for an SSD over an standard HDD as they are much faster and don’t significantly affect the price of a desktop. Before deciding, it’s best to consider what your intended use of the computer will be. Are you just doing work or web browsing? Then something like 512GB will be plenty. If you want to load up a lot of large files such as games or content creation projects, then you’ll need at least 1 or 2TB or storage. However, just remember that even if your computer doesn’t have enough storage built-in you can always upgrade your SSD or go with an external drive to increase your available storage options.
6.
Is it a good idea to buy a refurbished computer?
Refurbished computers are used machines that have been repaired, upgraded, and cleaned for the purpose of reselling. They’re usually open-box returns, overstock, or models with minor cosmetic damage (scratches, scuffs, etc). Refurbished computers can be a bargain hunter’s dream as they’re likely still in good (or great) condition and you can save a lot of money. That being said, refurbished computers can have their downsides as well. In addition to cosmetic blemishes, some of the internal components might be a little older or outdated and they might not be in peak condition due to previous usage.
If you do consider buying a refurbished computer I recommend looking at eBay as they offer a one-year warranty. You can also check out manufacturer’s retail storefronts like Dell’s Outlet Store and Apple’s Refurbished Store—just be sure to look at the terms of warranty offered before purchasing.
Picking up a brand new laptop can be a stressful experience. How much storage will I need? Which hardware is the best for my budget? The sight of the alphabet soup model numbers are enough to set your heart racing. If you’re not sure where to begin, don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re looking for a lightning fast gaming laptop, a Chromebook, or a lightweight 2-in-1 for office work, we’ve tested hundreds of laptops to identify the best option no matter what you need.
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.
Looking for sweet discounts? Check out our regularly updated roundup of the best laptop deals available right now.
UpdatedMay 8, 2024: We’ve updated our list of recent laptop reviews, found below our top picks.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is one of the most well-rounded laptops money can buy. It offers strong performance, exceptional battery life, and a vibrant display. The best part is that it costs about $1,000, which is a reasonable price point considering the price to performance ratio. In fact, it performed exceptionally in PCMark 10’s benchmark, according to our review. With a PCMark 10 score of 7,061, it beat out the Acer Swift Go 14, which has similar specs to the Dell, and the more expensive Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. The Inspiron 14 Plus also lasted an impressive 17 hours on a single charge, which is definitely more than a full workday or school day. You don’t have to worry about finding a wall outlet to charge up.
Who should buy the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
Anyone looking for a really good, well-rounded laptop. In addition to the impressive performance and battery life, it also has a lovely 14-inch 1400p display. According to our review, “the display is exceedingly well suited to office work and static imagery.” It has a peak brightness level of a stunning 418 nits as well as an anti-glare coating, which means you can use this laptop in different lighting environments. It may not have the prettiest design we’ve ever seen, but its hardware capabilities and astoundingly long battery life make up for the blah aesthetics.
Alternative option: If you’re looking to save about $200, you should definitely consider picking up the Acer Swift Go 14. It offers zippy day-to-day performance, long battery life, and a good typing experience.
The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED wowed us with its zippy CPU performance, phenomenal battery life, and attractive OLED touchscreen display. According to our review, “movies and games look realistic and vibrant” on the 1200p OLED touchscreen, although it can be difficult to use in bright environments due to the reflective surface. It also lasted 16 hours on a single charge, which is absolutely wild! That result really trumps otherwise excellent competitors like the Lenovo Slim 7 14 Gen 9 and the HP Pavilion Plus Laptop 14. As for performance, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED absolutely crushed the PCMark 10 benchmark with an impressive score of 6,772. That means it’s very fast and responsive during real-world tasks like web browsing, video conferencing, and so on.
Who should buy the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED
Anyone looking for a powerful, affordable laptop with an OLED display! It’s so much more than its OLED screen, though. The build quality is quite good and day-to-day performance is zippy. Plus, you won’t have to go looking for an outlet often thanks to the long battery life. Connectivity options are a bit limited, but that’s not unusual for a laptop in this price range. Overall, it’s a great Windows machine that hits all the right marks.
The Acer Aspire 3 laptop offers both reliable performance and a rugged build at an imminently affordable price. It’s fast enough for everyday tasks like checking e-mail, watching Netflix, and browsing the web. You’re also getting a full-sized keyboard as well as a 1080p screen. The Aspire 3 also blew the competition out of the water with a Cinebench R15 score of 1,925, beating out the Acer Aspire Vero 14, which has similar hardware. Cinebench is designed to run all of the cores of a laptop’s CPU and determine how well a laptop handles processor-intensive multi-threaded workloads.
Who should buy the Acer Aspire 3
Anyone who’s on a restricted budget! To get more specific, we feel as though the Acer Aspire 3 is a good option for students and remote workers. It’s inexpensive and the HD webcam produces “clean, crisp video” according to our review, which means you’ll always look your best in videoconferencing calls. It also delivers strong performance for the price.
Alternative option:If you absolutely cannot spend $330 for the Acer Aspire 3, then you should check out the Acer Aspire Go 15–it’s about $30 cheaper and has better battery life (12 hours!).
The Dell Inspiron 16 7630 packs a lot of power for the price thanks to the Intel Core i7-13700H CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU. This machine can handle both day-to-day activity as well as some gaming. The RTX 4060 GPU actually turned in a respectable 3DMark Time Spy result of 8,754. It’s not the most cutting-edge graphics performance we’ve ever seen, but you should be able to play most games on the Medium or High graphics setting. The 1600p display also has a taller 16:10 aspect ratio screen, which is ideal for office work, and the battery lasted over 11 hours on a single charge.
Who should buy the Dell Inspiron Plus 16
The Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630 is great for professionals, students, or anyone who’s looking for a powerful yet affordable machine. The battery will last you a full work day and then some, and it can pull double duty playing games. Dell laptops often go on sale, so you may be able to score this machine at a steep discount.
The MacBook Air (M3) has a lot to offer for the $1,299 price. In fact, it received high marks across the board thanks to the 8-core CPU (M3) and the 10-core GPU. It’s capable of chewing through office work as well as casual use tasks. While performance is comparable to the MacBook Pro (M3), there is one difference: the fans or lack thereof. The MacBook Air doesn’t have any fans, which results in quieter operation before heavy-duty tasks will likely put more pressure on the chip. That said, battery life is the real star of the show here. The MacBook Air (M3) breathed its last breath at the 19 hour mark, which is perfect for those with busy schedules.
Who should buy the MacBook Air (M3)
Anyone who prefers MacOS over competing operating systems. Battery life is outstanding and the laptop itself is both slim and light, weighing in at just over three pounds. The 15-inch Liquid Retina (LED) screen might be considered a step-down from the MacBook Pro’s Liquid Retina XDR (mini-LED) display, but that doesn’t mean it’s a poor screen. It still looks fantastic for day-to-day use. The $1,299 price tag is also reasonable for the performance and features you’re getting.
From the convertible design to the beautiful touchscreen, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus has a lot to offer, especially for under $500. The 2-in-1 design allows you to swing the screen around and use the laptop like a tablet, upping the versatility factor. You can also expect snappy day-to-day performance as well as lightning fast boot-up times.
Who should buy the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
If you’re looking to pick up a premium Chromebook for work or personal use, then the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a fine choice. While the $499 price tag is very much in the high end when it comes to Chromebooks, we feel the overall fit, finish, and firepower make it worth the extra cash.
The Alienware m16 R2 delivers strong graphics performance and good battery life. This specific model comes loaded with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, which is nothing to sneeze at. It lasted a respectable 11 hours and fifteen minutes on a single charge and it averaged 144 frames-per-second when running the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark. According to our review, it’s only “four frames-per-second slower than the Razer Blade 16,” which has an RTX 4090 GPU and a price tag of over $3,000.
Who should buy the Alienware m16 R2
Anyone looking for a great gaming laptop. You’re getting strong graphics performance as well as long battery life, which is unusual for a gaming laptop, as most tend to die around the six hour mark. The 16-inch IPS display also has a resolution of 2560×1600 and a refresh rate of 240Hz, so gameplay should be nice and smooth. The picture quality is good, but it’s not an OLED panel. While it may not be the brightest or most color rich display we’ve ever seen, it’s perfectly fine for gaming. Besides, you can always plug into an external monitor if need be.
Alternative option: If you’re looking for a more lightweight option, you should definitely check out the $1,599 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. It weighs just 3.31 pounds, which means you can easily take it anywhere with you. That said, it didn’t make the cut because of ho-hum battery life. Plus, the Alienware m16 R2’s RTX 4070 GPU is more powerful than the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14’s RTX 4060 GPU.
The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is something of a unicorn and I mean that in the best way possible. This specific machine exhibits strong graphics performance as well as long battery life. Long battery life? A gaming laptop? How preposterous. Well, not anymore! The Asus TUF managed an incredible 11 and a half hours on a single charge. Also, thanks to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, the laptop achieved 123 frames-per-second in the Rise of the Tomb Raider benchmark. That’s impressive, especially for a sub-$1,000 gaming machine.
Who should buy the Asus TUF Gaming A16
The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is a good option for those on a tight budget. For under a grand, you’re getting reliable graphics performance, a spacious keyboard, and long battery life. It also works as a good general purpose machine. With a Cinebench R20 score of 589, it should have “no trouble running lightweight apps and programs,” according to our review.
Alternative option: The $1,000 Lenovo LOQ 15 stands as another solid budget option. It’s more than capable of 1080p gaming and the design is very sci-fi inspired. It didn’t nab the top pick because of the poor battery life (not unusual for a gaming laptop) and limited ports, but if you’re looking for more raw GPU horsepower, its RTX 4060 is a step above the RTX 4050 included in the Asus TUF.
The Acer Chromebook 516 GE wins a lot of brownie points because it’s a reliable performer thanks to the Intel Core i5-1240P CPU and the 16-inch 1600p display’s fast 120Hz refresh rate. Compared to some Windows laptops, it’s reasonably priced as well. Not only does it fly through everyday tasks with ease, but it’s also a great machine for cloud gaming. As long as you’ve got a stable Internet connection and currently belong to a streaming service (Nvidia GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, etc), you’ll blitz right through most triple-A games. In fact, according to our review, “gameplay felt perfectly smooth” and “Nvidia’s GeForce Now diagnostics panel flagged no problems.”
Who should buy the Acer Chromebook 516 GE
Anyone that wants to give cloud gaming a whirl or just a dependable machine for day-to-day use–the Acer Chromebook 516 GE can pull double duty in that regard. In addition to the smooth cloud gaming performance, it also features a wide array of connectivity options: two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, one HDMI, one Ethernet (wired connectivity is especially useful for cloud gaming), and one 3.5mm combo audio. Other goodies include a 1080p webcam, a 65 watt-hour battery, and a rugged design.
The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra is the perfect laptop for content creation. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU will give you the extra boost you’ll need for intensive video or photo editing tasks and the 16-inch 1800p OLED touch display is sharp enough to get those little details just right. Plus, it comes with 1TB of SSD storage (you’ll need a good amount of space for your images and videos) and a microSD for easy offloading of photos. Battery life is top-notch, too. It lasted a total of 18 hours on a single charge, which is downright impressive. That said, if you’re editing a lot of photos with the brightness turned all the way up, you may see a shorter result.
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra is a great laptop for content creators because of the powerful hardware (discrete graphics are a must!) and stunning OLED screen. It also has a diverse array of ports such as Thunderbolt 4, USB Type-A, HDMI 2.1, microSD, and headphone/mic. Although its OLED screen is high-resolution, it’s not 4K, so consider the similarly spec’d Dell XPS 17 below if editing 4K video is crucial to your workflow. Other cool features include a 1080p webcam, a fingerprint reader, and a lovely Moonstone Gray color scheme.
Alternative option: The Dell XPS 17 9730, with its powerful internal components and massive 17-inch 4K display, is still a good option for content creators. While we like the thin chassis and long battery life, it doesn’t have an OLED screen, which offers better color accuracy.
The Acer TravelMate P6 is featherlight at just 2.65 pounds. The chassis is made of magnesium-alloy, which is a very light yet durable material. According to our review, “the ports are reinforced with additional metal brackets to hold up wear and tear.” In other words, this machine is built to last. It also has fantastic battery life, which is what you want in an ultraportable laptop. The 65 watt-hour battery lasted nearly 13 hours on a single charge–more than a full workday! This laptop offers reliable performance, too. The Acer TravelMate P6 turned in a respectable Cinebench R20 score of 3,065, which isn’t far behind the more powerful HP Pavilion Plus.
Who should buy the Acer TravelMate P6
Anyone looking for an affordable, lightweight ultraportable. In addition to the lightweight form factor, it also comes with a 1080p webcam with a physical privacy shutter and a 14-inch 1200p display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The taller screen makes it easier to scroll through documents or webpages, and the 1080p webcam will make you look good on videoconferencing calls. The keyboard provides a nice typing experience, too. It even boasts white backlighting, which is perfect for typing in low light environments.
Alternative option: If you’re interested in picking up a more high-end ultraportable, you should consider picking up the HP Dragonfly G4. It weighs same as the Acer TravelMate P6, but has much better battery life–it managed 17.5 hours on a single charge! The only downside is that it costs just over $3,000 thanks to its more potent components and support for mobile LTE connections.
When it comes to 2-in-1 laptops, the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED just gets it right at the start. It has a gorgeous OLED display, a zippy Intel Core i7-1360P CPU, and a versatile convertible design. You can flip the screen around 360 degrees and use it like a tablet or prop the device up like a tent if you so wish. Colors on the 1800p OLED display are also “remarkably bright and saturated,” according to our review. The battery died at the 12 hour mark, dominating laptops with similar hardware like the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i and the Acer Aspire Vero 14.
Who should buy the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED
The Asus Zenbook 14 Flip is a good option for business professionals because of its convertible, lightweight design and stunning OLED display. You can take this machine with you anywhere and you don’t have to worry about finding an outlet to charge up. How can you go wrong with that?
Alternative option: If you’re looking to save some cash, the $899 Lenovo Yoga 7i is a good option, especially if you prefer longevity over raw performance. In terms of performance, it’s middle of the pack. That said, it lasted a whopping 13 hours on a single charge, and it’s beautifully designed hardware.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16: The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 is a solidly built laptop that offers blazing fast gaming and content creation performance, a stunning OLED display, and a comfortable keyboard. You pay for its premium experience, but it’s worth every penny.
Gigabyte G6X: The $1,349 Gigabyte G6X delivers a great GPU and CPU at a great price — and it comes with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, too! It’s a tremendous value for what you get, though Gigabyte clearly focused more on function than form with the staid design.
Gigabyte Aorus 16X: The $1,850 Aorus 16X offers solid performance for its price range, but doesn’t blow the doors off rivals in terms of performance or design. If you can find it at a price that’s lower than its competition, it would be a fine choice.
How we test laptops
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.
FAQ
1.
What form factor is best for a laptop?
The first question you should ask yourself is what kind of laptop you’re looking for. There’s traditional 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, on the other hand, exclusively run Google’s web-focused Chrome OS and are generally used for everyday tasks. All you need is a Gmail account and boom, you’re in. There are pros and cons to each of them. Chromebooks are affordable and generally have good battery life whereas convertibles are normally lightweight and portable.
2.
How much processing power do I need in a laptop?
If it’s CPU power you’re looking for, look for processors with higher numerical names. A Core i7 is more suited to gaming and more intense work than everyday tasks. Intel processors are available in Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9. The higher the number, the more powerful the CPU. If you don’t need a ton of power, Intel Core i5 processors are your best bet, as they offer good performance at a decent price. Basic office and web work gets along 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. If you need more power, the Ryzen 7 chip is well suited for content creation like video editing. Finally, if you’re dealing with 4K video, spring for a Ryzen 9.
3.
Discrete graphics vs. integrated graphics?
You’ll want a discrete graphics card for hardcore gaming or editing videos. It’s separate from the processor, so you can expect higher performance out of it. Integrated graphics, on the other hand, are attached to the CPU and uses less power as a result. This is perfectly fine for everyday tasks, especially if you’re not doing anything that’s graphics-intensive.
4.
How much memory do I need in a laptop?
8GB of RAM is zippy enough for general use. If you’ve got a gaming laptop, 16GB of RAM is the way to go, with 32GB being a future-proof configuration. Content creators will want as much as possible.
5.
Do I need a big display on a laptop?
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. The sweet spot is really anywhere from 13- to 14-inches, though. 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.
6.
How long should my laptop last on a single charge?
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. Read our round-up of the best laptop chargers.
7.
How much does a good laptop cost?
Many good laptops cost around $500 to $750, but 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. You can find solid options for under $500. Spending $750 to $1,000 can get you better displays, additional performance, more storage, and nicer designs. If you splurge for a laptop that costs over $1,000, you’re usually paying up for premium build quality, great extras, and top-shelf performance.
Gaming laptops are different. You can sometimes find gaming laptops with entry-level discrete graphics on sale for around $850, but you’ll usually need to spend at least $1,000 for a system with decent 1080p gaming chops. You can pay more — often much more — for better graphics firepower and nicer displays, but the costs can rise rapidly depending on your hardware of choice. Some fully loaded gaming laptops can go for multiple thousands of dollars but you’re getting the equivalent of a desktop replacement in return. Spending $1,200 to $2,000 usually gets you a very good gaming laptop.
8.
Are connectivity options important on a laptop?
A wide array of ports is always a plus in my book, 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 when you want to hook up to an external monitor.
If you’re a PC gamer, you know how expensive it can be. In addition to purchasing your favorite triple-A titles, you also need a powerful machine to run them on. When it comes to gaming laptops, it gets even more complicated, as it requires an intricate cooling system to handle the heat-generating components inside. Fortunately for you, there are some inexpensive options out there. In fact, when it comes to a sub-$1,000 gaming laptop, you don’t have to cut as many corners as you may think.
If you’re feeling totally lost, don’t worry–we did the hard work for you. The laptops below have been personally tested and vetted by members of the PCWorld team, so you know you’re getting a good machine. Just note that laptop prices can fluctuate, so our picks below may occasionally go over $1,000. For more recommendations on gaming laptops, see our roundup of the best gaming laptops across all prices, or take a look at our roundup of the best laptop deals.
Why you should trust us: Hey, 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.
Updated May 3, 2024: We’ve updated our list of recent laptop reviews and added the new “at a glance” section below.
The best gaming laptops under $1,000 at a glance
Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (Best overall), $955 at Amazon
Why we like the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition
The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition checks off a lot of boxes in terms of performance, battery life, and more. The massive 90 watt-hour battery lasted 11 hours on a single charge, which is impressive for a gaming laptop. Gaming rigs tend to fizzle out at the five- or six-hour mark. The Asus TUF is also capable of blazing through most modern games on the High or Ultra graphics setting thanks to the AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS CPU and the AMD Radeon RX 7600S GPU.
Who should buy the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition
The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is a fantastic option for 1080p gamers, especially those who enjoy untethered gaming on the go. You don’t have to go hunting for an outlet thanks to the long battery life and the 16-inch, 165Hz refresh-rate, 1200p display offers stunning visuals. It just goes to show you that budget gaming laptops don’t have to skimp on performance.
Alternative option: The Lenovo LOQ 15 is another great budget gaming laptop to consider. It has a better GPU (RTX 4060) than our current top pick, so it will deliver faster 1080p frame rates if raw performance is your key factor. But compared to the Asus TUF, it offers poor battery life (not unusual in a gaming laptop) and limited connectivity options. If you plan on using your gaming laptop mostly in like a gaming desktop, constantly on your desk and plugged into a wall, the Lenovo LOQ 15 may be a better option; but if you use your laptop out and about, the Asus TUF’s spectacular battery life earns our nod here.
The MSI Thin GF63 weighs just over four pounds, which is lightweight for a gaming laptop. For context, most gaming laptops tip the scales at five or six pounds. In addition to the MSI Thin GF63 being portable, it’s also packing a good amount of power. Between the Intel Core i5-12450H CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, you should be able to run most games on the Medium or High graphics preset. The 1080p display is also spacious at 15.6-inches with a refresh rate of 144Hz.
Who should buy the MSI Thin GF63
The MSI Thin GF63 is a good option for college students, as it’s light enough to take with you from class-to-class. It’s also powerful enough for everyday tasks like watching Netflix, writing papers, and so on. It’ll scratch the gaming itch, too.
The Acer Nitro V 15 is a well-rounded gaming laptop with a ton of connectivity options, which may appeal to those who prefer to plug into an external monitor or mouse. Most of the ports live on the left side of the laptop. Those are one Gigabit Ethernet, one HDMI 2.0, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, and one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2. You’ll also find an additional USB-A 3.2 and one 3.5mm audio jack, which brings the total of USB-A ports to three. That’s excellent news, especially if you want to connect to “a keyboard, mouse, and still have room left over for a webcam or external hard drive,” according to our review.”
As for the guts, the Acer Nitro V 15 is rocking an Intel Core i5-13420H CPU and an Nvidia RTX 4050 6GB GPU, which is more than enough graphics firepower. In fact, this machine hit an average of 105 frames-per-second during the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark, which is a sizable improvement over laptops with RTX 3050 and 3050 Ti graphics. The only caveats are the limited amount of RAM and the mediocre display.
Who should buy the Acer Nitro V 15
Anyone that needs a good amount of connectivity options in their life. Overall, the Acer Nitro V 15 delivers respectable gaming performance for a fair price. In addition to that, it also comes loaded up with a wide array of ports, which is good news for those who want to have a wired connection or plug into a monitor. The RAM is light at 8GB and the display is just okay, but if you can live with those minor nitpicks, then the Acer Nitro V 15 is a fantastic option.
The Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630 is something of a sleeper hit due to its powerful internal components and high refresh-rate display. Inside, you’ll find an Intel Core i7-13700H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, which delivers solid gaming performance. The reviewer was able to play Cyberpunk 2077 at a respectable 30 frames-per-second at 1080p with the Ray Tracing: Ultra preset turned on. In addition to the good performance, you’re also getting a quality metal build as well as good battery life.
Who should buy the Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630
If you’re able to stretch your budget another $200 or so, we feel as though the Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630 is a good option for college students and remote workers. It can handle anything from multimedia applications and day-to-day productivity as well as some gaming. It’s a little light on the port selection and it can get loud under heavier loads, but those are minor nitpicks in the grand scheme of things.
We’ve reviewed several new laptops recently, though many cost more than $1,000.
Lenovo Yoga 7i: The Lenovo Yoga 7i (16IML9) is a competent and well-built at a palatable price. It’s not the best value for a standard laptop, but it’s flexibility may make up for its shortcoming for some users.
Acer Swift Go 14: The Acer Swift Go 14 is a reliable travel workhorse through and through.
Dell XPS 14 (2024): The Dell XPS 14 is a looker, but even though it can offer respectable performance, it comes at such a high cost above competent — and often faster — competitors that there’s little reason to consider it.
Acer Aspire Go 15: The Acer Aspire Go 15 (2024) isn’t much to look at, but it plods along without much fuss, only struggling when demand is put on the meager integrated graphics or too much CPU horsepower is called for. For simple computing needs, it has clear value at just $300.
How we test gaming laptops under $1000
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. 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 hefty 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.
Gaming tests: We benchmark each gaming laptop using several titles.
Video rundown test: To gauge battery life, we loop a 4K video using Windows 10’s Movies & TV app until the laptop dies.
What you should look for in a budget gaming laptop
When it comes to picking the right gaming laptop, it really depends on what you want to do with it. Do you plan on playing lightweight indie titles like Stardew Valley (no shade, I love this game) or something more visually demanding like Cyberpunk 2077? Are you going to use the machine for work as well as play? It’s possible to get reliable performance out of a gaming laptop that costs under a grand, but you’ll need to take a hard look at the individual components.
You don’t need a powerful GPU for something like Fortnite. You can run even most of the newest games very well at 1080p resolution with even entry level graphics cards if you don’t mind dialing down the in-game visual settings from Ultra to more-reasonable High to Medium settings. You’ll almost certainly need to do so to hit 60 frames per second in modern games on a gaming laptop under $1,000, but the good news is they should still look good, especially on a laptop display.
GPU: The thing about the GPU is that it can’t be swapped out and upgraded later, so you need to be real choosy about which one you pick, as this component will determine how well your machine runs games. Luckily, you don’t need the best of the best to get reliable gaming performance. The GTX 1650 is an entry-level GPU that’s affordable and good enough for 1080p gaming with low-to-mid graphics settings. That said, expect lower frame rates on newer titles. If you’re looking for a bit more power, the more modern RTX 4050 and 4050 Ti are preferred options, and commonly found in gaming laptops under $1,000. These perform well at Medium to High settings at 1080p. You may occasionally find a deal on an RTX 3060- or 4060-powered laptop under $1,000, but they’re relatively rare, and your best option for 1080p gaming with few compromises.
CPU: Like the GPU, the processor can’t be upgraded either, so you’ll want to be selective. For Intel, we’d recommend an 13th-gen Intel Core i5 or i7 or newer. For AMD, you’ll want to spring for a Ryzen 5000 or 7000. A processor with at least four cores is good, but six cores or more is better.
RAM: You’ll want at least 8GB of RAM. If you can afford 16GB of RAM, it’s highly recommended. Memory is normally upgradable, so you can always swap it out and add more later on.
Storage: Storage impacts how many games and applications you can install on your laptop. Like RAM, storage is often upgradable and can be swapped out later. However, you should aim for at least 512GB of SSD storage plus a hard drive, as AAA titles tend to eat up a lot of space. SSDs load games faster, as data is stored on chips rather than spinning disks.
Display: 1080p is what you can expect at this price range, either with a 60Hz or 144Hz (preferred) refresh rate. Budget gaming laptops don’t always have the best displays, as that’s where manufacturers tend to cut corners to keep the cost low. If you’ve got a dim display, you can always pick up an external monitor to plug into it.
Battery life: Generally speaking, gaming laptops are known for having poor battery life. That’s because they use a ton of power. They also tend to be heavier than other laptops because they need more space for heatsinks and other cooling components. Depending on the use, most will last anywhere from four to six hours on a single charge. That said, there are a few exceptions.
This will depend on the type of gaming you want to do. But frankly, no they don’t make good gaming laptops in a general sense. Chromebooks can handle web games and Android games just fine. But a Chromebook won’t cut it if you’re looking to play the latest high-powered AAA games. This comes down to two factors, they don’t run Windows and they likely don’t have sufficient graphics power.
With that said, Google is trying to bring cloud gaming to Chromebooks and it will likely be available in the future. Cloud gaming services use a remote PC or console to play games streamed through the cloud onto the Chromebook. Until that service is up and running though, Chromebooks will not be able to compete in the gaming arena.
2.
Can you game with integrated graphics?
Nowadays, the latest processors with integrated graphics can run a faire amount of modern PC games at reasonable settings. Intel’s newer Iris Xe line of processors with integrated graphics, for example, have been shown to run some of the latest games at 1080p and 30fps. You should know though that not all integrated graphics are capable of the same things.
Intel and AMD’s integrated graphics have made huge leaps in recent years with regard to gaming performance. If you’re on a budget or looking for an ultra thin laptop with integrated graphics you can still enjoy some light gaming as well. Check out our article about Intel’s Core 12th-gen Iris Xe and AMD’s brand new Ryzen 6000 RDNA 2 for more detailed info.
3.
What size laptop is best?
This will come down to personal preference and intended use. If you plan to travel a lot with your laptop, then a small ultraportable size in the neighborhood of 13 to 14 inches is best. However, if want to use it as a gaming machine, then something in the 15- to 17-inch range would be ideal. Also, don’t forget to check the weight of the laptop before you buy it. Ultra thin laptops can weigh a featherlight 2 pounds while beefy gaming computers top the scales at three or four times that.
Antivirus software is a necessary tool in today’s online world. Attacks are only becoming more sophisticated, especially with the continued rise of AI. Even the most tech-savvy and cautious among us can drop their guard at wrong time or get tricked into exposing themselves to a malware, spyware, or ransomware vulnerability. Antivirus protection is an essential backup against such threats.
We’re not suggesting that PC security software is fool-proof, but it does a great job of protecting your computer against harmful malware and ransomware. Most systems come with security software baked into the OS, but this is often the bare minimum you need. Choosing to purchase more robust antivirus software will provide you with features such as an advanced firewall, sandbox environments for suspicious programs, and multi-device protection, among other things.
How do you choose a good antivirus? We’ve tested a multitude of offerings, including all the big names, so you don’t have to! When testing antivirus software, we look for products that strike a balance between excellent protection, a worthwhile selection of features, and minimal performance impact on your PC. For more information, you can read about how we test antivirus software below our picks.
Why you should trust us: PCWorld has been deep in the trenches of testing computer hardware, software, and services since 1983—including security suites. For antivirus apps, we continually evaluate popular or noteworthy software. We consider the user experience, strength of protection against threats (online and offline), and how well it addresses the ever-expanding types of attacks. Our guide on how we test antivirus software at PCWorld gives the full details of our review process, but for the results of our work, read on.
Update May 16, 2024: Antivirus keeps your system safe from digital threats, but not all social engineering attacks. To protect yourself, check out our guide on the key signs of social engineering, which explains what to watch for. Also, be alert for these scams.
An ideal antivirus suite packs in a little of everything needed for security without costing a ton—and that’s why our pick for the best antivirus software of 2024 is still Norton 360 Deluxe. Despite its slightly awkward interface, this software’s wide protection and affordable pricing is ideal for most users.
This plan has just about everything most PC users need, without extra bloat. In addition to the antivirus engine and firewall to protect against malware and network threats, you get malicious link and attachment screening, dark web and privacy monitoring, and webcam safeguards. Norton also tosses in 50GB of storage for cloud backups, access to Norton’s password manager and VPN, parental controls, and PC utilities that include the ability to monitor for outdated software.
Those major extras—the password manager, VPN, and parental controls—have easy, simple interfaces, without feeling stripped to the bone. You’ll actually want to use them, unlike some rival plans from Norton’s competitors.
For antivirus performance, Norton doesn’t hit perfect marks across the board, but its online protection is strong. In tests performed by leading security research institutes, like AV-Test’s zero-day attack and malware tests for November and December 2023, Norton detected 100 percent of the threats. Similarly, in AV-Comparatives’ real-world protection test for July through October 2023, Norton blocked 99.8 percent of the 512 test cases. And when tasked with the 10,007 samples in AV-Comparatives’ September 2023 malware protection test, Norton 360 scored a 99.98 percent online protection rate and 99.7 percent online detection rate. Its 86.0 percent offline detection rate puts it in middle on the leaderboards, but fewer users go offline these days, much less plug in unknown USB drives into their systems these days. Most file transfers and downloads are done online now.
In our in-house benchmarks of system performance, Norton can hit a slower or older PC harder than other antivirus software during a full scan—at least, when faced with many new files. If you don’t do a lot of downloading or copying to your hard drive(s), the scans go pretty quickly and have a more minimal impact.
Overall, Norton is an excellent option for those looking to consolidate their online security protections into a single software interface. It has a couple of quirks (namely a dual user interface that can mildly slow navigation), but its strengths far outshine its weaknesses.
Who should use Norton 360 Deluxe
Norton 360 Deluxe works for everyone—it consolidates all the biggest protections you need online into one package, including parental controls. If you have trouble keeping up with security experts’ recommendations (or haven’t yet gotten around to following all of them), this suite centralizes and simplifies it all.
Avast not only offers solid protection, but a simple, friendly interface. Combine that together with useful extra features and multi-device coverage, and you have a winning combo in Avast One.
Rounding out that top-notch antivirus and firewall are safeguards against remote webcam takeovers, malicious websites, and trackers—these keep you safe against major online threats. The Avast One plan also includes dark web monitoring (which looks for your email address in data breaches and alert you to compromised passwords), a VPN with up to 5GB of bandwidth per week, and protections for saved passwords in a browser. You get utilities to help you keep your PC’s drivers up to date, clean up your PC, and optimize your apps.
These features may sound standard, and to be fair, many of them can be found in rival software. But Avast makes staying on top of security dead simple, whether you’re a novice or a security veteran. Its default settings require little input to keep your PC protected, and if you want to dig in further or tinker, you still have that option, too.
In evaluations by leading security research organizations, Avast runs with the very top performers on the leaderboards. AV-Test gave it perfect scores for protection against zero-day and prevalent malware in its November and December 2023 evaluation. Meanwhile, AV-Comparatives’ September 2023 Malware Protection Test found that Avast blocked 99.97 percent of online threats, with similar marks for online and offline detection rates. In its July through October 2023 real-world test, Avast’s antivirus engine blocked 100 percent of the 512 samples. And the software had no real effect on system performance in our in-house hardware benchmarks.
So what keeps Avast out of the top spot, when its software outperforms Norton’s? The amount of features for its price. Norton’s performance isn’t perfect, but it’s about as good for online protection, which is where it counts. And the two software plans cost about the same—Avast One is $51 for 5 devices (or $70 for up to 30 devices) during the first year. The cost rises to $110 and $150, respectively, per year afterward. In the end, the more well-rounded subscription wins out.
Who should use Avast One
You’re someone who has a password manager already set up, don’t need parental controls, and prioritize the highest marks in threat detection tests. Avast One lacks the first two features, and takes top marks for catching both online and offline risks.
AVG is best known for its excellent free antivirus software, but there’s good reason to upgrade. AVG Internet Security not only offers more comprehensive protection, but also easy management of those tools. That can be valuable if you find keeping up with online threats too overwhelming or time consuming.
The Internet Security plan builds upon the free version’s protection against malware and web, email, and network threat by adding five features. You get safeguards for the passwords saved to your browsers; webcam takeovers; unknown access to files with sensitive data; malicious redirects for websites you’re trying to visit (aka DNS hijacking); and attacks conducted through Windows’ remote desktop protocol.
In addition to real-time scanning of your PC and network, AVG Internet Security watches for malicious websites as you browse online—and even monitors where your email address appears online. If it’s spotted in a data leak, you’ll get a notification in the app.
When tested by leading security organizations, AVG earned high marks for antivirus and malware protection. In AV-Test’s zero-day attack and malware tests for November and December 2023, Internet Security detected 100 percent of the threats. Similarly, in AV-Comparatives’ real-world protection test for July through October 2023, AVG’s core antivirus component blocked 100 percent of the 512 test cases. When faced with 10,007 samples in AV-Comparatives’ September 2023 malware protection test, it scored a 95.3 percent offline detection rate, 99.5 percent online detection rate, and 99.97 percent online protection rate, with just one false positive.
In our own PCWorld performance testing, AVG Internet Security had minimal impact on system resources during everyday tasks like video chatting and web browsing. Even a more intensive task like encoding a video was barely affected. However, during heavier Microsoft Office use, you can see a drop in performance when a full scan is happening—especially if you’re on an older or slower machine. Scheduled scans are timed to happen during off-hours by default, though, so most users won’t notice too much of a hit.
Despite its quirks (like advertisements for additional paid features), AVG Internet Security is reliable antivirus software with a user friendly interface—and at just $60 during the first year for 10 devices, it’s affordable, too. In fact, it’s solid enough to earn a recommendation despite how strong the free version is on its own.
Who should use AVG Internet Security
You need deeper control and more expansive protection from your antivirus software, but you don’t want to pay extra for features you don’t want. AVG Internet Security expands just enough on the company’s free antivirus to make it worthwhile, even though it lacks elements like parental controls, VPN, and a password manager.
The best antivirus suites are as simple as possible—one where the app lays everything out clearly for users of all stripes. Trend Micro Maximum Security nails this principle with some of the easiest navigation we’ve seen.
It also packs in extras beyond protections against malware, ransomware, and web threats that aren’t often found in rival software. For starters, you can open Chrome and Firefox in a sandboxed mode to protect your banking and other sensitive browsing sessions. You can also enter information like a credit card number, email address, or telephone number into the app and it will automatically warn you if that data is leaving your PC.
This suite also offers a browser-based password manager to safeguard your logins, as well as parental controls to filter websites, set time limits, and control access to Windows programs.
When tested by leading security research organizations, Trend Micro’s antivirus engine takes top marks for online protection. It scored 100 percent in AV-Test’s November and December 2023 evaluation, catching all zero-day and web/email threats, as well as currently prevalent malware. Likewise in AV-Comparatives’ malware protection test, Maximum Security locked in a 97.95 percent online protection rate. It caught all 512 samples in the July through October 2023 real-world protection test, too. However, Trend Micro isn’t as good at detecting offline threats, with a score of 57.1 percent, and also had a higher false positive rate than rivals.
Most PC newbies won’t be affected by these performance results, since they’ll be online all the time. Only those on an older or slower PC might feel the effects of running Trend Micro Maximum Security, especially if during a CPU intensive task like encoding—during our in-house benchmarks, we saw system performance drop under heavy load. But this kind of intensive work isn’t usually typical for less seasoned computer users.
If this easy-to-use, robust suite sounds appealing, it gets even better when you look at its cost. You’ll pay just $45 during the first year for five devices, and $76 every year thereafter. You can save more if you drop down to three devices, which is just $30 for the first year, and $46 every year afterward.
Who should use Trend Micro
Trend Micro Maximum Security is perfect for anyone wanting antivirus software that feels less intimidating to use—especially if you’ve got accounts and kids to protect. Maximum Security includes a password manager and parental controls, both of which are vital tools for online safety.
Avira Prime – Best antivirus for beginners runner-up
Pros
Strong security with a reasonable subscription price
Well designed and user-friendly
Offers a host of features in the areas of security, privacy, and performance
Cons
No subscription option for fewer than five devices
Simplicity of app feels slightly at odds with the depth of the PC tools
Price When Reviewed:
5 devices: $9.99/mo I $59.99/yr I $189.99/2yrs
Trend Micro Maximum Security may be our current pick for best beginner-friendly antivirus suite, but not for a lack of trying on Avira Prime’s part. In fact, Avira is arguably the better choice for those seeking more help with managing their PC.
In addition to a simple, clear interface for malware scans and online protections, Avira Prime offers a password manager, unlimited VPN, and a boatload of PC utilities for tuning up your computer. These tools aim to boost your computer speed, save on laptop battery life, keep apps and drivers up to date, enhance game performance, locate duplicate files, and securely delete sensitive data. You also get many backup options that extend beyond just documents.
The one major feature missing from Avira Prime (and partially the reason for its runner-up status) is a set of parental controls. You can’t use it to filter web content or monitor device usage.
For antivirus protection, Avira generally provides solid protection against malware and other threats, with high performance in tests done by security research institutions. In AV-Test’s zero-day attack and malware evaluation for November and December 2023 (the most current as of this article’s publishing), it caught 100 percent of the threats. It did almost as well in AV-Comparatives’ real-world protection test for July through October 2023, blocking 99.4 percent of the 512 test cases simulating online dangers. Meanwhile, in AV-Comparatives’ September 2023 malware protection test, Avira scored a 99.97 percent online protection rate, 99.1 percent online detection rate, and a respectable 92.5 percent offline detection rate.
Avira only stumbles against more sophisticated, targeted threats—in AV-Comparatives’ November 2023 Advanced Threat Protection Test, it spotted just 8 of the 15 test cases imitating threats like malicious scripts and fileless exploits. Rivals also missed test cases, however.
During our in-house benchmarks evaluating system performance, Avira Prime only minimally affects performance when left to run in the background. But when full scans are running, this security suite can hit slower and older PCs extremely hard if combing through every file—as can happen if you’ve added or changed large quantities of files on your computer. Most people won’t notice Avira running, though.
For those who want the comprehensive simplicity that this security suite offers, you’ll pay $60 for the first year, and then $105 for every year after. That slightly higher cost is the other reason Avira Prime couldn’t quite dethrone Trend Micro Maximum Security as our newbie-friendly pick.
Who should use Avira Prime
Avira Prime will likely feel best to users who want a simple antivirus suite, broad online protections, and robust PC utilities—and also want to use those latter tools for more confident management of their computer. Not every utility is a winner, but the overall set can help you identify and understand the more technical aspects of Windows and system upkeep. Parents will need to look elsewhere for controls that let them monitor and limit their kids’ PC use, however.
Decades ago, McAfee made a name for itself for antivirus protection—but the company has kept the most current threats to PCs in its sights. These days, dangers extend beyond just malware to identity and privacy issues, and McAfee Total Protection addresses these just as much as it does ransomware and phishing sites.
That ID protection makes it stand out against competitors, especially if you’re willing to pay to scale up the level of service. The plan we tested included dark web scanning, which keeps an eye out for any of your personal information that you’ve shared with the app (email address, phone number, social security number, passport, driver’s license, date of birth, tax ID, credit card, usernames, and more). If any of those details show up in a data leak, you get notified. The app also offers to help change your password for an online account when applicable.
As a supplement for the identity protection, McAfee gives you a score on how well protected you are online, to help point out potential weak spots to fix. You also get access to a secure VPN to enhance both security and privacy—especially useful if you are on public Wi-Fi but need to conduct a sensitive transaction.
In evaluations by leading security research organizations, McAfee passed AV-Test’s zero-day and prevalent malware tests with scores of 100 percent in both November and December 2023. For AV-Comparatives, McAfee earned 99.6 percent in the real-world protection test between July and October 2023, with just one false positive. For the malware-protection test in September 2023, McAfee earned a 99.95 percent online protection rate and 99.2 percent online detection rate. Its offline detection rate was much lower, coming in at 65.2 percent, but unless you often connect USB sticks of unknown origin into your computer while offline, this score matters less. Most threats these days get on to a PC while connected to the internet.
More relevant is that mid-tier and budget machines could see some impact on system performance when running McAfee scans. During our benchmarks, where we ran a full scan during a variety of common tasks (web browsing, document editing, etc), we did notice some dips in performance. You can mitigate this effect by timing scans for off hours, though.
Currently, McAfee Total Protection is available through third-party sellers (McAfee has turned its attention to its slightly newer McAfee+ plans on its website). We like this version still because of how deeply affordable it is—for example, a license on PCWorld’s own software site is just $19 per year, which covers up to ten devices for one year.
Who should use McAfee Total Protection
Your personal information can be used against you online—and with data breaches so painfully common these days, it can be a relief to have help in tracking who has your info. For anyone who doesn’t have as much time to handle that work themselves, or even keep track of a separate service, McAfee can serve as a central spot for managing all your online security concerns.
All of the deluxe antivirus suites offer extra tools as part of their package, but if we had to pick one that stands out in this respect, it’d be Panda Dome Complete. And not only does it come with those noteworthy features, it also has one of the most striking interfaces we’ve seen. Similar to Microsoft’s Bing homepage, Panda Dome features a beautiful background photo, with the interface elements placed on top of it.
The two features that particularly stand out are Rescue Kit and the Virtual Keyboard. Rescue Kit helps when dealing with advanced virus problems—it lets you create a recovery drive to boot your PC and then disinfect the machine. If that doesn’t work, you can try the advanced virus detector that uses Panda Cloud Cleaner, which can run on your desktop or off USB stick to dive deeper into your system.
Meanwhile, Virtual Keyboard is a software keyboard you operate with your mouse. It’s supposed to prevent any keyloggers installed on your system from grabbing your login info, credit card details, or other sensitive data when you type them in.
Also included with Panda Dome Complete are utilities like an update manager for your Windows apps, a disk defragmenter, hard drive cleaner, and startup apps manager. It also packs in Wi-Fi protection (which lets you see what devices are connected to your network), a password manager, parental controls, and a VPN that offers 150 megabytes of bandwidth per day. These come in addition to the core antivirus protection and safeguards like a ransomware monitor for folders often targeted by such malware.
When evaluated by AV-Comparatives, a leading security research organization, Panda scored well in its real-world protection test for July through October 2023. The suite blocked 98.6 percent of the 512 test cases, with about 20 false positives.In the malware protection test for September 2023, Panda blocked 99.41 percent of more than 10,000 samples. Its offline detection rate was among the lowest, however, coming in at 59.8 percent—but few people these days plug in unknown USB drives into their PC while offline.
More importantly, Panda tracks close to Windows Security (Windows’ built-in antivirus defense) in antivirus protection performance, while providing a centralized interface for all of its many features—several of which you won’t find in many rivals, including Windows Security. It also has the most minimal impact on system performance in our in-house benchmarks. So minor, in fact, that in the real-world it works out to no difference.
As one of the most feature-rich offerings, Panda Dome Complete also one of the most expensive, too. You can purchase a subscription for $64.50 during the first year ($86 per year afterward), but that’s covers just one device. Fortunately, it only costs a little more to upgrade to a three device plan ($72 for the first year, $96 per year afterward) or five device plan ($79 for the first year, $105 per year afterward).
Who should use Panda Dome Complete
Panda Dome Complete puts a ton of features right at your fingertips—an ideal interface for those who want to dive into everything straight away. If you hate buried or oversimplified menus, you’ll feel right at home with this software.
Tends toward false positives, especially with SmartScreen
Lacks the advanced features found in third-party products
Price When Reviewed:
Included with Windows 10 and 11
Why we picked Windows Security
If Windows’ built-in security suite already performs on par with the best free antivirus options—as we discovered in our roundup of the best free antivirus—you may ask yourself if you need the baggage of a third-party program. Sure, other antivirus programs might offer marginally better protection, but not enough to outweigh the convenience of rolling with Microsoft’s home-grown offering.
Windows Security is a multi-piece suite, with both well-known and newer protections. Most users will recognize Defender, which monitors for viruses and malware, and Firewall, which blocks malicious incoming traffic and suspicious outgoing traffic. But it also includes ransomware protections (including controlled access to folders, as well as data recovery via OneDrive integration), app restrictions, and even basic parental controls.
The most important of these protections are automatically enabled in Windows—you don’t have to lift a finger to get real-time antivirus scanning or network protection. You will have to manually switch on some features, though, including ransomware folder controls and file recovery. (To learn more, see our video on How to use Windows Security.)
In tests performed by independent security organizations, Microsoft’s antivirus protection holds up well. It scored a 6 out of 6 for protection against malware in AV-Test’s November/December 2023 evaluation, and also turned in perfect marks for performance and usability. Testing from AV-Comparatives showed similar strong performance against online threats—in the September 2023 Malware test, it scored 99.95 percent in online protection, and a slightly lower 95.8 percent detection rate. (The best antivirus suites still clock in at 99 percent or higher for online detection.) However, for offline protection, Microsoft’s Defender engine slides down to a mere 77 percent—over 20 percent lower than top antivirus rivals. But for most people, who are online at all times, this score won’t affect their protection as much.
You can find more features in other antivirus suites, like online privacy tools, a VPN, and encrypted cloud backups. But this free protection comes preinstalled on Windows machines and does a good job of keeping you protected from most threats.
Who should use Windows Security
You’re looking for lightweight, unobtrusive antivirus protection—and don’t mind configuring it, nor managing separate security tools to make sure you’re properly protected online. To get the most out of it, you must tinker with Windows Security’s settings. (You can learn more in our video on How to use Windows Security.) You also have to figure out your own online privacy tools, VPN, password manager, and encrypted cloud backup.
As the headline reveals, the focus of this roundup is the best antivirus for Windows PCs, but many PC enthusiasts are the de facto IT for friends and family. If you want to help an associate or loved one achieve strong antivirus protection for an Apple machine, our colleagues at Macworld recommend Intego’s Mac Internet Security X9.
In the suite are two utilities. The better known one is VirusBarrier, which spots and eliminates malware threats—it was one of the first virus scanners on Mac. It comes paired with NetBarrier, a two-way firewall that watches for suspicious outgoing traffic from rogue apps on your Mac, as well as unusual incoming connection requests from the internet to your Mac. For the price of this suite, NetBarrier’s inclusion isn’t common, but definitely welcome.
As part of its protection, VirusBarrier X9 scans for threats on your Mac’s internal storage drive (including any downloaded email and compressed archives), as well as connected disks and iOS devices. The app quarantines suspicious files, which you can then mark as trusted, leave in quarantine, or try to have repaired.
In testing performed by independent research organizations, Intego’s VirusBarrier got high marks. It received an “Approved” rating in AV-Comparatives’ June 2023 test, detecting 99.4 percent of Mac malware, 97 of potentially unwanted applications, and 100 percent of Windows viruses (thus thwarting spread of infections to susceptible PCs). In AV-Test’s June 2023 evaluation, VirusBarrier earned a 5.5 out of 6 for protection, a 5 out of 6 for effect on Mac performance, and a full 6 out of 6 for usability.
In Macworld’s own testing, VirusBarrier caught all the samples thrown at it, including those designed for other platforms. It also correctly flagged a disk image tainted with a malicious installer.Overall, Intego’s Mac Internet Security X9 offers good compatibility with macOS while looking like a real Mac program, too. It costs just $25 (or £20.00) for the first year using this special Macworld link. If you need additional tools, like a backup utility, speed optimizer for your Mac, or parental controls, you can upgrade to the Mac Premium Bundle X9 for $40 for the first year (£23.99).
Who should use Intego X9
Intego VirusBarrier not only offers good compatibility with macOS, but it also looks like a real Mac program, too—making it an ideal match for anyone looking for an effective app that blends in seamlessly.
Recent antivirus reviews
Avast One: This upgrade on Avast’s free security suite adds protection against identity and privacy threats, along with PC tools, all while still keeping its polished interface. And in AV-Test and AV-Comparatives’ latest benchmark data, it generally led the competition in blocking online and offline threats.
AVG Internet Security: This modest suite provides top-notch threat protection in a clean, straightforward interface — all while charging less than rivals. Like Avast (with which it shares an antivirus engine), it generally leads the competition in blocking online and offline threats, as seen in benchmarks performed by AV-Test and AV-Comparatives.
Norton 360 Deluxe: Norton 360 Deluxe has a wide array of protections spanning antivirus, password management, VPN access, automated cloud backups, and dark web monitoring. It can hit PC performance a bit harder on older or budget systems, but its overall value and solid results in AV-Test and AV-Comparatives’ benchmarks make it worthwhile.
McAfee Total Protection: You can rely on McAfee Total Protection for blocking online threats and its easy-to-use VPN, but not its password manager. The app can also notably affect system performance on mid-range and budget PCs. Currently, the competition outdoes this entry-level offering.
How to choose the best antivirus software
There are three basic requirements that an antivirus suite should meet:
High-detection rate for malware and other threats
Low impact on system resources
An easy-to-use interface
That’s not all to consider, however. These days, many security suites come with extras such as a backup service for your most essential files, Android and iOS apps for mobile security, a more advanced firewall, family protection (read: child restriction) features, and the right to use the program on multiple PCs. Access to a VPN and a password manager have become more common, too. Whether you need those extras depends on how much you’re willing to spend and your personal situation.
If you’re looking to go beyond the basics, our baseline recommendation is to find a suite that comes with a firewall, supports enough devices to cover what you own, and (if you don’t already have separate services set up) access to a password manager and VPN.
How we test antivirus software
Our approach to testing antivirus software is multi-pronged—we look not just at how well the suite catches malware and other threats (though that’s certainly a top factor), but other elements as well.
First, we take a look at the interface to determine how easy or complicated it is. Does the interface make it easy to get at essential tools like PC scans and password managers, for example, or is everything buried under multiple clicks? Are there elements that look like they should be clickable but aren’t? Are alerts interactive or purely informational, and do they make sense in context?
We also examine the features on offer. Every good antivirus suite should have the basics like scanning and real-time protection, but many vendors offer elements that go beyond basic security like password managers or firewalls. We try to discern whether any of these extra features are particularly useful, or just frills that look nice but don’t serve a practical purpose.
To test the suite’s demand on system resources, we run three benchmarks. The first is PCMark 10’s Extended test, which simulates a variety of workloads including editing spreadsheets, browsing the web, running video chat, and light gaming.
PCWorld
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We run the benchmark before the security suite is installed. Then we install the software, have it run a full scan on our Windows 11 test machine, and start a second run of the benchmark at the same time. Then we compare the overall scores to see if the decline between the two benchmark runs is significant.
We repeat the same process using UL Procyon, which simulates document editing in Microsoft Office apps—e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Then, as the harshest stress test, we use Handbrake to transcode a video before and after installing the antivirus software. On many home PCs, this encoding task utilizes 100 percent of the CPU. We then compare transcoding times to see if there’s any significant decline.
Our test machine is an Acer Aspire 3 15 with an AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 8GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Each security suite is tested on a clean install of Windows 10 Home.
As for the antivirus suite’s detection capabilities, we rely on the opinions of security researchers dedicated to this task. We take into consideration reports from outlets such as AV Comparatives and AV Test.
We also take pricing into account and what you get for it.
When possible, we review security suites using a free trial to get a sense of what consumers see when they first try out a new product.
Unfortunately, yes. Viruses, malware, and other online threats have only increased and become more sophisticated over time. Spending time on the internet or attaching any external drives to your computer without antivirus software is like going into battle without a stitch of armor.
2.
Does Windows 10/11 need antivirus?
In the basic sense, absolutely yes—which is why Windows 10 and 11 come with in built-in antivirus protection. But while Windows Security performs well, the best third-party antivirus software have even higher rates of detecting threats. The top antivirus apps also offer more control over settings, detailed logs of your PC’s activity, a more user-friendly interface, and additional features to strengthen your online security beyond just viruses and malware. So strictly speaking, a Windows PC doesn’t need third-party antivirus software, but you can benefit from more comprehensive online protection.
3.
Will antivirus software slow down my computer?
The short answer is maybe, but probably not. Antivirus software scans files and programs to ensure there is no malware or other harmful threat present. The longer the time frame between each scan, the more files the program will need to check. These intensive scans may have some noticeable effect on your computer speed. It’s therefore recommended that you schedule your scans to run more frequently and/or at night so as to not impact your computer usage.
While antivirus software can affect the speed of your computer, it is most likely not the only factor—or even the most prominent. Other factors such as unnecessary startup and background programs, insufficient RAM, or even undiagnosed malware can have more drastic effects on your computer speed than a simple antivirus scan.
4.
Should you pay for antivirus?
It depends on what antivirus features are most important to you. Do you just need a program that will scan, detect, and remove malware? Then go with a free version. But if you are looking for more advanced features such as the ability to block webcam hacking, run suspicious apps in a sandbox environment, and permanently delete sensitive files, then you should seriously consider upgrading to a paid premium antivirus service.
Overall, premium antivirus software is better suited to more complete coverage against threats—especially for inexperienced users. Children and seniors are particularly vulnerable to modern threats and therefore paid antivirus apps, which allow for multiple-device protection, may be a better option for families.
5.
How many antivirus programs are recommended for one computer?
These days, most antivirus software are full suites. They take over completely for Windows’ built-in protection, and that single suite is all you need. More than that, and the different apps can start to conflict with one another. So no need to double up!
6.
What should I do if my antivirus detects a threat?
In a perfect world, your antivirus software will halt and clean the infected files for you. However, this largely depends on which antivirus program you are using.
In general, the antivirus will send a warning to you and try to quarantine the infected file in order to keep it from spreading. Once isolated, the software will give you the option to try to remove the infection or delete the file altogether.
7.
What is the difference between a full scan and a quick scan?
A full scan performs a comprehensive and thorough check of your whole system. It usually checks your system memory, startup programs, system backup, email databases, hard drives, and any removable storage drives.
A quick scan only checks a few areas including startup programs, system memory, and boot sectors. It may not detect all malware, but it can usually give you an idea if your computer has a virus.
As to when you should do either, we recommend a full scan once per week, during computer usage downtime (such as late at night). A quick scan can be done anytime you like, but it’s usually only necessary if you notice suspicious activity on your PC.
8.
Do I need to update my antivirus software?
Absolutely! Keeping your antivirus software up-to-date is crucial in helping you to avoid the most recent threats.
That being said, most antivirus software today—whether free or paid—will default to automatic updates. This way you don’t need to worry about manually updating your software. It may still be worth checking to confirm that your antivirus is running the most up-to-date version from time to time.
9.
What features should my antivirus software have?
Great question—especially since antivirus software continues to add more and more components to help keep you safe online. At absolute bare minimum, your app should have a scanner to protect against malware and online threats like phishing sites and a firewall. But other services like remote access protection, individual file encryption, and a password manager can be helpful too. Our breakdown of antivirus software features lays out the details you need to know, so that you can decide what you need.
Antivirus, Business, Desktop PCs, Professional Software, Security Software and Services, Technology Industry
Video editing can put quite a heavy burden on any computer. So, when shopping for a laptop for video editing, you’ll want to make sure you’re loading up on enough heavy hardware firepower to get the job done. While you might not need the absolute top-of-the-line gear, simply buying a gaming laptop and calling it a day is probably not going to cut it. Beyond just processor and graphics performance, serious video editors need to take into account a few things such as the quality of the display, port selection, and onboard storage capacity.
Why you should trust us: PCWorld has been covering PCs since 1983, and reviews more than 70 notebooks a year in our never-ending quest to find the best laptops. Our expert reviewers evaluate every machine using a combination of performance benchmarks and rigorous usability standards, with an eye toward identifying the best laptops for specific needs and at various price points. We also edit lots of videos ourselves, with the results appearing on PCWorld’s YouTube channel. Take a look at our top picks for video editing below, followed by buying advice and more details about our testing process.
If you’re on a budget or just looking to save some money, you may also want to check out our daily roundup of the best laptop deals to scope out any discounts on content creation notebooks.
Update May 2, 2024: We added the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra as the Best Laptop for Video Editing (if you don’t need 4K). We’ve also updated our list of recent laptop reviews and added a new “at a glance” sectionbelow.
Best laptops for video editing at a glance
Dell XPS 17 (Best laptop for video editing), $1,649 at Dell
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra (Best laptop for video editing if you don’t need 4K),$2,399.99 at Samsung
Apple MacBook Pro (Best MacBook for video editing), $1,799 at B&H
Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (Best budget laptop for video editing), $955 at Amazon
Razer Blade 14 (Best ultraportable laptop for video editing), $2,699.99 at B&H
The best laptops for video editing
Dell XPS 17 (2023) – Best laptop for video editing
Pros
Expansive 17-inch 16:10 display
Thin chassis
Incredible battery life
Cons
Expensive
720p webcam
Price When Reviewed:
From $2,449 | Model reviewed $3,099
The Dell XPS 17 (2023) is a fantastic laptop for content creation because it has a gigantic display and a good amount of graphics firepower. The OLED touch display, which measures a massive 17-inches, features a crystal clear resolution of 3840×2400 and a maximum brightness of 550 nits. It’s perfect for media editing, multitasking, and so much more. The machine is also powered by an Intel Core i7-13700H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, which means it’s more than capable of handling any video editing you throw at it. The specific configuration we reviewed will cost you well over $3,000, so it’s likely not a viable option for the budget-conscious, but if your time is money, the Dell XPS 17 is money very well spent.
Who should buy the Dell XPS 17 (2023)
We feel the Dell XPS 17 is a phenomenal option for serious or professional video editors. The 4K screen is divine and it has the perfect amount of horsepower as far as internal components go. It also includes an SD card reader and multiple Thunderbolt 4 ports for quickly offloading videos or photos. Finally, the Dell XPS 17 can run up to 11 hours on a single charge, eliminating the need to go outlet hunting. Although we would’ve liked to have seen this model with an OLED screen, it’s still a top-notch pick.
Alternative option: The Dell XPS 16 is another good option for content creators. In fact, the hardware is almost identical to our top pick. The only real difference is that the Dell XPS 16 has an OLED screen and the Dell XPS 17 9730 does not. That said, the Dell XPS 16 didn’t make the cut because it doesn’t have as many Thunderbolt 4 ports and the keyboard is a real headache to use due to stiff keys.
The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra offers powerful performance as well as a gorgeous OLED display. Thanks to the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, it’s well equipped to handle any video editing task you throw at it. Plus, the 16-inch OLED display has a resolution of 2880×1800 and a refresh rate of 120Hz–so you can expect a crisp-looking picture with rich colors. Sure, it’s not 4K, but it’s still a fantastic screen for content creation. Battery life is absolutely absurd, too. This machine lasted a whopping 18 hours and 54 minutes on a single charge. Wall outlet? Who is she?
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra
Anyone looking for a powerful, long-lasting laptop and doesn’t need to edit 4K videos. In addition to the stunning OLED display and the long battery life, the audio is also quite punchy, sounding great up and down the audio range. If you switch on the Dolby Atmos feature, you’ll hear even richer sound. Though content creators may not necessarily need good audio (or likely use dedicated headphones), it’s still a nice perk.
The Apple MacBook Pro (M3, Pro) will kick you in the teeth with its power (in the best way possible). Inside, you’ll find a 14-core GPU as well as 18GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. That amount of RAM will keep things running nice and smooth while the beefy GPU will chew right through any intense edits, though intense video editors will want to upgrade to a model with more storage or invest in an external SSD for added capacity. The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display also has a ridiculously high resolution of 3024×1964, so editing should be a delightful experience. It even comes with three Thunderbolt 4 ports for speedy data transfers.
Who should buy the Apple MacBook Pro (M3, Pro)
Anyone who prefers Apple’s ecosystem. This configuration shows a 44 percent increase in performance (according to Geekbench’s Compute Metal test) compared to the M3 (sans Pro) model. You’ll also be able to see every detail of your photo or video editing work thanks to the gorgeous Liquid Retina XDR display. Battery life isn’t too shabby, either. The M3 Pro MacBook Pro will last you over ten hours on a single charge, which is more than a full work day.
Alternative option: If you’re looking for a bigger screen, then you should check out the MacBook Pro, M2 Pro. The Liquid Retina XDR display measures 16.2-inches and has a resolution of 3456×2234, so visuals should be sharp as knives. The M2 Pro also comes loaded with a powerful 19-core GPU.
Why we like the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition
The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is a good option for those on a tight budget, as it ticks off all of the right boxes for a sub-$1,000 machine. For one, colors appear rich and varied on the 16-inch 1200p FHD display. Sure, it’s not 4K, but it’s still a good screen–our reviewer was surprised by the “depth of the blacks and greys.” As for internals, the AMD Radeon RX 7600S GPU and the AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS CPU should blitz right through graphically demanding tasks like video editing. It also lasted a whopping 11 hours on a single charge, which is shocking for a gaming laptop.
Who should buy the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition
Anyone who’s looking to save money on a capable and long-lasting laptop. You don’t have to go outlet hunting because of the long battery life and the 1200p display offers nothing but stunning visuals. While the keys feel a bit mushy and the 720p webcam won’t be doing you any favors on video calls, we feel as though the pros far outweigh the cons, especially given the reasonable price point.
Alternative option: The Lenovo LOQ 15 is another good budget option to consider. It has a better GPU (RTX 4060) than our current top pick. Despite the high star rating, it didn’t end up making the cut because of the poor battery life (not unusual in a gaming laptop) and limited connectivity options. The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition just stands out from the pack, especially where battery life is concerned, but the Lenovo LOQ would be a good budget option if your workflow is accelerated by Nvidia features and technology.
The Razer Blade 14 is ultra-thin and remarkably lightweight, tipping the scales at just over four pounds. That makes it much smaller than most laptops with video editing chops. But don’t let its slim profile fool you, as it’s a heavy hitter in the performance department. It comes with an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, so video editing tasks should be a breeze. You’re also getting 1TB of SSD storage as well as 32GB of memory.
Who should buy the Razer Blade 14
If sheer portability is essential, consider the Razer Blade 13 (2024). The port selection isn’t too shabby, either. You’re getting two USB-A 3.2 ports, two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports (with DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery), and one HDMI 2.1. The 14-inch IPS-grade screen tops out at just 2560×1600, so 4K video editing is off the table. That said, the laptop still supports the full DCI-P3 color gamut, so the display is quite vibrant.
Alternative option:If you want a solid portable laptop for a more affordable price the $1,499 Acer Swift X 14 it weighs just 3.31 pounds. It includes an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, so it packs a decent punch in the performance department. The 14.5-inch 1800p OLED display also has an “effectively infinite contrast ratio,” according to our review. Although it’s more lightweight than the Razer Blade 14 (2023), it’s not as powerful.
Lenovo Yoga 7i: The Lenovo Yoga 7i (16IML9) is a competent and well-built at a palatable price. It’s not the best value for a standard laptop, but it’s flexibility may make up for its shortcoming for some users.
Acer Swift Go 14: The Acer Swift Go 14 is a reliable travel workhorse through and through.
Dell XPS 14 (2024): The Dell XPS 14 is a looker, but even though it can offer respectable performance, it comes at such a high cost above competent — and often faster — competitors that there’s little reason to consider it.
Acer Aspire Go 15: The Acer Aspire Go 15 (2024) isn’t much to look at, but it plods along without much fuss, only struggling when demand is put on the meager integrated graphics or too much CPU horsepower is called for. For simple computing needs, it has clear value at just $300.
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.
FAQ
1.
What should I look for in a laptop for video editing?
The first thing to look for in a laptop for video editing is its CPU and GPU. The faster your hardware, the faster your edits.
If your workload is primarily CPU-driven, we’d recommend springing for the Intel Core i7 or the Intel Core i9. HX is designed for raw horsepower, which id deal for gaming and content creation, and the Ultra is built around power efficiency. For a more in-depth look at the difference between the two processors, we’ve done a thorough compare and contrast piece that really lays it all out. For those on a strict budget, you can get by with an Intel Core i5, but it’s going to be slower.
You probably won’t need a dedicated graphics card everyday video editing, but if you work on motion graphics, then the extra firepower really comes in handy. For most video editing projects, we’d suggest the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 or higher, though having any RTX GPU onboard can help accelerate some specific workloads. For those who prefer AMD over Nvidia, we’d recommend the AMD Radeon RX 7600S or higher. Unless you’re looking to play AAA games on the side, you don’t really need the best graphics card out there. A mid-range GPU will serve most people.
Another thing to consider is storage size. A 4K video, for example, will require more storage space than a 1080p video. In other words, you’re going to need quite a bit of storage, otherwise your laptop might get too bogged down. For those who work with 4K resolution, you should go for at least 1TB of SSD or higher. You could probably get by with just 512GB of SSD storage, but you’ll probably need to keep offloading files onto an external storage device.
RAM is important too, as it determines how fast your laptop will generally run. Video editors tend to work with large files, which can cause your laptop to slow down. That’s why we’d recommend at least 16GB of RAM. However, if you’re editing 4K video, you’ll definitely want 32GB of RAM or more. More RAM reduces the likelihood of bottlenecks, which can be a real pain in the neck when you’re in the middle of an important edit.
2.
What kind of display should I get?
You’re going to want a display that’s both bright and color accurate. For example, a display that’s close to 100 percent of the sRGB spectrum is ideal. While a 4K display isn’t necessary, we’d strongly recommend it for serious video editing. A high resolution display will produce sharper images, which helps reduce eye strain, and allow you to edit 4K video at full resolution. A larger screen like a 15- or 17-inch is preferable as well, as it provides better visibility for editing.
3.
What do the experts recommend?
PCWorld video director Adam Patrick Murray stresses that an ideal laptop for video editing includes an SD card reader for grabbing video off of a camera. He also recommends opting for a notebook with a 4K, 60Hz panel over the ultra-fast 1080p panels often found on gaming laptops that would otherwise be ideal for video editing. You need a 4K panel to edit 4K videos well and blazing-fast refresh rates don’t mean anything for video editing like they do for gaming. If color accuracy matters to you—it might not if you’re only creating casual videos for your personal YouTube channel, for example—then support for the full DCI-P3 color gamut is also a must along with Delta E < 2 color accuracy.
You won’t often find those sorts of specs listed for (or supported by) gaming laptops, but dedicated content creation laptops should include that information. That said, if you want the fastest possible laptop for video editing that can also satisfy your gaming proclivities, you can always pair that burly gaming laptop with a color-accurate external monitor for creation tasks.
The best USB-C hubs are designed to expand your laptop’s capabilities, allowing you to connect legacy printers, mice, and keyboards via a dongle that connects to your laptop’s USB-C port.
Each of my USB-C hub recommendations contains a variety of ports (including USB-A ports, HDMI, and more) that allow you to connect legacy devices like USB memory keys, display connectors, and more to your laptop. Our recommendations dive into the benefits of each dongle, which we’ve tested and reviewed, with new picks for 2024.
I’ve organized my USB-C recommendations this way: traditional USB-C hubs on top, followed by my picks for the best USB-C docking stations. The latter are a bit bulkier, but tend to offer more connections. I’ll also introduce you to DisplayLink docks, an improved version that offers hardware-based compression to move more data over the USB-C port. More advanced features lie within the best Thunderbolt docks, which I’ve listed separately. It can all be a little confusing, so I’ve included an expanded FAQ and a buying guide below my recommendations to help you make sense of it all.
A USB-C hub connects to the USB-C port on the side of your laptop. In this example, the left port is used for charging, so you’d need to buy a USB-C hub with a charging input to use with this slot. (Of course, you could also buy a hub without charging capabilities and use it in the other USB-C port, to the right of the charging port.)
A USB-C hub connects to the USB-C port on the side of your laptop. In this example, the left port is used for charging, so you’d need to buy a USB-C hub with a charging input to use with this slot. (Of course, you could also buy a hub without charging capabilities and use it in the other USB-C port, to the right of the charging port.)
A USB-C hub connects to the USB-C port on the side of your laptop. In this example, the left port is used for charging, so you’d need to buy a USB-C hub with a charging input to use with this slot. (Of course, you could also buy a hub without charging capabilities and use it in the other USB-C port, to the right of the charging port.)
Why you should trust me: I’ve written about technology for 30 years, and have compiled this roundup of the best USB-C hubs and dongles since 2022, when I started reviewing dozens of these products. I also offer related recommendations for the best Thunderbolt docks, so I understand exactly how complex the simple USB-C port can be and what technology works best with it. Few if any publications will even write about, let alone review, DisplayLink docks, which also provide an inexpensive yet powerful alternative to a USB-C hub. I review those as well. It’s a niche that I know quite a bit about.
Updated April 26, 2024: My most recent review is Satechi’s Dual USB-C Surface Pro 9 Hub, which is about as niche a device as you can get — it works best for Microsoft Surface Pro tablets. I can’t recommend to a general audience, but it does certainly work for some Surface tablets.
Anker 555 8-in-1 USB-C Hub – Best overall USB-C hub
Can a USB-C hub feel elegant? This one does. Anker’s 8-in-1 USB-C hub feels surprisingly weighty (4.5 ounces), with a premium metallic (aluminum and polycarbonate) sheen that keeps the hub cool. Overall, Anker’s hub is well designed, with adequate spacing between the two 5Gbps USB-A ports. There’s also a 5Gbps USB-C connection for data, plus a second USB-C port for power input at up to 85W rated. (The charger allows up to 100W in, but supplies 85W.) There’s both an SD card slot and a microSD card slot, too.
I had previously recommended Anker’s 7-in-1 Hub instead. Both hubs are similar, but this upgrade adds two things: an Ethernet port, and an HDMI port capable of 60Hz. The earlier pick output just 30Hz, and that capability was getting a bit outdated.
The hub offers an 18-month warranty, and it even ships with a carrying pouch. I think this hub includes the right mix of ports for the right price.
Who should buy the Anker 555 8-in-1 USB-C Hub
This is our best pick, so I’d recommend it to just about anyone. Most users will be able to take advantage of the USB-A ports for legacy mice and keyboards, the HDMI port, a USB-C port, and Ethernet. These are the ports I’d expect on a device like this. If you’re looking for more display ports or more USB-C connections, however, you’ll need to buy a more premium device.
Let’s face it: If you’ve ever browsed Amazon’s inventory of USB-C hubs, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. I can tell you that I factor in price heavily on some of these picks, and this is a USB-C hub that I’ve personally used. It works, it offers a myriad of ports, and it does so at a very, very good price. (This hub dates back to when I first started this page, and didn’t issue individual reviews of every product.) It even ships in multiple colors, which is handy when peering into the depths of a travel bag or briefcase.
This hub includes a pair of USB-A ports, microSD and SD card slots, and an HDMI port, and that’s all. It accepts up to a rated 100W of USB-C input charging, too.
Who should buy the Hiearcool USB-C Hub
This is a hub for basic expansion, especially if you own an older laptop. It has one HDMI port that’s only capable of 4K resolution at a fatiguing 30Hz. However, it will work just fine for an single external 1080 display or even a 1440p monitor, if you own one. The two USB-A ports are designed for a mouse and keyboard, or a printer. If you need something cheap and capable, this hub will work just fine.
Monoprice 13-in-1 Dual-HDMI + DP MST Dock – Best premium USB-C hub
Pros
Multiple display possibilities
Tons of ports
Cons
Confusing documentation
Slow SD card slot
Numerous high-speed ports can get clogged by the main 10Gbps USB-C connection
Why I like the Monoprice 13-in-1 Dual-HDMI + DP MST Dock
Monoprice calls this a dock, but it sits within the traditional hub form factor — and it’s priced like a hub, too. This 13-in-1 USB-C hub does it all, including connecting to two 4K displays (one at 60Hz, one at 30Hz). It does so by using support for built-in compression techniques within modern laptops to squeeze more effective throughput over the 10Gbps USB-C port. There are absolutely gobs of ports, including five USB-A ports (two at 480Mbps for mice and keyboards), the two HDMI 1.2 connections, and even a DisplayPort port.
There’s even a power input jack, so you can use your laptop’s charger and feed up to a tested 87W into the laptop. There aren’t any USB-C ports, but the assumption is that you can use your laptop for that.
Who should buy the Monoprice 13-in-1 Dual-HDMI + DP MST Dock
If you own a modern laptop and want access to a ton of legacy ports for a reasonable price, this Monoprice hub/dock should be your choice. You need to own a modern laptop, though; a Microsoft Surface Book 2 with an 8th-gen Core chip inside didn’t produce any output over its USB-C port; several recent Samsung and Surface laptops with 12th-gen and 13th-gen Core chips inside worked well, though.
Why I like the Cyber Acoustics DS-1000 Docking Station
A docking station typically offers more ports and a dedicated power supply. What I like about this Cyber Acoustics dock is that it can drive two 4K displays if you need to, at 60Hz resolution. It also can fast-charge a smartphone with its integrated USB-C dock, which a bus-powered USB hub like the ones above can’t do. It also puts out about 90W to your laptop, which is enough to power most laptops. You’ll find it has both the USB-C port as well as five USB-A ports, plenty for expansion, plus the HDMI connections and even Ethernet.
The catch is that this really only works well on 12th-gen Core laptops and above. It uses a bit of black magic called HBR3 with DSC to push compressed data through the 10Gbps USB-C connection, and in my experience anything 11th-gen and older risks it not working at all. I really like this dock, but my rating is weighted by the need for modern hardware.
Who should buy the Cyber Acoustics DS-1000 Docking Station
If you buy this docking station, you’ll want to leave it on your desk, with a monitor or two and several peripherals attached. USB-C dongles are portable by nature, and you can use one of our earlier suggestions for working on the road. This dock is also suited for someone who plans to work with two displays, rather than just one. Is it better than a Thunderbolt dock? Not really, but if you have a laptop without Thunderbolt, this can approximate the capabilities of those devices.
Just to reiterate, however: You’ll need a modern laptop, with a 12th-gen Core chip and above, for this dock to work its magic. If you have an older laptop, this isn’t the device for you.
Why I like the Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 10-in-1 Explorer Edition
Part of me loves the sheer nerdiness of the Dockcase 10-in-1 Dock, if only because I’ve never seen anything like it in terms of the information it offers.
Not only is the metal hub larger than most, with multiple external connectors that designate a premium hub, but there’s an actual display: A small LCD screen provides a detailed look at what devices are connected to each port and what their capabilities are. Put another way, the Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 10-in-1 feels more like an OBD2 diagnostic device for your car, or a USB multimeter.
As a dock, it’s excellent. As a tool, it can use some improvement: The interface is extremely clunky, and Dockcase really doesn’t even have a manual that explains it all. But this device is also small enough that it fulfills the requirements of a docking station without it being ungainly.
Who should buy the Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 10-in-1 Explorer Edition
Nerds. Yep, this is one of the nerdiest products I’ve ever used, and I like and loathe how it just lets you sort of discover what it can do. But it tells you what your laptop is connecting to and how it’s working! It even reports glitches! I love that.
Are you the type of person who owns an OBD scanner to diagnose any issues with your car? If you are, this is the USB-C hub for you.
Why I like the IOGEAR Travel Pro USB-C Mini Dock (GUD3C460)
At 2.8 x 0.31 x 1.22 inches, IOgear’s Travel Pro Mini Dock is an odd duck: an inexpensive, relatively tiny USB-C dock that plugs directly into your laptop, without a connecting cord. USB-C power input at up to 60Hz, USB-A, HDMI (at up to 4K60), and a headphone jack: simple and effective. It’s a minimalist solution in all aspects.
Who should buy the IOGEAR Travel Pro USB-C Mini Dock (GUD3C460)
Maybe you have neck or back issues, or just want the lightest laptop and peripherals possible. You hate clutter. This IOGEAR Mini Dock slides right into an available USB-C port and provides expansion capabilities without a whole lot of fuss. This is really the smallest USB-C dock I’ve seen, and for some people that matters.
The only thing I don’t like about it: If you own a laptop with several ports spaced closely together, the Mini Dock may block access. That may make it a handicap, so be sure and check before you buy.
Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615 – Best full-size USB-C DisplayLink dock
This is our top pick for an upgraded DisplayLink dock, which has its own pros and cons — slightly more expensive than a USB-C docking station, but more features, too.
Why I like the Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615
Ugreen’s 9-in-1 USB-C docking station is typical of the brand: quality design and manufacture, obtuse naming, and pricing that seems to vary from one vendor to the next. But this DisplayLink dock offers an excellent mix of port flexibility at a solid price. There is one catch: It lacks any power input at all, and you’ll need to use your laptop’s USB-C power supply (or buy one) to charge both this dock and the laptop itself.
Like most DisplayLink docks, this dock was unusually stable, with no flickering between displays — one of the reasons I like DisplayLink docks. The price nails that sweet spot, too. Just remember to bring your smartphone charger.
Who should buy the Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615
DisplayLink docks fit between a USB-C dongle and a Thunderbolt dock, and I always think of a DisplayLink buyer as a small business owner or home worker who is focused on productivity and lots of high-end displays. DisplayLink docks excel for office work, and struggle a bit in handling high frame rates for games.
Why I like the Sonnet Echo 13 Triple 4K Display Dock
Sonnet’s Echo 13 Triple 4K Display Dock’s built-in compression means you can connect to three 4K displays without penalty. And yes, it works as advertised. I also love that Sonnet spent so much time explaining the dock and its features. You don’t often see such a well-documented dock, and it’s friendly to newcomers. There’s plenty of charging power for both smartphones and laptops alike, too.
The performance of this dock was excellent, though (as noted above) it did disconnect once while using it. The only knock against it is the lousy audio — but your laptop probably already has a headphone jack. Just use that instead. This dock is also a bit more expensive than the Ugreen dock, which is why I’ve pushed it down to runner-up status.
Who should buy the Sonnet Echo 13 Triple 4K Display Dock
I have to say that the Echo 13’s documentation really does help in recommending this dock to newcomers, as does the warranty. If you’re feeling a bit uncertain about USB-C hubs and docking stations, this dock provides reassurance. Just make sure your laptop has a headphone jack.
Here’s where to start: Take a look at the peripherals you own, or plan to buy. Do you have an old external hard drive that uses a traditional USB-A cable? Do you manually back up photos from an SLR via its SD card? Or is your Wi-Fi connection unreliable enough that you’d prefer ethernet? Figure out what ports you’ll need. This advice is also for Windows users; Macs have their own limitations on USB-C connections.
Keep in mind that you may want to use both a mouse and keyboard, and possibly connect a printer, too. You can disconnect a keyboard to print, but it’s kind of a pain.
This laptop has several USB-C ports, but if yours has just one, you’ll want to daisy-chain the laptop’s power cord by plugging it directly into the hub, like so.
Next, check out what ports your laptop already has
It’s also important to take stock of your laptop or tablet’s ports: Does it have one USB-C port or two? If your device only has one port, is there a separate charging connection? If your laptop or tablet has a USB-C port and uses it exclusively for charging, you’ll want to buy a USB-C hub with a dedicated charging input port. (In this case, it’s also possible that only the charging port on the hub will work, though this isn’t typical.)
Note how much input power the port allows, and confirm that will be sufficient for your laptop. Otherwise, you’ll be forced to choose between charging your laptop and accessing other devices, which makes little sense. Most laptops will pop up a warning about a “slow charger” if your laptop’s not getting enough juice.
Does your monitor have a USB-C port?
Recently, we’ve begun to see more displays include a USB-C port as well as HDMI and DisplayPort inputs. This is a positive sign (kind of) in that your monitor may be able to eliminate the need for a USB-C hub.
A laptop’s USB-C port.
A laptop’s USB-C port.
Matt Smith/IDG
A laptop’s USB-C port.
Matt Smith/IDG
Matt Smith/IDG
This has a couple of wrinkles. First, monitor ports have never been the most accessible, and trying to find the right port on the back of a big, clunky display isn’t fun. You may find want to invest in a cheap USB-C hub just to avoid the hassle.
Second, that monitor’s USB-C port may actually be a video input — so instead of connecting an HDMI cable between your PC and the display, you can simply run a USB-C to USB-C cable and accomplish the same thing. How do you know to do that? First, check out our roundup of the best USB-C displays, then read it carefully. We distinguish between the two to help you out.
Assess your laptop and peripheral power needs
Keep in mind that the hub’s power port is for taking power in to your laptop, and not out to a phone. But your hub may still be able to charge your phone, with some caveats. A “bus-powered” USB hub connects to your laptop and pulls power from it, which it has share with several devices—and it won’t do it that well.
Some docks will include a USB-C port whose only purpose is to accept your laptop’s USB-C charger. That port will power your laptop as well as any ports connected to it. These devices will make more power available for fast charging your phone. (Your hub probably won’t enable specialized charging like the Samsung Galaxy S20’s Super Fast Charging, however, even if you use the supplied Samsung cable. You’ll still need to connect your phone to its charger for that.)
Making sense of the USB-C technologies
A USB-C port on your laptop can either run at 5Gbps or 10Gbps, with the latter being almost ubiquitous these days. That’s plenty of bandwidth for a printer, a mouse, a keyboard, or a hard drive, even all at once. Products like displays, ethernet, and high-speed SSDs gobble up that bandwidth, however.
We find that the display technologies tend to have the most influence over what you should buy. If you simply want to connect to an external 1080p display—or two—a USB-C dongle should work fine, provided that the dongle has the available ports. It’s certainly the cheapest option. Once you start trying to connect to one or two 1440p or 4K displays, however, you may find that you’ll want to consider options like the USB-C docking stations. You can get around this, in part. Instead of plugging your ethernet cable into the USB-C dongle, you can use a separate Wi-Fi connection, for example.
Traditionally, the only other alternative was a Thunderbolt dock. Provided your laptop had a Thunderbolt port, Thunderbolt’s 40Gbps bandwidth allows for two 4K displays, running at 60Hz, plus various peripherals. (You can use a USB-C dock even if you have a Thunderbolt port, by the way.) USB4, a similar technology, is basically the same as Thunderbolt for your purposes.
Now, there are also two intermediary technologies to choose from: a DisplayLink USB-C dock, and a USB-C dock that takes advantage of something called HBR3 and DSC.
DisplayLink, owned by Synaptics, uses software compression between your laptop and the dock to approximate a Thunderbolt experience over a generic USB-C connection. It requires a software driver, but our experience is that it’s an excellent choice for office work, but not gaming. Here are the best DisplayLink docks and why to buy them.
HBR3 with Display Compression (HBR3 with DSC) is essentially an industry standard version of DisplayLink. The problem? The technology hasn’t been widely publicized, let alone supported. Our experience has been that docks that support HBR3 work well with laptops using 12th-gen Core processors on up. Laptops with a 10th-gen Core chip inside them aren’t supported, and 11th-gen Core laptops are iffy. If you own a 12th-gen Core laptop, especially a member of Intel’s premium Evo brand, you stand a good chance of success. Otherwise, don’t bother. (We haven’t tested with laptops that use an AMD Ryzen chip.)
Thunderbolt cables and ports include the little lightning-bolt icon, which differentiates them from the otherwise unmarked USB-C cables.
Finally, don’t worry about platform branding
Because USB-C is common among Macs, Windows PCs, and phones, some hubs align their branding with a particular platform. Go ahead and use that USB-C that’s billed as being “for MacBook Pro, Chromebook, and XPS” with any Windows PC—we did, and it works just fine. You won’t need any special software or drivers.
After testing our USB-C hubs, we can confirm that some no-names perform just as well as their more well-known counterparts, and for less money, too. One thing to keep in mind: Because price is so critical to our recommendations, know that some of the prices may change as manufacturers offer sales. Therefore some hubs we didn’t recommend primarily based on price could become more purchase-worthy.
How we test USB-C hubs
We test USB-C hubs/dongles slightly differently than docking stations. A separate article offers a detailed explanation on how we test USB-C hubs, but here’s a summary of the process:
We evaluate USB-C hubs based upon price, features, and functionality. Price certainly matters, as do any sales. More complex hubs usually command more money, but that’s not always the case!
When evaluating a hub or dongle, we first check how closely the ports are spaced. You’ll need a dongle that allows for both USB keys as well as more traditional cords to something like a printer. How long is the cord? It sounds a little dumb, but we do run into devices where these basics aren’t even considered.
We’re seeking the most advanced, most flexible USB-C hubs at the best price. In certain scenarios, we rule out older hardware (that which drives a 4K display at 30Hz, rather than 60Hz, for example). The pace of change in the USB-C hub market is slow, meaning that price is often the determining factor.
We do run performance checks, however. We check for stability: Does everything connect, and reliably? We use live test hardware that you’d find in your home: mice, keyboards, monitors, and so on. We run storage tests (using PCMark’s storage benchmark) against a test SSD to determine the performance. It’s rare that a USB-C device overheats, but we’ll check that too, though by feel.
We go into more detail with docking stations. We perform the above tests, but typically examine a USB-C docking station using the same methodology as a Thunderbolt dock. We connect it to multiple 4K displays and ensure that they can hit the targeted refresh rate. We then perform several storage tests: connecting an SSD to a USB-A or USB-C port and checking the performance using PCMark 10; streaming video to the display; and, while running the PCMark test, continuing to stream video. We also copy a test folder of files from the SSD to the host laptop across the USB connection.
FAQ
1.
Why buy a USB-C hub or dongle?
Remember when laptops used to contain all sorts of ports: USB-A, HDMI, SD card slots, and more? And do you remember how svelte the early Macintosh laptops looked, especially when Apple began removing all of the ports in favor of USB-C and Thunderbolt? PC makers did, and decided that was the approach that they would take, too.
Unfortunately, that left laptop owners like you with the problem of legacy hardware: printers, keyboards, SD card, micro SD cards, and so on — and with no ports to plug them into. Enter the USB-C hub, an inexpensive product that helps solve that problem. Just pay attention to what ports the USB-C hub offers, to make sure it meets your needs.
2.
I don’t understand what the difference is between a USB-C hub, a DisplayLink dock, and a Thunderbolt docking station. What do I need?
Here’s the short answer: If you want to connect your laptop to a printer, an SD card or microSD card, mouse, keyboard, or legacy 1080p monitor, stick with a basic 10Gbps USB-C hub/dongle. If you want to add a pair of additional displays (especially 4K), or high-speed SSD drives, we’d recommend you look at our list of 10Gbps DisplayLink docks or 40Gbps Thunderbolt docking stations. Generally, the larger, powered docks offer more features.
It is confusing, since they all use the “same” USB-C port. Generally, most modern laptops have a small Thunderbolt “lightning bolt” logo to help distinguish the faster port.
3.
What’s the difference between a USB-C hub, USB-C dongle, and a USB-C docking station?
A USB-C hub or dongle (we use the terms interchangeably) is a small, portable device that you can slide into a bag or backpack. A USB-C docking station tends to be heavy and bulky enough that you’ll want to keep it on your desk. It’s not true that a USB-C docking station will have more features than a USB-C hub, as some compact USB-C hubs pack in a surprising number of ports.
Docking stations tend to be bigger and bulkier, and are designed to live on your desk. If there’s anything that docking stations tend to have that dongles sometimes don’t, it’s a USB-C port designed only to accept power from your laptop’s USB-C charger. That allows you to gain additional ports as well as charging capabilities from the same dock.
4.
How much does a USB-C hub or dongle cost?
Expect to pay between $30 and $40 for a good USB-C hub. USB-C docking stations are bigger and bulkier but add even more capabilities. We’d expect you to pay over $100 for these.
5.
How much does price matter when buying a USB-C hub or dongle?
Honestly, not much. Pay attention to our reviews and those from other shoppers, but buy according to what the hub or dongle offers. You can absolutely find solid USB-C hubs and dongles for an inexpensive price.
USB-C docking stations, though, can feel a bit overpriced. In part, that’s because Thunderbolt docks were wildly expensive during the 2020 to 2021 pandemic years. USB-C docking stations are an alternative, but their prices were nudged upward, too. Fortunately, prices have come down, as the supply chain regained a semblance of normalcy.
6.
What is the difference between USB-C and Thunderbolt?
Both USB-C and Thunderbolt use the same USB-C connection. The difference is that a “generic” USB-C connection typically provides 10Gbps of bandwidth, and Thunderbolt provides 40Gbps, with a road to 120Gbps with 2024’s Thunderbolt 5.
Thunderbolt ports are becoming more common, so it’s possible that your laptop won’t have any “USB-C” ports; they’ll be Thunderbolt-enabled instead. (To tell the difference, consult your laptop’s manual or look for a small “lightning bolt” logo over the port itself. That’s usually a sign that it’s a Thunderbolt port.) A USB-C dongle and a Thunderbolt dock are similar, in that they both provide a number of additional ports.
There’s a key difference, though. The rule of thumb is that a USB-C dongle provides enough bandwidth for two 1080p displays at 60Hz, or a single 4K display at 30Hz. (Staring at any 30Hz display for a length of time can tire out your eyes, so I don’t recommend it.) A Thunderbolt dock, however, allows enough bandwidth to connect two 4K displays at 60Hz, plus all the peripherals you wish to attach. If you don’t need big, high-resolution displays, don’t buy a Thunderbolt dock and purchase a USB-C hub instead.
7.
What’s a DisplayLink USB-C dock?
A DisplayLink USB-C dock is what you might call a “tweener” device: something between USB-C and Thunderbolt. DisplayLink docks embed a small chip from Synaptics in the docking station, and require use of a software driver that you’ll need to download. (USB-C and Thunderbolt are essentially plug and play.) The Synaptics chip compresses the data, and gives you the ability to connect (no joke) up to three or sometimes four 4K display all over a 10Gbps USB-C cable. It feels a bit like black magic.
They’re not foolproof; DisplayLink docks are best for office work (email, Word, Excel, and so on that don’t require a whole lot of bandwidth, because the images are largely static) and web browsing. Transfer a lot of data (or play back a lot of high-bitrate video) and you’ll see some stuttering.
We used to break out DisplayLink docks into their own page, but we now include recommendations on this list of the best USB-C hubs, as well as our list of the best Thunderbolt docks. If you shop smart, you can get the capabilities of a Thunderbolt dock, for less.
8.
Can you connect a USB-C dongle to a Thunderbolt dock? Or to another USB-C hub?
You can absolutely connect a USB-C hub to a Thunderbolt dock. You probably won’t be able to connect a USB-C dongle to another USB-C dongle/hub, but if your laptop has more than one USB-C port, you can connect a USB-C hub to each.
Thunderbolt offers the ability to “daisy-chain” devices, however, so you can connect one Thunderbolt dock to another. USB-C, however, does not.
9.
Why do USB-C hubs get so hot?
USB-C hubs can get warm or even hot while using them to transfer data or charge devices. This is because the electronic components and circuitry within hubs build up heat during use. Depending upon the hub’s material, heat can become trapped inside the hub leading it to become hot to the touch.
If you are concerned about your hub becoming too hot during use, you may consider purchasing a hub made from metallic parts, such as aluminum, so that heat can more easily dissipate as it builds up.
Even though two USB-C hubs may have wildly different brand names, you may sometimes find that they’re otherwise identical or just very similar.
Even though two USB-C hubs may have wildly different brand names, you may sometimes find that they’re otherwise identical or just very similar.
Even though two USB-C hubs may have wildly different brand names, you may sometimes find that they’re otherwise identical or just very similar.
We’ve given you a lot of detail on what makes a good USB-C hub or dongle and what to consider when buying one. In general, however, these are fairly inexpensive, flexible ways to upgrade your laptop, and I’d recommend always carrying one in your laptop bag!
Humans are terrible at passwords. Simply put, we suck at creating them, we can never remember them, and we share them way too freely. Indeed, the very thing that can ensure our online security has become our biggest obstacle to it. And if you think you have good reasons not to use a password manager, here is why you’re wrong.
The best password managers relieve you of the burden of two of these problems—having to create and then memorize unique, complex logins on your own. Sharing your passwords is on you. Plus, these applications protect your passwords by encrypting your login info in a virtual vault—either locally or in the cloud—only allowing access with a single master password. So, if you’re looking to step up your security game, a password manager is one of the best ways to do it. And sure, web browsers are starting to offer password management features, but they’re not yet good enough.
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All of our top picks for password mangers support a variety of operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS, Android, and iOS, as well as the major browsers. And all will let you sync your data across multiple devices, though you may have to pay extra for that privilege. Once you’ve found the right password manager for your needs, head over to our guide on mastering your password manager to make sure you’re getting the most from your software.
Update May 2, 2024: Happy World Password Day! We’re bumping this article to spread the good word.
Dashlane – Best password manager overall
Pros
Analyzes and rates the strength of your passwords
Supports auto-filling web forms with personal profiles
VPN and Dark Web scanning available with paid plan
Cons
Expensive premium tiers
Free plan limited to one device
Price When Reviewed:
Free I Advanced: $2.75/mo I Premium: $4.99/mo I Friends & Family: $7.49/mo
Dashlane has always been a close contender with LastPass, so after the latter’s big data breach, it’s great to know that users still have Dashlane. A full-service password manager, Dashlane offers easy access to your logins, secure notes, payment data, and other information, all through its elegantly designed web portal or via one of its browser extensions for Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Opera, or Safari. Most importantly, its password game is strong, making it easy to generate and store complex, unique passwords and safely keep sensitive payment and personal data at your fingertips. With autofill deployed, Dashlane doesn’t just ensure you use best password practices, but that doing so is practically effortless.
Dashlane is free for a single device, but if you want syncing across multiple devices you’ll need a paid plan: The Advanced plan costs $33 annually or $2.75 per month, and adds dark web monitoring, to alert you whether your personal data is being used nefariously. The Premium account subscription costs $59.88 per year or $4.99 per month and includes all the features of the previous tiers and adds a VPN. The Friends and Family plan extends Premium plans to up to 10 accounts for $89.88 per year or $7.49 per month. These prices are a little higher than some of the competitors (indeed, that was one of LastPass’s small advantages), but Dashlane offers a premium product and has provided a reliable service for years.
It’s a consumer’s market when it comes to password managers. While we have our clear favorite above, Keeper is a very strong contender in its own right. It emphasizes security more so than many other password managers. For instance, it eschews an automatic password update feature as even this process would require temporary access to your credentials.
While Keeper’s security-above-all-else mindset makes it one of the best, in the past it has come at the expense of things some consumers prize such as ease-of-use and aesthetics. To its credit, Keeper seems to recognize this and has taken strides to continuously update its interface to be more modern and user-friendly. While security-minded users stand to get the most out of Keeper’s robust features set, even the everyday user will be safer for using it.
While most password managers require a master password to access your password vault, LogMeOnce relieves you of having to remember even that. It uniquely offers the option of a PIN, biometric, or photo login to access your vault. This feature gives LogMeOnce a unique edge over other password managers.
Other than this distinctive feature, LogMeOnce operates similarly to its peers. It allows you to store and sync passwords and credit cards across your devices with end-to-end encryption. It also includes other features such as dark-web and cyberthreat monitoring, but these will come at a bit of an additional cost. Its unique features make LogMeOnce one of the most convenient password managers we’ve tested.
Bitwarden continues to offer a generous free plan that makes it a great option for users on a budget. It doesn’t charge you a penny to save unlimited vault items or sync your vault across all of your devices. This is a refreshing change from other password managers that place heavy restrictions on free users.
While it may lack some of the advanced features offered by the paid services and its no-frills interface isn’t the most user friendly, you can’t argue against Bitwarden’s price—it allows you to upgrade your security for free after all. It also offers an ultra-affordable paid tier with more advance features, but its free tier includes so much that you might not need anything else.
Free password managers come in all sorts of different flavors. Check out our roundup of best free password managers for more information.
KeePass is the password manager for those who like to control and tweak everything. It’s an open-source program, and lacks the sort of polished, comprehensive UI other password managers offer, and thus may put off the average user. But tech-savvy tinkerers will love all of the customizable settings. It is functionally a very solid program on its own, but to truly realize its potential you will need to have some technical proficiency to take advantage of add-ons. Another big plus for the security-minded, is that KeePass doesn’t store your data on the cloud. Everything is stored locally, so you don’t have to worry about the security protocols of an online service (ahem, LastPass) to keep your personal data safe. A savvy user will make the file accessible to other devices by using a private cloud account. If you relish the idea of a highly customized, DIY password manager that is free and unconstrained by a third-party’s policies and practices this is the product for you—and if you end up finding it too overwhelming, a simpler alternative like KeePassXC may fit the bill just as nicely.
While most password managers focus solely on passwords, IronVest sets out to not only safely store your passwords, but make your entire online experience more secure. IronVest offers an intuitive and straightforward way to keep your passwords, identity, credit cards, email addresses, and other sensitive information protected while shopping online. Still a relatively new company, IronVest impressed with its ability to obfuscate personally identifiable information and block trackers in addition to just being solid password management software. It does this by masking your information when shopping. When you enter your email address, credit card, or other information on a site, IronVest creates and submits a masked version to the vendor so that they never see your actual information. It’s a neat feature that helps IronVest stand out from the competition.
Some features of the service are still in beta, so you can expect minor tweaks and changes before the full release. Even though the application is still in its infancy, the feature set is solid and trustworthy. Besides, it’s currently free to test out, so it costs nothing to give this unique and innovative service a try.
At their most basic, password managers capture your username and password—usually via a browser plugin—when you log in to a website, and then automatically fill in your credentials when you return to that site. They store all your passwords in an encrypted database, often referred to as a “vault,” which you protect with a single master password.
Of course, most password managers do much more than this and many extend protection beyond your login credentials to other types of personal data. We narrowed it down to a few essential features that we looked for and you should too:
Password generation
You’ve been reminded ad nauseam that the strongest passwords are long, random strings of characters, and that you should use a different one for each site you access. That’s a tall order. This is what makes password generation—the ability to create complex passwords out of letters, numbers, and special characters—an indispensable feature of any good password manager. The best password managers will also be able to analyze your existing passwords for weaknesses and upgrade them with a click.
Autofill and auto-login
Most password managers can autofill your login credentials whenever you visit a site and even log you in automatically. Thus, the master password is the only one you ever have to enter. This is controversial, though, as browser autofill has long been a security concern, so the best managers will also let you toggle off this feature if you feel the risk outweighs the convenience.
Secure sharing
Sometimes you need to share a password with a family member or coworker. A password manager should let you do so without compromising your security.
Two-factor authentication
To an enterprising cybercriminal, your password manager’s master password is as hackable as any other password. Increasingly, password managers support multi-factor authentication—using a second method such as a PIN, a fingerprint, or another “trusted device” for additional verification—to mitigate this risk. Choose one that does.
Protection for other personal data
Because of how frequently we use them online, credit card and bank account numbers, our addresses, and other personal data can be securely stored in many password managers and available to autofill into web forms when we’re shopping or registering an account.
No online security measure is 100 percent foolproof, but most security experts agree that password managers are still the safest way for people to manage their myriad logins, and we agree that the benefits far outweigh the risks. Just choose your password manager carefully after researching all the options starting with this guide.
Editor’s note: Because online services are often iterative, gaining new features and performance improvements over time, our reviews are subject to change in order to accurately reflect the current state of the services.
FAQ
1.
Are password managers safe?
While nothing can be said to be 100 percent safe and secure, password managers do a great job of providing enhanced security features that you wouldn’t otherwise have. Generally speaking, password managers encrypt all of the data you store with them. While cybercriminals might be able to somehow hack the password manager, it is highly unlikely they will be able to decrypt your data to see the contents.
Nevertheless, much of the security of your password manager comes down to the strength of your one master password. If you are concerned about the safety of this one password, then it would be worth it to choose a password manager that stores your master password on a different server from the rest of your encrypted passwords—adding an additional layer of security.
2.
Is it worth paying for a password manager?
This will come down to what features you need in a password manager. Free services typically are limited to one device on which to save and sync your passwords. They will generate strong passwords for use, offer basic compromised-password alerts, and will store saved credit card and address information.
Premium password managers, which you have to pay to use, offer all of the same features as their free counterparts, but also allow you to sync and store passwords and data across multiple devices—or even between family members. They also have additional special features such as dark web scanning and emergency contact access, among others.
If you only have one device and don’t need any of the fancy additional features, then there really isn’t a need to pay for a premium service. However, premium password managers are only a few dollars per month so they won’t break the bank if you ever decide to switch.
3.
What if the password manager gets hacked?
If you suspect that you have been hacked, it is important to first figure out if it’s just you or if your password manager’s database has been compromised. Reputable password managers should put out some form of public release if they have been hacked. You can figure this out with a simple Google search. If they are not claiming to have been hacked, then it may be that your own data has been compromised some other way.
If it turns out your password manager’s database has been hacked, it’s up to you whether to continue with that service. Thankfully, all your passwords will be encrypted so hackers won’t be able to see the contents even after they have been stolen.
4.
Is using one master password for your password manager really safe?
It can seem a little disconcerting to entrust the security of all your passwords to one master password on a password manager. It’s true that the strength and safety of your master password can determine the security of your password manager itself. Therefore it is ideal to create a very strong master password.
The good news is that password managers typically store your master password and your other encrypted passwords and data on separate servers. This isn’t foolproof, but it does add an additional layer of security.
5.
What are passkeys? Do I need a password manager if I use passkeys?
Passkeys are a new form of account authentication. It’s a system that uses a set of encrypted keys, with a private one that you keep and a public one given to a website. To log in, you have to approve the attempt to see if the keys pair. Major tech companies like Google, Apple, and Microsoft are pushing to see passkeys widely adopted across the web, as they’re simpler and more secure than passwords.
While most mentions of passkeys talk about storing them on a smartphone, you can store them in other ways, too, like on a hardware key or (as you might have guessed) a password manager. Multiple password managers have added support for passkeys, with Dashlane, NordPass, and 1Password just a few of the services that can now store them. And while passkeys seem to be the future of online security, passwords likely will stick around for a while. Using a service to keep track of both kinds of authentication will be very useful.
Professional Software, Security Software and Services
The year is 2021. With the COVID-19 pandemic still very much in swing and vaccine rollouts still limited to those most at risk, Razer sees an opportunity: bring its stylish RGB aesthetic to the face masks that most people are still wearing in public. It was a cool idea that, three years later, has the company in hot water with US regulators.
The problem stems from the fact that Razer advertised its Zephyr mask, which had built-in RGB lights, circulation fans, and a transparent front panel to let others see the wearer’s mouth, as “N95-grade.” Turns out you can’t just throw that N95 term around, even in the relatively loosey-goosey world of American medicine. The Federal Trade Commission investigated Razer for misrepresenting the Zephyr mask’s capabilities and concluded its findings yesterday.
At issue is the fact that Razer never actually submitted the mask or its built-in, replaceable filters for testing or certification for the N95 label, which indicates that a respirator can block 95 percent of particulates. Neither the FDA nor the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health were contacted for their respective seals of approval — Razer seems to have thought that simply calling the mask “N95-grade” without doing the paperwork would be enough.
The FTC disagrees with a unanimous 3-0 ruling. While Razer quickly removed the N95 language from its advertising during its initial sales after some negative press, the investigation in response to a Department of Justice complaint found Razer liable for misrepresenting the mask as both equivalent to an N95 respirator mask and an effective deterrent to the spread of COVID-19 infections.
As punishment Razer is being fined $100,000, plus the company’s total revenue from selling the Zephyr mask, which the FTC calculates at $1,071,254.33. The FTC will provide refunds directly to consumers who purchased the masks, which went for a hefty $100 when they were sold back in 2021 (with $30 for a set of ten replacement filters). Razer is also barred from advertising any product that claims to reduce COVID-19 spread or infection without FDA approval. Which seems like something any company should have to get, but like I said, loosey-goosey.
Razer could always appeal the decision…but with the Zephyr product retired and a Zephyr Pro with built-in amplification speakers apparently abandoned, I doubt it will bother. $1.1 million is honestly pretty light for a serious charge of misrepresenting a product as medically effective.
And as much as this article is dunking on Razer for making a big mistake when trying to make a quick buck in a new market, I should point out that the company made regular, non-RGB face masks during the early days of the pandemic and distributed them for free in its home territory of Singapore.
The Plugable Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Docking Station glitched a bit, knocking this ultrapremium docking station down. Its predecessor is a better value.
Price When Reviewed
$299
Best Prices Today: Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Display Docking Station (TBT4-UDZ)
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Plugable’s Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Docking Station (TBT4-UDZ) offers the vast port selection and multiple display-port options I’d expect in a premium dock. But it doesn’t quite deliver where it counts, with stability proving to be an issue.
Plugable’s TBT4-UDZ is the Thunderbolt 4 version of the Plugable TBT3-UDZ, what I called the “Cadillac of Thunderbolt docks” at the time because of the plentiful port arrangement. It still tops our list of the best Thunderbolt docks. But there are very similar competitors now, as well.
On paper, Plugable’s Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Display Docking Station (TBT4-UDZ) is very similar to the Kensington Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 Quad Video Docking Station (SD5800T): similar names, similar features — but not similar in price. (Our sister site, TechAdvisor, has its own review of the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Display Docking Station, too.) Kensington’s dock is priced at about $20 more on Amazon, but other retailers price Kensington’s dock significantly higher. Plugable’s dock is also remarkably similar to the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock, a dock we loved which also commands a $299 price tag.
Plugable’s TBT4-UDZ has one strike against it: Because of the similarities between Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4, you might want to consider the older iteration, instead. At about $200, Plugable’s TBT3-UDZ is about $100 cheaper than the newer TBT4-UDZ.
The front of the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Display Dock (TBT4-UDZ) includes a pair of USB-A ports, micro and full-sized SD card slots, and the Thunderbolt 4 cable.
The front of the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Display Dock (TBT4-UDZ) includes a pair of USB-A ports, micro and full-sized SD card slots, and the Thunderbolt 4 cable.
Mark Hachman / IDG
The front of the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Display Dock (TBT4-UDZ) includes a pair of USB-A ports, micro and full-sized SD card slots, and the Thunderbolt 4 cable.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
As the name suggests, you can use this dock with either an AMD Ryzen laptop, typically equipped with USB4 ports, or the Thunderbolt 4 ports that accompany and Intel-based laptop. (You can do this with virtually any rival dock, too; Plugable just calls it out.)
Plugable’s TBT4-UDZ offers gobs of ports
Plugable’s TBT4-UDZ mixes up the port arrangement compared to its predecessor, though. On the front is still a microSD/SD card slot — though both slots are now rated for 312MB/s UHS-II performance; on the TBT3-UDZ, only the full-sized SD card slot is. Both a 10Gbps USB-A as well as a 480Mbps USB-A port appear on the front of the dock, with the latter rated for 7.5W to charge external devices. A headphone jack, the Thunderbolt 4 port and a power button round out the front, plus a small yellow LED to signal power.
Plugable has pushed a second charging port (a 10Gbps USB-C port capable of 7.5W of USB Power Delivery) to the rear of the dock, which I’m not a fan of. Trying to fish around the back of the dock to insert a charging cable is harder than doing it on the front, and most phones charge with USB-C.
Otherwise, there are four USB-A ports on the rear of the TBT4-UDZ, two each for 5Gbps and 10Gbps — again an improvement. They’re tightly spaced, but USB keys and cables juuuust fit. There are also two DisplayPort 1.2 ports and two HDMI 2.0 ports, plus the power port and a 2.5Gbps Ethernet connection.
Provided that you’ve connected the dock to the right hardware, the dock can connect to four 4K displays (using all four ports) at 60Hz.
You can fit four USB keys into the USB-A ports on the back of the Plugable TBT4-UDZ, but they barely fit.
You can fit four USB keys into the USB-A ports on the back of the Plugable TBT4-UDZ, but they barely fit.
Mark Hachman / IDG
You can fit four USB keys into the USB-A ports on the back of the Plugable TBT4-UDZ, but they barely fit.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Physically, the TBT4-UDZ measures 7.7 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches., and a rated 22.7 ounces (646g). Like its predecessor, Plugable tosses in a vertical stand, which does wonders for minimizing the desk space it takes up. The stand is also perfectly stable from my experience, even fully loaded with various cables.
Speaking of cables, the TBT4-UDZ’s Thunderbolt 4 cable stretches a rather luxurious 3.25 feet or so, passing a rated 98W to the host — about 0.5 foot longer than the earlier dock, which passed a rated 96W. That’s about the maximum the current cables will allow.
Plugable’s stand fits the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Display Dock (TBT4-UDZ) firmly and securely.
Plugable’s stand fits the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Display Dock (TBT4-UDZ) firmly and securely.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Plugable’s stand fits the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Display Dock (TBT4-UDZ) firmly and securely.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Plugable TBT4-UDZ performance: Stability is a question
Provided that you’ve connected the dock to the right hardware, the dock can connect to four 4K displays (using all four ports) at 60Hz. The dock does so by using a combination of the Thunderbolt port, plus combining DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3 (High Bit Rate 3) with DSC (Display Stream Compression). If your laptop supports these, it should connect to four displays; otherwise, it can connect to the standard two 4K displays supported by Thunderbolt 4. (Note that you probably won’t be able to use your laptop’s display if you connect four external displays, and you’ll need to adjust your laptop’s settings so it remains on and fully operational when closed.)
I wouldn’t be surprised to discover that the rival Kensington SD5800T was manufactured by the same vendor. The port alignment is essentially identical, and the performance across multiple displays is too. The Kensington’s front-mounted USB-A charging port was supposed to deliver about 7.5W of power. It doesn’t. And neither does the Plugable TBT4-UDZ! Though rated at 7.5W, the Plugable TBT4-UDZ’s USB-A port delivers 3.8W, the same as the other USB-A ports.
Ports and more ports on the rear of the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Display Dock (TBT4-UDZ).
Ports and more ports on the rear of the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Display Dock (TBT4-UDZ).
Mark Hachman / IDG
Ports and more ports on the rear of the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Display Dock (TBT4-UDZ).
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Only the rear-mounted USB-C port delivers 7.0W, as it should. The dock itself delivers 86W to the laptop, which is pretty close to its rated power.
From a stability standpoint, I noticed the dock disconnect from both monitors twice in succession, just performing normal office work. While playing a game of Diablo IV, the dock disconnected from both monitors as well as the network, booting me from the game. Whether you’re working, chatting with a colleague, or gaming, that kind of thing is disruptive and a bit shocking.
Neither disconnection happened on my normal testing laptops, though the glitches did occur with a Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2, which includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports. Otherwise, I spent close to three days working with this dock, and experienced no other issues. (Just be sure to have your laptop up to date, as the dock didn’t deliver full 4K resolution with a laptop which needed to be updated.)
The performance of the dock was a bit less than I expected, across the board. In our streaming test, the dock dropped 30 frames out of 12,098 — a bit low but still average, and our 4K60 test stream was smooth. While running the PCMark storage benchmark, the dock dropped 38 frames — about double the Kensington SD5800T. The dock’s performance in the storage benchmark was lower than I’d like, too — 120MB/s versus 127MB/s. Is that a huge difference? Not really, no. But it’s still a bit slower.
The test I run where I copy a multi-gigabyte folder stuffed full of various files completed in 1 minute, 10 seconds, both while streaming and by itself. Again, the dock finished a couple seconds slower than the competition.
I didn’t have any problems with the Ethernet jack, the mic/headset cable, or the SD card slots.
Should you buy the Plugable TBT4-UDZ?
I’ve reviewed several Plugable docks, and the company has a well-founded reputation for quality. (A one-year limited warranty is included.) In this case, it falls a bit short.
I still think the Thunderbolt 3 (Plugable TBT3-UDZ) version of the dock is superior, because of the $100 or so discount. But I’m happy sticking with the Kensington docks as my recommended Thunderbolt 4 docking stations. I love the flexibility — who wouldn’t? But with competitors offering virtually the same thing, I’d opt for an alternative.
Sometimes you suddenly encounter unexpected problems when using Microsoft Edge: annoying cookie settings, prevented downloads, and much more. But those problems can usually be solved quickly by simply resetting Edge, the default browser for Windows 10 and Windows 11.
This is how it works: In the Edge user interface, click on the three dots at the top right and then on Settings. The “Reset settings” option will then appear in the task bar on the left.
Click on it. In the next step, click on the small arrow to the right of the option and then confirm with “Reset.” If you restart Microsoft Edge now, everything will usually work again, though you’ll need to reapply any custom Edge settings you prefer.
It’s easy to see why portable monitors are gaining in popularity among both desktop PC and laptop users. What portable monitors sacrifice in size over a standard monitor they make up for in myriad other ways: Portable monitors are relatively inexpensive, easy to connect, and, best of all, portable. Whether you’re a student, someone who works from home, or a globe-trotting executive, the ability to easily pack up and move a portable monitor when needed is appealing indeed.
That being said, the portable monitor market is a bit of a mess currently. The widespread availability of these displays and the ability to manufacture them cheaply has resulted in a onslaught of unknown brands on the market. Many of these brands don’t have any established credibility, and quality can often be sub-par. That’s where we at PCWorld come in. We’ve tested multiple models and can separate the best portable monitors from the rest.
Our list of our favorites below will help you find the right portable monitor for you. You can learn more about what to look for in a portable monitor at the bottom of the article.
Updated April 30, 2024: We’ve added a new recommendation to our list — the Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED. It’s a great portable monitor for creative professionals, offering the best image quality of any portable monitor we’ve reviewed to date, as well as a well-built chassis and sturdy kickstand. It’s perfect for someone doing creative work on-the-go.
The Arzopa A1 Gamut is a solid 15.6-inch 1080p portable monitor that delivers good image quality, an attractive design, and useful features at a low price.
Arzopa opts for a simple yet elegant design that pairs a thin display panel with a small bump on the lower half to house the monitor’s ports and internal electronics. A faux-leather cover is included to provide protection when stowed. It also folds into a kickstand when the monitor is in use.
The monitor has three input options: two USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and one Mini-HDMI. All required cables and accessories are included. However, the monitor’s menu system is hard to use and offers few adjustments.
Image quality is great for the price. The Azorpa A1 Gamut reaches a maximum brightness of 297 nits, which is brighter than many competitors. The color gamut spans 97 percent of sRGB and 74 percent of DCI-P3. The A1 Gamut appears bright and vivid in day-to-day use and, though not ideal for professional content creation, holds up well while browsing the web, working in Microsoft Office, or viewing YouTube.
The Arzopa A1 Gamut retails for $170 but is frequently sold at a steep discount, often as low as $110. It’s an absolute steal when on sale, and we highly recommend waiting for a discount if one isn’t currently available.
The Innocn 15A1F is an OLED portable monitor that brings excellent image quality and attractive design to a more affordable price point.
It has a 15.6-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 1920×1080 and a 60Hz refresh rate. Its design, reminiscent of the Apple iPad Pro, elegantly combines an aluminum rear panel with edge-to-edge glass.
It also has a unique, versatile clip-on stand that adds stability and a wide range of tilt adjustments. Innocn doesn’t include a protective case, however, so shoppers should consider a third-party protective sleeve.
Image quality is where this portable monitor stands out. It delivers a maximum brightness of 378 nits and achieves an infinite contrast ratio. This combination provides a bright, vivid, and immersive image. It also delivers an impressive 100 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 94 percent of AdobeRGB. That’s more than adequate for photo and video editing. The monitor’s 60Hz refresh rate might be a limitation for gamers, however.
Priced at an MSRP of $349.99, which often drops to a tempting $199.99 on Amazon, the Innocn 15A1F is an excellent choice if you want a portable monitor with top-tier image quality on a budget.
Want a light, compact monitor that’s ideal for gaming while away from home? The inexpensive Arzopa G1 Game is a solid choice.
Arzopa’s portable gaming monitor has a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 (better known as 1080p) and a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz. The refresh rate, which indicates how many times the display can refresh per second, improves responsiveness and motion clarity. It’s a noticeable improvement over a portable monitor with a 60Hz refresh rate.
The monitor also delivers a bright, attractive image. 1080p resolution may sound mundane in today’s world of 4K displays but, due to a portable monitor’s small 15.6-inch display, it delivers sharpness close to that of a 27-inch 4K monitor. The Arzopa G1 Game also scores well in contrast, color gamut, and color accuracy.
It’s easy to pack, too, as the monitor weighs just 1.36 pounds and measures roughly four-tenths of an inch thick. A faux-leather case provides protection while traveling and serves as a kickstand. The kickstand’s tilt adjustment is limited, though, which can prove frustrating.
The G1 Game routinely retails for about $150 on Amazon.com and ranks among the most affordable 144Hz portable gaming monitors available. It’s a good value and an easy recommendation for travelers who frequently game away from home.
The Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED stands out in the crowded market of portable monitors, particularly for creators who prioritize image quality without sacrificing portability.
The VX1655-4K-OLED delivers exceptional sharpness, color accuracy, and contrast. Its brightness peaks at an impressive 457 nits, which is beneficial for working in brightly lit environments. Its comprehensive color gamut is suitable for color-critical work such as photography, design, and video editing. It also has a native resolution of 3840×2160 (4K), which makes it ideal for working with 4K video, as well as other high-resolution video and image files.
Design is another key strength. It has a built-in kickstand, slim bezels, and a sturdy chassis, all of which makes it easy to set up and stable when in use. The monitor’s connectivity options, which include two USB-C ports and a mini-HDMI port, offer flexibility. However, the inclusion of a full-sized HDMI port would have been preferable.
While the monitor does have minor drawbacks, like a flimsy bundled display cover and confusing on-screen menus, these issues are overshadowed by its overall performance and build quality. Its premium price point reflects its position as a high-end choice for professionals, and its image quality is the best of any portable monitor we’ve tested to date.
Many of the features we look for in a desktop monitor also apply to a portable monitor. A portable monitor should have a bright, sharp image with a decent contrast ratio, wide color gamut, and great color accuracy. The differences between portable monitors and their desktop brethren are more often found in their design, build quality, and connectivity.
Image quality
Most portable monitors have image quality similar to desktop monitors in the same price bracket. Portable monitors tend to score well in brightness and sharpness, but color and contrast are often lacking. OLED portable monitors perform significantly better than less expensive IPS LCD displays. Unfortunately, they’re much more expensive.
Numerous small brands have jumped into the portable monitor market in recent years and quality control can be an issue. We recommend sticking to monitors that are known to achieve high marks in image quality (otherwise, be prepared to use a retailer’s return policy).
Stands, kickstands, and covers
Portable monitors ship with a bundled kickstand or stand that is used to keep the monitor propped up and steady on a desk.
Unlike desktop monitors, where most stands are more or less identical, the stands used by portable monitors vary. Some have a simple kickstand that attaches magnetically, while others use a clip-on case. A rare few, like the ViewSonic ColorPro VP16-OLED, have a folding stand that provides significant height and kickstand adjustment.
Connectivity
Connectivity is key. A portable monitor that lacks the port you need to connect your tablet or laptop is useless.
Most portable monitors offer the option to connect over USB, a video input (usually HDMI), or both, but the number of ports available and the standards used vary widely. We look for monitors that offer a healthy selection of ports. We also prefer monitors that can be powered over USB-C by a connected desktop or laptop.
Portability, size, and weight
Our final consideration is the most obvious: portability. Most portable monitors live up to their name with an included kickstand case or cover that can fold flat and protect the display while it’s stowed.
Still, the exact size and weight of a portable monitor is important, and shoppers may need to accept trade-offs between weight and quality. A top-notch pick like the Viewsonic ColorPro VP16-OLED can offer superior durability, but a lightweight budget pick like the Azorpa A1 Gamut might be preferable if you’ll be hauling a portable monitor daily.
How we test monitors
PCWorld’s monitor evaluations stem from the expertise of freelance and staff contributors with decades of collective experience. Although our initial impressions rely on our eyes, we rigorously test each monitor using a Datacolor Spyder X2 Ultra color calibration tool for a comprehensive analysis.
This device helps us objectively measure a variety of monitor attributes including brightness, contrast, color gamut, color accuracy, luminance and color uniformity, and gamma, among other traits.
We also rely on hands-on testing to judge the quality, size, and weight of a portable monitor. Every monitor we recommend is personally tested first-hand by a PCWorld contributor. This helps us pick out flaws in build quality and portability that separate the best and worst portable monitors.
FAQ
1.
What size of portable monitor is best?
Most portable monitors use a 13.3-inch or 15.6-inch panel, and those that don’t typically have a panel size close to one of those two standards (such as 13.1 or 16 inches).
A monitor with a 13.3-inch panel is great for frequent fliers and other travelers looking to pack light. A 13.3-inch model will typically weigh about a quarter- to half-pound less than a 15.6-inch model. The downside, of course, is a smaller display that can feel cramped, which can make a 13.3-inch display frustrating.
15.6-inch portable monitors are a better choice in many situations, as viewing the display for long periods of time will prove more comfortable. Though larger than a 13.3-inch model, 15.6-inch models remain small and will fit in most bags that fit a 14-inch laptop (or larger). 15.6-inch portable monitors are preferable for creators, too, as the larger display size makes it easier to view small details in videos, photos, and digital art.
2.
What resolution is best for a portable monitor?
1080p is the most common resolution and is a great choice for nearly all situations. This resolution may seem unimpressive on paper, but the small size of a portable monitor increases the display’s pixel density. A 15.6-inch portable monitor with 1080p resolution looks nearly as sharp as a 27-inch monitor with 4K resolution.
What about 4K portable monitors? We don’t generally recommend them. Portable monitors with 4K resolution are less common, more expensive, and the improvement in sharpness won’t be perceptible to most people.
We also recommend that you avoid lower resolutions such as 720p and 1366×768. Though uncommon, portable monitors sold at very low prices (often below $100) sometimes have a native resolution below 1080p. This isn’t a great choice. Most modern apps, web pages, and content assume 1080p as a “standard” resolution and feel cramped at 720p or 1366×768.
3.
What ports and connectivity should a portable monitor have?
We recommend buying a portable monitor that has a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and USB Power Delivery. The DisplayPort Alternate Mode turns the USB-C port into a video input, and USB Power Delivery can be used to power the portable monitor. This enables a single-cable connection between the portable monitor and a laptop, desktop, or tablet with USB-C.
An ideal portable monitor should pair USB-C with a backup video input, such as HDMI or DisplayPort, for connecting devices that lack USB-C. Most portable monitors offer this feature, but the HDMI or DisplayPort input is usually a smaller variant of the connection (like Micro-HDMI).
4.
How much should a portable monitor cost?
Most portable monitors are inexpensive, but this is often reflected in their quality. We’ve noticed a wide range of build quality, design, and image quality among portable monitors that retail below $150. It’s possible to find a great portable monitor on a tight budget, but we recommend sticking to models tested by a professional reviewer.
A handful of portable monitors, such as the Viewsonic ColorPro VP16-OLED, are priced above $300. These rare models back up their price with special features such as a top-notch OLED panel or built-in battery. Paying extra for a quality monitor is worthwhile, but it’s not a requirement. Budget portable monitors like the Arzopa A1 Gamut look great and are well-suited to day-to-day productivity and web browsing.
5.
Should I buy a portable monitor with HDR?
We don’t recommend portable monitors for HDR. While some manufacturers claim HDR support, the truth is that current portable monitors lack the brightness required to make HDR look its best. A portable monitor that claims HDR support will display HDR content, but it won’t look superior to SDR.
6.
What battery life should I expect from a portable monitor?
You might be surprised to hear most portable monitors don’t include a battery and must be powered by an external source. In most cases, power is delivered over USB-C (or, in older models, USB-A) from a connected laptop, tablet, or desktop. You can also use an external power brick.
A few portable monitors include a battery, but we recommend you avoid these models. They’re considerably more expensive than portable monitors that rely on external power. The battery also adds weight and bulk. It’s often less expensive to buy an external battery pack to connect to the portable monitor.
Baldur’s Gate III is a role-playing game with some romance elements. Stardew Valley is a role-playing game with some romance elements, and a lot of root vegetables. Why not stick ’em together in a peanut-butter-and-chocolate combination, for those who want to date a half-elf while they’re watering cabbages? That’s the idea behind a new mod for Stardew.
A team of three modders is putting a new map in Stardew Valley inspired by last year’s D&D smash hit. And yes, getting all those eye-catching companions into the farming sim as romanceable characters is a priority. So far the team for “Baldur’s Village” is working on getting problematic fave Shadowheart, smooth-talking Gale, bear-in-more-ways-than-one Halsin, and everyone’s favorite vampiric fop Astarion in there, though only the latter has a unique romance plot at the moment.
According to a post on Twitter spotted by Rock Paper Shotgun, the small team hopes to have its first release of the content ready to play by the anniversary of Baldur’s Gate III‘s public release, which would be in August. Hopefully by that time they’ll have best barbarian girl Karlach in there — imagine dating somebody who can go into a rage, then plow the back forty without a tractor.
When looking for a top-notch VPN, the two most important things to look for are privacy and speed. While privacy is crucial to a good VPN, speed should not be overlooked. Faster speeds mean quicker file downloads and website load times, a better streaming experience, and just a better all-around experience.
I’ve tested numerous VPNs and put their servers from all over the world through countless speed tests to determine the fastest services based on their network averages. I highlight not only the fastest download speeds, but also the fastest upload speeds. Read below to see PCWorld’s curated list of the fastest VPNs available now.
Why you should trust me: Here at PCWorld we’ve been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. I’m continually testing all of the major VPNs on the market and many lesser-known services in order to curate a list of the very best VPNs across a variety of categories. For a more in-depth guide, you can check out the article on how we test VPN services at PCWorld. Below you’ll find my favorite lightning-fast VPNs and, below those, helpful advice about what to look for when choosing a fast VPN on your own.
If you’re looking for even more VPN options, check out my comprehensive roundup of the best VPNs in all categories.
Updated May 17, 2024: Check out my latest review of ProtonVPN. It may have missed out on this list of fastest VPNs, but it still sports good speeds and top-notch privacy features.
NordVPN – Fastest VPN
Pros
Excellent speeds
Enough features to appeal to power users and novices
Nord regularly appears at the top of many VPN rankings, and it’s no surprise to see it here. In my tests, NordVPN retained 49 percent of the base speed, which is plenty fast. It’s also inside the top 10 for upload speeds. Of all the VPNs here, NordVPN also has to be one of the most feature-packed, rivaling ProtonVPN. It supports multi-hop connections, TOR over VPN, ad and tracker blocking at the server level, and a variety of other options.
Who should buy NordVPN
With all of the great features included with NordVPN, it can appeal to a wide audience. You’ll need to sacrifice some speed for those features though. However, the speed loss is pretty minimal and you’ll still be able to do everything you want to do while connected.
My current favorite as the best VPN overall is a good choice for speeds. It ranks third overall in my download speed tests, retaining more than 53 percent of the base speed in testing. For uploads, it ranks in the top 20, though the differences in speeds there are much slimmer than in downloads. ExpressVPN is one of the more costly VPNs out there at $100 per year. For that money, however, you get solid speeds, a promise to work with Netflix, split tunneling, and a wide range of device support. The app is also pretty easy to use and there are a wide range of country locations to choose from.
Who should buy ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a truly great VPN for everyone. It gives you everything you could want from a top-tier service including privacy, security, and speed. It might not be as fast as my top pick on this list, but it’s still plenty fast enough for most online activities.
The winner for best upload speeds is CyberGhost VPN. While I found that the service had rather average download speeds, I was absolutely blown away by its upload speeds. CyberGhost retained an unbelievable 95 percent of the base upload speed across all of my tests — the VPN’s servers might as well have been in my backyard with those numbers.
CyberGhost VPN also has extra features that may interest some, such as streaming optimized servers and a dizzying 9,000 plus servers to choose from all over the world.
Other honorable mentions for upload speeds include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Private Internet Access. Any of those VPNs will do the job nicely if upload speeds are a bigger concern than downloads. These services also promise features similar to CyberGhost VPN such as Netflix compatibility, multi-hop VPNs, and more.
Who should buy CyberGhost VPN
If you want something that offers a huge server network, and has top-rated upload speeds, then CyberGhost is a good option. Particularly if you work from home and need to connect to a remote work server or you’re looking to upload data securely over a VPN connection, CyberGhost VPN should be at the top of your list.
If you don’t want to compromise on privacy and anonymity, while still getting solid speeds, then Mullvad is the best choice. This super-simple VPN supports connections via 41 different countries, and it costs just 5 euros per month (around $5.40 at this writing). Mullvad should be considered the “Swiss bank account” version of a VPN, as it actively resists obtaining any of your personal information and provides premium service. Instead of signing up for an account with the standard email and password, Mullvad assigns you a random account number and that’s it. No birth date or anniversary passwords to give you away. One number and that’s it.
In my tests, Mullvad performed well in download and upload speeds, maintaining around 48 percent of the baseline with each. That puts it firmly in the top half of all VPNs I’ve ever tested and it’s plenty fast enough to do just about everything you’d want to do. There may be a few faster VPNs on the market, though they won’t provide the same amount of anonymity as you’ll get with Mullvad and sometimes it’s worth sacrificing a little speed for a whole lot of privacy.
Who should buy Mullvad
Mullvad is ultimately designed for the privacy-conscious user. That being said, it does offer good speeds, so even if privacy is your main concern, you need not sacrifice speed in order to enjoy your anonymity.
To long-time readers of our VPN reviews this will come as no surprise. The previous undisputed fastest VPN, HotSpot Shield, may have had its title usurped but that doesn’t mean it has slowed down. HSS still maintained an impressive 64 percent of base download speeds and 70 percent of base upload speeds in my latest review testing. That is still a standout score. HSS has its issues, as I haven’t been a fan of the company’s privacy policy, though it’s slowly getting better. Of course, it may simply be that to provide the speeds that it does HSS requires the analytics it collects. I can’t really say.
Who should buy HotSpot Shield
Simply put, if you’re interested in pure speed with your VPN and nothing else matters, then HotSpot Shield is the one you want. You’ll get some other nice features, but speed is the name of the game here and HSS still delivers.
The first thing to consider in a fast VPN is, of course, speed. This may be tricky to do since you aren’t likely to be able to test connection speeds without paying to use the service. That’s where online reviews come in. Look for reviews, like ours, that give you a relative average of connection speeds rather than direct Mbps speed comparisons.
Next, you should look at a VPN’s server network including the number of servers and locations. It’s difficult to judge any VPN by just one feature, but a semi-reliable way to tell if a VPN is even worth your time is to look at the server spread. Anything with 1,000 or more servers and 30 or more country locations will do.
You’ll also want to read up on a VPN’s privacy protections. Does it have a no-logs policy? Has it undergone any independent audits of its servers? Where is the VPN company located? All of these will give you an idea of whether or not a VPN is transparent with its data collection policies and if it’s subject to government data sharing requirements.
Other factors you’ll want to take into consideration are the overall ease-of-use, user experience, and any additional features. Some of these features, such as split-tunneling and kill switches, can be extremely useful for certain purposes and might sway your subscription decision one way or the other.
Finally, as with all subscription services, you’ll want to review the price of a VPN service. Do you want a monthly or yearly subscription? Some top VPNs might be pricey month-to-month, but actually become quite affordable with long-term plans.
How I tested
My method for testing VPN speeds is rather straightforward. I average the connections between different global locations for any given VPN and then compare them to a baseline internet speed to get a good picture of the overall connection speeds.
I continue this process over multiple days of testing and then average the daily speeds together to get an overall average. I test a total of three days at different times of the day to account for any variation. That overall average is then expressed as a percentage of the base speed. That way the test results provide a sense of how much speed a VPN retains versus hard numbers, which can vary based on internet service providers, routers, and other equipment, time of day, and so on.
FAQ
1.
What does a VPN do?
A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts your internet traffic and disguises your identity while browsing the internet. A VPN will anonymize your online traffic and keep your ISP or other third parties from snooping on your internet browsing.
Additionally, VPNs allow you to connect to servers all across the world. So if you’re looking to access location-restricted content, such as streaming services, you can connect to the appropriate country’s server and gain access that way.
2.
How does a VPN work?
A VPN hides your IP address by redirecting it through a remote server hosted by the VPN company. To anyone looking in, the VPN server then becomes the source of your data instead of yourself. These remote servers can be in your own country or located in different countries around the world. All of your network traffic from your computer to the VPN is sent over a secure and encrypted connection.
When connected to a VPN while browsing the internet, the VPN acts as a middleman between your computer and a website. Your computer sends a request to the VPN which then passes it on to a website. The website then sends its response back to the VPN which forwards it through the secure connection to your computer. All of the traffic rerouted through the VPN shows as coming through their server rather than your own computer. This keeps your ISP and other third parties from snooping on your internet activity.
3.
Can you use a VPN to watch Netflix?
Yes! If you’re located in a country where particular Netflix content isn’t accessible, you can use a VPN server located in a different region to access that content. While certain streaming services try to prevent VPN connections, you can usually find a server that isn’t blocked.
Good VPN companies offer thousands of servers in which to connect to from all over the world. If your intended use for a VPN is to watch a streaming service such as Netflix, connection speeds and unblocked server availability will be the most important factors to look out for. (See our roundup of the best VPNs for our recommendation for Netflix streaming, as well as a host of other use cases.)
4.
Will a VPN affect my internet speeds?
In the past, VPNs were notorious for slowing down internet speeds. But nowadays it’s the exception rather than the norm.
When you connect to a VPN, it reroutes your traffic through its own servers. Depending on where these servers are located, the extra distance can lead to a higher ping. While one of the great features of VPNs is to encrypt your data, this can lead to slower download and upload speeds because it takes time to encrypt and decrypt your data—affecting everything from page load times to video buffering speeds. Thankfully, advances in encryption technology and server optimization by modern VPN providers have significantly lessened these impacts.
5.
Do VPNs protect against malware and computer viruses?
Unfortunately, no, a VPN will not protect you from malware or viruses. If you use a VPN and accidentally click on a malicious link or download a file containing a virus, there isn’t anything a VPN can do to help. In conjunction with a VPN, it is highly recommended that you use an antivirus program. Alternatively, you can find a VPN provider that offers additional threat protection features to help keep you safe.
I’ll admit it — I was turned off by the new Arc browser from the beginning.
For one, there’s the maker’s name: The Browser Company of New York. Are we meant to imagine the browser being crafted in a converted blacksmith’s forge in Brooklyn, offering farm-to-table HTML? And it was designed for the Mac. Then there was my attempt to try out the beta several weeks ago — the browser hung while I tried to make an account, and wouldn’t let me through. A support request went unacknowledged.
That’s not really fair, though. So when *sigh* The Browser Company of New York announced that its free Arc browser was finally ready for Windows users to try alongside Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and others, I gave it a try. And you know what? It’s actually okay.
The problem I face, however, is that the Arc browser wants you to learn its ways. I don’t mind quirks, but I’ve never liked a “you just don’t get it” attitude. And there’s definitely a bit of that throughout Arc.
Full disclosure: I’ve never spoken to The Browser Co., and I was never offered a walkthrough or a press briefing. That’s fine, as it puts me in the shoes of an average user. From the get-go, the experience is familiar: You’re asked to download a small installer, which downloads a more complete package.
Unfortunately, Arc is one of the new breed of browsers that requires a username and password, full stop. There’s no anonymous option, at least where Arc is concerned. To use it you’ll need to provide an email address, plus a username and password. For mobile, Arc is limited to iOS support — not even a true mobile browser, but rather an odd sort of sidebar. Android users are out of luck, for now.
Arc imports your bookmarks from other browsers, though it can take a bit.
Arc imports your bookmarks from other browsers, though it can take a bit.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Arc imports your bookmarks from other browsers, though it can take a bit.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
As you might expect, you’re offered the option to import bookmarks and passwords from another browser; I was only able to select one browser at a time, however. (I have a dedicated version for work, and one tied to my personal account, and I had to select one.) You can import from other browsers later, via the Settings menu.
And then there’s this thing: a weird badge. Is this some sort of speakeasy gimmick?
I have absolutely no idea what this thing is supposed to do.
I have absolutely no idea what this thing is supposed to do.
Mark Hachman / IDG
I have absolutely no idea what this thing is supposed to do.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Once you’ve opened Arc, though, you’re faced with something unusual: a blank page. Whiteness. I’m used to browsers pushing content or suggested web pages at me when I open a new tab, so this white void was…peaceful? Zen? Evidence that TBCoNY hasn’t quite polished Arc to completion? Possibly.
The other major change that Arc offers is the elimination of the search bar, or “omnibar,” at the top of the page. If you’re on a web page like pcworld.com, you’ll see “pcworld.com” at the top of the page — and that’s all. The UI is extremely minimal: forward and back buttons, a way to copy the link (?), a “control center” describing the site’s basic attributes, and a “split screen” icon at the upper right that opens two side-by-side windows. That’s it.
Note the absence of a traditional URL bar in the Arc browser. When you want to visit another website, you enter the URL into this floating window.
Note the absence of a traditional URL bar in the Arc browser. When you want to visit another website, you enter the URL into this floating window.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Note the absence of a traditional URL bar in the Arc browser. When you want to visit another website, you enter the URL into this floating window.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
My instinctive reaction was to mouse toward the address bar, much like you might grab for a handrail if you’ve stumbled down the stairs. But there isn’t one –and there’s no row of tabs, either. Arc places the tabs in a vertical column to the left, usually an option on other browsers. It’s just a little jarring when Arc makes this choice the default.
If you do want to open another website, you’ll need to click on the site address at the top of the screen. That opens what Arc calls the “Command Bar,” which is a floating URL window with a list of recent sites. It works just like the search/URL bar you’re used to — but there’s nothing really pointing you to it, either. Even the menu option to get there is obtuse: You have to open the Settings menu by clicking the tiny “A” in the upper left-hand corner, then navigate through Tabs > Open Command Bar to find it.
And bookmarks? For one thing, Arc collects everything into what it calls “Spaces,” a collection of bookmarks and tabs that you can organize into their own groups. Again, I’ve seen this in other browsers.
But everything is in the same column: your bookmarks and the open tabs. Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and other browsers generally provide a row or three: one for your bookmarks, one for the current tabs, and one for the URL bar itself. Arc simply provides a seemingly endless column of information. Arc may think that its way is…better, but I’m not a fan of letting aesthetics get in the way of functionality.
Managing tabs and bookmarks in the Arc browser means a lot of expanding and collapsing folders in the left-hand nav bar.
Managing tabs and bookmarks in the Arc browser means a lot of expanding and collapsing folders in the left-hand nav bar.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Managing tabs and bookmarks in the Arc browser means a lot of expanding and collapsing folders in the left-hand nav bar.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
But how does Arc perform? Rather well. The browser opened a PDF and imported and inserted my passwords into a few random sites I tried. (It doesn’t yet support passkeys, however.) And when you prompt it to open a web page, boom! It just does.
Arc’s a little different than most browsers, as it uses a version of Swift, rather than Chromium, to render a page. But it’s hard to call Swift, or Arc, a superior browser without running benchmarks — which I haven’t done. The one thing that I suspect makes an enormous difference is that Arc seems to natively integrate uBlock Origin — an excellent ad blocker that, when enabled, gives you a web page’s content and very little else. Arc therefore renders pages in just a split second — but so does Edge or Chrome if you add uBlock Origin to it, too.
Is it efficient? According to Task Manager, an even 100 tabs (sorry) open in Microsoft Edge consumed 2.3GB. Twenty-two tabs in Vivaldi consumed 474MB, and 13 tabs in Arc consumed 391MB. But wait — I only had three tabs open in Arc! I’m not sure what Arc (or Windows) was trying to do here.
Arc also lacks sophisticated AI features that other browsers have begun to implement, such as ChatGPT integration in browsers like Brave, or the new image-generation feature Opera added this week. Whether TBCoNY considers AI essential or just another bit of cruft to prune remains to be seen.
There are still some graphical glitches to be worked out within Arc, too.
There are still some graphical glitches to be worked out within Arc, too.
Mark Hachman / IDG
There are still some graphical glitches to be worked out within Arc, too.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
I’ll keep an eye on Arc, of course. But I don’t expect to use it much. Other browser makers are simply further ahead, and I’m just not that inclined to chase after a UI that forces me to make adjustments to my browsing behavior. With that said, there’s always room for competition and some good ideas. If Arc does eventually launch a killer feature, I’d expect its competitors to adopt or improve upon it. We can all root for such improvements.
When you’re traveling, it can be a pain to figure out how to get to the airport. You can take an expensive taxi or ride share, or you can pay an exorbitant amount for parking at the airport. Fortunately, The Parking Spot has a solution for regular airport parkers: The Spot Club.
With this exclusive club (4.2/5 stars on Trustpilot), you can get discounts and deals on long-term parking at any of The Parking Spot’s 46 locations at 28 airports nationwide. When you sign up through this deal, you can get two days of parking at any location for just $9.99.
All you have to do is select your airport to get started. Then pick your dates, your preferred parking type, and any additional car care services, and reserve your spot. You can use the app to scan in and check out without speaking to anyone, and get a ride to the terminal with The Parking Spot’s shuttle. The more you park, the more points you’ll earn towards free parking.
Simplify airport parking. Right now, when you join The Spot Club, you can get two days of parking for 68% off $32 at just $9.99.
Join the Spot Club & Get 2 Days of Parking at The Parking Spot for Just $9.99! – $9.99
Coding is complicated enough. You need tools to simplify your coding projects, and that’s where Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 for Windows comes in. This leading 64-bit IDE gives you the power to write more code more efficiently than ever and it’s on sale for just $39.97 this week only.
Microsoft Visual Studio is loaded with tools to simplify your coding workflow. You can seamlessly build across languages and platforms in a single environment and use IntelliCode to automatically complete lines or blocks of code to save you time. Collaborating with other developers using Live Share makes it easy to stay aligned on different aspects of the project while CodeLens gives you deep insight into your code so you can know when and how changes were made over time.
In the days of tech yore, antivirus software was just that. You installed the application and let it scan your system for malware.
But as protecting your PC became more complicated, vendors slowly morphed their offerings into full suites. Nowadays, a firewall and other safeguards like a browser extension, password manager, and VPN get dropped onto your system. You might even get a handful of utilities focused on optimizing your computer, rather than defending it.
To help you figure out what components are most important — as well as necessary for your situation — we’ve broken down the most common elements of today’s antivirus software.
Antivirus
At the heart of every antivirus plan is the engine that detects threats to your PC. These days, modern antivirus software both anticipates and roots out the presence of viruses and other malware, including ransomware.
Blocking malware before it even hits your computer is a key defense against situations like your PC being commandeered for botnet attacks, having your data stolen, and getting locked out of your documents and folders. It also can stop creepy behavior like being spied on through your webcam or having everything you do recorded (including what you type).
An antivirus engine does this by screening the websites you visit, as well as the email and apps on your PC, for phishing links and potential malicious downloads. Phishing attempts usually try to steal your passwords, credit card details, or other personal information by pretending to be a legitimate site and then capturing whatever data you input.
The other half of the protection comes from the antivirus engine’s ability to detect and then eliminate malware that does land on your PC. Typically, this monitoring happens in at least two forms: Real-time scanning watches for changed or new files, as well as unusual behavior from apps and Windows itself. Scheduled scans (especially if they’re full system scans) dig into your PC to make sure nothing was missed by the real-time scanning.
Antivirus apps and virus definitions get continual updates as new malware appears in the wild. So long as you buy a subscription from a reputable company (like those reviewed by leading security organizations AV-Test and AV-Comparatives), you’ll be kept up to date for your whole term. That applies even if you bought a plan labeled as 2024 and the year crosses over into 2025.
The plan you buy will dictate how many devices are covered — usually subscriptions support macOS, Android, and iOS gear in addition to Windows PCs. On rare occasion, Chromebooks are supported as well.
Firewall
Traffic doesn’t just go to your computer, but from it, too — and depending on the app, that data may contain info you don’t want to fall into the wrong hands. A malicious app can spy on what you’re doing, and then transmit that to a would-be hacker. A good firewall blocks those attempts automatically.
A reliable firewall also closes networking ports on your PC, so that unknown parties can’t connect and find a way into your home network. Think of it like a house where shutting the external doors causes them to blend into the walls, making it difficult to discern. However, if a door is left open, someone could walk in and then take what they want, set up cameras to spy on you, or change your phone settings to forward all text messages to them, among other things. A firewall is a bit like a guard that always stays alert, making sure no one can get in.
Browser extensions
The most common add-on to your browser (be it Edge, Chrome, or Firefox) is one designed for online protection. Usually, it’ll at least add extra icons to search results to warn you away from suspicious sites. The better ones also block trackers and ads to defend your privacy and help you avoid malvertising — that is, malware spread through compromised ad networks.
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Other extensions help tie your browser into components of the overall antivirus suite, making their use seamless. Most often you’ll see one for a password manager get installed, so that you can capture, create, and use entries in your vault.
On occasion, you’ll see antivirus suites that offer plugins for shopping coupons and deals. These are not related to security at all, and can actually conflict with keeping your privacy.
Password manager
These days online security extends beyond simply defending your PC against malware. That’s why today’s software also blocks phishing websites, which generally try to capture sensitive information (like your login info) by pretending to be a legitimate site. If your credentials get stolen, you could end up with problems ranging from unwanted credit card purchases all the way to full-blown identity theft.
By using a password manager, you can prevent the simplest form of account hacking — credential stuffing. A bad actor takes usernames and passwords leaked through data breaches, then tries them across the web to see what else can be accessed with that same login info. Since some people reuse their passwords, attackers can breach a whole new set of accounts easily.
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Password managers let you generate strong, unique credentials, which thwarts this kind of hack. They also take away the burden of trying to remember dozens (if not hundreds) of secure passwords. And with data leaks and breaches so commonplace nowadays, these services make changing your password far simpler and faster, too.
VPN
At first glance, a virtual private network may seem more in the realm of privacy protection — or circumventing geolocation restrictions. But privacy now often overlaps with security, especially if you find yourself on a public network. And that’s the primary utility of VPN services provided through an antivirus software plan.
A VPN acts as secure tunnel for data passing between your PC and the websites you visit. Because it’s encrypted, nobody snooping on the same network will be able to tell what servers you’re actually in contact with. They can only see that your PC is communicating with the VPN. So on a public network, anyone scoping out potential targets ends up with less info about your activity.
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PCWorld
Of course, you must trust a VPN if you use one, because it ends up seeing all of your traffic. Typically, a reliable antivirus maker should meet this requirement — at least from a security perspective. Currently, AES 256-bit encryption is the standard. Don’t settle for less.
Also investigate the privacy policies — like how logs are kept (if they are). Be aware too that VPNs provided with antivirus plans don’t provide as much anonymity as independent services. You typically can’t pay anonymously, for example. (For more details, our VPN guide has the full rundown.)
Dark web monitoring
An unfortunate reality is that websites get hacked, and that number continues to increase. Some weeks you’ll see near-daily news about ransomware, data breaches, and related occurrences.
The more sites you’ve used, the more likely your username and password have been stolen, and so too your real name, physical address, email address, phone number, birth date, social security number (if you live in the U.S.), and other such details. This info about you usually ends up on the dark web — a part of the internet where people share and sell illicit information, whether that’s stolen data or hacking tools.
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PCWorld
Free tools exist to get alerts about data breaches and leaks (like Troy Hunt’s Have I Been Pwned site), but they don’t always catch everything. For dark web monitoring, your best offense is a wide defense. Antivirus software can be another set of metaphorical eyes helping keep watch. Most basic paid subscriptions will at least keep tabs on the email address associated with your account. Stepped up plans monitor more than one email address, along with credit card info, bank info, and personal details. (How much you share is up to you, based on your comfort with the antivirus company’s ability to keep those details safe.)
Good dark web monitoring will alert you quickly once new info surfaces — which helps you immediately change your password, enact a credit freeze, or take other protective measures based on what details leaked.
Cloud backups
With the prevalence of ransomware, a good backup system is a paramount part of defending your PC. Having a current backup of your files means no one can truly hold your PC hostage. They can encrypt your files and keep you from accessing them — but the backup lets you restore the lost files.
Usually, you’re on your own to do this, and properly at that, which involves the 3-2-1 method (three copies of the data, at least two different media types, and one kept off-site). Having cloud backup built into your antivirus software can help supplement and boost your current process. It serves as a different type of backup (compared to storing data on an external drive), and it also covers being off-site.
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PCWorld
If an antivirus service offers this feature, make sure you’re getting cloud backup, rather than cloud storage. Cloud backup copies your files to the cloud, regardless of later changes made on your PC or other source device, and saves versions over time. Meanwhile, cloud storage mirrors files across all locations — if you delete a file on your hard drive, it disappears in the cloud, too. So this kind of setup will undermine the point of having a backup on hand.
Parental controls
Not everything on the internet is appropriate for the tiny humans in our lives — and there’s not enough hours in the day to police all their online activity. Similarly, some adult family members don’t always pay attention to what types of sites are risky, which can cause headaches for both them and you.
Parental controls can help with managing these situations. Such tools allow you to filter and restrict online activity, with the better parental controls able to block specific sites and site categories on PCs and mobile devices (either universally or at specific times of day). They also can shut off internet access during certain hours, like during school or bedtime.
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Separately, parental controls can also track location on mobile devices. However, compared to Android and iPhone’s built-in location tracking, this particular feature isn’t always as reliable. So when evaluating the usefulness of parental controls, focus more on their ability to restrict content and usage.
Data broker opt-out
Data brokers are the bottom-dwelling vacuum cleaners of the internet. They hoover up information about you from every corner — companies that sell your data (including places you shop), public records, social media, warranty registration info, and more. Those details then feed into people search sites, where entering a person’s name and city or state can reveal their current and past addresses, phone numbers, birth date, known relatives, judicial records, and even social security number.
Hackers can then use your personal data to wage social engineering attacks on you. Impersonating you when chatting with a customer service agent becomes much easier if they know your mother’s maiden name, the last few places you lived, your siblings’ names, and the like. That can then lead to identity theft and financial losses. And then at the far extreme end of dangerous behavior, someone can also use people finder sites for swatting attempts.
In response, entry and mid-tier level antivirus suites sometimes will scan for your info on data broker sites, using your email address, name, birthdate, or other identifying info, and see where you turn up. More expensive subscriptions will also automatically attempt to remove you from those sites, so that you don’t have to spend time filing requests for opt-out. Compared to dedicated opt-out services, this feature in an antivirus plan often isn’t as comprehensive, but the cost tends to be cheaper overall, too.
Identity protection
Identity theft is an ever-looming threat these days, thanks to untold data breaches. And while you may think antivirus software wouldn’t overlap, the more expensive subscriptions offer protections that start with identity monitoring. You’ll get a heads-up about things like changes to your credit, activity involving your social security number, phone number transfers (i.e., someone switches your cell phone provider, a possible sign of SIM jacking), even title changes if you own your home.
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PCWorld
Top-tier plans may additionally include insurance-like coverage. If you’re ever victim of identity theft, you could get up to $1 million for remediation costs (having help reporting identity theft, restoring lost funds, etc).
Generally, you can handle identity threats and theft on your own, but this kind of service is meant as a time (and sanity) saver. The one potential drawback is the level of trust you’ll need to place in a third-party and their security practices, since they’ll end up learning much of your most sensitive information.
Social media privacy scan
If your social media accounts are set so that everything’s public, you can reveal a lot of personal information to strangers — people in your life, places you frequent, products you use or like. These details can then be used for social engineering hacks, or at a more extreme end of the scale, online or real-world stalking.
You can lock down your accounts on your own, but privacy settings can be annoying to find and change. So some antivirus software subscriptions (typically the more expensive plans) will offer to scan your social media settings to alert you to privacy issues. Think of this feature as not necessary, but potentially helpful if you’re too time-strapped to completely do it yourself.
PC utilities
Data shredder
This kind of utility is a secure-delete tool for files — so long as they’re stored on a hard-disk drive. For solid-state drives (which most modern laptops and PCs use for storage), a different method is required for secure deletion.
Data shredders work by overwriting files repeatedly so the original data can’t be recovered. The better tools let you select the protocol used for the overwrite process, as well as how many passes are done.
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System optimizer
You can already clean up Windows within the operating system itself — it has its own tools for deleting temporary files, dumping operating system installation files, and otherwise tidying up. But they’re not easily accessed through one simple interface, which is a gap some antivirus makers try to fill.
On the surface, a system optimizer utility can be helpful, but beware: You should first understand what you’re wiping beforehand. Altering your Windows registry in the name of spring cleaning could cause system issues down the road.
Mostly, if you know what you’re doing, system optimization tools can save a bit of time. But generally, most people shouldn’t buy an antivirus suite because it includes this kind of utility.
Software and driver updater
Software updates are definitely a key part of online security — out-of-date code leaves vulnerabilities open for bad actors to exploit. Some antivirus software monitors your apps and Windows for updates you’ve yet to run.
However, even though you can run updates directly through your antivirus software with this feature, you’re better off treating it as an alert system. Unless you’ll never update without outside assistance, most programs take care of their patches automatically, as does Windows. For the rare driver update that must be run manually, downloading the driver from the manufacturer website guarantees you run the right version. You’re usually best off getting updates direct from the source, to avoid potential version conflicts.
Sensitive file protection
You may have files you don’t want prying eyes to see — and while you could encrypt them, restricting access to them is sometimes an acceptable intermediary step.
Sensitive Data Shield lets you find documents with highly personal information and restrict access to those files.
Sensitive Data Shield lets you find documents with highly personal information and restrict access to those files.
PCWorld
Sensitive Data Shield lets you find documents with highly personal information and restrict access to those files.
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PCWorld
A few antivirus vendors include this feature with their software, which blocks general access to files and folders you’ve chosen. Instead, only specific apps can access them. So if you have a documents folder you specifically want to keep on lockdown, you can keep unapproved apps opening files in there. The idea is to prevent malicious or compromised apps from digging into documents you don’t want them in, unbeknownst to you.
In practice, this feature can be hit or miss—but when it does work reliably, you get a second line of light defense against snoops.
File encryption
This tool is a rarity, but it can dramatically boost the security of your sensitive files — even if you already encrypt your local storage drive.
Typically, antivirus software with this feature will let you create an encrypted container file, which then gets mounted on your PC as a virtual drive. Anything you store on that virtual drive will be locked down with said encryption once you unmount the container file.
Even if you already encrypt your whole storage drive using Windows Bitlocker, locking down individual files and folders this way adds extra protection. Why? If you’re logged into Windows, and someone gets access to your PC, Bitlocker won’t keep them from seeing your files. However, if the encrypted container file isn’t mounted, they won’t be able to see inside it.
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PCWorld
When considering the usefulness of a file encryption feature, check if it uses at least 256-bit AES encryption — currently considered a standard level of protection. Pass on those that don’t.
Backup services
On rare occasion, you’ll see this utility in an antivirus suite, where you can use the software to run automated backups.
However, for this kind of feature (which is mission critical for your data and your overall sanity), we prefer dedicated software, which tends to be more robust. As appealing as an all-in-one software solution is, when it comes to backups, it’s best to choose an app based on how well it does the job.
Other things to consider
Customer service
If you need (or want) human assistance with your antivirus software, including basic walkthroughs of installing the app, some top-tier plans offer premium customer service.
Separately, top-tier plans also sometimes have agents available to help with identity theft — not just walking you through the process of remediation, but handling the details as well.
Scam protection tools
Phishing scams continue to get more sophisticated (and prevalent) over time — and in response, antivirus vendors have begun releasing tools to navigate around them. For example, McAfee now has a mobile app designed to automatically detect and block text messages containing phishing links.
Not all of these utilities are paid, either — Bitdefender’s Scamio chatbot is free. You just copy and paste a text link (or a screenshot of a text link), and it will tell you if it’s possibly dangerous. Similarly, you can paste in email or text messages to judge if the sender is genuine or just trying to play you.
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Let’s be real: Most gaming monitors are rather boring, and those that aren’t tend to lean towards an edgy, masculine, or cyberpunk look. The few that bucks the trend, like Alienware’s retro sci-fi aesthetic, are usually expensive. Pixio’s PX248 Wave offers an affordable alternative to the status quo, and backs up its looks with good motion clarity.
Pixio PX248 Wave specs and features
The Pixio PX248 Wave’s basic specifications are typical for any budget monitor. It has a 24-inch IPS display panel with a resolution of 1920×1080. The monitor offers HDMI and DisplayPort input and supports Adaptive Sync.
Two specifications stand out, however. The monitor has a 200Hz refresh rate, which, though not the highest available for $150, is certainly towards the upper limit of what gamers can buy on a budget. It also has a pair of 3-watt speakers that are stronger than most of its peers.
What really stands out, however, is something that doesn’t translate easily to a spec sheet: the looks.
Further reading: See our roundup of the best gaming monitors to learn about competing products.
Pixio PX248 Wave design
The experience delivered by the Pixio PX248 Wave depends on the colorway that you purchase. Four colors are available: Black, White, Pink, and Blue. I received the Pink colorway, which is a rare option for any gaming peripheral and especially for a monitor.
And you know what? It looks great. Pixio opts for a cozy, pastel shade of pink that is a perfect fit for anyone looking to create a lighter, more inviting atmosphere for their gaming den.
Of course, going for a more basic colorway like Black will lessen the impact of the design, but Pixio’s build quality is good for the price. Plastic is the material of choice, but I noticed virtually zero flex while handling the monitor, and the design doesn’t scream “budget” to all who look. You could spend twice as much and not buy any noticeable gain in build quality.
Ergonomics is where Pixio makes some cuts. The monitor has a simple tripod-style stand that clips to the back of the monitor and only adjusts for tilt. A VESA mount is included for use with third-party monitor arms and stands but uses the less popular 75x75mm bolt pattern instead of the more standard 100x100mm pattern. The 100mm pattern is also supported with an adapter, which can be finicky.
Those looking to complete the look of the PX248 Wave’s pink, blue, and white colorways should consider the Pixio PS1S Wave monitor arm. I didn’t get a chance to test it, so I can’t vouch for its quality, but it’s built to color-match the PX248 Wave monitor.
The Pixio PX248 Wave is a gift to gamers who must stick to a strict budget.
The back of the The Pixio PX248 Wave, in Pink.
The back of the The Pixio PX248 Wave, in Pink.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
The back of the The Pixio PX248 Wave, in Pink.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Pixio PX248 Wave connectivity and menus
The Pixio PX248 Wave’s connectivity is limited even for a budget monitor. It has just two video inputs: one HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.4. Both inputs support the monitor’s maximum refresh rate of 200Hz, which is nice to see on a budget monitor. However, most competitors offer three video inputs.
Pixio also includes a 3.5mm audio jack for audio pass-through to a headset and a single USB-A port. However, the USB-A port is only meant for use with firmware updates, and indeed, I could find no other purpose for the port.
The monitor’s options are selected by navigating through the on-screen menu with buttons located on the lower-right lip. These are more cumbersome to use than the joystick-style controls that are common on many monitors. Pixio’s menu is easy to navigate, at least, and offers a fair range of options, including adjustments for gamma, color temperature, hue, and saturation.
A pair of 3-watt speakers are included, and they’re a pleasant surprise. There’s enough volume to be usable and mostly avoid sounding muddy, which is important when listening to music and playing games. There’s even some dynamism in the sound stage that provides a sense of depth that’s uncommon for built-in speakers. Dedicated external speakers will be an upgrade, but I could get by with the bundled speakers in a pinch.
Pixio PX248 Wave SDR image quality
Image quality can be dicey with a budget gaming monitor, but has improved in recent years. The Pixio PX248 Wave reinforces that trend with solid color performance and a decent contrast ratio, though it also has a few flaws.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
The monitor’s brightness tops out at about 292 nits, which, though not bad, is towards the low end of what I would expect from a modern monitor with an IPS display panel. This level of brightness is enough to be usable in most situations, but brightly lit rooms may begin to overwhelm the display and make it appear dim.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
I measured a maximum contrast ratio of 1050:1. That’s hardly a record-setting result; in fact, it is towards the low end of what is available from modern gaming monitors. Still, the contrast ratio is acceptable for the price and high enough to hold up in some situations.
The PX248 Wave suffers when displaying dark games in a dark room, as it lacks the deep blacks and shadow detail needed to provide a convincing representation. It’s at its best when displaying bright, colorful content in a well-lit room, as this helps obscure the monitor’s problems with darker content.
As the graph shows, there’s a major gap between monitors that have an IPS panel, like the PX248 Wave, and those that have a VA panel, like the AOC 27G15. That might lead you to think a VA panel is better, but budget VA panels tend to have problems with sharpness, so there’s no perfect choice. Gamers have to decide if more realistic contrast or a sharper image is preferable.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
The PX248 Wave’s color gamut comes in at 99 percent of the sRGB gamut, 82 percent of DCI-P3, and 77 percent of AdobeRGB. This again is a long way from the best performance available but is fine for the price. It lacks the rich and saturated look that is available from monitors with a wider color gamut, but it still has enough range to hold some allure.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Color accuracy, on the other hand, requires no excuses or caveats. The monitor’s out-of-box color accuracy is good, and though I wouldn’t recommend it for professional photographers, it’s fine for editing family photos or uploading an occasional video to YouTube. It’s difficult to find better color accuracy for the price.
However, the monitor does have issues with one aspect of color, and that’s color temperature. The measured out-of-box color temperature is 8500K, which is way off the intended target of 6500K. Simply put, the monitor’s color looks far too cool and sterile. The color temperature adjustments provided by the monitor can improve this, but the color temperature remained above 6500K even when set to the “Warm” preset. Gamma was slightly off, producing a gamma result of 2.1 when it should be at a result of 2.2, but this was far less noticeable.
Sharpness is acceptable. A resolution of 1920×1080 is not going to impress most shoppers in 2024, but on a 24-inch monitor, it provides an acceptable pixel density of 92 pixels per inch. As you might expect, the PX248 Wave looks sharper than a 27-inch 1080p or 32-inch 1080p display. Small fonts can look jagged when browsing the web, but sharpness issues are less noticeable in games, especially those with a quality anti-aliasing implementation.
On the whole, the Pixio PX248 Wave’s image quality performance is what I would expect from a budget gaming monitor. It has some strengths, such as its sharpness and color accuracy, but also weaknesses, such as the unusually cool color temperature.
Pixio PX248 Wave
menu.
Pixio PX248 Wave
menu.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Pixio PX248 Wave
menu.
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Matthew Smith / Foundry
Pixio PX248 Wave HDR image quality
The Pixio PX248 Wave provides support for HDR but, like any budget monitor, it’s not a great choice for HDR content. It lacks the brightness, contrast, and color gamut required to do HDR justice, so it does little to improve image quality over SDR. The same is true of the monitor’s competition, however, so the PX248 Wave is at no disadvantage here.
Pixio PX248 Wave motion performance
Refresh rate is among the Pixio PX248 Wave’s most alluring features. It offers a maximum refresh rate of up to 200Hz, which is exceptional for a monitor that retails at $150. It also provides Adaptive Sync that should function with both Nvidia and AMD video cards. FreeSync worked without issue when the monitor was connected to my Radeon RX 7800 video card.
Motion clarity at 200Hz is solid, but not amazing. Scrolling tests from League of Legends and DOTA 2 showed that character silhouettes and spell effects were easy to make out, but hitpoint bars and character names were still difficult to read. Motion clarity holds up better when panning the camera in 3D games, as significant detail is retained in distant objects and fine textures.
The monitor’s decent out-of-box motion clarity can be improved with MPRT, a feature that reduces motion blur by strobing the backlight at an extremely high frequency. It also has several improved response time modes that increase the speed at which pixels respond to changes.
These modes introduce noticeable visual artifacts. MRPT adds a slight “double image” effect behind moving objects and disables Adaptive Sync, while bumping up the response time results in an over-sharpened look.
However, the features are undeniably effective at reducing motion blur. I think the MRPT mode, in combination with the Medium response time mode, will be appealing to competitive gamers on a tight budget. It delivers motion clarity close to what I’ve witnessed on a 360Hz display. If you’re not interested in competitive games, however, I’d recommend leaving both features off.
Should you buy the Pixio PX248 Wave?
The Pixio PX248 Wave is a great choice for gamers who want attractive design and solid motion clarity in an extremely inexpensive monitor. Priced at just $150, the PX248 Wave is affordable for a monitor with a refresh rate above 144Hz, yet it also provides several unusual colorways that will fit a variety of gaming setups. Strong audio performance from the built-in speakers add icing to the cake.
Image quality is a mixed bag, however, due to issues with color temperature and mediocre contrast. And the PX248 Wave, like most gaming monitors below $200, faces pressure from low-to-mid-range alternatives like the Dell 2724D, which typically costs $50 more but defeats the PX248 Wave by every metric. Even so, gamers that must stick to a budget of $150 should give the Pixio PX248 Wave a look.
In recent weeks and months, Microsoft has increased the pressure on Windows 10 users to finally upgrade to Windows 11, highlighting the impending end of Windows 10 support. However, this end of support is not until October 2025 and can even be delayed by three years for a fee with the “Windows 10 Extended Security Updates” (ESU). The end of support means that Windows 10 users who do not pay for ESU will no longer receive Windows updates after October 2025 and therefore no newly discovered security vulnerabilities will be closed on their Windows 10 computers.
How Windows 10 is currently annoying us with pop-ups
Such annoying (full-screen) pop-ups, with which Microsoft urges users to upgrade to the latest Windows generation, are by no means an invention in Windows 10. Microsoft has been presenting users with such upgrade annoyances since Windows XP.
The YouTuber WindowsOSStuff has taken the trouble to put together a short, snappy video of all the “End of Support” pop-ups (also known as End of Life, EOL) that Windows has annoyed its users with and continues to annoy them with to this day. The video is a journey through time on Microsoft’s incessant pestering of satisfied Windows users.
The first of these end-of-support pop-ups appeared in Windows XP. It could still be easily switched off using a checkbox and was not aggressive. WindowsOSStuff didn’t find such a pop-up in Windows Vista, which was quite unpopular at the time. But in the very successful Windows 7, the pestering resumed: Several times, in fact, as Microsoft placed different pop-ups in front of Windows 7 users. What’s more, Microsoft became much more intrusive. The video continues with the unpopular Windows 8 and 8.1, followed by the end-of-support pop-ups for the ever-popular Windows 10, which is where we stand today.
This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.
Mechanical keyboards are great for gaming, but it’s all too easy to spend way too much on one. Corsair’s most expensive model is nearly $300, and it’s missing a lot of premium features. Meanwhile the humble K70 Core scored an Editor’s Choice award from my review, partly thanks to its great value. Today you can pick one up for just 80 bucks, $30 off its regular price.
Amazon is selling the K70 Core, with the included wrist rest that usually demands an extra $10, for just $79.99. That’s about the best deal you can find for a full-sized gaming keyboard with great switches and some interior sound dampening for satisfying typing. Naturally it includes RGB lighting and custom software compatibility, too.
Corsair’s custom MLX Red (linear and speedy) switches really are the star here, but be aware that as a budget model the K70 Core doesn’t let you swap them out. The fixed USB cable is also a bit of a bummer, making it harder to organize your cables quickly. That said, this really is the best deal you’re going to find for a large gaming board from a major supplier.
Amazon says it’s a “limited time deal,” so who knows how long it’ll stick around. Hop on it fast if you’re interested.
Mouse lift-off distance, or LOD, often appears as a setting you can tweak in the companion software apps for gaming mice. But what it means and how to use it to get the best performance is an often-misunderstood thing.
Take it from me, like your mouse’s DPI and polling rate, lift-off distance really does matter. If you get this setting right, you can prevent erratic movements, keep your position centered, and steady your crosshair. You’ll ultimately perform better in your games too.
What is lift-off distance?
In a nutshell it’s the height at which your mouse’s sensor stops sending a signal to your computer when you lift it up. A high lift-off distance means the mouse will keep tracking at a high elevation above the tabletop, whereas a low lift-off distance means the mouse will cut out a little closer to the surface you’re using it on.
Lift-off distance is often measured in millimeters, with increments between 1mm and 10mm (1cm). Lower lift-off distances are often considered to be 1mm and 2mm, while higher lift-off distances are anything from 3mm to 10mm. Some companion apps just give you the option of choosing between a Low, Medium, or High lift-off distance.
If you don’t think you ever lift your mouse, try watching yourself play. Most gamers, and yes, even competitive gamers, lift their mice from time to time — it’s very common.
High or low? What’s best?
Lift-off distance is one of those really polarizing topics for gamers — like asking someone if they like the chocolate chips in chocolate chip ice cream, there’s usually strong views about it one way or the other. In fact, we can mock up a hypothetical boxing match with the differing viewpoints.
Boxing in the blue corner are players who prefer high lift-off distances. The right hook behind their argument is that a higher lift-off distance allows them to keep aiming at elevation, to track their opponents in the split second or so they’ve lifted their mouse.
In the red corner is the conventional viewpoint that appears in all the marketing materials for gaming mice. The knockout behind this argument is that competitive gamers need to recenter their mice a lot, so low liftoff distances make for more predictable and reliable movements when they do so, allowing them to keep their aim steady and positioning centered.
But which viewpoint is right?
The status quo: The LOD most gamers adopt
It’s generally accepted that lower lift-off distances are better for competitive gaming, especially for first-person shooters.
Take a firefight in an FPS game as an example: Say you’re pursuing an opponent and near the end of your pursuit you lift your mouse to recenter it. If your mouse’s sensor has a low lift-off distance it will just cut out, your crosshair will stay on target, and you will have an excellent chance of still hitting that target.
The opposite is also true: If you have a higher lift-off distance set, your mouse’s sensor will keep tracking when you lift it up. But since your movement isn’t to continue tracking your opponent, just to put it back in the center of your mat, you’ll most likely lose your crosshair aim and or your positioning and therefore miss.
The Razer Cobra Pro lets you set the lift-off distance to one of 26 granular levels.
The Razer Cobra Pro lets you set the lift-off distance to one of 26 granular levels.
Razer
The Razer Cobra Pro lets you set the lift-off distance to one of 26 granular levels.
Razer
Razer
Having said that, a low lift-off distance isn’t ideal for every situation. Competitive gamers will often chop and change lift-off distances to suit different games or even different player classes within games.
In fact, one gamer on reddit swears that a higher lift-off distance of 3mm gives them better control of tracking when their “fingers make contact with their mouse mat, and when they make fast flicks.”
Lift-off distance and you
The best way to find the ideal lift-off distance is by trial and error. In your mouse’s companion app try adjusting your mouse’s lift-off distance in increments starting from the lowest and gradually increasing the distance until you find a sweet spot.
In your tweaking, consider factors like: the kind of game you’re playing, how often you lift, the height you lift, your grip style (claw grippers tend to lift more), and how tall your mouse’s feet are.
The extent to which you can fine-tune your lift-off distance will, however, be limited by the level of personalization that your gaming mouse’s software gives you. For instance, the Logitech G Hub gave me a choice of, Low, Medium, or High lift-off distances for the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2.
But Razer’s Synapse app let me set the Razer Cobra Pro’s lift-off distance to one of 26 granular distances. That meant I had 23 more chances to get it just right.
Now that you know a little more about lift-off distance, like most hardware settings, there’s nothing like a spot of gaming to refine them. So, what are you waiting for? Load up a game and start tweaking!
Nothing beats the versatility of a 2-in-1 laptop. Need to use it like a tablet for taking notes? Want to prop it up like a tent and watch a movie? All you have to do is swing the screen around. Not only does the Dell Inspiron 14 boast a 2-in-1 design, but it also has a great display as well as decent hardware. Right now you can get it for just $449.99 at Dell, which is a savings of $250.
The Dell Inspiron 14 comes equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 7530U CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. That’s more than enough juice for day-to-day tasks, office work, coursework, and so on. The 14-inch touch display has a resolution if 1920×1200, a productivity-friendly aspect ratio of 16:10, and a refresh rate of 60Hz. The taller aspect ratio makes it easier to scroll through web pages and whatnot. This is no gaming laptop, but that hardware combination is great for watching videos, surfing the web, and getting work done. In addition to the nice display, it also has upwards-firing speakers, a backlit keyboard, and a fingerprint reader.
This is a really good deal, but it’s on clearance, which means stock is likely selling out fast. Don’t miss your chance.
If you’ve never used an air fryer, you’re truly missing out. It’s a magical cooking machine that can do almost anything at record speeds — and the results are delicious. Good news! Right now, you can get the Ninja Air Fryer Pro (XL) for $119.99 at Amazon. That’s 29 percent off of the original $169.99 price.
The Ninja Air Fryer Pro XL cooks frozen foods in mere minutes and it’s super easy to clean. Plus, the 6-in-1 functionality is just plain wonderful. Better yet, it can cook your grub in all different sorts of ways such as max crisp, air fry, air roast, bake, reheat, and dehydrate.
Not only is the Ninja Air Fryer Pro designed to reduce cooking times, but it requires hardly any oil to do so, which is healthier in the long run. It comes with a 6.5-QT nonstick basket and crisper plate, which can fit up to five pounds of French fries, according to Ninja. If you’re new to cooking, you can also check out the included recipe book and cooking charts. Finally, this divine cooking machine can reach temperatures of up to 450 Fahrenheit.
This is an excellent deal, but it’s also a limited time deal. Get it now before it’s too late and take the headache out of making dinner.
“AI PCs” are all the rage in the computer industry right now, at least if you listen to anyone trying to get you to buy a new laptop. Neural processing units or NPUs are the new hotness, powering local AI capabilities…though whether that’s actually worth anything is still in question. But Nvidia wants people to know that if you want real AI power, you need a discrete GPU.
That’s the basis of a presentation leaked by Chinese site BenchLife.info and spotted by VideoCardz.com. In the slides posted to the site (and marked “Nvidia Confidential — Do Not Distribute”, so consider all of this unconfirmed), Nvidia lays out the difference between computers that feature “Basic AI” and “Premium AI.” That difference is, in short, a dedicated and discrete graphics card, the kind that Nvidia sells.
Of course the actual presentation was a little more substantive. The slides point out that the NPUs integrated into the latest Intel and AMD processors are capable of 10-45 Tera Operations Per Second (TOPS) while a “Premium AI PC” with an RTX card can handle 100 to 1300 TOPS. And Nvidia also points out that while NPUs are still an extremely recent development, with less than a million units in consumers’ hands as of the end of 2023, Nvidia RTX-powered computers had reached over 100 million units by that point.
Now it goes without saying that this definition of “Premium AI PC” is self-serving for Nvidia, in the same way Microsoft’s definition of an AI PC (complete with a dedicated Copilot button on the keyboard) was. And even Nvidia isn’t saying a discrete graphics card is the be-all, end-all of AI — the same slide says that you need data centers powered by “Cloud GPUs” are needed for Heavy AI, presumably handling most of the generative tools that most people consider AI.
But it’s worth pointing out that Nvidia is also selling those cloud GPUs, and a hell of a lot of them, too. The company is projected to earn $24 billion in revenue in Q1 2024, a 600 percent increase over the same quarter in the previous year.
The best webcam makes you look your best — for less. Most laptops ship with a 720p webcam, so a 1080p webcam or even a 4K webcam can make you stand out by comparison.
I haven’t tested every one of these webcams, just most of them — and I describe how I test under my recommendations. You can also refer to my separate story on the best Windows Hello webcams for recommendations that aid videoconferencing and log you into your PC. Two recommendations from that list — a premium and budget option — appear on this list.
Take note of the FAQ at the bottom of this article, as there’s a new upcoming Windows feature that may create some big ripples on the webcam industry!
Why you should trust me: PCWorld has been testing PC hardware since the 1980s, and I’ve been a technology journalist for 30 years, with extensive experience in reviewing PC hardware. When it comes to webcams, my recommendations are based on hands-on testing in real-world scenarios. I also tap the expertise and published reviews of my counterparts in Sweden and Germany to offer a comprehensive view of the current webcam landscape.
Updated May 1, 2024: My most recent review is of the Logitech MX Brio, a 4K webcam that is the sort-of successor to the Logitech Brio 4K. While it challenged BenQ’s IdeaCam S1 Pro for the best premium webcam, I don’t think it quite offers enough.
The Anker PowerConf C200 offers an affordable yet substantial upgrade from the 720p cameras found in most laptop webcams to a 1440p webcam, yet does so at an affordable price. The webcam also works well in low light, a pitfall of many webcams. For all that, at just $60? That’s a solid value in my book, and makes this webcam our top recommendation.
(Anker and Amazon characterize this as a “Mac” camera. It’s plug-and-play within Windows, however.)
Additional features include an adjustable field of zoom that crops down to 65 degrees, meaning you can orient the camera on your face alone. The camera autofocuses, too. Naturally, there are noise-canceling mics and a privacy shutter that actually turns off the entire device. You will need Anker’s free Windows software, though, to enable some of these features. (That’s available on the Anker website.) We weren’t sold on the need for original software at first, but many other webcams now offer similar apps to enable full functionality.
Who should buy the Anker PowerConf C200
What sold us on this webcam are the basics: It’s just a good webcam for an affordable price. As such, it will appeal to a broad segment of buyers: work-from-home employees, small businesses, and general consumers. If you’re tired of your laptop’s 720p webcam and want even more, start here with the Anker PowerConf C200.
NexiGo HelloCam – Best overall webcam runner-up / Best for Windows Hello
My preferred webcams offer at least 1080p resolution at a ballpark price of between $50 to $70. This webcam goes a step further by offering Windows Hello. This biometric login technology is found on most modern laptops, but not on older ones. If your laptop lacks this technology, the HelloCam is an excellent way to add it — and for very little out of your wallet.
Once you set up the HelloCam, you’ll just need to present your face to the camera, and poof! You’re logged in. With biometric identification becoming more and more important to PC security, this is a worthwhile investment.
Otherwise, this is a good 1080p/30fps fixed-focus webcam, whose other signature feature is an iris-like physical webcam shutter. Once the webcam is in use, the iris opens; if turned off or disconnected, the shutter closes. The images this webcam produces are good, and the noise-cancelling mics are too.
Who should buy the NexiGo HelloCam
Budget buyers and mainstream users looking to improve upon their laptop’s 720p webcam, and who also want the added security of Windows Hello biometric security. Until recently, Windows Hello capability would probably have put this webcam over $100. (If you want Windows Hello with even more advanced features, see our pick below for best premium Windows Hello camera.)
The question you should always ask of budget hardware is, what corners did they cut? Here, the answer is: not many. This is a 4K webcam at a cheaper price than many 1080p webcams, and that alone makes it noteworthy. Okay, it has manually adjustable focus, but that’s not a problem if you don’t move around a lot. Similarly, backlight adjustment is typically handled automatically, but this webcam’s manual adjustment is not a problem you work in a single location you can dial it in and forget it. There’s a flip-over privacy shutter, and a button to mute the mic.
You’re going to find that it cheats in the frame rate a bit, and I wasn’t wild with how well it captured my image, from a color perspective. But for about $50, for a 4K camera? It’s worth investigating.
Who should buy the Creative Live! Cam Sync 4K
If 4K matters, and you don’t feel like spending a lot, this is the camera for you. To me, this feels like a good choice for a student, or someone who wants to look good in front of their friends and maybe while taking remote classes, but just doesn’t want to spend a ton of money.
It’s also best for someone who will be streaming from an environment without a lot of (changing) natural light, but is still well-lit by a lamp or screen.
Upgrading from 720p to 1080p is a nice boost, and it’s even better when you can make the leap to 1440p, too. Monoprice and Walmart appear to have discounted this webcam to about $35, and for that price it’s hard to pass up this webcam.
Our review points out that the camera tends to overexpose the user, so you’ll need to make adjustments within the camera settings of whatever application you’re using. Yes, you’d like the webcam to manage this automatically, but it’s a fair trade-off for a budget camera. Under good lighting, anyway, this shouldn’t be an issue. The webcam’s mic is another trade-off, so a good laptop mic is necessary.
Who should buy the Monoprice 2K USB Webcam
This is for the person who says, “I want to upgrade my webcam, but I want to spend the least amount of money possible.” You’ll still get a decent upgrade; more than you would expect, actually. You’ll just need to manage your lighting accordingly, and, again, have an adequate laptop mic.
BenQ’s marvelous webcam offers a substantial amount of value, from its midrange price to the multiple, useful accessories that ship right inside the box. What I think I like most about this webcam, though, is that it excels as a webcam, then adds additional value through its peripherals, including both a macro (closeup) lens as well as a free remote control. This almost-but-not-quite 4K webcam even flips over for a top-down view.
The IdeaCam S1 Pro would probably be our favorite webcam if it wasn’t for the $100 or so price premium it commands, which isn’t for everyone. It’s robustly built, and ships with a free software utility that adds to its capabilities. (Zooming in and out is most easily accomplished via the remote control, which does take up more room on your desk.)
The webcam slides in and out of a robust mount quite easily. Pair that with the macro lens, and you can zoom in on detail work for presentations or hobbyists. The webcam has autofocus, though you’ll probably want to lock down the focus for the macro lens. It all works surprisingly well together, though.
Who should buy the BenQ IdeaCam S1 Pro
If you’re a streamer (a woodworker or baker, say) then the ability to flip the webcam into a top-down mode, then undock the IdeaCam S1 Pro and the bring it in close with the macro lens, feels like a tool no other webcam offers.
But yes, the IdeaCam S1 Pro also works as a generic everyday webcam, too. It also looks particularly nice under good lighting, so it’s better for a user who isn’t expecting the camera to do a lot of heavy lifting in that regard. And while it might not offer the absolute top-of-the-line options, it never really fails at anything, either. It’s just a good, solid value. Period.
This 4K webcam does something unique: It follows you. Floating on a gimbal, this tiny(!) webcam can literally pan, zoom, and rotate essentially 360 degrees, using AI to lock on your face and follow it as you walk around a room.
While the Tiny 2 webcam boasts the same gimbal and tracking features as the first Tiny PTZ webcam, OBSBOT used a bigger 1/1.5-inch 50Mpixel sensor in the new model that lets in more light and provides a slightly clearer picture. So it accomplishes what you’d expect in a webcam: It wildly succeeds as just a webcam, with gorgeous 4K HDR images — but provides the increased tracking capabilities to add value. It almost tracks a little too well; avoid zooming in too close if you walk around so as not to give your viewers vertigo!
I also love the fantastic software package that accompanies the webcam, which on the Tiny 1 was the best I’ve ever seen. I’m less impressed by two new features: voice commands, which are useful but not necessary, and new “beauty” features that use AI to adjust your face. While the latter features work, I prefer a more natural appearance, flaws and all.
Who should buy the OBSBOT Tiny 2 PTZ 4K
If the budget webcams we selected above were ideal for students, this is the lecturer’s webcam. Share your slides with your student (or your clients, in a business setting) and let your video app project a snapshot of your face over them as you illustrate your point. If you walk and talk, this is the webcam for you.
The Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra claims to offer DSLR-quality images, and boy, it comes pretty close! This webcam captures video with a massive 2-inch lens at 4K at 30Hz or 1080p at 60Hz, using autofocusing technology that does a great job. The camera also can zoom in to offer a field of view between 72 degrees and 82 degrees, making sure that you, and you alone, are on cam.
All of this combines to produce an image that looks simply outstanding. It would be nice to see this camera produce 60Hz at 4K; instead, you have to choose one option or the other. But check out the sample screens in our review, and you’ll agree that it all looks as though a professional captured it. It even handles odd lighting situations very well. Colors just pop! We’ve highlighted some of the shortcomings above, but they’re overshadowed by everything else this webcam does.
Who should buy the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra
If you want to look your very best on cam, buy this webcam. The lack of 4K60 captures may rule out high-end game streaming, but the ability for the camera to capture your face under most lighting conditions means a lot of other people will love it. Whether you’re pitching products on a Zoom or Teams call or you want to stand out among style-conscious peers, the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra is the webcam for making a strong impression.
Not everyone needs a wide-angle webcam. But this does allow you to show off more of a scene than an ordinary webcam does, which makes it a valuable tool for specialized applications.
This fixed-focus 1080p webcam captures frames at a smooth 60 frames per second, as opposed to the more standard 30fps. You’ll look smoother and more lifelike as a result. The wide angle means that it will work well in a conference room. A privacy shutter is included.
Who should buy the NexiGo N980P
If you have more than one person on camera at any one time, consider something like the NexiGo N980P. During the pandemic, the local middle school’s drama department broadcast monologues and scenes via Zoom, which allowed students the opportunity to perform. But a narrow webcam wouldn’t have allowed these scenes to be broadcast as effectively.
This camera would work equally well with a small conference room or even a family gathering, such as a living room where one family talks to grandparents overseas. It’s still a fixed-focus camera though— if you want an autofocusing model I recommend you pay about $100 for the upgraded NexiGo N680p instead.
Logitech Brio 4K Ultra HD Webcam – Best premium webcam for Windows Hello
Why wouldn’t you buy a webcam that can protect your PC via biometrics, log you in with your face, and make you look great on a video call? The Logitech Brio 4K Ultra HD webcam is one of the small group of Windows Hello webcams that can perform both tasks.
The autofocusing Logitech Brio 4K supports various resolutions and frame rates, including 4K Ultra HD at 30fps, 1080p at 30- or 60fps, and 720p (HD) at 30- or 60fps. According to our review, Logitech’s RightLight 3 technology snaps photos and video in a range of lighting conditions. It can adjust the field of view from between 90 degrees to 78 degrees or 65 degrees. You will need to download the Logitech app for fine-grained control options, however.
Who should buy the Logitech Brio 4K Ultra HD Webcam
Anyone who doesn’t like entering a password or PIN but doesn’t want to skimp on webcast quality, either. Seriously, as biometric identification becomes more prevalent, with passkeys standing in for passwords, Windows Hello will become more important. Put that way, the Brio 4K is cheap at the price.
A standalone 1080p webcam can greatly improve how you look on your next Zoom call. Here’s what to look for: Prioritize a 1080p webcam, then a higher refresh rate, then jump up to 4K. If you can get more than one feature, great! Unless you’ll be moving about a lot, a fixed-focus webcam will do just fine.
It’s important to note that of the three major videoconferencing services (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet) only Teams will automatically scale up your video to 1080p if your network and your webcam support it. You can enable 1080p video in Zoom and (finally!) in Google Meet, but they require some manual adjustment in the app’s Settings menu. All three services will eventually auto-scale video calls for 1080p cameras — it’s just a matter of time.
Looking like you’re on television will subtly lend you authority. People gravitate toward celebrities, and a 4K, 60Hz webcam is basically what your TV offers. If you’re an executive or making sales calls over Zoom or Teams, a premium webcam may give you an edge. That’s why professional streamers use them, after all.
Adjustable or fixed focus
Don’t worry about fixed-focus, as virtually all webcams have been pre-configured at a focal length that’s about the distance between your face and your laptop or monitor. You’ll need to account for this with tripods, however, or pay a little more for an autofocusing webcam. Autofocus webcams are handy for situations where you may be moving about the room, but beware distracting webcams that frequently refocus.
Higher frame rates
A standard webcam captures video at 30 frames per second, and will look “normal.” You’ll notice the smoothness of a 60fps camera though, and so will people you’re on a video call with.
Field of view (FOV)
The camera’s field of view can vary. A 90-degree FOV helps people focus on you (and perhaps not the mess you’ve hidden off to the side). A 110-degree or higher FOV works better for group shots, although distortion can become a problem the wider your FOV gets. A 65-degree FOV may be perfect if it’s just you.
Think of a 90-degree FOV as one that would show two people seated side-by-side at what you would consider a “standard” distance from a webcam, or a foot or two. A 110-degree FOV can show three people, squeezed a bit close together. Keep in mind that many videoconferencing applications offer the option of virtual backgrounds, which eliminate visual clutter.
Privacy shutter
These devices are not a privacy threat, for the simple reason that they can be unplugged easily. Most have a flip-down privacy shutter, but you could always put tape over the camera or drape it with a dark cloth.
Ring lights
Yes, integrated ring lights are now a thing on premium webcams, and worth the money if lighting is a challenge for you. While the integrated light will certainly help with lighting, a big bright monitor display (use a full-screen version of Notepad for a white screen) in front of you can serve a similar function. You can also purchase a ring light separately.
Windows Hello
You may have used Windows Hello with a fingerprint reader or another laptop. The camera simply “recognizes” you, logging you in. It’s exceptionally convenient. We have a separate article on the best Windows Hello webcams.
Tripod bundle
With so many webcams on the market, manufacturers are trying hard to differentiate their products. The new trend is a small tripod, which gives you more options for mounting the camera. Not all webcams include this. Normally, however, you can simply clip the webcam to the top of a display or a laptop with its “jaws” clamp, so a tripod isn’t really necessary unless you move around a lot or want a different angle.
AI
There’s a potential wild card that may be attached to webcams in the future: artificial intelligence, specifically Windows Studio Effects. Right now, the current Surface Pro 9 (5G) uses the AI capabilities in the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor to apply background blue, automatic panning effects, and more. (Our review discusses this.) Other laptops that use Intel Core and AMD Ryzen processors don’t include AI capabilities — yet. Specific models in the 13th-gen mobile Core and AMD Ryzen 7000 Mobile series include some basic AI capabilities, and future processors in both families may offer AI capabilities and therefore Windows Studio Effects.
The OBSBOT webcams don’t need any of this, using an independent gimbal and tracking software to keep you in the frame.
How we test webcams
Our recommendations for webcams are weighted pretty heavily toward the image each webcam produces, as you might expect. But there are a number of additional criteria we look at when making a webcam recommendation. A separate article provides a detailed explanation of how we test webcams at PCWorld, but here’s a summarization of the process:
Our first criteria is price. We don’t want you spend more than you have to. But it’s fair to say that a more expensive webcam might be worth it if it offers more. So we factor in features: the resolution, the refresh rate, whether the camera pans or zooms, or offers something rather novel, such as the ability to show a different perspective.
From there, we remove the webcam, examine the packaging, and see how well it sits atop some of our monitors and laptops. Does it grip tightly, or tend to wobble? Is the cord long enough, and does it use USB-A or USB-C?
As the lead reviewer, I take sample images both in my downstairs office, which is normally lit by a combination of dim artificial light and indirect natural lighting. I use a second shot in brighter light, with a nice colorful background that mimics a real-world environment. I’m not really looking for the best-case scenario, as most webcams now take good shots in clear, natural lighting. But how do they do when lighting conditions aren’t ideal? I think that’s important.
I also load any utility software available and explore what options those provides. Does the webcam provide any additional functions, such as a top-down perspective? Ring lights? I try those out, too.
Finally, if the webcam provides any noise-cancelling mics (and most do) I play some background music on my phone and make a recording on my laptop using Windows Sound Recorder. A good noise-canceling mic will try and minimize these distractions.
FAQ
1.
Can you use a smartphone as a webcam?
Soon, yes! Microsoft is testing a smartphone webcam feature in Windows 11 that sounds like it should be out in a month or two. The feature would allow you to mount a smartphone (how you do it is up to you) and then use either its front or rear camera as a webcam in any and all video applications. You’ll need a phone running Android 9 or above, and the connecting software to enable it to talk to Windows.
Sorry, iPhone users: This is only for Android smartphones.
2.
Do you need Wi-Fi for a webcam?
Yes and no. These webcams all connect to your computer directly, via a USB port, and you can record video from them while offline. Your computer will then need to be connected to either ethernet or to Wi-Fi for you to be able to chat with a friend or business partner, however.
3.
Can a webcam work without a computer?
Some webcams can work without a computer, but not all of them. USB webcams, featured here, connect via USB to a computer and require it to operate. USB webcams are most often those used for video chat or live streaming from your computer on websites such as Twitch.
IP webcams however, can connect directly to a network, router, or modem and do not require a computer at all in order to work. IP webcams are most often used as security cameras or for live feeds that upload directly to the cloud. Those are separate products, however, and not the same webcams we’re talking about here.
4.
How do I connect my webcam to the internet?
For USB webcams, it will be as simple as plugging the camera into your computer’s USB port, and then connecting to the internet via your computer.
5.
What software do I need to connect my webcam?
Technically, most webcams are plug and play, so you should simply be able to connect them to your PC to get them to work. Many, however, require their own software utilities to be installed to take advantage of specific features and to facilitate automatic updates. To actually use your webcam in a conference call, however, you’ll need to use Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, or another videoconferencing app. Make sure you enter the app’s settings menu and select the webcam’s camera and microphone to provide the audio and video for your call.
Microsoft said this week that the most recent Windows security update for Windows 10 and Windows 11 may break VPN connections.
According to Microsoft (via Bleeping Computer), “Windows devices might face VPN connection failures after installing the April 2024 security update, or KB5036893.”
Microsoft has no fix at the current time, the company said. “We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release,” the company said.
Unfortunately, the list of affected clients is rather lengthy: Windows 11 (23H2, 22H2, and 21H2) as well as Windows 10 (22H2 and 21H2). If you’re a consumer and run into this issue, Microsoft advises that you first launch the Windows “Get Help” app to inform Microsoft of the problem and possibly work through a solution.
It doesn’t really sound like there is a solution, though. You could always try to uninstall the most recent security update. (Of course, you lose the protections that accompany the most recent patch, too.) Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until Microsoft fixes the problem — if there is a problem. Microsoft at least hasn’t said that all VPNs are affected, possibly including our best VPN recommendations.
It’s all bad news, of course, for anyone who likes to work at a coffee shop or airport, or who is travelling overseas where VPNs can be a way of life. Hopefully Microsoft finds a fix soon.
Virtual private networks, or VPNs, are one of the most effective ways to stay safe online. Not only do they allow you to stay anonymous, but they can help you get past region blocks on streaming services such as Netflix. However, you usually have to pay for a VPN subscription and adding an extra monthly expense to an already tight budget isn’t ideal. That’s where a free VPN can come in handy. They can provide you with a similar level of security for virtually—pun intended—nothing. But not all free VPNs are built the same.
With many free VPNs you’ll encounter a lot of restrictions such as speed constraints, bandwidth caps, or a limited country network. These restrictions can add up, making the experience of using a free VPN feel pointless. That’s why it’s important that you choose the right free VPN service based on your own needs.
While we advise that you opt for a premium VPN, such as those in our roundup of the best VPNs, we understand that sometimes you just need quick and easy basic protection without having to pay for yet another service. Therefore we’ve curated a list of the best free VPNs around. We lay out any restrictions they may impose and what activities they’re best used for—streaming, torrenting, browsing, etc. Following our recommendations you can read about what to look for in a free VPN and how we test.
Updated May 1, 2024: Check out our latest review of Mullvad VPN. It might not come with a free version, but privacy-king Mullvad is one of the most affordable premium VPNs around and more than worth the cost if you can swing it.
Windscribe – Best free VPN
Pros
Simple setup
Good performance
Great free plan
Cons
Tricky security track record with 2021 server incident
The Windscribe VPN service seems to get better and better each time we review a new version. It not only has an excellent Pro version that is reasonably priced, but it has a stand-out free service as well. What makes Windscribe’s free service really stand out is all the perks. You get a maximum 10GB of bandwidth per month and no device limits. To get that bandwidth you need a confirmed email address. If not, you’re stuck at 2GB per month.
The free service offers 10 regional connections including the U.S., Canada, UK, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, and Romania. It also has a ton of privacy features such as blockers for site notifications and “we use cookies” banners, WebRTC leak protection, location spoofing, user agent rotation, and more.
The service is also extremely easy to use with a simple setup and solid performance for a free VPN. We not only recommend the Windscribe free service on its own, but also as an easy way to get to know the service before committing to a paid tier with premium features.
Who should use Windscribe VPN
Those who want a free VPN with extra perks will find that Windscribe is the go-to option. Most free VPNs are only good for location spoofing with no real added features, and that’s why Windscribe is so good. It offers way more for users and the fact that it gives you up to 10GB of bandwidth means you can use it multiple times throughout the month without having to worry about hitting the data cap.
CyberGhost VPN provides an excellent VPN with plenty of servers optimized for different tasks such as gaming, streaming, and torrenting. While the premium service, with access to all of its 9,000-plus servers and additional security features, is a paid option, CyberGhost also has a great browser extension that it offers for free. If you have either Chrome or Firefox you can download the extension without having to pay anything and enjoy access to a limited number of the VPN servers for free—currently sitting at eight servers in four countries.
Additionally, you are able to connect and use these VPN servers without having to worry about bandwidth limits or data capping. Unfortunately, in our tests we found that the servers we used in the browser extension were not able to successfully unblock streaming servers. However, if you start using the free browser extension and decide you like CyberGhost, you can always opt for a premium membership, which can be as low as three dollars a month for a long-term plan.
Who should use CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost’s free version is ideal for users who don’t want to pay for a premium VPN service but also don’t want to worry about a monthly data cap. Plus, the fact that CyberGhost VPN’s free version is browser-based means that users who don’t want to bother downloading and setting up a new application can have the VPN based simply in either their Firefox or Chrome browser.
If you’re looking for speed and excellent privacy in a free VPN then ProtonVPN is an excellent choice. There are some big limitations with this service, but thankfully no limitations on speeds.
Instead, ProtonVPN limits you to one device connection at a time, and you only get three countries to choose from including the U.S., the Netherlands, and Japan. Still, that’s a good deal, making this a very useful free VPN.
ProtonVPN is the second-fastest VPN in our tests making this the one you want if speed is important to you.
Who should use ProtonVPN
Users who need anonymity and speed while using their VPN will stand to gain the most from ProtonVPN’s free version. Because there are only three country locations to choose from though, users who are travelling or based overseas may want to consider another option.
Hide.me – Best free VPN for speed runner-up
Pros
Good option for streaming
Better than average overall speeds
Lots of power user options for customization
Free version available
Cons
Third-party audit not updated since 2015
Speeds were inconsistent in our tests
Not the easiest VPN for beginners
Price When Reviewed:
$9.95 per month | $34.95 for 6 months | $59.95 for 27 months
Hide.me offers a solid paid VPN service and the company is generous enough to provide the full premium feature set in their free version as well. Its server speeds are a bit inconsistent, but overall they are pretty fast and rank within the top 20 of all—paid or free—VPNs that we’ve ever tested. That makes it plenty speedy for the typical use cases for a free VPN. When you use Hide.me’s free service you’re limited to 10GB per month and one device at a time, as well as eight region choices including Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, U.S. East, and U.S. West.
Who should use Hide.me VPN
Hide.me’s free VPN is a solid option for any and all users. Not only are the speeds good for secure browsing, but you have access to their full premium feature set as well. The speeds are not quite as good as ProtonVPN and there is a monthly data cap, but the trade off is that with Hide.me you have access to useful features such as split-tunneling and the ability to choose between multiple proxy configurations.
We’ve always liked TunnelBear. It’s simple to use, affordable, and the speeds are fine. In our speed tests, TunnelBear was outside the top 10, but its speeds were still good enough for most browsing or online tasks.
That’s more than enough for what this free VPN would be suited for, since you will only get a maximum of 500MB per month with the free version. The idea is to provide a trial for testing out the service before making a bigger commitment. Thankfully, beyond the data limit, the free version of TunnelBear puts no restrictions on what features are available so you’re able to experience the full application for no charge.
The data limit won’t allow you to stream or play games for the most part, but it’s enough for quick hits when you’re on the road for checking email, or some basic web browsing. Plus, TunnelBear keeps track of your bandwidth usage so you can see when you’re getting too close to the limit.
Who should use TunnelBear VPN
TunnelBear’s free VPN is best suited for those who need a one-and-done VPN experience. The 500MB data cap is quite restrictive, but you have access to all of the premium features from an excellent VPN service. This includes split-tunneling, a unique HTTPS masking feature, and your choice of multiple VPN protocols.
You might be wondering why we’d even bother including a free-trial option. Well, AVG Secure VPN is not only a fine premium service on its own, but it provides a 60-day free trial for new users. That’s incredibly generous for a premium service — most other VPNs only offer one-week free trials at best.
AVG is a household name in security software and they don’t disappoint with their VPN either. The free trial gives you complete access to all of the paid features such as 10 simultaneous device connections, over 700 servers across more than 50 countries, and guaranteed streaming service unblocking with specific servers. The speeds aren’t the fastest we’ve ever seen, but they’re good enough for most general online activities. All-in-all, two months for free of AVG Secure VPN is a fantastic deal, just remember to cancel the subscription before the free-trial runs out.
Who should use AVG Secure VPN
Most people looking for a free VPN for shorter-term use will stand to gain a lot from AVG Secure VPN’s free trial. But we think it’s an exceptional choice in particular for those who are traveling for awhile and need a VPN while abroad. By taking advantage of a premium service’s speeds and broad server network you can access all of your streaming content no matter what country you find yourself in and you shouldn’t have to worry about frustrating data caps from other free services. Stream and browse to your heart’s content for no cost — well, at least for 60 days.
Choosing a free VPN is a question of weighing the trade-offs with each service. Do you want unlimited bandwidth, but a restriction on devices? Or is it preferable to have more devices but deal with a bandwidth limit?
One thing you definitely want to avoid is a VPN that is ad supported. Ads expose you to tracking by the company delivering said ads, which is something you definitely don’t want. Also, stay away from any deal that suggests you can get a VPN by “sharing” your bandwidth like we saw with the Hola VPN scandal back in 2015. You also want to watch out for any VPNs you’ve never heard of, or that don’t have any official reviews by third-parties.
After that, you want to consider the usual issues such as the server network, connection speeds, privacy policy, Netflix support, and additional features.
How we test VPNs
We judge VPNs on a variety of criteria including server network, connection speeds, privacy protections, ease-of-use, additional features, and cost. For a more detailed guide on how we test, check out our comprehensive guide on how we test VPN services.
Speed tests are kept as simple as possible. We average the connections between different global locations for any given VPN and then compare them to our baseline internet speed to get a good picture of the overall connection speeds. We thoroughly research and analyze the privacy policies and histories of each VPN and note any outstanding discrepancies or data collection issues.
Experience and ease-of-use are subjective, but we try our best to give an accurate representation of how it feels to work with the VPN. Since you don’t have to pay for a free VPN, the value will be contingent upon the trade-offs you’ll need to make and the restrictions it has in place.
Free VPNs aren’t a top recommendation, but if you’re going to go that way we’d strongly suggest the VPNs mentioned above.
FAQ
1.
What is a VPN?
A VPN, or Virtual private network, is a way to encrypt your internet traffic and disguise your identity while browsing the internet. Through a VPN provider, you connect to their anonymized server with end-to-end encryption which redirects all of your traffic through that intermediary server thereby looking to outside viewers as if your location is that server itself.
Additionally, VPNs allow you to connect to servers all across the world. So if you are looking to access location restricted content, such as streaming services, you can gain access via connecting to the appropriate country’s server.
2.
How does a VPN work?
A VPN hides your IP address by redirecting it through a intermediary server hosted by the VPN provider. To anyone watching, the VPN server then becomes the source of your traffic instead of your own IP address. These remote servers can not only be in your own country, but they can also be located in different countries around the world. All of your network traffic from your computer to the VPN is sent over a secure and encrypted connection.
While browsing the internet and connected to a VPN, the VPN acts as a middleman between your computer and a website. Your computer sends a request to the VPN which then passes it on to a website. The website in return sends its response back to the VPN which forwards it through the secure connection back to your computer. All of the traffic rerouted through the VPN appears as if it is coming through their server rather than your own computer. This keeps your ISP and other third parties from potentially snooping on your internet activity.
3.
Are VPNs legal to use?
Absolutely! In most countries, including the United States, it is perfectly legal to use a VPN. You might notice that some websites try to block VPN connections, but they are still okay to use. Please note, while using a VPN is legal, some of the activities done while using a VPN might be illegal. Activities such as downloading pirated copyrighted content or accessing dark web markets are both illegal with and without a VPN.
4.
Should I use a free VPN?
That will depend on how you wish to use a VPN. A free VPN can be a great option for those who just need a quick and simple privacy solution. Whether it’s a one-off use case or you’re happy to just do basic internet browsing, a free VPN might be the way to go. If, on the other hand, you want to use a VPN to stream shows and movies or need it to access servers in different countries then you’ll likely need to upgrade to a paid service.
Free VPNs will always come with tradeoffs. These can take the form of restrictions to available servers, speed constraints, or data limits. You may also find that free VPNs come loaded with ads or collect and sell your user date — thereby defeating the purpose of a private VPN.
It’s best to fully understand what you’ll get with any free VPN and make sure to stick with vetted, trustworthy services such as those in the list above. For more information, you can read our in-depth article explaining free VPNs.
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The Lenovo Yoga 7i (16IML9) is a competent and well-built at a palatable price. It’s not the best value for a standard laptop, but it’s flexibility may make up for its shortcoming for some users.
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Lenovo continues its series of versatile, folding laptops with the new 16-inch Yoga 7i (16IML9). This model brings some high-quality design and modest hardware to a manageable, sub-$1,000 starting price. It does make some sacrifices in the name of hitting that price point, not offering the most impressive display or packing one of Lenovo’s best keyboards, but it proves an overall reliable system for a wide variety of computing needs.
Looking for more options? Be sure to check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available today.
Lenovo Yoga 7i: Specs and features
The Lenovo Yoga 7i comes in just a few different configurations, making the shopping process simple. You’ll either get the Intel Core Ultra 5 125U tested here or an upgraded Core Ultra 7 155U processor for an additional $144. Windows 11 Home can also be upgraded to Pro for $51 extra. And the 512GB of storage can be doubled to 1TB for $30 (a very reasonable offer for such an upgrade). The display and memory aren’t upgradeable. The result is a $900 base price that only goes slightly higher. And since Lenovo fluctuates its prices so often, it’s very likely you’ll be able to snag the system for less than the base price and spec upgrades would suggest.
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 125U
Memory: 16GB LPDDR5
Graphics/GPU: Intel Graphics
Display: 16-inch 1200p IPS
Storage: 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD
Webcam: 1080p
Connectivity: 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2x Thunderbolt 4 / Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x microSD card reader, 1x 3.5mm combo audio, 1x HDMI 2.1 TMDS
Networking: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Biometrics: Windows Hello fingerprint, facial recognition
Battery capacity: 71 watt-hours
Dimensions: 14.24 x 9.84 x 0.67 inches
Weight: 4.21 pounds
MSRP: $899 as-tested ($899 base)
Lenovo Yoga 7i: Design and build quality
IDG / Mark Knapp
IDG / Mark Knapp
IDG / Mark Knapp
The design is perhaps the highlight of the Lenovo Yoga 7i.There’s little noticeable change from last year’s model. It’s still a smooth, aluminum laptop coming in a smoky gray finish Lenovo calls Storm Grey. With all that metal, it comes together solid, with minimal flex. The display hinge has some wobble to it, but that’s perhaps unsurprising from a hinge that’s responsible for letting the display flip over a full 360 degrees.
This flexible hinge is a signature of the Yoga series, letting it sit in a typical laptop position, fold flat onto a table, flip over into a “tent” mode, or flip all the way over into a tablet mode. The tent mode has some practicality for a laptop with a 16-inch screen, providing a good view of the while allowing it to be set in places without taking up as much surface area — think a table on an airplane or a kitchen counter where space is precious.
Its size does put it at odds with the tablet use, but it can easily be folded flat to rest on a tablet and take advantage of its touch and stylus inputs. When it’s fully opened, it holds firm, which is crucial for stylus use. If the display were bouncing up and down with every pen stroke, the experience would be ruined, but Lenovo’s design avoids that successfully.
Lenovo managed a reasonably thin design, though keeping the weight down would have been difficult. It’s still impressive that it managed to just narrowly exceed four pounds, but there are other large laptops managing to slip under four pounds, such as the MSI Prestige 16.
Lenovo’s 2-in-1 design results in a somewhat large bottom bezel, which has proven itself difficult to avoid on folding laptops like this. The rest of the bezels are fairly thin though. Lenovo expanded the area where the webcam sits to also create a lip for easily opening the laptop’s lid. Unfortunately, the base of the laptop isn’t quite heavy enough to stay down while opening the lid, so it still ends up being a two-handed task.
While the design is fairly simple beyond the hinge, one unusual aspect of it is that Lenovo has put the power button on the edge of the laptop instead of somewhere around the keyboard. So far, I’ve found it all too easy to hit the button and put the laptop to sleep any time I grab the sides of the laptop to move it.
Lenovo Yoga 7i: Keyboard, trackpad
IDG / Mark Knapp
IDG / Mark Knapp
IDG / Mark Knapp
The Lenovo Yoga 7i just doesn’t have a great keyboard. It’s a shame to say when so many Lenovo laptops have great keyboards and the Yoga 7i’s looks almost identical, but it simply lacks the stabilization it needs to feel good. Any pressure near the edges of keycaps will see them wiggle considerably, and this makes for an insecure feeling.
Ultimately, I managed to reach a typing speed of 122 words-per-minute with 98 percent accuracy in Monkeytype, which was still quite respectable, but I have a lot of time on Lenovo keyboards behind me, and none of that made it feel any better underneath my fingertips. The mushiness of the keys near their edges can also make repeated presses hit or miss, so consistency proves difficult.
A small concession is that Lenovo includes a number pad with all the keys in their standard places (albeit with slightly narrow keys), which is a huge win for anyone doing data entry.
The trackpad is at least quite smooth and spacious, providing an easy means of navigation. It responds consistently to clicks and taps as well as multi-finger gestures. While it’s centered below the alpha keys of the keyboard, this does see it left of center on the laptop itself, which can make right-handed navigation less ergonomic.
Lenovo Yoga 7i: Display, audio
IDG / Mark Knapp
IDG / Mark Knapp
IDG / Mark Knapp
You get a big display with the Lenovo Yoga 7i, but that’s about where it ends. It has a reflective glass coating that feels nice and smooth for touch input, but also results in a bit more glare than we’d want to see from a laptop that tops out at 297 nits of brightness. It’s not dim, but it’s also not bright enough to challenge serious overhead lighting or sunny conditions.
At 16 inches, the 1920×1200 is still sharp enough for most use cases, though not impressive. And though Lenovo advertises Dolby Vision as a part of the package, the display is simply not up to the task of displaying anything gorgeous. It has a solid contrast ratio, hitting nearly 1500:1, but it has poor color gamut, hitting a paltry 67 percent coverage of sRGB. The result is drab color and underwhelming visuals.
The speakers on the Yoga 7i are more than a little respectable, though. They pump out decent volume — more than enough for listening at a distance in a small, quiet room. More impressively, they even have a bit of low end to boost movies and music along with more the weight they need. They shouldn’t be mistaken for bumping, bassy speakers, as they really leave lower bass and sub-bass notes out of the mix. But they offer more than a lot of their contemporaries, especially those in the sub-$1,000 bracket.
Lenovo Yoga 7i: Webcam, microphone, biometrics
IDG / Mark Knapp
IDG / Mark Knapp
IDG / Mark Knapp
The Yoga 7i features a 1080p webcam, giving it a surprising upgrade over the basics where other elements of its hardware don’t try to overachieve like this. It’s fairly sharp and reasonably bright, though skews toward a colder color temperature. Bigger than the resolution is the inclusion of Windows Hello facial recognition, which continues to prove a fast and convenient way to sign in compared to the more inconsistent response from fingerprint scanners. That said, the Yoga 7i also includes a fingerprint scanner.
The microphones paired with the Yoga 7i are effective at canceling out some background noise, including sound coming from the laptop itself, and they pick up on my voice even if I’m talking quietly. They do a decent job of capturing a lifelike sound for voice, though most dedicated hardware will still be an upgrade.
Lenovo Yoga 7i: Connectivity
IDG / Mark Knapp
IDG / Mark Knapp
IDG / Mark Knapp
Lenovo has slapped on solid connectivity for the machine. It’s a pleasure to see the thin design not sacrificing good port variety. It has fit two Thunderbolt 4 onto the left side, either able to handle the task of charging the laptop. Those come alongside a 3.5mm combo audio jack and an HDMI port. The opposite side houses a pair of USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports and a microSD card slot. The onboard amount and variety is good, and the extensibility with Thunderbolt 4 provides great flexibility for hubs and docks when more ports are called for.
Wireless connections are also strong with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. During testing, I encountered no stability issues with these wireless connections, and they should provide good support with current and upcoming networks and devices.
Lenovo Yoga 7i: Performance
The Lenovo Yoga 7i isn’t running the top-tier of Intel’s latest processors, but it comes with a respectable Intel Core Ultra 5 125U, which packs in a pair of performance cores, eight efficient cores, and two more low-power efficient cores for a combined 12 cores and 14 threads. In everyday operation, this is more than enough to get by, especially with 16GB of memory and a modestly zippy SSD.
That bears out in PCMark 10, where the Lenovo Yoga 7i performs in league with several other larger ultrabooks, albeit toward the tail end of the bunch. The system may have scored better if it weren’t for slightly weaker graphics results. The Yoga 7i offered strong results in the Essentials and Productivity portions of PCMark’s test, keeping close and even exceeding some of the competition, but it lagged far behind in rendering and editing photo and video.
That trailing performance is easy to chalk up to the CPU, which just isn’t quite as fast as the competition on both the single-core and multi-core level in many instances. Cinebench R20 shows the Lenovo Yoga 7i lagging far behind most of the competition here, which boast higher-tier Intel or AMD processors. The one exception is the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i, a unique foldable that has its performance headroom hampered by its design. The gulf between these systems carried over into Cinebench R15 and R23 as well.
That said, where Lenovo may not have the highest performance, it does show consistency. Over a sustained 10-minute run in Cinebench R23, its multi-core score dropped from an average of 9,288 to just 8,847, suggesting it doesn’t end up majorly throttled by heat buildup. And that strength showed in our Handbrake test, which sees the CPU work away over an extended period to encode a large video file. Where the Yoga 7i had trailed behind the Acer Swift Edge 16 in other CPU tests, it came out narrowly ahead in this sustained performance test due to that thinner laptops inability to effectively manage heat during prolonged stress.
PCMark hinted at the Lenovo Yoga 7i’s weak graphical performance, and 3DMark further confirmed it. Despite offering one of the latest Intel CPUs, this laptop doesn’t get Intel Arc Graphics. Instead, it gets the nondescript Intel Graphics, which fare little better than earlier Intel Iris Xe Graphics running on the Acer Swift Go 16. If your uses don’t include much graphical work and you don’t plan to game, this may be a nonissue.
Lenovo Yoga 7i: Battery life
For all the faults of its display and its lacking performance, the Lenovo Yoga 7i turns things around in the battery department. Even with just a 71Wh battery (the Yoga Book 9i and MSI Prestige 16 AI EVO B1MG fit larger batteries), the Yoga 7i leads the pack in runtime by a wide margin. Only MSI keeps up, and its battery is more than a third larger. Lenovo manages over 13 hours in our battery test, which plays a 4K video file on loop until the battery runs down completely.
Office use with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled trims that battery life a bit, as video playback is a favorable scenario, but the Yoga 7i is still readily lasting through an eight-hour workday. This is with plenty of tabs open in Chrome. If that work involves heavier stress on the CPU, it might not last quite as long though.
Lenovo Yoga 7i: Conclusion
Lenovo has put together a curious package in the 16-inch Yoga 7i (16IML9). It’s a well built piece of hardware, but it’s not built around great parts. With a lackluster display and unsatisfying keyboard, the ways you’ll actually interact with the laptop don’t meet the same standard of quality that the chassis brings to the table.
You’ll still find a large footprint for productivity in the 16-inch display, and you won’t suffer from an overly heavy machine. Performance is decent for office tasks, and the battery life is more than respectable in that scenario. Having the option to use a keyboard and trackpad, a touchscreen, or a stylus also delivers flexibility that may benefit users with a variety of workflows who want one device to help with all of them. There are better laptops to go for if you have more straightforward computing needs, but if your work calls for Lenovo’s flipping trick, the Yoga 7i is a fairly sensible option at $900.
Many arbitrary holidays litter our calendars (ahem, Tin Can Day), but World Password Day is one fully supported by the PCWorld staff. We’re all for ditching weak passwords — especially when strengthening your security takes only a little effort.
Follow these four easy suggestions and you’ll thank yourself for years to come. Not only will data breaches and hackers stop being immediate threats, but you won’t have to scramble to remember a collection of user name and passwords. That’s especially true if you opt for a newer form of account protection that’s simpler to use than passwords.
Trust us, you want to safeguard yourself. Data breaches are common these days, and as Bitwarden’s latest survey results indicate, a concerning number of people still reuse passwords (31 percent in the U.S. do so for 11 to 20+ sites!). And with so many data leaks, it’s getting easier and easier for hackers to not just know your passwords, but figure out the personal info you might use in a password — another prevailing bad habit (42 percent in the U.S.). Yikes.
You shouldn’t have an issue finding a password manager that suits you, either — it’s perfectly normal to have reservations about them, but there are so many options out there. Want something that integrates seamlessly with your phone or browser? Google, Apple, and Firefox’s password managers are basic but solid. Hate the idea of all your passwords sitting in the cloud? Try KeePass or one of its variants. Need support for advanced two-factor authentication methods, like a YubiKey? Many paid services include it. Password managers now also generally support passkeys, a simpler yet more secure method of account protection.
Paying for a good solution isn’t always necessary either, as you’ll see when going over our lists of the best paid password managers and the best free password managers. The kinds of features that unlock when paying for services are helpful indeed, especially if you’re using multiple devices or want to secure passwords for multiple people, but they’re not absolutely vital otherwise. That said, our go-to solution — Dashlane — makes managing passwords dead simple and only costs $33 per year, or $2.75 per month. It’s money well spent for the added security (and the extra polish).
And don’t worry if you try one service and don’t like it. Exporting and importing password databases is simple.
Use strong, unique passwords for everything
Companies like Terahash can combine several hundred GPUs to crack short passwords instantly. This chart shows how longer passwords can make the process impossibly long, even with such computing power on hand.
Companies like Terahash can combine several hundred GPUs to crack short passwords instantly. This chart shows how longer passwords can make the process impossibly long, even with such computing power on hand.
Terahash / Twitter
Companies like Terahash can combine several hundred GPUs to crack short passwords instantly. This chart shows how longer passwords can make the process impossibly long, even with such computing power on hand.
Terahash / Twitter
Terahash / Twitter
Even websites that barely register in your memory deserve a strong, unique password. If you’ve left behind traces of personal information — or financial information, like stored credit card info — unauthorized access to your account could lead to future headaches.
Normally, remembering a strong, random, and unique password for every place you visit on the internet would be a pain in the rear. Everything requires a login these days. But with a password manager (which of course you’ve just set up!), you no longer have that responsibility. So long as you have the browser extension (or app installed on your phone), you can let it choose a password for you. Just tell it how many characters in length and what mix of them. (Security experts currently recommend 24 characters in length, randomly generated with numbers, letters, and special characters; you can also opt for a similarly long passphrase for things you need to manually type.) The fun part is that because you don’t have to memorize each password yourself, long and complex strings aren’t a hassle.
If you want to reallylevel up your login security, you can also use strong, unique user names, too. With a password manager tracking everything, being randominternetuser13960 on one site, ithurtstomove4582 on another, and pizzacoma2259 on a third is a cinch. Have to use an email address for your login? Gmail and some other email providers let you create aliases by adding a plus sign (+) and phrase after your account name. So for example, you could use emailaddress+likesbooks@gmail.com to distinguish that particular site. Or better yet, you can wholesale upgrade to email masks for true anonymity.
Enable two-factor authentication, too
Two-factor authentication adds a second layer of security while logging in.
Two-factor authentication adds a second layer of security while logging in.
Apple
Two-factor authentication adds a second layer of security while logging in.
Apple
Apple
We hate to say it, but these days, strong passwords alone aren’t enough to ward off threats. Data breaches happen, and so do moments of being caught off-guard by phishing attempts.
Two-factor authentication adds another layer to your login process. Instead of having immediate access to your account upon entering your user name and password, you’ll have to pass another security check before access is granted. (You can read more about how 2FA works in our explainer, which also gives more details on the common forms available.)
Like using a password manager, two-factor authentication doesn’t have to be a cumbersome addition to your login process. Apps like Authy, Aegis, and Ravio make accessing your 2FA codes on multiple devices simple, and support easy security measures like biometric authentication to protect those codes from prying eyes.
We of course recommend enabling two-factor authentication on as many accounts as possible, but at minimum, do it for major accounts like email and financial services — places with info that could wreak havoc on your life if someone else got unauthorized access. Also consider protecting your Amazon, social media, Steam, and work accounts (and their info ripe for use in social engineering) in this way, too.
For sites that don’t have two-factor authentication — which sadly includes a large number of e-commerce sites — you can help limit damage from unauthorized account access by not leaving your credit card information and address on file.
Use a passkey
Most people will probably use a phone for their passkey storage, but they work with Windows PCs, Apple hardware, and security keys, too.
Most people will probably use a phone for their passkey storage, but they work with Windows PCs, Apple hardware, and security keys, too.
Google
Most people will probably use a phone for their passkey storage, but they work with Windows PCs, Apple hardware, and security keys, too.
Google
Google
This newer form of account authentication has been spreading steadily since last year, and just in time, too. Passkeys cut out a lot of the hassle of using passwords while also providing strong security out the gate — a quality of life upgrade sorely needed as online security gets more complex.
You just need a device like a phone, tablet, or even your PC to serve as an authenticator. It’ll be registered to your account when you generate the passkey. Afterward, you’ll get prompts on the device to authorize logins, which you’ll approve using face identification, a fingerprint, or a PIN. It’s incredibly simple, and more importantly, passkeys are more resistant to the current effects of data breaches. Because they are an asymmetrical form of encryption, a hacker can’t guess at your passkey based on the compromised website’s encrypted login data. Only you have the other part of the puzzle, and it’s a different kind of piece than the part saved to your website account.
You can also use a password manager to store passkeys, though they’re currently a bit less secure than using a physical device.
You can read more about passkeys in our coverage of Google’s recent launch of passkey support for its accounts (as well as in Google’s own excellent overview of the topic), but basically, this is the cutting-edge of online security. A passkey eliminates the hassles of passwords, along with the pressing need for two-factor authentication, and should make protecting your accounts much easier. Good websites support both passwords and passkeys — so you can still have a password + 2FA combo as an alternate method to login (just in case you lose your device with stored passkeys), but use your passkey day-to-day with less hassle.
There’s more you can do, of course — and it’s also easy
All set up with your password manager and two-factor authentication, and feeling primed to go even further? Learning more of the ins and outs of your password manager will help integrate it into your life even more seamlessly. Installing your service’s companion smartphone app and browser extension is just a starting point — check out our guide on how to make most of your password manager for more tips. You can also have a look at our story about 5 easy tasks that supercharge your security. If you’ve followed this article’s advice, you’re already more than halfway there!
Now Windows 11 has been updated to allow Android smartphones to be used as a webcam wirelessly via Bluetooth much more easily and effectively. The Windows Smartphone Link app is used for this purpose. No third-party app or cable connection is required.
This does not yet work with iPhones. However, iPhone owners can use the iOS app EpocCam in this case. This also turns iPhones into webcams under Windows and macOS. To use it, you need the app on your smartphone and a client under Windows or macOS. Here, the user also has the option of extensively customizing the image.
Connecting Android to the Smartphone Link app included in Windows 11 is easier and offers even more functions. This includes displaying messages, starting phone calls, and close collaboration between the PC and Android smartphone. In principle, the connection also works with iPhones, but you cannot use the Apple devices as a webcam, as described above.
Advantages of using smartphones as a webcam
The advantages are that the smartphone can also be used when using several computers and the quality of the smartphone camera is in many cases higher than that of the webcams built into notebooks or monitors.
If you are working with a laptop connected to a monitor, you can even leave the notebook closed as you do not need the built-in webcam.
Of course, it makes sense to use the smartphone in an upright position, for example on a charging station. However, there are also special holders that can be used to attach smartphones to a monitor or table, for example.
High-quality webcam completely free of charge with Windows 11
As a result, users receive a high-quality webcam for their Windows 11 computer free of charge. If you would still prefer to use an external webcam, you can find a list of high-quality webcams in our comparison: “The best webcams“
The Windows 11 Moment 5 update 5 is required so that you can use Android smartphones as a webcam. The Windows app Smartphone Link must be version 1.24012 or newer. This can be seen in the app settings. On the Android smartphone, you also need the “Link to Windows” app.
After this update, Windows 11 can work better with Android and transfer the camera image to Windows 11 via Bluetooth. Microsoft presents the possibilities in more detail in a blog post.
New features include the ability to switch between the front and rear camera in the app, pause the stream and use smartphone effects. You can also make calls via the Smartphone Link app, display notifications and even read text messages from your smartphone. The current battery charge status is also displayed in the app.
Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft
Once the smartphone has been successfully connected to Windows 11, the notifications and text messages from the smartphone are also available in Windows. At least Android 9 is required to use the app, which should not be a problem with current devices. If you still have an older Android smartphone, you can also connect it.
Use the Windows smartphone link for the connection
For a successful connection, you must activate the option “Allow this PC to access your mobile devices” under Bluetooth and devices > Mobile devices. Via Manage devices > Add device, Windows 11 creates a QR code with which Android devices can be connected in order to be able to use the camera in future.
PCWorld
PCWorld
PCWorld
For this to work, a “Cross Device Experience Host Update” is required, which Windows 11 receives via the Store. You can then use the cameras of the Android smartphone under Windows 11.
Thomas Joos (Bild:Microsoft)
Thomas Joos (Bild:Microsoft)
Thomas Joos (Bild:Microsoft)
The smartphone can then be used as a webcam in the same way as other webcams. You can also make further settings in the smartphone camera control window. With the right settings, the image quality is often higher than with conventional webcams, especially when using modern smartphones.
This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.
Passwords suck. If they’re easy to remember, they’re the simplest to guess. If they’re difficult to crack, they’re the hardest to recall. Even if you use the strongest passwords possible, they’re ineffective if they become known.
Which is why I’ve stopped using them as much to log into my accounts. But I haven’t weakened my online security by doing so. In fact, I’ve improved it—and sped up my login times, too.
How? I set up passkeys for my accounts. It takes just a few minutes, doesn’t cost anything, and can be done using your smartphone or PC. Using them is equally painless. When logging in, you choose the passkey option, then approve the login request with your thumbprint, face scan, or PIN. It’s fast.
This authentication method is secure, too. A passkey improves on several password weaknesses:
They can’t be guessed. Passkeys use an encryption method that uses two different kinds of keys as part of the verification process. The website gets the public key, while your smartphone, PC, security hardware key, or compatible password manager keeps and protects the private key. A private key can’t be determined from a public key, so a website hack won’t compromise your corresponding passkey.
Copies shouldn’t work. Passkeys are specific to the smartphone, PC, or security hardware key that created them. If a copy of the private key is somehow stolen from your device, it won’t register as valid. This is true for password managers that support passkeys, too—so long as they’re configured to verify that a passkey was used from the password manager’s platform.
Phony sites can’t use them. Passkeys are tied to not just to the device that generated them, but the specific website they were created for, too. A spoofed site won’t pass the verification check. So even as phishing sites and scams get more sophisticated, you’ll be better protected against them.
The best part is the ever-widening support for passkeys. It’s not just the big names like Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon. I’ve started spotting them elsewhere, like on Target.com and other shopping sites—even WhatsApp. Even sites with passkeys continue to expand their reach. In honor of World Password Day 2024, Google broadened its passkey program to include its Advanced Protection Program participants.
If you still like passwords, you don’t have to drop them entirely. Sites generally let you have multiple sign in methods. Just follow our tips for how quickly to shore up your online security—especially the part about adding two-factor authentication to your accounts. If you have a password + 2FA active, that combo can serve a backup method of login if you ever lose the device or security key with your passkeys.
(That’s the only real drawback of using passkeys exclusively—you need to have multiple devices with them, in case one becomes lost, stolen, or unusable.)
The less online security interests you, the quicker you should make the move to passkeys. Most people treat passwords like the nuisance they are, reusing them or creating weak ones as often as possible. Bitwarden’s latest survey proves this point, with over 30 percent of U.S.-based respondents reusing passwords across 11 to 20+ (!) sites or apps. Yikes.
With passkeys, there’s nothing to remember. No software to manage. And again—they’re free.
The battery life isn’t as long as some esports mice
Our Verdict
The Asus ROG Keris II Ace boasts a combination of top-level features and functionality that you’d be hard pressed to find altogether in another FPS mouse. That makes it a dynamo — you’ll get some of the very best performance you’ve ever had in FPS games with this mouse.
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Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
For me the Asus ROG Keris II Ace sits at the top of ROG’s current wireless esports line-up, with a list of features that encompass everything I want in an FPS gaming mouse. An extremely powerful and accurate sensor — check! Wi-Fi and Bluetooth — check! A 4,000Hz polling rate — check! An ultra-light weight — check! It’s all there. In fact, this mouse has quickly become a favorite of mine that I keep coming back to for my FPS gaming. Read on to find out more…
Further reading: See our roundup of the best wireless gaming mice to learn about competing products.
Asus ROG Keris II Ace design and build
The Asus ROG Keris II Ace has been made to be as lightweight as possible for speed and maneuverability in FPS games; it weighs just a measly 1.9 ounces (54 grams). The solid back is made from lightweight nylon but it feels remarkably like plastic — it’s the same material as you’ll find in the ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition.
A symmetrical shape that molds to the contours of your hand delivers optimum comfort and peak control.
With six programmable buttons, the Keris II Ace offers a command load on par with other competitive gaming mice of its ilk. The two main clicks are made from premium PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) material, which means they’re hardier than plastic mouse buttons.
They feature ROG Optical Micro Switches with a very quick actuation speed and are rated for a long 100 million click durability.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Asus ROG Keris II Ace connectivity
The wireless connectivity is very good considering the mouse’s lightweight construction. It consists of both 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth options. The Keris II Ace can also be used in wired mode and comes with a flexible 6.5-foot (2 meter) paracord for that purpose.
In Bluetooth mode I could pair the Asus ROG Keris II Ace with up to three of my devices simultaneously, which was just perfect for hopping between my gaming PC, a laptop, and a handheld console.
The Keris II Ace comes with a large Wi-Fi dongle as well as a large polling-rate booster dongle, both of which I would have preferred to be smaller. Still, it’s what they can do that matters. The standard dongle plugged into the booster to give me a very fast maximum wireless polling rate up to 4,000Hz in Wi-Fi mode.
That’s the current fastest speed available for wireless devices. In wired mode the polling rate can be set up to a maximum 8KHz, which is the same as in mice like the Razer Cobra Pro and Alienware Pro Wireless.
Asus ROG Keris II Ace gaming performance
With a whopping 42,000 DPI the ROG Ace is proof that we’ve yet to see a glass ceiling for DPI in FPS gaming mice. I found it was certainly a big confidence booster having one of the best of the best sensors at my fingertips — the ROG Aimpoint Pro Optical Sensor.
Two of the sensor’s other topline stats include a maximum speed of 750 inches per second and maximum acceleration of 50g, both of which put me in good stead for pulling off crazy maneuvers in a handful of my FPS games.
Indeed, in games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and CounterStrike 2 at high DPI settings, the Keris II Ace was exceptionally smooth. I noticed a marked improvement in the actuation rate of the buttons compared to other FPS mice I own. They were clicky and their lightning-quick actuation speed improved the accuracy of my timing.
The ROG Keris II Ace has a switch to change connectivity modes on its underside.
The ROG Keris II Ace has a switch to change connectivity modes on its underside.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
The ROG Keris II Ace has a switch to change connectivity modes on its underside.
Dominic Bayley / IDG
Dominic Bayley / IDG
The Keris II Ace slid efficiently on my neoprene mouse mat thanks to its small but effective 100 percent PTFE feet, but as a rare treat I enjoyed using it on my glass coffee table too, tracking on glass being a unique capability that differentiates it from near competitors.
It was also perfectly comfortable in my grip. Its medium-sized proportions meant my hand fit snugly without any overhang at the front like I get on some smaller mice. The sides slant slightly inwards meaning I could adopt an effortless grip that never hurt my hand.
A unique design trait that extends the ledge on the mouse’s right hand-side provided my ring and middle fingers with a little more mobility than I’m used to. The grip was also very effective thanks to the non-slip grip tape supplied in the box.
I got approximately 66 hours battery life in Wi-Fi mode with the default RGB lighting on, which is a little less than you might expect from some esports mice. However, Asus says you’re likely to get close to 90 hours in Bluetooth mode.
In Bluetooth mode I could pair the ROG Keris II Ace with up to three of my devices simultaneously — perfect for hopping between my gaming PC, a laptop, and a handheld console.
Asus ROG Keris II Ace software
The Asus ROG Keris II Ace’s settings can be tweaked in the Asus Armoury Crate app. This is where I initially calibrated my mouse’s DPI, assigned commands, and saved profiles for my games. I also tweaked settings like the mouse’s liftoff distance and polling rate.
Mice with just six configurable buttons generally don’t offer a lot of onboard control. But the Keris II Ace allows you to apply button combinations to switch profiles and change some of the mouse’s key settings without having to open the app.
The ROG Keris II Ace only features one RGB zone in its mouse wheel, but you can change its color and motion effects and sync these with any other Aura Sync compatible devices you might own using the app’s Aura Sync menu.
Should you buy the Asus ROG Keris II Ace?
The Asus ROG Keris II Ace costs $159, so it’s not cheap. Yet it offers a combination of features and functionality that’s extremely hard to come by in similarly priced FPS mice. Indeed, mice with 4,000Hz wireless polling rates, dual wireless connectivity, and on-glass-tracking that weigh just 1.9 ounces are few and far between.
Therefore, if you’re in the market for a premium esports mouse, the ROG Keris II Ace is a sure bet for performance, that’s also well worth the money.
Folks, I’m buzzing with excitement today. One of our favorite laptops, the Acer Swift Go 14, is on sale for just $799.99 at Amazon right now. We awarded it 4 out of 5 stars in our review, praising how well-rounded it is. It features plenty of connectivity options, a wonderful typing experience, marathon battery life, a zippy processor, and much more. The model that’s on sale today has slightly less storage than the one we reviewed, but other than that they’re pretty much identical. Plus, it currently rivals our top pick in our best laptops roundup.
The Acer Swift Go 14 is packing some solid hardware. You’re getting an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor (16 cores plus 22 threads), 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. According to our review, it outperforms other laptops with the same processor. You should be able to fly through office work, coursework, everyday tasks, and so on. The 14-inch display has a resolution of 1920×1200 and is touch-enabled. It’s fine for casual use, but we found that “black colors are washed out, contrast is just so-so, and colors aren’t all that vibrant.” Other goodies include a 1400p webcam, a 65 watt-hour battery, and a fingerprint reader.
This is a fantastic deal, so you better jump on it sooner rather than later.
In addition to being a pretty great device all on its own, the Steam Deck makes an ideal stream machine, playing either your own local games from a dedicated gaming PC or cloud games via a service like GeForce Now or Stadia (RIP, Stadia). But actually getting to the service using the Steam Deck’s console-style controls is a bit of a headache. Nvidia is fixing that with the latest update.
The beta method is specifically for the Steam Deck, which can’t easily run the GeForce Now Windows application like the ROG Ally, MSI Claw, et cetera. The Steam Deck needs to use the browser version of GeForce Now, streaming games more or less like an embedded YouTube video. But booting up the browser and navigating to a web page isn’t what the Steam Deck’s library-focused interface is best at.
It’ll download an “applet that will install a shortcut to GeForce Now right in your Steam library, making it as easy to launch as any other game. Not bad, not bad at all.
No matter how much of my stuff I transition to cloud storage, every once in a while I still need to use ye olde sneakernet. And this deal is probably the best I’ve ever seen in terms of bang for your buck. Today Amazon has a SanDisk 512GB flash drive, using a crazy-fast USB 3.2 connection, for just $32.99. That’s almost two-thirds off the original $90 MSRP, and half the current price for the same drive at Best Buy.
512GB is a huge amount of storage for removable media, but you can find it cheaper elsewhere. What makes this deal so appealing to me is the speed. When inserted into a compatible USB 3.2 port, this thing can read at up to 130 megabytes per second. That’ll let you copy, say, your entire 122-gigabyte Baldur’s Gate III installation off the drive in about sixteen minutes.
It’s more than three times faster than a USB 3.0 flash drive (which is also much larger) going for around the same price. Throw in the teeny-tiny size, and it’s a fantastic deal — seriously, make use of that lanyard loop or you might just lose this thing in your bag.
Also note that while the read speeds are great, the write speeds are considerably slower, around 44 megabytes per second according to the user reviews. If you need something faster and more capacious, you might want to step up to a dedicated portable SSD like the Samsung T7 Shield, which is still on sale.
For World Password Day, Microsoft is doing something I can appreciate: helping get rid of them. Today, the company said that all Microsoft consumer accounts will be passkey enabled. Adios, passwords!
What’s a passkey? It replaces passwords by combining something you have (such as a phone, a physical security key, or your password manager) with either something you know (a PIN number) or something you are, using biometric security. On Windows, that means using a fingerprint reader or webcam with Windows Hello.
“Starting today, you can use a passkey to sign in to Microsoft apps and websites, including Microsoft 365 and Copilot on desktop and mobile browsers,” Microsoft said in a blog post. You’ll be able to log into mobile Microsoft apps in the coming weeks.
I love passkeys. Windows Hello was one of the best additions ever made to Windows, and most people are now accustomed to unlocking their phone or PC with their fingerprint or face. (A PIN, assuming you’ve set one up, serves as a backup in case your device doesn’t recognize you.)
To set up passkeys on your Windows device, you can follow this Microsoft-supplied link. You’ll need to log in using an existing authentication method, such as your password or Microsoft authenticator. But the setup process links Windows Hello to your Microsoft account, so you should be able to log in to your Microsoft account page, Outlook on the Web, and so on.
The only catch, if it truly is one, is that you must set up a passkey for each device you own. One part of passkey authentication remains on the app or site that you’re trying to log in to; the other part remains on your device. Both are needed to unlock your data. It’s a little less convenient than a single password that can be stored in the cloud or in one of our recommended password managers, but requiring two keys, rather than one, is more secure. Migrating passkeys from PC to PC isn’t something that’s currently available.
If you’re a business user — or, like some of us, straddle a work and personal environment — you’ll need to ask your IT department to enable passkeys for corporate devices. Microsoft uses its Entra ID technology to manage this.
Tying the entirety of your personal life to your face or fingerprint does carry some risks, especially if you’re incapacitated for some reason and someone tries to take advantage. But for most people, in most situations, passkeys seem like an easy, secure, authentication method that I’d like to see more of.
This March, in response to Texas’s age-verification law being upheld, the ultra-popular PornHub and numerous other adult sites operated by parent company Aylo went dark in the state. Replacing the NSFW videos you’d normally expect to see, a message decrying government overreach and proposed compromises has been posted.
Editor’s note: Updated May 2, 2024 with new information about Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case against governmental overreach.
Pornhub’s official statement to those trying to access its content in Texas. No further comment about how I obtained this screenshot.
Pornhub’s official statement to those trying to access its content in Texas. No further comment about how I obtained this screenshot.
Sam Singleton
Pornhub’s official statement to those trying to access its content in Texas. No further comment about how I obtained this screenshot.
Sam Singleton
Sam Singleton
And as with Utah, Texas’s actions prompted an increased interest in virtual private networks, or VPNs. Google searches for “VPN” immediately skyrocketed in Texas as folks looked to circumvent the ban. I checked Google Trends myself and, yep, Texas now shows 100 percent interest for “VPN.”
A screenshot of Google Trends on March 14, 2024 showing VPN search interest in Texas at 100.
A screenshot of Google Trends on March 14, 2024 showing VPN search interest in Texas at 100.
Sam Singleton
A screenshot of Google Trends on March 14, 2024 showing VPN search interest in Texas at 100.
Sam Singleton
Sam Singleton
Now, to add further dismay to the NSFW crowd, the Supreme Court refused to hear a case in April brought by the Free Speech Coalition, a pornography industry trade group. The Coalition, as well as several other companies, petitioned the Court on the grounds of free speech. Unfortunately, the justices turned down the request, further cementing the government’s commitment to abstinence…whoops, I meant safety.
We might not be experts on law, but we sure know VPNs here at PCWorld! While we would never encourage circumventing any laws, if you’re a resident of Texas who just so happens to be looking for a VPN for totally legal reasons, here are some especially choice picks, culled from our roundup of the best VPN services.
ExpressVPN is our best overall pick for VPNs and for good reason. You’ll get a ton of features for your money including wide-device support, ad- and tracker-blocking, and plenty of servers located both domestically and internationally to choose from.
It’s also one of the fastest VPNs we’ve ever tested, meaning you won’t have to downgrade your video quality to something that makes it look like the important bits were blurred on purpose—we’re talking about those fine special effect details in the latest Avatar: The Last Airbender series, of course.
If you’re looking for a VPN that doesn’t log the sites you visit and provides fairly anonymous payment methods, NordVPN is a fine choice. It’s loaded with features and offers fast servers perfect for streaming videos. The one downside? While it only costs $4.19 per month if you commit to a two-year plan, it costs $12.99 monthly if you don’t want to sign up for a long term contract.
This might be a better option, however. Mullvad isn’t just in our top five VPNs for overall speeds, it more importantly earns top marks for privacy, taking seemingly every effort to know as little as possible about its users. From our roundup:
“We’ve never seen another VPN that actively resists knowing who you are the way Mullvad does. Mullvad doesn’t ask for your email address, name, or anything else. Instead it assigns a random account number that acts as your identifier and login. Mullvad accepts payments using standard methods such as credit cards and PayPal, but you can also mail your payment in cash to remain as private as possible. Mullvad has a no-logging policy and doesn’t collect any identifying metadata from your usage.”
Better yet, it costs just $5 per month regardless of the plan you choose.
Windscribe VPN has a totally free-to-use version with 11 worldwide locations to choose from including a U.S. server conveniently located outside of Texas. It also offers up to 10GB of bandwidth per month, which should be enough to do your business, whatever that business may be.
The service is also extremely easy to use with a simple setup and solid performance for a free VPN. Plus, if you find that you like the service’s free version you can always upgrade to premium with more features to expand your, um, horizons outside of just the local content.
Its interface is a bit unruly, but overall Norton 360 Deluxe offers strong antivirus protection and an excellent spread of protective features that include a password manager, VPN access, automated cloud backups, and Dark Web Monitoring. PCs with modest hardware can experience a performance hit during scans, however—something to consider if you often work heavily with new or altered files.
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
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Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Of Norton’s offerings, the Norton 360 Deluxe plan hits an ideal sweet spot of wide protection and affordable pricing. It’s an excellent all-in-one solution for those who would otherwise be more lax about security if they had to maintain each piece separately. For example, if you’re more likely to use a password manager if it’s part of same user interface as your antivirus, then all the better.
Not much is outwardly different still since we last reviewed Norton 360 Deluxe, though the company continues to work on and evolve its back end. Arguably, that’s the more important focus, especially as AI enables bad actors to be more sophisticated with malicious behavior.
What has changed is other rival antivirus companies joined with Norton under a single owner. Parent company Gen Digital now owns Avast, AVG, and Avira in addition to Norton, and during a press briefing, Gen shared plans to power all its antivirus software with a single engine and focus more on the features offered by each of its brands.
That’s welcome news, because Norton 360 Deluxe’s main Achilles heel isn’t its performance, but rather, how it presents its features to users. And that’s a drag on an otherwise excellent product.
Norton groups its many plans under two main umbrellas: Antivirus and All-in-One, with notable overlap in features. Though access to more online protections is always good, keeping the options straight can get a little overwhelming.
Norton 360 Deluxe offers a wide range of features for its price.
Norton 360 Deluxe offers a wide range of features for its price.
PCWorld
Norton 360 Deluxe offers a wide range of features for its price.
PCWorld
PCWorld
Norton 360 Deluxe stands out among the bunch as an all-in-one plan that protects against major online threats, without extras you may not need, like identity theft assistance. Protections against online threats includes antivirus, malware, and ransomware detection, a built-in firewall, malicious link and attachment screening, dark web and privacy monitoring, and webcam safeguards. You also get 50GB of storage for cloud backups, access to Norton’s password manager and VPN, parental controls, and PC utilities that include the ability to monitor for outdated software.
Some features, like the privacy monitoring, can be upgraded to include help with scrubbing you from data broker sites. And Norton lets you know it, too. Despite already having paid for a plan, you won’t be immune from upsells of additional subscription services.
How much does Norton 360 Deluxe cost?
When purchased through Norton directly, the Norton 360 Deluxe plan costs $50 for the first year, and then reverts to a higher full price of $120 afterward. Plans come with a 60-day money-back guarantee. Be aware that Norton automatically enrolls you into auto-renewal at sign-up.
Norton 360 Deluxe (5-devices)
$50 for the first year
$120 per year thereafter
You can use Norton 360 Deluxe as an individual or family plan—Norton only limits use by number of devices, which you can spread across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS as you choose.
Compared to rivals, Norton doesn’t favor number of devices over features (or visa versa). Instead, you get a good balance between the two on this mid-tier all-in-one plan. If you really need more devices, you can upgrade to Norton 360 Premium, which isn’t widely advertised on the website. Costing only a little bit more ($55 for the first year and $140 for every year thereafter), it doubles the number of protected devices to 10 and cloud storage to 100GB.
You can buy a license for Norton 360 Deluxe through online retailers.
You can buy a license for Norton 360 Deluxe through online retailers.
PCWorld
You can buy a license for Norton 360 Deluxe through online retailers.
PCWorld
PCWorld
As with other antivirus suites, you can save further on Norton 360 Deluxe (and Premium) through third-party retailers, including PCWorld’s own digital store, Amazon, and Newegg. These plans vary more in number of devices and length of subscription, which can help you get a better deal for your situation. That’s especially so during major deal periods like Black Friday—just this past year, we saw a one-year subscription drop to just $20 for Deluxe, and $25 for Premium.
Key features of Norton 360 Deluxe
Installation and user interface
To get Norton 360 Deluxe on your PC, first purchase a subscription and then download the installation file.
When that’s complete, you’ll first see the My Norton interface—which is only one of the two you’ll interact with. It has a modern, streamlined look, and Norton 360 Deluxe’s major features can be accessed through it—scans, updates for the program, the VPN, the password manager, dark web and privacy monitoring reports, cloud backup, and parental controls. You can also jump straight to the secure browser and software updater, as well as settings, notifications, and help files. In a nice touch, your subscription status (that is, days remaining) is listed in the upper-left corner.
For the most part, this view is simple and clear, but it does have some quirks. One is the lack of a back button while navigating through submenus (like in settings). Another is the limited settings.
Norton 360 Deluxe’s interface has two different views, and you have to bounce between both to get access to all features.
To access deeper settings, you’ll need to switch to the Classic view. It lets you customize the behavior of antivirus scans, the firewall, backups, and protections for email, apps, and your webcam. You can also tweak administrative settings for the Norton app, like if remote management or silent mode is enabled.
You can hop over to Classic view by choosing Device Security > Open in the My Norton view. This interface has a more dated vibe, with four tiles that let you access features (Security, Internet Security, Backup, and Performance). Tap on any of them, and the full options reveal themselves in the middle of the screen. A fifth tile is dedicated to switching back to the My Norton view.
Several features can only be accessed through the Classic view, like webcam protection settings and the password generator.
The Password Generator tool is only available through the Classic view.
The Password Generator tool is only available through the Classic view.
PCWorld
The Password Generator tool is only available through the Classic view.
PCWorld
PCWorld
With this dual interface setup, your best bet to not get too lost is to click around and get familiar with each layout. One tip for data nerds: You can look at reports about your usage and scan outcomes over time.
As for notifications—Norton does err on the side of more pop-up notifications about status changes and activity, but you can turn them off pretty easily. That’s unfortunately not the case for the app’s promotion of additional paid services.
Virus, malware, and threat protection
Real-time protection
Norton 360 Deluxe protects your PC from real-time threats in several different ways. It scans new or altered files that you’ve added, opened, or downloaded; controls access to files and folders that could be targeted by ransomware; and monitors apps for unusual activity. USB drives are also scanned by default as well, as are network drives and scripts in Microsoft and Adobe documents. Norton 360 Deluxe also strips away scripts when downloading documents. And email on your PC is checked for sketchy links and malicious attachments, both incoming and outgoing.
When you’re on the web, 360 Deluxe will check websites to see if they’re secure and if they’ve been compromised—but only if you have the Norton Safe Web extension installed. Norton 360 Deluxe also limits access to your webcam (“SafeCam”).
Scheduled and manual scans
Norton 360 Deluxe’s default schedule is a monthly full scan—but you can change its frequency with surprising precision. (Want to run it every 15 hours? Not a problem.) You can also set a schedule for the other default scan types: Quick Scan, Drive Scan, Folder Scan, and File Scan, or create your own custom scan to add to the list.
Advanced users may find the settings for each scan limited. The full scan, for example, only lets you choose to scan within compressed files, remove infected folders automatically, scan network drives, and delete low risk and tracking cookie files. The other default scans have even fewer settings, and there’s no option to run a complete, exhaustive deep scan. It saves on system resources—and won’t hit your PC as hard, if you don’t change your file collection much after the software does an initial pass of all your files—but if you like to manually run thorough scans, you’ll be disappointed.
Norton 360 Deluxe offers broad, fairly comprehensive protection, but there are extras that don’t really serve much use, too.
You can edit the settings for scans to change their location and how often they happen.
You can edit the settings for scans to change their location and how often they happen.
PCWorld
You can edit the settings for scans to change their location and how often they happen.
PCWorld
PCWorld
Additional features
Browser extensions
For comprehensive protection, Norton provides several browser extensions to improve online safety. The ones related to web safety are Norton Home Page (which changes your default to Norton’s rendition of a start page), Norton Safe Search (which changes your default to Norton’s search engine), and Norton Safe Web (which scans links and adds a green or red badge to let you know if they’re safe or not to visit).
Not all of these are universally helpful, though—most people who already have a preferred home page and search engine will only find value in Norton Safe Web. And weirdly, installing only Norton Safe Web is circuitous on Chrome. I could only get it onto my test PC by going through the Norton 360 Deluxe app, which forces you to first install Norton Home Page and Norton Safe Search.
The Norton Safe Web browser extension screens links in search results.
The Norton Safe Web browser extension screens links in search results.
PCWorld
The Norton Safe Web browser extension screens links in search results.
PCWorld
PCWorld
Fortunately, since I went through all that, you can use this direct link for Norton Safe Web to the Chrome Web Store. Why the extension doesn’t turn up when running a search for it isn’t clear.
Separately, you can install Norton Password Manager, as well as Norton Family (which monitors web browsing habits). The password manager is the most polished (and in my opinion, useful) of all available extensions. At most, you’ll really only want to use Norton Password Manager, Norton Safe Web, and possibly Norton Family.
Cloud backup
To have Norton back up your most important files, you’ll need to first set up this feature within the app. If you accept the default settings, cloud backups will upload everything except video and email files in your Windows document folders (i.e., Pictures, Documents, Music, etc). You can change the file types, as well as add or exclude files and folders. You can create different backup rules (called a “Backup Set”), but can only save to one location per backup set.
Speaking of save location—this feature really only seems to be for cloud backups. If you choose a local location, Norton 360 Deluxe doesn’t seem to work properly. On more than one PC, I couldn’t get Norton to save the files to an external drive, even though the confirmation dialog said it had.
Attempting to back up to a local drive did not work when I tested the feature on more than one PC.
Attempting to back up to a local drive did not work when I tested the feature on more than one PC.
PCWorld
Attempting to back up to a local drive did not work when I tested the feature on more than one PC.
PCWorld
PCWorld
So if Norton’s cloud backups will be your first backup system, you unfortunately won’t be able to use it to properly cover your butt. It’s definitely better than nothing and a good start, though. And if you already have a good backup protocol in place, setting up these cloud backups least further ensures that ransomware can’t lock you out of your most important files.
Password manager
Norton’s password manager is simple but good—a refreshing change from services that feel stripped to the bone. Setup is easy, too. Norton asks you to create a separate vault password, then prompts you to download a recovery key. (You can’t recover your account otherwise if you forget your vault password.)
Afterward, you can use the Norton Password Manager mobile app to enable passwordless authentication for logging into your vault. It greatly simplifies an otherwise cumbersome system where two passwords are required to access your vault (once to get into your Norton account, then to unlock the vault), and it’s seamless, though the authentication approval is a little slow to register. You can access your vault through the website, a browser extension, or the mobile app.
PCWorld
PCWorld
PCWorld
One odd quirk I encountered during my review period: You only see different font colors for numbers, symbols, and letters when generating a password, but not afterward. You also can’t set the clipboard to automatically clear after a certain time if you copy a password.
VPN
The interface for Norton’s VPN is clean and easy to understand, but almost too simplified. For starters, you can only choose your location by country and not a specific city. Also, your settings are limited to toggle switches for turning on auto connect, auto VPN (VPN activates on unsecured Wi-Fi networks), the kill switch (blocks internet access if the VPN abruptly disconnects), and ad tracker blocking. You can also add apps to the split tunnel feature, which keeps the VPN from routing their traffic.
Speeds while using the VPN were inconsistent during my light testing—for example, while connected to the U.S. server, I got anywhere from about 88 percent of my normal download speed to as little as 29 percent. If you’re stuck on a slower connection, that could hurt a lot.
Norton’s VPN settings are bare-bones.
Norton’s VPN settings are bare-bones.
PCWorld
Norton’s VPN settings are bare-bones.
PCWorld
PCWorld
Countries supported are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.
You can only access the VPN through the My Norton interface.
Parental controls
You can set up Norton 360 Deluxe’s parental controls quickly. Just install the Norton Family app, as well as the Norton Family browser extension, on your kid’s PC. Then set up a child profile for them.
Once in place, you can track web, search, video, and app activity, as well as restrict access based on time of day. On iOS and Android, you can also restrict access based on app (Android) and get alerts if the device leaves a specific location.
Norton’s parental controls (“Norton Family”) are accessed through a web browser.
Norton’s parental controls (“Norton Family”) are accessed through a web browser.
PCWorld
Norton’s parental controls (“Norton Family”) are accessed through a web browser.
PCWorld
PCWorld
Like the rest of the Norton website interface, statistics and settings are streamlined and easy to navigate, though there are some limitations. For example, you can only monitor YouTube and Hulu site usage on mobile in Norton’s mobile browser and not within apps or website embeds.
PC utilities
Included with Norton are several PC tools—though most are duplicates of existing Windows features.
Optimize Disk is Norton’s version of Windows Disk Defragmenter—and honestly, not necessary. According to Norton, it only focuses on defragging of hard disk drives. You’re better off using Windows for disk optimization, which already treats hard drives and SSDs with the appropriate protocols.
File Cleanup gets rid of temporary files held by Windows and any lingering Internet Explorer files. (Yep, Internet Explorer—presumably, Norton’s serving people clinging to dead versions of Windows; Edge is not yet supported.) Again, you can use Windows’ own tool for this.
Yes, Norton still concerns itself with Internet Explorer files. (Legacy Windows users…it’s time to upgrade, friends.)
Yes, Norton still concerns itself with Internet Explorer files. (Legacy Windows users…it’s time to upgrade, friends.)
PCWorld
Yes, Norton still concerns itself with Internet Explorer files. (Legacy Windows users…it’s time to upgrade, friends.)
PCWorld
PCWorld
Startup Manager lets you view and manage which apps automatically launch with Windows startup. You can easily use Windows’ own management setting for this by typing startup apps in Windows search.
While there’s nothing wrong per se with using these utilities—Norton’s attempt to centralize them isn’t a bad impulse—introducing a third-party into the mix is extraneous. The only real interesting tool is Graphs, which shows you a history of system use (installations, downloads, optimization, virus detections, quick scans, and alerts).
Dark web monitor
You can give Norton information like your email addresses (up to five), physical addresses, phone numbers (up to five), mother’s maiden name, driver’s license number, insurance info (up to five), credit card numbers (up to 10), bank account (up to 10), and gamertags (up to 10).
If you’re like most people, you’ll get an instant hit for your email address(es) if you use them often, but the list isn’t nearly as comprehensive as using HaveIBeenPwned.com’s lookup tool. I consider this as an extra method for getting an alert, but not something to rely on for full coverage.
Dark Web Monitoring keeps an eye out for leaked data about you.
Dark Web Monitoring keeps an eye out for leaked data about you.
PCWorld
Dark Web Monitoring keeps an eye out for leaked data about you.
PCWorld
PCWorld
Privacy monitor
Data broker websites scoop up information about you from public records and other databases that buy data. (The latter is why privacy policies are so important—companies that you interact with can and do sell your information.) Depending on what they find, these websites can put your name, birthdate, current and past addresses, phone numbers, and relatives into just about anyone’s hands, and removing yourself from these sites can be like playing Whack-A-Mole.
Norton asks for a surprisingly minimal amount of information to run a search for you on these types of sites—but the results aren’t as comprehensive as some other services. You’ll also have to pay for an upgrade to Privacy Monitor Assistant to have them handle the leg work of removing your info.
Secure browser
For those who don’t want to deal with keeping Chrome secure, Norton 360 Deluxe offers an alternative—Norton Secure Browser. It’s based off the same Chromium code as Google’s browser, but the experience is more locked down.
PCWorld
PCWorld
PCWorld
Out of the gate, Norton Secure Browser comes with the Norton Password Manager, Norton Privacy Guard (which blocks trackers and some ads), and Norton Safe Search Plus (which verifies links) extensions installed, and it only supports a limited number of optional browser extensions. (You can still install extensions for big rival password managers such as Bitwarden, Dashlane, and 1Password, so you’re not completely locked into Norton’s ecosystem.)
Overall, it’s a Chrome-lite experience, which has the upside of narrowing how much trouble you can get yourself into. On the flip side, it’s not fool-proof. You can’t install a separate ad-blocker, like uBlock Origin, that blocks sponsored links. In fact, the Safe Search Plus extension will put a green checkmark on some sponsored links for downloads that are not the official, primary site—which in my book opens up users to potential risk.
Customer support
You can get help directly within the app, both from the My Norton and Classic views. Norton also offers support pages and community forums on its website, as well as technical support through social media, chat, and phone assistance. For simpler questions, the in-app help and support pages are a good place to start, while the forums and company support are better for troubleshooting.
Incidentally, if you’re looking for the version info for your Norton app installation, you can access it through Help > About.
Updates and maintenance
Virus and app updates run automatically by default, but you can run the LiveUpdate feature manually if you want to check for pending updates. It checks for any changes to the antivirus protection, process protection, and Norton app.
Performance
In tests performed by leading security research institutes, Norton generally performs well—at least when it comes to online protection. In AV-Test’s zero-day attack and malware tests for January and February 2024 (the most current as of this article’s last update), Norton detected 100 percent of the threats. It caught all 15,362 samples for recently widespread and prevalent malware, and 278 samples of zero-day attacks (including threats spread through the web and email).
Similarly, in AV-Comparatives’ real-world protection test for February through March 2024, Norton blocked 99.2 percent of the 246 test cases, with 9 false positives. (For comparison, ESET posted zero false positives, while AVG and Avast had five.) These samples are a mix of malicious web addresses, exploits (like drive-by downloads), and URLs that link directly to malware. In practical terms, Norton will effectively keep shady websites at bay, but its higher filtering sensitivity could cause unwanted hassle or stress when trying to access a legitimate website or start a download.
AV-Comparatives / PCWorld
AV-Comparatives / PCWorld
AV-Comparatives / PCWorld
Meanwhile, when tasked with the 10,053 samples in AV-Comparatives’ March 2024 malware protection test, Norton 360 scored a 81.8 percent offline detection rate, 98.9 percent online detection rate, and a 99.97 percent online protection rate, with 26 false positives. Ultimately, the online protection score matters the most, since it tells the story of how well an antivirus suite halts threats that find their way onto your PC and attempt mischief—and Norton’s performance tops the charts.
However, Norton’s offline detection score highlights how reliant its antivirus engine is on an active internet connection for full protection. Without access to the company’s servers, Norton misses the presence of malware more often than the competition, trailing almost 15 percent behind its best rivals. That makes for more uneven performance, where you’ll have to wait for malware to rear its head before it gets shown the door. In contrast, rival Bitdefender achieves a 96.1 percent offline detection rate, while still also offering a 96.1 percent online detection rate, 99.92 percent online protection rate, and fewer false alarms (8).
Norton did not participate in AV-Comparatives’ November 2023 Advanced Threat Protection Test, which evaluates a security suite’s resistance to more sophisticated, targeted attack methods like malicious scripts and fileless attacks.
AV-Comparatives / PCWorld
AV-Comparatives / PCWorld
AV-Comparatives / PCWorld
For PC performance, Norton 360 Deluxe can have a notable effect on common tasks. You’ll see it less in everyday activities, as evidenced by PCMark 10, a benchmark that simulates web browsing, video chatting, gaming, and file editing in open-souce programs like GIMP and LibreOffice for images and documents. When idle in the background, watching for real-time threats, Norton 360 Deluxe had virtually no impact on PCMark 10’s test scores. But if a full scan ran continuously during the benchmark, the results dropped by about 6 percent.
When using Microsoft Office apps (as simulated by UL Procyon), the performance drop gets bigger—an almost 10 percent dip during a full scan, and roughly 6 percent at idle. That difference grew biggest when running our Handbrake encoding test, with a 22 percent decrease during a full scan and 11 percent on idle.
One thing these numbers don’t show, however, is how Norton typically handles full scans. After an initial full scan, subsequent ones look for changed or new files—which speeds up the scan time and the drag on system resources. And full scans are scheduled by default for off-hours.
Still, if you handle files often—especially if you’re on a mid-range or budget PC—Norton’s affect on your PC performance is something to consider.
Should you buy Norton 360 Deluxe?
Norton offers a lot—but its strength is its Achilles heel, too. You get broad, fairly comprehensive protection, but there are extras that don’t really serve much use, too. This security suite would benefit from a unified interface and a lighter impact on system performance. But if you’re seeking an all-in-one solution, this one still ticks the right boxes.
Editor’s note: Because online services are often iterative, gaining new features and performance improvements over time, this review is subject to change in order to accurately reflect the current state of the service. Any changes to text or our final review verdict will be noted at the top of this article.
Antivirus, Professional Software, Security Software and Services
Your computer is, in many ways, an extension of your life. So if you suddenly lose your hard drive due to an unexpected crash or damage, it can be devastating. Don’t let that happen to you. With EaseUS Disk Copy, you can safely clone your hard disk, migrate to new operating systems, and much more to preserve your precious data.
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Want to upgrade your Microsoft products but don’t want to spend the premium to do so? Now’s the time to take advantage of a limited-time deal on the all-in-one Microsoft Office Pro 2019 for Windows: Lifetime License plus Windows 11 Pro bundle. This week only, you can upgrade to Windows 11 Pro and get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Pro 2019 for a single $49.97 price.
Windows 11 Pro has been redesigned for the hybrid working world, replete with security and productivity features to help you do your best work. Microsoft Office Pro, loaded with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Teams, Publisher, and Access, will run seamlessly on Windows 11 Pro and give you the power to work more efficiently, no matter what the project.
The fact that IT is such an exciting topic has a lot to do with the constant changes. In hardly any other industry do new technical developments follow each other so closely. Ground-breaking new products are launched on the market in rapid succession and often become widespread very quickly.
However, it often happens that after a few years, competing products emerge that replace their predecessors thanks to having a better concept, a modern interface, greater functionality adapted to current requirements, or simply lower costs.
In this article, we present a series of examples in which programs that were previously regarded as a kind of standard have been replaced by new developments, and explain the background and reasons for the change in each case.
Microsoft Defender instead of Avira Free Antivirus
The Defender included in Windows 8, 10 and 11 has replaced third-party antivirus programs such as Avira Free Antivirus on many PCs.
The Defender included in Windows 8, 10 and 11 has replaced third-party antivirus programs such as Avira Free Antivirus on many PCs.
Foundry
The Defender included in Windows 8, 10 and 11 has replaced third-party antivirus programs such as Avira Free Antivirus on many PCs.
Foundry
Foundry
The German company Avira launched Antivir, one of the first professional antivirus programs, in 1988 under the name H+BEDV Datentechnik. Avira Free Antivirus, the free version for private users, was soon to be found on almost every computer whose owner took the increasing number of warnings about viruses and other malware seriously.
Microsoft hesitated for a long time before integrating its own antivirus tool into Windows. Windows 7 already included a program to defend against adware and spyware, but it was ineffective against classic malware.
However, as the danger posed by computer viruses increased exponentially and many users still went online without protection software, Defender was integrated into the operating system with Windows 8. Up until the first editions of Windows 10, however, the detection rates were low and the program was therefore not recommended.
However, this changed with Windows 11 at the latest, and the software is now on a par with other free antivirus solutions. As it does not need to be installed, uses few resources, and does not display ads, it has largely replaced Avira and other competitors on private PCs.
Google Chrome instead of Firefox
Google Chrome was able to prevail over Firefox thanks to its sober user interface and superior speed.
Google Chrome was able to prevail over Firefox thanks to its sober user interface and superior speed.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Google Chrome was able to prevail over Firefox thanks to its sober user interface and superior speed.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
The market share figures for the major browsers from March 2024 show a clear winner: According to market researchers from Similarweb, Google Chrome has a share of 64.7 percent on U.S. desktop computers. Edge is in second place with 14.71 percent, while Firefox has a paltry 5.32 percent share.
Looking at the global figures, the gap between the browsers is just as pronounced: Chrome leads on the desktop with 67.51 percent, followed by Edge with 14.83 per cent, Safari with 7.9 percent, and Firefox with 6.21 percent.
In 2010, Firefox was the second-most popular browser with an average share of 30 percent, topped only by Internet Explorer with a market share of between 40 and 50 percent, although a strong downward trend was already apparent. What has happened since then?
Firefox was popular because, as open source software, the browser offered an alternative to Microsoft’s proprietary Internet Explorer. Users also liked the large number of available extensions with which they could customize the browser.
However, when the number of users of the now outdated Internet Explorer fell, it was not Firefox that benefited, but Google Chrome, which was only launched in 2008. The browser had a cleaner and more organized structure than Firefox, was also faster, and was considered more secure, as each tab runs in its own process, which is executed in a sandbox.
Although Firefox has been extensively revised since then, the manufacturer Mozilla has not yet been able to build on its old successes.
7-Zip instead of Winzip/Winrar
Winzip was created in the early 1990s as a Windows user interface for the original Pkzip packing program. Although it was shareware, it was initially included with numerous book and magazine CDs as an unlimited trial version and thus became widely used by private users.
Winrar, on the other hand, is a packing program for the somewhat differently structured RAR compression format. It can also create and open ZIP files, whereas Winzip can only unpack RAR files due to license reasons.
Winrar is distributed as an unlimited trial version: After 30 days, the user receives a message that they must license the software. However, the program can still be run without a license.
For several years now, Winzip has only been available free of charge for 21 days, after which the user must pay for the software at prices starting at around $36. Together with the integration of a ZIP tool in Windows, this has led to a sharp decline in user numbers.
Today’s Windows users either use the operating system’s zip function instead or resort to the free open source software 7-Zip, which has an extended range of functions compared to Windows and can also securely encrypt ZIP files and protect them with a password, for example.
A new version of the free Teams client has been included in Windows for a few weeks now. You can use the program to chat or hold video conferences.
A new version of the free Teams client has been included in Windows for a few weeks now. You can use the program to chat or hold video conferences.
Microsoft
A new version of the free Teams client has been included in Windows for a few weeks now. You can use the program to chat or hold video conferences.
Microsoft
Microsoft
Teams replaces Skype
Microsoft Teams is currently in the process of replacing Skype. Microsoft designed Teams from the outset as a central tool for collaboration within and outside of companies.
Voice calls are just as possible as video calls, and Teams is also linked to other applications from the Microsoft cosmos. Participants in a meeting can, for example, view PowerPoint presentations or edit Excel sheets together. At the same time, access to SharePoint, Outlook, and the OneDrive storage is possible.
Skype also allows you to make phone calls and hold video conferences. However, you can tell that the program was originally designed as a messenger. It offers very few functions for collaboration in groups.
Microsoft is expected to discontinue Skype in the next few years. Skype for Business Online has already been discontinued and the version for the local data center is expected to be discontinued in 2025. Only the version of Skype for home users does not yet have an end date.
VirtualBox instead of VMware Player
from Oracle offers an easy-to-understand interface for its virtual environment.
from Oracle offers an easy-to-understand interface for its virtual environment.
Foundry
from Oracle offers an easy-to-understand interface for its virtual environment.
Foundry
Foundry
VMware is one of the pioneers of the virtualization trend of the past 20 years. The company targeted its products at companies and public authorities.
This also applied to the free VMware Player, a lightweight program with which the user could start virtual machines. Today, the software is offered under the official name VMware Workstation Player.
From the mid-2010s, when PCs for private users were also suitable for working with virtual machines thanks to multicore processors and ample RAM, users increasingly turned their attention to the open source tool VirtualBox from Oracle.
It offered more functions than the VMware Player right from the start and has maintained this lead to this day. Many users also find it easier to use.
For this reason, VirtualBox is the preferred choice for private users and smaller companies.
The current version of Microsoft PowerToys includes around two dozen modules that extend Windows,
such as PowerRename.
The current version of Microsoft PowerToys includes around two dozen modules that extend Windows,
such as PowerRename.
Microsoft
The current version of Microsoft PowerToys includes around two dozen modules that extend Windows,
such as PowerRename.
Microsoft
Microsoft
In the days when hard drives were still slow and small, CPUs were weak, and RAM was scarce, numerous tools were created to make Windows leaner and faster.
They searched for orphaned entries in the registry, deleted or deactivated unnecessary services, searched for duplicate and no longer needed files, defragmented the hard drive, and emptied the autostart. The effect on the execution speed was small, but at least the tools freed up some memory.
With the advent of faster and ever larger SSDs, more powerful processors and inexpensive memory, most optimization tools became superfluous. The hardware had become so powerful that it made no difference whether the registry was a few megabytes larger or smaller or whether a few more or fewer services had to be loaded.
Hard disks and SSDs now also offered so much storage space that users no longer needed to worry about free space.
The optimization tools needed a new concept. One possible variant is demonstrated by Microsoft with its free PowerToys.
This collection of tools continuously adds functions to Windows, such as a color picker that picks up a color from the desktop and copies it to the clipboard, FancyZones for designing window layouts, or an editor for the Windows hosts file. The desired functions can be selected as required.
Dropbox was the first popular file hosting and file sharing service on the internet. It used a simple and efficient method for uploading files, which was later adopted by all major file hosting services: The user copies the files to the Dropbox folder on their local hard drive, from where they are automatically synchronized with the Dropbox server.
The user can create a link to each file. If he sends it by email, the recipient — provided she has the necessary access rights — can access the file and download it.
In this way, Dropbox solved many problems with the transmission of particularly large files, which were often not accepted by the email provider due to size restrictions.
The major drawback of Dropbox has always been the limitation of the free basic service to 2GB of free storage. This value could be increased in 500MB increments by recommending the service to other people, but even this was too little for many users. However, users had to take out a paid subscription for more storage.
Google Drive, for example, offers an alternative with 15GB of free storage. Finally, Microsoft provides every Windows user with a Microsoft account with 5GB of storage. Subscribers to the Microsoft 365 Office package even receive one terabyte for free.
In other words, for $70 a year, the user gets one terabyte of free storage, and Microsoft adds an Office package on top.
By way of comparison, 2TB currently cost $9.99 per month with Dropbox, and additional software is not included in this subscription. Microsoft can also point out that its cloud storage OneDrive is closely integrated into Windows and allows automatic backups, for example.
Tip: Windows Explorer with two-window view
Use the “Maximize” icon in the title bar to access a graphical overview of the options for arranging multiple windows in Explorer.
Use the “Maximize” icon in the title bar to access a graphical overview of the options for arranging multiple windows in Explorer.
IDG
Use the “Maximize” icon in the title bar to access a graphical overview of the options for arranging multiple windows in Explorer.
IDG
IDG
The major disadvantage of Windows Explorer compared to tools such as Total Commander has always been its limitation to one window. For copying and moving files, however, two adjacent windows would be more advantageous. However, you can realize this view with just a few mouse clicks.
First start an instance of Explorer. Now open the program a second time. You have various options here: For example, you can call it up in the first Explorer by double-clicking on the explorer.exe file under C:\ Windows — or, if the Explorer icon is in the taskbar, start a copy by right-clicking and selecting “Explorer.”
In one of the two Explorer windows, move the mouse over the square at the top right of the title bar, i.e. the “Maximize” icon, and click on the “Group | Start” display in the small overview window. Windows will now arrange the two Explorer windows next to each other.
This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
18-inch laptops are back, baby. These goliaths, once thought banished in the pursuit of thinner, lighter systems, have returned to accommodate the higher performance (and power consumption) of modern hardware. Many large laptops come with large price tags, but the Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 bucks that trend to deliver respectable performance per dollar.
Looking for other options? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best gaming laptops available right now.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Specs
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 18’s specifications are typical for a mid-range gaming laptop. An Intel Core i7 processor is paired with Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB of solid state storage.
CPU: Intel Core i7-14650HX
Memory: 16GB LPDDR5
Graphics/GPU: Nvidia RTX 4060 at 140 watts
Display: 1920×1200 IPS 165Hz
Storage: 1TBPCIe 4.0 NVMe solid state drive
Webcam: 720p
Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (featuring power off charging), 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x HDMI 2.1 port with HDCP support, 1x 2.5G Ethernet (RJ-45) port, 1x 3.5mm combo audio
Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Biometrics: None
Battery capacity: 90 watt-hours
Dimensions: 15.93 x 12.39 x 1.36 inches
Weight: 7.25 pounds
MSRP: $1,499.99
Pricing is a perk, as the Predator Helios Neo 18 retails for $1,499.99. That’s not a low price for a laptop with Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics, but most similarly equipped laptops have a smaller display, and some reach lower pricing with a 512GB solid state drive that can quickly become tight for gamers who enjoy modern AAA games with an install size over 100GB. The Helios Neo 18’s value also benefits from good performance relative to its hardware, which at times comes close to peers with RTX 4070 graphics.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Design and build quality
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
The Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 isn’t expensive for a modern gaming laptop with an 18-inch display, but I easily forgot that while using the laptop. Acer relies on expanses of metallic black with plastic trim to build a sturdy, attractive chassis. There’s even a few hints of flair, most noticeably a layer of transparent plastic along the vent which covers the laptop’s branding.
The Neo 18 isn’t gorgeous, to be clear. It’s relatively subtle and plain. Still, if placed side-to-side by some more expensive laptops like the MSI Raider GE78 or Asus ROG Strix Scar 18, the Acer doesn’t stand out as the budget option.
This is a large laptop that weighs in at 7.52 pounds and measures up to 1.36 inches thick. It’s larger and heavier than the MSI Raider GE78 or Asus ROG Strix Scar 18, as well as most 18-inch or 17.3-inch alternatives. I’d imagine gamers looking to travel would pick a smaller system, but the Neo 18 is a particularly poor choice. Its weight will prove cumbersome and it won’t fit in most bags, backpacks, and luggage designed to hold a laptop.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Keyboard, trackpad
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
A spacious keyboard with numpad spans the majority of the Predator Neo 18’s wide interior. Most keys are full-sized, or close to it, with function row (as usual) proving an exception. The numpad keys are also similar in size to the alphanumeric keys, although they’re ever-so-slightly shorter.
I also found the keyboard pleasant to use for lengthy typing sessions. Each key has respectable travel and activates smoothly before reaching a subtle but definitive bottoming action. The keyboard is quiet, and I would prefer a more tactile end to key action, but now I’m nitpicking. I used the keyboard for hours on end with no complaints.
The keyboard has an RGB backlight that can be customized across several zones. It looks attractive enough to add interest for gamers who want it, but it lacks the degree of customization available from more expensive 18-inch competitors.
The touchpad is good, too. It measures six inches wide and nearly four inches deep, which is plenty of space for Windows’ most complex multi-touch gestures. A few high-end competitors, like the Razer Blade 18, offer a better touchpad. But some more expensive laptops, like the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18, have a smaller and less enjoyable touchpad.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Display, audio
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
At this point, you might wonder what Acer had to sacrifice to achieve a lower price point. One answer: the display. Although it measures 18 inches diagonally, Acer sticks to a simple IPS panel with 1920×1200 resolution and a refresh rate of 165Hz.
Opinions on the display will hinge on perspective. It’s clearly inferior to the 18-inch OLED and Mini-LED displays available from more expensive alternatives, and especially lacking in contrast. Darker, grittier games like Diablo VI or Resident Evil: Village can seem hazy and flat. 1920×1200 resolution isn’t especially sharp, either, though still better than a 27-inch 1440p monitor. Brightness is another issue: the display barely clears 300 nits, so it can seem dim in a bright room.
On the plus side, the Neo 18’s display delivers good color performance with a wide color gamut and solid color accuracy. Brighter and more colorful games, like Palworld or Stardew Valley, look excellent. The added size is also enjoyable when compared to a 16-inch alternative. Two inches might not sound important, but going with the 18-inch screen increases the total display area by 25 percent, which is very noticeable.
Motion clarity is decent. The IPS display’s refresh rate of 165Hz isn’t impressive in 2024 but still provides a major leap in smoothness and clarity when compared to a 60Hz or 90Hz screen. It’s also a good fit for the laptop’s capabilities. A refresh rate would look appealing, but the Neo 18’s mid-range hardware would have difficulty delivering the frame rates needed to take advantage of a 240Hz panel.
The laptop’s speakers, unlike the display, punch well above the laptop’s price with loud, clear sound, a deep sound stage, and a hint of low-end oomph. They’re still laptop speakers and will start to sound muddy in the most demanding, bass-heavy music, but they’re a great fit for movies and games.
Acer also sticks to the basics when it comes to the webcam and microphone. It has a 720p webcam and dual-array microphone which, though serviceable for Zoom calls, are towards the low end of quality available from a laptop sold in 2024. Many laptops now have a sharper 1080p webcam and microphones that provide stronger, clear audio.
Biometric login, meanwhile, is absent. You’ll need to login the old-fashioned way: with a password.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Connectivity
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
When it comes to connectivity, though, Acer doesn’t hold back. The Predator Helios Neo 18 has two Thunderbolt 4 ports (also compatible with USB-C), three USB-A 3.2 ports, HDMI, 2.5G Ethernet, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, and a microSD card reader.
That’s an extremely broad range of ports that should cover what gamers need, and then some. It’s possible to connect a high-resolution, high-refresh rate monitor and multiple wired gaming accessories at once.
However, while the connectivity is great, it doesn’t establish a notable edge over competitors. Most large laptops have gobs of ports. I also dislike that the majority of the available ports are on the laptop’s flanks, rather than the rear. Large laptops will spend most time on a desk with many peripherals attached, and rear-facing ports improve cable management.
Wireless connectivity is provided by an Intel Killer Wi-Fi adapter that supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. I would prefer to see Wi-Fi 7, but it’s not yet common at this price point, and Wi-Fi 6E still delivers excellent performance when paired with a quality Wi-Fi 6E router.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Performance
Acer sticks to mid-range hardware for the Helios Neo 18 but provides it with the power and thermal headroom needed to perform at its best. The laptop has an Intel Core i7-14650HX processor, Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of solid state storage. None of that sounds exceptional—and there’s firm limits to the Neo 18’s performance—but it’s a quick laptop for the price.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
PCMark 10, a general system benchmark, posted a strong result of 7,744 on the Predator Helios Neo 18. That’s better than most price-competitive laptops with the exception of the AMD-powered Framework Laptop 16, which punched above its weight.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
The Neo 18 again posts strong results in Cinebench R20, which is a short-duration, heavily multithreaded processor benchmark. It achieved a score of 8,002, which defeats most similarly priced gaming laptops aside from the Dell G16 7630, which we tested with a 13th-gen Intel Core i9 HX processor. That might seem odd, but it’s in line with what we have come to expect from Intel’s 14th-gen hardware, which generally delivers performance that’s only a smidge better than the prior generation.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
Handbrake, a heavily multithreaded long-duration processor benchmark, didn’t shake up the results. The Neo 18 remains a performer, though Dell’s G16 slightly outran it. To be fair, however, the Dell G16 configuration we tested was also several hundred dollars more expensive, so Acer’s performance remains strong for the price.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
The Neo 18’s good results continue in graphics benchmarks. The RTX 4060 isn’t the quickest mobile graphics chip, and it only has 8GB of video memory, which will prove limiting in some games. But the Neo 18 keeps the RTX 4060 well-fed with up to 140 watts of power and, as a result, its performance is at times closer to an RTX 4070 than some RTX 4060 peers.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
Shadow of the Tomb Raider slightly changes the story. In this game, the Neo 18 scores identically to the older Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 and starts to fall noticeably behind the RTX 4070 laptops. Still, an average of 130 frames per second is great for the price and more than enough to enjoy the game.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
Metro Exodus is a demanding game (at least at the Extreme preset, which we use), but the Neo 18 continues to do well. Here it once again shows itself closer to RTX 4070 hardware than some RTX 4060 systems, and it delivers a playable average of 45 FPS.
We wrapped up the benchmarks with Cyberpunk 2077. The game averaged a healthy 70 FPS at 1080p resolution and Ultra detail (with DLSS/FSR off). Using the Overdrive ray-tracing mode radically tanked performance to just 17 FPS, a result that may be blamed on the RTX 4060’s mere 8GB of video memory. Gamers can enjoy Cyberpunk 2077’s ray-tracing on the Neo 18, but the Medium preset is a better fit when ray-tracing is enabled.
All results reported above were achieved in the Neo 18’s default “Balanced” performance profile, but we also tested the laptop’s Turbo profile, which significantly increased performance in many situations. PCMark 10 leapt from 7,744 to 8,112, while 3DMark Time Spy increased from 10,389 to 11,288. Turbo mode also maximizes fan noise, however, so we don’t think it’s a viable choice for gaming in most situations.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Battery life
Acer packs a sizable 90 watt-hour battery in the Predator Helios Neo 18. That’s a lot of juice, but the laptop’s hardware can suck down a full charge quickly.
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
IDG / Matthew Smith
Our standard battery tests, which loops a 4K file of the short film Tears of Steel, sucked down a full charge in just under four hours. That’s not unusable, but it’s pretty quick, and I’d advise gamers not to expect more than a few hours of battery life even when enjoying the light games that don’t tax the GPU.
Indeed, I experienced that in one situation where Nvidia Optimus failed to engage. Optimus is designed to hand graphics duties over to the Intel IGP when the Nvidia GPU’s performance isn’t required, but it can be finicky. Because of that, the battery drained in just 58 minutes, despite a workload that was nothing more than web browsing and watching video.
The 330 watt power brick, which charges the laptop over a barrel plug connection, doesn’t help portability. It’s big and heavy, further increasing the load you’ll carry if you travel with the Neo 18.
Acer Predator Helios Neo 18: Conclusion
Acer’s Predator Helios Neo 18 shows the benefits of a big-screen laptop that can be delivered at a slim price tag. Though sold for just $1,499.99, the Neo 18 provides excellent performance, a huge display, lots of connectivity, and an attractive design. A lack of portability is the true price paid for the Neo 18’s perks, as it’s even heavier and thicker than some 18-inch alternatives, and the battery didn’t hold out for long even in less demanding circumstances. Still, the Neo 18 is a great pick if you’re looking for a semi-portable alternative to a gaming desktop.
For a long time, the battle lines have been drawn around optical and mechanical switches in gaming mice buttons, with optical switches appearing the winner in the tussle.
But now a third category has entered the fray, which blurs the lines between the two switch types even more. So, what are hybrid switches? And how do they compare with the tried-and-true switches we’ve been using already?
Gamers that know their hardware will know that those tiny plates under the buttons where your fingers sit on a gaming mouse traditionally come in two flavors: the mechanical variety and optical variety.
Mechanical switches are old-school switches. They come in a myriad of different shapes, but the underlying principle of how they work is the same — your finger pushes down on a button which then makes contact with the switch, which then sends a signal of that click to your PC.
If you’ve ever used the SteelSeries Sensi Ten gaming mouse you’ll know the deep brain gamer appeal of mechanical switches. They provide a satisfying tactile feel that really gels with the gamer psyche.
They’re also very energy efficient. However, they’re also prone to double clicks, so they require a longer debounce time than optical switches, which slightly increases the time to actuation.
Also, the fact that the button is making physical contact with the switch in mechanical switches means it wears out over time.
A lot of these problems, including the actuation speed can be reduced by algorithms in mice with mechanical switches, but with the advent of optical switches most gaming mice manufacturers have simply started using these in their gaming mice.
Optical switches aren’t as tactile and clicky. They use light instead of force, so they also consume more power than mechanical switches. When you push down on the button, a beam of infra-red light is interrupted, which is how the switch knows to send a signal to your PC.
Logitech G Lightforce Hybrid switches.
Logitech G Lightforce Hybrid switches.
Logitech G
Logitech G Lightforce Hybrid switches.
Logitech G
Logitech G
This mechanism results in a faster actuation speed — around 0.2ms compared to the 1ms or longer in mechanical switches. Optical switches aren’t prone to sending accidental signals, so they’re incredibly precise and reliable over their lifespan.
Speaking of which, their lifespan is longer than mechanical switches since there’s no contact being made with the buttons.
Hybrid switches utilize the best of both of these switch mechanisms, in that they include both mechanical and optical parts. But to what end? What kind of bewitchery is at work and how could it possibly benefit us gamers?
Why would you choose hybrid switches in a gaming mouse?
There’s no doubt that some of the best things in life are fusions of two or more things — peanut butter and jelly, chocolate and marshmallow (rocky road), mechanical and optical parts… you get the drift.
Basically, whoever invented hybrid switches solved a big conundrum in gaming mice. By including both parts, gamers get all of the clicky tactile feeling of mechanical switches but with the quicker actuation speed and reliability of optical switches. These switches are also more power efficient than optical switches.
Logitech G’s Lightforce Hybrid switches are a good example. In these switches a button comes in contact with traditional galvanic microswitch parts including a membrane and spring. These parts then disrupt a light signal which in turn tells your PC when you’ve clicked.
Logitech G has very smartly made it possible to toggle between hybrid mode and optical mode in the Logitech G Hub software app. The optical mode lets you just use the switches’ optical technology. This mode still has a slight latency advantage over the switch in hybrid mode, so gamers looking for the fastest possible button speed still have that option.
But if you can do with just a tad higher latency than you get in the optical mode, the clicky feeling you get with the hybrid mode in mice like the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2, can be lots of fun, and well worth giving a go. So, why not give it a try in your next gaming session?
If you love competitive games where every second matters, you’ve come to the right spot. You’ll need a fast gaming monitor that can keep up with the intense gameplay. Luckily for you, Amazon’s selling the Acer Nitro WQHD for $179.99, which is 38 percent off of the original $289.99 price. This monitor has a blisteringly fast refresh rate of 180Hz as well as a response time of 0.5ms, meaning it should produce buttery smooth visuals during competitive gaming sessions.
The Acer Nitro measures 27-inches and has a resolution of 2560×1440, so smaller details should look clear. This resolution is the sweet spot where performance and visual quality meet, as you don’t need the latest and greatest hardware for it. It also comes with AMD FreeSync Premium, which syncs the monitor’s refresh rate with your PC’s GPU. According to Amazon reviewers, the color accuracy is quite good and games look pretty darn sharp.
This is a great deal, but Amazon deals tend to come and go like the wind, so don’t miss your chance.
PC players have been enjoying the hell out of Helldivers 2, the 3D update to the team-killing PvE original. In fact PC sales have made up the bulk of the player base, despite the game being published by Sony on PS5 simultaneously. But a new message telling PC users that they’ll need a PlayStation account has some of them feeling less than patriotic for Super Earth.
Requiring a PlayStation account was always the plan, according to the publisher’s post on Steam. “Due to technical issues at the launch of Helldivers 2, we allowed the linking requirements for Steam accounts to a PlayStation Network account to be temporarily optional. That grace period will now expire.”
Anyone who buys Helldivers 2 after May 6th will be required to sign in to PlayStation Network, in addition to the Steam account they used to purchase the game. Current players will have until June 4th to link their accounts to Sony’s system.
“We understand that while this may be an inconvenience to some of you,” says Sony Interactive Entertainment’s message, “this step will help us to continue to build a community that you are all proud to be a part of.” The company gave no technical reason for requiring the accounts to be linked, as crossplay between PC and PlayStation players has been working fine since the February launch. Helldivers 2 is the only Sony-published PC game that has required a PlayStation Network login.
PC players are, unsurprisingly, not happy. “I don’t have a PlayStation account. I don’t want a play station account. Are you telling me I have to have a PlayStation account?” asks one reply to the announcement on Twitter, with over 2000 likes at the time of writing. Others say they have asked Steam for a refund. “I don’t own a PlayStation, I’m not interested in getting one, so prepare to give me my money back.”
Not sure how they were expecting this to go tbh.
This isn't an unusual ask, but it is unusual months after release. Should have either enforced this from the beginning or they should have a 1 click solution in place. https://t.co/66yYGfdSZqpic.twitter.com/gnaH1Q0K2a
The Steam listing for the ultra-popular game immediately began suffering from negative reviews after the news dropped, as analyst Daniel Ahmad noted on Twitter.
A negative response from the often-prickly PC gamer community was all but inevitable. But I can’t help but think that SOE and Helldivers developer Arrowhead have made their own bed here. Technical issues or not, they set a status quo when the game launched months ago, and allowed it to continue as Helldivers 2 gained popularity across social media.
They could have either allowed it to remain unchanged, or fixed the problem immediately. And the fact that they didn’t indicates that whatever benefit is gained from playing with a PlayStation Network account, it isn’t essential for the actual game.
Complete uninstallation of multiple apps via batch processing
Cons
The PC should not be used during uninstallation
Our Verdict
Uninstalr removes Windows software almost always without leaving any residue, also detects fragments of previously removed programs, and saves a lot of manual work thanks to batch processing.
The freeware Uninstalr promises to remove programs and apps from the system almost without leaving any residue. A few seconds after starting, Uninstalr presents a comprehensive list of all programs installed on the system and the memory space they occupy.
You can then select one or more programs from the overview, which Uninstalr then removes in batches. To our positive surprise, some programs marked as “leftovers” also appeared here, which we had actually already removed months ago using on-board tools.
Well thought out: Thanks to a filter function, all Microsoft programs remained invisible. This ensured that we didn’t inadvertently remove any components that were important for the operation of Windows.
Uninstalr shows which files and registry entries will be deleted or cleaned before removal. If desired, the software can close all running programs at the start of the uninstall process and restart the system once it has finished.
The actual uninstallation process takes no less time than with Windows on-board tools, probably (but hardly realistically measurable) even slightly longer, as Uninstalr thoroughly cleans the registry and searches the system for leftovers.
As we found out, the software does its job thoroughly. And, quite unironically, it’s also available in a version that does not require installation.
Bottom line? Uninstalr almost always removes Windows software without leaving any residue, also detects fragments of previously removed programs, and saves a lot of manual work thanks to batch processing.
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