AMD’s Ryzen X3D processors, with their special sauce V-Cache for boosting gaming performance, are all the rage in the custom-built desktop space. But what if you want some of that power in a machine that fits in a backpack? Then you might want to check out the MSI Titan 18 Pro, packing a Ryzen 9 7945HX3D processor.
This isn’t the first laptop to be equipped with an AMD X3D processor—that honor goes to the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 from last year with the same chip—but as a close second, the Titan 18 Pro is compelling. In addition to that 16-core, 32-thread monster CPU, it’s packing an Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, with up to 270 watts of power between them.
The package maxes out at 96GB of DDR5 RAM (across two sticks), and though the storage hasn’t been detailed, the chassis supports two M.2 slots at up to Gen5 speeds. It’s topped off with an 18-inch 4K Mini LED IPS screen with a 240Hz refresh rate and a chonky 99.9 watt-hour battery (the largest allowed on many commercial airlines). The RGB keyboard comes courtesy of SteelSeries. Weight hasn’t been specified, but an Intel-powered variant from this year weighs almost 8 pounds.
Sadly, there’s no word on when (or if) this version of the Titan 18 will make it to the US or other western countries. For the time being, MSI’s China-facing storefront is selling it for 32,000 yuan (about $3,050), as VideoCardz.com notes.
Whether or not MSI will expand its offering isn’t currently known. MSI sells other versions of the Titan 18 with Intel processors more widely, including the latest Core i9-14900HX.
Modern 3D games represent one of the most hardware-intensive tasks you can throw at a PC. Naturally, you’re gonna want the most powerful hardware you can get to play these games.
So, whose top-of-the-line desktop CPU does it better: AMD’s Threadripper or Intel’s Core i9? Gordon Ung and Will Smith are here to answer that in the latest PCWorld YouTube video.
Both of these desktops are absolutely top-of-the-line for current CPUs, and both are filled with nearly identical parts (aside from their CPU and motherboard), which include a Crucial T705 Gen5 SSD and an RTX 4090 graphics card. The only big difference is that the Intel machine gets 48GB of Patriot Viper Elite 5 DDR5 RAM while the AMD machine gets 128GB of Kingston DDR5 (slower, but with more lanes).
It’d be easy enough to put both of these monsters through a bunch of benchmarks to see which one can crunch more raw numbers. But that wouldn’t tell the whole story.
We’re comparing an Intel machine made with consumer-grade parts (one that’s very much intended for playing high-end games) versus a Falcon Northwest that’s built for developing high-end games.
As a former game developer, Will knows a bit about this—and he has insight as to what you want for heavy computing tasks. Creating lightmaps and compiling code can eat up a lot of time that game developers otherwise spend twiddling their thumbs.
To help realistically test these tasks, Will created a custom map in the Unreal 5 engine and threw the various compute times at both machines. These are common, intensive tasks that basically render your machine useless for anything else while they’re executing.
For these Unreal Engine tasks, the Threadripper absolutely owned the Core i9, beating out the custom-built desktop with a compute time of 20 minutes to 31 minutes (a time factor of approximately 50 percent).
Hardly surprising, since the AMD machine is using 64 cores while the Core i9 has 24 split between performance and efficiency, and these development tools are optimized to use as many cores as you have. For the final production run, the difference is even more dramatic: 25 minutes versus 68 minutes.
So, if you’re spending a lot of time rendering lighting on levels, especially in Unreal, the Threadripper is the clear winner. But you can offload a lot of this kind of work to the GPU, especially on day-to-day lightmaps, and obviously that’s a part that can work with both setups.
Of course, there are other factors to consider, such as cost. For the CPU alone, the Threadripper costs an astonishing $5,000, which is more than the entire custom-built Intel machine.
If you’re a solo developer or even a small indie studio, your time might not be worth all that money depending on how often you’re running these tasks. It might make more sense to build a dedicated render server to let multiple developers queue up these “big iron” tasks, freeing up their (relatively) low-power machines to work on other tasks.
If you’re looking for one machine that can do it all, it’s also worth noting that AMD specifically designs the Threadripper for this kind of heavy lifting… and it doesn’t necessarily translate to gaming performance.
In fact, you’re almost certain to get better framerates out of a high-end gaming PC (Intel or AMD) with the same parts, just because modern games don’t benefit from those crazy core counts. So, if you’re building a PC that’s only sometimes used for development tasks, pouring thousands of dollars into the processor doesn’t make much sense.
As Gordon eloquently puts it, the Intel Core i9 is like a wide-market pickup truck whereas the AMD Threadripper is like a giant dump truck. They’re both extremely capable, but you don’t drive a construction zone truck to get groceries. (The groceries, in this case, being frames per second in Fortnite.)
This laptop features an Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM, making it a great choice for both work and play. It also has a 256GB SSD, which isn’t the biggest but is still big enough for day-to-day use.
What’s missing here is a proper graphics card, so don’t expect to do much gaming on this laptop unless you’re into web games. The onboard Intel graphics card is enough to watch movies on Netflix or browse YouTube, but it won’t do much for more demanding apps.
This HP Pavilion laptop has a 15.6-inch 1920×1080 display with a tiny edge, and the anti-glare coating makes the screen easier on your eyes for all those long hours spent in front of the computer.
It also features a 720p HD camera with dual-array microphones and temporal noise reduction, highly suitable for Zoom meetings. It has reasonable connectivity as well: one USB-C port, two USB-A ports, one HDMI 2.1 port, and a headphone/microphone combo jack.
At just $550, this HP Pavilion workhorse laptop combines power, performance, and portability at an incredible price. As long as you don’t expect gaming rig-level performance, you’ll be more than happy with it.
When you’re looking for the best tools to do your best work, Microsoft Office is always at the top of the list. Microsoft’s premier suite has been an industry leader for decades for good reason and Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows is no exception. Normally more than $200, you can grab a lifetime license now for a one-time payment of just $59.99 (reg. $219).
Office is packed with familiar programs like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote that are designed to help you unleash your productivity and work more seamlessly than ever. Whether you’re a data analyst, graphic designer, salesperson, or anything else, Office is loaded with tools to help you do your job better. Plus, it also includes Publisher and Access, two more premium tools to help you reach greater creative and database heights.
Fastest NVMe SSD of any ilk we’ve tested writing 450GB
Cons
Top performance requires HMB support
Our Verdict
The WD Blue SN5000 is among the fastest host memory buffer (HMB) SSDs I’ve tested. It even tied the record in our 450GB write test. It’s also one of the most affordable NVMe SSDs out there.
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Unless you’re looking to upgrade a device that doesn’t support Host Memory Buffer (using the device’s own memory for cache), such as the Playstation 5, then an HMB NVMe SSD such as the most-worthy WD Blue SN5000 can save you bucks. In the SN5000’s case, a lot of bucks.
And in practical terms, you’re not giving up a whole lot of performance that you likely don’t need anyway.
Further reading: See our roundup of the best SSDs to learn about competing products.
What are the WD Blue SN500’s features?
The WD Blue SN5000 is a 2280 (22mm wide, 80mm long) form factor, PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe SSD featuring a host memory buffer (DRAM-less) design with an in-house controller and 112-layer TLC NAND on the 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB drives, and 162-layer TLC NAND on the 4TB.
WD Blue SN5000 is a DRAM-less design, which makes it affordable without sacrificing too much performance.
WD Blue SN5000 is a DRAM-less design, which makes it affordable without sacrificing too much performance.
WD Blue SN5000 is a DRAM-less design, which makes it affordable without sacrificing too much performance.
How much does the WD Blue SN5000 cost?
The WD SN5000 is currently available at WD’s site in 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities for $70, $80, $140, and $280 respectively (all $10 off WD’s official list price). That’s right down there with the cheapest of the entry-level drives.
The WD SN5000 turned in the fastest 450GB transfer we’ve seen from any SSD: PCIe 3/4/5, DRAM or no. HMB has grown up!
How fast is the WD Blue SN5000?
The WD Blue SN5000 is very fast for a budget NVMe SSD, placing 7th among the 21 HMB SSDs I’ve tested. Note that I tested the 4TB version, which is twice the capacity of any of the other drives in the charts that follow.
Below are shown very good CrystalDiskMark 8 sequential numbers for the Blue SN500’s class (PCIe 4/HMB) of drive.
These are very good CrystalDiskMark 8 sequential numbers for its class of drive. Longer bars are better.
These are very good CrystalDiskMark 8 sequential numbers for its class of drive. Longer bars are better.
These are very good CrystalDiskMark 8 sequential numbers for its class of drive. Longer bars are better.
The Blue SN5000’s random numbers are also a cut above the bargain competition, though they can’t match those turned in by SSDs with DRAM cache.
The Blue SN5000’s random numbers are also a cut above the bargain competition. Longer bars are better.
The Blue SN5000’s random numbers are also a cut above the bargain competition. Longer bars are better.
The Blue SN5000’s random numbers are also a cut above the bargain competition. Longer bars are better.
The Blue SN5000 was certainly competitive in our 48GB transfers, but not the fastest — even among the bargain drives it’s compared to.
The Blue SN5000 was certainly competitive in our 48GB transfers, but not the fastest — even among the bargain drives it’s compared to. Shorter bars are better.
The Blue SN5000 was certainly competitive in our 48GB transfers, but not the fastest — even among the bargain drives it’s compared to. Shorter bars are better.
The Blue SN5000 was certainly competitive in our 48GB transfers, but not the fastest — even among the bargain drives it’s compared to. Shorter bars are better.
Where the Blue SN5000 did shine, and shine quite brightly, was in the 450GB write. 4TB of capacity certainly helps, but 133 seconds actually ties the Crucial T500 for the fastest time we’ve seen from any SSD: PCIe 3/4/5, DRAM or no. HMB has grown up!
The SN5000 turned in a stellar time in our 450GB write. Its 4TB of NAND no doubt helped. Shorter bars are definitely better.
The SN5000 turned in a stellar time in our 450GB write. Its 4TB of NAND no doubt helped. Shorter bars are definitely better.
The SN5000 turned in a stellar time in our 450GB write. Its 4TB of NAND no doubt helped. Shorter bars are definitely better.
All in all, we’re fairly sure you’ll be satisfied with the Blue SN5000’s performance.
Should you buy the WD Blue SN5000?
Given the aggressive pricing, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better budget PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. That said, it’s a competitive market in flux, so shop around. This is a great drive from WD no matter what your decision.
How we test
Storage tests currently utilize Windows 11, 64-bit running on an X790 (PCIe 4.0/5.0) motherboard/i5-12400 CPU combo with two Kingston Fury 32GB DDR5 4800MHz modules (64GB of memory total). Both 20Gbps USB and Thunderbolt 4 are integrated to the back panel and Intel CPU/GPU graphics are used. The 48GB transfer tests utilize an ImDisk RAM disk taking up 58GB of the 64GB of total memory. The 450GB file is transferred from a 2TB Samsung 990 Pro which also runs the OS.
Each test is performed on a newly NTFS-formatted and TRIM’d drive so the results are optimal. Note that in normal use, as a drive fills up, performance may decrease due to less NAND for secondary caching, as well as other factors. This is less of a factor with the current crop of SSDs with their far faster NAND.
Caveat: The performance numbers shown apply only to the drive we were shipped and to the capacity tested. SSD performance can and will vary by capacity due to more or fewer chips to shotgun reads/writes across and the amount of NAND available for secondary caching.Vendors also occasionally swap components. If you ever notice a large discrepancy between the performance you experience and that which we report, by all means, let us know.
AI has changed how many of us work and helped many businesses streamline operations to increase productivity. If you’re looking for ways to improve how your business works, you don’t have to break the bank for a major AI contract. With 1minAI, you’ll get the tools you need for a fraction of the price.
1minAI is powered by some of the world’s most important models, including OpenAI, Midjourney, and Google AI. Whether you’re a creative or a small business owner, this intuitive tool makes it easy to write blog posts, create images, optimize your website, consult with assistants, and much more with just a few clicks or inputs. You can even use AI for audio and video editing to streamline your creative output.
1minAI is always improving with weekly updates and learns your business the more you work with it.
See how AI can change your operations. Right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to 1minAI for a big discount:
When can you get your hands on laptops with AMD’s next-gen Ryzen chips inside? AMD is only saying “July.” Since it’s now, well, July, you can’t blame eager tech heads for wanting something a little more concrete. According to some early retail listings, the first Ryzen 300 AI laptops should be hitting shelves on July 28th.
That’s based on the Best Buy store page for the Asus Zenbook S 16 featuring a Ryzen AI 9 365 (ugh, what a mouthful) chip. The store pages were spotted by VideoCardz.com, and a Twitter user noted that the date has been bumped by a couple of weeks back from an initial estimate of July 15th. The Zenbook S16 is only one of nine Asus laptops expected to come with the new Ryzen chips, including other members of the Vivobook, ProArt, ROG, and TUF lines.
Take this info with some skepticism. It’s possible that Best Buy has very precise info on the launch date of these new laptops — the store is the biggest electronics retailer in the US, at least among the dinosaurs that still do primarily brick-and-mortar business.
But it’s also possible that this is just an estimate based on the usual supply chain casting of lots, especially since new product launches rarely occur on Sundays. Of course with Microsoft pushing hard on new Snapdragon-powered Surface gadgets, it’s in both AMD and Asus’ interest to get competitive laptops out as soon as they can.
Last week, Microsoft introduced an optional Windows update that could’ve sent your PC into a reboot loop. The update rollout was stopped mid-delivery so Microsoft could fix the issue.
As of now, that particular bug has been addressed and the KB5039302 update has been made available again for Windows 11 users.
When installing this update, Windows 11 now checks whether you have virtualization software (such as CloudPC, DevBox, Azure Virtual Desktop, or VMware) running on your PC. You can only install it if you aren’t, as Microsoft writes in the relevant support document.
But with one fix comes another bug: the repaired version of the latest Windows update could render your taskbar unusable.
Some users are now reporting that Windows no longer loads the taskbar with the KB5039302 update. This problem apparently only affects Windows N users and Window 11 users (versions 23H2 and 22H2) who have deactivated “Media features” in the Windows settings. Microsoft explains this problem in more detail here.
In practice, hardly anyone is likely to be affected. However, if you’re now inexplicably missing a taskbar in Windows 11, know that Microsoft is working on a solution to the problem and plans to make it available with one of the upcoming releases.
Cloud storage can be great, but physical storage will always be important—and nothing beats the convenience of a tiny flash drive with no-compromises speed.
Need a portable drive with lots of storage space but is so small that you’ll forget it’s even plugged in? Then you’ll want this SanDisk Ultra Fit that’s on sale for $33 at Amazon, its best price yet and a huge drop from $90.
This plug-and-play USB 3.2 flash drive is super compact and perfect for everything from laptops to gaming consoles. You can take it on the go in your pocket, or you can even plug it into your car’s audio system and play all your favorite songs.
This SanDisk Ultra Fit flash drive has 512GB capacity, which is enough for tons of files, photos, videos, and even apps. It can read data at speeds of up to 130MB/s, which will save you so much time if you’re still lugging data around on pokey old USB 2.0 drives. That’ll let you copy, say, your entire 122-gigabyte Baldur’s Gate III installation off the drive in about sixteen minutes. That’s darn impressive for a flash drive
The SanDisk Ultra Fit also has good write speeds, up to 15 times faster when compared to older USB 2.0 drives. And the SanDisk SecureAccess software protects your files with 128-bit AES encryption, which is useful when you’re storing sensitive files and documents.
Amazon Prime built its popularity by offering subscribers faster free shipping, access to streaming movies and TV shows, and exclusive deals (most noticeably during the company’s Prime Day dealfest, coming again July 16 and 17). But Prime membership includes other perks, too: Everything from free ebook offerings to free photo storage and even grocery delivery.
The list of benefits has grown considerably since the program’s launch, so we’ve highlighted the best of the bunch, the ones that make Amazon Prime worth having. Some of these you’ll already know, but the others you’re likely not taking advantage of.
The top Amazon Prime benefits
Free expedited shipping
Expedited shipping is included for free with a Amazon Prime subscription, with no minimum purchase for most orders.
Expedited shipping is included for free with a Amazon Prime subscription, with no minimum purchase for most orders.
Expedited shipping is included for free with a Amazon Prime subscription, with no minimum purchase for most orders.
Amazon Prime’s upgraded shipping is the feature that started it all. These days, you get free two-day delivery on most items, plus free one-day delivery on eligible items, with no minimum purchase. In select areas, free same-day delivery on eligible items is available as well, when you’ve met the stated minimum threshold for purchases.
Free shipping benefits also extend to several other businesses Amazon owns: Woot, Zappos, and shopbop.
Membership sharing
Standard Amazon Prime memberships can be shared with one other adult, up to four teens, and up to four children in a household. Adult and teen household accounts can take advantage of Prime shipping benefits, Prime Video, Prime Reading, Amazon Photos, First Reads, unlimited listening on Audible Channels, and early access to Lighting Deals.
Child profiles associated with the same household can access digital content that’s been approved by the adult account(s).
Prime Video
You can stream thousands of movies and TV shows through Amazon Prime Video for free, including original content produced by Amazon—some of which is quite good. Like Netflix and other streaming sites, the catalog changes often, so if you’re interested in a show or movie, watch it while you can. We’re still sad that Babylon 5 rotated off the list.
Grocery delivery
Prime members in select areas get free two-hour delivery on Amazon Fresh purchases over $100—available groceries include produce, snacks, and meat.
GrubHub+
Speaking of food delivery, Amazon Prime subscribers can now cash in on a free subscription to GrubHub+, the restaurant delivery service’s premium membership. It normally costs $10 per month by its lonesome, so this is a spectacular benefit.
Amazon Photos
Amazon Prime members get unlimited photo storage at full resolution, but only 5GB of space for video.
Amazon Prime members get unlimited photo storage at full resolution, but only 5GB of space for video.
Amazon Prime members get unlimited photo storage at full resolution, but only 5GB of space for video.
Amazon’s photo storage service lets you skip an Apple or Google subscription for photo and video backup—or set up a secondary backup for your existing backup service. Prime members get unlimited, full-resolution storage for photos and up to 5GB of space for video, with the ability to view your files across all devices. You can also easily share files, just as with rival services.
Prime Gaming
Amazon’s acquisition of Twitch resulted in further diversification of Amazon Prime perks—if you link your accounts, you can get free games and in-game content monthly, one free Twitch channel subscription to use on your favorite streamer, and special promotions on pre-order video games.
Amazon Music Prime
Not interested in paying for streaming music? No need. Amazon Prime subscribers get access to over a 100 million songs, plus millions of podcast episodes, as part of their membership. (For access to a wider catalog, you’ll have to shell out for an Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.)
Prime Reading
Feed your inner bookworm with the library of titles available through Prime Reading, which gives unlimited access to several thousand ebooks, magazines, comics, and more. While only a handful of books are recognizable bestsellers, you can find interesting reading with some digging.
Interested in reading material that you can keep, even if your Prime subscription lapses? Be sure to choose a free Kindle book from the Amazon First Reads collection each month. Prime members get early access to these editors’ picks before the official publication date, with genres spanning suspense, romance, fantasy, historical fiction, children’s books, and more.
Prescription discounts
In addition to getting two-day delivery on most purchases from Amazon Pharmacy, Prime members can get a discount on prescriptions when paying for them without health insurance.
How to sign up for Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime is normally $15 per month or $139 per year, but you may qualify for a discount.
Amazon Prime is normally $15 per month or $139 per year, but you may qualify for a discount.
PCWorld
Amazon Prime is normally $15 per month or $139 per year, but you may qualify for a discount.
PCWorld
PCWorld
If you’re interested in getting in on Amazon Prime’s range of benefits and services, you can first try before you buy—a 30-day trial membership is free.
Afterward, a standard Amazon Prime membership costs $15 per month or $139 per year (plus taxes). Students and people on qualified government assistance qualify for a 50 percent discount on a yearly subscription. First-time Amazon Prime Student subscribers also currently qualify for six free months of service, after which the student rate kicks in.
With summer now here, you’re probably going to be out and about quite a bit—and when you spend that much time away from home, the last thing you want is for your phone battery to die.
This sleek, ultra-thin power bank packs a punch. Its 10,000mAh capacity is enough to fully charge even the biggest phones, and its impressive 0.5-inch thickness makes it extremely portable for any bag or pocket. Plus, with a weight of 0.7 ounces, you won’t even know it’s there.
The Iniu B41 Portable Charger features two USB-A ports and a USB-C port (which supports both input and output, unlike most budget-tier power banks). With 3A high-speed charging capability, it can recharge your phone to full in just over an hour.
At this price, it’s a no-brainer if you don’t yet have a power bank—or if you need another one as a backup. Snag this Iniu power bank for $16 and make sure you clip the Amazon coupon for maximum savings!
What comes to mind when you think “powerful gaming setup”? Perhaps a monstrous PC tower in RGB-spiked glory. Or, if you’re like me, a top-of-the-line gaming laptop with absolute frame-crunching performance.
But when you confine such power into the tight constraints of a laptop, heat is always going to be an issue. With Nvidia’s GeForce RTX GPUs and Intel’s mobile chips shoe-horned into such diminutive enclosures, it’s no wonder they reach smelting-hot temperatures.
Is your gaming laptop running hotter than you’d like? This article covers several tips and tricks to help improve your temperatures, with advice ranging from beginner to expert in difficulty.
Modern laptops are designed for heat
Before we delve into the nitty-gritty of what can be done to mitigate heat, let’s establish some baseline expectations.
When it comes to the latest high-powered gaming laptops, the hottest component may surprise you. While the GPU gets most of the performance press, the CPU is actually what tends to run the hottest in most laptops.
For example, take the Intel Core i9-13900HX and Core i9-14900HX found in many class-leading units. It’s not uncommon to see these hit their 100C thermal limit and hover constantly in the 90C range. (AMD CPUs are at times more efficient, but even they still have to deal with high heat.)
These Intel chips, much like their desktop counterparts, are designed to run at high temperatures for maximum performance. These high-clocking 24-core mega beasts have little cooling headroom in small enclosures, so naturally they run hotter than comparable desktop units.
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
GPUs can also run toasty, of course, but they tend not to get as hot as CPUs. Powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPUs can hover anywhere in the 70C to mid-80C range, depending on the laptop cooling prowess.
Fortunately, many high-end gaming laptops are designed with vapor chambers, multiple fans, and a bevy of heatsinks. Exotic liquid metal and other thermal interfaces can also make a difference in temperatures.
Some high-end laptops, like the Maingear ML-17 or those from Eluktronics, even offer external liquid-cooled solutions to reduce temperatures in their units.
But despite high-end gaming laptops being designed to run hot, you might still find it uncomfortable. The keyboard might get too toasty to touch and the hot air might make your room feel like a sauna.
Keep reading for what you can do to cool down your gaming laptop and make it run at a more comfortable temperature.
Tip #1: Tweak your power and fan settings
The easiest first step is to work with the predefined cooling profiles that come with your gaming laptop. You can find these in software such as Alienware’s Adrenaline, Asus’s Armoury Crate, etc.
The two items that will most affect cooling are the power settings and the fan speed settings.
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
If you max out your power settings, that’s going to necessitate higher fan speeds. High fan speeds will keep temperatures in check, but unfortunately that also typically means you’ll hear a cacophony of noise coming from your gaming laptop.
Reducing the power settings will help, but too much will hamper performance. A balanced setting, available on most laptops, can help keep things neutral with performance versus heat.
If you don’t wear headphones and find that your gaming laptop’s fans are too loud, you might want to lower the fan speed settings to a more tolerable level, even if it means accepting more heat.
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Most power profile tweaks simply limit the amount of power the CPU or GPU can use, thus lowering temperatures. While this works in theory, you’ll need to combine this with our next tip to ensure you aren’t sacrificing too much performance.
Some newer generation gaming laptops have AI power profiles, which help to mitigate heat by smartly applying different scenarios.
WhisperMode, part of the Nvidia Max-Q technologies, uses AI to balance performance with heat and noise. Nvidia GeForce Experience can help optimize game settings and Dynamic Boost can further help with power optimizations to the main components.
Tip #2: Use DLSS or FSR (if you can)
If you’re finding it tough to hit that sweet spot between noise and performance through laptop settings alone, consider adjusting in-game settings for games that make your laptop run hot.
Nvidia DLSS settings in Hogwarts Legacy.
Nvidia DLSS settings in Hogwarts Legacy.
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Nvidia DLSS settings in Hogwarts Legacy.
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
If you don’t want to sacrifice maximum graphics quality, consider using Nvidia’s DLSS 3 with frame generation. On modern RTX 40 series laptops, it can help cut down on power and heat while keeping frame rates high.
DLSS 3 looks great even on balanced settings, with big power savings that make it worthwhile. Frame generation takes performance even further while cutting power usage. (Unfortunately, this is only available for Nvidia’s RTX 40 series products.)
Similar to Nvidia’s DLSS, AMD also has its own FSR technology that can help with higher frame rates at lower power settings. It’s more widely available across hardware since it doesn’t specifically require a particular class of GPUs to be activated.
Consider lowering ultra-high graphics settings down to just high-level graphics. The visual difference may be unnoticeable. Furthermore, turning down textures can also be a big benefit, allowing you to maintain higher frame rates even with lower power settings.
Ray tracing and path tracing are exciting technologies, but they absolutely require tons of horsepower. Consider turning them down to low or off, which may be enough for a game to have respectable performance with less fan noise and heat.
VSync can cap the frame rate to your monitor’s specifications, and you may get a performance boost by lowering the game resolution.
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Some laptops, such as the Razer Blade 16, can dual boot into either 1080p resolution or 4K resolution. The former allows higher performance in general due to the smaller pixel count, but keep in mind that lower resolutions tend to stress the CPU more and increase heat.
Tip #4: Use a laptop stand or cooling pad
When using a laptop, you always want to make sure it’s on a hard surface and that the vents aren’t blocked. Proper airflow is critical for laptop heat management. It also helps to use a laptop cooling pad.
Not only does a laptop cooling pad provide a hard surface for your laptop, it can help move heat away from your laptop and disperse it, minimizing the risk of it overheating.
The Razer Blade 16 with a simple laptop stand to lift it off the desk.
The Razer Blade 16 with a simple laptop stand to lift it off the desk.
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
The Razer Blade 16 with a simple laptop stand to lift it off the desk.
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Not all laptop cooling pads are the same, though, and just because one is good for a particular laptop doesn’t mean it’ll also be good for yours.
For example, the Razer Blade 16 does poorly with a heavy-duty, fan-based cooling pad like the IETS GT500. Instead, it benefits much more by simply lifting it off the table with a simple laptop stand, freeing up airflow so the laptop’s cooling apparatus can do its job.
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
You may find that a simple laptop stand is all you need to maintain comfortable temperatures for your laptop. But if it’s still running hot, you might want to try a specialized laptop cooling pad.
Some laptop cooling pads can get obnoxiously noisy at higher fan speeds, though. Thankfully, fan speeds are usually adjustable so you can find a happy equilibrium between cooling support and fan noise.
Tip #5: Undervolt your CPU/GPU (expert)
Many enthusiast-grade laptops come with the ability to tweak BIOS settings. Software such as Intel’s XTU (Xtreme Tuning Utility) can also allow you to modify some CPU-related power settings.
Keep in mind only very modest changes are typically allowed, and some changes can lead to instability. Tweaking your BIOS is an expert-level technique that we don’t recommend for novices.
But if you want to tinker, try undervolting. Undervolting is when you reduce the voltage of your CPU and/or GPU. This causes it to work less hard, trading a slight performance hit for reduced heat generation.
Undervolting is supported by many laptop models, such as the Asus ROG Strix 16 (which had a BIOS update to add that feature).
If you don’t want to venture into your laptop BIOS settings, you might still be able to make similar tweaks using your laptop manufacturer’s suite of software that probably came with your laptop.
Asus has Armoury Crate, where you can set custom settings for CPU and GPU performance if you don’t want to use predefined profiles.
CPU overclocking and undervolting in Razer Synapse software.
CPU overclocking and undervolting in Razer Synapse software.
Razer
CPU overclocking and undervolting in Razer Synapse software.
Razer
Razer
Razer has Razer Synapse, which unlocks various ways to tweak Intel CPUs and adds customizations if you want to tweak further. Predefined profiles are always available, but true performance and heat savings are often only achieved through some degree of custom tweaking.
Tip #6: Apply fresh thermal paste (expert)
This final tip is only for experienced enthusiasts who aren’t afraid to open up their laptop and tinker inside.
Adding fresh (or better) thermal paste may help to reduce temperatures on both the CPU and GPU, especially if they’re a few years old. A higher-quality thermal interface may even help with newer models, too.
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Thiago Trevisan/PCWorld
Keep in mind that this can be very risky so consider it more of a last resort. Plus, many high-end laptops are already designed with custom thermal interfaces and they could end up damaged if modified.
If your high-powered gaming laptop is running hot, it’s important to understand that it’s designed that way. The latest CPUs and GPUs thrive on power usage, with heat as the primary drawback.
If it’s so hot that it’s uncomfortable to use, these tips can greatly reduce the amount of heat generated and the loud fan noises that go along with it. From tweaking game and BIOS settings to propping your laptop up on a laptop cooling pad, there’s plenty you can do.
In the end, gaming laptops naturally run hotter than gaming desktops due to the powerful technology that’s crammed into such a tight space. If it runs well and it’s bearable, don’t sweat it.
Norton 360 antivirus protects you out of the box, automatically blocking malware and even preventing suspicious-looking programs from accessing your webcam without your permission.
Those are just basic security features, though. Some of Norton 360’s most useful features—cloud backups, VPN, dark web monitoring, built-in software updater—won’t do anything until you set them up.
Here are the first settings you should change after installing Norton 360 if you want to take full advantage of this security suite.
Note: To find these settings, open the Norton 360 application from either your Start menu or system tray. You’ll see a My Norton window, where you can find Norton’s features and options for controlling them.
1. Choose how many notifications you want to see
Like other security suites, Norton 360 can be a little noisy out of the box. This is a matter of personal taste: some like seeing these notifications, others would prefer to see as few as possible.
Want to take control? You can customize your Norton 360 notifications by clicking the gear icon in the middle of the My Norton window to access settings, and then click Notifications.
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Look under Display Preference. The “Alert categories” box is set to All Alerts out of the box. To see fewer notifications, click that box and select either Warning or Critical Only.
By default, Norton 360 will show you occasional offers, too. Uncheck the Special offers box if you don’t want to see those.
You can also customize Silent Mode here, if you like, but the default settings are pretty good. For example, Norton 360 automatically activates Silent Mode whenever you’re in a full-screen application and won’t interfere with activities like gaming or video streaming.
2. Configure how the built-in VPN works
Norton 360 has a built-in Norton Secure VPN feature, which can route all your internet traffic through a secure tunnel. This means you don’t need a separate VPN service or subscription—but Norton doesn’t automatically activate its VPN after installation, so you have to do it.
Note: The Norton Secure VPN is included with most versions of Norton, including Norton 360 Deluxe and Norton 360 Standard. However, it’s not included with the baseline Norton Antivirus Plus subscription.
To control how the Norton Secure VPN works, click the gear icon in the My Norton window and select VPN, or click the down arrow to the right of “Secure VPN” in this window and select Settings.
From here, you can control how you want the VPN to work. Here are the VPN features you can tweak:
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Auto-Connect: Activate this switch to use the VPN all the time. The Norton Secure VPN will automatically connect whenever your computer boots or wakes from sleep mode. (Bear in mind that this will likely slow things down a little bit. There’s always a little bit of overhead to using a VPN.)
Auto VPN: Rather than use the VPN at all times, Norton 360 can automatically activate it when you connect to an unsecured or compromised Wi-Fi network—for example, a public Wi-Fi network with no encryption that might be vulnerable to snooping. Activating this option is a great way to boost security on public Wi-Fi networks without slowing down your connection at home.
Kill Switch: Activate this and Norton 360 will automatically block all network traffic whenever the VPN connection isn’t live. This is useful for unexpected disconnects as you’ll maintain privacy and security without accidentally leaking traffic while the VPN reconnects.
Ad Tracker Blocking: Norton Secure VPN can automatically block advertising-related trackers while the VPN is connected.
Split Tunnel: Norton 360 will let you exclude certain applications from the VPN tunnel, letting just those applications connect directly to the network and bypass the VPN.
If you’re not sure what to configure here, I’d personally recommend activating Auto VPN for protection on more dangerous networks and Kill Switch to ensure nothing can accidentally slip through the VPN when you do decide to use it.
Of course, no matter what you select, you can open up the Norton 360 window and use the Turn On button to connect to the VPN at any time.
3. Set up cloud backups
Norton 360 offers a built-in cloud backup tool that automatically backs up your important files to its online storage so you can access them if you have a computer problem.
If you aren’t using cloud backups yet, you probably should. Those online backups can come in handy when malware takes over your PC, your internal storage drive fails, or you misplace your laptop.
The exact amount of storage you get depends on your Norton 360 plan, but you may have up to 250GB of cloud backup space available. (Some Norton 360 subscriptions offer only 2GB, which can still be plenty for backing up simple but important files.)
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
To set it up, use the Set Up button to the right of “Cloud Backup” in the My Norton window. (Norton will also show you how much cloud storage you have available right under “Cloud Backup” in the window.)
Norton 360 chooses sensible defaults for the backup settings, so you can immediately click Save Settings to accept. But you could also dig in to see exactly what Norton wants to do.
By default, Norton will back up files like your Pictures and Office Documents, and it will create these backups automatically when you aren’t using your computer. Feel free to customize exactly how you want your backups to work.
4. Add more details to Dark Web Monitoring
Norton 360’s features include Dark Web Monitoring, which alerts you whenever your personal information and/or account credentials appear to be shared on the dark web. To make it truly useful, though, you’ll want to add some extra details.
Note: Most versions of Norton 360, including the Deluxe and Standard plans, include Dark Web Monitoring. However, the basic Norton Antivirus Plus plan doesn’t include this feature.
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
In the My Norton window, activate the Dark Web Monitoring option. Then, you’ll need to click View Alerts and sign in on the web.
Once you’ve done so, you can add additional details to Norton 360’s Identity Protection: email addresses, street addresses, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, credit cards, bank account numbers, passport numbers, your mother’s maiden name, and even your gamer tag. You’ll get a notification if any of these details are found on the dark web.
You don’t have to add everything, but at the very least you should add your most commonly used email addresses. The more details you provide, the more useful Norton’s Identity Protection will be.
5. Activate automatic desktop application updates
Norton 360 automatically updates itself—no surprise there. But it can also scan your computer for applications that need updates and tell you about them. Better yet: Norton 360 can automatically update those very applications for you in the background.
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
Chris Hoffman / IDG
To scan for desktop application updates, just click the Scan button to the right of “Software Updater” in the My Norton window. You’ll then see any applications that have updates available, and you can click Update to install the updates all at once.
To save time in the future, flip the Auto-Update switch near the top-right corner of the Software Updater pane. Norton 360 will then automatically look for these updates and install them for you in the background.
This Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptop combines a beautiful 14.5-inch OLED display with long battery life. But Snapdragon laptops without an OLED screen will get even longer battery life, and application compatibility still isn’t perfect on these new Arm PCs.
Yes, this Snapdragon X Elite-powered 14.5-inch laptop delivers extremely long battery life with snappy performance and cool and quiet operation in day-to-day use. The experience with day-to-day productivity applications is beautiful – just like the OLED display this machine has. (Despite the “Yoga” name, however, this is not a 2-in-1 laptop).
Of course, the Windows on Arm experience isn’t perfect. Microsoft’s Prism translation software offers much improved compatibility with traditional x86 apps. Most existing x86 applications “just work,” but not everything “just works” at the moment. And, while gaming performance is decent thanks to both the Prism translation layer and the impressive integrated GPU, this can’t deliver as much graphical horsepower as a discrete Nvidia or AMD GPU in a more traditional gaming laptop.
Looking for more options? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available today.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x: Specs
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is part of the first wave of Copilot+ PCs, and it includes an Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip. All Snapdragon X Elite chips include a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS) as well as a Qualcomm Adreno GPU. This particular machine has Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 hardware.
There are four Snapdragon X packages at launch, from lowest-end to highest-end:
The Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 avoids the “Elite” name and only has 10 cores.
The Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 in this machine includes 12 cores.
The Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 has 12 cores as well, but it gains a “Dual Core Boost” feature that can go up to 4.0 GHz for extra power when the CPU needs it.
The Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 has 12 cores, but its Dual Core boost goes up to 4.2 GHz. It also offers faster multi-threaded CPU performance and a high-performance Qualcomm Adreno GPU.
It’s unclear how much the differences between these chips will matter in the real world until we see more reviews and have a chance to benchmark more laptops with the different models ourselves.
Qualcomm
Qualcomm
Qualcomm
There aren’t a lot of other hardware options when configuring this $1,199 machine. Our review model came with 16 GB of LPDDR5X-8448MHz RAM, but you can get this machine with 32 GB of RAM for an extra $69. Like many modern PCs, the RAM is soldered. You have to make your decision when buying the machine — you can’t upgrade it later.
Additionally, our system included a 512 GB PCIe Gen4 SSD for storage. You can upgrade to a 1 TB SSD for an extra $45. Those are very reasonable prices for the upgrades. At that price, I’d recommend it.
This machine has a neural processing unit (NPU) that can deliver 45 TOPS (trillion operations per second) of performance. That means it gets access to a variety of Copilot+ PC AI features. Unfortunately, with the splashy and controversial Recall feature delayed, the AI features on Copilot+ PCs aren’t particularly compelling at launch. They may become compelling in the future, especially when Recall launches, or if third-party application developers start using the NPU to power AI features in their Windows applications.
CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100
Memory: 16 GB LPDDR5X-8448MHz
Graphics/GPU: Qualcomm Adreno
Display: 2944×1840 OLED with 90Hz refresh rate and touch screen
Storage: 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD
Webcam: 1080p camera with shutter switch
Connectivity: 3x USB-C Full-Function ports (USB4 Gen 3, Power Delivery 3.1, DisplayPort 1.4)
Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 (with Bluetooth 5.4 capable hardware)
Biometrics: IR camera for Windows Hello
Battery capacity: 70 Watt-hours
Dimensions: 12.8 x 8.86 x 0.51 inches
Weight: 2.82 pounds
MSRP: $1,199 as tested
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x: Design and build quality
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
While there are transformational changes under the hood, Lenovo didn’t reinvent the wheel with the Lenovo Slim 7x’s design. The chassis is a spitting image of the Lenovo Slim 7 14 we reviewed just a few months ago.
Like that laptop, this machine is made of aluminum and has a nice smooth metallic finish with lots of rounded edges and a small bezel around the display. Lenovo calls this laptop’s color scheme “Cosmic Blue.” It’s a nice, dark, professional-looking metallic finish. It has the “communications bar” at the top of the laptop’s display. That bar gives the webcam and IR camera a place to live, letting Lenovo shrink the bezel around the screen – and giving you a convenient handhold when opening the laptop.
While this machine bears the “Yoga” name, it doesn’t have a 360-degree hinge. This laptop does have a touch screen, but it’s not a convertible “2 in 1.” In fact, the screen doesn’t even lie flat. That’s fine, but I do think it’s a little confusing considering what the Yoga name has meant in the past. I showed this machine to another person who expected it to be a 2-in-1 thanks to the “Yoga” name. Lenovo says that it’s moving forward with using the “Yoga” name for more laptops in the US and that it’s already been using the name in this way internationally. Once again, that’s fine – just don’t be misled by the name.
At 2.82 pounds, this is a nice light laptop. The build quality feels nice and premium – the laptop is solid and doesn’t flex in any strange ways. The hinge action feels great. Lenovo says this “durable aluminum design” is tested to MIL-STD 810H military-grade standards, and it feels solid and sturdy while remaining lightweight.
Software-wise, this is a familiar Lenovo laptop experience. Bloatware is very restrained, but Lenovo does install a trial of McAfee antivirus, which will show you popups with a “welcome offer.”
Unlike Microsoft’s Surface Laptop, however, which omits the stickers below the keyboard, Lenovo chose to stick a variety of stickers to the left of the touchpad. It would be nice to see manufacturers move on from those stickers, but maybe we’ll be stuck with them going forward.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x: Keyboard and trackpad
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x’s keyboard feels very nice to type on. The specs sheet says it has 1.5mm of key travel, which is nice for a laptop – especially one this thin. With plenty of travel, the keys are enjoyable to type on. They’re pleasantly snappy. This is no surprise as we spoke positively about this keyboard in our Lenovo Slim 7 14 review, too. The keyboard also has a nice white backlight.
The touchpad here is good. It’s a fairly standard touchpad with a reasonable size, accurate tracking, a good click, and solid palm rejection. These days, a standard touchpad on a PC laptop is pretty good. Lenovo hasn’t gone above and beyond the average ultrabook when it comes to the touchpad – but that makes sense, as this is a pretty good price. In addition to the touchpad, this machine also has a touch screen.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x: Display and speakers
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x’s display is the star here. Lenovo included a 14.5-inch 2944×1840 OLED display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 90Hz refresh rate, and a touch screen. It’s a bright, beautiful display. An OLED display means deep dark blacks and vivid colors, and you’re getting that here.
Really, it bears repeating: That display is one of the big reasons you’d pick this machine out of the first Copilot+ PC lineup. Microsoft’s Surface Laptop isn’t available with an OLED display, so you have to go for a Surface Pro tablet or a laptop from another manufacturer.
In our review of the Intel Core Ultra-powered Lenovo Slim 7 14 from earlier this year, we noted that its 1920×1200 OLED display was a step behind the competition. The upgraded display is awesome. And, thanks to the Snapdragon X Elite hardware here, Lenovo managed to deliver a higher-resolution OLED display and longer battery life versus than the Intel-powered Lenovo Slim 7 14.
The OLED display is a little on the glossy side and can pick up reflections, as you’ll notice in some of the photos in this review. But it’s bright enough that it was plenty readable even in the direct sunlight outdoors, which is a worst-case scenario for any laptop.
The speakers here are similar to that Intel-powered model. There are upward-firing speakers on each side of the keyboard. In our review of the Slim 7 14, we said that the speakers were typical for a laptop of this size and price range, saying that they “provide acceptable audio with good volume and clarity, but they lack the depth and complexity available in Lenovo’s more expensive laptops and 2-in-1s.” That’s a spot-on description of this laptop’s speakers, too.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x includes a 1080p webcam, which is on the “communications bar” that juts out a tiny bit above the display. It’s a nice webcam, and the quality seems a touch better than some other 1080p webcams I’ve used recently. It’ll be great for video meetings.
This machine has a physical webcam switch on its right side. Flip the switch and the webcam will be cut off. You might prefer a physical shutter that covers the laptop’s webcam if you’re a fan of webcam privacy tricks, but that’s often a more expensive feature for higher-end business laptops.
This machine has an IR camera for Windows Hello logins. It works very well: You can open your laptop, and it sees your face and signs you in. But this machine goes beyond that with an interesting presence sensor. If you activate the presence sensor, it will notice when you get up and walk away from your laptop, locking the laptop – which is great for both security and battery life. And, when you sit down in front of the laptop, the presence sensor will activate the laptop and sign you back in with Windows Hello. It’s a nice feature, and it’s something Microsoft’s Surface Laptop doesn’t offer.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x: Connectivity
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x’s selection of ports feels simultaneously generous and skimpy.
If you’re looking for USB-C ports, it’s generous: You’re getting three USB-C ports, two on the left side of the laptop and one on the right side. They’re all “USB-C Full-Function ports” with USB4 Gen 3, Power Delivery 3.1, and DisplayPort 1.4. You will have to plug the charger into one of them to charge this machine, but you still have two USB-C ports to play with while it’s charging before you even have to think about a dongle.
That’s it, though. There are no other ports here: Not even a traditional audio jack or single USB-A port, and certainly not a microSD card reader or an HDMI port.
That’s fine if you’re willing to go all-in on USB-C! But it’s worth noting that some of these Snapdragon X Elite-powered Copilot+ laptops do offer more ports, so you do have the option of getting them along with this new Arm hardware. Asus’s larger Asus Vivobook S 15, for example, includes USB Type-A, an audio jack, HDMI out, and a microSD card reader.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x includes Wi-Fi 7 support along with Bluetooth 5.4-capable hardware. The laptop’s Wi-Fi performed well, although I don’t have a Wi-Fi 7 network to test the latest standard on yet.
Lenovo lists Bluetooth 5.3 on this laptop’s spec sheet, but a Lenovo representative tells me that the company is a little conservative – other companies may list Bluetooth 5.4 as the hardware is capable of it, even though Windows doesn’t yet deliver it. Rest assured this laptop has just as much Bluetooth 5.4 capability as any other Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptop.
What about application compatibility?
Windows on Arm’s application compatibility is now very good — but not perfect. Remember: We’re talking about a major architectural shift for Windows here. These Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptops are Windows on Arm PCs that can run traditional x86 Windows applications through a Prism translation layer.
For the most part, applications “just work” — either because they have a native Arm version already available or because the x86 version runs through Prism. If it does “just work,” you don’t have to think about it.
But not everything works. Some applications will show errors and refuse to install. For example, the official Google Drive sync tool doesn’t work on these machines. It has to integrate with File Explorer, and it can’t do that through the Prism translation layer. Google hasn’t ported it to Windows on Arm yet.
Applications that need low-level access will be a problem in general. If you have a very old printer lying around that needs a manufacturer printer driver, for example, that traditional printer driver was likely created only for x86 versions of Windows. It likely won’t work on an Arm-powered laptop.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x delivered very snappy day-to-day performance while running on battery power in typical desktop applications, including web browsers like Edge, Chrome, and Firefox, as well as popular productivity applications like the Microsoft Office suite and Slack. While this laptop has fans for active cooling, it stayed cool and quiet in normal use.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is a great laptop for day-to-day use with typical desktop applications.
First, we ran a CPU benchmark with Geekbench 6. We normally run PCMark 10, but it doesn’t run on Arm computers like this one. Geekbench 6 runs natively on ARM, so we can get an idea of this machine’s CPU performance when running native Arm code without Microsoft’s Prism translation layer involved.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x delivered an excellent score of 14013 in the multi-threaded CPU benchmark, beating both the Snapdragon X Elite-powered Microsoft Surface laptop and the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED with its Ryzen hardware. You can see the huge improvement from the older Arm-based Microsoft SQ3 processors in the Microsoft Surface Pro 9.
The fans stayed nice and quiet while this benchmark was running.
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
Next, we run Cinebench R24. Cinebench R24 has a native Arm version, which means it isn’t running through the Prism translation layer. This is a heavily multithreaded benchmark that focuses on overall CPU performance. It’s a quick benchmark, so cooling under extended workloads isn’t a factor. But, since it’s heavily multithreaded, CPUs with more cores have a huge advantage.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x delivered a score of 1023 in the multi-threaded benchmark, beating all the older machines we compared it to. It’s faster than recent Intel Meteor Lake CPUs here — in fact, it’s even noticeably faster than Microsoft’s Surface Pro 2-in-1.
The fans spun up while this multi-threaded benchmark was running — they kick in to provide extra cooling for intensive workloads like this one. (I didn’t notice them running much at all during day-to-day application use.) While Snapdragon X Elite laptops deliver cool and quiet operation in day-to-day use, they will run hotter and louder while performing CPU-intensive tasks.
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
Next, we run a graphical benchmark. Despite Qualcomm talking a lot about gaming performance, this isn’t really a gaming laptop. It’s a laptop that can run some games in a pinch, but Microsoft says compatibility will be better with productivity applications than games. As always, we run 3DMark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU performance. We also run 3DMark Night Raid.
Time Spy is running through the Prism translation layer, while Night Raid is running natively on Arm. The pair of results shows the difference between x86 code translated with Prism and native Arm code.
The Yoga Slim 7x delivered a score of 1902 in the Time Spy benchmark. That’s faster than the Surface Laptop, once again. It’s noticeably slower than recent Intel and AMD chips. While Qualcomm is talking up gaming performance of existing PC games that haven’t been ported to ARM, one of the tricks it depends on is Auto Super Resolution, which uses the NPU to upgrade the image. That trick isn’t available to this laptop in this benchmark.
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
When we ran the Night Raid benchmark, which runs natively on Arm, the Qualcomm Adreno GPU shot past the Intel Arc graphics in the Lenovo Slim 7 14, coming a close second to the AMD Radeon 780M graphics. While Prism works well, it’s clear these machines will perform best when running native Arm code.
While these graphical benchmarks hit the Yoga Slim 7x’s Qualcomm Adreno GPU hard, the laptop’s fans weren’t especially loud while they were running. The GPU can deliver its performance without a lot of noise or heat.
Overall, the performance was impressive. It’s exactly what I’d hoped to see: Nice snappy performance in desktop applications with competitive performance in traditional x86 applications running through the Prism translation layer. This machine also delivered slightly better performance than the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro across our benchmarks.
However, despite all the hype about gaming performance, I wouldn’t buy a Snapdragon X Elite with gaming in mind. Not all games run — and I was surprised to see that even Microsoft’s own Game Pass service for PCs won’t let you install PC games on these computers. It only offers the ability to stream Xbox games from the cloud. If these machines are great at running games, Microsoft’s Xbox team certainly hasn’t gotten the message yet.
For now, you’ll want a more traditional gaming laptop for maximum compatibility and maximum performance.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x: Battery life
The entire industry has been talking up the battery life of these Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptops. Lenovo says the Yoga Slim 7x has “multiday battery life,” which the company describes as two 8-hour workdays of mixed workloads. Additionally, Lenovo says this machine has “Rapid Charge Express” technology and can get up to 3 hours of runtime in 15 minutes of charging time, and it seemed to charge nice and fast.
With a battery-sipping Snapdragon X Elite chip and a 70 Watt-hour battery, it should get pretty good battery life. We saw incredible battery life for a laptop with an OLED screen, although it’s not as much battery life as Microsoft’s Surface Laptop with its more energy-efficient display.
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
IDG / Chris Hoffman
To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Steel on repeat in the Media Player app on Windows 11 with airplane mode enabled until the laptop suspends itself. We set the screen to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmarks, and it’s worth noting that OLED laptops have a bit of an advantage, as OLED screens use less power to display the black bars around the video. This is a best-case scenario for any laptop since local video playback is so efficient, and real battery life in day-to-day use is always going to be less than this.
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x lasted for an average of 951 minutes, which is a tad under 16 hours. That’s a truly incredible number for a laptop with an OLED display. In real use, too, the laptop delivered snappy performance in day-to-day computer usage — applications like Chrome, Edge, video meetings, Microsoft Office, and Slack — while the battery level dropped much slower than it would on the typical Intel or AMD laptop I’ve been reviewing.
Of course, that 14.5-inch OLED display is draining the battery a bit faster. Microsoft’s Surface Laptop beat this laptop in our benchmarks with an extra four hours of battery life — all while having a smaller 54 Watt-hour battery. If you’re looking for the longest possible battery life, you’ll likely want to look elsewhere. But you’ll be getting a less vibrant display. The trade-off is up to you — but, with battery life this good, sacrificing a little bit of it for a more beautiful OLED display feels like a reasonable move.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x: Conclusion
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is a great laptop for day-to-day use with typical desktop applications. It offers nice, snappy performance even on battery power. Thanks to the incredible energy efficiency of the Snapdragon X Elite hardware and the reasonably large 70 Watt-hour battery in this machine, this PC gets great battery life – even though it has a high-resolution OLED display.
If you’re interested in this machine, you’re likely in one of two situations:
First, you may be curious about Snapdragon X Elite PCs in general. If so, you should probably do some research to see whether the applications you depend on run on Snapdragon X Elite PCs in general. The lack of Google Drive will be a big deal for some people — and that’s just one example. PC game compatibility isn’t perfect, either. Intel’s Lunar Lake may deliver an experience more like this one with full x86 compatibility later this year. But, if the applications you do rely on work on this hardware and you’re interested in the excellent day-to-day performance with long battery life without waiting to see Intel’s next hardware release, I think you’ll be happy with one.
Second, you might be comparing the various Snapdragon X Elite Copilot+ PCs available now. Compared to a Surface Laptop, for example, this machine trades some of that battery life for a big and beautiful OLED display. And it offers a good deal if you want more RAM and storage, too. If maximum battery life is all that’s important to you, look elsewhere — like the Surface Laptop. If you want more ports (like a USB-A port, HDMI port, or headphone jack, this also isn’t the machine for you.
Ultimately, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is a beautiful machine. Its main problems are with software: Windows on Arm still doesn’t have perfect software compatibility, and these Copilot+ PC AI features aren’t all they’re hyped up to be at launch. But I can’t help but love this kind of performance and battery life combined with a vivid OLED display.
Microsoft is one of the most important names in tech today, and if you’re interested in a career in IT, you need to know how to work with Microsoft products. That’s where The Complete 2024 Microsoft Tech Certification Training Super Bundle comes in. This 11-course bundle will get you on track to earn a range of Microsoft certifications and it’s on sale for just $59.97 through 7/21.
This comprehensive bundle is led by the experts at IDUNOVA. You’ll focus on a range of Microsoft topics from managing modern desktops and working with Microsoft 365 identity services to designing and administering Microsoft Azure cloud services. It’s an extensive bundle that touches on Windows, Azure, security, and many more elements of the Microsoft ecosystem.
TL;DR: Grow your skills online with StackSkills Unlimited, now just $29.97 for lifetime access through 7/21.
One of the best ways to get ahead in life and in your career is to never stop learning. The world is constantly innovating and changing and you need to be ready to grow with it. It can be hard to know how to continue your education, and expensive to boot. But that’s why lifetime access to StackSkills Unlimited is so valuable.
This massive learning library includes more than 1,000 courses from 350 of the web’s top instructors. There are courses covering everything from business development and finance to graphic design, coding, and much more. Whether you’re interested in learning the basics of a new field or you need to learn a specific tool for work, StackSkills Unlimited offers top-rated courses to help you get where you want to be. Plus, it offers quarterly instructor Q&As and detailed progress tracking to keep your learning on track.
Invest in your future. Now through 11:59 pm PT on 7/21, you can get lifetime access to StackSkills Unlimited for just $29.97 (reg. $600).
For crunching numbers and analyzing data, there’s Microsoft Excel. But when it comes to navigating more complicated data that requires charts and diagrams, you must use a different tool. Fortunately, Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional for Windows is one of the best in the business and it’s on sale for just $19.97 during our version of Prime Day.
Visio is a leading tool for diagramming and presenting complex information in more digestible ways. It offers tons of templates and shapes to help you create the diagram that most makes sense for you, and gives you intuitive tools to effectively convey what you need. From flowcharts and org charts to Venn diagrams, mind maps, and much more, Visio gives you the tools to visualize practically anything.
Big projects have a way of becoming unwieldy quickly. That’s why project managers are so important to organizations, and why tools like Microsoft Project 2021 Professional are so important to project managers. During our version of Prime Day, you can simplify any project when you grab this powerful tool from Microsoft for just $19.97.
Microsoft Project is an all-in-one tool to help you get a grip on all kinds of projects. It’s loaded with pre-built templates to help you get started and organized quickly and allows you to sync with Office LTSC and Office 2021 to streamline all of the data you’re working with. You can manage multiple timelines and schedules, keep tabs on timesheets and staffing, run what-if scenarios with budgets, and much, much more. That’s why it has earned 4.4/5 stars from both Capterra and GetApp.
TL;DR: Take the leap to Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for one of the lowest prices you’ll see — just $22.97 — through July 21.
Running the most up-to-date operating system is one of the best ways to ensure your computer stays secure and you have the best tools to work more effectively. When you have Microsoft Windows 11 Pro, you’ll be set up to reach all of your productivity and security goals. Through 7/21, you can get it for one of the lowest prices you’ll find at just $22.97.
Windows 11 Pro was made with the hybrid working world in mind, replete with productivity features like seamless redocking, snap layouts, widgets, and an array of custom tools to help you work the way you want. It also offers the Copilot AI to assist with research and tedious tasks, as well as a ton of security features to protect your device when you’re working out in public.
Get an OS upgrade for a can’t-miss price. Through 11:59 pm PT on 7/21, you can get Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for just $22.97 (reg. $199).
Coding is difficult enough. With the right tools, however, complex projects can be made a lot more accessible. That’s where Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2022 for Windows comes in. This leading 64-bit integrated development environment (IDE) is Microsoft’s finest, giving you the tools you need to streamline your coding workflow and collaborate more effectively. During our version of Prime Day, you can get it for more than $450 off.
Microsoft Visual Studio makes it much easier to code cross-platform and in multiple languages in the same central interface. You can save time by completing lines or blocks of code automatically with IntelliCode, and collaborate live with coworkers or colleagues with Live Share. CodeLens gives you deeper insights into your code to debug more effectively, track changes, and more.
If you’re dealing with the aches and pains from sitting in an old office chair and are looking to replace it with a new one, you’ve come to the right place. Staples is currently selling the Hyken Ergonomic Mesh Swivel Task Chair for just $90 with the coupon code 94171 (it shaves off an additional $10), plus free shipping. This specific chair is the chair of choice among Reddit’s chair nerd hivemind at r/buildapc, so you know it has serious staying power.
Plus, I happen to own this exact chair model and can confidently vouch its comfort and ergonomics. I’ve been using it for years at this point! Back pain? Sore shoulder? Never heard of them.
The Union & Scale chair features a mesh back and seat, a swivel-tilt mechanism, and a tension knob that allows you to change the resistance for easy reclining. It’s capable of holding up to 276 pounds and it will require assembly. According to the Reddit wizards (aka commenters), this chair has a good mix of support and comfort, especially if you plan on sitting in it for a long time. I spend an embarrassing amount of time at my desktop computer and rarely do I feel any aches and pains from this chair. If I do feel pain, it’s usually my own doing, as I sit like a pretzel on occasion.
This is an awesome deal, so don’t sleep on it. Get it now before the chance to grab Reddit’s favorite desk chair for a pittance disappears.
Calling all engineering students! If you’re in the market for a laptop that can handle resource-intensive coursework, you’ve come to the right place. These laptops offer reliable performance as well as a portable form factor, which is important for when you’re running from class to class. We’ve also included budget-friendly machines and gaming rigs for those late night gaming sessions. Read on to learn more.
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 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 June 28, 2024:We added the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i as an alternative option underneath the Best Overall pick and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 as the Best Battery Life pick. We’ve also updated our list of recent laptop reviews, so be sure to check those out near the bottom of the page.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is one of the most well-rounded laptops we’ve come across in recent months. This sub-$1,000 machine offers reliable performance, phenomenal battery life, and a gorgeous display. You really can’t get much better than that. With an exceptional PCMark 10 score of 7,061, it toppled comparable machines like the Acer Swift Go 14 and the more expensive Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. This laptop also has a battery life of 17 hours on a single charge (a spectacular result!), so you don’t have trouble yourself with finding a wall outlet to juice up.
Who should buy the Dell Inspiron Plus 14
Anyone looking for a laptop that checks off all the right boxes. Battery life and overall performance are outstanding, sure, but don’t forget about the gorgeous 14-inch 1400p display, which is “exceedingly well suited to office work and static imagery,” according to our review. It has a maximum brightness level of 418 nits and an anti-glare coating, so you can use this laptop in various lighting conditions. The design is far from sexy, but its hardware capabilities and amazing battery life make up for the uninspired aesthetics.
Alternative option: If you’re willing to shell out the extra cash, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i ($1,699.99) is a more premium option. It’s loaded with a faster processor (Intel Core Ultra 9 185H), more RAM (32GB), and a higher resolution display (3200×2000). It also has a bigger screen that measures 16 inches and a killer keyboard. You can’t really go wrong here if you need high-end power for high-end engineering tasks.
Microsoft’s 2024 Surface Laptop is one of the first machines to release with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite CPU. While we really like its slim profile and reliable day-to-day performance, we’re absolutely astonished by the 20 hour battery life. The 54 watt-hour battery is small compared to the 90 watt-hour battery inside the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus, making the 20 hour battery life all the more impressive. According to our review, we strongly believe it poses a “significant threat to alternatives with AMD and Intel hardware.” The competition better watch out!
Who should buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
Anyone that needs a long-lasting laptop. It’s a solid choice for those who travel often or those who don’t want to worry much about battery life. The Qualcomm chip isn’t the best for hardcore gaming, but it’s fantastic for battery life and daily activities. It also scores quite well in benchmarks with Arm support and wireless connectivity is excellent thanks to Wi-Fi 7, which is the latest Internet standard. If your workload includes heavy-duty tools designed to stress x86 chips, without a dedicated Arm version available, you’d probably be better off selecting a laptop with an Intel or AMD CPU inside however. The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is a great option with strong 16-hour battery life (though the Surface Laptop 7 lasted about 3 hours longer in our battery rundown test).
The Acer Aspire 3 laptop offers dependable performance at an affordable price. It’s fast enough for day-to-day tasks like checking e-mail, browsing the web, assembling code, and so on. You’re also getting a full-sized keyboard plus a 1080p screen. It even edged out the competition with a respectable Cinebench R15 score of 1,925, beating out the comparable Acer Aspire Vero 14. Cinebench, by the way, determines how well a laptop handles processor-intensive multi-threaded workloads by running all of the cores of a CPU.
Who should buy the Acer Aspire 3
Anyone who’s on a restricted budget! It’s a great value because of the low price tag and the good performance. The HD webcam also produces clean, crisp video, so you’ll always look your best in video calls, and the battery lasts about eight hours on a single charge. That’s more than enough battery life for a full day of learning!
Why we like the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition
The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is something of a unicorn and I mean that in the best way possible. It 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 inside, it achieved an impressive 123 frames-per-second in the Rise of the Tomb Raider benchmark. That’s nothing to sneeze at, especially for a sub-$1,000 gaming machine.
Who should buy the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition
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, which is perfect for college students that want to work on homework during the day and then switch to gaming at night. With a Cinebench R20 score of 589, it should have “no trouble running lightweight apps and programs,” according to our review.
Alternative option: The Lenovo LOQ 15 is a good alternative option, as it comes with a slightly better GPU (RTX 4060). Despite getting a high rating, it didn’t make the cut because of poor battery life and limited connectivity options.
The Acer Swift Edge 16 is lightweight, affordable, and powerful. It weighs just 2.71 pounds. The 3200x2000p OLED screen is super vibrant and, according to our review, “delivers an infinite contrast ratio and deep inky black levels that produce convincing shadows in dark scenes.” It even turned in a strong PCMark 10 score of 6,494, beating out the more expensive Acer Swift Go 16. That means the Swift Edge 16 is capable of out-performing some machines that cost hundreds of dollars more.
Who should buy the Acer Swift Edge 16
If you’re looking for a lightweight ultraportable with strong performance, the sub-$1,000 Acer Swift Edge 16 is the laptop you want. It’s light enough to take with you from class to class and the spacious 16-inch display is fantastic for school work, watching movies, and so on. Sure, the design is a bit bland and battery life is a disappointing six to seven hours (still not an awful result), but if you can handle those minor shortcomings, then the Acer Swift Edge 16 is the right pick for you.
Alternative option(s): If you’re able to stretch your budget a little further, then you should definitely consider picking up the Acer TravelMate P6. It’s a little lighter than our top pick at 2.65 pounds and has a bigger battery, but it’s more expensive and doesn’t have an OLED display.The HP Dragonfly G4 is another solid option, as it offers high performance as well as an LTE connection. That said, it’s very expensive.
The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED dazzled us with its peppy CPU performance, outstanding battery life, and slick-looking OLED touchscreen display. According to our review, “movies and games look realistic and vibrant” on the 14-inch 1980x1200p OLED touchscreen, although it can be difficult to view content in brighter environments because of the reflective surface. It also died at the 16 hour mark on a single charge, which is absolutely fantastic. That result outclasses comparable machines like the Lenovo Slim 7 14 Gen 9 and the HP Pavilion Plus Laptop 14. As for how it performs, you should have zero problems zipping through real-world tasks like web browsing, video conferencing, and so on.
Who should buy the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED
Anyone that’s looking to pick up an affordable laptop with an OLED display. It’s so much more than that, though. The build quality is solid and day-to-day performance is both fast and responsive. Connectivity options are a bit limited, but that’s not unusual for a laptop in this price range. Overall, this is an exceptional budget laptop, as you can’t really beat the price to performance ratio.
Dell Inspiron 16 Plus: The Dell Inspiron 16 Plus is a powerful 16-inch workstation with a nice combination of performance, battery life, and build quality. It’s a good alternative to gaming laptops for people who want more power than the average laptop offers.
Surface Laptop 7: The Microsoft Surface Laptop’s strong processor performance and top-tier battery life prove that Windows’ transition to Arm has staying power, but even the most casual gamers should think twice.
Acer Aspire 3: The Acer Aspire 3 cuts performance to the bone as it limbos below a $500 MSRP.
Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i: The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i is one of the best mainstream Windows laptops on the market, with great specs, a gorgeous display, and a killer keyboard.
How we test engineering laptops
The PCWorld team puts every Windows laptop through a series of intense 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: The PCMark 10 benchmark is how we determine how well the laptop handles general use tasks like web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets, streaming, and so on.
HandBrake: HandBrake is more intensive than PCMark 10. It 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 renders a 2D scene over a short period of time.
3DMark: 3DMark checks if 3D performance remains consistent over time by running graphic-intensive clips. This is how we test a gaming laptop’s GPU.
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.
How much processing power will I need in an engineering laptop?
You’re going to need a good amount of processing power for engineering tasks, so we’d recommend an Intel Core i5 or higher. However, an Intel Core i7 is considered ideal. This type of processor is good for multitasking, gaming, and demanding workloads.
2.
Is RAM important to an engineering laptop?
Absolutely! The amount of RAM directly impacts the speed of your programs. Engineering students will likely be living in programs like Java and Python, so making sure those programs run smoothly is absolutely vital. The bare minimum we’d recommend is 8GB, but 16GB is better.
3.
What about storage?
You’re going to need quite a bit of space for a slew of engineering programs, so we’d recommend at least 512GB of SSD (solid state drive) storage. If you want more space and have the budget for it, go for 1TB of NVMe SSD storage.
4.
How much should my laptop weigh?
You don’t want to be lugging a five pound beast from class to class. A portable laptop should weigh about three pounds or less. In terms of portability and value, we suggest buying a laptop with a 13- or 14-inch display.
The Nintendo Switch OLED has a vibrant 7-inch OLED screen for vivid colors and contrast. Whether you’re diving into the latest Zelda adventure or racing through Mario Kart like the rest of us, this display technology delivers a more immersive experience.
Aside from the new OLED screen, this version of the Nintendo Switch has another major upgrade: a wide, adjustable stand. Now, when you set your Switch down on the table, you can actually adjust the resting angle.
The Switch is equipped with a wired LAN port, ensuring a stable and fast internet connection when playing in docked mode. With a generous 64GB of internal storage, you have ample space for your game library. (And if you’re a true gaming enthusiast, you can always expand this storage with a memory card.)
If you already own a Nintendo Switch, know that you can continue using your existing Joy-Con controllers with this new OLED model, saving you the cost of purchasing new ones.
The Steam Summer Sale is in full swing, and there are deals to be had everywhere you look. But most of them—especially the more popular and more recent games—only have modest discounts at best. I’ve picked out some of my favorites that have the biggest savings.
In no particular order, here are the best Steam Summer Sale deals on the games I personally love and think everyone should check out. Fill up your Steam backlog at a steep discount right now!
1. Fallout 76 — $9.99 (75% off)
Fallout is all the rage at the moment thanks to the Amazon series, but sadly it’s been years since the last mainline game—and it’ll be years more before a new one comes out.
Take this opportunity to get Fallout 76 at a huge discount and dive into the rich lore of this post-apocalyptic world, presented as a prequel to every other Fallout game. The rest of the series is deeply discounted as well, including fan-favorite Fallout: New Vegas.
2. Horizon: Zero Dawn Complete Edition — $12.49 (75% off)
This is one of my all-time favorite games, and the PC version of Horizon: Zero Dawn—with its more precise controls and even prettier graphics—is the best way to experience it.
This package includes the original open-world, robo-dino-hunting game and the excellent Frozen Wilds DLC at an amazing price. If you enjoy this one, you’ll want to move on to the sequel Horizon: Forbidden West… if your PC can handle it.
3. Tunic — $14.99 (50% off)
Tunic is a top-down, Zelda-inspired action-RPG that’s absolutely adorable, animating like a series of kids’ toys come to life. But don’t let the cutesy graphics fool you. With its expansive setting and punishing combat, there’s more than a little Dark Souls flavor to this comely adventure.
4. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut — $3.99 (90% off)
If you want to sink your teeth into a narrative-heavy RPG, you’ll find none deeper than Disco Elysium, which became an instant classic upon release.
Its stunningly original world and neo-noir trappings will suck you in, even as you acquaint yourself with its original take on role-playing and exploration. Make sure you have plenty of free time before you start, as this game will devour it.
5. Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor + Shadow of War — $6.99 (90% off)
These games are a bit old now, but they combine Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings setting (albeit a sort of fanfiction version) with the excellent combat of the Batman Arkham games.
Even better, the legendary Nemesis system always gives you dynamic and interesting orcs to fight (and eventually recruit to your own army). Start with Shadow of Mordor, then move on to Shadow of War—this bundle makes them an incredible bargain.
6. Civilization VI — $2.99 (95% off)
What can I say about Civilization VI that hasn’t already been said? Nothing, that’s what. If you have any love for the classics of turn-based empire building, or if you’re just curious to see what all the fuss is about, there’s never been a better time to pick it up.
7. Doom (2016) — $3.99 (80% off)
Doom‘s reimagined reboot from nearly ten years ago arguably kicked off the modern boom of boomer shooters, and it’s easy to see why.
An incredible blend of classic and modern elements makes this a demon-punching joy from start to finish, with super-fast movement, satisfying shooting, and fantastic levels. Play Doom (the slightly less old one) for a taste of a nearly perfect shooter.
8. Dead Cells — $12.49 (50% off)
You got your roguelike in my Metroidvania! Dead Cells is one of those rare indie games that nails just about everything it sets out to do, from its colorful pixel art to its smooth-as-butter platforming to its punishing-yet-satisfying combat.
If you’re looking for a challenge and you’re strung out on 3D soulslikes, give this one a go. It’s an absolute winner.
9. Slay the Spire — $8.49 (66% off)
The one that popularized today’s deluge of digital deck-building games, Slay the Spire mixes simple mechanics and deep strategy with a hearty dose of randomness for maximum engagement.
After a few runs, you’ll start to seek out the card combos and battle techniques that can make the difference between a flub and an epic run. Warning: this one can be seriously addictive!
10. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun — $14.29 (35% off)
The grimdark future of Warhammer 40K and the pixelated perversity of boomer shooters make for a perfect combination, and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun proves it.
Step into the chunky size-18 boots of a legendary space marine and rid a beleaguered planet of its demonic infestation. Come for the breathless, non-stop shooting—even if your PC can’t handle the newer Doom games—and stay for the deep lore.
11. Yakuza: Like a Dragon — $11.99 (80% off)
The Yakuza series is legendary for its alternately serious and wacky atmosphere, but its usual beat-em-up combat doesn’t appeal to everyone. If you prefer your role-playing games with turn-based combat, this more recent entry should be more your style.
The surrealist setup of Yakuza: Like a Dragon makes everything wackier in a way that’s charmingly anime, and the new protagonist means you don’t need to have played any of the other Yakuza games to dig in.
While this price is technically a Prime deal—big savings that are only for Amazon Prime members—non-Prime shoppers can still get this awesome portable laptop monitor for $90.
The Arzopa S1 Table serves as an excellent portable monitor since you can easily slip it into your bag right next to your laptop. Whether you’re multitasking with multiple applications or just need a bigger screen for your spreadsheets, this monitor helps you stay productive.
Featuring a 15.6-inch 1080p IPS screen, this monitor delivers vibrant colors and crystal-clear image quality. The anti-glare display ensures you can work comfortably even in brightly lit environments, such as under fluorescent lighting or outdoors.
The display’s 60Hz refresh rate isn’t the best for gaming, but it’s all you need for reasonably smooth visuals while working on presentations, streaming videos, or just browsing the web.
This portable monitor is lightweight (1.7 pounds) and slim (0.3 inches thick), so you won’t have any trouble carrying it around.
The Arzopa S1 Table features dual USB-C ports, so it can easily connect to smartphones, computers, and gaming consoles. The mini HDMI port further extends compatibility to most modern laptops, ensuring you have a way to use the monitor with any device.
Less participation in testing performed by independent security organizations
Extremely light on features
Our Verdict
Malwarebytes Premium Security offers a simple, easy-to-use alternative to Windows Security—but don’t expect big bang for your buck. Seasoned security vets may also find the lower amount of available independent performance test results offputting.
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Malwarebytes was once a crucial piece of software—a necessary supplement for your main antivirus scanner. You couldn’t always count on just one program to catch everything, and Malwarebytes rose to prominence as a reliable secondary tool.
But the world has changed since 2010. Now if you run multiple antivirus apps, you could open yourself up to software conflicts or increased risk for system vulnerabilities. One single program is the way to go—and if you’re a newbie to security and prefer a dead simple app, then Malwarebytes’ streamlined, elegant approach can fit the bill.
How much does Malwarebytes Premium Security cost?
As a simple suite, Malwarebytes Premium Security costs $60 per year. New subscribers can sign up for a two-year package to save $9 ($111 total). Unlike most other antivirus vendors, Malwarebytes bills in monthly installments over a 12-month term, rather than charging the total cost upfront.
$60 per year (billed monthly over a 12-month term)
Malwarebytes’ plan allows you to spread your device allotment over those running Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and even ChromeOS.
PCWorld
PCWorld
PCWorld
If you want to cover more gear, or save a little more cash, you can get licenses for Malwarebytes through third-parties like Amazon and the PCWorld Software store with more flexible terms and at lower rates. However, such plans currently don’t include VPN service, which Malwarebytes added to the subscriptions it sells directly.
What does Malwarebytes Premium Security include?
When you step up from Malwarebytes’ free version to a paid subscription, real-time monitoring for malware, email, web, and select network threats becomes active. (The free plan only scans if you initiate a manual check.) Overall, you’re protected against viruses, ransomware, and other malware, as well as other common attacks like phishing attempts, zero-day exploits on the web and over email, and suspicious apps.
Choosing Malwarebytes Premium Security adds on access to the company’s VPN, which Malwarebytes advertises as a no-log service. As premium upgrades go, this one is simplistic—you don’t get parental controls, a password manager, additional defenses like protected folders, or PC utilities, as you do with a rival like AVG. The company seems to weigh its VPN service as equally valuable to a collection of such antivirus features.
Key features of Malwarebytes Premium Security
Installation and user interface
After you install the app, you’ll see the main dashboard. The interface is incredibly streamlined, with just two tabs on the left navbar—Dashboard and Settings. You can choose between Light, Dark, or matching Windows’ mode.
PCWorld
PCWorld
PCWorld
Accordingly, you’ll send almost all your time on the Dashboard view, which is divided into three segments. In the larger one, you’ll see a couple of sections blocked out. At the upper left is Security, with Scanner, Detection History, and Real-Time Protection as the three options and their settings:
Scanner lets you run a quick, full, or custom scan, as well as jump directly to related settings. You can also access the scheduled scans to review what’s already set up and create new ones.
Detection History shows quarantined items, the history of events (like detected viruses), and your allow list—items that you’ve approved as safe after initially being flagged by Malwarebytes.
Real-Time Protection is not so much a feature, but an explanation for how Malwarebytes and how it safeguards your PC continuously.
Directly underneath the security section is one for the VPN. It puts the major controls at your fingertips, letting you quickly activate the service and change the location. You can also jump into related settings.
Along the right side is a rating for your PC’s protection level—Malwarebyte’s assessment of how close you are to utilizing the app fully. You can also check on other devices associated with your account.
PCWorld
PCWorld
PCWorld
Generally, the interface is clean and simple, as are the settings for the app and its features. The only area where you can dig in deeper are the antivirus protection settings—but as Malwarebytes rightly warns, nearly all users are better off leaving the defaults as they are.
One tip: Once the software is installed, head to Settings > Notifications, scroll down to the bottom, and turn off marketing notifications.
Virus, malware, and threat protection
Real-time protection
Malwarebytes Premium Security constantly keeps an eye out for a variety of threats. When you’re opening or adding files, using apps, or browsing the web, it’ll block viruses, ransomware, and other malware like rootkits, along with phishing attempts.
Unlike other rivals, Malwarebytes doesn’t offer a firewall. That job is left to Windows. It also doesn’t offer additional protections against dangers like DNS hijacking and webcam takeovers. As for identity protection, like dark web monitoring and insurance coverage, you must upgrade to the company’s Complete Protection plan, which costs twice as much per year.
PCWorld
PCWorld
PCWorld
If you want to adjust your real-time scanning settings, you can change what the app screens for and how stringent it is with its filters, as well as how it handles suspicious files. Malwarebytes allows you dig surprisingly deep, though only experts should get into the weeds. The overwhelming majority of users should keep the defaults as they are.
Scheduled and manual scans
At installation, Malwarebytes Premium Security automatically creates a scheduled scan for once per week. It runs whenever your system is idle, which the app calls a “smart scan.” You can edit this default or create additional scheduled scans.
For manual scans, Malwarebytes offers three types. The default is a threat scan, which checks commonly targeted areas of your PC, including things running in memory and at startup, as well as registry changes. Files stored on your PC are also looked over.
PCWorld
PCWorld
PCWorld
To fire up a quick or custom scan, you must choose Advanced Scan from the three-dot menu for the Scanner on the dashboard. Custom scans let you tweak a handful of settings related to file types and areas of your PC, as well as how to handle potentially unwanted programs and modifications to your system.
Additional features
Browser extension
Malwarebytes offers a Browser Guard extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, but despite being available as a separate free download, it’s still considered a component of the Premium Security suite. After installation, it runs quietly in the background, protecting your browser from malware and scams (including credit card skimming), as well as serving as an adblocker.
VPN
Malwarebytes keeps its controls for its VPN simple rather than restrictive. Firing up the service is quick and fast, as is choosing a location for a server—and Malwarebytes lets you choose a handful of cities within countries outside of the US, more similar to a dedicated VPN.
PCWorld
PCWorld
PCWorld
You can choose servers in Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UK, Ukraine, USA.
This country list isn’t as large as with some VPN services, but as mentioned above, you can generally choose between two to four cities per country. The exception is the United States, which has 18 cities available, coast to coast.
Speeds held stable when using the VPN during light testing. For US server speeds, Los Angeles (within the same state as PCWorld’s San Francisco location) showed a decrease of about 5 to 7 percent, while New York saw a roughly 26 percent drop.
Customer support
From within the app, you can jump to Malwarebytes’ user guide, support pages, and support tool. You can also use an AI chatbot for answers to your questions, or if you’re signed into your Malwarebytes account, to contact customer support—you’ll get funneled to your choice of email or live chat.
Updates and maintenance
Updates for the app and virus definitions happen automatically in the background, but you can also trigger a check manually. You’ll need to click on the person icon in the upper right of the app window, then choose About Malwarebytes and click on the Check for updates button.
PCWorld
PCWorld
PCWorld
Performance
While Malwarebytes participates in some independent benchmarking of its software, it has no current results from AV-Test and AV-Comparatives, two major organizations that test how well antivirus suites can catch threats.
Instead, the company points the curious toward AVLabs’s testing data. During the May 2024 advanced in-the-wild test, Malwarebytes caught all 521 samples—though its detection rate was split between 78.32 percent pre-launch and 21.38 percent post-launch of the samples (that is, before the malware samples could activate versus after). In comparison, rivals Bitdefender and McAfee caught nearly all the samples before they could execute, with 97.98 percent and 99.3 percent pre-launch detection, respectively.
When asked about its participation in independent benchmarks, a representative from Malwarebytes said the company “focuses on third-party testing that is most closely aligned with the needs of customers” and that it works “with the third-party testers that are most relevant to what our customers encounter in today’s threat landscape.”
PCWorld / AVLab
PCWorld / AVLab
PCWorld / AVLab
During hardware performance tests on our budget Acer Aspire 3 test laptop, Malwarebytes lived up to its claims of light impact on PC resources. When left idle in the background, it had virtually no effect on typical tasks, as shown by PCMark 10’s extended benchmark. That test simulates video chatting, web browsing, gaming, image and document editing in free apps like GIMP and LibreOffice, and the like.
If you work instead on Microsoft Office documents, our UL Procyon tests showed a minimal impact on results, with a less than 3 percent difference. Similarly, our Handbrake encoding test only dipped by about 4 percent.
Even running a threat scan continuously during our benchmarks didn’t disturb these numbers much—PCMark 10 slipped by about 7 percent, Procyon by about 14 percent, and Handbrake by about 19 percent. Given how rival antivirus engines from rivals like McAfee and Norton are far greedier about system resources, Malwarebytes does distinguish itself in this regard.
Conclusion
If you dislike complicated interfaces, Malwarebytes Premium Security can be a good fit as an alternative to Windows Security—so long as you don’t mind not getting as much bang for your buck. The app is attractive and clean in its layout, and the settings are clear and straightforward. However, more seasoned security vets may have reason to hesitate on pulling the trigger, due to the relatively low amount of independent testing data available about software performance.
Microsoft has stopped delivery of June 25th’s KB5039302 update. While the update had some interesting stuff in it, it turns out that it can cause Windows 11 PCs to restart in a continuous loop.
Specifically, Windows 11 version 23H2 and Windows 11 version 22H2 are affected by this bug. Windows servers are not affected.
Fortunately, KB5039302 isn’t installed on all Windows 11 computers because it’s an optional update. (It’s a preview of the standard update for all Windows 11 machines that will be released on Patchday in July 2024.)
In other words, KB5039302 will only be on your Windows 11 computer if you explicitly installed it.
After installing updates released on 26 June 2024 (KB5039302), some devices may not restart. Affected systems may restart repeatedly and require recovery operations to restore normal use.
The Redmond software company continues:
This issue is more likely to affect devices that use virtual machine tools and nested virtualization features, such as CloudPC, DevBox, Azure Virtual Desktop. We are investigating to determine the exact conditions under which this issue may be triggered. Windows Home Edition users are less likely to experience this issue as virtualization is less prevalent in private environments.
And further:
While our investigation is ongoing, this update is not being offered through Windows Update and Windows Update for Business. For this reason, this update may not be offered for your device at this time.
Microsoft is working on a solution to the problem and plans to release it with one of the upcoming updates.
What to do if you’re stuck restarting
If you’ve installed the update on your computer and it enters the never-ending reboot loop, you’ll have to wait until Windows 11 begins the Windows 11 recovery environment by itself.
When it does, select Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options, then Uninstall Updates, and finally click on Uninstall latest quality update. Then confirm removal of the update.
It will take some time for KB5039302 to be removed. Once it’s done, restart your computer and it should work properly again.
While robot vacuums are quite helpful, they can be rather expensive. If you’ve wanted to try one but you’re reluctant to drop hundreds on a name-brand model, today’s your lucky day.
The Lefant M210 robovac is down to $89 at Amazon, an incredible savings on the robot’s list price of $200. It’s rare to see robovacs under $100, especially ones that don’t compromise on performance!
Designed with pet owners in mind, the Lefant M210 tackles pet hair and dirt as it operates its effective zigzag cleaning routine.
This super-affordable model doesn’t have a brush—it sucks everything up directly—so it avoids all the issues that come with hair getting tangled. The trade-off is that it can sometimes struggle to loosen up dirt and debris that’s stubborn or really caked on.
The compact design of the Lefant M210, with its 11-inch diameter and 2.99-inch height, allows it to easily navigate under beds, sofas, and other furniture. It leaves no spot left uncleaned.
You can choose between six cleaning modes: Auto, Spot, Edge, Zigzag, Schedule, and Manual. You can pick whichever you want through the Lefant app and switch between them as needed. You can even control the robovac with your voice by connecting with either Alexa or Google Assistant and asking it to perform different cleaning jobs.
With its long battery life, the Lefant M210 can run up to 120 minutes in low suction mode, meaning it could clean your entire home on a single charge (assuming you aren’t in a massive mansion).
For less than $90, the Lefant M210 robovac is an absolute steal. What will you do with all the time you free up? Whether it’s chilling with Netflix, tackling other chores, or simply taking a nap, the Lefant M210 can improve your life—if you jump on this limited-time deal.
A good gaming chair is a well-considered investment for many, as it usually costs a little more than a normal office chair. However, it also fulfils many functions that go beyond just sitting and scores points with its ergonomics and stylish lighting, for example.
But what should you do if you are no longer happy with your gaming chair? Take it apart, dispose of it and forget about it? Not necessarily, because perhaps your gaming chair would benefit from an upgrade.
To get the best out of your gaming chair, we have selected some interesting accessory options. Unless otherwise stated, most of the products should be suitable for all common manufacturers.
Option 1: Neck, lumbar or seat cushion for more ergonomics
Most gaming chairs are already very ergonomic and, in addition to a shape adapted to the spine, also have other aids. These include a good neck cushion that supports the head if you want to lean backwards.
The manufacturer Noblechairs, for example, offers a comfortable cushion made of memory foam that adapts to the shape of the head and can be attached to the chair with a drawstring. This is available for just $35.
You should also provide optimum support for your lower back if you are sitting for long periods of time. A separate lumbar cushion is recommended here if the gaming chair does not already have a function. The Razer brand offers a high-quality memory foam cushion that should fit any chair. However, to be on the safe side, check the dimensions in case your chair is narrower or wider than the gaming chairs from Razer.
Last but not least, there’s the part you actually sit on. The seat of many gaming chairs is made from materials that are both comfortable and supportive. However, if you still find that it becomes uncomfortable or causes pain, an orthopedic seat cushion can help. Cushions for the armrests can also help you to adopt a better posture when typing.
Option 2: Footrest, new castors and mat for more support
If you look at the lower part of a gaming chair, you will notice room for improvement. Firstly, the legs should always be at right angles to the floor, but this is not always the case.
If the height adjustment doesn’t help because the chair doesn’t fit your height perfectly, you should get a footrest. These are available from Secret Lab, for example, although they are a little expensive, or cheaper on Amazon with a warming cover that also helps against cold feet in winter.
If you are annoyed that the gaming chair only has cheap plastic castors or makes a lot of noise when rolling, you can usually replace them. However, make sure you buy the correct diameter so that the castors fit when you attach them.
It may also be a good idea to get a floor protection mat to prevent further wear and tear on the floor or castors. As a rule, these are also non-slip and do not have to look as boring as normal carpets, but can be provided with a wide variety of designs such as those from Sharkoon.
Floor mats like this one from Sharkoon could pull the rug out from under your feet.
Floor mats like this one from Sharkoon could pull the rug out from under your feet.
Sharkoon
Floor mats like this one from Sharkoon could pull the rug out from under your feet.
Sharkoon
Sharkoon
Option 3: A chicer look thanks to personalized patches, covers or LED lighting
If you also value the look, you can personalize your gaming chair even further than just during the ordering process. At Backforce, for example, you can order personalized patches that you can apply to any chair with a fabric cover.
Speaking of covers, if you’re not happy with the color of your gaming chair, you can also get a cover for it. This protects the chair from stains or damage caused by cat claws.
If you prefer a more colorful look, you can also equip your gaming chair with additional LED lighting, if this is not already available. You can use conventional light strips from Amazon and stick them to the side of the chair for a cool lighting effect.
Chernishev Maksim / Shutterstock.com
Chernishev Maksim / Shutterstock.com
Chernishev Maksim / Shutterstock.com
Option 4: Extra gadgets such as a cup holder or controller hanger
If you don’t have much space at your desk, you can outfit your gaming chair with places to store drinks, controllers, or headsets. The DXRacer brand, for example, offers a built-in cup holder for its chairs, although this is compatible with only specific models.
The manufacturer, Thrustmaster, also offers a wild-looking design that allows joysticks to be mounted directly on the armrests of the gaming chair. This makes you feel like you’re in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon or something. Again, make sure that the seat mount is compatible with your chair.
Imagine a world where a car is speeding up directly behind you but your hearing only extends to either side of you. It’s a frightening thought, isn’t it? Yet it’s not too far off what we’ve had to endure for decades now in games.
You could just as easily sub out the word “car” for “zombie,” “monster,” “dragon,” or any other kind of game foe, too.
So, I’m just going blurt out my raw opinion: Audio has traditionally taken a backseat to graphics in many games. There… that feels better. But, I do get why that’s been the case…
That a game developer can cause my adrenal glands to flood my body with more of the flight and fight hormone is quite an extraordinary thing…
I mean, it’s true that we live in such a visual world that game developers have naturally prioritized pixels over audio pings. When I look at some of the gorgeous 4K games that have hit our shelves in the last few years — games like Cyberpunk 2077 — I can’t complain, either. The evolution of visually stunning graphics has obviously been a necessary thing to drive game innovation — I mean who doesn’t wanna see a talking vending machine in 3840x2160p?
But we hit a point a while back now where I ceased to be amazed by just gorgeous graphics. Indeed, it’s time to give credit to something else that’s been driving engagement. Yup, take a bow, 3D spatial audio.
The benefits of 3D spatial audio are many.
For starters, technologies like Dolby Atmos for headphones and Windows Sonic have opened a whole new world to my gaming, morphing them from simple linear, roughly approximated auditory experiences into rich sound extravaganzas.
In a literal sense the fact that I can now hear sounds from 17 directions instead of just four really does make them a zillion times more riveting.
That I can hear zombies at my 11 o’clock as well as at 3 o’clock in Resident Evil 2 makes the fantasy a whole lot more believable. Yes, other games have had grotesque flesh-eating undead humans in them too, but these ones sound like they’re actually moving in my 3D space — in my living room, or even in my bedroom, wherever I happen to be playing at the time.
Not feeling the fear in Resident Evil 2? A good 3D spatial audio supported headset will fix that!
Not feeling the fear in Resident Evil 2? A good 3D spatial audio supported headset will fix that!
Capcom
Not feeling the fear in Resident Evil 2? A good 3D spatial audio supported headset will fix that!
Capcom
Capcom
In a nutshell, with 3D spatial audio, developers have found a way to hack more of my biological processes (Matrix style) to keep me more engrossed than I ever have been before. In some cases, they quite literally leave me shaking in my boots.
But 3D spatial audio is more than just a cool new way to hear games like I’ve never heard them before. Indeed, it has become an effective storytelling technique that gels perfectly with the kind of games that I love to play — the engrossing cinematic kind.
Hellblade Senua’s Sacrifice is a classic example of where that happens. The game uses 3D spatial audio to put voices in your head and thereby enhance the game’s narrative about your character — a crazed Viking warrior who has descended into hell to help her lost lover. It also uses 3D audio in combat scenes, so they become quite frantic.
Hellblade Senua’s Sacrifice uses 3D audio to advance the storyline.
Hellblade Senua’s Sacrifice uses 3D audio to advance the storyline.
Ninja Theory
Hellblade Senua’s Sacrifice uses 3D audio to advance the storyline.
Ninja Theory
Ninja Theory
The way it works at captivating me deserves praise. That a game developer can cause my adrenal glands to flood my body with more of the flight and fight hormone is quite an extraordinary thing.
Another effective 3D spatial audio technique that developers use gets me every time, too. It’s where the audio starts out utilizing the 3D enhanced directionality of 3D spatial audio then collapses down to a single direction — in some cases so that only my player’s breath, or their beating heart is audible (a la Sniper Elite 5).
I call this the claustrophobia effect. Suffice to say, it sounds like my own breath or heart, which makes the action and story more palpable.
Then there’s the way 3D spatial audio enhances environmental sounds like gunfire and passing cars in RPG games like Cyberpunk 2077. If you like a full shopping mall kind of auditory experience where sounds are emanating from every direction — yup, 3D spatial is where it’s at.
3D environmental sounds add to a captivating atmosphere in Cyberpunk 2077.
3D environmental sounds add to a captivating atmosphere in Cyberpunk 2077.
CD Project Red
3D environmental sounds add to a captivating atmosphere in Cyberpunk 2077.
CD Project Red
CD Project Red
But these things are arguably the lesser realized advantages of 3D spatial audio. A more common use is simply competitive advantage. That advantage can be quite big. For me the added directionality allows me to pinpoint explosions, gunfire, and player footfalls in multiplayer matches tons easier than if I had just stereo audio.
That’s no more evident than in Rainbow Six Siege, where I find myself listening like a hawk for the chance of hearing players change from prone to standing, crossing different floor types, and deploying gadgets like flashbangs, to home in on their locations.
But 3D spatial audio also helps with environmental awareness of objects too. The 3D audio anchors them and provides a persistent presence to targets. Indeed, I’ve found it a lot easier to locate objectives in games like Battlefield V, so much so that I’m no longer wandering aimlessly.
That’s not to say that spatial audio technologies are flawless. It can be a minefield to sift between the different types with their varying hardware and game compatibilities. What’s more, they work differently, too. Reddit is flooded with anecdotes about that.
But when you find one that works a treat, it’s gold. DTS Headphone: X 2.0 is one of my favorites. I’ve been loving using it with the Logitech G Pro X Lightspeed headset these past couple of weeks. It’s especially great for games that support Microsoft’s spatial sound API, where I get a full 3D effect — even from above.
So, if you haven’t tried 3D spatial audio, give it a go. But be sure to do your homework and find one that’s compatible with the games you’re playing. After that, load up a game and feel ALIVE!
Finally, after more than a decade of effort, Windows on Arm is a viable alternative to traditional x86 processors—and it’s especially alluring if you long for longer battery life.
But what about games? There’s reason to be skeptical., despite Qualcomm’s pre-release claims that games should just work on Snapdragon X Elite. Games are often developed with a highly specific platform target. Even ports that seem simple, like a move from PlayStation 5 to Xbox Series X|S, can take a lot more effort than you might think.
To find out how well Qualcomm’s chips fare in PC games, I pitted Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop 7 against a Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with an Intel Core Ultra processor and Intel Arc integrated graphics. The results are shocking.
Every Qualcomm Snapdragon X chip comes with an integrated Qualcomm Adreno X1 GPU, though the IGP’s performance varies a bit depending on the particular Snapdragon X chip in a device:
Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100: 3.8 TFLOPs
Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100: 3.8 TFLOPs
Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100: 3.8 TFLOPs
Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100: 4.6 TFLOPs
As you can see, Qualcomm’s naming conventions are a bit opaque even by the standards of the industry, so you’ll need to pay close attention when buying a Qualcomm-powered Windows laptop.
Though the X1E-84-100 is the best Qualcomm chip, it’s currently exclusive to the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge, leaving the X1E-80-100 in the leading spot for most Qualcomm-powered laptops. This is the chip I’ll be using in my tests for this comparison.
Intel, meanwhile, provides integrated Arc graphics into some—though not all—Intel Core Ultra chips. Here, too, the details can vary quite a bit between chips. The least performant have four “Xe Cores” while the best have eight. Clock speeds vary, too.
Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H, the one I’ll be using for this comparison, is a popular option for thin-and-light Windows x86 laptops, the form factor Qualcomm targets with its debut Snapdragon notebooks.. Many expensive laptops use it for their entry-level configurations, while mid-range laptops provide it as an upgrade over an Intel Core Ultra 5.
Qualcomm Adreno X1: Games that failed
Before diving into benchmarks, I want to address a major problem upfront: Most games currently make little or no effort to support Qualcomm’s hardware.
Qualcomm tried to build pre-launch hype with demonstrations of Baldur’s Gate 3 and Control, which both launch and run on a Snapdragon X laptop. However, many of the games I tried refused to launch, crashed at launch, or had instability problems that made them unplayable.
The list of game titles with such problems include many of the most popular games on Steam:
PUBG: Battlegrounds has an anti-cheat system that doesn’t currently support Qualcomm’s hardware, so the game refused to launch.
Counter-Strike 2 launched and, at first, seemed playable. However, the game frequently locked up for seconds at a time. The lock-ups seemed to be triggered by gunfire, which obviously isn’t great in a fast-paced esports shooter.
Warframe launched to the title and login screens, but opened in an oddly scaled window that made the login button unavailable. The game crashed when I resized or maximized the window.
Apex: Legends politely refused to launch. The game produced an error message stating Arm chips aren’t supported.
Diablo IV launched and I was able to enter a game, but the game froze several seconds after I started moving my character, followed by a “[Prism] Device Removal – Win10/Dx12 TQ0 RT0 DLSS0 FG0” error message.
Valheim crashed to the desktop before the game loaded to the start screen. This happened under both DirectX and Vulkan.
As I discovered in my time using the Microsoft Surface Laptop, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X delivers a stable Windows software experience straight out of the box. From web browsers to video editors, nearly everything ran without a problem. And, to my surprise, a large majority of the apps I use for everyday work already support Arm.
But PC games are a different beast. Very few PC developers bother to create Arm-compatible versions of their game. That’s when emulation tries to step in, but emulating a game is more difficult than emulating a typical desktop application.
Can Intel Arc play these titles? For the most part, yes. Games like Warframe and Counter-Strike 2 are very playable on Arc. Others, like Diablo IV and PUBG: Battlegrounds, push the definition of playable with occasional hitches or stutters, but I suspect gamers who aren’t too critical of performance will still find the experience tolerable.
The laptops used for comparison
I went beyond PCWorld’s typical benchmarks for this comparison because I’m interested in a broader overview of how Qualcomm’s Adreno X1 and Intel’s Arc compare across different games of varying age, graphical fidelity, and genre.
Because of that, I had to test a competitive laptop with Intel Arc graphics side-by-side with the Qualcomm machine. I selected the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and I pitted it against the new Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 with Qualcomm X1E-80-100.
Both laptops have (roughly) 14-inch screens, and they’re similar in size and weight so neither has innate thermal advantages. They represent many mid-to-high-end laptops with Qualcomm or Intel hardware.
The laptops were set to their respective “Best Performance” modes for these tests. I ran all benchmarks three times and averaged the results. Both laptops were connected to power.
The games tested and their results
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
Firaxis’ Sid Meier’s Civilization IV, released in 2014, is hardly a new game, but it remains among the most popular grand strategy games on Steam. It’s a great game to test because large games like this, with many AI opponents, can still tax entry-level laptops.
I tested this game with the built-in Gathering Storm expansion benchmark at 1920×1080 resolution with low Performance and Memory graphics presets selected. The benchmark ran three times back-to-back and the results were averaged. The DirectX 12 mode was used.
Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
Microsoft Surface Laptop with Qualcomm Adreno X1: Avg 21.47 / 1% low 14.52
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Arc: Avg 72.29 / 1% low 39.52
This is a blowout win for the Intel Arc graphics, which averaged a performance uplift of roughly 3.5 times when compared to the Qualcomm Adreno X1. More importantly, Intel Arc delivered a playable and enjoyable experience, while Qualcomm Adreno X1 did not.
Interestingly, an Arm-native version of Civilization VI exists, as the game is available for both the iPad and Nintendo Switch (both have Arm chips). However, it’s not available for Windows. This implies the potential to improve performance with a native Arm release, but Firaxis hasn’t announced plans to bring it to Windows on Arm.
Dota 2
Valve’s Dota 2 remains one of the most popular esports titles on the planet. I tested its performance using the in-game replay function to standardize the results. The game was launched at 1920×1080 resolution with the Fastest detail preset, and three 60-second snapshots of performance were captured from the same replay file.
Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
Microsoft Surface Laptop with Qualcomm Adreno X1: Avg 52.8 / 1% Low 17.8 / 0.1% Low 9.8
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Arc: Avg 106.6 / 1% Low 52.6 / 0.1% Low 38.1
This is a playable result for the Qualcomm chip, but only just. The average of 52.8 frames per second is solid, though not amazing, but the 1% lows dip into the high teens, and the 0.1% lows dip to single-digits. The game suffered occasional audio drop-outs and glitches.
Intel Arc is both quicker and more stable. Though far from a speed-demon, the Arc delivers an experience that looks and feels more polished. I think most Dota 2 players could get by with Intel Arc graphics if that was their only option.
Diablo II: Resurrected
As mentioned earlier, Diablo IV crashed on the Qualcomm chip—so I instead gave Diablo II: Resurrected a spin.
Although it appears to be a 2D game at a glance due to its fixed isometric perspective, it’s a full 3D title and can prove surprisingly demanding on low-end to mid-range hardware.
I tested the game at 1920×1080 resolution with the Medium detail preset. Dynamic resolution scaling was disabled. I booted the game up, selected a high-level character, and romped through the River of Flame map on Nightmare difficulty.
Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
Microsoft Surface Laptop with Qualcomm Adreno X1: Avg 47.8 / 1% Low 26.8 / 0.1% Low 19.1
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Arc: Avg 74.5 / 1% Low 49.6 / 0.1% Low 27.9
Though hardly perfect, Diablo II: Resurrected was playable on the Qualcomm chip. It delivered an average of about 48 frames per second and 1% lows of 26.8 frames per second, indicating gameplay wasn’t always smooth but usually good enough. I didn’t notice any bugs or glitches in my time with the game, either.
Still, Intel Arc came out ahead by every metric. Not only was Arc’s average framerate much higher, but its framerate dips were less severe. In practice, these numbers mean Diablo II: Resurrected felt smoother and more stable on the Arc system.
Final Fantasy XIV
The popular MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV received a graphical overhaul for its new expansion Dawntrail, but it’s still not an especially demanding game when all things are considered.
I tested it with the standalone benchmark at 1920×1080 resolution and the High (Laptop) detail setting. Dynamic Resolution Scaling was off, while LOD on Distant Objects and Dynamic Grass Interaction were left on.
Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
Microsoft Surface Laptop with Qualcomm Adreno X1: 4474 / Avg 31.56 / Minimum: 7
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Arc: 6111 / Avg 41.8 / Minimum: 24
The Qualcomm chip played the game reasonably well, but it often suffered momentary framerate dips that were a drag on the visuals, while Arc’s dips were relatively rare (though I would still recommend notching down a few detail settings).
This is another win for Intel Arc. While a higher average framerate is great, Arc’s real victory is its superior minimum framerate result. FFXIV fans might get by with the Qualcomm chip in a pinch, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Total War: Warhammer III
Total War: Warhammer III is a real graphical showcase for strategy fans. It has detailed campaign maps and large battles that can include thousands of units. I tested this game with the built-in campaign benchmark at 1920×1080 resolution and the Low detail preset.
Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
Microsoft Surface Laptop with Qualcomm Adreno X1: Avg 24 / Minimum 16
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Arc: Avg 30 / Minimum 19
Intel Arc won this comparison, but the margin of victory was far slimmer than with most of the titles I tried—and it might not matter much. While Arc did average 30 FPS, the framerate frequently dipped into the 20s.
Both Intel Arc and Qualcomm Adreno require significant resolution reductions for a truly playable experience in this title.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
Despite its age, Skyrim remains an important title for PC gaming with an active community and a huge library of modifications.
I tested the Special Edition, without mods, at 1920×1080 resolution using the High detail preset. The test run was a walk from the cave you exit at the beginning of the game to the walls of Helgen.
Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
Microsoft Surface Laptop with Qualcomm Adreno X1: Avg 29.8 / 1% Low 12 / 0.1% Low 8.3
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Arc: Avg 59.4 / 1% Low 39.7 / 0.1% Low 30.3
This was a clear win for Intel Arc, which roughly doubled the performance of the Qualcomm chip. Skyrim felt more stable on Arc with a 0.1% low of 30.3 frames per second, while it stuttered and hitched frequently on the Qualcomm-powered Surface with a 0.1% low of 8.3 frames per second.
Cyberpunk 2077
Now we have Cyberpunk 2077, a notoriously demanding title that’s representative of cutting-edge cross-platform games.
I ran the benchmark at 1920×1080 resolution and used the Low detail preset. Resolution scaling was enabled because this game simply isn’t playable on this class of hardware without it. The Qualcomm chip used AMD FSR 2.1 while Intel Arc used Intel XeSS 1.2. Ray tracing was off.
Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
Microsoft Surface Laptop with Qualcomm Adreno X1: Avg 20.69 / Minimum 14.93
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Arc: Avg 35.83 / Minimum 27.90
This is another win for Intel Arc. Cyberpunk 2077 is just barely playable on Arc, though, so it’s a long way from ideal. On Qualcomm, meanwhile, the game’s average and minimum framerates fall short of acceptable.
Reducing resolution to 720p and fine-tuning the settings can arguably provide a playable experience, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
3DMark
Last, but not least, is a pair of 3DMark synthetic benchmarks: Time Spy and Night Strike. Time Spy is not an Arm-native test, but Night Strike is, and that has a big impact on performance.
Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
Matthew Smith / IDG
Microsoft Surface Laptop with Qualcomm Adreno X1: Time Spy 1,880 / Night Strike 24,573
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1 with Intel Arc: Time Spy 3,523 / Night Strike 25,552
In Time Spy, which isn’t Arm-native, the Qualcomm Adreno X1 is leagues behind Intel Arc. But in Night Strike, which does provide an Arm-native version, the two are rather close. Arc still wins, but only by a hair.
This is a very important result. While not especially useful for gamers buying a laptop today, it hints that Qualcomm hardware could eventually end up in a much better place in due time.
Windows games designed for Arm are exceedingly rare right now, which is bad news for Qualcomm. But the Night Strike result shows that Qualcomm could make up a lot of ground if game developers begin to release updates for Windows on Arm.
Qualcomm Adreno X1 vs. Intel Arc: Conclusion
Qualcomm’s big issue is the lack of Windows on Arm among the PC game development community. Unlike other software developers—who are adopting Windows on Arm at speed—PC game developers seem unmotivated and even reluctant.
That’s understandable. Game developers already have to think about possible support for at least six platforms (Windows x86, Mac, Linux x86, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch). Adding Windows on Arm to the pile is surely a strain.
Still, the consequences are clear. Modern games simply don’t run well on Qualcomm’s chip because they generally run emulated, not natively. As a result, many titles experience hitching, stuttering, and/or extended framerate drops that drag down the experience with instability.
This could all change as game developers begin to release Arm-native versions, but I can’t predict how quickly that change will come.
So, what’s the final takeaway? If you’re looking to play PC games on an entry-level laptop today, you should choose an Intel laptop with Arc integrated graphics (or an AMD Ryzen laptop) over a Qualcomm alternative.
As of today, residents in Indiana, Idaho, and Kansas will no longer be able to access the adult site Pornhub. Due to newly passed age verification laws designed to prevent minors from viewing adult content, Pornhub has begun blocking access to users in these states in protest.
This is following a trend that has seen more than half a dozen states lose access to the incredibly popular NSFW site. A similar ban occurred in March of this year when access was blocked to residents in Texas.
This is certainly inconvenient for age-appropriate residents of these states who want to access the site (which, it must be stated, receives First Amendment constitutional protection). Fortunately, there’s an easy fix: using a VPN. Just download and install your preferred VPN, connect to a server in a state that isn’t blocked, and enjoy the content.
Below you’ll find my top picks for VPNs to access Pornhub if you’re in states where the site has blocked access. For even more great services, check out our list of the best VPNs overall.
ExpressVPN is my overall top pick for VPNs no matter the intended use. It packs a ton of great features including wide-device support, ad- and tracker-blocking, and plenty of domestic and international servers.
It also boasts great speeds, meaning you won’t need to downgrade your video quality to something that makes it look like the important bits are blurred on purpose. ExpressVPN even supports just about every device you could imagine so not only will you be able to access Pornhub, you’ll be able to view the content on any device you wish as well.
NordVPN is a close second to ExpressVPN, only losing out due to a slightly more complicated interface and a more expensive long-term price. Let that not take anything away from how great this service is as well.
It’s consistently the fastest VPN I’ve ever tested, so you can stream in HD to your heart’s content. Plus, it comes with even more built-in security features than ExpressVPN.
Depending on what you’re looking for from a VPN, Mullvad might actually be your best option. Not only is it in our top five services for overall speed, it more importantly earns top marks for privacy.
Mullvad takes every effort it can to know as little about its users as possible. It doesn’t ask for an email address or name and it even accepts payments via mailed cash if you want. Plus, it costs just $5 per month regardless of the plan you choose.
While I don’t usually recommend that anyone use a free VPN due to their proven security and privacy risks on certain devices, ProtonVPN is one of the exceptions. This service from Swiss-based Proton, has a spotless track record for user privacy. It’s also mercifully free of ads.
Just like all free VPNs there are limitations, but thankfully ProtonVPN keeps them relatively tame. For no cost whatsoever you’ll get a one-device connection limit and access to five servers located in different countries around the world (including the U.S.). It doesn’t impose any speed or data limitations on these free servers as well—something that is nearly unheard of with other free VPNs.
Chromebooks have undergone the most dramatic transformation over the years. No longer are they used to just running Google apps or accessing the internet. Nowadays, in addition to running everyday tasks like browsing the web and checking e-mail, you can also play the latest triple-A titles with cloud gaming. Because there’s such a wide variety now, we’ve curated a list of our top picks to help narrow things down. Whatever your needs may be, PCWorld has you covered with the best options on the market today.
If you still prefer Windows laptops, you’ll definitely want to check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available today.
Why you should trust us: PCWorld has been going strong since 1983, back in the days when print magazines were more common. Now that we’ve made the leap to digital, we’ve been reviewing more than 70 laptops every year. Every laptop that passes through our doors goes through an arduous testing process, in which we evaluate everything from processor performance to display quality. We’re committed to reviewing laptops in every price range too.
Update June 27, 2024: We updated the list of recent laptop reviews to include the Acer Aspire 3 ($499.99) and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 ($999.99). The affordable Acer Aspire 3 offers plenty of RAM and storage, and the pricier Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 features the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite X processor.
The Lenovo Flex 5i is the best overall choice because of its 2-in-1 design, the peppy performance, exquisite typing experience, and so much more. The understated aluminum finished exterior helps make it feel like something three or four times as expensive. As for the convertible design, the 360-degree hinge feels incredibly sturdy, which is essential in a 2-in-1 laptop. Plus, the keyboard is a real joy to type on and the 1200p touch display produces crisp and vibrant visuals. The best part is that you’re getting all of these wonderful features for well under $500.
Who should buy the Lenovo Flex 5i
We feel as though the Lenovo Flex 5i is a good Chromebook for most people. The touchscreen and 2-in-1 design really gives it the edge, as you usually see these features in machines that cost much more. While the nine hour battery life is considered just average for a Chromebook, it’s still a great all-day result. It’s just not the whopping 19 hours we got out of the Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip. That said, the Lenovo Flex 5i’s list of compromises is quite small.
For under $300, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook offers decent performance, fantastic battery life, and a lightweight form factor. Inside, you’ll find an MediaTek Kompanio 520 CPU, an ARM Mali-G52 2EE MC2 GPU, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage. On paper, those specs may not look all that impressive. However, when it comes to real-world use, day-to-day performance is perfectly reliable. The 47 watt-hour battery also lasted 16 hours on a single charge and it weighs just under three pounds, making it a solid travel companion. Not bad for under $300, huh?
Who should buy the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook
Anyone looking for a cheap, serviceable Chromebook. It’s not the most innovative Chromebook we’ve ever seen, but it doesn’t have to be. It has plenty of power for light use and the battery will keep you going long after your workday or school day ends. The inclusion of a 1080p touch display is a nice touch as well, especially given the low price of the machine. The 720p webcam is disappointing and you’re only getting 4GB of RAM, but if you’re willing to taper your expectations a bit, then this is a machine that’s well worth considering.
Alternative option: If you’re willing to spend a little extra on a Chromebook with better performance, we’d recommend checking out the $399 Acer Chromebook Plus 515. Bootup times are lightning fast and browser-based tasks feel appropriately snappy. The typing experience is also lovely and the battery can last up to 13 hours on a single charge. The only trade-offs are the boring aesthetics and the thick bezels on the display.
The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is a good machine for gaming and day-to-day tasks. The Intel Core i5-1240P CPU is powerful enough for office work and everyday activities, and the display’s 120Hz refresh rate will produce smooth visuals. You can’t run games locally on this laptop, but you can use a cloud gaming service like Nvidia GeForce Now or Amazon Luna. According to our review, “gameplay felt perfectly smooth” and “Nvidia’s GeForce Now diagnostics panel flagged no problems.” Just make sure you’ve got a stable Internet connection! Fortunately, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE has an Ethernet port, which is about as stable as you can get.
Who should buy the Acer Chromebook 516 GE
Anyone that wants to game on a dependable Chromebook! The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is a joy to game on and it’s zippy enough for productivity and day-to-day. Additional features include a 1080p webcam, a 65 watt-hour battery, and an attractive design. With an MSRP of $650, it’s a little expensive for a Chromebook, but it punches above the usual Chrome OS machine and is tailor made to deliver a high-quality cloud gaming experience.
Alternative option:If you’re looking for a Windows alternative that can run local games, you should check out the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition laptop. It’s currently our best budget gaming pick and for good reason! Our reviewer blitzed through the Rise of the Tomb Raider benchmark at 123 frames-per-second thanks to the Nvidia GeForce RTX RTX 4050 GPU. This laptop also managed an impressive 11 hours of battery life on a single charge, which is unheard of in gaming laptops.
The Framework Laptop Chromebook is one of the more unusual entries on this roundup because it’s a modular laptop, which means you can replace or upgrade any part of it. Our reviewer, who wasn’t confident in her disassembling abilities, was able to crack open the laptop in a few simple steps. The hardware inside is marked with QR codes, which you can scan with your phone and be directed to the right spot on Framework’s website. The 1080p display is also a big draw and the hot-swappable ports allows you to mix and match where the ports slot in the laptop.
Who should buy the Framework Laptop Chromebook
Anyone who likes to get in there and tinker or extend the life of their laptop. The Framework Laptop Chromebook is designed with the ultimate customization and upgradability in mind. I will say, it’s definitely targeted to a specific niche of people, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Performance is strong due to the Intel Core i5 processor. In fact, our benchmarks show that it handles everyday tasks like surfing the web and watching streams like a real pro. The only caveat is that it’s expensive for a Chromebook. The Acer Chromebook Vero 514, for example, is just as fast as the Framework Laptop Chromebook and is hundreds of dollars cheaper.
Dell Inspiron 16 Plus: The Dell Inspiron 16 Plus is a powerful 16-inch workstation with a nice combination of performance, battery life, and build quality. It’s a good alternative to gaming laptops for people who want more power than the average laptop offers.
Surface Laptop 7: The Microsoft Surface Laptop’s strong processor performance and top-tier battery life prove that Windows’ transition to Arm has staying power, but even the most casual gamers should think twice.
Acer Aspire 3: The Acer Aspire 3 cuts performance to the bone as it limbos below a $500 MSRP.
Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i: The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i is one of the best mainstream Windows laptops on the market, with great specs, a gorgeous display, and a killer keyboard.
How we test Chromebooks
The PCWorld team puts each and every 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. Due to the cloud-based nature of Chromebooks, they 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 we use on laptops because they exclusively run a completely different operating system.
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of each test and the reasons why we run them.
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 that measures browser speed.
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.
If you’re looking for a Windows or MacBook alternative, you may want to consider a Chromebook. Equipped with low-power processors, they typically have good battery life and are usually silent in operation. They make great productivity machines, as they’re specifically designed for lightweight tasks like browsing the web, watching Netflix, and so on. Plus, they’re largely virus free. That said, most Chromebooks have minimal RAM and storage. If you’re a hardcore gamer or a video editor, you’re going to want something with a lot more power than a Chromebook is capable of providing.
Our guide to Chromebooks vs. Windows laptops can help you determine which operating system is best for your needs. For more options, you’ll want to check out our best laptops roundup.
Operating system: Although every operating system has its pros and cons, I’d argue that Chrome OS is one of the most user-friendly ones out there. That said, with Chromebooks, you don’t have the option of picking another operating system, as they exclusively run Chrome OS. You’re stuck with it, bud.
Processor: Shoot for a mid-range Chromebook if you can. They cost anywhere in the $400 to $600 range and many of them come equipped with Intel Pentium processors. These Chromebooks have better browser performance and are capable of running more intense gaming apps. It’s the best bang for your buck. Upper-end Chromebooks sometimes use Intel Core or AMD Ryzen processors, which pack more of a punch.
RAM: Many Chromebooks have 4GB of RAM, which isn’t a lot. Chromebooks are web-based machines, so you need a fair amount of RAM to keep those tabs open and running smoothly. If you can spend a couple of hundred extra, you’ll be able to find a mid-range Chromebook with 8GB of RAM.
Storage: I recommend at least 64GB of storage. Since you’ll mostly be storing things in the cloud, you don’t a ton of local storage.
Durability: Chromebooks are popular in the education market because they’re pretty darn robust. I’m not saying you should smack one around with a baseball bat or anything, but they’re durable enough to handle the daily abuses of life.
FAQ
1.
What is the difference between a regular laptop and a Chromebook?
When people talk about regular laptops they usually mean a PC or Mac. A Chromebook is still a laptop, but it differentiates itself from either of those two by using a unique operating system called Chrome OS, which was created by Google. Think of it like this: All Chromebooks are laptops, but not all laptops are Chromebooks.
Unlike other operating systems such as Windows or macOS, Chrome OS is optimized to run Google apps such as Google Drive, Google Docs, YouTube, and other Google services. Because most Google apps are online, Chromebooks generally require an internet connection to use most of their important features.
Finally, Chromebooks have historically been designed with portability, ease of use, and affordability in mind rather than top performance. They typically forego the faster, high-end hardware that PCs or Macs can use for a more minimalist, lightweight approach to computing.
2.
Can I use integrated graphics for gaming?
No, you can’t game a Chromebook because they can’t run local EXEs aside from Android apps. That said, you can play modern games on a Chromebook that supports cloud gaming, like the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Gaming. You have to have an Ultimate membership with Nvidia’s GeForce Now to the play the games, though. The Ultimate tier costs $19.99 a month or $99.99 for six months. It’s a pretty seamless experience, and Nvidia also offers an unlimited free tier so you can stream games with restrictions on session times.
3.
What is the difference between a budget laptop and a tablet?
More and more, the line between what is a laptop and what is a tablet blurs as companies integrate the features of both into their latest devices. But there are still a few key distinctions between the two. Laptops generally are larger, come with more storage, and have better performance and productivity features. Tablets on the other hand are smaller and more portable, have longer battery life, and are usually a bit more affordable.
When choosing between a budget laptop and a tablet you should first ask yourself what the primary use of the device will be. Do you need something for productivity with lots of storage? Then a laptop—even a budget model—will probably be the way to go. Or do you need something that is small, travels well, and has a long battery life? Then you might consider a tablet.
4.
What are the disadvantages of a Chromebook?
Chromebooks are designed for day-to-day tasks, which is fine if all you’re doing is browsing the web and checking e-mail. They can’t handle resource-heavy design work, video editing, and so on. You’ll also need a strong Internet connection because if you’re not online, there are only so many things you can do with a Chromebook. Chromebooks cannot install local programs like Windows PCs can. You also can’t install Microsoft Office and that might be a huge deal-breaker for some folks, especially those who rely on those programs for work.
5.
What is a Chromebook good for?
Chromebooks are good laptops for those who require the basics. If all you need is a reliable Internet connection to get your work done and nothing else (like no resource-hungry programs), then you’re golden. Personally, I use my own Chromebook for writing and editing as well as checking out social media and watching YouTube. You can even game on them with a cloud gaming service like GeForce Now, if that’s how you like to spend your evenings (no judgements here).
What makes this early Prime deal so fantastic is that you couldn’t get either of these products alone for this price: the Blink Video Doorbell with Sync Module normally costs $70, while the Echo Pop is normally $40.
The Blink Video Doorbell lets you remotely answer your door from anywhere using your smartphone, with crystal-clear 1080p HD video during the day and infrared video during night.
The coolest part, however, is that it comes equipped with two-way audio, allowing you to speak with your visitors in real time. This can come in handy when you have packages delivered and you need to give special instructions, like where to place them.
The Amazon Echo Pop is another useful tool for smartening up your home. This compact and powerful smart speaker brings you access to Alexa and all its cool, smart features.
The two devices work seamlessly together. You can get Blink Video Doorbell alerts to the Echo Pop, and you can use the Echo Pop to chat with whoever’s at your door. If paired with the included Sync Module, you can ask Alexa to answer the front door, adding an extra layer of convenience to your daily routine.
Setting up both the Blink Video Doorbell and the Echo Pop is super quick and easy, so there’s no hassle to getting everything working.
This is seriously an incredible offer, so don’t miss out. At just $35 for Prime members, this bundle is a steal. If you aren’t a Prime member yet, sign up for a 30-day free trial to unlock this deal and the many more Prime Day deals that are coming up!
Switching to a solid-state drive is the best upgrade you can make for your PC. These wondrous devices speed up boot times, improve the responsiveness of your programs and games, and generally make your computer feel fast. But not all solid-state drives are the same. You can spend big to achieve read and write speeds that reach a whole other level, or you can find top-notch SSDs that offer solid performance without breaking the bank.
Many SSDs come in a 2.5-inch form factor and connect to your PC via the same SATA port used by a traditional hard drive. But tiny NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) “gumstick” SSDs that fit in an M.2 connection on a modern motherboard are becoming increasingly common, along with blazing-fast PCIe 4.0 (and now 5.0) solid-state drives for compatible PCs; you’ll even find SSDs that sit on a PCIe adapter and slot into your motherboard like a graphics card or sound card. No, picking the perfect SSD isn’t as simple as it used to be.
PROMOTION
Clone & Migrate SSDs | EaseUS Disk Copy
Ready to upgrade to SSDs? EaseUS Disk Copy helps you make it in one click. This straightforward disk cloning software clones HDD/SSD from most manufacturers, migrates data from HDDs to SSDs and clones an SSD to another under Windows. It aligns 4K sectors and autofits the SSD layout for best performance.
Why you should trust us: It’s in our name, PCWorld. Our reviewers have been testing PC hardware for decades. Our storage evaluations are thorough and rigorous, testing the limits of every product — from performance benchmarks to the practicalities of regular use. As PC users ourselves, we know what makes a product stand out. Only the best SSDs make this list. For more about our testing process, scroll to the bottom of this article
See also PCWorld’s guide to the best external drives if you’re strictly looking for a portable storage solution.
Updated June 27, 2024: If you’re on the hunt for an SSD to upgrade your Lenovo Legion Go or Thinkpad, Sabrent’s Rocket Nano 2242 is worth considering. It’s designed to fit the proportions of Lenovo’s portables, and happens to be a good performer to boot.If your interests are with PCIe 5.0, Corsair’s MP700 Pro SE comes very close to taking the performance crown, and could be a very compelling option if its price comes down.
Samsung 870 EVO – Best SATA SSD
Pros
Excellent performance, especially with small file operations
Unlike the QVO, long writes don’t slow down
Cons
A little expensive
Price When Reviewed:
250GB/$40, 500GB/$70, 1TB/$130, 2TB/$250, 4TB/$480
If you’re looking to add some storage via a traditional 2.5-inch SATA drive rather than a tiny M.2 “gumstick,” Samsung’s spectacular 870 EVO is your best bet. It’s the fastest SATA SSD we’ve tested, it’s available in up to 4TB of capacity, and it’s exceedingly affordable given its speed. Enough said, really—though Samsung’s killer Magician SSD management software and long warranty period also deserve a shout-out. The EVO series is a legend among SSDs for a reason.
That said, the SK Hynix Gold S31 is also worth considering. It’s just a hair behind the 870 EVO in benchmarks and costs $12 less in its 1TB version, at $98. The SK drive is only available in a 1TB flavor these days, however, while the 870 EVO ranges from a 250GB model for $60 all the way up to a massive 4TB goliath for $450. Samsung’s 1TB offering costs $110.
The Samsung 870 EVO offers an intoxicating blend of performance and affordable pricing, but if you want as much capacity as possible for as cheaply as possible, consider the Crucial BX500. You can get its 1TB model for $41.99, a whopping $50+ less than the equivalent EVO, while a 480GB version costs just $24.99. 240GB and 2TB versions are also available.
“We recommend this QLC drive in the larger capacities for those who want good everyday performance for a budget price,” we said in our review. “The smaller capacities will likely run into more slowdowns during heavy writes.”
Sure, PCIe 4.0 SSDs scream during big file transfers, but if you’re still using an older system with PCIe 3.0, upgrading to an NVMe SSD still provides substantial benefits to your PC’s speed and overall responsiveness. Better yet, you don’t need to break the bank to take advantage. The Crucial P3 is a very good daily performer, but it’s available for a bargain rate of just $44 for a 500GB model or $84 for a 1TB model. Though it doesn’t have top-tier PCIe 4 performance and the TBW rating is pretty low, the P3 does have excellent real-world write times and unless you really stress the drive you shouldn’t notice much of a difference anyhow.
All told, this drive is an outstanding choice for anyone looking to snag a solid everyday SSD at a great price.
Cutting-edge PCIe 4.0 SSDs aren’t quite as cheap as SATA or PCIe 3.0 NVMe drives, but now that the technology is becoming more established, we’re starting to see several models available at compelling prices. The best of the affordable bunch? The WD Blue SN580 NVMe SSD—and by quite a large margin. At just $50 for a 1TB model, you won’t likely find any PCIe 4.0 drives with storage that cheap. In our testing, the SN580 turned out both stellar benchmark and real-world results. It did slow down considerably in the large 450GB transfer test, but seeing as how it’s unlikely anyone will write that much contiguous data it likely doesn’t matter. In the end, the SN580 is a wonderfully high-performing PCIe 4.0 SSD that well undercuts the cost of competitors. At this price point it simply can’t be beat.
The Solidigm P44 Pro is the fastest PCIe 4.0 drive we have ever tested bar none. In fact, it finished within the top five fastest drives in our tests, and was only beaten by three next-gen PCIe 5.0 drives. Plus, it becomes even faster when you install the Solidigm Windows driver, which further improves random performance in small read/writes.
Not only does the Solidigm P44 Pro provide top-notch performance, but it also comes in at a very reasonable price if you shop at the right place—we found that pricing varies widely online from retailer to retailer. This is one of the best SSDs on the market, and holds its own at the top despite stiff competition from a crowded field of other excellent PCIe 4.0 drives.
As with any PCIe 5.0 SSD, there are important caveats to bear in mind. For starters, you’ll pay a premium over extremely fast, and in some cases even faster NVMe PCIe 4.0 drives that employ a host memory buffer (HMB) design, as you can see in our review of the Solidigm P44 Pro — our pick for best PCIe 4.0 SSD.
But if you use multi-threaded software and your system sports a 13th/14th-gen Intel CPU (which the Phison PS5026-E26-52 controller inside this drive is optimized for), you can be assured of benchmarking-busting performance.
Now, in all fairness the Z540 isn’t the fastest PCIe 5.0 drive we’ve tested. It traded benchmark wins with our previous top pick the Crucial T705. But the Teamgroup Z540 has that competitor beat, decisively, when it comes to price, making it the clear pick for this category.
How can you argue with the Z540’s $143, $247, and $470 asking prices for 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB, respectively, compared with the T705’s $155, $280, and $515 prices, when performance is so close? That’s the kind of savings that pushes a close-second winner into the lead, in our book.
That being said, keep an eye on those prices, because they are always changing, and today’s alternative pick could easily become tomorrow’s best buy. Similarly, Corsair’s MP700 Pro SE offers very competitive performance that could make it a tasty option if its prices are to come down.
Bottom line: PCIe 5.0 shoppers have lots to choose from!
In the past, you were out of luck if you wanted to upgrade your storage in a smaller-sized device such as a handheld gaming console. The full-size 2280 NVMe SSDs wouldn’t fit. Thankfully, with the advent of more advanced handheld gaming consoles such as the Steam Deck, manufacturers are changing all of that. There are now a whole host of half-sized 2230 small form factor SSDs on the market. The latest from Western Digital, the WD Black SN770M is our favorite. It comes with up to 2TB of capacity and shockingly good real-world performance. It’s only 30mm long, which means it’ll fit perfectly into small devices such as the red-hot Steam Deck.
This HMB (Host Memory Buffer) drive has great everyday performance and a decent capacity-to-cost. In our testing it aced the 48GB and 450GB transfer tests—even beating out other top-notch full-sized PCIe 4.0 drives. The SN770M is a great SSD, but if your device is able to handle the longer 2280 drives, you’ll likely have more options to choose from and might be able to find better price-for-performance at that standard size. Regardless, this drive expertly fits a niche that is only growing more common with devices such as the Steam Deck.
The Seagate Game Drive PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD was made specifically for next-gen consoles—the PS5 in particular. And it doesn’t disappoint. Instead of HMB, it features DRAM for primary caching duties, which is practically essential for Sony’s console system. This is important because the PS5 doesn’t support HMB, so a drive such as this with DRAM cache is a must. The drive comes in 1TB and 2TB models, which means you’ll have plenty of space to store all of your games should you need it.
While the Seagate Game Drive is optimized for a PS5, it’s no slouch as a regular SSD either. In our speed tests it did remarkably well, earning the spot as the second-fastest PCIe 4.0 SSD with random ops that we’ve ever tested. Seagate also provides a generous five-year warranty with the drive and it has an astounding 1,275TBW rating—more than double the industry norm. The drive is a bit pricey, but the special optimizations for PS5 means that console owners can rest easy knowing that their money is going to good use with the Seagate Game Drive.
With great everyday performance and an affordable price, the Crucial X9 Pro is our favorite external SSD. This svelte beauty will give you transfer rates of 10Gbps and comes in 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB capacities with reasonable prices for each. In our testing we found that the X9 Pro performed admirably against the other 10Gbps competition. It especially excelled in the real-world 48GB transfer test and the 450GB write time test where it smoked other similar 10Gbps drives we’ve tested.
Crucial also has an X10 Pro model on offer that gives you 20Gbps transfer speeds, but you’ll pay quite a bit more for that extra speed. Regardless, we think that the X9 Pro will serve the average user perfectly fine with excellent all-around performance and a cheaper price point. You can’t ask much more from a 10Gbps USD external SSD than what the Crucial X9 Pro gives you.
No SSD we’ve seen can match Adata’s Elite SE880 for portability. Indeed, measuring in at only 2.55 inches long, 1.38 inches wide, and 0.48 inches thick, it reminds you more of a USB thumb drive than a standard SSD. It weighs a mere 1.1 ounces to boot, virtually disappearing when placed in your pocket.
The Elite SE880 is also very fast at everyday tasks. In real-world 48GB transfer tests, the drive displayed outstanding marks. However, it did lose significant ground in the longer contiguous write tests meaning photo and video pros with large files might want to look at other options. Considering the respectable transfer rates and the small form factor, the Elite SE880 is a great pick for those looking to take their SSD on the go.
SK Hynix Tube T31: For the folks who like the convenience of USB-A connector thumb drive with the peformance of an SSD, the Tube T31 belongs in your pocket.
SanDisk Desk Drive USB SSD: On the other end of the spectrum, you have an external SSD that’s meant to stay put, on your desk, where its large capacity (4TB or 8TB) is at the ready as a capable and speedy alternative to an HDD for backups.
Adata SD810: This is a solid 20Gbps drive, as long as you don’t need to write large amounts of data to it on a regular basis — in our tests, the drive slowed considerably in that scenario. That being said, the 4TB capacity is an especially good value at just $300.
NVMe SSD setup: What you need to know
Be aware of what NVMe drives deliver before you buy in. Standard SATA SSDs already supercharge boot times and loading times for PCs, and for a whole lot cheaper. You’ll get the most use from NVMe drives, be it in a M.2 form factor like the Samsung 980 Pro or a PCIe drive, if you routinely transfer data, especially in large amounts. If you don’t do that, NVMe drives aren’t worth the price premium.
If you decide to buy an NVMe SSD, make sure your PC can handle it. This is a relatively new technology, so you’ll only be able to find M.2-connection motherboards from the past few years. Think AMD Ryzen and mainstream Intel chips from the 6th-generation era onward, for the most part. NVMe SSDs that were mounted on PCIe adapters were popular in the technology’s early years, before M.2 adoption spread, but they’re rarer now. Make sure you’re actually able to use an NVMe SSD before you buy one, and be aware that you’ll need four PCIe lanes available in order to use it to its full potential. You’ll need a newer Ryzen 3000- or 5000-series CPU, or an Intel 11th- or 12th-gen CPU, to run a PCIe 4.0 SSD to its full potential. PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs will work in a PCIe 3.0 computer, but at slower PCIe 3.0 speeds.
The Samsung 960 Pro NVMe SSD in an M.2 slot.
The Samsung 960 Pro NVMe SSD in an M.2 slot.
The Samsung 960 Pro NVMe SSD in an M.2 slot.
To get the most out of an NVMe drive, you want to run your operating system on it, so you must have a system that recognizes the drive and can boot from it. PCs purchased during the past year or two should have no problem booting from an NVMe drive, but support for that can be iffy in older motherboards. Do a Google search for your motherboard and see if it supports booting from NVMe. You may need to install a BIOS update for your board. If your hardware can’t boot from an NVMe SSD, your machine should still be able to use it as a secondary drive.
What to look for in an SSD
Capacity and price are important, of course, and a long warranty can alleviate fears of premature data death. Most SSD manufacturers offer a three-year warranty, and some nicer models are guaranteed for five years. But unlike the olden days of SSDs, modern drives won’t wear out with normal consumer usage, as Tech Report tested and proved years ago with a grueling endurance test.
The biggest thing to watch out for is the technology used to connect the SSD to your PC. We go into deeper details and buying advice in our guide on which type of SSD you should buy.
SATA: This refers to both the connection type and the transfer protocol, which is used to connect most 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch hard drives and SSDs to your PC. SATA III speeds can hit roughly 600MBps, and most—but not all—modern drives max it out. (More on that in the next section.)
PCIe: This interface taps into four of your computer’s PCIe lanes to blow away SATA speeds, to the tune of nearly 4GBps over PCIe gen 3. Those sort of face-melting speeds pair nicely with supercharged NVMe drives. Both the PCIe lanes in your motherboard and the M.2 slot in your motherboard can be wired to support the PCIe interface, and you can buy adapters that allow you to slot “gumstick” M.2 drives into a PCIe lane. PCIe 4.0 drives are significantly faster, but require an AMD Ryzen 3000-series or Intel Core 11th-gen (or newer) processor, along with a compatible PCIe 4.0 motherboard.
NVMe: Non-Volatile Memory Express technology takes advantage of PCIe’s bountiful bandwidth to create blisteringly fast SSDs that blow SATA-based drives out of the water. Check out PCWorld’s “Everything you need to know about NVMe” for a nitty-gritty deep-dive.
M.2: This is where things get tricky. Many people assume M.2 drives all use NVMe technology and PCIe speeds, but that’s not true. M.2 is just a form factor. Sure, most M.2 SSDs use NVMe, but some still stick to SATA. Do your homework. Many modern Ultrabooks rely on M.2 for storage.
U.2 and mSATA: You may also stumble across mSATA and U.2 SSDs, but both motherboard support and product availability are rare for those formats. Some older Ultrabooks included mSATA before M.2 became popular, and drives are still available if you need them.
Speed matters, of course, but as we said most modern SSDs saturate the SATA III interface. Not all of them, though.
SSDs vs. hard drives
Do you need an SSD? “Need” is a strong word, but we heartily recommend that everyone upgrade to an SSD. Solid-state drive speeds blow even the fastest mechanical hard drives out of the water. Simply swapping out the hard drive in your old laptop or desktop for an SSD can make it feel like a whole new system—and a blazing-fast one at that. Buying an SSD is easily the best upgrade you can make for a computer.
SSDs cost more per gigabyte than mechanical hard drives, though, and thus aren’t often available in ultra-high capacities. If you want speed and storage space, you can buy an SSD with limited space and use it as your boot drive, then set up a traditional hard drive as secondary storage in your PC. Place your programs on your boot drive, stash your media and other files on the hard drive, and you’re ready to have your cake and eat it too.
How we test SSDs
Drive tests currently utilize Windows 11 (22H2) 64-bit running on an X790 (PCIe 5.0) motherboard/i5-12400 CPU combo with two Kingston Fury 32GB DDR5 modules (64GB of memory total). Intel integrated graphics are used. The 48GB transfer tests utilize an ImDisk RAM disk taking up 58GB of the 64GB total memory. The 450GB file is transferred from a Samsung 990 Pro 2TB, which also contains the operating system.
Each test is performed on a newly formatted and TRIM’d drive so the results are optimal. Note that as any drive fills up, performance will decrease due to less NAND for secondary caching, and other factors.
The performance numbers shown apply only to the drive we were shipped as well as the capacity tested. SSD performance can vary by capacity due to more or fewer chips to read/write across and the amount of NAND available for secondary caching (writing TLC/QLC as SLC). Vendors also occasionally swap components. If you ever notice a large discrepancy between the performance you experience and that which we report (systems being roughly equal), by all means—let us know.
We love the Kindle Scribe, but it’s even better when you upgrade it with premium accessories—and for a limited time, you can score the Kindle Scribe Essentials bundle for less than you’d pay for the Scribe alone. It’s an absolute knock-your-pants-off bargain.
The Kindle Scribe is Amazon’s first Kindle that handles both reading and writing. It features a spacious 10.2-inch 300PPI Paperwhite display that’s glare-free and front-lit, so you get the same reading experience that has made Kindle the most popular e-reader on the market.
But since this is a Kindle Scribe, you can also journal, sketch, take notes, and more. It’s basically a digital notebook, allowing you to jot stuff on pages and keep your thoughts organized.
With the Kindle Scribe, your handwritten notes and drawings are saved directly on the pages of your ebooks and documents—a deadly sin with printed books, but perfectly acceptable now.
One of the coolest things about the Kindle Scribe is its ability to convert handwritten notes to text. Whatever you scribble down can be turned into text that’s legible to everyone, not just you.
This bundle comes with a Kindle Premium Pen, which has two features on top of the Basic Pen: a built-in eraser for easy corrections and a Shortcut button that can do things like highlight text or create sticky notes.
And the Kindle Leather Folio Cover is a sleek, modern protective cover that turns into a stand for convenient reading. It’ll also automatically wake up and sleep your Kindle Scribe as you open and close.
Cloud backup services are the OG of online storage. Long before internet bandwidth allowed you to work online, there were services dedicated to providing that all-important third copy in the backup triad: the original data, a copy of the data, and a copy of the data in a remote location. The hallmark of these services are client apps that upload (and restore if necessary) data to from the remote server farm.
Backblaze offers unlimited storage and an effective backup client.
Backblaze offers unlimited storage and an effective backup client.
Backblaze offers unlimited storage and an effective backup client.
Most people are already using a cloud backup service, though they may not think of it that way. Google Drive, iCloud, and OneDrive all serve as backup repositories for Android, Apple, and Microsoft products, respectively. Even if you don’t use them, they’re there.
What we look for in cloud backup services
Our basic goal when reviewing a cloud backup service is to determine its suitability to the task, ease of use, and compatibility across platforms. As to what specific criteria we apply….
Backup and sync
All services we classify as cloud backup provide local apps that handle the backup chore, often one-way sync. If they don’t, we cover them under the umbrella of online storage.
Versioning and retention policies
If a cloud backup service offers one-way sync for backup, it should be keeping older versions of changed files. How many, and for how long can be a major factor in our rating — it’s not always forever.
Capacity
Obviously, you want the most room you can get for your data, depending on the size of your stash of course. However, users such as yours truly, working with large multimedia files, may need a lot more. For instance, the unlimited storage offered by Backblaze and Sync.com. We look for tiers that will suit any data scenario, which brings the discussion to…
Price
We could’ve listed price as number one given that how much you pay for the amount of space you need factors heavily into our ratings. All things being equal, the cheaper the gigabyte (free being the best!), the higher the rating. Things are not always equal.
Icedrive’s menu shows how to access older versions of your files.
Icedrive’s menu shows how to access older versions of your files.
Icedrive’s menu shows how to access older versions of your files.
Online editing
Storage services such as OneDrive/Microsoft 365 and Google Drive/Docs offer full-blown office suites that allow users to work online. We’re not expecting that from a dedicated cloud backup provider, but it’s nice when it occurs.
Online preview
With services that offer limited or no online editing, there’s usually a preview feature. How many file types are supported, and how well they display (video is often problematic) is something we check.
Google Drive’s online interface. It’s the default cloud backup for Android devices but offers no true backup client for Windows.
Google Drive’s online interface. It’s the default cloud backup for Android devices but offers no true backup client for Windows.
Google Drive’s online interface. It’s the default cloud backup for Android devices but offers no true backup client for Windows.
Operating system integration
Carbonite‘s client with its Windows Explorer integration is one of our favorite cloud backup clients. So much so, we wish it could be used with other storage and services. We don’t count clients such as Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud etc. that integrate as folders or drives, but don’t provide dedicated backup functions.
Of course you can still use these storage services for backup, but only by moving your data onto the integrated folder or drive. The distinction is fine, but you can find coverage of these services in our online storage reviews.
Carbonite provides its own handy and efficient backup client.
Carbonite provides its own handy and efficient backup client.
Carbonite provides its own handy and efficient backup client.
Geographical location and redundancy
Where a cloud backup service’s storage farms are located can effect the speed of transfers. As the internet infrastructure has matured, this is less of an issue than it once was, but it can still occasionally be a bottleneck. We also award brownie points to services that have several farms in different geographical locations to ward off data loss due to natural or unnatural disaster.
Company history and story
A company that’s been around for a while is more likely to garner our trust than one that just started. That said, some newer concerns actually leverage storage from older companies such as Dell EMC — much as smaller cellular companies use larger companies’ wireless infrastructure. Basically, we check to make sure a company isn’t likely to disappear overnight, along with your data.
Device support
With so many photos and video found on phones these days, it’s a plus if a service provides an app that will back up your phone multimedia to its servers. This isn’t a huge deal as Google Drive is integrated into Android, and iCloud into iPhones, but it’s a nice perk.
pCloud’s Android app allows access to your files from your phone.
pCloud’s Android app allows access to your files from your phone.
pCloud’s Android app allows access to your files from your phone.
Web access
When it comes to computers, nearly all cloud backup services allow you to access your files via a web browser. If they don’t, that’s a major hit on the rating. That said, we’ve yet to come across one that doesn’t offer this functionality.
Integration with other online storage services
At least one service, FileShadow, will even connect to and back up your other online storage accounts. This is a definite plus, and generally quicker than using a cloud manager to copy from one service to another.
During our evaluation, we test every feature a service provides: upload, downloads, sync, backup, restore, editing of files, preview of files, client software and apps, file retention, the web interface, etc. If it all works, it passes muster. However, ease of learning and use are also factored in.
Internxt Drive’s backup client.
Internxt Drive’s backup client.
Internxt Drive’s backup client.
As to speed….Generally speaking, we’re not overly concerned with performance. There are simply too many variables that can impact each user’s speed experience, such as the quality of the internet infrastructure between a user’s device and the service. We do note performance and discuss it, we just don’t put a lot of weight behind it unless something unusually great or bad happens.
How we rate cloud backup services
How many of the above boxes a service ticks, plus its ease of use, reliability, and performance are the primary considerations in rating a cloud backup solution. Price is always paramount as in terms of backup, all the services we’ve tested to date handle that chore just fine.
Recording your video game sessions isn’t exactly a new idea. It’s the entire basis of Twitch and its countless game streamers, both professional and aspirational. But game streaming requires a collection of special tools and techniques if you want to stand out.
Or, at least, it used to. Now, with its latest beta update, Steam will basically do it all for you. Steam has long been able to take screenshots and stream game sessions around a local network, but this new feature is laser-focused on recording and sharing your experiences.
With Nvidia’s Shadowplay now on the outs, this new one by Steam is probably the tool that’s most likely to be installed on gamers’ PCs already (or it will be once it moves from beta to full release). This should make Steam the most prolific game recording software in the world, even before most users are aware of the capability.
I tried out the tool with a few sessions of Hades II and found it remarkable how well the tool runs without even thinking about it.
Set it up to work in the background—shaving a bit of performance off your GPU, but not anything I particularly noticed—and your game sessions will just appear in your recordings and screenshots folder. (You can always navigate to the non-DRM files in Windows Explorer, but Steam includes a video player within its own interface, too.)
From this view, you can clip and export sections of your session, grab a screenshot, or send it to other PCs or even your phone, all without leaving the player window.
Here’s a quick snippet I grabbed in just a few seconds with no editing. Note how the tool preserves my ultrawide monitor’s 21:9 aspect ratio, something a lot of similar software struggle to do.
By default, Steam saves sessions in 120-minute chunks and at 12Mbps video (which was about the level of a YouTube stream for me), and it asks just under 11GB of space to keep the buffer running.
Naturally, all of that is adjustable within the Game Recording menu, as are the shortcuts to add specific markers. You can even bind a shortcut to a controller button—those back-mounted “paddle” buttons showing up on more and more gamepads seem like a perfect fit here.
Valve says that game developers will be able to automatically add markers and snippet sections to these recording sessions at some point, though I’m not seeing them at the moment. Other features include an easy-to-share QR code link generator and temporary links for “Hey, look at this!” shares with your friends. Oh, and it works on the Steam Deck.
All of this reminds me of the social tools baked into the PlayStation and Xbox, but with more options available for modern tech-savvy users. Valve’s continual work to make Steam the de facto platform for PC gaming seems to be paying off.
You can try out the tool by enabling the Steam beta and then checking out the Game Recording tab in the Steam Settings menu.
The Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core delivers the speed and performance of Thunderbolt technology to Mac and Windows laptops. Adding this dock to your setup will completely transform your workspace.
How? For starters, it has seven ports available: one DisplayPort 1.4, one HDMI 2.0, one USB-C PD, one USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, one USB-A 2.0, one Gigabit Ethernet, and one audio in/out.
This means you can easily connect monitors, peripherals, and networking hardware. It can also keep your laptop, phone, and peripheral devices charged and ready to go without needing a separate power cable.
You can connect two monitors simultaneously, even enjoying ultra-high-definition 4K dual monitor support, transforming your lone laptop into a versatile and powerful workstation.
One of the best things about the Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core is its portability. It’s handy as a travel dock, but it’s important to note that it’s not powered on its own—you’ll need a USB-C charger plugged in. But rest assured, your laptop’s should work seamlessly with it.
When we reviewed the Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core, we found it was an excellent device, giving it 4 out of 5 stars and our Editors’ Choice award: “It’s a smartly designed ‘powered’ Thunderbolt 3 travel dock that also makes for a great budget Thunderbolt dock. It ranks highly among our recommended best Thunderbolt docks for your laptop.”
So, go ahead and add this one to your cart for just $70 before the deal expires and you miss out on the chance of upgrading your laptop workstation with a Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core.
Most gamers know all too well how much of a letdown it is to have just finished a riveting gaming session only to have to wear the physical wounds of that time well spent. Wrist pain, or in the worst-case, carpal tunnel syndrome, are two offenders that can put a dampener on any future fun.
In fact, one gamer I know has had the latter problem so badly of late, he’s actually been forced to forgo sessions of his favorite Diablo IV, which ordinarily involves lots of clicking and swiping, for more subdued tinkles in the action-adventure game Octodad. Oh the indignity of it all!
But seriously, if you’re getting a sore wrist after gaming, it’s time to take a more existential view of your gaming mouse and see it for what it really is — completely unsuitable for you, no matter how shinny or blinged-out it is, or how many gold sovereigns you dropped on it.
In a nutshell, the main cause of pain and discomfort in your wrist is likely due to you having the wrong kind of mouse for your grip type. I find wrist pain especially prevalent in gamers who are unknowingly using a mouse best suited for a claw grip but with a palm grip. Let me explain….
In a palm grip the player’s whole palm latches onto the mouse like its opening a doorknob. Mice suitable for palm grippers, then, need to be very supportive and provide a whole hand lift. They commonly have large humps and wide bodies.
Having the right kind of gaming mouse for your grip type is vital to avoid wrist pain.
Having the right kind of gaming mouse for your grip type is vital to avoid wrist pain.
Surprisingly, these very characteristics also appear in mice suitable for claw grippers too, which is where the confusion lies. So how do you tell them apart?
It’s all about the location of that hump. Mice with humps towards their back end like the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 and Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro provide wrists with plenty of lift off a tabletop, allowing you to swipe and glide with minimal friction.
Because your wrist is elevated, it’s less likely to get sore.
On the other hand, mice more suitable for claw grippers — like the Alienware Pro Wireless and Corsair M75 Air Wireless — have their humps more centrally located; their back ends fall away more steeply. That’s fine for claw grippers who simply curl their hands over the tops of those mice, but it isn’t ideal for palm grippers.
That’s because palm grippers don’t get enough lift off their tabletops at the back where their wrist begins. Consequently, their wrist will lower to the tabletop where they will experience the most friction and pressure when they move their hand.
Avoiding wrist injury, then, is usually quite straightforward: If you’re a palm gripper, use a mouse with a high hump located at the back. If you’re a claw gripper, you can get by with a mouse that has a hump closer to the middle.
There are a lot of other things you can do to avoid injury from your gaming mouse, like matching the size of your hand to an appropriately sized mouse, but if it’s specifically wrist pain you’re worried about, you now have a powerful tool that can help you navigate that tricky problem at least.
So, if the hump of your gaming mouse isn’t quite where you need it to be, do yourself a favor and just get a new one. Your radius bone will thank you for relieving all that pressure.
Further reading: See our roundup of the best gaming mice for recommendations.
A portable external hard drive is a great way to keep your most important data safe and readily available when you need it. When you can get a 2TB Portable Flash Drive for just $44.97, then, it’s worth taking advantage of the deal. We have limited inventory available for this handy flash drive, so now is the time to grab it while it’s $55 off.
This plug-and-play flash drive offers wide compatibility, with a USB Type-C connection that can connect to both USB Type-C and USB-A devices. That includes Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS products. It has a 2TB capacity, of course, while the solid-state drive reaches up to 43MB/s read and 37MB/s write speeds, supporting fast data transfer of high-resolution photos, game files, 4K video, and more. Plus, you can rest easy knowing your data is safe thanks to AES 256-bit hardware encryption and choose to leverage optional password protection if you’d like.
There is very limited inventory available for this flash drive, so now is the time to get it! Grab the 2TB Portable Flash Drive for 55% off $99 at just $44.97 now.
One benefit of a gaming PC over a gaming laptop? All those extra ports that let you connect all kinds of peripherals and devices. Even the best gaming laptops fall short in this area, which is a shame because all those ports can be useful for gaming and streaming.
And if your gaming laptop doubles as a workstation? Those extra ports can boost productivity and make your life easier.
That’s where a docking station comes into play. A docking station is a small device with lots of extra ports—as soon as you plug your laptop into the docking station, anything connected to the docking station becomes available to the laptop you just plugged in, as if those peripherals were connected to the laptop itself.
Here are eight reasons why you need a docking station for your laptop and the various ways your workstation can benefit.
1. Expanded connectivity
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
As modern laptops have grown thinner and lighter, they’ve had to sacrifice some of the connectivity of their older, chunkier siblings. It isn’t uncommon for portable laptops to have a single pair of USB-C ports.
Docking stations often include a range of USB-A and USB-C ports for data transfers and charging, and the modern ones even support cutting-edge connections like USB4 and Thunderbolt 3 and 4.
They may also come with video outputs like HDMI and DisplayPort, and some have DisplayLink compression. Some docks even have Ethernet connectivity, SD card readers, and audio jacks (a much-missed feature on some modern laptop designs).
Gaming and streaming can require lots of additional accessories, from microphones to webcams to stream deck button boxes. Is your laptop lacking in ports? A docking station can help.
You probably don’t need a docking station with 10+ ports of all different types. Pick one that has the connections you need. It’s that simple!
2. Multiple monitor support
Your laptop may not have a video output—and even if it does, it probably only has one. Is it even the right type? Maybe you have an external monitor that doesn’t fit your laptop.
A docking station makes your laptop monitor situation far more flexible. With the right ports, you could hook up one or two (or more!) monitors to your laptop through the dock, and you may be able to choose between HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.
Connecting multiple monitors can be a massive boon for laptop productivity, so a docking station could be a serious game changer for your work output. Plus, you may also benefit from the extra ports that can hook up printers, external drives, and other accessories.
3. Faster, more secure networking
The Ethernet port is, unfortunately, one of the largest ports. That’s why it’s often one of the first to go in slim laptop designs.
The good news is, many docking stations come with a Gigabit Ethernet port (or, in some cases, even faster). As long as your laptop can support that sort of bandwidth, then you can add faster, more stable networking to your laptop with a docking station that has an Ethernet port.
A docking station with an Ethernet port can increase network security, increase speeds, and reduce Wi-Fi congestion. The lower latency and improved connection stability can also be good for gaming.
BYOD (or bring your own device) is a useful system for remote workers who occasionally need to come in for work. BYOD allows you to use your own personal device for work in the office.
But bringing your own hardware to work can be a hassle: logging into different Wi-Fi networks, reconnecting to printers, hooking up monitors and peripherals, etc.
With a docking station, all of that is eliminated. The docking station can stay at the office and remain connected to everything, and it’ll all be ready as soon as you plug in your BYOD device.
Instead of plugging and unplugging everything whenever you head in or head out, you can just plug your laptop into the docking station and start working straight way, connected to everything you need.
This also applies to working between different offices or departments! Docking stations help your laptop integrate with an environment quicker and more simply than without.
5. Faster charging for multiple devices
The Anker 575 Docking Station has an 85W USB-C port for charging laptops and an 18W USB-C PD port for charging mobile devices.
The Anker 575 Docking Station has an 85W USB-C port for charging laptops and an 18W USB-C PD port for charging mobile devices.
Anker
The Anker 575 Docking Station has an 85W USB-C port for charging laptops and an 18W USB-C PD port for charging mobile devices.
Anker
Anker
How often do you charge your phone, camera, or earbuds using your laptop? It can be really convenient, but it also means that you’re sacrificing your laptop’s own precious battery life.
Plus, if your laptop itself is plugged in to keep itself charged, then your already-limited selection of ports is further limited for any of those other accessories and peripherals you might want to charge.
With a docking station, that’s no longer a problem. The dock itself is connected to mains power, so you can charge your laptop and your other devices when plugged into the dock’s charge-capable ports.
6. KVM switches
If you work across multiple laptops and/or desktop PCs, then a docking station with a built-in KVM switch can make a massive difference to your workstation comfort and productivity.
A KVM switch (“keyboard, video, mouse switch”) allows you to use the same exact set of keyboard, mouse, and external monitors with multiple systems—all you do is press the KVM button and every docked peripheral switches over to another connected system.
Let’s say you have both a desktop PC and a laptop, and you work on both simultaneously. With a KVM docking station, one set of keyboard/mouse/monitors can be docked, and a single button press can swap between laptop and desktop. (You can also do the same with two laptops, switching between personal and work laptop, for example.)
7. Better ergonomics and cable management
Andreas Palmer / Unsplash
Andreas Palmer / Unsplash
Andreas Palmer / Unsplash
If you route lots of accessories and peripherals through a docking station, you can cut back on a lot of cable clutter and make your desk space more ergonomically friendly and pleasing to the eye.
Most wired devices—from gaming mice to office printers—come with unwieldy cables that need to be plugged into your laptop and routed somewhere before they can do anything.
By having them permanently plugged into a docking station, it keeps everything simplified. Instead of constantly plugging and unplugging and getting cables crossed, you just plug in your laptop. The messy cables behind the docking station can remain tucked away and hidden.
8. Better security and stability
Some docking stations can actually lock down laptops, making it impossible to disconnect without the physical key.
This can prevent unauthorized visitors from snatching an unattended laptop, and can even prevent employees from “accidentally” taking the laptop. The laptop and dock will need a compatible locking interface, such as the Kensington Lock.
And with a docking station that can be permanently affixed, with peripherals and accessories plugged in at all times, you can further increase security by routing cables through somewhere inaccessible or just making it so that the docking station ports can’t be adjusted.
Not only does this improve hardware security, but it also helps stability by guaranteeing that peripherals, networked devices, and drives remain connected and preventing interruptions.
Performance is excellent on native apps, and when plugged in
Value is unexpectedly good
Wireless Flex Pro keyboard is great in concept
Lovely OLED option, though a bit grainy
Excellent inking
Excellent webcam, too
Cons
Emulation performance isn’t great, and some apps won’t run
Battery life suffers when tablet has to work hard
AI experiences are decent, but not really there yet
Games? Ha!
Our Verdict
Microsoft’s first Copilot+ tablet, the Surface Pro (11th Edition) balances upon a growing ecosystem of native Arm apps that run efficiently on its Snapdragon X Elite processor. Performance is solid, but the AI experiences aren’t fully there.
Price When Reviewed
$1499.99
Best Prices Today: Microsoft Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket
Microsoft desperately needs its new Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition Copilot+ PC to be a success. It’s something like 80 percent of the way there. But the most important thing this Windows on Arm tablet does is point to what feels like an inevitable future for productivity PCs…someday.
You’ve seen a Surface Pro before. Weirdly, this 13-inch tablet is the least interesting part of the whole affair. Inside is the key: how well does Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon X Elite work? Do the new AI experiences actually make a difference? And can Windows on Arm finally replace an X86 PC from AMD or Intel?
I have answers. An expanding ecosystem of native Arm apps run great on this tablet, and when plugged in, the performance seems to be on par or even better than Intel’s Core Ultra (Meteor Lake). But whether the app will run or not is still, unfortunately, a question. When unplugged, the story changes yet again, with intensive apps gobbling up great chunks of the tablet’s prodigious battery life. And I’m just not seeing enough in Microsoft’s Copilot+ AI features to overshadow that story, yet. But the hardware? Rather good, minus some weirdness.
Because of this, this review will be much longer than normal, even though I’ve tried to break out some of the topics into separate articles. Please use the built-in table of contents to navigate to portions of the review that strike your interest. Join me in the deep end, will you?
Looking for more options? Be sure to check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Surface Pro (2024): Buying options
After literal decades of pricing the Surface at or above the prices offered by its rivals, Microsoft’s Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition is among the cheapest options for a Copilot+ PC. The Surface Pro costs as little as $999 ($899 for an educational discount), though that features a less powerful 10-core Snapdragon X Plus processor inside. Our review unit included the more powerful 12-core Snapdragon X Elite. A new OLED display option and up to 32GB of RAM and a terabyte of SSD storage bump up the total price to a current maximum of $2,099.99. It appears that Microsoft does not offer an LCD option with the Snapdragon X Elite at press time.
By comparison, the Surface Pro 9 ranged from $999 to $2,599 for a 12th-gen Core chip and $1,299 to $1,899 for the Surface Pro 9 (5G), the tablet with the older Microsoft SQ3 chip, a derivative of the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, inside.
Surface Pro (2024): Detailed specifications
Display: 13-inch PixelSense Flow (2880×1920, 267 PPI, Gorilla Glass 5) up to 120Hz with dynamic refresh rate and 10-point multitouch, optional OLED screen
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite 3.4GHz X1E-80-100 (as tested), Snapdragon Plus
Physically, the Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition feels very similar to the Surface Pro 9 (5G), enough that you’d have to take a close look to tell the two apart. Microsoft ships the new Surface Pro in packaging that matches the metallic color options: Black, Platinum, Dune, and Sapphire. As usual, the keyboard and pen (the new Surface Flex Pro keyboard plus the bundled Slim Pen 2) are “optional” adders that are really not.
The Surface Pro is somewhat unique, in that there aren’t too many Windows tablets in the market. The physical design is consistent from Surfaces past, with slim bezels that extend just about 0.25 inches from the side and about 0.5 inches from the top. I tend to use the Surface Pro as a “laptop” of sorts, but be advised that the Surface tablet mode is gone. That does make the new Surface Pro less of a traditional tablet and more of just an oddly-designed laptop. You might walk away thinking that the Surface Pro could have been a 360-degree convertible version of the Surface Laptop Go instead.
If you do use it as a desktop device, Microsoft has left the kickstand in place. The significant change is the new “wireless” Flex Pro keyboard, which changes the Surface Pro experience. We’ll talk about that in a bit.
There’s just the Surface charger slot on the right side of the Surface Pro (2024).
There’s just the Surface charger slot on the right side of the Surface Pro (2024).
Mark Hachman / IDG
There’s just the Surface charger slot on the right side of the Surface Pro (2024).
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Subtle differences usually distinguish one Surface generation from the next. In this case, the small “bands” that distinguished the 5G antennas in the Surface Pro 9 aren’t there; while the Surface Pro supports a nanoSIM 5G card, 5G support isn’t yet available and will arrive in the coming months. It’s not clear whether the physical design will change.
Essentially, though, the latest Surface remains unchanged. The same dimensions, essentially the same weight. Microsoft placed the power button and volume rocker on the top, as before, with a pair of USB4 (the non-Intel equivalent of Thunderbolt 4 ports) to the left of the chassis. A Surface Charger port is on the right. Microsoft ships a tiny 39W charger with the Surface Pro, though without the built-in USB charging port that other Surface chargers include.
Microsoft’s Surface Pro points the way to the future of productivity PCs, but needs to solve some nagging issues before it can get there.
What Microsoft calls the “Out of the Box” (OOBE) setup experience felt a bit lengthier than normal. Microsoft advertises some of the AI features within Windows, but makes sure to note that the delayed “Recall” feature, aka “Quickly find things on your PC” isn’t here yet, but will be coming soon. From what I can see, all of the obvious shortcuts for creating a local account are gone, which jives with our report that Microsoft has deleted its guide to local accounts within Windows.
You can charge the new Surface Pro either via the charger or via the USB ports, and the charger powers and charges the tablet even under load. The tablet worked perfectly attached to a Thunderbolt 4 docking station and a pair of 4K displays. Note that the headphone jack has disappeared, so you’ll need either USB-C headphones or Bluetooth to listen to private audio, or use a dock or a USB-C dongle with a headphone jack built in.
A pair of USB4 ports are on the left side of the Surface Pro (2024).
A pair of USB4 ports are on the left side of the Surface Pro (2024).
Mark Hachman / IDG
A pair of USB4 ports are on the left side of the Surface Pro (2024).
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Though Microsoft built an Arm chip inside the latest Surface Pro, the tablet is definitely not fanless. Under load, you’ll hear the fan pick up somewhat significantly, though there’s no distracting coil whine. While the fan won’t kick in under normal office work, you will probably notice it under workloads like Photoshop, for example. It will significantly kick in under an emulated workload, as the CPU runs flat out. Then, you’ll hear the fan and feel the back of the tablet get quite hot. I measured a temperature of about 108 degrees F, but my colleagues using the new Surface Laptop noticed even higher temperatures.
While there is no longer any SD or microSD slot, Microsoft does allow a (officially trained) repairman to upgrade the SSD. Access is via a rather nifty magnetically attached back panel that you just flip up by depressing the small divot, then unscrewing the SSD from its slot.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Surface Pro (2024): Display
The Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition’s display is a mixed bag. The Surface Pro ships with either a 13-inch (2880×1920, 267 PPI) PixelSense Flow LCD or OLED display, and Microsoft shipped our review unit with the latter option. Microsoft’s public specifications say that both sRGB and Vivid color options are available, though only a special “HDR” color profile was present on my review unit.
The OLED display is gorgeous, as OLEDs are, with inky blacks and stunning contrast. But you may notice a small bit of grain, depending on how sharp your eyes are. Using the Surface Pro 9 (5G)’s LCD screen for comparison, I noticed some speckling of what looked like individual pixels on the Surface Pro’s OLED screen. To be fair, I didn’t notice this until others pointed this out during the review process, but it’s there.
The Surface Pro 9 (front) versus the Surface Pro (2024) (rear).
The Surface Pro 9 (front) versus the Surface Pro (2024) (rear).
Mark Hachman / IDG
The Surface Pro 9 (front) versus the Surface Pro (2024) (rear).
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
The other thing that’s annoying is that the panel itself is obscured by the rounded corners of the display, similar to the Surface Laptop Studio. Again, that’s not really noticeable. But if you’re taking a screenshot or screen snip, for example, you’ll notice the corners “disappear” into the display. The entirety of the screenshot appears to be saved, though, and I didn’t notice any UI elements that were obscured by the rounded corners. “When measured as a standard rectangular shape, the screen is 13 inches diagonally (actual viewable area is less),” Microsoft notes.
The OLED display does put out 529 nits of luminance, however. It does not carry any HDR ratings outside of Dolby Vision IQ, which is now present on all of the new Surface Pros. Dolby IQ adjusts HDR picture quality to suit the ambient light and content on the display, and these can be tweaked inside the Windows Settings menu.
The display is super reflective, as you can see from the photos in this article. You might yearn for a matte coating. But how quickly we take for granted the 120Hz screen!
The Surface Pro (2024)’s supported color gamut is worse than the Surface Pro 9 (5G), save for the increased support of the DCI-P3 color gamut — used for video editing and displaying HDR content. For me, that’s a signal that the Surface Pro (2024) is more of a content-consumption device than ever before.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Surface Pro (2024): Typing, touchpad, and inking experience
I didn’t have a great out-of-the-box experience with the Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition, and the Flex Pro keyboard was a significant part of that. I’m used to tapping the space bar to wake up a PC. But with the Surface Pro, the tablet itself could be awake, but it seemed like I needed to tap the space bar to wake up the keyboard. That, on top of the need to update the keyboard’s firmware (?!), didn’t get me off to a great start.
This photo shows off the detached Flex Pro keyboard but also indicates what it’s like to use the Surface Pro (2024) outside. The display doesn’t put out enough light with the OLED display to be useful in full sun, but in shade it’s just fine.
This photo shows off the detached Flex Pro keyboard but also indicates what it’s like to use the Surface Pro (2024) outside. The display doesn’t put out enough light with the OLED display to be useful in full sun, but in shade it’s just fine.
Mark Hachman / IDG
This photo shows off the detached Flex Pro keyboard but also indicates what it’s like to use the Surface Pro (2024) outside. The display doesn’t put out enough light with the OLED display to be useful in full sun, but in shade it’s just fine.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
The keyboard just seemed to stop working occasionally, too. On one occasion, both the Flex Pro keyboard and the associated Slim Pen 2 disconnected from Bluetooth, causing me a flash of panic. Most Bluetooth keyboards include some button or switch to manually connect them in case they disconnect. This doesn’t. In the case of the Flex Pro, just clicking in the keyboard caused it to re-pair, fortunately. Double-clicking the top of the Pen caused it to connect, too.
But the Bluetooth-connected Flex Pro keyboard does work, and works pretty well. A laptop keyboard feels rigid, and I honestly prefer one. The Flex Pro keyboard, while docked, has a decent amount of bounce and feels somewhat cramped. But even separating the keyboard by a few inches from the tablet gives it a sense of freedom it lacked before. It absolutely solves the “lapability” problem, too — no longer do you need to balance the tablet and its kickstand on your lap. Instead, you can type on your lap while putting the tablet separately on a tray table. (I didn’t have enough time to make an Amtrak trip, as I have done before with the Surface Go).
The Microsoft Flex Pro keyboard for the Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition, with the included Slim Pen 2.
The Microsoft Flex Pro keyboard for the Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition, with the included Slim Pen 2.
Mark Hachman / IDG
The Microsoft Flex Pro keyboard for the Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition, with the included Slim Pen 2.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
The Flex Pro hinge folds down, allowing you to flip it underneath and elevate the keyboard angle a bit. It works pretty well, and my typing was decent on the detached keyboard.
The weird thing is that the Bluetooth connection allows the keyboard to be placed a tremendous distance away — a dozen feet in my living room and probably more. That’s well beyond the useful range of the keyboard and screen. Wireless makes for a lovely addition, but does feel a bit like overkill.
As for the Copilot key — all it does is launch a generic old Copilot app that floats around the screen like any other app. It feels rather anticlimactic, after all that AI hype.
Microsoft says that the keyboard has a battery life of 41 hours. From what I’ve seen, it will recharge when the keyboard is connected and when the tablet is connected to power. The Flex Pro keyboard doesn’t seem to recharge when the tablet is on battery and doesn’t serve as a reserve battery for the tablet, like the Microsoft Surface Book.
The Flex Pro keyboard ships with a haptic touchpad, which simulates the actual physical click of a touchpad. It’s wider than the previous Surface Pro Signature keyboards, too — 4.5 inches versus 4.0 inches. When the keyboard is “off” or in standby mode, the haptic keyboard shuts down too, which is a bit disconcerting. And sometimes it just glitches, as when I ran a test, and then the keyboard suddenly shut off without warning.
I really do like how the Surface Slim Pen 2 interacts with the Surface Pro’s digitizer, though. Inking is probably the best I’ve seen on a Surface device, based on my example lines below. I look to see how closely the ink “flows” from the physical tip of the pen (perfectly, from what I see) and if there’s any judder or wobble as I draw a straight line with a ruler. The tell is the diagonals, where you see the most wobble. Here, though, there’s really not much at all.
Inking on the Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition. The lines in the bottom half of the screen were drawn with a straight edge. It’s all helped by the 120Hz screen.
Inking on the Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition. The lines in the bottom half of the screen were drawn with a straight edge. It’s all helped by the 120Hz screen.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Inking on the Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition. The lines in the bottom half of the screen were drawn with a straight edge. It’s all helped by the 120Hz screen.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
As with other recent Surface pens, the Slim Pen 2 recharges in its cubby, which is now always exposed in what Microsoft says is a bid to make it always apparent and accessible to the user.
Surface Pro (2024): Webcam and audio
The Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition seems to include the same 2W speakers as its predecessor. Surfaces have had a reputation for powerful audio and this new Surface lives up to it. My early impressions were that the sound became muddy as the volume climbed, but after spending more time with the tablet I’ve rescinded that. It seems pretty clear, up and down. The tablet does ship with Dolby Atmos for Speakers that’s on by default, though, so that certainly contributes positively.
The Surface Pro (2024) includes an ultrawide 1440p webcam, which I dislike; it’s just too wide for a single-person perspective. But in video, turning on the Windows Studio Effects’ Automatic Framing allows the camera to zoom in, plus add additional effects.
The tablet also ships with a 1440p front-facing webcam as well as a 10Mpixel rear-facing webcam. Microsoft has invested in exemplary webcam experiences, especially with some of the Windows Studio Effects AI features I’ll talk about in a bit. This webcam is excellent, easily the equal and then some of the best webcams I’ve reviewed: sharp, clear, great color, and intelligently focusing and exposing the camera for your face rather than the background. I almost think that it does a better job of lighting your face in a dark room, lit by just the tablet itself, than it does with this moderately lit shot above.
With Cortana essentially dead, there’s no need to test the mic pickup across the room. But the AI noise filtering is excellent, slightly below what the Asus ZenBook 14’s AI audio filters delivered. The filters slightly picked up the lead vocals from a rock song, but absolutely filtered out a background white noise track of rainfall that I played at loud volume right to the side of the notebook. Terrific work here.
Surface Pro (2024): AI experiences within Windows
There’s a problem, which I’ll use as a transition point to talking about some of the Surface Pro (2024)’s AI app experiences: there is a lack of available AI testing apps for NPUs. UL’s Procyon app includes a “vision AI” test, which evaluates the AI performance. But both that test plus Geekbench ML, which also promises to evaluate AI performance, would only run on the CPU. I also couldn’t find any generative AI applications that would run on Arm, let alone take advantage of the NPU. So Qualcomm’s vaunted NPU really isn’t put to good use inside the Surface Pro (2024) from a third-party app perspective.
Microsoft would probably vehemently disagree with that, of course, as there are several Windows applications that now use AI. (Again, I don’t think most users will care whether they use the CPU, the NPU, or the cloud, but I’ll note what I noticed anyway).
And yes, Recall is on hold. So one of the flagship features of this tablet is gone. Poof!
Turning on all available Windows Studio Effects options (some are choices between multiple options) doesn’t max out the Snapdragon X Elite’s 45 TOPS NPU.
Turning on all available Windows Studio Effects options (some are choices between multiple options) doesn’t max out the Snapdragon X Elite’s 45 TOPS NPU.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Turning on all available Windows Studio Effects options (some are choices between multiple options) doesn’t max out the Snapdragon X Elite’s 45 TOPS NPU.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Microsoft has a few new Studio Effects, subtle improvements that may matter to you if you’re on a lot of video calls. The older Studio Effects replicated functions in Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet: background blurring and audio filtering. Eye Contact made it seem as if you were staring at the camera at all times. Automatic framing centers you in the picture by using cropping effects. Those all existed before the Surface Pro.
The most useful addition is a “teleprompter” addition to Eye Contact, so if you’re reading text from a screen during a call, you’ll still seem like you’re focused in on the listener. Several “Creative Filters” (Illustrated, Animated, Watercolor) don’t do anything and are useless. And a new Portrait Light addition to make me look “natural” just yellowed out my screen. They all use the NPU. Interestingly, using as many Studio Effects as I could simultaneously didn’t go over 25 percent of the available NPU resources.
Image Creator is still pretty standard AI art, but it looks nice. I still don’t know what if anything the little “29” token counter signifies, although I asked.
Image Creator is still pretty standard AI art, but it looks nice. I still don’t know what if anything the little “29” token counter signifies, although I asked.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Image Creator is still pretty standard AI art, but it looks nice. I still don’t know what if anything the little “29” token counter signifies, although I asked.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
The application that Microsoft is pushing people to use most seems to be the dual generative AI functions in Paint, which use the NPU and the optional-but-not-really Surface Slim Pen 2: Image Creator and Cocreator. Image Creator (formerly called Cocreator, too — don’t ask) is Microsoft’s generative AI service, and it uses the cloud to deliver really wonderful 1152×1152 images.
The new Cocreator is part of Paint, but a separate function from Image Creator — it doesn’t have to be, but it is. Cocreator is essentially the same as Image Creator, but it uses your pen input as guidance to create the image. It’s hit or miss. You can sketch out what you want, and then add the prompt, with an adjustable “creativity” slider that allows Cocreator some leeway. But it’s more fun when you enter the prompt, then sketch out what you want, and Cocreator responds in real time. You don’t get the photorealism that Image Creator offers, but you have more control over the final output.
Two attempts by Paint Cocreator on the Surface Pro (2024).
Cocreator seems to work best when it understands what you draw. It did pretty great with my awful drawing and prompt of a mountain range and forest. But it completely whiffed on a sketch of an astronaut standing on the moon’s surface with the Earth in the background.
Live Captions are more useful than I thought they’d be. They not only caption any video you have (like a video of a wedding or graduation, say) but they will also translate any audio — whether that’s on the screen or via the tablet microphone. Just make sure you enable that in the app’s settings.
The kicker? These AI art apps need to be connected so that Microsoft can vet your images for, well, inappropriate things. It sort of defeats the whole purpose of a local NPU, right?
Surface Pro (2024): The Windows on Arm apps issue
Using a Windows on Arm PC in 2024 still reminds me of a Chromebook: many, many, apps and functions just work via the Arm chip on the Surface Pro (2024), but some do not. To save time and space, I wrote about my experiences trying a number of apps on the Surface Pro in a separate story. There’s a lot! Browsers, especially, are coded for Arm, but even the notoriously slow Slack app runs in Arm. Still, readers took to the Internet to complain about two functions that they felt were lacking: the lack of support for Google Drive and problems connecting to Brother printers.
There are several issues here. First is whether you’ll be simply able to do something. Microsoft is already working to eliminate third-party printer drivers, preferring its own native IPP drivers instead. So in the case of the Brother printer, I thought I’d be able to print a page, just as you’d expect. Nope. Oddly, I was able to scan with my Brother printer, but not print, even after downloading drivers. I had no luck at all with an older HP LaserJet multifunction printer.
Geez, Google, at least let the Prism emulator try…
Geez, Google, at least let the Prism emulator try…
Mark Hachman / IDG
Geez, Google, at least let the Prism emulator try…
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
But specific third-party utilities, such as those that accompanied older printers that you probably own, probably won’t work. Certain “assistant” apps such as Razer Axon won’t either. Fun story: just plugging in a Razer USB-C hub, which usually auto-downloads Razer software, caused the Surface Pro to crash, reboot, then show a black screen until I removed the hub. But Razer Synapse and Cortex work in Arm. I gave up on installing Logitech Options, which helps control mice and keyboards, after about fifteen minutes of inactivity.
Most of the apps I tried in my accompanying article ran just fine. But I couldn’t try everything, and certain VPNs (Nord, for example) didn’t work while others did. The other concern — whether manufacturers will write software drivers for older hardware that connects to Arm PCs — is just too big to address here. Basically, if those functions can be included in Windows like printing, you’ll be fine. A driver for some piece of purpose-built hardware released five years ago? I’d doubt it.
Keep in mind that Web apps can step in, too. People complained online that Google Drive’s app doesn’t run on Arm. It doesn’t. But the Web app can step in for some of that functionality and works well.
The second issue is simply how well those apps will run, if at all. Microsoft developed an emulator called Prism that is supposed to step in and emulate an app not written specifically for Arm. In practice, several apps — including some testing apps — simply refused to run if it detected an Arm chip, or generated some other error. That’s supposedly the developer’s fault, we’re told. That really doesn’t matter when it doesn’t work. We ran into that with some of our testing apps, which didn’t work or generated errors. Ditto for Google Drive.
As I found, a number of productivity applications already have native applications written for Arm, and that matters. Adobe Photoshop, for example, is written natively in Arm. Lightroom is as well. In Photoshop, at least, the features found in both the X86 and Arm apps appear to be identical. Other Adobe applications are on their way. (Adobe Lightroom connects to the cloud and runs natively on Arm, and Lightroom Classic runs, according to my colleague Gordon Mah Ung, only via emulation but runs well).
Photoshop likes the Snapdragon X Elite and its Adreno GPU.
Photoshop likes the Snapdragon X Elite and its Adreno GPU.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Photoshop likes the Snapdragon X Elite and its Adreno GPU.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Photoshop’s generative AI features still use the cloud and not the Snapdragon NPU, however. Frankly, I doubt you’ll care how those AI functions are processed, just that they are.
If an app is not written to Arm, and has to be emulated, the Surface Pro’s CPU kicks into high gear. That’s a problem. Take our Handbrake test, for example. The open-source codec does ship with an Arm version, but I used that as well as an older, unoptimized version for compatibility’s sake.
The Surface Pro doesn’t deal well with un-optimized apps. In Handbrake’s case, the rear of the tablet became quite hot over the duration of the test, over 100 degrees fahrenheit. (The new Arm-powered Surface Laptop, reviewed by a colleague, soared to about 120 degrees). But the battery life plunged. I’ll talk more about that in the next section.
As for games? Nah. I saw the Snapdragon X Elite running Baldur’s Gate 3 at 30 frames per second at Low detail settings. As I detailed in my other story, I tried Saints’ Row IV and an older, simple 3D top-down shoot ’em’up. The latter ran, the first didn’t. I’m not going to kill myself trying dozens of games when Microsoft has already told us that the Surface Pro (2024) isn’t a gaming machine.
Surface Pro (2024): How fast is it?
All that leads us to the performance of the Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition. I leaned on our familiar benchmarks, trying to quantify some of what I had anecdotally experienced above. But I tested in three modes: plugged into the wall, as you would normally use the tablet, on battery, and by dialing up the Windows power slider to maximum settings. On some tests I experienced little changes. On others, the difference was more profound.
For better or for worse, we don’t have too many rivals to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processor. With Intel, I had but a single Core Ultra (Meteor Lake) laptop on hand and no tablets — Microsoft wasn’t exactly rushing to send the Surface Pro 11 with Meteor Lake inside. So, instead, my colleague Adam Murray sent me a Meteor Lake X1 tablet from OneXPlayer. I also used the Asus ZenBook 14 OLED with a Meteor Lake chip inside. Finally, I compared it to the Surface Pro 9 (5G) with a Microsoft SQ3 / Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 chip inside for a gen-over-gen comparison.
We’re not making explicit comparisons to the Apple MacBook, though our Macworld colleagues’ review of the Apple M3 MacBook Air does allow for some comparisons. We’ll note those where appropriate. We’re trying to give you a representative idea of the Surface Pro’s performance rather than establish which Windows on Arm tablet is the best of the bunch.
I used a selection of tests: Cinebench, which measures how fast a laptop’s CPU chews through a rendering task, and Handbrake, which does the same over a prolonged period. I added the popular Geekbench test, too. The PCMark Apps test calculates the time it takes to perform standard Microsoft Office and Web browsing tasks. 3DMark (both Time Spy and Night Raid) measure how well the Snapdragon X Elite’s Adreno GPU fares. I also added PugetBench’s Photoshop benchmark to try and add a more intensive workload. And finally, I used Procyon’s AI Vision test to try and measure the chip’s AI capabilities.
But there were wrinkles. Though PCMark 10’s Apps test ran, PCMark’s conventional tests did not. (Weirdly, PCMark didn’t run on the Asus notebook either). Procyon’s AI test usually offers the choice of the CPU, GPU, or NPU to test the AI capabilities. But only the CPU test was offered by the app and Underwriter Labs, the developer, didn’t provide an alternative. AI art apps besides say, Cocreator, don’t really use the NPU. So, yes — Qualcomm’s vaunted AI TOPS wasn’t put to the test.
Cinebench accommodates both X86 and Arm, though the most recent R24 (2024) release includes a dedicated Arm version that the earlier versions lacked. The Surface Pro, with its 10 performance cores, won in the most recent R24 release. Intel’s Core Ultra does well on the older versions.
So far, the Surface Pro more than holds its own against the Windows tablet, losing to the Asus notebook. Note the inclusion of the “Max” entry. That’s where I dialed up the Windows 11 performance slider, up two notches from its most conservative “Recommended” setting. There’s a small but notable difference in some tests.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
For comparison: the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air reports a Cinebench 2024/R24 score of 658 in multicore and 141 in single-core performance, according to Macworld. The Surface Pro (2024) is faster.
Now, let’s look at how the Surface Pro fares against the other competitors in terms of performance, when the tablet is just running on battery power. (I didn’t run the tablet on maximum, while on battery).
We’re seeing similar scores here, with drops across the board for the Snapdragon X Elite as well as the Core Ultra.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
We typically don’t use the quick and easy-to-run Geekbench test, but I did so here, just to add another layer of benchmarks.
This test uses both CPU and GPU benchmarks, which I again ran on battery power, wall power, and at maximum settings. I’ll combine the two images together (one on battery power, one on wall power) for brevity’s sake. Again, remember that the “max” settings are only run on wall power.
Geekbench still loves the Adreno CPUs inside the Snapdragon X Elite, but gives the nod in GPU performance to the Core Ultra.
In Geekbench 6.2.2, which delivers performance results consistent with Geekbench 6.3, the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air scored 11,936 in the multicore test and 3,144 in the single-core test. It’s a little closer here.
Let’s move to Handbrake. Handbrake is a open-source transcoding test and we typically use an older version for compatibility’s sake. We do so here, if only to show off the comparison to the other products. But wait! We also tested with an optimized Arm version, too.
There are two points to make here. First, no one will ever be totally satisfied with the available benchmarks. You either choose the latest one and toss out any comparisons you’ve made before or you choose an older one and face howls of protest that your tests are unfair. Second, testing is a question of time as well as effort: testing on battery, on wall power, and on maximum settings is already time-intensive enough.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Scores on both battery and a plugged-in laptop are close to one another. As for the optimized Handbrake scores? It really didn’t make an enormous difference. On the optimized Handbrake app, the Surface Pro (2024) recorded a time of 2,258 seconds, about five percent better than the unoptimized app. On battery, it was slightly slower: 2,278 seconds. On maximum settings, I recorded a score of 1,743 seconds, which is a dead heat.
We’ll talk about the effects of unoptimized apps on the Surface Pro’s battery-life results further below. Now, let’s look at a more practical test: PCMark Apps, which is a direct measure of how well the Surface Pro will fare in day-to-day office work and web browsing. Disappointingly, it wouldn’t run the generic PCMark 10 test — application compatibility held it back.
On battery power, it’s an easy win for the Surface Pro (2024). On wall power, though, the Asus notebook is the best bet.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
The problem with our graphics tests are that they really aren’t too representative. Microsoft has said that the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop are productivity machines first, not gaming PCs. And there have been numerous reports from our reviews and reporters, plus across the Internet, that align with that statement. Games simply don’t run on the Snapdragon X Elite as well as they do on X86 PCs.
Still, a GPU has more purposes than gameplay, as we’ll see next.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Note the differences in 3DMark’s tests. The cross-platform Night Raid test favors Arm while the more traditional Time Spy test used for our gaming notebook reviews leans towards the X86 processor from Intel. It’s worth noting that 3DMark didn’t even run until I downloaded the very latest benchmark direct from UL, on advice from Qualcomm.
Photoshop, however, is a nice practical tool to see how well the Surface Pro runs. PugetBench is a benchmark released by Puget Systems, which directs Photoshop to perform various tasks. Since it depends on the version of Photoshop already on the laptop or tablet — and Photoshop has both an Arm as well as an X86 version — this is a nice test to compare the two platforms.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Again, the Snapdragon X Elite and Adreno GPU are holding their own, though the clamshell barely tops the tablet. If you thought that Arm wasn’t suitable for creative work, you may have to think again. One question we haven’t had answered yet is if we’ll see an Arm chip paired with an Nvidia GPU… although we’re hoping Nvidia answers that question in 2025.
Last but not least: AI. Again, this is a disappointment. We were hoping for some AI-on-AI competition, but the NPU tests didn’t run on our systems. UL Procyon, which measures how well the chips process AI “machine vision” calculations, ran only on the CPU. But boy, did Qualcomm score a win here.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Mark Hachman / IDG
Normally, we’d close out our performance testing with some comparative battery-life tests. But I’m making a conscious decision not to, if only because I don’t think that the Surface Pro (204) compares well to a gaming-esque X1 tablet and the Asus notebook.
That doesn’t mean that I didn’t test the Surface Pro — just that I think the results should stand on their own. Matt Smith’s review of the Surface Laptop has a much better opportunity to answer this question, comparatively.
When I connected the Surface Pro (2024) tablet to a pair of wired headphones (gasp!) and performed our standard video rundown test — set the luminance to 250-260 nits and loop a 4K video until it expires — the Surface Pro lasted 13 hours 44 minutes. Fantastic! But I thought, well, would Bluetooth deliver better battery life? It’s more realistic, anyway. So I ran the same test connected to Bluetooth headphones. The tablet lasted 13 hours 47 minutes or about the same.
If you go all the way back to the first few paragraphs of this review, though, you’ll remember that there’s an issue with how the Surface Pro’s Snapdragon X Elite chip handles intensive loads. So let’s talk about that briefly. First, there’s good news: using the PCMark 10 Apps rundown test (which simulates Microsoft Office work over the course of a day) still yielded battery life of 10 hours 29 minutes.
But Microsoft 365 or Office apps are relatively light workloads and they’re optimized for Arm. I don’t have a huge amount of data supporting this thesis, but when I ran an intensive, un-optimized Handbrake test, it finished in just under 34 minutes. It chewed through a whopping 31 percent of the available battery, enough that Windows reported that it only had one hour and 15 minutes left. That’s huge! But it’s a potential Achilles heel of the Surface Pro (2024).
The PugetBench Photoshop benchmark finished in about 27 minutes. It’s running Photoshop, but an optimized version. When it was done, 89 percent of the battery was left… though Windows thought that equated to about three hours and 15 minutes left. Again, not great, but unoptimized apps may make a difference here, especially on battery.
As for the optimized version of Handbrake? Um, well, ugh. My test took 34 minutes, and dropped the battery from 68 percent to 35 percent. That’s a 33 percent drop in 34 minutes.
On wall power, the Surface Pro is excellent performance-wise. On battery, it can last for hours and hours… provided that it’s not doing much.
Surface Pro (2024): Should you buy it?
Here’s where I stand: the Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition shows definite promise. Arm’s CEO didn’t tell me that half of the world’s PCs will eventually run Arm. But you know, there’s a decent case to be made that a chunk of the world’s business/productivity PCs could eventually switch from X86 to Arm. That’s what they need, after all: long battery life and moderate performance.
But the Snapdragon X Elite undercuts that. Snapdragons have always been engines of weak to moderately-powered PCs, but with battery life that lasts and lasts. Now, Qualcomm is dashing to become the fastest CPU. And it’s succeeding, at least when plugged in.
But on battery, under load — and especially with an unoptimized app that requires it to rev up and rev up hard — Arm’s sacrificing battery life for additional performance.
I liked the Surface Pro 9 (5G) because it ran Microsoft’s core apps well, and that was all that I I thought customers would ask of it. Now, Windows on Arm’s ecosystem is expanding. The border is moving through Adobe’s productivity sphere right now.
Again, though, this isn’t the “it just works” tablet that we all hoped for. It mostly works. In some sense, the Surface Pro (2024) 11th Edition feels like a powerful Chromebook, doing just short of everything you’d want from a productivity machine and very little in the way of gaming.
I haven’t tested the Meteor Lake version of the Surface Pro. I don’t care at all that Intel’s Lunar Lake is coming, something always is. But I’m still inclined to stick with the tried-and-true world of Intel’s Core Ultra and AMD’s Ryzen processors rather than make the leap to Windows on Arm. Not yet. But I’m also more confident that Arm could be the way forward for a good chunk of the PC market. This story ain’t over.
Both of these editions include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote. Those are all the tools you need to unleash your productivity and accomplish a wide range of business goals, from streamlining document management and crunching numbers to improving communication.
With the Windows version, you’ll also get Publisher and Access, giving you even more creative and data management capabilities.
If you want to work smarter, it’s time to take advantage of this limited-time deal. Through 11:59 pm PT on 7/11, you can get either of these lifetime licenses (rated 4.8/5 stars):
Travelling is fantastic. The thrill of seeing new places, cultures and just getting away from it all. But it’s not without its stresses, as you need to be sure you’ve got your passport, money, tickets, not to mention which trains, planes or ships you need to catch. It can all get a little overwhelming at times. Thanks to Nomad eSIMs though, there’s at least one area that you don’t need to worry about, and that’s using your phone abroad.
Nomad aims to make global roaming affordable for as many people as possible, with its vision to ‘democratise data’. This might sound like a lofty ideal, but thanks to the company developing partnerships with providers across the world, its eSIM prices are usually 20-40% cheaper than the competitors in many countries.
What is an eSIM?
If you’ve not encountered eSIMs before, they are a simple idea. Instead of a physical SIM card that you need to put in your phone, these are software versions that do the same job. The advantages are that you don’t need to remove your existing SIM card (which might then get lost), and you can buy and set up an eSIM in about five minutes via the Nomad app, by either tapping a button or scanning a QR code.
This means you don’t need to look around for a local provider when you arrive in a country, plus it usually works out cheaper than buying a roaming package from your existing network provider.
For example, if you’re travelling through Europe, then you can get a 10GB data plan for 30 days which costs just $18 (which is around £14). Going to the USA? It’s the same price. At the moment, there’s even an incredible offer where you can take 50GB of data with you on a trip to Thailand and have it only cost $8 (around £6)!
The Nomad app also comes with data management and monitoring features that work across multiple SIMs, letting you know how much data you’ve used and allowing you to top up if you need more.
Flexible plans to suit your needs
Nomad
Nomad
Nomad
If you’re only going for a short break, then Nomad also offers Day Plans, which give you a specific amount of data at high speed, then unlimited at throttled speeds. But, as the latter is usually 512kbps, there’s a very good chance that it will still be faster than other services.
You’re not stuck with one provider either, as Nomad tries to provide at least two local network options, so if one is slowing down or experiencing problems, you’ll be able to use the faster connection.
Of course, you’ll want to know that if anything goes wrong when you’re in the wilds of a foreign land that there is help at hand. Thanks to the 24/7 customer support offered by Nomad, you can rest assured that assistance will always be available through live agents in the app.
If you want to see if your device supports eSIMs, then Nomad provides a helpful list of compatible smartphones on its site, where you can also look for the regular deals and promotions that the company offers.
Travelling should be an adventure, and by picking up an eSIM from Nomad you’ll be able to post your progress on social media, videocall friends from exotic locations, finish that quarterly report while relaxing in an outdoor café, or just catch up on content from your favourite sites without worrying about any big bills waiting for you when you get home. Visit Nomad today and make sure that one of its excellent eSIM deals is the first thing you pack for your next trip.
With heat waves coming and going throughout the summer, you’re going to have times when you just want to stay inside and try to keep cool. Rather than delve into mindless TV, turn that into educational time with a Curiosity Stream Standard Plan. During our version of Prime Day, you can get it for a one-time payment that’s more than $200 off.
Curiosity Stream was launched by Discovery Communications co-founder John Hendricks. Today, it’s full of thousands of documentaries and docuseries covering every subject under the sun (and beyond the sun). You can download content for offline viewing, enjoy everything in 1080p HD, and never run out of new things to watch, thanks to regular content updates.
Learn something new with this Emmy-winning streaming service. Rather than pay a monthly subscription fee, you can get a lifetime subscription to a Curiosity Stream Standard Plan for just $159.97 (reg. $399) when you purchase before 11:59 pm PT on 7/21.
Curiosity Stream Standard Plan: Lifetime Subscription – $159.97
Wish you could see who’s outside your door from anywhere? Like, even if you weren’t home? Then you need a video doorbell.
The Ring Video Doorbell is down to $50 right now—half off its usual price in this early Prime Day deal—and this popular video doorbell is an excellent way to get that peace of mind. It’s a fantastic opportunity if you’re a Prime member in need of one!
As Prime Day approaches fast, Amazon’s own products are bound to be the first to get their prices slashed, and we’re happy to see this Ring doorbell on the list of early winners.
The Ring Video Doorbell features 1080p HD video with two-way audio so you can see, hear, and speak to anyone who’s at your door directly from your own phone, tablet, or PC. Whether you’re at home or not, you’ll have a way to check in with whoever comes knocking.
This version of the Ring Video Doorbell includes improved motion detection, privacy zones, and better night vision, so you can review your home’s surroundings in the same detail as you see during the day.
You’ll also get mobile notifications whenever someone rings the doorbell and/or triggers the motion sensors.
However, you’ll need a separate Ring Protect Plan subscription if you want recorded videos (which keep as far back as 180 days) that you can review whenever you like. This plan also unlocks Alexa voice announcements on connected Echo and Fire devices.
Smart home assistants are fun and they aren’t just for adults. Kids can have just as much—if not more—fun talking to Alexa and doing all sorts of cool stuff around the house. But what if you don’t want your kids to have full rein over Alexa’s capabilities?
The Echo Dot Kids features a solid speaker that delivers clear vocals and rich, vibrant sound. It comes with a cute owl or dragon design that makes the famous Echo Dot look even more adorable.
The key here is that the Echo Dot Kids is specifically designed for children, making it a safe way for them to interact with smart home technology. Kids can ask Alexa to play music, read bedtime stories, get homework help, and more. You can connect various services for them, including Spotify and Amazon Music.
One of the coolest perks when getting the Echo Dot Kids is free access to Amazon Kids+ for a whole year. Amazon Kids+ is a digital service for kids ages 3 to 12, granting access to all kinds of age-appropriate books, games, and educational Alexa skills.
With the Echo Dot Kids, Alexa is already pre-programmed to provide kid-friendly responses and filter out explicit content, but you can also set daily time limits and review device activity in the Amazon Parent Dashboard.
Oh, and if your kid somehow breaks it, Amazon will replace it for free thanks to the 2-year worry-free guarantee.
Don’t miss this chance to get the Echo Dot Kids for $28, a hot deal that won’t last. Since this is a Prime deal, you’ll need a Prime membership, which you can try free for 30 days. After that, it’s $15 per month and you get tons of benefits, including one-day delivery.
If you want to be competitive in PC games these days, you can forget about using a run-of-the-mill office mouse. Instead, you’ll need a powerful device that’s optimized just for gaming.
Manufacturers go to great pains to design specialist devices that give players an edge, with enhancements like unique body sizes and shapes, customizable weight, and extra grips to increase speed and accuracy. On top of that, the best gaming mice have unique hardware enhancements like highly sensitive sensors and complex button configurations to keep up with fast-paced games.
Deciding on the right mouse is a highly personal decision that needs careful consideration. Factors like the size and shape of your hand, your preferred grip style, the types of games you play, and the number of buttons you need, are all factors in your quest for the best gaming mouse.
Why you should trust us? PCWorld has delivered in-depth product reviews and news going on 40 years now. Our reviewers aren’t just peripheral geeks, they’re also avid gamers on a mission to find the best gaming gear for themselves. Because of that they know the ins and outs of gaming gear, what’s good and what’s not.
Every mouse we review is put through a rigorous testing process by our expert reviewers. We appraise everything from the device’s comfort and reliability, to its performance in games. We also compare each product to competitors to sum up whether or not they represent value for money. See our article on how we test gaming mice for more details.
Updated June 25, 2024 to include the Razer Basilisk Ultimate as an alternative to our Best MMO pick, the Razer Naga V2 Pro. The Basilisk Ultimate’s smooth glide, solid feel, and 11 programmable buttons make it a great option for MMO players that don’t need a side button grid.
Razer DeathAdder V3 – Best wired gaming mouse / Best overall
Pros
Very light (59 grams)
Ergonomic design for right-handers
High-precision sensor
USB polling rate of 8000Hz
Durable Razer Optical Switches (up to 90 million clicks)
Lightweight, wired FPS mice don’t come any quicker than the Razer DeathAdder V3, which is maxed out with an extraordinarily sensitive 30,000 DPI Razer Optical Sensor and a whopping 8,000Hz hyper-polling rate that’s eight times as fast as the standard 1,000Hz polling rate you get in other FPS gaming mice.
If that isn’t already enough speed for you, the V3’s lightweight 2.08-ounce (59 grams) chassis and 100 percent PTFE feet combine for an exceptionally quick and smooth glide over your mouse mat, making it even more deadly in FPS gaming.
Who should buy the Razer DeathAdder V3
Based on the DeathAdder V3’s weight anyone looking for more speed in their FPS games would be well advised to get one. It’s also ideal for palm grippers with large- to medium-sized hands who will undoubtedly find plenty of support in its generous proportions for all sorts of tricky maneuvers.
If you prefer a comfy thumb rest when you’re gaming, then you might want to consider the Logitech G502X instead. Apart the extra comfort you get in the thumb rest, the G502X has a unique side trigger button that sets it apart from most mice of its ilk.
The Corsair M75 Air’s 26K Optical Sensor reports at a quick 2,000Hz maximum polling rate (that’s 1,000Hz higher than some more expensive FPS gaming mice), which means I get ridiculously smooth and precise motion in games like Fortnite and Counter-Strike 2 in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi mode. Yet, this mouse’s hardware alone isn’t the only trick up its sleeve — its symmetrical design is just as noteworthy.
The mouse’s excellent symmetry and low-key side buttons allow it to be used just as easily as a left- or right-handed mouse. There are five buttons all up, which all fire off quickly enough to win surprise attacks. There’s no top DPI button to speak of, but what you gain is an exceptionally lightweight design.
Who should buy the Corsair M75 Air Wireless
If you like a feeling of control in your play, the M75 Air’s high back is perfect for that; it pushes against your palm comfortably, syncing with your movements. The M75 Air’s long narrow front also provides plenty of space to stretch out your trigger fingers.
The Razer Cobra Pro is an excellent all-round gaming mouse with a very sensitive 30K sensor that will give the best esports mice a run for their money. While its 2.78-ounce (79 grams) weight makes it a little heavier than many competitive FPS mice, it boasts features that most mice don’t have. Indeed, features like its up / down DPI buttons that allow you to switch DPI on the fly, its gorgeous 11 zones of RGB lighting, and Tri-Mode connectivity (wired, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth) make it a highly versatile and sought-after gaming mouse.
Its one drawback, however, is its compact size, which comfortably fits small to medium sized hands but is a little too small for some large hands. Of course, this won’t affect players who prefer to use a claw grip, so this mouse is especially suited to them.
Who should buy the Razer Cobra Pro
Esports players or keen competitive players wanting one of the quickest mice you can buy, but also want the convenience of extra features that most esports mice don’t have.
The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless features a lightning-fast 26,000 DPI sensor, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, as well as a dedicated DPI switcher, and still manages to be lighter and more affordable than some rivals. It weighs just a little over 2 ounces (61 grams), which is ideal for fast competitive gaming and esports. Its generous proportions and easy six-button configuration are just ideal to fit medium- and large-sized hands.
Who should buy the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless
Claw and fingertip gamers — the mouse’s solid plastic casing is a lot more comfortable for these grip types than its predecessor the HyperX Pulsefire Haste Wireless, which has a perforated casing. It’s also a great option for gamers on a budget since it undercuts competitors with similar features by around $50.
If you want to drop even less coin on your gaming mouse, then the $40 Logitech G203 Lightsync may fit the bill. It’s best suited to smaller hands though, so if you have a medium to large paw, the HyperX Plusefire Haste 2 Wireless is still the better option.
It’s without a doubt the most customizable mouse that’s ever come across my review bench. Not only does this mouse allow you to customize its 13 programmable buttons with your choice of commands, but you can also customize the depth of actuation on those buttons, and the mouse tells you how deep you’ve clicked via haptic feedback.
If that wasn’t enough already, the Swiftpont Z2 has a mini-OLED display. It also has an inbuilt gyroscope and converts into a joystick, which is a blast in flight simulators.
Who should buy the Swiftpoint Z2
This mouse is great for gamers who like to tinker with their controls for a deep level of customization or gamers who liked the Mad Catz R.A.T 8+ and are looking for something with upgraded functionality. The only problem once you’ve decided this is the mouse for you, is picking one up; right now it’s sold out and Swiftpoint is taking back orders for future shipments.
The Razer Naga V2 Pro does one better than just let me program my buttons how I like them — it features three swappable side-button plates that I can change out to tailor my mouse’s physical button setup to my game’s command load. Consequently, it makes a great all-around gaming mouse. In my playtesting I found it was especially perfect for MOBA and MMO games since you get a total of 22 commands with the 12-button plate attached, so there’s lots of options.
As well as a very comfortable design, the V2 Pro also sports an accurate and precise 30,000 DPI sensor and Razer Gen 3 Optical Switches in the buttons that actuate in just 0.2 milliseconds.
Who should buy the Razer Naga V2 Pro
In my playtesting I found it was especially perfect for MOBA and MMO gamers since they get a total of 22 commands with the 12-button plate attached, so there’s lots of options. In MMO games the mouse’s weightiness (it weighs 4.7 ounces, or 134 grams) made weapons play feel extremely authentic and highly satisfying.
If you don’t need swappable button plates another great option for MMO games is the Corsair Scimitar Elite Wireless, which has a full grid of 10 buttons on its left side. My pick of the bunch for MMO gamers that don’t need a side grid of buttons is the Razer Basilisk Ultimate. This mouse has an exceptionally smooth glide, solid feel, and precise sensor.
The Basilisk V3 resembles the Razer Basilisk V2 in size and shape, sporting similar right-handed curves and a slightly arched thumb rest. Among its best features are an 11-button layout, 26,000 DPI Razer Focus+ sensor, and second-generation Razer optical switches that I found very fast for all kinds of gaming — whether that’s casual or serious. But the real magic lies in the Basilisk V3’s HyperScroll Tilt Wheel, which is a fancy name for its mouse wheel. This tilts in four directions and triggers downwards to put five commands at your fingertips, ideal for tactical FPS games like Rainbow Six.
Impressively, the HyperScroll Tilt Wheel also has extra AI scrolling modes that made my scrolling and browsing a lot easier. In my testing I enjoyed toggling between “Tactile” and “Free-Spin” modes, which allowed me to switch between a slow, precise scrolling action and a faster, smoother scrolling action that was useful for getting to the end of long websites more easily.
Who should buy the Razer Basilisk V3
Anyone who wants to get fancy with their scrolling. With the right setup, the Basilisk makes scrolling game menus or long documents in Windows quick and easy.
Why I like the Alienware Pro Wireless gaming mouse
You hear a lot about DPI being the main factor that determines performance. But quite frankly polling rate is twice as important for aiming at and hitting fast-moving players in FPS games. Hence why this mouse is so lethal — it comes with a 4KHz polling rate right out of the box, that’s quadruple the reporting rate of some other big-name FPS gaming mice.
Who should buy the Alienware Pro Wireless gaming mouse
Everything else about this mouse is tailored for speed and precision. From its 4K polling rate, to its ultra-light weight of just over 2 ounces, to its soft buttons with their ultra-quick debounce rate. For that reason, I’d recommend this mouse to gamers who want the fastest performance in FPS games.
It’s very lightweight, weighing just 2.25 ounces (64 grams). Yet its chassis is made from magnesium, so it’s also very strong. I also had everything I needed to perform at my best — an accurate 26K DPI sensor, a lightning-quick 4K polling rate and soft buttons with a very quick debounce.
The Keychron M3 mini 4K Metal Edition is also cheaper than some rival gaming mice with similar specs, judging by its price tag at the time of writing my review; it cost $99 at Keychron, which is $50 cheaper than some very capable competitors.
Who should buy the Keychron M3 mini 4K Metal Edition
The Keychron M3 mini 4K is a one-of-a-kind mouse that makes an excellent all-purpose gaming mouse. Its interesting design also suits gamers wanting to make it a centerpiece of a collection. The mouse’s compact size does, however, mean it’s best suited to players with small-to-medium sized hands.
The ROCCAT Burst Pro Air’s four dedicated RGB lighting zones shine colored light through its semi-transparent body, creating a mesmerizing sheen-like glow that looks totally stunning from any angle. If the semi-transparent shell is my canvas, then ROCCAT’s Swarm app provides my painter’s palette, letting me go to town customizing each zone with up to 16.8 million colors and a range of stunning effects.
But as any gamer knows, looks aren’t everything. Consequently, I also chose the Pro Air because of its excellent gaming performance, which in my play testing I attributed to its comfortable eight-button design, powerful 19,000 DPI Owl-Eye optical sensor, and low-latency optical switches, which are rated for 100 million clicks.
The Pro Air also scores big points for its excellent connectivity options, which includes low-latency 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2 wireless options, and a USB-A to USB-C cable for wired connectivity. For another great ROCCAT gaming mouse that has previously taken top position for ‘Best RGB gaming mouse’ also check out the ROCCAT Kone XP.
Who should buy the ROCCAT Burst Pro Air
If you appreciate a bit of RGB artistry in your gaming getup or want to create a mesmerizing light show to go with your other dazzling RGB gaming gear, then this looker is ideal.
The Xtrfy M8 Wireless’ design is as unique as possible, with the charging socket placed on its right-side rather than at the front like just about every other gaming mouse you will find. But while some players may like that and others not so much, what I salute the most in its design is the fact that its housing is made from 60 percent recycled plastic.
Who should buy the Xtrfy M8 Wireless
Despite the reused materials and side charging socket, this mouse’s hardware is just perfect for pro-gamers. It’s powered by a Pixart 3395 sensor with a maximum resolution of 26,000 DPI. A low-latency 2.4GHz Wi-Fi signal provides a response time as fast as 1 millisecond.
If changing debounce is your jam, the M8 also allows you to choose between four settings: 2, 4, 8, or 12 milliseconds. Plus, it weighs just 1.94 ounces (55 grams) which makes it one of the lightest and quickest mice you will move over your mouse mat.
With no RGB lighting and a modest uni-color Black casing, the Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed is stealthy enough to be your work or study mouse, and yet it also has some of the best hardware for esports you can find in a wireless mouse. That includes a whopping 30,000 DPI Razer Focus Pro Optical Sensor and super-quick Razer Gen 2 Mechanical Switches.
The Viper V3 Hyperspeed’s design gives you precision control of your movements; it features a high back and lots of length in the fingers so that you can stretch out in a palm grip. The high position of the sensor catches your movements at their origin for split-second quicker movement than we’ve experienced in some rivals. The Viper V3 Hyperspeed also supports 4,000Hz HyperPolling, which really makes this mouse cook with fire in fast action games like CouterStrike — although you will have to shell out $29.99 extra for the HyperPolling dongle (not included). The Viper V3 also has excellent battery life. In fact, a single AA battery provides up to 280 hours of operation at the mouse’s default polling rate of 1,000Hz.
The V3 Hyperspeed currently costs $69.99 at Razer, Amazon, and Best Buy. In a similar vein but with more modest hardware and for $15 cheaper, be sure to check out the Razer DeathAdder V2 X Hyperspeed too.
Who should buy the Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed
Players who want a kick-ass gaming mouse that’s also stealthy enough to double as a school or work mouse. It’s also a great option for those who like the feeling of a mouse with a high back and slightly flared main buttons.
Why I like the MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless
The MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless gaming mouse combines practicality, functionality, and stellar looks better than just about any other gaming mouse. As well as supporting all three connectivity types — 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and wired — it features visually striking RGB Diamond Lightgrips down each side that hold your fingers to the mouse’s body and provide you with a lot of precision control over movement. Another practical feature is the convenient charging dock that makes recharging a piece of pie and means it’s very difficult to ever run out of battery.
The GM51 Lightweight Wireless has impressive hardware for gaming, including a Pixart PAW 3395 sensor with a maximum resolution of 26,000 DPI and Omron switches in its buttons, which are known for their durability and speed.
Who should buy the MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless
Although its 3.1-ounce (89 grams) weight is at the upper end of what many would call lightweight, the MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless’ balanced size makes it especially comfortable for players that adopt palm and claw grips. It’s also a great option for players who play for long stints and like the convenience of not having to plug their mouse in to charge after every gaming session.
To ensure that our gaming mice selections are the pick of the crop, the PCWorld team subjects them to extensive play testing as well as a legion of other tests. We scrutinize everything from how well a mouse perform in games, to the size and shape of it in the hand, to comfort and ergonomics, to customizations. Here are the main categories our tests fall under:
Gaming performance: At the end of the day it doesn’t matter how a mouse looks; it’s how it performs that matters. To evaluate a mouse’s performance we look specifically at how sensitive and responsive its sensor is and also how well the sensor tracks movement. Precision is also a key consideration, with mice that are more accurate generally scoring better in our reviews than those that aren’t. In wireless mice we also evaluate the speed and strength of the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals, keeping a look out for red flags like signal dropouts or interference. Some mice also come with software enhancements that determine the mouse’s lift-off distance, which we also examine in our testing.
Design and ergonomics: You won’t find another tech device for which design plays a more crucial part of a user’s experience. And, while it’s true that there’s no one shape, size, or configuration that fits every gamer, there’s enough variation out there for every gamer to find their own perfect fit. When looking at design, we consider the size and shape of the device itself and the type of hand it fits. Gamers tend to use one of three common grip types—palm, claw, or fingertip—so a mouse’s compatibility with one or all of those types is a big consideration.
Software: Being able to tweak settings like your mouse’s DPI and polling rate and create specific profiles for your favorite games can make or break your gaming experience, which is why a mouse’s software support is so important. Our PCWorld reviewers’ focus here is to consider the range and scope of software support and how readily settings can be modified, changed, and saved for future use.
Should I choose a wired or wireless mouse or one with both connectivity types?
It used to be generally well accepted that wired gaming mice had the edge over their wireless counterparts, providing gamers with a much faster and more accurate signal between mice and PCs. However, that’s less true today thanks to the popularity of 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless technologies, which have almost levelled the playing field.
I say almost, because there’s no denying that wired gaming mice still deliver the fastest and most secure connections you can get. That said, whether you choose one type over the other should come down to your gaming priorities.
If you’re a serious competitive gamer or esports player, where winning or losing sits on a knife’s edge, opting for a wired mouse over a wireless one is a good decision, since it’s less likely a signal dropout or interference will disrupt your play. Every competitive edge counts. However, wireless mice are infinitely more portable and allow you to switch between devices at a whim, so if nimbleness and portability is more important, a wireless mouse will be a better fit.
2.
What size and shape mouse should I get?
Hands, just like gaming mice, come in all different shapes and sizes, and for comfort reasons it pays to match like with like. While categorizing sizes of hands can be highly subjective, chances are you’ll be able to guess whether your hand is on average small, medium, or large. You can then find a mouse that best fits from among the size categories below:
• Small gaming mouse: Length: Less than 6.7 inches; width: 2.9 to 3.3 inches • Medium gaming mouse: Length: 6.7 to 7.9 inches; width: 3.3 to 3.9 inches • Large gaming mouse: Length: 7.9 inches; width: 3.9 to 4.3 inches
Gaming mice generally come in three shapes: left-handed, right-handed, and ambidextrous. Ambidextrous mice are designed to be neutral in that they can be just as easily used by your left or right hand. Alternatively, left-handed and right-handed mice are tailor-made for the dominant hands specified by their namesakes, often sporting bespoke curves and button placements for one or the other. Unless you switch between hands, using a gaming mouse that matches your dominant hand will go a long way to improving your performance and comfort.
Your preferred grip type should also be considered when selecting a suitably shaped mouse. Here’s a rough guide for matching grip types with mouse shapes:
• Palm grip: Long, flat mice tend to be a better fit and more comfortable • Claw grip: Narrower and smaller mice tend to suit this grip style • Fingertip grip: Lighter mice are often preferred by fingertip grippers to reduce strain
3.
How light should my mouse be?
Gaming mice weights have been gradually trending downwards over the years as players look for lighter options that are quicker to move and prevent arms and wrists getting overly tired or sore in long play sessions. FPS (first-person shooter) gamers in particular tend to go for the lightest mice possible, seeing every millisecond of speed advantage as worth chasing.
Despite this, there’s no ideal gaming mouse weight for all gamers, but rather a deeply personal preference. In fact, some gamers—often those with larger hands or stronger arms—actually prefer heavier mice for the extra stability they get. Still if you are one of those looking for the lightest mouse possible, anything under 70 grams will be among the lightest on the market.
4.
Does DPI really matter on a gaming mouse?
Your mouse’s sensor is the essential hardware component that relays movement to your PC. Mice sensors are rated for DPI, or dots per inch, which tells us how far a cursor moves per inch of mouse movement—that is, how sensitive it is. Manufacturers really hype up the importance of high DPIs, which can be a bit misleading because they don’t necessarily equate to better gaming performance (they can, but not in all circumstances).
For example, if you play a lot of FPS and want the absolute best accuracy while targeting opponents, a lower DPI (between 800-1,000) is preferable, since this allows you to make short, sharp, and precise movements more easily. However, if you make a lot of wide, sweeping hand movements, or if your display is a very high resolution, a mouse with a high DPI (between 12,000-30,000 DPI) can be an advantage.
The great thing about most modern gaming mice is that they can switch between DPI profiles just by clicking a small button behind the mouse wheel. That said, our advice is to opt for a gaming mouse with the highest DPI your budget allows, and then choose your preferred setting for different gaming scenarios by using this handy DPI-switching feature.
5.
Is an optical or laser sensor better for a gaming mouse?
Optical sensors are the most popular with gamers since they tend to have less jitter and smoothing problems. These sensors work by casting down infrared or LED light onto your mousepad and capturing thousands of digital images per second, that then reveals the precise location of the mouse to the PC.
On the other hand, laser sensors use a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser diode to determine positioning. In most cases an optical sensor will do just fine. However, if you plan on using your mouse on a translucent surface (like glass), a laser sensor is preferable since it will have better sensitivity to a variety of surface textures.
6.
How many buttons do I need on a gaming mouse?
The type of games you play should help you determine how many buttons you need. For example, if you’re a big fan of real time strategy (RTS), role-playing games (RPG), or massively multiplayer online (MMOs) games, you’d be we’ll advised to choose a mouse with between 10 and18 buttons—like the Razer Naga V2 Pro or the Corsair Simitar Elite Wireless. These games typically require you to fire off a lot of commands quickly, so the more buttons you have to program commands and macros in, the better.
On the flipside, if FPS is your go-to game type, you’ll probably want to keep your button count to between 6 and 8 buttons. Chances are you won’t need the higher button-count for your smaller list of commands. Plus, buttons tend to increase a mouse’s weight, so opting for a mouse with fewer will most likely mean it’s lighter and quicker to move in the frantic FPS action.
7.
Should I get RGB lighting on a gaming mouse?
RGB lighting is a fun feature to have in any gaming device that can brighten up your gaming den with pops of color. It can also be pretty useful, allowing you to see your device better in dimly lit rooms or at night. And yet, there may be times when you opt to use a mouse that has only a minimal RGB, or none at all.
The most common example is if you plan on using your gaming mouse covertly at work. In this case, mice like the Razer Viper V3 Hyperspeed, that have no RGB lighting zones and can convincingly pass as standard black office mice, are ideal because your colleagues will be none the wiser.
Login
