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  3. <title>PCWorld</title>
  4. <link>https://www.pcworld.com</link>
  5. <description>PCWorld helps you navigate the PC ecosystem to find the products you want and the advice you need to get the job done.</description>
  6. <lastBuildDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 19:40:42 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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  8. <copyright>Copyright (c) 2024 IDG Communications, Inc.</copyright>
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  11. <item>
  12. <title>Best laptops 2024: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1s, and more</title>
  13. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/best-budget-laptops-4.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="618351" type="image/jpeg" />
  14. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 19:40:25 +0000</pubDate>
  15. <description><![CDATA[
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  17. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  18.  
  19.  
  20.  
  21. <p>Picking up a brand new laptop can be a stressful experience. How much storage will I need? Which GPU is the best for my budget? The sight of the alphabet soup model numbers are enough to set your heart racing. If you&rsquo;re not sure where to begin, don&rsquo;t worry, you&rsquo;ve come to the right place. Whether you&rsquo;re looking for a lightning fast gaming laptop or a lightweight 2-in-1 for office work, we&rsquo;ve got something for everyone.</p>
  22.  
  23.  
  24.  
  25. <p><strong>Why you should trust us:</strong> It&rsquo;s in our name. PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We&rsquo;ve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who&rsquo;ve applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We&rsquo;re also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.</p>
  26.  
  27.  
  28.  
  29. <p>Looking for sweet discounts? Check out our regularly updated roundup of the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/550968/best-laptop-deals-3.html" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.pcworld.com/article/550968/best-laptop-deals-3.html">best laptop deals</a> available right now.</p>
  30.  
  31.  
  32.  
  33. <p><em><strong>Updated</strong></em> <strong><em>April 24, 2024</em></strong><em><strong>: </strong>We replaced the Best Ultraportable pick with the Acer TravelMate P6 because it weighs the same as our former pick and is more affordable. We also added the Acer Aspire Go 15 as an alternative option underneath our Best Budget Laptop pick because it has better battery life and is about $30 cheaper. The list of recent laptop reviews has been updated as well, so be sure to check those out further down the page.</em></p>
  34.  
  35.  
  36.  
  37. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="the-best-laptops-weve-tested">The best laptops we&rsquo;ve tested</h2>
  38.  
  39.  
  40.  
  41. <div class="wp-block-product-chart product-chart">
  42. <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
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  45. <h2 data-p_name="Dell Inspiron 14 Plus" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="dell-inspiron-14-plus-2024-best-overall">
  46. Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (2024) &ndash; Best overall </h2>
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  81. <div class="product-chart-body">
  82. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  84. <div class="product-chart-column">
  85. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  86. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  87. <li>
  88. Strong performance </li>
  89. <li>
  90. Exceptional battery life </li>
  91. <li>
  92. Wonderful typing experience </li>
  93. </ul>
  94. </div>
  95. <div class="product-chart-column">
  96. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  97. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  98. <li>
  99. CPU throttles under heavy loads </li>
  100. <li>
  101. No user upgrades </li>
  102. </ul>
  103. </div>
  104. </div>
  105. </div>
  106. </div>
  108. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  109. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  110. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  111.  
  112. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  113. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  114. $999 </span>
  115. </div>
  117. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  118. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  119. Best Prices Today:
  120. </span>
  121. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  122. <span class="not-amp">
  123. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8200811-12839518?url=https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/new-inspiron-14-plus-laptop/spd/inspiron-14-7440-laptop/useichbto7440gnsg&amp;sid=2-1-436674-6-2277017-11245" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Dell Inspiron 14 Plus" data-vars-product-id="2277017" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="11245" data-vars-manufacturer="Dell" data-vars-vendor="Dell" data-vars-po="" data-product="2277017" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/new-inspiron-14-plus-laptop/spd/inspiron-14-7440-laptop/useichbto7440gnsg" rel="nofollow">$999.99 at  Dell</a> </span>
  124. </span>
  125. </div>
  126. </div>
  127. <div class="product-content">
  129. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-the-dell-inspiron-14-plus">Why we like the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus</h3>
  130.  
  131. <p>The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is one of the most well-rounded laptops money can buy. It offers strong performance, exceptional battery life, and a vibrant display. The best part is that it costs about $1,000, which is a reasonable price point considering the price to performance ratio. In fact, it performed exceptionally in PCMark 10&rsquo;s benchmark, according to our review. With a PCMark 10 score of 7,061, it beat out the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2171363/acer-swift-go-14-review-3.html">Acer Swift Go 14</a>, which has similar specs to the Dell, and the more expensive <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2250722/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-review.html">Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon</a>. The Inspiron 14 Plus also lasted an impressive 17 hours on a single charge, which is definitely more than a full workday or school day. You don&rsquo;t have to worry about finding a wall outlet to charge up.</p>
  132.  
  133. <h3 class="" id="who-should-buy-the-dell-inspiron-14-plus">Who should buy the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus</h3>
  134.  
  135. <p>Anyone looking for a really good, well-rounded laptop. In addition to the impressive performance and battery life, it also has a lovely 14-inch 1400p display. According to our review, &ldquo;the display is exceedingly well suited to office work and static imagery.&rdquo; It has a peak brightness level of a stunning 418 nits as well as an anti-glare coating, which means you can use this laptop in different lighting environments. It may not have the prettiest design we&rsquo;ve ever seen, but its hardware capabilities and astoundingly long battery life make up for the blah aesthetics. </p>
  136. </div>
  137. Read our full
  138. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2277005/dell-inspiron-14-plus-review.html" target="_blank" score="4.5">
  139. Dell Inspiron 14 Plus review </a>
  140. </div>
  141. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-1" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF1"}'>
  142. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  143. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  144. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  145. <h2 data-p_name="Asus Zenbook 14 OLED" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="asus-zenbook-14-oled-best-overall-runner-up">
  146. Asus Zenbook 14 OLED &ndash; Best overall runner-up </h2>
  147. </div>
  148. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  149. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  150. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  151. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
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  176. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1500" height="1000" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Asus Zenbook 14 OLED - Best overall runner-up" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1500" /></figure></div>
  177. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1500" height="1000" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Asus Zenbook 14 OLED - Best overall runner-up" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1500" /></figure></div>
  178. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  179. </div></figure> </div>
  180. </div>
  181. <div class="product-chart-body">
  182. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  184. <div class="product-chart-column">
  185. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  186. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  187. <li>
  188. Robust build quality </li>
  189. <li>
  190. Attractive OLED touchscreen </li>
  191. <li>
  192. Good CPU and integrated GPU performance </li>
  193. <li>
  194. Outstanding battery life </li>
  195. </ul>
  196. </div>
  197. <div class="product-chart-column">
  198. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  199. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  200. <li>
  201. Blah design </li>
  202. <li>
  203. Keyboard isn't memorable </li>
  204. <li>
  205. Mediocre connectivity options </li>
  206. </ul>
  207. </div>
  208. </div>
  209. </div>
  210. </div>
  212. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  213. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  214. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  215.  
  216. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  217. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  218. $849.99 </span>
  219. </div>
  221. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  222. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  223. Best Prices Today:
  224. </span>
  225. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  226. <span class="not-amp">
  227. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://goto.walmart.com/c/321564/565706/9383?veh=aff&amp;sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&amp;subid1=2-1-436674-6-2289145-11291&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FASUS-Zenbook-14-OLED-Touch-PC-Laptop-AMD-Ryzen-7-16GB-RAM-512GB-SSD-Windows-11-Home-Black-UM3406HA-WS74T%2F5109506772" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Asus Zenbook 14 OLED" data-vars-product-id="2289145" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="11291" data-vars-manufacturer="Asus" data-vars-vendor="Walmart,Asus" data-vars-po="" data-product="2289145" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.walmart.com/ip/ASUS-Zenbook-14-OLED-Touch-PC-Laptop-AMD-Ryzen-7-16GB-RAM-512GB-SSD-Windows-11-Home-Black-UM3406HA-WS74T/5109506772" rel="nofollow">$849.99 at  Walmart</a><a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://www.asus.com/us/laptops/for-home/zenbook/asus-zenbook-14-oled-um3406/&amp;xcust=2-1-436674-6-2289145-11291&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Asus Zenbook 14 OLED" data-vars-product-id="2289145" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="11291" data-vars-manufacturer="Asus" data-vars-vendor="Walmart,Asus" data-vars-po="" data-product="2289145" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.asus.com/us/laptops/for-home/zenbook/asus-zenbook-14-oled-um3406/" rel="nofollow">$999.99 at  Asus</a> </span>
  228. </span>
  229. </div>
  230. </div>
  231. <div class="product-content">
  233. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-the-asus-zenbook-14-oled">Why we like the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED</h3>
  234.  
  235. <p>The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED wowed us with its zippy CPU performance, phenomenal battery life, and attractive OLED touchscreen display. According to our review, &ldquo;movies and games look realistic and vibrant&rdquo; on the 1200p OLED touchscreen, although it can be difficult to use in bright environments due to the reflective surface. It also lasted 16 hours on a single charge, which is absolutely wild! That result really trumps otherwise excellent competitors like the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2277039/lenovo-slim-7-14-review.html">Lenovo Slim 7 14 Gen 9</a> and the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2234142/hp-pavilion-plus-laptop-14-review.html">HP Pavilion Plus Laptop 14</a>. As for performance, the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED absolutely crushed the PCMark 10 benchmark with an impressive score of 6,772. That means it&rsquo;s very fast and responsive during real-world tasks like web browsing, video conferencing, and so on. </p>
  236.  
  237. <h3 class="" id="who-should-buy-the-asus-zenbook-14-oled">Who should buy the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED</h3>
  238.  
  239. <p>Anyone looking for a powerful, affordable laptop with an OLED display! It&rsquo;s so much more than its OLED screen, though. The build quality is quite good and day-to-day performance is zippy. Plus, you won&rsquo;t have to go looking for an outlet often thanks to the long battery life. Connectivity options are a bit limited, but that&rsquo;s not unusual for a laptop in this price range. Overall, it&rsquo;s a great Windows machine that hits all the right marks. </p>
  240. </div>
  241. Read our full
  242. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2289137/asus-zenbook-14-oled-review-3.html" target="_blank" score="4.5">
  243. Asus Zenbook 14 OLED review </a>
  244. </div>
  245. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-2" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF2"}'>
  246. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  247. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  248. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  249. <h2 data-p_name="Acer Aspire 3" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="acer-aspire-3-best-budget-laptop">
  250. Acer Aspire 3 &ndash; Best budget laptop </h2>
  251. </div>
  252. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  253. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  254. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
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  273. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
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  277. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
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  280. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="2000" height="1361" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Acer Aspire 3 - Best budget laptop" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="2000" /></figure></div>
  281. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="2000" height="1361" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Acer Aspire 3 - Best budget laptop" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="2000" /></figure></div>
  282. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  283. </div></figure> </div>
  284. </div>
  285. <div class="product-chart-body">
  286. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  288. <div class="product-chart-column">
  289. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  290. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  291. <li>
  292. Reliable performance </li>
  293. <li>
  294. 1080p display </li>
  295. <li>
  296. HD webcam </li>
  297. <li>
  298. Solid build </li>
  299. </ul>
  300. </div>
  301. <div class="product-chart-column">
  302. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  303. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  304. <li>
  305. Speakers sound tinny when playing music </li>
  306. <li>
  307. A little heavy </li>
  308. </ul>
  309. </div>
  310. </div>
  311. </div>
  312. </div>
  314. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  315. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  316. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  317.  
  318. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  319. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  320. $329.99 </span>
  321. </div>
  323. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  324. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  325. Best Prices Today:
  326. </span>
  327. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  328. <span class="not-amp">
  329. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS4BP8FB?tag=pcworld02-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1&amp;asc_refurl=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Acer Aspire 3" data-vars-product-id="1993366" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="9925" data-vars-manufacturer="Acer" data-vars-vendor="mpn,amazon," data-vars-po="mpn,amazon" data-product="1993366" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BS4BP8FB?tag=pcworld02-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1" rel="nofollow">$299.99 at  Amazon</a><a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://www.jdoqocy.com/click-8200811-15180503?sid=2-1-436674-6-1993366-9925&amp;url=https://store.acer.com/en-us/aspire-3-laptop-a315-24p-r7vh?ff=19" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Acer Aspire 3" data-vars-product-id="1993366" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="9925" data-vars-manufacturer="Acer" data-vars-vendor="mpn,amazon," data-vars-po="mpn,amazon" data-product="1993366" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://store.acer.com/en-us/aspire-3-laptop-a315-24p-r7vh?ff=19" rel="nofollow">$329.99 at  Acer Online Store</a><a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://goto.walmart.com/c/321564/565706/9383?veh=aff&amp;sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&amp;subid1=2-1-436674-6-1993366-9925&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FAcer-Aspire-3-15-A315-24P-AMD-Ryzen-7320U-2-4-GHz-Win-11-Home-S-mode-Radeon-610M-8-GB-RAM-128-SSD-15-6-IPS-1920-x-1080-Full-HD-Wi-Fi-6-pure-silver-kb%2F2282455627" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Acer Aspire 3" data-vars-product-id="1993366" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="9925" data-vars-manufacturer="Acer" data-vars-vendor="mpn,amazon," data-vars-po="mpn,amazon" data-product="1993366" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Acer-Aspire-3-15-A315-24P-AMD-Ryzen-7320U-2-4-GHz-Win-11-Home-S-mode-Radeon-610M-8-GB-RAM-128-SSD-15-6-IPS-1920-x-1080-Full-HD-Wi-Fi-6-pure-silver-kb/2282455627" rel="nofollow">$384.99 at  Walmart</a> </span>
  330. </span>
  331. </div>
  332. </div>
  333. <div class="product-content">
  335. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-the-acer-aspire-3">Why we like the Acer Aspire 3</h3>
  336.  
  337. <p>The Acer Aspire 3 laptop offers both reliable performance and a rugged build at an imminently affordable price. It&rsquo;s fast enough for everyday tasks like checking e-mail, watching Netflix, and browsing the web. You&rsquo;re also getting a full-sized keyboard as well as a 1080p screen. The Aspire 3 also blew the competition out of the water with a Cinebench R15 score of 1,925, beating out the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1358891/acer-aspire-vero-14-review-from-trash-to-treasure.html">Acer Aspire Vero 14</a>, which has similar hardware. Cinebench is designed to run all of the cores of a laptop&rsquo;s CPU and determine how well a laptop handles processor-intensive multi-threaded workloads.</p>
  338.  
  339. <h3 class="" id="who-should-buy-the-acer-aspire-3">Who should buy the Acer Aspire 3</h3>
  340.  
  341. <p>Anyone who&rsquo;s on a restricted budget! To get more specific, we feel as though the Acer Aspire 3 is a good option for students and remote workers. It&rsquo;s inexpensive and the HD webcam produces &ldquo;clean, crisp video&rdquo; according to our review, which means you&rsquo;ll always look your best in videoconferencing calls. It also delivers strong performance for the price.</p>
  342.  
  343. <p><em><strong>Alternative option:</strong></em> <em>If you absolutely cannot spend $330 for the Acer Aspire 3, then you should check out the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2308800/acer-aspire-go-15-2024-review.html">Acer Aspire Go 15</a>&ndash;it&rsquo;s about $30 cheaper and has better battery life (12 hours!). </em></p>
  344. </div>
  345. Read our full
  346. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1989517/acer-aspire-3-review.html" target="_blank" score="4">
  347. Acer Aspire 3 review </a>
  348. </div>
  349. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-3" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF3"}'>
  350. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  351. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  352. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  353. <h2 data-p_name="Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="dell-inspiron-plus-16-7630-best-midrange-laptop">
  354. Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630 &ndash; Best midrange laptop </h2>
  355. </div>
  356. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  357. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  358. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  359. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
  360. <figure class="wp-lightbox-container" data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  377. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  378. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  379. </svg>
  380. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  381. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  382. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  383. </button>
  384. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="5803" height="3264" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630 - Best midrange laptop" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="5803" /></figure></div>
  385. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="5803" height="3264" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630 - Best midrange laptop" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="5803" /></figure></div>
  386. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  387. </div></figure> </div>
  388. </div>
  389. <div class="product-chart-body">
  390. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  392. <div class="product-chart-column">
  393. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  394. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  395. <li>
  396. All-day battery life </li>
  397. <li>
  398. Good graphics performance </li>
  399. <li>
  400. Reasonable price </li>
  401. </ul>
  402. </div>
  403. <div class="product-chart-column">
  404. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  405. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  406. <li>
  407. Light on ports </li>
  408. <li>
  409. Gets warm under heavy workloads </li>
  410. </ul>
  411. </div>
  412. </div>
  413. </div>
  414. </div>
  416. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  417. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  418. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  419.  
  420. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  421. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  422. $1,249.99 </span>
  423. </div>
  425. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  426. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  427. Best Prices Today:
  428. </span>
  429. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  430. <span class="not-amp">
  431. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8200811-12839518?url=https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/cty/pdp/spd/inspiron-16-7630-laptop/usichbts7630gbkt&amp;sid=2-1-436674-6-2089405-11245" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630" data-vars-product-id="2089405" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="11245" data-vars-manufacturer="Dell" data-vars-vendor="Dell" data-vars-po="" data-product="2089405" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/cty/pdp/spd/inspiron-16-7630-laptop/usichbts7630gbkt" rel="nofollow">$1249.99 at  Dell</a> </span>
  432. </span>
  433. </div>
  434. </div>
  435. <div class="product-content">
  437. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-this-dell-inspiron-plus-16">Why we like this Dell Inspiron Plus 16</h3>
  438.  
  439. <p>The Dell Inspiron 16 7630 packs a lot of power for the price thanks to the Intel Core i7-13700H CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU. This machine can handle both day-to-day activity as well as some gaming. The RTX 4060 GPU actually turned in a respectable 3DMark Time Spy result of 8,754. It&rsquo;s not the most cutting-edge graphics performance we&rsquo;ve ever seen,  but you should be able to play most games on the Medium or High graphics setting. The 1600p display also has a taller 16:10 aspect ratio screen, which is ideal for office work, and the battery lasted over 11 hours on a single charge.</p>
  440.  
  441. <h3 class="" id="who-should-buy-the-dell-inspiron-plus-16">Who should buy the Dell Inspiron Plus 16</h3>
  442.  
  443. <p>The Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630 is great for professionals, students, or anyone who&rsquo;s looking for a powerful yet affordable machine. The battery will last you a full work day and then some, and it can pull double duty playing games. Dell laptops often go on sale, so you may be able to score this machine at a steep discount. </p>
  444. </div>
  445. Read our full
  446. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2089244/dell-inspiron-plus-16-7630-laptop-review.html" target="_blank" score="4.5">
  447. Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630 review </a>
  448. </div>
  449. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-4" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF4"}'>
  450. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  451. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  452. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  453. <h2 data-p_name="Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 512GB/16GB, 2024)" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="macbook-air-m3-best-macbook">
  454. MacBook Air (M3) &ndash; Best MacBook </h2>
  455. </div>
  456. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  457. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  458. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  459. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
  460. <figure class="wp-lightbox-container" data-wp-context='{ "core":
  461. { "image":
  462. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  463. "initialized": false,
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  465. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  466. "preloadInitialized": false,
  467. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  468. "imageUploadedSrc": "https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/m3-macbook-air-overhead.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all",
  469. "imageCurrentSrc": "",
  470. "targetWidth": "none",
  471. "targetHeight": "none",
  472. "scaleAttr": "",
  473. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  474. }
  475. }
  476. }' data-wp-interactive><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" width="4032" height="3024" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="MacBook Air (M3) - Best MacBook" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/m3-macbook-air-overhead.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" loading="lazy" sizes="4032" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: MacBook Air (M3) - Best MacBook" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  477. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  478. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  479. </svg>
  480. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  481. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  482. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  483. </button>
  484. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="4032" height="3024" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="MacBook Air (M3) - Best MacBook" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="4032" /></figure></div>
  485. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="4032" height="3024" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="MacBook Air (M3) - Best MacBook" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="4032" /></figure></div>
  486. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  487. </div></figure> </div>
  488. </div>
  489. <div class="product-chart-body">
  490. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  492. <div class="product-chart-column">
  493. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  494. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  495. <li>
  496. Excellent battery life </li>
  497. <li>
  498. Great combination of price, features, and performance </li>
  499. <li>
  500. 256GB SSD is now two NAND chips, maintaining performance </li>
  501. </ul>
  502. </div>
  503. <div class="product-chart-column">
  504. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  505. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  506. <li>
  507. Expensive memory upgrades </li>
  508. <li>
  509. Dual external display support requires closed lid </li>
  510. </ul>
  511. </div>
  512. </div>
  513. </div>
  514. </div>
  516. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  517. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  518. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  519.  
  520. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  521. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  522. $1699 </span>
  523. </div>
  525. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  526. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  527. Best Prices Today:
  528. </span>
  529. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  530. <span class="not-amp">
  531. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CX23YF4Q?tag=pcworld02-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1&amp;asc_refurl=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 512GB/16GB, 2024)" data-vars-product-id="2257266" data-vars-category="MacBook" data-vars-manufacturer-id="9934" data-vars-manufacturer="Apple" data-vars-vendor="mpn,sku,upc,amazon,Apple" data-vars-po="mpn,sku,upc,amazon" data-product="2257266" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CX23YF4Q?tag=pcworld02-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1" rel="nofollow">$1,634 at  Amazon</a><a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://adorama.rfvk.net/c/321564/1175784/1036?prodsku=ACMXD13LLA&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adorama.com%2Facmxd13lla.html&amp;intsrc=CATF_9102&amp;subid1=2-1-436674-6-2257266-9934" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 512GB/16GB, 2024)" data-vars-product-id="2257266" data-vars-category="MacBook" data-vars-manufacturer-id="9934" data-vars-manufacturer="Apple" data-vars-vendor="mpn,sku,upc,amazon,Apple" data-vars-po="mpn,sku,upc,amazon" data-product="2257266" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://adorama.rfvk.net/c/321564/1175784/1036?prodsku=ACMXD13LLA&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adorama.com%2Facmxd13lla.html&amp;intsrc=CATF_9102" rel="nofollow">$1699 at  Adorama</a><a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://apple.sjv.io/c/321564/473657/7613?prodsku=MXD13LL%2FA&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fus%2Fshop%2Fgo%2Fproduct%2FMXD13&amp;intsrc=CATF_3652&amp;subid1=2-1-436674-6-2257266-9934" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 512GB/16GB, 2024)" data-vars-product-id="2257266" data-vars-category="MacBook" data-vars-manufacturer-id="9934" data-vars-manufacturer="Apple" data-vars-vendor="mpn,sku,upc,amazon,Apple" data-vars-po="mpn,sku,upc,amazon" data-product="2257266" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://apple.sjv.io/c/321564/473657/7613?prodsku=MXD13LL%2FA&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.apple.com%2Fus%2Fshop%2Fgo%2Fproduct%2FMXD13&amp;intsrc=CATF_3652" rel="nofollow">$1699 at  Apple</a> </span>
  532. </span>
  533. </div>
  534. </div>
  535. <div class="product-content">
  537. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-the-macbook-air-m3">Why we like the MacBook Air (M3)</h3>
  538.  
  539. <p>The MacBook Air (M3) has a lot to offer for the $1,299 price. In fact, it received high marks across the board thanks to the 8-core CPU (M3) and the 10-core GPU. It&rsquo;s capable of chewing through office work as well as casual use tasks. While performance is comparable to the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2261005/14-inch-m3-pro-macbook-pro-review-the-sweet-spot-for-price-and-performance.html">MacBook Pro (M3)</a>, there is one difference: the fans or lack thereof. The MacBook Air doesn&rsquo;t have any fans, which results in quieter operation before heavy-duty tasks will likely put more pressure on the chip. That said, battery life is the real star of the show here. The MacBook Air (M3) lasted a whopping 19 hours on a single charge, which is perfect for those with busy schedules.</p>
  540.  
  541. <h3 class="" id="who-should-buy-the-macbook-air-m3">Who should buy the MacBook Air (M3)</h3>
  542.  
  543. <p>Anyone who prefers MacOS over competing operating systems. Battery life is outstanding and the laptop itself is both slim and light, weighing in at just over three pounds. The 15-inch Liquid Retina (LED) screen might be considered a step-down from the MacBook Pro&rsquo;s Liquid Retina XDR (mini-LED) display, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean it&rsquo;s a poor screen. It still looks fantastic for day-to-day use. The $1,299 price tag is also reasonable for the performance and features you&rsquo;re getting. </p>
  544.  
  545. <p>Read our full <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2262030/15-inch-macbook-air-m3-review-apples-best-laptop-gets-better.html">MacBook Air (M3) review</a></p>
  546. </div>
  547. </div>
  548. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-5" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF5"}'>
  549. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  550. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  551. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  552. <h2 data-p_name="Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="lenovo-flex-5i-chromebook-plus-best-chromebook">
  553. Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus &ndash; Best Chromebook </h2>
  554. </div>
  555. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  556. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  557. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  558. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
  559. <figure class="wp-lightbox-container" data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  567. "imageUploadedSrc": "https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/flex-5i-hero-resized.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all",
  568. "imageCurrentSrc": "",
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  570. "targetHeight": "none",
  571. "scaleAttr": "",
  572. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  573. }
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  575. }' data-wp-interactive><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" width="1200" height="800" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus - Best Chromebook" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/flex-5i-hero-resized.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" loading="lazy" sizes="1200" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus - Best Chromebook" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  576. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  577. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  578. </svg>
  579. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  580. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  581. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  582. </button>
  583. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1200" height="800" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus - Best Chromebook" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1200" /></figure></div>
  584. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1200" height="800" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus - Best Chromebook" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1200" /></figure></div>
  585. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  586. </div></figure> </div>
  587. </div>
  588. <div class="product-chart-body">
  589. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  591. <div class="product-chart-column">
  592. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  593. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  594. <li>
  595. Snappy day-to-day performance </li>
  596. <li>
  597. Versatile 2-in-1 design </li>
  598. <li>
  599. Good typing experience </li>
  600. </ul>
  601. </div>
  602. <div class="product-chart-column">
  603. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  604. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  605. <li>
  606. Stylus not included </li>
  607. <li>
  608. Heavier than expected </li>
  609. </ul>
  610. </div>
  611. </div>
  612. </div>
  613. </div>
  615. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  616. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  617. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  618.  
  619. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  620. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  621. $499 </span>
  622. </div>
  624. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  625. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  626. Best Prices Today:
  627. </span>
  628. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  629. <span class="not-amp">
  630. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Flenovo-ideapad-flex-5i-chromebook-plus-laptop-14-2k-touch-intel-i3-1315u-with-8gb-memory-intel-uhd-graphics-128gb-ssd-storm-grey%2F6550736.p%3FskuId%3D6550736&amp;publisher_slug=pcworld&amp;exclusive=1&amp;article_name=pcworld&amp;article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Ffeed&amp;u1=2-1-436674-6-2164196-11281" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus" data-vars-product-id="2164196" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="11281" data-vars-manufacturer="Lenovo" data-vars-vendor="Best Buy" data-vars-po="" data-product="2164196" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-ideapad-flex-5i-chromebook-plus-laptop-14-2k-touch-intel-i3-1315u-with-8gb-memory-intel-uhd-graphics-128gb-ssd-storm-grey/6550736.p?skuId=6550736" rel="nofollow">$329 at  Best Buy</a> </span>
  631. </span>
  632. </div>
  633. </div>
  634. <div class="product-content">
  636. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-the-lenovo-flex-5i-chromebook-plus">Why we like the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus</h3>
  637.  
  638. <p>From the convertible design to the beautiful touchscreen, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus has a lot to offer, especially for under $500. The 2-in-1 design allows you to swing the screen around and use the laptop like a tablet, upping the versatility factor. You can also expect snappy day-to-day performance as well as lightning fast boot-up times. </p>
  639.  
  640. <h3 class="" id="who-should-buy-the-lenovo-flex-5i-chromebook-plus">Who should buy the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus</h3>
  641.  
  642. <p>If you&rsquo;re looking to pick up a premium Chromebook for work or personal use, then the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a fine choice. While the $499 price tag is very much in the high end when it comes to Chromebooks, we feel the overall fit, finish, and firepower make it worth the extra cash. </p>
  643. </div>
  644. Read our full
  645. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2158103/lenovo-flex-5i-chromebook-plus-review-a-luxurious-affordable-2-in-1.html" target="_blank" score="4.5">
  646. Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus review </a>
  647. </div>
  648. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-6" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF6"}'>
  649. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  650. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  651. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  652. <h2 data-p_name="Alienware m16 R2" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="alienware-m16-r2-best-gaming-laptop">
  653. Alienware m16 R2 &ndash; Best gaming laptop </h2>
  654. </div>
  655. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  656. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  657. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  658. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
  659. <figure class="wp-lightbox-container" data-wp-context='{ "core":
  660. { "image":
  661. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  662. "initialized": false,
  663. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  664. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  665. "preloadInitialized": false,
  666. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  667. "imageUploadedSrc": "https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Alienware-m16-R2-starfield.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all",
  668. "imageCurrentSrc": "",
  669. "targetWidth": "none",
  670. "targetHeight": "none",
  671. "scaleAttr": "",
  672. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  673. }
  674. }
  675. }' data-wp-interactive><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" width="4080" height="3072" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Alienware m16 R2 - Best gaming laptop" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Alienware-m16-R2-starfield.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" loading="lazy" sizes="4080" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Alienware m16 R2 - Best gaming laptop" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  676. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  677. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
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  687. </div>
  688. <div class="product-chart-body">
  689. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  691. <div class="product-chart-column">
  692. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  693. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  694. <li>
  695. Solid gaming performance </li>
  696. <li>
  697. Rugged build quality </li>
  698. <li>
  699. Good battery life </li>
  700. </ul>
  701. </div>
  702. <div class="product-chart-column">
  703. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  704. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  705. <li>
  706. Display is dimmer than we like </li>
  707. </ul>
  708. </div>
  709. </div>
  710. </div>
  711. </div>
  713. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  714. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  715. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  716.  
  717. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  718. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  719. $1,849.99 </span>
  720. </div>
  722. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  723. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  724. Best Prices Today:
  725. </span>
  726. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  727. <span class="not-amp">
  728. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8200811-12839518?url=https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/cty/pdp/spd/alienware-m16-r2-laptop/useashbtsm16r2mtlgrrx&amp;sid=2-1-436674-6-2254944-11245" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Alienware m16 R2" data-vars-product-id="2254944" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="11245" data-vars-manufacturer="Dell" data-vars-vendor="Dell" data-vars-po="" data-product="2254944" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/cty/pdp/spd/alienware-m16-r2-laptop/useashbtsm16r2mtlgrrx" rel="nofollow">$1849.99 at  Dell</a> </span>
  729. </span>
  730. </div>
  731. </div>
  732. <div class="product-content">
  734. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-the-alienware-m16-r2">Why we like the Alienware m16 R2</h3>
  735.  
  736. <p>The Alienware m16 R2 delivers strong graphics performance and good battery life. This specific model comes loaded with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, which is nothing to sneeze at. It lasted a respectable 11 hours and fifteen minutes on a single charge and it averaged 144 frames-per-second when running the <em>Shadow of the Tomb Raider</em> benchmark. According to our review, it&rsquo;s only &ldquo;four frames-per-second slower than the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1801763/razer-blade-16-review.html">Razer Blade 16</a>,&rdquo; which has an RTX 4090 GPU and a price tag of over $3,000. </p>
  737.  
  738. <h3 class="" id="who-should-buy-the-alienware-m16-r2">Who should buy the Alienware m16 R2</h3>
  739.  
  740. <p>Anyone looking for a great gaming laptop. You&rsquo;re getting strong graphics performance as well as long battery life, which is unusual for a gaming laptop, as most tend to die around the six hour mark. The 16-inch IPS display also has a resolution of 2560&times;1600 and a refresh rate of 240Hz, so gameplay should be nice and smooth. The picture quality is good, but it&rsquo;s not an OLED panel. While it may not be the brightest or most color rich display we&rsquo;ve ever seen, it&rsquo;s perfectly fine for gaming. Besides, you can always plug into an external monitor if need be.</p>
  741.  
  742. <p><strong>Alternative option: </strong><em>If you&rsquo;re looking for a more lightweight option, you should definitely check out the $1,599 <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2277570/asus-rog-zephyrus-g14-review-2.html">Asus ROG Zephyrus G14</a>. It weighs just 3.31 pounds, which means you can easily take it anywhere with you. That said, it didn&rsquo;t make the cut because of ho-hum battery life. Plus, the Alienware m16 R2&rsquo;s RTX 4070 GPU is more powerful than the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14&rsquo;s RTX 4060 GPU. </em></p>
  743. </div>
  744. Read our full
  745. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2254934/alienware-m16-r2-review.html" target="_blank" score="4.5">
  746. Alienware m16 R2 review </a>
  747. </div>
  748. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-7" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF7"}'>
  749. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  750. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  751. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  752. <h2 data-p_name="Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="asus-tuf-gaming-a16-advantage-edition-best-budget-gaming-laptop">
  753. Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition &ndash; Best budget gaming laptop </h2>
  754. </div>
  755. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
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  782. </button>
  783. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="4032" height="3024" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition - Best budget gaming laptop" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="4032" /></figure></div>
  784. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="4032" height="3024" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition - Best budget gaming laptop" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="4032" /></figure></div>
  785. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  786. </div></figure> </div>
  787. </div>
  788. <div class="product-chart-body">
  789. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  791. <div class="product-chart-column">
  792. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  793. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  794. <li>
  795. Impressive all-day battery life </li>
  796. <li>
  797. Gorgeous 16:10 display </li>
  798. <li>
  799. Rugged chassis </li>
  800. </ul>
  801. </div>
  802. <div class="product-chart-column">
  803. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  804. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  805. <li>
  806. Keys feel a bit soft </li>
  807. <li>
  808. 720p webcam leaves little to be desired </li>
  809. </ul>
  810. </div>
  811. </div>
  812. </div>
  813. </div>
  815. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  816. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  817. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  818.  
  819. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  820. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  821. $1,099.99 </span>
  822. </div>
  824. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  825. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  826. Best Prices Today:
  827. </span>
  828. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  829. <span class="not-amp">
  830. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fasus-tuf-gaming-a16-16-165hz-gaming-laptop-fhd-amd-ryzen-7-7735hs-with-16gb-ddr5-memory-radeon-rx7600s-512gb-pcie-ssd-off-black%2F6535499.p%3FskuId%3D6535499&amp;publisher_slug=pcworld&amp;exclusive=1&amp;article_name=pcworld&amp;article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Ffeed&amp;u1=2-1-436674-6-1800827-11291" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition" data-vars-product-id="1800827" data-vars-category="Gaming Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="11291" data-vars-manufacturer="Asus" data-vars-vendor="Best Buy" data-vars-po="" data-product="1800827" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-tuf-gaming-a16-16-165hz-gaming-laptop-fhd-amd-ryzen-7-7735hs-with-16gb-ddr5-memory-radeon-rx7600s-512gb-pcie-ssd-off-black/6535499.p?skuId=6535499" rel="nofollow">$949.99 at  Best Buy</a> </span>
  831. </span>
  832. </div>
  833. </div>
  834. <div class="product-content">
  836. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-the-asus-tuf-gaming-a16">Why we like the Asus TUF Gaming A16</h3>
  837.  
  838. <p>The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is something of a unicorn and I mean that in the best way possible. This specific machine exhibits strong graphics performance as well as long battery life. Long battery life? A gaming laptop? How preposterous. Well, not anymore! The Asus TUF managed an incredible 11 and a half hours on a single charge. Also, thanks to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, the laptop achieved 123 frames-per-second in the <em>Rise of the Tomb Raider</em> benchmark. That&rsquo;s impressive, especially for a sub-$1,000 gaming machine.</p>
  839.  
  840. <h3 class="" id="who-should-buy-the-asus-tuf-gaming-a16">Who should buy the Asus TUF Gaming A16</h3>
  841.  
  842. <p>The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is a good option for those on a tight budget. For under a grand, you&rsquo;re getting reliable graphics performance, a spacious keyboard, and long battery life. It also works as a good general purpose machine. With a Cinebench R20 score of 589, it should have &ldquo;no trouble running lightweight apps and programs,&rdquo; according to our review. </p>
  843.  
  844. <p><strong>Alternative option: </strong><em>The $1,000 <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2244665/lenovo-loq-15-review-a-surprisingly-affordable-gaming-laptop.html">Lenovo LOQ 15</a> stands as another solid budget option. It&rsquo;s more than capable of 1080p gaming and the design is very sci-fi inspired. It didn&rsquo;t nab the top pick because of the poor battery life (not unusual for a gaming laptop) and limited ports, but if you&rsquo;re looking for more raw GPU horsepower, its RTX 4060 is a step above the RTX 4050 included in the Asus TUF.  </em></p>
  845. </div>
  846. Read our full
  847. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1801913/asus-tuf-gaming-a16-advantage-edition-review.html" target="_blank" score="4.5">
  848. Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition review </a>
  849. </div>
  850. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-8" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF8"}'>
  851. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  852. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  853. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  854. <h2 data-p_name="Acer Chromebook 516 GE" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="acer-chromebook-516-ge-best-gaming-chromebook">
  855. Acer Chromebook 516 GE &ndash; Best gaming Chromebook </h2>
  856. </div>
  857. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  858. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  859. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  860. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
  861. <figure class="wp-lightbox-container" data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  869. "imageUploadedSrc": "https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/asus-chromebook-516-ge-2-1.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all",
  870. "imageCurrentSrc": "",
  871. "targetWidth": "none",
  872. "targetHeight": "none",
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  874. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  875. }
  876. }
  877. }' data-wp-interactive><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" width="1500" height="1000" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Acer Chromebook 516 GE - Best gaming Chromebook" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/asus-chromebook-516-ge-2-1.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" loading="lazy" sizes="1500" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Acer Chromebook 516 GE - Best gaming Chromebook" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
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  884. </button>
  885. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1500" height="1000" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Acer Chromebook 516 GE - Best gaming Chromebook" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1500" /></figure></div>
  886. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1500" height="1000" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Acer Chromebook 516 GE - Best gaming Chromebook" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1500" /></figure></div>
  887. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  888. </div></figure> </div>
  889. </div>
  890. <div class="product-chart-body">
  891. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  893. <div class="product-chart-column">
  894. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  895. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  896. <li>
  897. Rigid build </li>
  898. <li>
  899. Fantastic CPU performance </li>
  900. <li>
  901. Plenty of wired and wireless connectivity </li>
  902. <li>
  903. High resolution 1600p display </li>
  904. </ul>
  905. </div>
  906. <div class="product-chart-column">
  907. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  908. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  909. <li>
  910. Disappointing speakers and microphone </li>
  911. <li>
  912. Display falls behind in contrast, color vibrancy </li>
  913. <li>
  914. Mediocre keyboard and touchpad </li>
  915. </ul>
  916. </div>
  917. </div>
  918. </div>
  919. </div>
  921. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  922. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  923. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  924.  
  925. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  926. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  927. $649.99 </span>
  928. </div>
  930. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  931. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  932. Best Prices Today:
  933. </span>
  934. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  935. <span class="not-amp">
  936. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Facer-chromebook-516-ge-cloud-gaming-laptop-16-2560x1600-120hz-intel-core-i5-1240p-8gb-ram-256gb-ssd-rgb-kb-titanium-gray%2F6516347.p%3FskuId%3D6516347&amp;publisher_slug=pcworld&amp;exclusive=1&amp;article_name=pcworld&amp;article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Ffeed&amp;u1=2-1-436674-6-2290663-9925" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Acer Chromebook 516 GE" data-vars-product-id="2290663" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="9925" data-vars-manufacturer="Acer" data-vars-vendor="Best Buy" data-vars-po="" data-product="2290663" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.bestbuy.com/site/acer-chromebook-516-ge-cloud-gaming-laptop-16-2560x1600-120hz-intel-core-i5-1240p-8gb-ram-256gb-ssd-rgb-kb-titanium-gray/6516347.p?skuId=6516347" rel="nofollow">$649 at  Best Buy</a> </span>
  937. </span>
  938. </div>
  939. </div>
  940. <div class="product-content">
  942. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-the-acer-chromebook-516-ge">Why we like the Acer Chromebook 516 GE</h3>
  943.  
  944. <p>The Acer Chromebook 516 GE wins a lot of brownie points because it&rsquo;s a reliable performer thanks to the Intel Core i5-1240P CPU and the 16-inch 1600p display&rsquo;s fast 120Hz refresh rate. Compared to some Windows laptops, it&rsquo;s reasonably priced as well. Not only does it fly through everyday tasks with ease, but it&rsquo;s also a great machine for cloud gaming. As long as you&rsquo;ve got a stable Internet connection and currently belong to a streaming service (Nvidia GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, etc), you&rsquo;ll blitz right through most triple-A games. In fact, according to our review, &ldquo;gameplay felt perfectly smooth&rdquo; and &ldquo;Nvidia&rsquo;s GeForce Now diagnostics panel flagged no problems.&rdquo;</p>
  945.  
  946. <h3 class="" id="who-should-buy-the-acer-chromebook-516-ge">Who should buy the Acer Chromebook 516 GE</h3>
  947.  
  948. <p>Anyone that wants to give cloud gaming a whirl or just a dependable machine for day-to-day use&ndash;the Acer Chromebook 516 GE can pull double duty in that regard. In addition to the smooth cloud gaming performance, it also features a wide array of connectivity options: two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, one HDMI, one Ethernet (wired connectivity is especially useful for cloud gaming), and one 3.5mm combo audio. Other goodies include a 1080p webcam, a 65 watt-hour battery, and a rugged design.</p>
  949. </div>
  950. Read our full
  951. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2290468/acer-chromebook-516-ge-review.html" target="_blank" score="4">
  952. Acer Chromebook 516 GE review </a>
  953. </div>
  954. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-9" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF9"}'>
  955. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  956. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  957. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  958. <h2 data-p_name="Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="samsung-galaxy-book4-ultra-best-content-creation-laptop">
  959. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra &ndash; Best content creation laptop </h2>
  960. </div>
  961. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  962. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
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  982. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
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  989. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1494" height="1036" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra - Best content creation laptop" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1494" /></figure></div>
  990. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1494" height="1036" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra - Best content creation laptop" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1494" /></figure></div>
  991. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  992. </div></figure> </div>
  993. </div>
  994. <div class="product-chart-body">
  995. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  997. <div class="product-chart-column">
  998. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  999. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  1000. <li>
  1001. Phenomenal battery life </li>
  1002. <li>
  1003. Solid GPU performance </li>
  1004. <li>
  1005. Gorgeous OLED screen </li>
  1006. <li>
  1007. Good audio </li>
  1008. </ul>
  1009. </div>
  1010. <div class="product-chart-column">
  1011. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  1012. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  1013. <li>
  1014. Not a great keyboard </li>
  1015. <li>
  1016. Chargers keep getting bigger </li>
  1017. </ul>
  1018. </div>
  1019. </div>
  1020. </div>
  1021. </div>
  1023. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  1024. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  1025. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  1026.  
  1027. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  1028. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  1029. $2999.99 </span>
  1030. </div>
  1032. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  1033. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  1034. Best Prices Today:
  1035. </span>
  1036. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  1037. <span class="not-amp">
  1038. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.samsung.com%2Fus%2Fcomputing%2Fgalaxy-books%2Fgalaxy-book4-series%2Fbuy%2Fgalaxy-book4-ultra-16-intelcore-ultra-7-1tb-moonstone-gray-np960xgl-xg2us%2F&amp;publisher_slug=pcworld&amp;exclusive=1&amp;article_name=pcworld&amp;article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Ffeed&amp;u1=2-1-436674-6-2281730-11290" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra" data-vars-product-id="2281730" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="11290" data-vars-manufacturer="Samsung" data-vars-vendor="sku,amazon,Samsung" data-vars-po="sku,amazon" data-product="2281730" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/galaxy-books/galaxy-book4-series/buy/galaxy-book4-ultra-16-intelcore-ultra-7-1tb-moonstone-gray-np960xgl-xg2us/" rel="nofollow">$2399.99 at  Samsung</a><a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/c/321564/633495/10014?prodsku=6572182&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.bestbuy.com%2Fclick%2F-%2F6572182%2Fpdp&amp;intsrc=CATF_4831&amp;subid1=2-1-436674-6-2281730-11290" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra" data-vars-product-id="2281730" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="11290" data-vars-manufacturer="Samsung" data-vars-vendor="sku,amazon,Samsung" data-vars-po="sku,amazon" data-product="2281730" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/c/321564/633495/10014?prodsku=6572182&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.bestbuy.com%2Fclick%2F-%2F6572182%2Fpdp&amp;intsrc=CATF_4831" rel="nofollow">$2999.99 at  Best Buy</a> </span>
  1039. </span>
  1040. </div>
  1041. </div>
  1042. <div class="product-content">
  1044. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-the-samsung-galaxy-book4-ultra">Why we like the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra</h3>
  1045.  
  1046. <p>The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra is the perfect laptop for content creation. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU will give you the extra boost you&rsquo;ll need for intensive video or photo editing tasks and the 16-inch 1800p OLED touch display is sharp enough to get those little details just right. Plus, it comes with 1TB of SSD storage (you&rsquo;ll need a good amount of space for your images and videos) and a microSD for easy offloading of photos. Battery life is top-notch, too. It lasted a total of 18 hours on a single charge, which is downright impressive. That said, if you&rsquo;re editing a lot of photos with the brightness turned all the way up, you may see a shorter result. </p>
  1047.  
  1048. <h3 class="" id="who-should-buy-the-samsung-galaxy-book4-ultra">Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra</h3>
  1049.  
  1050. <p>The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra is a great laptop for content creators because of the powerful hardware (discrete graphics are a must!) and stunning OLED screen. It also has a diverse array of ports such as Thunderbolt 4, USB Type-A, HDMI 2.1, microSD, and headphone/mic. Although its OLED screen is high-resolution, it&rsquo;s not 4K, so consider the similarly spec&rsquo;d Dell XPS 17 below if editing 4K video is crucial to your workflow. Other cool features include a 1080p webcam, a fingerprint reader, and a lovely Moonstone Gray color scheme. </p>
  1051.  
  1052. <p><strong><em>Alternative option</em>: </strong><em>The <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1955470/dell-xps-17-9730-review.html">Dell XPS 17 9730</a>, with its powerful internal components and massive 17-inch 4K display, is still a good option for content creators. While we like the thin chassis and long battery life, it doesn&rsquo;t have an OLED screen, which offers better color accuracy. </em></p>
  1053. </div>
  1054. Read our full
  1055. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2278902/samsung-galaxy-book4-ultra-review.html" target="_blank" score="4.5">
  1056. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra review </a>
  1057. </div>
  1058. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-10" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF10"}'>
  1059. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  1060. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  1061. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  1062. <h2 data-p_name="Acer TravelMate P6" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="acer-travelmate-p6-best-ultraportable">
  1063. Acer TravelMate P6 &ndash; Best ultraportable </h2>
  1064. </div>
  1065. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  1066. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  1067. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  1068. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
  1069. <figure class="wp-lightbox-container" data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  1088. </svg>
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  1092. </button>
  1093. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="4080" height="3072" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Acer TravelMate P6 - Best ultraportable" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="4080" /></figure></div>
  1094. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="4080" height="3072" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Acer TravelMate P6 - Best ultraportable" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="4080" /></figure></div>
  1095. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  1096. </div></figure> </div>
  1097. </div>
  1098. <div class="product-chart-body">
  1099. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  1101. <div class="product-chart-column">
  1102. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  1103. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  1104. <li>
  1105. Long battery life </li>
  1106. <li>
  1107. Light and portable </li>
  1108. <li>
  1109. A good price for a business laptop </li>
  1110. </ul>
  1111. </div>
  1112. <div class="product-chart-column">
  1113. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  1114. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  1115. <li>
  1116. Keyboard is a tad mushy </li>
  1117. <li>
  1118. No NPU for future Windows AI features </li>
  1119. <li>
  1120. Consumer laptops deliver similar specs for a lower price </li>
  1121. </ul>
  1122. </div>
  1123. </div>
  1124. </div>
  1125. </div>
  1127. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  1128. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  1129. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  1130.  
  1131. </span>
  1132. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  1133. </span>
  1134. </div>
  1136. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  1137. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  1138. Best Prices Today:
  1139. </span>
  1140. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  1141. <span class="not-amp">
  1142. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://www.cdw.com/product/acer-travelmate-p6-14-tmp614-53-14-intel-core-i5-1335u-evo-16-gb/7557713&amp;xcust=2-1-436674-6-2306646-9925&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Acer TravelMate P6" data-vars-product-id="2306646" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="9925" data-vars-manufacturer="Acer" data-vars-vendor="Amazon,CDW,Acer" data-vars-po="" data-product="2306646" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.cdw.com/product/acer-travelmate-p6-14-tmp614-53-14-intel-core-i5-1335u-evo-16-gb/7557713" rel="nofollow">$1158.99 at  CDW</a><a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://www.amazon.com/acer-TravelMate-P614-53-TMP614-53-565S-Notebook/dp/B0CK3R9F8N?tag=pcworld02-20&amp;asc_refurl=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Acer TravelMate P6" data-vars-product-id="2306646" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="9925" data-vars-manufacturer="Acer" data-vars-vendor="Amazon,CDW,Acer" data-vars-po="" data-product="2306646" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.amazon.com/acer-TravelMate-P614-53-TMP614-53-565S-Notebook/dp/B0CK3R9F8N" rel="nofollow">$1168.63 at  Amazon</a><a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://acerrecertified.com/acer-travelmate-p6-14-laptop-intel-core-i5-1335u-16gb-ram-1tb-ssd-w11p-tmp614-53-565s-nx-b0naa-002/&amp;xcust=2-1-436674-6-2306646-9925&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Acer TravelMate P6" data-vars-product-id="2306646" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="9925" data-vars-manufacturer="Acer" data-vars-vendor="Amazon,CDW,Acer" data-vars-po="" data-product="2306646" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://acerrecertified.com/acer-travelmate-p6-14-laptop-intel-core-i5-1335u-16gb-ram-1tb-ssd-w11p-tmp614-53-565s-nx-b0naa-002/" rel="nofollow">$1199.99 at  Acer</a> </span>
  1143. </span>
  1144. </div>
  1145. </div>
  1146. <div class="product-content">
  1148. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-the-acer-travelmate-p6">Why we like the Acer TravelMate P6</h3>
  1149.  
  1150. <p>The Acer TravelMate P6 is featherlight at just 2.65 pounds. The chassis is made of magnesium-alloy, which is a very light yet durable material. According to our review, &ldquo;the ports are reinforced with additional metal brackets to hold up wear and tear.&rdquo; In other words, this machine is built to last. It also has fantastic battery life, which is what you want in an ultraportable laptop. The 65 watt-hour battery lasted nearly 13 hours on a single charge&ndash;more than a full workday! This laptop offers reliable performance, too. The Acer TravelMate P6 turned in a respectable Cinebench R20 score of 3,065, which isn&rsquo;t far behind the more powerful HP Pavilion Plus.</p>
  1151.  
  1152. <h3 class="" id="who-should-buy-the-acer-travelmate-p6">Who should buy the Acer TravelMate P6</h3>
  1153.  
  1154. <p>Anyone looking for an affordable, lightweight ultraportable. In addition to the lightweight form factor, it also comes with a 1080p webcam with a physical privacy shutter and a 14-inch 1200p display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. The taller screen makes it easier to scroll through documents or webpages, and the 1080p webcam will make you look good on videoconferencing calls. The keyboard provides a nice typing experience, too. It even boasts white backlighting, which is perfect for typing in low light environments. </p>
  1155.  
  1156. <p><strong><em>Alternative option: </em></strong><em>If you&rsquo;re interested in picking up a more high-end ultraportable, you should consider picking up the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2165537/hp-dragonfly-g4-review.html">HP Dragonfly G4</a>. It weighs same as the Acer TravelMate P6, but has much better battery life&ndash;it lasted a whopping 17.5 hours on a single charge! The only downside is that it costs just over $3,000 thanks to its more potent components and support for mobile LTE connections. </em></p>
  1157. </div>
  1158. Read our full
  1159. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2306037/acer-travelmate-p6-review.html" target="_blank" score="4">
  1160. Acer TravelMate P6 review </a>
  1161. </div>
  1162. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-11" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF11"}'>
  1163. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  1164. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  1165. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  1166. <h2 data-p_name="Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="asus-zenbook-14-flip-oled-best-2-in-1">
  1167. Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED &ndash; Best 2-in-1 </h2>
  1168. </div>
  1169. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  1170. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  1171. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
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  1197. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="4032" height="3024" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED - Best 2-in-1" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="4032" /></figure></div>
  1198. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="4032" height="3024" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED - Best 2-in-1" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="4032" /></figure></div>
  1199. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  1200. </div></figure> </div>
  1201. </div>
  1202. <div class="product-chart-body">
  1203. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  1205. <div class="product-chart-column">
  1206. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  1207. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  1208. <li>
  1209. Long battery life </li>
  1210. <li>
  1211. Connectivity includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports </li>
  1212. <li>
  1213. Fast performance </li>
  1214. </ul>
  1215. </div>
  1216. <div class="product-chart-column">
  1217. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  1218. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  1219. <li>
  1220. Function keys are small </li>
  1221. <li>
  1222. The display is a little dim </li>
  1223. </ul>
  1224. </div>
  1225. </div>
  1226. </div>
  1227. </div>
  1229. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  1230. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  1231. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  1232.  
  1233. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  1234. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  1235. 1199.99 </span>
  1236. </div>
  1238. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  1239. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  1240. Best Prices Today:
  1241. </span>
  1242. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  1243. <span class="not-amp">
  1244. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://www.asus.com/us/laptops/for-home/zenbook/zenbook-14-flip-oled-up3404/&amp;xcust=2-1-436674-6-2040948-11291&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED" data-vars-product-id="2040948" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="11291" data-vars-manufacturer="Asus" data-vars-vendor="amazon,Asus" data-vars-po="amazon" data-product="2040948" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.asus.com/us/laptops/for-home/zenbook/zenbook-14-flip-oled-up3404/" rel="nofollow">$999.99 at  Asus</a><a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C839RTS1?tag=pcworld02-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1&amp;asc_refurl=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED" data-vars-product-id="2040948" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="11291" data-vars-manufacturer="Asus" data-vars-vendor="amazon,Asus" data-vars-po="amazon" data-product="2040948" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C839RTS1?tag=pcworld02-20&amp;linkCode=ogi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1" rel="nofollow">$1,199.99 at  Amazon</a><a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/c/321564/633495/10014?prodsku=6539358&amp;u=https://api.bestbuy.com/click/-/6547530/pdp&amp;intsrc=CATF_4831&amp;2-1-436674-6-2040948-11291" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED" data-vars-product-id="2040948" data-vars-category="Laptops" data-vars-manufacturer-id="11291" data-vars-manufacturer="Asus" data-vars-vendor="amazon,Asus" data-vars-po="amazon" data-product="2040948" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://api.bestbuy.com/click/-/6547530/pdp" rel="nofollow">$1199.99 at  Best Buy</a> </span>
  1245. </span>
  1246. </div>
  1247. </div>
  1248. <div class="product-content">
  1250. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-the-asus-zenbook-14-flip-oled">Why we like the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED</h3>
  1251.  
  1252. <p>When it comes to 2-in-1 laptops, the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED just gets it right at the start. It has a gorgeous OLED display, a zippy Intel Core i7-1360P CPU, and a versatile convertible design. You can flip the screen around 360 degrees and use it like a tablet or prop the device up like a tent if you so wish. Colors on the 1800p OLED display are also &ldquo;remarkably bright and saturated,&rdquo; according to our review. The battery even lasted a whopping 12 hours on a single charge, dominating laptops with similar hardware like the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1955290/lenovo-yoga-book-9i-review.html">Lenovo Yoga Book 9i</a> and the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1358891/acer-aspire-vero-14-review-from-trash-to-treasure.html">Acer Aspire Vero 14</a>.</p>
  1253.  
  1254. <h3 class="" id="who-should-buy-the-asus-zenbook-14-flip-oled">Who should buy the Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED</h3>
  1255.  
  1256. <p>The Asus Zenbook 14 Flip is a good option for business professionals because of its convertible, lightweight design and stunning OLED display. You can take this machine with you anywhere and you don&rsquo;t have to worry about finding an outlet to charge up. How can you go wrong with that?</p>
  1257. </div>
  1258. Read our full
  1259. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2040974/asus-zenbook-14-flip-oled-review-a-versatile-oled-2-in-1-with-an-all-day-battery.html" target="_blank" score="4.5">
  1260. Asus Zenbook 14 Flip OLED review </a>
  1261. </div>
  1262. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-12" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF12"}'>
  1263. </div> </div>
  1264.  
  1266.  
  1267.  
  1268. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="recent-laptop-reviews">Recent laptop reviews</h2>
  1269.  
  1270.  
  1271.  
  1272. <ul>
  1273. <li><a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2308800/acer-aspire-go-15-2024-review.html">Acer Aspire Go 15</a>: The Acer Aspire Go 15 (2024) isn&rsquo;t much to look at, but it plods along without much fuss, only struggling when demand is put on the meager integrated graphics or too much CPU horsepower is called for. For simple computing needs, it has clear value at just $300.</li>
  1274.  
  1275.  
  1276.  
  1277. <li><a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2306037/acer-travelmate-p6-review.html">Acer TravelMate P6</a>: The Acer TravelMate P6 offers excellent value for a business laptop, with long battery life, a surprisingly light weight, and more ports than a typical consumer laptop. </li>
  1278.  
  1279.  
  1280.  
  1281. <li><a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2285141/lenovo-yoga-book-9i-review-3.html">Lenovo Yoga Book 9i</a>: The Lenovo Yoga Book 9i is a masterfully executed dual-screen laptop that excels at providing a multiple-monitor experience on the go. This design comes with some tradeoffs, but they&rsquo;re more than worth it if you want a dual-screen system.  </li>
  1282. </ul>
  1283.  
  1284.  
  1285.  
  1286. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-we-test-laptops">How we test laptops</h2>
  1287.  
  1288.  
  1289.  
  1290. <p>The PCWorld team puts each and every Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against others we&rsquo;ve tested. Chromebooks, on the other hand, go through a series of web-based tests. It wouldn&rsquo;t be fair or possible to run the same kinds of tests on a Chromebook, as they&rsquo;re Chrome OS-based machines. </p>
  1291.  
  1292.  
  1293.  
  1294. <p>Below, you&rsquo;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 <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2236466/how-we-test-laptops-pcworld.html">how PCWorld tests laptops</a>.</p>
  1295.  
  1296.  
  1297.  
  1298. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="windows-laptops">Windows laptops</h3>
  1299.  
  1300.  
  1301.  
  1302. <ul>
  1303. <li><strong>PCMark 10</strong>: PCMark 10 is how we determine how well the laptop handles lighter tasks like web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets, and so on.</li>
  1304.  
  1305.  
  1306.  
  1307. <li><strong>HandBrake</strong>: HandBrake is more intensive than PCMark 10. It basically measures how long a laptop&rsquo;s CPU takes to encode a beefy 30GB file. </li>
  1308.  
  1309.  
  1310.  
  1311. <li><strong>Cinebench</strong>: Cinebench is a brief stress test of the CPU cores. It does this by rendering a 2D scene over a short period of time.</li>
  1312.  
  1313.  
  1314.  
  1315. <li><strong>3DMark</strong>: 3DMark checks if 3D performance remains consistent over time by running graphic-intensive clips. </li>
  1316.  
  1317.  
  1318.  
  1319. <li><strong>Video rundown test</strong>: To gauge battery life, we loop a 4K video using Windows 10&rsquo;s Movies &amp; TV app until the laptop dies.</li>
  1320. </ul>
  1321.  
  1322.  
  1323.  
  1324. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="chromebooks">Chromebooks</h3>
  1325.  
  1326.  
  1327.  
  1328. <ul>
  1329. <li><strong>CrXPRT 2</strong>: The CrXPRT 2 benchmark tests a Chromebook&rsquo;s battery life. </li>
  1330.  
  1331.  
  1332.  
  1333. <li><strong>Speedometer 2.0</strong>: This test determines a Chromebook&rsquo;s web browser performance. It simulates this by adding, completing, and removing a to-do list.</li>
  1334.  
  1335.  
  1336.  
  1337. <li><strong>Basemark Web 3.0</strong>: This benchmark gauges how well a Chromebook can handle web-based applications. </li>
  1338.  
  1339.  
  1340.  
  1341. <li><strong>Kraken 1.1</strong>: Kraken 1.1 is a JavaScript performance benchmark. </li>
  1342.  
  1343.  
  1344.  
  1345. <li><strong>Jetstream 2</strong>: Jetstream 2 is a combination of WebAssembly and JavaScript benchmarks. This is a way to gauge how well a Chromebook runs advanced workloads.</li>
  1346. </ul>
  1347.  
  1348.  
  1349.  
  1350. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-block faq-block"><h2 class="faq-block-title" id="faq"> FAQ </h2><hr class="block-horizotal-divider">
  1351. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">1.</span>
  1352. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="what-form-factor-is-best-for-a-laptop">What form factor is best for a laptop?</h3>
  1353.  
  1354.  
  1355.  
  1356. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  1357. <p>The first question you should ask yourself is what kind of laptop you&rsquo;re looking for. There&rsquo;s traditional clamshells, 2-in-1&rsquo;s, Chromebooks, and much more. The displays on convertible laptops (aka 2-in-1&rsquo;s), for example, can swing around 360 degrees. This allows you to use the laptop like a tablet. They can also be propped up like a tent for viewing movies or participating in video calls. Chromebooks, on the other hand, exclusively run Google&rsquo;s web-focused Chrome OS and are generally used for everyday tasks. All you need is a Gmail account and boom, you&rsquo;re in. There are pros and cons to each of them. Chromebooks are affordable and generally have good battery life whereas convertibles are normally lightweight and portable.</p>
  1358. </div>
  1359. </div></div>
  1360.  
  1361.  
  1362.  
  1363. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">2.</span>
  1364. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-much-processing-power-do-i-need-in-a-laptop">How much processing power do I need in a laptop?</h3>
  1365.  
  1366.  
  1367.  
  1368. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  1369. <p>If it&rsquo;s CPU power you&rsquo;re looking for, look for processors with higher numerical names. A Core i7 is more suited to gaming and more intense work than everyday tasks. Intel processors are available in Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9. The higher the number, the more powerful the CPU. If you don&rsquo;t need a ton of power, Intel Core i5 processors are your best bet, as they offer good performance at a decent price. Basic office and web work gets along just fine on a Core i3. As for AMD options, the Ryzen 3 is good for basic productivity and web browsing, while Ryzen 5 chips rival Intel&rsquo;s Core i5 as solid all-arounders. If you need more power, the Ryzen 7 chip is well suited for content creation like video editing. Finally, if you&rsquo;re dealing with 4K video, spring for a Ryzen 9. </p>
  1370. </div>
  1371. </div></div>
  1372.  
  1373.  
  1374.  
  1375. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">3.</span>
  1376. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="discrete-graphics-vs-integrated-graphics">Discrete graphics vs. integrated graphics?</h3>
  1377.  
  1378.  
  1379.  
  1380. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  1381. <p>You&rsquo;ll want a discrete graphics card for hardcore gaming or editing videos. It&rsquo;s separate from the processor, so you can expect higher performance out of it. Integrated graphics, on the other hand, are attached to the CPU and uses less power as a result. This is perfectly fine for everyday tasks, especially if you&rsquo;re not doing anything that&rsquo;s graphics-intensive.</p>
  1382. </div>
  1383. </div></div>
  1384.  
  1385.  
  1386.  
  1387. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">4.</span>
  1388. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-much-memory-do-i-need-in-a-laptop">How much memory do I need in a laptop?</h3>
  1389.  
  1390.  
  1391.  
  1392. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  1393. <p>8GB of RAM is zippy enough for general use. If you&rsquo;ve got a gaming laptop, 16GB of RAM is the way to go, and content creators will want even more.</p>
  1394. </div>
  1395. </div></div>
  1396.  
  1397.  
  1398.  
  1399. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">5.</span>
  1400. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="do-i-need-a-big-display-on-a-laptop">Do I need a big display on a laptop?</h3>
  1401.  
  1402.  
  1403.  
  1404. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  1405. <p>If you&rsquo;re a video editor or someone who does a lot of multimedia work, you&rsquo;ll want a display that&rsquo;s anywhere from 15- to 17-inches. The sweet spot is really anywhere from 13- to 14-inches, though. The bigger the display, the heavier your laptop is going to be. A 13- or 14-inch display is the best in terms of portability and value.</p>
  1406. </div>
  1407. </div></div>
  1408.  
  1409.  
  1410.  
  1411. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">6.</span>
  1412. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-long-should-my-laptop-last-on-a-single-charge">How long should my laptop last on a single charge?</h3>
  1413.  
  1414.  
  1415.  
  1416. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  1417. <p>If you plan on taking your laptop anywhere with you, aim for something that can last 10 to 12 hours on a single charge. That&rsquo;s more than a full work day, so it should theoretically get you through long flights or a day of classes. Obviously, more is always better. Just know that the bigger the battery, the heavier the laptop. Read our round-up of the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1915376/best-laptop-usb-c-pd-chargers.html" target="_blank">best laptop chargers</a>.</p>
  1418. </div>
  1419. </div></div>
  1420.  
  1421.  
  1422.  
  1423. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">7.</span>
  1424. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-much-does-a-good-laptop-cost">How much does a good laptop cost?</h3>
  1425.  
  1426.  
  1427.  
  1428. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  1429. <p>Many good laptops cost around $500 to $750, but the price really depends on your budget. If you&rsquo;re strapped for cash (been there, trust me), go for a Chromebook or an entry-level business laptop. You can find solid options for under $500. Spending $750 to $1,000 can get you better displays, additional performance, more storage, and nicer designs. If you splurge for a laptop that costs over $1,000, you&rsquo;re usually paying up for premium build quality, great extras, and top-shelf performance.</p>
  1430.  
  1431.  
  1432.  
  1433. <p><a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/407493/best-gaming-laptops.html">Gaming laptops</a> are different. You can <em>sometimes</em> find gaming laptops with entry-level discrete graphics on sale for around $850, but you&rsquo;ll usually need to spend at least $1,000 for a system with decent 1080p gaming chops. You can pay more &mdash; often much more &mdash; for better graphics firepower and nicer displays, but the costs can rise rapidly depending on your hardware of choice. Some fully loaded gaming laptops can go for multiple thousands of dollars but you&rsquo;re getting the equivalent of a desktop replacement in return. Spending $1,200 to $2,000 usually gets you a very good gaming laptop.</p>
  1434. </div>
  1435. </div></div>
  1436.  
  1437.  
  1438.  
  1439. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">8.</span>
  1440. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="are-connectivity-options-important-on-a-laptop">Are connectivity options important on a laptop?</h3>
  1441.  
  1442.  
  1443.  
  1444. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  1445. <p>A wide array of ports is always a plus in my book, as it eliminates the need for an adapter. I&rsquo;d recommend a laptop that has both USB-C and USB-A. An HDMI port is good, too. This is especially useful for when you want to hook up to an external monitor.</p>
  1446. </div>
  1447. </div></div>
  1448. </div>
  1449.  
  1450. <category>Laptops</category></body></div>
  1451. ]]></description>
  1452. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/436674/the-best-pc-laptops-of-the-year.html</link>
  1453. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">436674</post-id> </item>
  1454. <item>
  1455. <title>Best free VPN for Android 2024: Which ones can you trust?</title>
  1456. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/android-phone-3.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="356650" type="image/jpeg" />
  1457. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  1458. <description><![CDATA[
  1459. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  1460. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  1461.  
  1462.  
  1463.  
  1464. <p>It might be surprising, but free VPNs are no longer just for PCs. You can also use them to help easily boost your security and privacy game on an Android device. Whether you want extra security while using a public Wi-Fi network, or to get around geo-restrictions for <em>most</em> of your favorite streaming services, a free VPN can help you do it without having to pay for anything.</p>
  1465.  
  1466.  
  1467.  
  1468. <p>The problem when looking for a good free VPN, though, is that there are a large number of them available on the Google Play Store. So how do you determine which ones are worth your time? Our experts here at PCWorld have tested a slew of VPNs, both for PCs and Android devices, and have curated a list of the best free options you can feel confident in using. Check out our top picks below. </p>
  1469.  
  1470.  
  1471.  
  1472. <p><strong>Why you should trust us:</strong> Here at PCWorld we&rsquo;ve been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. We&rsquo;re continually testing all of the major VPNs on the market and many lesser-known services in order to curate a list of the very best VPNs across a variety of categories. For a more in-depth guide, you can check out our article on <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2238286/how-we-test-vpn-pcworld.html" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2238286/how-we-test-vpn-pcworld.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how we test VPN services at PCWorld</a>. Below you&rsquo;ll find our favorite free VPNs, and below that, helpful advice about what to look for when choosing a VPN for your Android device on your own.</p>
  1473.  
  1474.  
  1475.  
  1476. <p>And if you&rsquo;re looking to further upgrade your Android phone&rsquo;s security, which we highly recommend, be sure to look at our recommendations for the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/694614/best-free-antivirus-for-android.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">best free antivirus for Android</a> as well. Additionally, you can check out our guide to <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/406870/best-vpn-services-apps-reviews-buying-advice.html" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.pcworld.com/article/406870/best-vpn-services-apps-reviews-buying-advice.html">the best VPNs</a> covering multiple devices.</p>
  1477.  
  1478.  
  1479.  
  1480. <p><em><strong><em><strong>Updated April 23, 2024: </strong></em></strong>Check out our latest review of <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/395038/mullvad-vpn-review-2.html" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.pcworld.com/article/395038/mullvad-vpn-review-2.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mullvad VPN</a>. While there is no free version of its Android app, this excellent VPN with its top marks for user privacy and security is seriously affordable and worth every penny to those who value anonymity.</em></p>
  1481.  
  1482.  
  1483.  
  1484. <div class="wp-block-product-chart product-chart">
  1485. <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  1486. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  1487. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  1488. <h2 data-p_name="ProtonVPN" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="protonvpn-best-for-unlimited-use">
  1489. ProtonVPN &ndash; Best for unlimited use </h2>
  1490. </div>
  1491. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  1492. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  1493. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  1494. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
  1495. <figure class="wp-lightbox-container" data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  1505. "targetWidth": "none",
  1506. "targetHeight": "none",
  1507. "scaleAttr": "",
  1508. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  1509. }
  1510. }
  1511. }' data-wp-interactive><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" width="1400" height="932" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="ProtonVPN - Best for unlimited use" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/protonvpn.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" loading="lazy" sizes="1400" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: ProtonVPN - Best for unlimited use" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  1512. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  1513. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  1514. </svg>
  1515. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  1516. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  1517. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  1518. </button>
  1519. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1400" height="932" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="ProtonVPN - Best for unlimited use" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1400" /></figure></div>
  1520. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1400" height="932" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="ProtonVPN - Best for unlimited use" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1400" /></figure></div>
  1521. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  1522. </div></figure> </div>
  1523. </div>
  1524. <div class="product-chart-body">
  1525. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  1527. <div class="product-chart-column">
  1528. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  1529. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  1530. <li>
  1531. Fantastic speeds </li>
  1532. <li>
  1533. Easy-to-use multi-hop feature </li>
  1534. <li>
  1535. Supports TOR over VPN connections </li>
  1536. </ul>
  1537. </div>
  1538. <div class="product-chart-column">
  1539. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  1540. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  1541. <li>
  1542. Expensive </li>
  1543. </ul>
  1544. </div>
  1545. </div>
  1546. </div>
  1547. </div>
  1549. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  1550. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  1551. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  1552.  
  1553. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  1554. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  1555. $96 </span>
  1556. </div>
  1558. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  1559. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  1560. Best Prices Today:
  1561. </span>
  1562. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  1563. <span class="not-amp">
  1564. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://protonvpn.com/pricing&amp;xcust=2-1-695190-6-392469-17017&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="ProtonVPN" data-vars-product-id="392469" data-vars-category="Security Software and Services" data-vars-manufacturer-id="17017" data-vars-manufacturer="ProtonVPN AG" data-vars-vendor="ProtonVPN AG" data-vars-po="" data-product="392469" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://protonvpn.com/pricing" rel="nofollow">$96 at  ProtonVPN AG</a> </span>
  1565. </span>
  1566. </div>
  1567. </div>
  1568. <div class="product-content">
  1570. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-protonvpn">Why we like ProtonVPN</h3>
  1571.  
  1572. <p>If you only have one device to worry about, ProtonVPN is an excellent choice. This free service provides what the company calls &ldquo;medium speeds,&rdquo; meaning you don&rsquo;t get access to the 10-gigabit-per-second servers that paying customers do. Still, the speeds are just fine. But what you won&rsquo;t find here are any servers supporting Netflix streaming. That&rsquo;s another premium feature; however, you can still likely get other streaming services that aren&rsquo;t as actively fighting against VPNs the way Netflix is.</p>
  1573.  
  1574. <p>ProtonVPN has an excellent privacy policy, there are no data limits, but you will have to create an account to use this service even when it&rsquo;s free. ProtonVPN Free provides three country choices.</p>
  1575.  
  1576. <h3 class="" id="who-should-use-protonvpn">Who should use ProtonVPN</h3>
  1577.  
  1578. <p>ProtonVPN is a great option for anyone with a single Android device who needs a free VPN. Perfect for the one-off phone or tablet user, ProtonVPN provides unlimited data so it can be used all day without worrying about hitting a cap. Plus, privacy-conscious users can take heart that apart from the info required to sign up, ProtonVPN doesn&rsquo;t collect any other user data.</p>
  1579. </div>
  1580. Read our full
  1581. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/402413/protonvpn-vpn-review.html" target="_blank" score="4">
  1582. ProtonVPN review </a>
  1583. </div>
  1584. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-13" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF13"}'>
  1585. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  1586. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  1587. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  1588. <h2 data-p_name="Windscribe Pro" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="windscribe-pro-best-for-multiple-devices">
  1589. Windscribe Pro &ndash; Best for multiple devices </h2>
  1590. </div>
  1591. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  1592. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  1593. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  1594. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
  1595. <figure class="wp-lightbox-container" data-wp-context='{ "core":
  1596. { "image":
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  1598. "initialized": false,
  1599. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  1600. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  1601. "preloadInitialized": false,
  1602. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  1603. "imageUploadedSrc": "https://images.idgesg.net/images/article/2017/11/windscriberobot-100743216-orig.jpeg?quality=50&amp;strip=all",
  1604. "imageCurrentSrc": "",
  1605. "targetWidth": "none",
  1606. "targetHeight": "none",
  1607. "scaleAttr": "",
  1608. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  1609. }
  1610. }
  1611. }' data-wp-interactive><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" width="2000" height="1414" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Windscribe Pro - Best for multiple devices" src="https://images.idgesg.net/images/article/2017/11/windscriberobot-100743216-orig.jpeg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" loading="lazy" sizes="2000" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Windscribe Pro - Best for multiple devices" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  1612. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  1613. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  1614. </svg>
  1615. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  1616. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  1617. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  1618. </button>
  1619. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="2000" height="1414" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Windscribe Pro - Best for multiple devices" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="2000" /></figure></div>
  1620. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="2000" height="1414" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Windscribe Pro - Best for multiple devices" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="2000" /></figure></div>
  1621. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  1622. </div></figure> </div>
  1623. </div>
  1624. <div class="product-chart-body">
  1625. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  1627. <div class="product-chart-column">
  1628. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  1629. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  1630. <li>
  1631. Secure.link Generator is a helpful link-shortening service </li>
  1632. <li>
  1633. Works with Netflix </li>
  1634. </ul>
  1635. </div>
  1636. <div class="product-chart-column">
  1637. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  1638. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  1639. <li>
  1640. Not the fastest </li>
  1641. </ul>
  1642. </div>
  1643. </div>
  1644. </div>
  1645. </div>
  1647. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  1648. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  1649. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  1650.  
  1651. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  1652. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  1653. $9.00 per month </span>
  1654. </div>
  1656. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  1657. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  1658. Best Prices Today:
  1659. </span>
  1660. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  1661. <span class="not-amp">
  1662. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://windscribe.com/upgrade&amp;xcust=2-1-695190-6-245960-16669&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Windscribe Pro" data-vars-product-id="245960" data-vars-category="Security Software and Services" data-vars-manufacturer-id="16669" data-vars-manufacturer="Windscribe" data-vars-vendor="Windscribe" data-vars-po="" data-product="245960" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://windscribe.com/upgrade" rel="nofollow">$9 at  Windscribe</a> </span>
  1663. </span>
  1664. </div>
  1665. </div>
  1666. <div class="product-content">
  1668. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-windscribe-pro">Why we like Windscribe Pro</h3>
  1669.  
  1670. <p>Another solid choice for Android users. You won&rsquo;t get the unlimited usage like you do with ProtonVPN. Instead, you get up to 10GB of browsing per month. But there are no device limits, and you have 10 country connection options. </p>
  1671.  
  1672. <p>Windscribe requires a confirmed email address to use its free service. Windscribe&rsquo;s privacy policy is good, but it does track bandwidth usage to keep you to those free limitations. </p>
  1673.  
  1674. <h3 class="" id="who-should-use-windscribe-pro">Who should use Windscribe Pro</h3>
  1675.  
  1676. <p>Windscribe Pro&rsquo;s free Android VPN is best suited for those who need access across multiple devices. Watch out for the data limit though, as you can hit it pretty fast while using multiple devices.</p>
  1677. </div>
  1678. Read our full
  1679. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/407657/windscribe-vpn-review.html" target="_blank" score="4.5">
  1680. Windscribe Pro review </a>
  1681. </div>
  1682. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-14" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF14"}'>
  1683. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  1684. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  1685. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  1686. <h2 data-p_name="Hide.me" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="hide-me-best-for-no-sign-up-usage">
  1687. Hide.me &ndash; Best for no sign-up usage </h2>
  1688. </div>
  1689. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  1690. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  1691. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  1692. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
  1693. <figure class="wp-lightbox-container" data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  1703. "targetWidth": "none",
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  1705. "scaleAttr": "",
  1706. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  1707. }
  1708. }
  1709. }' data-wp-interactive><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" width="1800" height="1199" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Hide.me - Best for no sign-up usage " src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/hide.me-icon.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" loading="lazy" sizes="1800" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Hide.me - Best for no sign-up usage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  1710. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  1711. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  1712. </svg>
  1713. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  1714. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  1715. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  1716. </button>
  1717. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1800" height="1199" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Hide.me - Best for no sign-up usage " src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1800" /></figure></div>
  1718. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1800" height="1199" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Hide.me - Best for no sign-up usage " src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1800" /></figure></div>
  1719. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  1720. </div></figure> </div>
  1721. </div>
  1722. <div class="product-chart-body">
  1723. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  1725. <div class="product-chart-column">
  1726. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  1727. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  1728. <li>
  1729. Good download speeds </li>
  1730. <li>
  1731. Easy-to-use Windows app </li>
  1732. <li>
  1733. No-logs promise </li>
  1734. </ul>
  1735. </div>
  1736. <div class="product-chart-column">
  1737. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  1738. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  1739. <li>
  1740. Speeds were inconsistent in our tests </li>
  1741. <li>
  1742. Expensive single year subscription </li>
  1743. </ul>
  1744. </div>
  1745. </div>
  1746. </div>
  1747. </div>
  1749. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  1750. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  1751. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  1752.  
  1753. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  1754. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  1755. $9.95 per month | $34.95 for 6 months | $59.95 for 27 months </span>
  1756. </div>
  1758. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  1759. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  1760. Best Prices Today:
  1761. </span>
  1762. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  1763. <span class="not-amp">
  1764. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://hide.me/en/pricing&amp;xcust=2-1-695190-6-246210-16997&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Hide.me" data-vars-product-id="246210" data-vars-category="Security Software and Services" data-vars-manufacturer-id="16997" data-vars-manufacturer="eVenture Ltd." data-vars-vendor="Hide Me" data-vars-po="" data-product="246210" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://hide.me/en/pricing" rel="nofollow">$59.95 at  Hide Me</a> </span>
  1765. </span>
  1766. </div>
  1767. </div>
  1768. <div class="product-content">
  1770. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-hide-me">Why we like Hide.me</h3>
  1771.  
  1772. <p>Hide.me has pretty good speeds, and like Windscribe you&rsquo;re limited to 10GB per month. Hide.me offers five connection choices including two U.S. locations (east and west), Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. Hide.me doesn&rsquo;t require an account for signing up, making it seamless and easy to use.</p>
  1773.  
  1774. <h3 class="" id="who-should-use-hide-me">Who should use Hide.me</h3>
  1775.  
  1776. <p>Since Hide.me&rsquo;s free version does not require a sign-up in order to use, it&rsquo;s good for those who just need a VPN for simple, one-off tasks. Alternatively, if you&rsquo;re concerned about privacy, not having to enter in any personal information is a huge plus as well.</p>
  1777. </div>
  1778. Read our full
  1779. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/393346/hideme-vpn-review-3.html" target="_blank" score="4">
  1780. Hide.me review </a>
  1781. </div>
  1782. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-15" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF15"}'>
  1783. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  1784. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  1785. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  1786. <h2 data-p_name="Speedify 10" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="speedify-10-best-for-leveraging-both-cellular-and-wi-fi">
  1787. Speedify 10 &ndash; Best for leveraging both cellular and Wi-Fi </h2>
  1788. </div>
  1789. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  1790. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  1791. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  1792. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
  1793. <figure class="wp-lightbox-container" data-wp-context='{ "core":
  1794. { "image":
  1795. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  1796. "initialized": false,
  1797. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  1798. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  1799. "preloadInitialized": false,
  1800. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  1801. "imageUploadedSrc": "https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SpeedifyLogo.png",
  1802. "imageCurrentSrc": "",
  1803. "targetWidth": "none",
  1804. "targetHeight": "none",
  1805. "scaleAttr": "",
  1806. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  1807. }
  1808. }
  1809. }' data-wp-interactive><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" width="1200" height="800" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Speedify 10 - Best for leveraging both cellular and Wi-Fi " src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SpeedifyLogo.png" loading="lazy" sizes="1200" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Speedify 10 - Best for leveraging both cellular and Wi-Fi" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  1810. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  1811. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  1812. </svg>
  1813. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  1814. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  1815. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  1816. </button>
  1817. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1200" height="800" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Speedify 10 - Best for leveraging both cellular and Wi-Fi " src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1200" /></figure></div>
  1818. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1200" height="800" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Speedify 10 - Best for leveraging both cellular and Wi-Fi " src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1200" /></figure></div>
  1819. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  1820. </div></figure> </div>
  1821. </div>
  1822. <div class="product-chart-body">
  1823. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  1825. <div class="product-chart-column">
  1826. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  1827. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  1828. <li>
  1829. Very good speeds </li>
  1830. <li>
  1831. Speedify&rsquo;s failover feature seamlessly transitions between Wi-Fi and cellular networks </li>
  1832. </ul>
  1833. </div>
  1834. <div class="product-chart-column">
  1835. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  1836. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  1837. <li>
  1838. Privacy policy says it collects some personal information </li>
  1839. <li>
  1840. Desktop mode for the Windows app needs work </li>
  1841. </ul>
  1842. </div>
  1843. </div>
  1844. </div>
  1845. </div>
  1847. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  1848. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  1849. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  1850.  
  1851. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  1852. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  1853. $71.88 </span>
  1854. </div>
  1856. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  1857. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  1858. Best Prices Today:
  1859. </span>
  1860. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  1861. <span class="not-amp">
  1862. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://speedify.com/store/&amp;xcust=2-1-695190-6-392537-15413&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Speedify 10" data-vars-product-id="392537" data-vars-category="Professional Software" data-vars-manufacturer-id="15413" data-vars-manufacturer="Connectify" data-vars-vendor="Connectify" data-vars-po="" data-product="392537" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://speedify.com/store/" rel="nofollow">$71.88 at  Connectify</a> </span>
  1863. </span>
  1864. </div>
  1865. </div>
  1866. <div class="product-content">
  1868. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-speedify">Why we like Speedify</h3>
  1869.  
  1870. <p>A solid VPN choice for anyone using the VPN on a phone. Speedify&rsquo;s specialty is a seamless VPN transition between Wi-Fi and cellular. Typically, when you go between Wi-Fi and cellular the connection drops and restarts, but with Speedify it just keeps on going, which is nice. It also harnesses your Wi-Fi and cellular together to try and boost connection speeds. </p>
  1871.  
  1872. <p>Speeds are pretty good with Speedify, staying within the top 15 for speeds overall. The downside of this free offering is that you only get 2GB of data usage per month. That&rsquo;s not much, which is why this is our last suggestion. But if you need something simple for basic web browsing Speedify is well worth a look.</p>
  1873.  
  1874. <h3 class="" id="who-should-use-speedify">Who should use Speedify</h3>
  1875.  
  1876. <p>Due to the small data limit, Speedify is recommended for users who just need a VPN for basic web-browsing or a one-time use. The seamless transition between Wi-Fi and cellular and potential connection speed boost means that Speedify is an extremely convenient way to keep a VPN connection up while on the go or in spotty Wi-Fi areas.</p>
  1877. </div>
  1878. Read our full
  1879. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/393172/speedify-10-vpn-review.html" target="_blank" score="3.5">
  1880. Speedify 10 review </a>
  1881. </div>
  1882. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-16" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF16"}'>
  1883. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  1884. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  1885. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  1886. <h2 data-p_name="AVG Secure" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title toc" id="avg-secure-best-free-trial">
  1887. AVG Secure &ndash; Best free trial </h2>
  1888. </div>
  1889. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  1890. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  1891. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  1892. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
  1893. <figure class="wp-lightbox-container" data-wp-context='{ "core":
  1894. { "image":
  1895. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  1896. "initialized": false,
  1897. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  1898. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  1899. "preloadInitialized": false,
  1900. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  1901. "imageUploadedSrc": "https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/avg-secure.png",
  1902. "imageCurrentSrc": "",
  1903. "targetWidth": "none",
  1904. "targetHeight": "none",
  1905. "scaleAttr": "",
  1906. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  1907. }
  1908. }
  1909. }' data-wp-interactive><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" width="1200" height="827" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="AVG Secure - Best free trial" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/avg-secure.png" loading="lazy" sizes="1200" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: AVG Secure - Best free trial" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  1910. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  1911. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  1912. </svg>
  1913. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  1914. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  1915. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  1916. </button>
  1917. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1200" height="827" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="AVG Secure - Best free trial" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1200" /></figure></div>
  1918. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1200" height="827" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="AVG Secure - Best free trial" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1200" /></figure></div>
  1919. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  1920. </div></figure> </div>
  1921. </div>
  1922. <div class="product-chart-body">
  1923. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  1925. <div class="product-chart-column">
  1926. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  1927. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  1928. <li>
  1929. 10 simultaneous device connectionsUnblocks streaming servicesFree 60-day trial </li>
  1930. </ul>
  1931. </div>
  1932. <div class="product-chart-column">
  1933. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  1934. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  1935. <li>
  1936. Logs some user activity dataNot a lot of extra featuresLong-term only subscription options </li>
  1937. </ul>
  1938. </div>
  1939. </div>
  1940. </div>
  1941. </div>
  1943. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  1944. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  1945. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  1946.  
  1947. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  1948. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  1949. $53.88 per year </span>
  1950. </div>
  1952. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  1953. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  1954. Best Prices Today:
  1955. </span>
  1956. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  1957. <span class="not-amp">
  1958. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8200811/type/dlg/sid/2-1-695190-6-393052-11625/https://www.avg.com/en-ww/secure-vpn#pc" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="AVG Secure" data-vars-product-id="393052" data-vars-category="Consumer Electronics" data-vars-manufacturer-id="11625" data-vars-manufacturer="AVG" data-vars-vendor="AVG,PCWorld Software Store" data-vars-po="" data-product="393052" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.avg.com/en-ww/secure-vpn#pc" rel="nofollow">$4.55 at  AVG</a><a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://software.pcworld.com/p36561-avg_secure_vpn_2024_10-d_1-yr?x-source=2-1-695190-6-393052-11625" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="AVG Secure" data-vars-product-id="393052" data-vars-category="Consumer Electronics" data-vars-manufacturer-id="11625" data-vars-manufacturer="AVG" data-vars-vendor="AVG,PCWorld Software Store" data-vars-po="" data-product="393052" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://software.pcworld.com/p36561-avg_secure_vpn_2024_10-d_1-yr" rel="nofollow">$5.99 at  PCWorld Software Store</a> </span>
  1959. </span>
  1960. </div>
  1961. </div>
  1962. <div class="product-content">
  1964. <h3 class="" id="why-we-like-avg-secure-vpn">Why we like AVG Secure VPN</h3>
  1965.  
  1966. <p>It might sound odd to include a free-trial option here, but AVG Secure VPN is a fine VPN service on its own <em>and</em> it provides a 60-day free trial for new users. That&rsquo;s incredibly generous for a premium service &mdash; most other VPNs only offer one-week free trials at best. The free trial extends to all devices as well so you can use it on both your Windows machine as well as your Android device.</p>
  1967.  
  1968. <p>AVG is a household name in security software and its VPN lives up to its high-standards. The free-trial gives you complete access to all of the paid features such as 10 simultaneous device connections, over 700 servers across more than 50 countries, and guaranteed streaming service unblocking with specific servers. While the speeds aren&rsquo;t the fastest we&rsquo;ve ever seen, they&rsquo;re good enough for most general online activities. All-in-all, two months for free of AVG Secure VPN is a fantastic deal, just don&rsquo;t forget to cancel the subscription before the free trial runs out.</p>
  1969.  
  1970. <h3 class="" id="who-should-use-avg-secure-vpn">Who should use AVG Secure VPN</h3>
  1971.  
  1972. <p>Most people looking for a free VPN for shorter-term use will stand to gain a lot from AVG Secure VPN&rsquo;s free trial. But we think it&rsquo;s an exceptional choice in particular for those who are traveling for awhile and need a VPN while abroad. By taking advantage of a premium service&rsquo;s speeds and broad server network you can access all of your streaming content no matter what country you find yourself in and you shouldn&rsquo;t have to worry about frustrating data caps from other free services. Stream and browse to your heart&rsquo;s content for no cost, well, at least for 60 days.</p>
  1973. </div>
  1974. Read our full
  1975. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/394897/avgsecure-vpn-review.html" target="_blank" score="3.5">
  1976. AVG Secure review </a>
  1977. </div>
  1978. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-17" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF17"}'>
  1979. </div> </div>
  1980.  
  1982.  
  1983.  
  1984. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="what-to-look-for-in-a-free-vpn-for-android">What to look for in a free VPN for Android</h2>
  1985.  
  1986.  
  1987.  
  1988. <p>This will follow a lot of the advice we&rsquo;ve already given for free stuff when it comes to Android. Google is doing a better job than ever at keeping harmful apps out of the Play Store, but there is still a chance of some random VPN app having malicious intent. Another problem is that even if the app is fine, the service itself may be up to no good. </p>
  1989.  
  1990.  
  1991.  
  1992. <p>For those reasons we always advise going with a well-known VPN service provider to reduce your chances of running into security issues. </p>
  1993.  
  1994.  
  1995.  
  1996. <p>Next, you want a free app that is truly free. Not some 7- or 30-day trial that will automatically start charging the card connected to your Play account after the trial period. You should also read over the privacy policy to make sure there&rsquo;s nothing there you&rsquo;re going to have a problem with. </p>
  1997.  
  1998.  
  1999.  
  2000. <p>Finally, you want to make sure the VPN has data limits that suit your needs.</p>
  2001.  
  2002.  
  2003.  
  2004. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-we-tested">How we tested</h2>
  2005.  
  2006.  
  2007.  
  2008. <p>We judge VPNs on a variety of criteria including server network, connection speeds, privacy protections, ease-of-use, additional features, and cost. For a more detailed guide on how we test, check out our comprehensive guide on <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2238286/how-we-test-vpn-pcworld.html" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2238286/how-we-test-vpn-pcworld.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how we test VPN services</a>.</p>
  2009.  
  2010.  
  2011.  
  2012. <p>Speed tests are kept as simple as possible. We average the connections between different global locations for any given VPN and then compare them to our baseline internet speed to get a good picture of the overall connection speeds. We thoroughly research and analyze the privacy policies and histories of each VPN and note any outstanding discrepancies or data collection issues. </p>
  2013.  
  2014.  
  2015.  
  2016. <p>Experience and ease-of-use are subjective, but we try our best to give an accurate representation of how it feels to work with the VPN. Since you don&rsquo;t have to pay for a free VPN, the value will be contingent upon the trade-offs you&rsquo;ll need to make and the restrictions it has in place.</p>
  2017.  
  2018.  
  2019.  
  2020. <p>Free VPNs aren&rsquo;t a top recommendation, but if you&rsquo;re going to go that way we&rsquo;d strongly suggest the VPNs mentioned above. </p>
  2021.  
  2022.  
  2023.  
  2024. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-block faq-block"><h2 class="faq-block-title" id="faq"> FAQ </h2><hr class="block-horizotal-divider">
  2025. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">1.</span>
  2026. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="what-is-a-vpn">What is a VPN?</h3>
  2027.  
  2028.  
  2029.  
  2030. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  2031. <p>A VPN, or <em>virtual private network</em>, hides your identity and encrypts your traffic while browsing the internet. Also, VPN servers are located all across the world, allowing you to connect to a server in another country. So if you want to access location-restricted content like streaming services, you can connect to the appropriate country&rsquo;s server and gain access to content that may have been locked in your area. </p>
  2032. </div>
  2033. </div></div>
  2034.  
  2035.  
  2036.  
  2037. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">2.</span>
  2038. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-does-a-vpn-work">How does a VPN work?</h3>
  2039.  
  2040.  
  2041.  
  2042. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  2043. <p>In short, a VPN hides your IP address by redirecting your web traffic through a remote server hosted by the VPN company. The VPN server then appears to be the source of your traffic instead of your actual location. These remote servers can be located both in different countries around the world or even in your own country. Additionally, your network traffic is encrypted from your computer to the VPN, which adds an extra layer of security.&nbsp;</p>
  2044.  
  2045.  
  2046.  
  2047. <p>While connected to a VPN and browsing the internet, the VPN acts as a middleman between you and a website. If your computer sends a request to the VPN, it will then pass it along to a website. In return, the website sends its response back to the VPN, which forwards it via a secure encrypted connection to your computer.</p>
  2048. </div>
  2049. </div></div>
  2050.  
  2051.  
  2052.  
  2053. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">3.</span>
  2054. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="is-it-legal-to-use-a-vpn">Is it legal to use a VPN?</h3>
  2055.  
  2056.  
  2057.  
  2058. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  2059. <p>In the United States as well as most countries, using a VPN is perfectly legal. Some certain websites try to block VPN connections, but that is dependent upon their own terms of usage. It is important to know that while using a VPN is legal, some of the activities done <em>while using</em> a VPN can still be illegal. Activities such as downloading pirated copyrighted content or accessing dark web markets are both illegal with and without a VPN.</p>
  2060. </div>
  2061. </div></div>
  2062.  
  2063.  
  2064.  
  2065. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">4.</span>
  2066. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="are-there-differences-between-windows-vpn-apps-and-an-android-vpn-apps">Are there differences between Windows VPN apps and an Android VPN apps?</h3>
  2067.  
  2068.  
  2069.  
  2070. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  2071. <p>Usually the core functionality of one service&rsquo;s VPN remains the same between its Windows and Android apps. That being said, there are oftentimes differences in the features offered and user experience between the two. </p>
  2072.  
  2073.  
  2074.  
  2075. <p>For example, features common in Windows apps such as split-tunneling, kill-switch functionality, and custom DNS configuration may not always be available in the same service&rsquo;s Android app. This usually comes down to compatibility issues and developer resources. Additionally, you are likely to find differences in the interface and overall user experience between apps on the two operating systems. Often the Windows app will display more information, which is then omitted from the Android app due to screen size restrictions. </p>
  2076.  
  2077.  
  2078.  
  2079. <p>Again, this shouldn&rsquo;t affect the core functionality of the VPN with either app and users can choose the version that best suits their needs based on their own usage requirements and device preferences.</p>
  2080. </div>
  2081. </div></div>
  2082. </div>
  2083.  
  2084. <category>Android, VPN</category></body></div>
  2085. ]]></description>
  2086. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/695190/best-free-vpn-for-android.html</link>
  2087. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">695190</post-id> </item>
  2088. <item>
  2089. <title>This killer AVG Ultimate antivirus deal is just $18 for two years</title>
  2090. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3638-cr.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="706129" type="image/jpeg" />
  2091. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 17:45:06 +0000</pubDate>
  2092. <description><![CDATA[
  2093. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  2094. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  2095.  
  2096.  
  2097.  
  2098. <p>Antivirus is a lot more than just antivirus these days, but you don&rsquo;t have to fork over a hefty premium to get extra protections, even if it&rsquo;s popular software. Just take today&rsquo;s <a href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=*l6kYCuH720&amp;mid=44583&amp;ul=2-1-2313319-1-0-0&amp;murl=https://www.newegg.com/avg-ultimate-2020-10-devices-2-years-download/p/N82E16832620265?Item=N82E16832620265" rel="nofollow">AVG Ultimate deal at Newegg</a> &mdash; you can pay an incredibly low $18 to protect all your family&rsquo;s gear for a whole two years.</p>
  2099.  
  2100.  
  2101.  
  2102. <p>From today until April 28, using coupon code MGTDR23298 at checkout saves you $27 off the 10-device plan, slicing a whopping 60 percent off the normal price of $45. You don&rsquo;t even need to enter the code at checkout; Newegg now appears to apply coupons automatically.</p>
  2103.  
  2104.  
  2105.  
  2106. <p>AVG Ultimate bundles together three of AVG&rsquo;s products: <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/407275/avg-internet-security-review.html">AVG Internet Security</a>, which shields your devices from malware, network intrusions, and other threats; <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/394897/avgsecure-vpn-review.html">AVG Secure VPN</a>, which keeps your internet activity private (and thus safe from prying and possibly shifty eyes); and AVG TuneUp, a collection of PC utilities meant to keep your PC up to date and running optimally.</p>
  2107.  
  2108.  
  2109.  
  2110. <p>When we last reviewed Internet Security, we gave it 4 out of 5 stars for its straightforward interface, top-rated antivirus protection, and affordable pricing. The latest test results from AV-Test and AV-Comparatives rank AVG among the highest performing antivirus engines, with a 100 percent block rate for AV-Test&rsquo;s zero-day and widespread malware benchmark. Similarly, we liked AVG Secure VPN for its ease of use, speeds, and ability to <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2302285/how-to-access-adult-content-websites-with-a-vpn.html">unblock geolocation restrictions</a> on streaming sites. Privacy advocates may not get all the advanced features they want, but from a security perspective, it does the job well.</p>
  2111.  
  2112.  
  2113.  
  2114. <p>Of course, you can go it alone with just Windows&rsquo; built-in security protections, but independent antivirus like AVG makes it easier to stay on top of defending yourself, as it centralizes different features and presents it in a friendlier manner. Getting two years of this coverage for less than a pizza is pretty great &mdash; especially when you can cover up to 10 PCs, phones, or tablets. At one of the lowest prices we&rsquo;ve seen in awhile, it becomes both cheap and easy to better protect yourself from the continual rise in malware.</p>
  2115.  
  2116.  
  2117. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=*l6kYCuH720&amp;mid=44583&amp;ul=2-1-2313319-7-0-0&amp;murl=https://www.newegg.com/avg-ultimate-2020-10-devices-2-years-download/p/N82E16832620265?Item=N82E16832620265" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">Get two years of AVG Ultimate for just $18 at Newegg</a></p>
  2118. <category>Antivirus</category></body></div>
  2119. ]]></description>
  2120. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/2313319/this-cheap-avg-antivirus-deal-is-just-18-for-two-years.html</link>
  2121. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2313319</post-id> </item>
  2122. <item>
  2123. <title>How we test USB-C cables at PCWorld</title>
  2124. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Jars_of_Cables.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="2889130" type="image/jpeg" />
  2125. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2126. <description><![CDATA[
  2127. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  2128. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  2129.  
  2130.  
  2131.  
  2132. <p>USB-C cables get no respect. Most people shop for the lowest-priced cable and call it a day under the assumption that they are all the same. They&rsquo;re not though, and here&rsquo;s how I weed out the good cables from the bad cables in the review process. </p>
  2133.  
  2134.  
  2135.  
  2136. <p>For the record, the vast majority of PCWorld&rsquo;s cable tests are performed on cables I purchased retail, but occasionally, I will accept cables directly from manufacturers to expedite the review process. Our cable reviews are actually physically performed on the cables and are not regurgitated from reading other reviews or reading user-generated reviews from consumers.</p>
  2137.  
  2138.  
  2139.  
  2140. <blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
  2141. <p><strong>Further reading: </strong><a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/395115/the-best-usb-c-cables-for-charging-and-transferring-data.html" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.pcworld.com/article/395115/the-best-usb-c-cables-for-charging-and-transferring-data.html">Best USB-C cables</a></p>
  2142. </blockquote>
  2143.  
  2144.  
  2145.  
  2146. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="examine-the-marketing-claims">Examine the marketing claims</h2>
  2147.  
  2148.  
  2149.  
  2150. <p>Cables are commodities no different than salt, rice, or meat, but as we know that doesn&rsquo;t mean they&rsquo;re all the same. Unlike hardware, it&rsquo;s easy for a company to fluff up a product in its advertising or marketing, so we carefully examine the performance and feature claims of each cable to see if it matches reality. Respected brands tend to play it safe (but even they can stretch the truth a bit), while smaller brands often make claims that are flat out wrong. Whether that&rsquo;s due to a translation issue, confusion with a complicated subject, or flat-out misrepresentation isn&rsquo;t judged &mdash; but I call it out when I see it. </p>
  2151.  
  2152.  
  2153. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  2154. { "image":
  2155. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  2156. "initialized": false,
  2157. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  2158. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  2159. "preloadInitialized": false,
  2160. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  2161. "imageUploadedSrc": "",
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  2163. "targetWidth": "none",
  2164. "targetHeight": "none",
  2165. "scaleAttr": "",
  2166. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  2167. }
  2168. }
  2169. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Screenshot-2024-04-10-143144.png?w=1200" alt="If a cable claims USB IF certification, we attempt to verify that." class="wp-image-2301167" width="1200" height="565" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: If a cable claims USB IF certification, we attempt to verify that." data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  2170. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  2171. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  2172. </svg>
  2173. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>If a cable claims USB IF certification, I attempt to verify that.</p> </figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  2174. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  2175. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  2176. </button>
  2177. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="If a cable claims USB IF certification, we attempt to verify that." class="wp-image-2301167" width="1200" height="565" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>If a cable claims USB IF certification, I attempt to verify that.</p> </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2178. </div>
  2179. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="If a cable claims USB IF certification, we attempt to verify that." class="wp-image-2301167" width="1200" height="565" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>If a cable claims USB IF certification, I attempt to verify that.</p> </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2180. </div>
  2181. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  2182. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2183.  
  2184.  
  2185.  
  2186. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="check-certifications">Check certifications</h2>
  2187.  
  2188.  
  2189.  
  2190. <p>If the cable claims to have USB Implementers Forum certification or UL certification, I&rsquo;ll query both organizations&rsquo; databases or contact the organization in an attempt to verify the claim.</p>
  2191.  
  2192.  
  2193.  
  2194. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="examine-the-emarker">Examine the eMarker</h2>
  2195.  
  2196.  
  2197.  
  2198. <p>Higher-performance charging or data transfer USB-C to USB-C cables feature an embedded eMarker chip that tells the phone, tablet, laptop, and charger just what the cable supports. I read the eMarker&rsquo;s data using a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/ChargerLAB-KM003C-Portable-Charging-Voltmeter/dp/B0BJ24PVNJ/?tag=pcworld02-20&amp;asc_refurl=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.amazon.com/ChargerLAB-KM003C-Portable-Charging-Voltmeter/dp/B0BJ24PVNJ/" rel="nofollow">Charger Lab KM003C </a>and compare it to the cable&rsquo;s marketing claims. Usually they should match, but some small-brand companies get the eMarker data flat-out wrong, which should give you pause about purchasing them.</p>
  2199.  
  2200.  
  2201. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  2215. }
  2216. }
  2217. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/eMarker.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1200" alt="We examine the cable's eMarker if it has one" class="wp-image-2301173" style="width:1412px;height:auto" width="1200" height="676" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: We examine the cable's eMarker if it has one" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  2218. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  2219. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  2220. </svg>
  2221. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>I examine the cable&rsquo;s eMarker if it has one</p> </figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  2222. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  2223. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  2224. </button>
  2225. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="We examine the cable's eMarker if it has one" class="wp-image-2301173" style="width:1412px;height:auto" width="1200" height="676" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>I examine the cable&rsquo;s eMarker if it has one</p> </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2226. </div>
  2227. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="We examine the cable's eMarker if it has one" class="wp-image-2301173" style="width:1412px;height:auto" width="1200" height="676" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>I examine the cable&rsquo;s eMarker if it has one</p> </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2228. </div>
  2229. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  2230. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2231.  
  2232.  
  2233.  
  2234. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="weigh-it">Weigh it</h2>
  2235.  
  2236.  
  2237.  
  2238. <p>Although it isn&rsquo;t perfect, I&rsquo;ve found that one easy way to gauge the quality of a cable is to simply weigh it. Sure, the outer coating can be an influence in the weight, but you&rsquo;d be surprised at how often a cable that has poorer resistance and fewer features also ends up weighing less. Again, it&rsquo;s not a predictor of a cable that won&rsquo;t function, but a lighter cable typically means higher resistance and can portend a shorter life span if abused by the owner due to its thinner wires.</p>
  2239.  
  2240.  
  2241.  
  2242. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="test-resistance">Test resistance</h2>
  2243.  
  2244.  
  2245.  
  2246. <p>To gauge the quality of the cable, I use a four-wire, milliohm meter attached to the cable using USB breakout boards on the VBUS and ground wires. Subtracting the added resistance of the breakout board, I can easily see which cables are constructed with better wiring. For example, the Belkin BoostCharge 240-watt braided cable measures in at 62 milliohms of resistance versus 209 milliohms for a super-budget JSAUX USB-C cable I looked at recently. That&rsquo;s a significant difference between the cables (lower is better) and it tells us the Belkin BoostCharge&rsquo;s higher price tag pays in charging quality and likely longevity as thicker wires should withstand more abuse in theory.</p>
  2247.  
  2248.  
  2249. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  2250. { "image":
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  2260. "targetHeight": "none",
  2261. "scaleAttr": "",
  2262. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  2263. }
  2264. }
  2265. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Load_test_1.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1200" alt="We load test for a minimum of 30 minutes" class="wp-image-2301171" style="width:1412px;height:auto" width="1200" height="676" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: We load test for a minimum of 30 minutes" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  2266. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  2267. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  2268. </svg>
  2269. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>I load test for a minimum of 30 minutes</p> </figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  2270. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  2271. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  2272. </button>
  2273. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="We load test for a minimum of 30 minutes" class="wp-image-2301171" style="width:1412px;height:auto" width="1200" height="676" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>I load test for a minimum of 30 minutes</p> </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2274. </div>
  2275. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="We load test for a minimum of 30 minutes" class="wp-image-2301171" style="width:1412px;height:auto" width="1200" height="676" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>I load test for a minimum of 30 minutes</p> </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2276. </div>
  2277. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  2278. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2279.  
  2280.  
  2281.  
  2282. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="load-test">Load test</h2>
  2283.  
  2284.  
  2285.  
  2286. <p>Charging is probably the number one feature used on all cables. To test that, I load test the cable using a USB Power Delivery 3.1 trigger connected to an artificial load tester and stress test the cable for a minimum of 30 minutes. As a backup to that test, I also connect the cable to a laptop and check if it&rsquo;s able to reach the laptop&rsquo;s 100-watt charge requirements.</p>
  2287.  
  2288.  
  2289.  
  2290. <p>One weakness with this test is I have not found any chargers that support 240 watts (nor any laptops). That means my current load test is limited to 100 watts. The load tester I use is also limited to 180 watts as well. Hopefully that changes as 240-watt hardware becomes more common one day. I&rsquo;m in the process of sourcing a 180-watt USB-PD charger, but that also falls well short of the 240-watt maximum.</p>
  2291.  
  2292.  
  2293. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  2296. "initialized": false,
  2297. "lightboxEnabled": false,
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  2300. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
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  2303. "targetWidth": "none",
  2304. "targetHeight": "none",
  2305. "scaleAttr": "",
  2306. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  2307. }
  2308. }
  2309. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Continuity_2.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1200" alt="A continuity tester lets us know what capabilities the cable can perform." class="wp-image-2301170" width="1200" height="676" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: A continuity tester lets us know what capabilities the cable can perform." data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  2310. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  2311. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  2312. </svg>
  2313. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>A continuity tester lets us know what capabilities the cable can perform.</p>
  2314. </figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  2315. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  2316. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  2317. </button>
  2318. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="A continuity tester lets us know what capabilities the cable can perform." class="wp-image-2301170" width="1200" height="676" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>A continuity tester lets us know what capabilities the cable can perform.</p>
  2319. </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2320. </div>
  2321. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="A continuity tester lets us know what capabilities the cable can perform." class="wp-image-2301170" width="1200" height="676" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>A continuity tester lets us know what capabilities the cable can perform.</p>
  2322. </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2323. </div>
  2324. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  2325. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2326.  
  2327.  
  2328.  
  2329. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="examine-the-wiring">Examine the wiring</h2>
  2330.  
  2331.  
  2332.  
  2333. <p>There can be up to 18 wires inside of a &ldquo;full featured&rdquo; USB-C cable and 24-pins in the plug. The different wires enable different capabilities such as monitor support and high-speed data transfer speed. I use two different continuity testers. The first is a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/BitTradeOne-ADUSBCIM-USB-Cable-Checker/dp/B07Y8BPVV4/?tag=pcworld02-20&amp;asc_refurl=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.amazon.com/BitTradeOne-ADUSBCIM-USB-Cable-Checker/dp/B07Y8BPVV4/" rel="nofollow">BitTradeOne ADUSBCIM USE Cable Checker 2</a>. It&rsquo;s my favorite cable tester and tells me whether a cable supports basic USB data transfer speeds as well what level of USB SuperSpeed is supported. It also does basic resistance measurements and IDs if there is an eMarker inside of the cable.</p>
  2334.  
  2335.  
  2336.  
  2337. <p>The second continuity meter is a <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://caberqu.com/home/20-c2c-caberqu-746052578813.html&amp;xcust=2-1-2301161-1-0-0&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" data-type="link" data-id="https://caberqu.com/home/20-c2c-caberqu-746052578813.html" rel="nofollow">CaberQU USB-C cable tester</a> that visually displays connections for all 24 possible combinations in a USB-C to USB-C cable. I particularly like the CaberQU because the documentation is excellent for someone interested in what the pins in a USB-C cable perform.</p>
  2338.  
  2339.  
  2340.  
  2341. <p>I should note that one problem with simple continuity testers is that while they test for the presence of the wires, they cannot screen for the possibility that the manufacturer has actually constructed the cable incorrectly, and fall short for testing of active USB-C cables.</p>
  2342.  
  2343.  
  2344. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  2345. { "image":
  2346. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  2347. "initialized": false,
  2348. "lightboxEnabled": false,
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  2350. "preloadInitialized": false,
  2351. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
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  2355. "targetHeight": "none",
  2356. "scaleAttr": "",
  2357. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  2358. }
  2359. }
  2360. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Continuity_1.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1200" alt="A second continuity cable lets us view all wires in a cable" class="wp-image-2301169" width="1200" height="676" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: A second continuity cable lets us view all wires in a cable" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  2361. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  2362. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  2363. </svg>
  2364. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>A second continuity cable lets  me view all wires in a cable</p> </figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  2365. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  2366. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  2367. </button>
  2368. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="A second continuity cable lets us view all wires in a cable" class="wp-image-2301169" width="1200" height="676" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>A second continuity cable lets  me view all wires in a cable</p> </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2369. </div>
  2370. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="A second continuity cable lets us view all wires in a cable" class="wp-image-2301169" width="1200" height="676" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>A second continuity cable lets  me view all wires in a cable</p> </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2371. </div>
  2372. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  2373. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2374.  
  2375.  
  2376.  
  2377. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="data-test">Data test</h2>
  2378.  
  2379.  
  2380.  
  2381. <p>If a cable maker has somehow wired up the connections for a cable incorrectly, which a continuity tester cannot detect, one way to check that in the real world is actually to use the cable. For that test, I connect a USB-C external NVMe drive to a laptop and measure the transfer speed using a drive performance benchmark. This is more critical on a full-featured USB-C cable, which can reach from 10Gbps to 40Gbps transfer speeds, and less critical on basic charging cables that are limited to a slow 480Mbps.</p>
  2382.  
  2383.  
  2384. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  2385. { "image":
  2386. {   "imageLoaded": false,
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  2399. }
  2400. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CDD.png" alt="Transferring data with the cable tells us if the cable is correctly wired up or not and its capabilities." class="wp-image-2301166" width="1024" height="648" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Transferring data with the cable tells us if the cable is correctly wired up or not and its capabilities." data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  2401. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  2402. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  2403. </svg>
  2404. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>Transferring data with the cable tells me if the cable is correctly wired up or not and its capabilities.</p> </figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  2405. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  2406. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  2407. </button>
  2408. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Transferring data with the cable tells us if the cable is correctly wired up or not and its capabilities." class="wp-image-2301166" width="1024" height="648" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>Transferring data with the cable tells me if the cable is correctly wired up or not and its capabilities.</p> </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2409. </div>
  2410. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Transferring data with the cable tells us if the cable is correctly wired up or not and its capabilities." class="wp-image-2301166" width="1024" height="648" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>Transferring data with the cable tells me if the cable is correctly wired up or not and its capabilities.</p> </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2411. </div>
  2412. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  2413. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Gordon Mah Ung</p></div>
  2414.  
  2415.  
  2416.  
  2417. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="video-test">Video test&nbsp;</h2>
  2418.  
  2419.  
  2420.  
  2421. <p>For full-featured cables that support video output, I connect an external USB-C high-refresh rate panel using the cable to ensure that it is again wired up correctly, and will correctly function with an external monitor. This test is not performed on basic charging cables, which will not function with monitors.</p>
  2422.  
  2423.  
  2424.  
  2425. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="thunderbolt-test">Thunderbolt test</h2>
  2426.  
  2427.  
  2428.  
  2429. <p>For full-featured cables that support high-speed data transfers, I perform a transfer test using a Thunderbolt 3 drive connected to a laptop to ensure it&rsquo;s wired up correctly and note the transfer performance. This test is not performed on basic charging cables, which do not support Thunderbolt signaling.</p>
  2430.  
  2431.  
  2432.  
  2433. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="usb4-test">USB4 test</h2>
  2434.  
  2435.  
  2436.  
  2437. <p>With USB4 rapidly becoming the norm, I also test PC data transfers using a USB4 drive enclosure to ensure it&rsquo;s wired up correctly. This test is not performed on basic charging cables, which do not support fast USB4 signaling.</p>
  2438.  
  2439.  
  2440.  
  2441. <p>To find the best USB-C cable for your needs, and to learn which cables to avoid, see PCWorld&rsquo;s roundup of the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/395115/the-best-usb-c-cables-for-charging-and-transferring-data.html" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.pcworld.com/article/395115/the-best-usb-c-cables-for-charging-and-transferring-data.html">best USB-C cables</a>.</p>
  2442.  
  2443. <category>Computer Accessories</category></body></div>
  2444. ]]></description>
  2445. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/2301161/how-we-test-usb-c-cables-at-pcworld.html</link>
  2446. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2301161</post-id> </item>
  2447. <item>
  2448. <title>How to uninstall McAfee antivirus</title>
  2449. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/total-protection-high-jpg.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="1233705" type="image/jpeg" />
  2450. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:59:40 +0000</pubDate>
  2451. <description><![CDATA[
  2452. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  2453. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  2454.  
  2455.  
  2456.  
  2457. <p>A fresh PC usually feels shiny and exciting, except when it comes packed with extra software that you never asked for&mdash;like a trial of McAfee&rsquo;s antivirus software. Inevitably, the evaluation period ends, and with it begins an onslaught of notifications asking you sign up for a paid subscription. Heck, sometimes the reminders begin long before the expiration date.</p>
  2458.  
  2459.  
  2460.  
  2461. <p>If you&rsquo;re tired of the harassment, or just want to get back to Windows&rsquo; more streamlined built-in protections, here&rsquo;s how to uninstall McAfee antivirus.</p>
  2462.  
  2463.  
  2464.  
  2465. <blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
  2466. <p>Looking for more options? Check out PCWorld&rsquo;s roundup of the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/407277/best-antivirus-for-windows-pc.html">best antivirus software of 2024</a>.</p>
  2467. </blockquote>
  2468.  
  2469.  
  2470.  
  2471. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="step-1-open-the-settings-app">Step 1: Open the Settings app</h2>
  2472.  
  2473.  
  2474.  
  2475. <p>To uninstall programs, first you must head to the <em>Apps</em> section within the Settings app.&nbsp;</p>
  2476.  
  2477.  
  2478.  
  2479. <p>In Windows 10, hit the Start key on your keyboard, and then type <em>apps</em>. Select <em>Apps &amp; features</em>.</p>
  2480.  
  2481.  
  2482.  
  2483. <p>In Windows 11, hit the Start key on your keyboard,, then type <em>installed apps</em>. Choose <em>Installed Apps</em>.</p>
  2484.  
  2485.  
  2486.  
  2487. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="step-2-uninstall-mcafee">Step 2: Uninstall McAfee</h2>
  2488.  
  2489.  
  2490. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  2503. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
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  2505. }
  2506. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image-59.png?w=1200" alt="McAfee in the Apps &amp; features list in Windows 10" class="wp-image-2310750" width="1200" height="644" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: McAfee in the Apps &amp; features list in Windows 10" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  2507. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  2508. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  2509. </svg>
  2510. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The McAfee app within Windows 10&rsquo;s installed app list.</figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  2511. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  2512. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  2513. </button>
  2514. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="McAfee in the Apps &amp; features list in Windows 10" class="wp-image-2310750" width="1200" height="644" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The McAfee app within Windows 10&rsquo;s installed app list.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">PCWorld</p></div>
  2515. </div>
  2516. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="McAfee in the Apps &amp; features list in Windows 10" class="wp-image-2310750" width="1200" height="644" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The McAfee app within Windows 10&rsquo;s installed app list.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">PCWorld</p></div>
  2517. </div>
  2518. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  2519. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">PCWorld</p></div>
  2520.  
  2521.  
  2522.  
  2523. <p>Scroll down the list of installed apps and find McAfee.&nbsp;</p>
  2524.  
  2525.  
  2526.  
  2527. <p>In Windows 10, click on McAfee in the list, then on the <em>Uninstall</em> button.</p>
  2528.  
  2529.  
  2530.  
  2531. <p>In Windows 11, click the three dot icon on the far right, then choose <em>Uninstall</em>.</p>
  2532.  
  2533.  
  2534.  
  2535. <p>If a User Account Control permission window appears, click <em>Yes</em> to approve the request to make a chance on your PC. McAfee may then flash a pop-up asking for you to answer a survey (you can decline), as well as another for confirmation that you want to remove the software.</p>
  2536.  
  2537.  
  2538.  
  2539. <p>After the uninstallation is complete, reboot your PC.</p>
  2540.  
  2541.  
  2542.  
  2543. <div class="wp-block-product-widget-block product-widget">
  2544. <div class="product-widget__block-title-wrapper">
  2545. <h4 class="product-widget__block-title" id="check-out-pcworlds-top-pick-for-antivirus-software">
  2546. check out pcworld's top pick for antivirus software </h4>
  2547. </div>
  2548.  
  2549. <div class="product-widget__content-wrapper">
  2550. <div class="product-widget__title-wrapper">
  2551. <h3 class="product-widget__title" id="norton-360-deluxe">Norton 360 Deluxe</h3>
  2552. </div>
  2554. <div class="product-widget__image-outer-wrapper">
  2555. <div class="product-widget__image-wrapper">
  2556. <img decoding="async" width="2400" height="1600" class="product-widget__image" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3647-sm.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" loading="lazy" alt="Norton 360 Deluxe" srcset="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3647-sm.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all 2400w, https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3647-sm.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;quality=50&amp;strip=all 300w, https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3647-sm.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;quality=50&amp;strip=all 768w, https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3647-sm.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;quality=50&amp;strip=all 1200w, https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3647-sm.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;quality=50&amp;strip=all 1536w, https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3647-sm.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;quality=50&amp;strip=all 2048w, https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3647-sm.jpg?resize=1240%2C826&amp;quality=50&amp;strip=all 1240w, https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IMG_3647-sm.jpg?resize=150%2C100&amp;quality=50&amp;strip=all 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
  2557. </div>
  2558. </div>
  2560. <div class="review product-widget__review-details">
  2561. <div class="product-widget__rating-and-review-link">
  2562. <div class="product-widget__review-details--rating">
  2563. <div class="starRating" style="--rating: 4;" aria-label="Rating of this product is 4 out of 5"></div>
  2564. </div> <a class="product-widget__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/393283/norton-360-deluxe-antivirus-review.html" target="_blank">Read our review</a>
  2566. </div>
  2567. </div>
  2569. <div class="product-widget__information">
  2570. <div class="product-widget__information--rrp-wrapper">
  2571. <span class="product-widget__information--rrp-label">
  2572. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  2573. <span class="product-widget__information--rrp-value">
  2574. $49.99 for the first year </span>
  2575. </div>
  2577. <div class="product-widget__pricing-details  ">
  2578. <span class="product-widget__pricing-details--label">
  2579. Best Prices Today:
  2580. </span>
  2581. <span class="product-widget__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  2582. <a class="product-widget__pricing-details--link" href="https://software.pcworld.com/p43656-norton_360_deluxe_2024_3-d_15-m?x-source=2-1-2310743-5-246479-17449" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Norton 360 Deluxe" data-vars-product-id="246479" data-vars-category="Antivirus,Professional Software,Security Software and Services" data-vars-manufacturer-id="17449" data-vars-manufacturer="NortonLifeLock, Inc." data-vars-vendor="Norton,PCWorld Software Store" data-vars-po="" data-product="246479" data-vars-link-position-id="005" data-vars-link-position="Product Sidebar" data-vars-outbound-link="https://software.pcworld.com/p43656-norton_360_deluxe_2024_3-d_15-m" rel="nofollow">$19.99 at  PCWorld Software Store</a> <span class="amp-bar"> | </span>
  2583. <a class="product-widget__pricing-details--link" href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100470607-13681581?sid=2-1-2310743-5-246479-17449" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Norton 360 Deluxe" data-vars-product-id="246479" data-vars-category="Antivirus,Professional Software,Security Software and Services" data-vars-manufacturer-id="17449" data-vars-manufacturer="NortonLifeLock, Inc." data-vars-vendor="Norton,PCWorld Software Store" data-vars-po="" data-product="246479" data-vars-link-position-id="005" data-vars-link-position="Product Sidebar" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100470607-13681581" rel="nofollow">$49.99 at  Norton</a> </span>
  2584. </div>
  2585. </div>
  2586. </div>
  2587. </div>
  2588.  
  2590.  
  2591.  
  2592. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="step-3-repeat-for-other-mcafee-components">Step 3: Repeat for other McAfee components</h2>
  2593.  
  2594.  
  2595. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  2596. { "image":
  2597. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  2598. "initialized": false,
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  2607. "scaleAttr": "",
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  2609. }
  2610. }
  2611. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image-60.png?w=1200" alt="McAfee SafeConnect VPN in the Apps &amp; features list in Windows 10" class="wp-image-2310751" width="1200" height="644" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: McAfee SafeConnect VPN in the Apps &amp; features list in Windows 10" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  2612. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  2613. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  2614. </svg>
  2615. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Be sure to uninstall other associated McAfee software.</figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  2616. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  2617. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  2618. </button>
  2619. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="McAfee SafeConnect VPN in the Apps &amp; features list in Windows 10" class="wp-image-2310751" width="1200" height="644" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Be sure to uninstall other associated McAfee software.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">PCWorld</p></div>
  2620. </div>
  2621. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="McAfee SafeConnect VPN in the Apps &amp; features list in Windows 10" class="wp-image-2310751" width="1200" height="644" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Be sure to uninstall other associated McAfee software.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">PCWorld</p></div>
  2622. </div>
  2623. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  2624. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">PCWorld</p></div>
  2625.  
  2626.  
  2627.  
  2628. <p>You may have more than just McAfee&rsquo;s antivirus software on your system&mdash;if the trial was for a broader subscription that also included services like the company&rsquo;s VPN and parental controls, you&rsquo;ll need to uninstall those apps separately.</p>
  2629.  
  2630.  
  2631.  
  2632. <p>Reboot your PC after uninstalling each component.</p>
  2633.  
  2634.  
  2635.  
  2636. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="step-4-confirm-windows-security-is-active">Step 4: Confirm Windows Security is active</h2>
  2637.  
  2638.  
  2639. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  2640. { "image":
  2641. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  2642. "initialized": false,
  2643. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  2644. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  2645. "preloadInitialized": false,
  2646. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  2647. "imageUploadedSrc": "",
  2648. "imageCurrentSrc": "",
  2649. "targetWidth": "none",
  2650. "targetHeight": "none",
  2651. "scaleAttr": "",
  2652. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  2653. }
  2654. }
  2655. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image-61.png?w=1200" alt="Windows Security app in Windows 10 after McAfee uninstall" class="wp-image-2310749" width="1200" height="644" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Windows Security app in Windows 10 after McAfee uninstall" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  2656. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  2657. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  2658. </svg>
  2659. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">On this PC, <em>App &amp; browser control </em>should be turned on for fuller protection.</figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  2660. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  2661. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  2662. </button>
  2663. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Windows Security app in Windows 10 after McAfee uninstall" class="wp-image-2310749" width="1200" height="644" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">On this PC, <em>App &amp; browser control </em>should be turned on for fuller protection.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">PCWorld</p></div>
  2664. </div>
  2665. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Windows Security app in Windows 10 after McAfee uninstall" class="wp-image-2310749" width="1200" height="644" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">On this PC, <em>App &amp; browser control </em>should be turned on for fuller protection.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">PCWorld</p></div>
  2666. </div>
  2667. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  2668. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">PCWorld</p></div>
  2669.  
  2670.  
  2671.  
  2672. <p>After the dust settles, open the Start menu, then type <em>windows security</em> and launch the app.</p>
  2673.  
  2674.  
  2675.  
  2676. <p>Under <em>Virus &amp; threat protection</em>, your status should say <em>No action needed</em>. If it says <em>Unknown</em>, reboot your PC and then look again. We recommend also turning on <em>App &amp; browser control </em>if you see a prompt to do so (like in the screenshot above).</p>
  2677.  
  2678.  
  2679.  
  2680. <p>After you&rsquo;ve performed this step, you should be good to go&mdash;you can either let Windows continue doing its thing, or install different third-party antivirus software more to your liking. </p>
  2681.  
  2682. <category>Antivirus</category></body></div>
  2683. ]]></description>
  2684. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/2310743/how-to-uninstall-mcafee-antivirus.html</link>
  2685. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2310743</post-id> </item>
  2686. <item>
  2687. <title>Controversial Windows 11 Start menu ads begin rolling out</title>
  2688. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/start-menu-spamton-4.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="242842" type="image/jpeg" />
  2689. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:46:51 +0000</pubDate>
  2690. <description><![CDATA[
  2691. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  2692. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  2693.  
  2694.  
  2695.  
  2696. <p>Microsoft is pushing advertising into <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2049502/microsofts-incessant-windows-ads-are-getting-out-of-control.html">every possible corner of Windows 11</a> that it can find, and the Start menu is definitely not a safe space. We reported a few weeks ago that Windows Insider builds were <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2300741/its-official-ads-are-coming-to-the-windows-start-menu.html">showing &ldquo;Promoted&rdquo; applications once again</a>. In a shockingly short amount of time, that function has been pushed into the current Windows 11 wide release build. </p>
  2697.  
  2698.  
  2699.  
  2700. <div class="wp-block-product-widget-block product-widget is-half-width is-float-right">
  2701. <div class="product-widget__block-title-wrapper">
  2702. <h4 class="product-widget__block-title" id="get-windows-11-pro-for-cheap">
  2703. get windows 11 pro for cheap </h4>
  2704. </div>
  2705.  
  2706. <div class="product-widget__content-wrapper">
  2707. <div class="product-widget__title-wrapper">
  2708. <h3 class="product-widget__title" id="windows-11-pro">Windows 11 Pro</h3>
  2709. </div>
  2711. <div class="product-widget__image-outer-wrapper">
  2712. <div class="product-widget__image-wrapper">
  2713. <img decoding="async" width="2368" height="1330" class="product-widget__image" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Windows-Insider-search-bar.png" loading="lazy" alt="Windows 11 Pro" srcset="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Windows-Insider-search-bar.png?quality=50&amp;strip=all 2368w, https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Windows-Insider-search-bar.png?resize=300%2C168&amp;quality=50&amp;strip=all 300w, https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Windows-Insider-search-bar.png?resize=768%2C431&amp;quality=50&amp;strip=all 768w, https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Windows-Insider-search-bar.png?resize=1200%2C674&amp;quality=50&amp;strip=all 1200w, https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Windows-Insider-search-bar.png?resize=1536%2C863&amp;quality=50&amp;strip=all 1536w, https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Windows-Insider-search-bar.png?resize=2048%2C1150&amp;quality=50&amp;strip=all 2048w, https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Windows-Insider-search-bar.png?resize=1240%2C697&amp;quality=50&amp;strip=all 1240w, https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Windows-Insider-search-bar.png?resize=150%2C84&amp;quality=50&amp;strip=all 150w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
  2714. </div>
  2715. </div>
  2718. <div class="product-widget__information">
  2719. <div class="product-widget__information--rrp-wrapper">
  2720. <span class="product-widget__information--rrp-label">
  2721. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  2722. <span class="product-widget__information--rrp-value">
  2723. 199.99 </span>
  2724. </div>
  2726. <div class="product-widget__pricing-details  ">
  2727. <span class="product-widget__pricing-details--label">
  2728. Best Prices Today:
  2729. </span>
  2730. <span class="product-widget__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  2731. <a class="product-widget__pricing-details--link" href="https://software.pcworld.com/p44290-windows_11_professional_upgrade?x-source=2-1-2313981-5-1807627-10994" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Windows 11 Pro" data-vars-product-id="1807627" data-vars-category="Windows" data-vars-manufacturer-id="10994" data-vars-manufacturer="Microsoft" data-vars-vendor="sku,PCWorld Software Store,PCWorld Store - Win 11 Pro Upgrade Only" data-vars-po="sku" data-product="1807627" data-vars-link-position-id="005" data-vars-link-position="Product Sidebar" data-vars-outbound-link="https://software.pcworld.com/p44290-windows_11_professional_upgrade" rel="nofollow">$59 at  PCWorld Store &ndash; Win 11 Pro Upgrade Only</a> <span class="amp-bar"> | </span>
  2732. <a class="product-widget__pricing-details--link" href="https://software.pcworld.com/p43833-windows_11_professional?x-source=2-1-2313981-5-1807627-10994" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Windows 11 Pro" data-vars-product-id="1807627" data-vars-category="Windows" data-vars-manufacturer-id="10994" data-vars-manufacturer="Microsoft" data-vars-vendor="sku,PCWorld Software Store,PCWorld Store - Win 11 Pro Upgrade Only" data-vars-po="sku" data-product="1807627" data-vars-link-position-id="005" data-vars-link-position="Product Sidebar" data-vars-outbound-link="https://software.pcworld.com/p43833-windows_11_professional" rel="nofollow">$79.99 at  PCWorld Software Store</a> </span>
  2733. </div>
  2734. </div>
  2735. </div>
  2736. </div>
  2737.  
  2739.  
  2740.  
  2741. <p>The Verge spotted the update as <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/24/24138949/microsoft-windows-11-start-menu-ads-recommendations-setting-disable&amp;xcust=2-1-2313981-1-0-0&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" rel="nofollow">part of the documentation for build KB5036980</a>, which is an optional update at the moment, but will be headed to all current builds as Windows Update propagates. The Recommended section of the Windows 11 Start menu, normally reserved for apps you&rsquo;ve just downloaded or frequently accessed user files, will add oh-so-helpful links to the Microsoft Store. </p>
  2742.  
  2743.  
  2744.  
  2745. <p>And by &ldquo;helpful,&rdquo; I mean they&rsquo;re apps that have paid to suddenly appear on millions of users&rsquo; Start menu before they actually choose to install them. While we were expecting this to roll out to wide users at some point, Microsoft&rsquo;s usual pace for these kinds of updates would have put it months away at the earliest. Moving from Insider builds to wide release this quickly is shocking. </p>
  2746.  
  2747.  
  2748. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  2749. { "image":
  2750. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  2751. "initialized": false,
  2752. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  2753. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  2754. "preloadInitialized": false,
  2755. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  2756. "imageUploadedSrc": "",
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  2758. "targetWidth": "none",
  2759. "targetHeight": "none",
  2760. "scaleAttr": "",
  2761. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  2762. }
  2763. }
  2764. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/start-reco-1password.png" alt="Microsoft windows 11 start menu ad advertisement advertising" class="wp-image-2314016" width="677" height="377" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Microsoft windows 11 start menu ad advertisement advertising" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  2765. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  2766. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  2767. </svg>
  2768. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  2769. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  2770. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  2771. </button>
  2772. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Microsoft windows 11 start menu ad advertisement advertising" class="wp-image-2314016" width="677" height="377" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Microsoft</p></div>
  2773. </div>
  2774. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Microsoft windows 11 start menu ad advertisement advertising" class="wp-image-2314016" width="677" height="377" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Microsoft</p></div>
  2775. </div>
  2776. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  2777. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Microsoft</p></div>
  2778.  
  2779.  
  2780.  
  2781. <p>While we&rsquo;ve seen anecdotal reports of the ads popping into Start menus on new Windows 11 installations, we can&rsquo;t actually generate one on our own systems, even with the KB5036980 update applied. It&rsquo;s possible that Microsoft hasn&rsquo;t &ldquo;flipped the switch&rdquo; yet, at least not for everyone with the requisite Windows update applied. </p>
  2782.  
  2783.  
  2784.  
  2785. <p>If you see the new &ldquo;Promoted&rdquo; ads in the Recommended section of your Start menu, and you would rather not, you can disable them. Head to the main Windows menu, then click <em>Personalization&gt;Start</em>. Disable the toggle for &ldquo;Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more.&rdquo; Hopefully this option doesn&rsquo;t disappear on a future update. </p>
  2786.  
  2787. <category>Windows</category></body></div>
  2788. ]]></description>
  2789. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/2313981/controversial-windows-11-start-menu-ads-begin-rolling-out.html</link>
  2790. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2313981</post-id> </item>
  2791. <item>
  2792. <title>Best password managers 2024: Protect your online accounts</title>
  2793. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/pw-manager-hub-100729695-orig-2.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="203499" type="image/jpeg" />
  2794. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  2795. <description><![CDATA[
  2796. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  2797. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  2798.  
  2799.  
  2800.  
  2801. <p>Humans are terrible at passwords. Simply put, we suck at creating them, we can never remember them, and we share them way too freely. Indeed, the very thing that can ensure our online security has become our biggest obstacle to it. And if you think you have good reasons not to use a password manager, <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/709052/6-common-reasons-people-dont-use-a-password-manager-and-why-theyre-wrong.html" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.pcworld.com/article/709052/6-common-reasons-people-dont-use-a-password-manager-and-why-theyre-wrong.html">here is why you&rsquo;re wrong</a>. </p>
  2802.  
  2803.  
  2804.  
  2805. <p>The best password managers relieve you of the burden of two of these problems&mdash;having to create and then memorize unique, complex logins on your own. Sharing your passwords is on you. Plus, these applications protect your passwords by encrypting your login info in a virtual vault&mdash;either locally or in the cloud&mdash;only allowing access with a single master password. So, if you&rsquo;re looking to step up your security game, a password manager is one of the best ways to do it. And sure, web browsers are starting to offer password management features, <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/3604671/why-your-browsers-password-manager-isnt-good-enough.html">but they&rsquo;re not yet good enough</a>.&nbsp;</p>
  2806.  
  2807.  
  2808.  
  2809. <p>All of our top picks for password mangers support a variety of operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS, Android, and iOS, as well as the major browsers. And all will let you sync your data across multiple devices, though you may have to pay extra for that privilege. Once you&rsquo;ve found the right password manager for your needs, head over to our guide on <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/394241/mastering-your-password-manager-5-must-know-tips.html">mastering your password manager</a> to make sure you&rsquo;re getting the most from your software.</p>
  2810.  
  2811.  
  2812.  
  2813. <p><em><strong>Update April 24, 2024:</strong> In our recent re-evaluation of NordPass, we found that it had made big strides toward improving its service, enough to put it on similar footing with more established players in the field&mdash;and at a more affordable price, too. You can read all the details in <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/394924/nordpass-review.html">our full review</a>.</em></p>
  2814.  
  2815.  
  2816.  
  2817. <div class="wp-block-product-chart product-chart">
  2818. <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  2819. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  2820. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  2821. <h2 data-p_name="Dashlane" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title " id="dashlane-best-password-manager-overall">
  2822. Dashlane &ndash; Best password manager overall </h2>
  2823. </div>
  2824. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  2825. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  2826. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  2827. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
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  2840. "scaleAttr": "",
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  2844. }' data-wp-interactive><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" width="15080" height="4013" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Dashlane - Best password manager overall" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Dashlane-Lockup-Green-3619X1385.png" loading="lazy" sizes="15080" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Dashlane - Best password manager overall" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  2845. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  2846. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
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  2849. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  2850. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  2851. </button>
  2852. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="15080" height="4013" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Dashlane - Best password manager overall" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="15080" /></figure></div>
  2853. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="15080" height="4013" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Dashlane - Best password manager overall" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="15080" /></figure></div>
  2854. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  2855. </div></figure> </div>
  2856. </div>
  2857. <div class="product-chart-body">
  2858. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  2860. <div class="product-chart-column">
  2861. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  2862. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  2863. <li>
  2864. Analyzes and rates the strength of your passwords </li>
  2865. <li>
  2866. Supports auto-filling web forms with personal profiles </li>
  2867. <li>
  2868. VPN and Dark Web scanning available with paid plan </li>
  2869. </ul>
  2870. </div>
  2871. <div class="product-chart-column">
  2872. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  2873. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  2874. <li>
  2875. Expensive premium tiers </li>
  2876. <li>
  2877. Free plan limited to one device </li>
  2878. </ul>
  2879. </div>
  2880. </div>
  2881. </div>
  2882. </div>
  2884. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  2885. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  2886. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  2887.  
  2888. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  2889. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  2890. Free I Advanced: $2.75/mo I Premium: $4.99/mo I Friends &amp; Family: $7.49/mo </span>
  2891. </div>
  2893. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  2894. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  2895. Best Prices Today:
  2896. </span>
  2897. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  2898. <span class="not-amp">
  2899. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://www.tkqlhce.com/click-100470607-12528922?sid=2-1-407092-6-389931-15360" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Dashlane" data-vars-product-id="389931" data-vars-category="Professional Software" data-vars-manufacturer-id="15360" data-vars-manufacturer="Dashlane" data-vars-vendor="Dashlane" data-vars-po="" data-product="389931" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.tkqlhce.com/click-100470607-12528922" rel="nofollow">$4.99 at  Dashlane</a> </span>
  2900. </span>
  2901. </div>
  2902. </div>
  2903. <div class="product-content">
  2905. <p>Dashlane has always been a close contender with LastPass, so after the latter&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1419901/lastpass-got-hacked-again-and-this-time-your-data-got-taken.html" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1419901/lastpass-got-hacked-again-and-this-time-your-data-got-taken.html">big data breach</a>, it&rsquo;s great to know that users still have Dashlane. A full-service password manager, Dashlane offers easy access to your logins, secure notes, payment data, and other information, all through its elegantly designed web portal or via one of its browser extensions for Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Opera, or Safari. Most importantly, its password game is strong, making it easy to generate and store complex, unique passwords and safely keep sensitive payment and personal data at your fingertips. With autofill deployed, Dashlane doesn&rsquo;t just ensure you use best password practices, but that doing so is practically effortless.</p>
  2906.  
  2907. <p>Dashlane is free for a single device, but if you want syncing across multiple devices you&rsquo;ll need a paid plan: The Advanced plan costs $33 annually or $2.75 per month, and adds dark web monitoring, to alert you whether your personal data is being used nefariously. The Premium account subscription costs $59.88 per year or $4.99 per month and includes all the features of the previous tiers and adds a VPN. The Friends and Family plan extends Premium plans to up to 10 accounts for $89.88 per year or $7.49 per month. These prices are a little higher than some of the competitors (indeed, that was one of LastPass&rsquo;s small advantages), but Dashlane offers a premium product and has provided a reliable service for years.</p>
  2908. </div>
  2909. Read our full
  2910. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/407081/dashlane-password-manager-review.html" target="_blank" score="5">
  2911. Dashlane review </a>
  2912. </div>
  2913. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-18" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF18"}'>
  2914. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  2915. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  2916. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  2917. <h2 data-p_name="Keeper " class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title " id="keeper-most-security-minded">
  2918. Keeper &ndash; Most security-minded </h2>
  2919. </div>
  2920. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  2921. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  2922. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  2923. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
  2924. <figure class="wp-lightbox-container" data-wp-context='{ "core":
  2925. { "image":
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  2927. "initialized": false,
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  2934. "targetWidth": "none",
  2935. "targetHeight": "none",
  2936. "scaleAttr": "",
  2937. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  2938. }
  2939. }
  2940. }' data-wp-interactive><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" width="1285" height="675" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Keeper - Most security-minded" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/keeper1-1.png" loading="lazy" sizes="1285" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Keeper - Most security-minded" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  2941. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  2942. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  2943. </svg>
  2944. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  2945. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  2946. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  2947. </button>
  2948. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1285" height="675" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Keeper - Most security-minded" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1285" /></figure></div>
  2949. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1285" height="675" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Keeper - Most security-minded" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1285" /></figure></div>
  2950. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  2951. </div></figure> </div>
  2952. </div>
  2953. <div class="product-chart-body">
  2954. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  2956. <div class="product-chart-column">
  2957. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  2958. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  2959. <li>
  2960. Exceptionally strong security </li>
  2961. <li>
  2962. Seamless exprience across platforms </li>
  2963. <li>
  2964. Easy-to-use web interface </li>
  2965. </ul>
  2966. </div>
  2967. <div class="product-chart-column">
  2968. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  2969. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  2970. <li>
  2971. Users may find some security features inconvenient </li>
  2972. <li>
  2973. Free version more limited than competitors&rsquo; </li>
  2974. </ul>
  2975. </div>
  2976. </div>
  2977. </div>
  2978. </div>
  2980. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  2981. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  2982. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  2983.  
  2984. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  2985. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  2986. $34.99 </span>
  2987. </div>
  2989. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  2990. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  2991. Best Prices Today:
  2992. </span>
  2993. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  2994. <span class="not-amp">
  2995. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=%2al6kYCuH720&amp;offerid=1261408.176&amp;bids=1261408.176&amp;type=3&amp;subid=0&amp;u1=2-1-407092-6-391124-14709" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Keeper" data-vars-product-id="391124" data-vars-category="Professional Software" data-vars-manufacturer-id="14709" data-vars-manufacturer="Keeper Security" data-vars-vendor="Keeper Security" data-vars-po="" data-product="391124" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=%2al6kYCuH720&amp;offerid=1261408.176&amp;bids=1261408.176&amp;type=3&amp;subid=0" rel="nofollow">$17.49 at  Keeper Security</a> </span>
  2996. </span>
  2997. </div>
  2998. </div>
  2999. <div class="product-content">
  3001. <p>It&rsquo;s a consumer&rsquo;s market when it comes to password managers. While we have our clear favorite above, Keeper is a very strong contender in its own right. It emphasizes security more so than many other password managers. For instance, it eschews an automatic password update feature as even this process would require temporary access to your credentials.</p>
  3002.  
  3003. <p>While Keeper&rsquo;s security-above-all-else mindset makes it one of the best, in the past it has come at the expense of things some consumers prize such as ease-of-use and aesthetics. To its credit, Keeper seems to recognize this and has taken strides to continuously update its interface to be more modern and user-friendly. While security-minded users stand to get the most out of Keeper&rsquo;s robust features set, even the everyday user will be safer for using it.</p>
  3004. </div>
  3005. Read our full
  3006. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/398233/keeper-password-manager-review.html" target="_blank" score="4.5">
  3007. Keeper  review </a>
  3008. </div>
  3009. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-19" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF19"}'>
  3010. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  3011. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  3012. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  3013. <h2 data-p_name="LogMeOnce password manager" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title " id="logmeonce-best-for-alternate-login-methods">
  3014. LogMeOnce &ndash; Best for alternate login methods </h2>
  3015. </div>
  3016. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  3017. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  3018. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  3019. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
  3020. <figure class="wp-lightbox-container" data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  3030. "targetWidth": "none",
  3031. "targetHeight": "none",
  3032. "scaleAttr": "",
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  3034. }
  3035. }
  3036. }' data-wp-interactive><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" width="904" height="449" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="LogMeOnce - Best for alternate login methods" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/logmeonce.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" loading="lazy" sizes="904" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: LogMeOnce - Best for alternate login methods" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  3037. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  3038. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  3039. </svg>
  3040. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  3041. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  3042. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  3043. </button>
  3044. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="904" height="449" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="LogMeOnce - Best for alternate login methods" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="904" /></figure></div>
  3045. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="904" height="449" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="LogMeOnce - Best for alternate login methods" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="904" /></figure></div>
  3046. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  3047. </div></figure> </div>
  3048. </div>
  3049. <div class="product-chart-body">
  3050. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  3052. <div class="product-chart-column">
  3053. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  3054. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  3055. <li>
  3056. No need to remember a complex master password </li>
  3057. <li>
  3058. Robust security features </li>
  3059. <li>
  3060. Easy-to-use web interface </li>
  3061. </ul>
  3062. </div>
  3063. <div class="product-chart-column">
  3064. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  3065. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  3066. <li>
  3067. Paid plans required to share more than a few passwords and files </li>
  3068. <li>
  3069. Number of features can be overhwelming </li>
  3070. </ul>
  3071. </div>
  3072. </div>
  3073. </div>
  3074. </div>
  3076. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  3077. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  3078. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  3079.  
  3080. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  3081. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  3082. Premium: Free I Professional: $2.50/mo I Ultimate: $3.25/mo I Family: $4.99/mo </span>
  3083. </div>
  3085. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  3086. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  3087. Best Prices Today:
  3088. </span>
  3089. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  3090. <span class="not-amp">
  3091. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://logmeonce.com/password-manager/&amp;xcust=2-1-407092-6-393042-17986&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="LogMeOnce" data-vars-product-id="393042" data-vars-category="Security Software and Services" data-vars-manufacturer-id="17986" data-vars-manufacturer="LogMeOnce" data-vars-vendor="LogMeOnce" data-vars-po="" data-product="393042" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://logmeonce.com/password-manager/" rel="nofollow">$0 at  LogMeOnce</a> </span>
  3092. </span>
  3093. </div>
  3094. </div>
  3095. <div class="product-content">
  3097. <p>While most password managers require a master password to access your password vault, LogMeOnce relieves you of having to remember even that. It uniquely offers the option of a PIN, biometric, or photo login to access your vault. This feature gives LogMeOnce a unique edge over other password managers. </p>
  3098.  
  3099. <p>Other than this distinctive feature, LogMeOnce operates similarly to its peers. It allows you to store and sync passwords and credit cards across your devices with end-to-end encryption. It also includes other features such as dark-web and cyberthreat monitoring, but these will come at a bit of an additional cost. Its unique features make LogMeOnce one of the most convenient password managers we&rsquo;ve tested.</p>
  3100. </div>
  3101. Read our full
  3102. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/394855/logmeonce-password-manager-review.html" target="_blank" score="4">
  3103. LogMeOnce password manager review </a>
  3104. </div>
  3105. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-20" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF20"}'>
  3106. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  3107. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  3108. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  3109. <h2 data-p_name="Bitwarden" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title " id="bitwarden-best-free-password-manager">
  3110. Bitwarden &ndash; Best free password manager </h2>
  3111. </div>
  3112. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  3113. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  3114. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  3115. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
  3116. <figure class="wp-lightbox-container" data-wp-context='{ "core":
  3117. { "image":
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  3119. "initialized": false,
  3120. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  3121. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  3122. "preloadInitialized": false,
  3123. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  3124. "imageUploadedSrc": "https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/bitwarden-100894159-orig.webp",
  3125. "imageCurrentSrc": "",
  3126. "targetWidth": "none",
  3127. "targetHeight": "none",
  3128. "scaleAttr": "",
  3129. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  3130. }
  3131. }
  3132. }' data-wp-interactive><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" width="1024" height="517" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Bitwarden - Best free password manager" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/bitwarden-100894159-orig.webp" loading="lazy" sizes="1024" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Bitwarden - Best free password manager" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  3133. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  3134. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  3135. </svg>
  3136. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  3137. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  3138. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  3139. </button>
  3140. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1024" height="517" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Bitwarden - Best free password manager" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1024" /></figure></div>
  3141. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="1024" height="517" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="Bitwarden - Best free password manager" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="1024" /></figure></div>
  3142. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  3143. </div></figure> </div>
  3144. </div>
  3145. <div class="product-chart-body">
  3146. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  3148. <div class="product-chart-column">
  3149. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  3150. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  3151. <li>
  3152. Free plan offers unlimited vault entries and device syncing </li>
  3153. <li>
  3154. Paid plan is 70% cheaper (or more!) than rival services </li>
  3155. <li>
  3156. Supports two-factor authentication </li>
  3157. <li>
  3158. Send feature allows you to securely share notes and files with others </li>
  3159. </ul>
  3160. </div>
  3161. <div class="product-chart-column">
  3162. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  3163. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  3164. <li>
  3165. Has occasional trouble capturing and filling credentials on websites </li>
  3166. <li>
  3167. Requires more manual setup than many paid password managers </li>
  3168. </ul>
  3169. </div>
  3170. </div>
  3171. </div>
  3172. </div>
  3174. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  3175. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  3176. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  3177.  
  3178. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  3179. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  3180. $0 </span>
  3181. </div>
  3183. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  3184. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  3185. Best Prices Today:
  3186. </span>
  3187. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  3188. <span class="not-amp">
  3189. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://bitwarden.com/&amp;xcust=2-1-407092-6-393013-18048&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="Bitwarden" data-vars-product-id="393013" data-vars-category="Consumer Electronics" data-vars-manufacturer-id="18048" data-vars-manufacturer="Bitwarden" data-vars-vendor="Bitwarden" data-vars-po="" data-product="393013" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://bitwarden.com/" rel="nofollow">$0 at  Bitwarden</a> </span>
  3190. </span>
  3191. </div>
  3192. </div>
  3193. <div class="product-content">
  3195. <p>Bitwarden continues to offer a generous free plan that makes it a great option for users on a budget. It doesn&rsquo;t charge you a penny to save unlimited vault items or sync your vault across all of your devices. This is a refreshing change from other password managers that place heavy restrictions on free users.</p>
  3196.  
  3197. <p>While it may lack some of the advanced features offered by the paid services and its no-frills interface isn&rsquo;t the most user friendly, you can&rsquo;t argue against Bitwarden&rsquo;s price&mdash;it allows you to upgrade your security for free after all. It also offers an ultra-affordable paid tier with more advance features, but its free tier includes so much that you might not need anything else.</p>
  3198.  
  3199. <p>Free password managers come in all sorts of different flavors. Check out our roundup of <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/394076/best-free-password-managers.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">best free password managers</a> for more information.</p>
  3200. </div>
  3201. Read our full
  3202. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/394731/bitwarden-password-manager-review.html" target="_blank" score="4">
  3203. Bitwarden review </a>
  3204. </div>
  3205. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-21" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF21"}'>
  3206. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  3207. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  3208. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  3209. <h2 data-p_name="KeePass" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title " id="keepass-best-password-manager-for-total-control">
  3210. KeePass &ndash; Best password manager for total control </h2>
  3211. </div>
  3212. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  3213. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  3214. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  3215. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
  3216. <figure class="wp-lightbox-container" data-wp-context='{ "core":
  3217. { "image":
  3218. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  3219. "initialized": false,
  3220. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  3221. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  3222. "preloadInitialized": false,
  3223. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  3224. "imageUploadedSrc": "https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/keepass-dropbox-2.png",
  3225. "imageCurrentSrc": "",
  3226. "targetWidth": "none",
  3227. "targetHeight": "none",
  3228. "scaleAttr": "",
  3229. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  3230. }
  3231. }
  3232. }' data-wp-interactive><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" width="632" height="275" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="KeePass - Best password manager for total control" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/keepass-dropbox-2.png" loading="lazy" sizes="632" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: KeePass - Best password manager for total control" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  3233. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  3234. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  3235. </svg>
  3236. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  3237. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  3238. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  3239. </button>
  3240. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="632" height="275" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="KeePass - Best password manager for total control" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="632" /></figure></div>
  3241. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="632" height="275" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="KeePass - Best password manager for total control" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="632" /></figure></div>
  3242. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  3243. </div></figure> </div>
  3244. </div>
  3245. <div class="product-chart-body">
  3246. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  3248. <div class="product-chart-column">
  3249. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  3250. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  3251. <li>
  3252. Free to use </li>
  3253. <li>
  3254. Highly customizable </li>
  3255. <li>
  3256. Provides full user control of data </li>
  3257. </ul>
  3258. </div>
  3259. <div class="product-chart-column">
  3260. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  3261. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  3262. <li>
  3263. Requires a higher degree of technical proficiency than modern password managers </li>
  3264. <li>
  3265. Dated interface </li>
  3266. <li>
  3267. Core program lacks auto capture and replay and other basic password management features </li>
  3268. </ul>
  3269. </div>
  3270. </div>
  3271. </div>
  3272. </div>
  3274. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  3275. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  3276. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  3277.  
  3278. </span>
  3279. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  3280. </span>
  3281. </div>
  3283. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  3284. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  3285. Best Prices Today:
  3286. </span>
  3287. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  3288. <span class="not-amp">
  3289. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://keepass.info/&amp;xcust=2-1-407092-6-1683228-24039&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="KeePass" data-vars-product-id="1683228" data-vars-category="Security Software and Services" data-vars-manufacturer-id="24039" data-vars-manufacturer="KeePass" data-vars-vendor="KeePass" data-vars-po="" data-product="1683228" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://keepass.info/" rel="nofollow">$0 at  KeePass</a> </span>
  3290. </span>
  3291. </div>
  3292. </div>
  3293. <div class="product-content">
  3295. <p>KeePass is the password manager for those who like to control and tweak everything. It&rsquo;s an open-source program, and lacks the sort of polished, comprehensive UI other password managers offer, and thus may put off the average user. But tech-savvy tinkerers will love all of the customizable settings. It is functionally a very solid program on its own, but to truly realize its potential you will need to have some technical proficiency to take advantage of add-ons. Another big plus for the security-minded, is that KeePass doesn&rsquo;t store your data on the cloud. Everything is stored locally, so you don&rsquo;t have to worry about the security protocols of an online service (ahem, LastPass) to keep your personal data safe. A savvy user will make the file accessible to other devices by using a private cloud account. If you relish the idea of a highly customized, DIY password manager that is free and unconstrained by a third-party&rsquo;s policies and practices this is the product for you&mdash;and if you end up finding it too overwhelming, a simpler alternative like <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2010172/keepassxc-password-manager-review.html">KeePassXC</a> may fit the bill just as nicely.</p>
  3296. </div>
  3297. Read our full
  3298. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1668328/keepass-password-manager-review.html" target="_blank" score="3">
  3299. KeePass review </a>
  3300. </div>
  3301. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-22" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF22"}'>
  3302. </div> <div class="product-chart-separator"></div>
  3303. <div class="wp-block-product-chart-item product-chart-item">
  3304. <div class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper">
  3305. <h2 data-p_name="IronVest" class="product-chart-item__title-wrapper--title product-chart-title " id="ironvest-best-for-masking">
  3306. IronVest &ndash; Best for masking </h2>
  3307. </div>
  3308. <div class="large-pro-cons-product-chart-section">
  3309. <div class="product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper
  3310. product-chart-item__image-outer-wrapper--large">
  3311. <div class="product-chart-item__image-wrapper">
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  3336. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><figure class="responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="2768" height="1518" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="IronVest - Best for masking" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="2768" /></figure></div>
  3337. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><figure class="enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" width="2768" height="1518" class="product-chart-item__image" alt="IronVest - Best for masking" src="" loading="lazy" sizes="2768" /></figure></div>
  3338. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  3339. </div></figure> </div>
  3340. </div>
  3341. <div class="product-chart-body">
  3342. <div class="product-chart-columns">
  3344. <div class="product-chart-column">
  3345. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Pros</p>
  3346. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  3347. <li>
  3348. Manages login credentials </li>
  3349. <li>
  3350. Hides email addresses and credit card numbers </li>
  3351. <li>
  3352. Blocks trackers </li>
  3353. </ul>
  3354. </div>
  3355. <div class="product-chart-column">
  3356. <p class="product-chart-subTitle">Cons</p>
  3357. <ul class="product-pros-cons-list">
  3358. <li>
  3359. Requires paid subscription to unlock advanced features </li>
  3360. <li>
  3361. Some features still in beta </li>
  3362. </ul>
  3363. </div>
  3364. </div>
  3365. </div>
  3366. </div>
  3368. <div class="product-chart-item__information ">
  3369. <div class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-wrapper">
  3370. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-label">
  3371.  
  3372. Price When Reviewed: </span>
  3373. <span class="product-chart-item__information--rrp-value">
  3374. Essentail: Free I Plus:$5.95/mo I Ultimate: $14.95 </span>
  3375. </div>
  3377. <div class="product-chart-item__pricing-details ">
  3378. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--label">
  3379. Best Prices Today:
  3380. </span>
  3381. <span class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--links-wrapper">
  3382. <span class="not-amp">
  3383. <a class="product-chart-item__pricing-details--link" href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://ironvest.com/pricing/&amp;xcust=2-1-407092-6-1776488-24085&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" data-vars-product-name="IronVest" data-vars-product-id="1776488" data-vars-category="Security Software and Services" data-vars-manufacturer-id="24085" data-vars-manufacturer="IronVest" data-vars-vendor="IronVest" data-vars-po="" data-product="1776488" data-vars-link-position-id="003" data-vars-link-position="Product Chart" data-vars-outbound-link="https://ironvest.com/pricing/" rel="nofollow">$0 at  IronVest</a> </span>
  3384. </span>
  3385. </div>
  3386. </div>
  3387. <div class="product-content">
  3389. <p>While most password managers focus solely on passwords, IronVest sets out to not only safely store your passwords, but make your entire online experience more secure. IronVest offers an intuitive and straightforward way to keep your passwords, identity, credit cards, email addresses, and other sensitive information protected while shopping online. Still a relatively new company, IronVest impressed with its ability to obfuscate personally identifiable information and block trackers in addition to just being solid password management software. It does this by masking your information when shopping. When you enter your email address, credit card, or other information on a site, IronVest creates and submits a masked version to the vendor so that they never see your actual information. It&rsquo;s a neat feature that helps IronVest stand out from the competition.</p>
  3390.  
  3391. <p>Some features of the service are still in beta, so you can expect minor tweaks and changes before the full release. Even though the application is still in its infancy, the feature set is solid and trustworthy. Besides, it&rsquo;s currently free to test out, so it costs nothing to give this unique and innovative service a try. </p>
  3392. </div>
  3393. Read our full
  3394. <a class="product-chart-item__review-link" href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1682997/ironvest-password-manager-review.html" target="_blank" score="4">
  3395. IronVest review </a>
  3396. </div>
  3397. <div id="gpt-leaderboardmainbod-23" class="ad page-ad has-ad-prefix ad-article" data-ad-template="article" data-ofp="false" data-aaad="true" data-aa-adunit="/8456/IDG.US_CSMB_PCWorld.com/" data-aa-targeting='{"pos":"BTF23"}'>
  3398. </div> </div>
  3399.  
  3401.  
  3402.  
  3403. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="what-to-look-for-in-a-password-manager">What to look for in a password manager</h2>
  3404.  
  3405.  
  3406.  
  3407. <p>At their most basic, password managers capture your username and password&mdash;usually via a browser plugin&mdash;when you log in to a website, and then automatically fill in your credentials when you return to that site. They store all your passwords in an encrypted database, often referred to as a &ldquo;vault,&rdquo; which you protect with a single master password.</p>
  3408.  
  3409.  
  3410.  
  3411. <p>Of course, most password managers do much more than this and many extend protection beyond your login credentials to other types of personal data. We narrowed it down to a few essential features that we looked for and you should too:</p>
  3412.  
  3413.  
  3414.  
  3415. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="password-generation">Password generation </h3>
  3416.  
  3417.  
  3418.  
  3419. <p>You&rsquo;ve been reminded ad nauseam that the strongest passwords are long, random strings of characters, and that you should use a different one for each site you access. That&rsquo;s a tall order. This is what makes password generation&mdash;the ability to create complex passwords out of letters, numbers, and special characters&mdash;an indispensable feature of any good password manager. The best password managers will also be able to analyze your existing passwords for weaknesses and upgrade them with a click.</p>
  3420.  
  3421.  
  3422.  
  3423. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="autofill-and-auto-login">Autofill and auto-login </h3>
  3424.  
  3425.  
  3426.  
  3427. <p>Most password managers can autofill your login credentials whenever you visit a site and even log you in automatically. Thus, the master password is the only one you ever have to enter. This is controversial, though, as browser autofill has long been a security concern, so the best managers will also let you toggle off this feature if you feel the risk outweighs the convenience.</p>
  3428.  
  3429.  
  3430.  
  3431. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="secure-sharing">Secure sharing </h3>
  3432.  
  3433.  
  3434.  
  3435. <p>Sometimes you need to share a password with a family member or coworker. A password manager should let you do so without compromising your security.</p>
  3436.  
  3437.  
  3438.  
  3439. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="two-factor-authentication">Two-factor authentication</h3>
  3440.  
  3441.  
  3442.  
  3443. <p>To an enterprising cybercriminal, your password manager&rsquo;s master password is as hackable as any other password. Increasingly, password managers support multi-factor authentication&mdash;using a second method such as a PIN, a fingerprint, or another &ldquo;trusted device&rdquo; for additional verification&mdash;to mitigate this risk. Choose one that does.</p>
  3444.  
  3445.  
  3446.  
  3447. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="protection-for-other-personal-data">Protection for other personal data </h3>
  3448.  
  3449.  
  3450.  
  3451. <p>Because of how frequently we use them online, credit card and bank account numbers, our addresses, and other personal data can be securely stored in many password managers and available to autofill into web forms when we&rsquo;re shopping or registering an account.</p>
  3452.  
  3453.  
  3454.  
  3455. <p>No online security measure is 100 percent foolproof, but most security experts agree that password managers are still the safest way for people to manage their myriad logins, and we agree that the benefits far outweigh the risks. Just choose your password manager carefully after researching all the options starting with this guide. </p>
  3456.  
  3457.  
  3458.  
  3459. <p><i><strong>Editor&rsquo;s note:</strong>&nbsp;Because online services are often iterative, gaining new features and performance improvements over time, our reviews are subject to change in order to accurately reflect the current state of the services.</i></p>
  3460.  
  3461.  
  3462.  
  3463. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-block faq-block"><h2 class="faq-block-title" id="faq"> FAQ </h2><hr class="block-horizotal-divider">
  3464. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">1.</span>
  3465. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="are-password-managers-safe">Are password managers safe?</h3>
  3466.  
  3467.  
  3468.  
  3469. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  3470. <p>While nothing can be said to be 100 percent safe and secure, password managers do a great job of providing enhanced security features that you wouldn&rsquo;t otherwise have. Generally speaking, password managers encrypt all of the data you store with them. While cybercriminals might be able to somehow hack the password manager, it is highly unlikely they will be able to decrypt your data to see the contents.</p>
  3471.  
  3472.  
  3473.  
  3474. <p>Nevertheless, much of the security of your password manager comes down to the strength of your one master password. If you are concerned about the safety of this one password, then it would be worth it to choose a password manager that stores your master password on a different server from the rest of your encrypted passwords&mdash;adding an additional layer of security.</p>
  3475. </div>
  3476. </div></div>
  3477.  
  3478.  
  3479.  
  3480. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">2.</span>
  3481. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="is-it-worth-paying-for-a-password-manager">Is it worth paying for a password manager?</h3>
  3482.  
  3483.  
  3484.  
  3485. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  3486. <p>This will come down to what features you need in a password manager. Free services typically are limited to one device on which to save and sync your passwords. They will generate strong passwords for use, offer basic compromised-password alerts, and will store saved credit card and address information.&nbsp;</p>
  3487.  
  3488.  
  3489.  
  3490. <p>Premium password managers, which you have to pay to use, offer all of the same features as their free counterparts, but also allow you to sync and store passwords and data across multiple devices&mdash;or even between family members. They also have additional special features such as dark web scanning and emergency contact access, among others.&nbsp;</p>
  3491.  
  3492.  
  3493.  
  3494. <p>If you only have one device and don&rsquo;t need any of the fancy additional features, then there really isn&rsquo;t a need to pay for a premium service. However, premium password managers are only a few dollars per month so they won&rsquo;t break the bank if you ever decide to switch.</p>
  3495. </div>
  3496. </div></div>
  3497.  
  3498.  
  3499.  
  3500. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">3.</span>
  3501. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="what-if-the-password-manager-gets-hacked">What if the password manager gets hacked?</h3>
  3502.  
  3503.  
  3504.  
  3505. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  3506. <p>If you suspect that you have been hacked, it is important to first figure out if it&rsquo;s just you or if your password manager&rsquo;s database has been compromised. Reputable password managers should put out some form of public release if they have been hacked. You can figure this out with a simple Google search. If they are not claiming to have been hacked, then it may be that your own data has been compromised some other way.</p>
  3507.  
  3508.  
  3509.  
  3510. <p>If it turns out your password manager&rsquo;s database has been hacked, it&rsquo;s up to you whether to continue with that service. Thankfully, all your passwords will be encrypted so hackers won&rsquo;t be able to see the contents even after they have been stolen.</p>
  3511. </div>
  3512. </div></div>
  3513.  
  3514.  
  3515.  
  3516. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">4.</span>
  3517. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="is-using-one-master-password-for-your-password-manager-really-safe">Is using one master password for your password manager really safe?</h3>
  3518.  
  3519.  
  3520.  
  3521. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  3522. <p>It can seem a little disconcerting to entrust the security of all your passwords to one master password on a password manager. It&rsquo;s true that the strength and safety of your master password can determine the security of your password manager itself. Therefore it is ideal to create a very strong master password.</p>
  3523.  
  3524.  
  3525.  
  3526. <p>The good news is that password managers typically store your master password and your other encrypted passwords and data on separate servers. This isn&rsquo;t foolproof, but it does add an additional layer of security.</p>
  3527. </div>
  3528. </div></div>
  3529.  
  3530.  
  3531.  
  3532. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">5.</span>
  3533. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="what-are-passkeys-do-i-need-a-password-manager-if-i-use-passkeys">What are passkeys? Do I need a password manager if I use passkeys?</h3>
  3534.  
  3535.  
  3536.  
  3537. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  3538. <p>Passkeys are a new form of account authentication. It&rsquo;s a system that uses a set of encrypted keys, with a private one that you keep and a public one given to a website. To log in, you have to approve the attempt to see if the keys pair. Major tech companies <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1815683/how-to-set-up-and-use-passkeys-with-your-google-account.html">like Google</a>, Apple, and Microsoft are pushing to see passkeys widely adopted across the web, as they&rsquo;re simpler and more secure than passwords.</p>
  3539.  
  3540.  
  3541.  
  3542. <p>While most mentions of passkeys talk about storing them on a smartphone, you can store them in other ways, too, like on a hardware key or (as you might have guessed) a password manager. Multiple password managers have added support for passkeys, with <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://www.dashlane.com/&amp;xcust=2-1-407092-1-0-0&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" rel="nofollow">Dashlane</a>, <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://nordpass.com/&amp;xcust=2-1-407092-1-0-0&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" rel="nofollow">NordPass</a>, and <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://1password.com/&amp;xcust=2-1-407092-1-0-0&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" rel="nofollow">1Password</a> just a few of the services that can now store them. And while passkeys seem to be the future of online security, passwords likely will stick around for a while. Using a service to keep track of both kinds of authentication will be very useful.</p>
  3543. </div>
  3544. </div></div>
  3545. </div>
  3546.  
  3547.  
  3548.  
  3549. <category>Professional Software, Security Software and Services</category></body></div>
  3550. ]]></description>
  3551. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/407092/best-password-managers-reviews-and-buying-advice.html</link>
  3552. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">407092</post-id> </item>
  3553. <item>
  3554. <title>Save $322 on Alienware’s OLED ultrawide, the best gaming monitor around</title>
  3555. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/alienware-aw3423dwf-5.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="1734742" type="image/jpeg" />
  3556. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 15:57:22 +0000</pubDate>
  3557. <description><![CDATA[
  3558. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  3559. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  3560.  
  3561.  
  3562.  
  3563. <p>Ugh, Alienware, you&rsquo;re killing me here. I&rsquo;m trying to save up for some new kayak gear, and you&rsquo;re pushing your OLED ultrawide gaming monitor prices down to the lowest we&rsquo;ve ever seen. Specifically, Best Buy has the Alienware AW3423DWF, our current pick for the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/813301/best-gaming-monitors.html">best gaming monitor</a> you can buy, <a href="https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Falienware-aw3423dwf-34-quantum-dot-oled-curved-ultrawide-gaming-monitor-165hz-amd-freesync-premium-pro-vesa-hdmiusb-dark-side-of-the-moon%2F6536990.p%3FskuId%3D6536990&amp;publisher_slug=pcworld&amp;exclusive=1&amp;article_name=pcworld&amp;article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Ffeed&amp;u1=2-1-2313929-1-0-0" rel="nofollow">for just $777.77</a>. That&rsquo;s cheaper than any other retailer, and more than $300 off the $1,099 MSRP. </p>
  3564.  
  3565.  
  3566.  
  3567. <p>This monitor uses the near-standard 34-inch, 3440&times;1440 resolution, and 21:9 aspect ratio, a great choice for gamers who want more screen real estate without stepping up to a GPU-punishing 4K resolution. The OLED panel with its vibrant colors and perfect blacks is the big draw, of course, but at 165Hz with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, the AW3423DWF can also handle fast-paced competitive games with aplomb. </p>
  3568.  
  3569.  
  3570.  
  3571. <p>Connections include double DisplayPort plus HDMI, so this makes a great pick if you&rsquo;re building a battlestation with multiple PCs or a console on the side. Though the monitor doesn&rsquo;t do USB-C video or rapid laptop charging it does have four USB-C ports for accessories and a pass-through headphone jack, plus a little bit of RGB bling on the rear logos. It&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2000722/best-monitor-arms.html">compatible with VESA mounts</a> if you&rsquo;re looking for a clean setup. You can <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1440675/alienware-aw3423dwf-review.html">read the full review right here</a>.</p>
  3572.  
  3573.  
  3574.  
  3575. <p>This deal is the best one we&rsquo;ve seen yet for any OLED monitor, beating out many 27-inch models with a lower resolution. But Best Buy&rsquo;s deepest discounts tend to disappear without warning, so get an order in quickly if you&rsquo;re ready to buy. And if you&rsquo;re ready to wait another year for that kayak, I suppose. </p>
  3576.  
  3577.  
  3578. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Falienware-aw3423dwf-34-quantum-dot-oled-curved-ultrawide-gaming-monitor-165hz-amd-freesync-premium-pro-vesa-hdmiusb-dark-side-of-the-moon%2F6536990.p%3FskuId%3D6536990&amp;publisher_slug=pcworld&amp;exclusive=1&amp;article_name=pcworld&amp;article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Ffeed&amp;u1=2-1-2313929-7-0-0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">Get an Alienware 34-inch Ultrawide OLED gaming monitor for $777.77</a></p>
  3579. <category>Monitors</category></body></div>
  3580. ]]></description>
  3581. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/2313929/alienwares-ultrawide-oled-monitor-is-a-jackpot-deal-at-777.html</link>
  3582. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2313929</post-id> </item>
  3583. <item>
  3584. <title>Oops! Gigabyte spills the beans on AMD’s unannounced Ryzen 9000 CPUs</title>
  3585. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ryzen-7950x3d-die-chiplets-1.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="164027" type="image/jpeg" />
  3586. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 15:46:16 +0000</pubDate>
  3587. <description><![CDATA[
  3588. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  3589. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  3590.  
  3591.  
  3592.  
  3593. <p>Wondering what the numbering system for the next-gen AMD CPU you buy for your AM5 system will be called? Me too &mdash; frankly the names and numbers for modern CPUs <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2311599/snapdragons-new-x-elite-chip-list-is-just-elon-musk-baby-names.html">make my head spin</a>. But we have reliable information that the company is going with &ldquo;Ryzen 9000&rdquo; as the family name for the upcoming models, widely expected to debut later this year. </p>
  3594.  
  3595.  
  3596.  
  3597. <p>That&rsquo;s according to motherboard manufacturers, including Asus, MSI, and now Gigabyte, <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-ryzen-9000-zen5-desktop-cpus-now-confirmed-by-gigabyte&amp;xcust=2-1-2313826-1-0-0&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" rel="nofollow">quoting a report from VideoCardz.com</a>. Asus and MSI simply said their boards will support &ldquo;AMD&rsquo;s next-gen CPUs, but Gigabyte specifically stated &ldquo;Ryzen 9000.&rdquo; Though the upcoming AMD &ldquo;Granite Ridge&rdquo; processors will be based on a new Zen5 architecture, they&rsquo;ll still be using the popular AM5 socket, and should therefore work with existing AM5-based motherboards as long as you make sure and update the BIOS. </p>
  3598.  
  3599.  
  3600.  
  3601. <p>If you&rsquo;re scratching your head about why Ryzen 9000 is following Ryzen 7000, you&rsquo;re not alone. <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2193400/amds-ryzen-8000-brings-ai-to-the-desktop-with-an-am4-surprise.html">There <em>are </em>Ryzen 8000-series desktop chips</a> based on the Zen4 architecture, but they&rsquo;re primarily G-series APU designs meant to efficiently combine CPUs and GPUs with powerful integrated graphics. They aren&rsquo;t the chips you pick for a gaming PC or high-power media machine. Instead, Ryzen 8000 was largely a laptop series, similar to Ryzen 4000 a few generations ago.</p>
  3602.  
  3603.  
  3604.  
  3605. <p>Ryzen 9000 will be the new series you&rsquo;re looking for if you&rsquo;re hoping to build an AMD-based gaming desktop in the latter half of this year and into 2025, at least if you want the bleeding edge of performance. (If AMD follows its recent pattern, Granite Ridge &ldquo;X3D&rdquo; processors with extra V-Cache will probably be released sometime in late 2024 or early 2025.) Of course, existing Ryzen 7000 series CPUs &mdash; and even some still-pretty-great 5000 CPUs <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2224616/amds-budget-friendly-ryzen-5700x3d-now-available-for-am4-die-hards.html">for the long-lasting AM4 platform</a> &mdash; will still be widely available. </p>
  3606.  
  3607. <category>CPUs and Processors</category></body></div>
  3608. ]]></description>
  3609. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/2313826/amds-next-desktop-cpu-series-will-be-called-ryzen-9000.html</link>
  3610. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2313826</post-id> </item>
  3611. <item>
  3612. <title>Samsung’s biggest OLED ultrawide monitor is $700 off</title>
  3613. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/P_20230821_152520-2.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="827179" type="image/jpeg" />
  3614. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 14:42:07 +0000</pubDate>
  3615. <description><![CDATA[
  3616. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  3617. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  3618.  
  3619.  
  3620.  
  3621. <p>OLED monitors are the cream of the crop when it comes to gaming, and Samsung makes one of the biggest, widest ones out there. The Odyssey OLED G9 is 49 inches of super-saturated, perfect-black glory, but it doesn&rsquo;t come cheap, with a regular retail price of $1799. But today Amazon is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDQMQQS2?th=1&amp;tag=pcworld02-20&amp;asc_refurl=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" rel="nofollow">offering it at one of the best prices we&rsquo;ve seen yet</a>, just $1099.99, matching a low we saw for a few days last month.</p>
  3622.  
  3623.  
  3624.  
  3625. <p>In terms of dollars to pixels, it&rsquo;s probably the best deal on <em>any </em>OLED gaming monitor at the moment. The Odyssey OLED G9 G95SC&nbsp;offers a resolution of 5120&times;1440 (basically two 27-inch gaming monitors squished together in one panel) with a blisteringly fast refresh rate of 240Hz. Load up any recent 3D game at that resolution and you&rsquo;re likely to make your PC beg for mercy. </p>
  3626.  
  3627.  
  3628.  
  3629. <p>So it&rsquo;s a good thing the screen is compatible with both G-Sync and FreeSync, and includes HDR10+ color capabilities on top of HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4. <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/407493/best-gaming-laptops.html">Gaming laptops</a> aren&rsquo;t left out, like some other OLED monitors: it has a built-in USB-C hub with 65 watts of power delivery. </p>
  3630.  
  3631.  
  3632.  
  3633. <p>It has tons of software tricks, too, including smart TV-style app support (with game streaming services like GeForce Now), splitscreen for multiple inputs, and support for Samsung&rsquo;s wireless DeX from mobile devices. For a full rundown on this monstrously massive monitor, <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2040013/samsung-odyssey-oled-g9-review.html">check out PCWorld&rsquo;s review</a>. </p>
  3634.  
  3635.  
  3636.  
  3637. <p>There&rsquo;s no indication of how long this discount will last, so if you&rsquo;re interested, don&rsquo;t miss out on this screaming-hot deal. </p>
  3638.  
  3639.  
  3640. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDQMQQS2?th=1&amp;tag=pcworld02-20&amp;asc_refurl=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">Get the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 for $1099.99</a></p>
  3641.  
  3642.  
  3643. <p><em>This article was updated after Amazon removed a coupon for an additional $100 off, and when the price returned to its previous low-water mark.</em></p>
  3644.  
  3645. <category>Monitors</category></body></div>
  3646. ]]></description>
  3647. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/2278597/samsungs-biggest-oled-ultrawide-monitor-is-700-off.html</link>
  3648. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2278597</post-id> </item>
  3649. <item>
  3650. <title>Get Corsair’s tiny, wireless, $150 hot-swap keyboard for just $64</title>
  3651. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/k70-pro-mini-wireless-1.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="103479" type="image/jpeg" />
  3652. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 14:33:13 +0000</pubDate>
  3653. <description><![CDATA[
  3654. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  3655. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  3656.  
  3657.  
  3658.  
  3659. <p>When it comes to a lot of mechanical keyboard enthusiasts, smaller is better. A mainstream gaming company like Corsair isn&rsquo;t going to be popping out keyboards without a number row, but this K70 Pro Mini Wireless RGB is about as small as you can find on a store shelf at 60 percent layout. At launch it went for over $150, but today you can <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBWK1XWT?th=1&amp;tag=pcworld02-20&amp;asc_refurl=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" rel="nofollow">pick one up at Amazon for just $63.99</a>. </p>
  3660.  
  3661.  
  3662.  
  3663. <p>The Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless RGB (hoochimama what a mouthful) packs most of the features you&rsquo;d expect from a high-end board, including high-quality PBT doubleshot keycaps and dual-mode wireless with 2.4GHz dongle for gaming and Bluetooth for mobile devices. It also has a really satisfying aluminum case, and comes with speedy Cherry MX switches from the famous German switch maker. </p>
  3664.  
  3665.  
  3666.  
  3667. <p>RGB and sub-1ms wireless speed are a given for Corsair keyboards at this point. But for my money, the best feature is the hot-swap sockets, which allow you to pop in any MX-compatible switches that you like. That makes the K70 a great platform for customization, both for keycaps with its standard layout and for typing or gaming feel. The only real downer is that Corsair&rsquo;s programming software won&rsquo;t let you move the Fn key, which makes it tricky to get arrow keys in the top layer. You can <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/808302/corsair-k70-rgb-pro-mini-wireless-keyboard-review.html">read my full review of the keyboard here</a>.</p>
  3668.  
  3669.  
  3670.  
  3671. <p>At the moment Amazon&rsquo;s deep discount is only available for the white version of the keyboard, and then only with the linear Red switches. But it&rsquo;s still a savings of about a hundred bucks on a design that was prohibitively expensive at launch. If you want a gaming keyboard that can customize deeply and also throw in a backpack, this will fit the bill. </p>
  3672.  
  3673.  
  3674.  
  3675. <p>For more options at any price range, check out <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/835195/best-wireless-gaming-keyboards.html">PCWorld&rsquo;s roundup for wireless gaming keyboards</a>. </p>
  3676.  
  3677.  
  3678. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBWK1XWT?th=1&amp;tag=pcworld02-20&amp;asc_refurl=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">Get a wireless hotswap mini keyboard from Corsair for just $63.99</a></p>
  3679. <category>Keyboards</category></body></div>
  3680. ]]></description>
  3681. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/2313761/get-a-tiny-wireless-hot-swap-corsair-keyboard-for-just-64.html</link>
  3682. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2313761</post-id> </item>
  3683. <item>
  3684. <title>This RTX 4060 Alienware laptop with a 240Hz screen is a screaming hot deal</title>
  3685. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-31-17-1.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="48820" type="image/jpeg" />
  3686. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 14:28:23 +0000</pubDate>
  3687. <description><![CDATA[
  3688. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  3689. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  3690.  
  3691.  
  3692.  
  3693. <p>Gamers, as Samuel L. Jackson once famously said, you better hold onto your butts. If you&rsquo;ve been looking around for a powerful yet affordable gaming laptop, you&rsquo;re in luck, as we&rsquo;ve unearthed an absolutely killer deal today. Dell&rsquo;s selling the <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8200811-12839518?url=https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/gaming-laptops/alienware-m16-gaming-laptop/spd/alienware-m16-r1-amd-laptop/useahctom16r1amd10&amp;sid=2-1-2313714-1-0-0" rel="nofollow">Alienware m16 for $1,049.99</a>, which is a whopping $700 off of the original $1,749.99 price. Not only is this machine packing RTX 4060 graphics, but it also has a wickedly fast 240Hz display. </p>
  3694.  
  3695.  
  3696.  
  3697. <p>When we <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2084512/alienware-x16-review.html">reviewed</a> the newer, more expensive R2 configuration back in October, we awarded it 4 out of 5 stars plus an Editor&rsquo;s Choice Badge; it&rsquo;s currently the top option in our roundup of <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/407493/best-gaming-laptops.html">the best gaming laptops</a>. Inside the model on sale today, you&rsquo;ll find an AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. That means it&rsquo;s capable of blitzing through most modern games on higher graphics settings. </p>
  3698.  
  3699.  
  3700.  
  3701. <p>The spacious 16-inch 2540x1600p display should also produce buttery smooth visuals thanks to the screaming 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time, though you may need to drop the in-game resolution closer to 1080p for the fastest frames rates with the RTX 4060 . If you&rsquo;re willing to spend an extra $50, you can upgrade to a 480Hz (!!!) 1920x1200p display. That&rsquo;s an <strong>absurdly</strong> fast refresh rate&ndash;perfect for more competitive games in which every second matters. Additional goodies include an RGB backlit keyboard, a giant 86 watt-hour battery, and an attractive Dark Metallic Moon colorway. </p>
  3702.  
  3703.  
  3704.  
  3705. <p>This is a terrific deal, especially for a gaming laptop with RTX 4060 graphics and a 240Hz screen. Don&rsquo;t sit on this deal for too long. It&rsquo;ll be gone before you know it!</p>
  3706.  
  3707.  
  3708. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8200811-12839518?url=https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/gaming-laptops/alienware-m16-gaming-laptop/spd/alienware-m16-r1-amd-laptop/useahctom16r1amd10&amp;sid=2-1-2313714-7-0-0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">Get the Alienware m16 for $1,049.99 at Dell</a></p>
  3709. <category>Laptops</category></body></div>
  3710. ]]></description>
  3711. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/2313714/this-rtx-4060-alienware-laptop-with-a-240hz-screen-is-a-screaming-hot-deal.html</link>
  3712. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2313714</post-id> </item>
  3713. <item>
  3714. <title>Today’s best laptop deals: Save big on work, school, home use, and gaming</title>
  3715. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/bf-laptop-deals-pcw-27.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="1134921" type="image/jpeg" />
  3716. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 13:15:17 +0000</pubDate>
  3717. <description><![CDATA[
  3718. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  3719. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  3720.  
  3721.  
  3722.  
  3723. <p>If you&rsquo;re looking to score a fast laptop at a killer price, you&rsquo;ve come to the right place. Whether you&rsquo;re on the hunt for a <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/820520/best-gaming-laptops-for-students.html">blazing fast gaming rig</a>, a <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/917881/best-2-in-1-laptops.html">lightweight 2-in-1</a>, or an <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/608636/best-chromebooks.html">everyday Chromebook</a>, we&rsquo;ve assembled a list of the best laptop deals available right now, using our finely honed editorial judgement to only recommend truly compelling deals on worthwhile notebooks. </p>
  3724.  
  3725.  
  3726.  
  3727. <p>For more notebook options, check out PCWorld&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/436674/the-best-pc-laptops-of-the-year.html">roundup of the best laptops</a> available right now. We&rsquo;ve got can&rsquo;t-miss picks for every use case and budget, putting our thousands of hours of hands-on testing to work for <em>you</em>.</p>
  3728.  
  3729.  
  3730.  
  3731. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="best-laptop-deals-at-a-glance">Best laptop deals (at a glance)</h2>
  3732.  
  3733.  
  3734.  
  3735. <ul>
  3736. <li><a href="https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fasus-vivobook-14-laptop-intel-core-i3-1215u-with-8gb-memory-128gb-ssd-quiet-blue%2F6568805.p%3FskuId%3D6568805&amp;publisher_slug=pcworld&amp;exclusive=1&amp;article_name=pcworld&amp;article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Ffeed&amp;u1=2-1-550968-1-0-0" rel="nofollow">Asus Vivobook 14</a>, <strong>$229.99 ($200 off at Best Buy)</strong> </li>
  3737.  
  3738.  
  3739.  
  3740. <li><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://www.microcenter.com/product/671050/lenovo-ideapad-1-14-laptop-computer-cloud-grey&amp;xcust=2-1-550968-1-0-0&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" rel="nofollow">Lenovo IdeaPad 1</a>, <strong>$249.99</strong> <strong>($170 off at Microcenter)</strong></li>
  3741.  
  3742.  
  3743.  
  3744. <li><a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1762582-REG/lenovo_82x70005us_15_6_ideapad_slim_3.html?BI=21883&amp;KBID=28249" rel="nofollow">Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3</a>, <strong>$299</strong> <strong>($230 off at B&amp;H)</strong></li>
  3745.  
  3746.  
  3747.  
  3748. <li><a href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7168&amp;awinaffid=531979&amp;clickref=2-1-550968-1-0-0&amp;ued=https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-pavilion-x360-convertible-15t-dw400-4v223av-1" rel="nofollow">HP Pavilion x360</a>, <strong>$459.99 ($340 off at HP) </strong></li>
  3749.  
  3750.  
  3751.  
  3752. <li><a href="https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adorama.com%2Fihp644f0uar.html&amp;publisher_slug=pcworld&amp;exclusive=1&amp;article_name=pcworld&amp;article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Ffeed&amp;u1=2-1-550968-1-0-0" rel="nofollow">HP Envy x360</a>,<strong> $569.99 ($379.01 off at Adorama)</strong></li>
  3753.  
  3754.  
  3755.  
  3756. <li><a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1745673-REG/lenovo_82xv005gus_15_6_loq_15irh8_gaming.html?BI=21883&amp;KBID=28249" rel="nofollow">Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8</a>, <strong>$749 ($560 off at B&amp;H) </strong></li>
  3757.  
  3758.  
  3759.  
  3760. <li><a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1820574-REG/hp_889t2aa_aba_14_dragonfly_pro_one.html?BI=21883&amp;KBID=28249" rel="nofollow">HP Dragonfly Pro</a>, <strong>$799 ($600 off at B&amp;H) </strong></li>
  3761.  
  3762.  
  3763.  
  3764. <li><a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8200811-12839518?url=https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-16-laptop/spd/inspiron-16-5630-laptop/usicpbto5630fxky&amp;sid=2-1-550968-1-0-0" rel="nofollow">Dell Inspiron 16</a>, <strong>$819.99 ($540 off at Dell) </strong></li>
  3765.  
  3766.  
  3767.  
  3768. <li><a href="https://goto.walmart.com/c/321564/565706/9383?veh=aff&amp;sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&amp;subid1=2-1-550968-1-0-0&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FXPG-Xenia-15G-15-6-FHD-Gaming-Laptop-Intel-Core-i7-13700H-16-GB-DDR5-NVIDIA-GeForce-RTX-4060-1-TB-SSD-Windows-11-Home-Black-75260049%2F2130763084" rel="nofollow">XPG Xenia</a>, <strong>$999 ($700.99 off at Walmart) </strong></li>
  3769.  
  3770.  
  3771.  
  3772. <li><a href="https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adorama.com%2Fle82y20003us.html&amp;publisher_slug=pcworld&amp;exclusive=1&amp;article_name=pcworld&amp;article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Ffeed&amp;u1=2-1-550968-1-0-0" rel="nofollow">Lenovo Flex 7</a>, <strong>$1,039.99 ($220 off at Adorama) </strong></li>
  3773.  
  3774.  
  3775.  
  3776. <li><a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8200811-12839518?url=https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/gaming-laptops/alienware-m16-gaming-laptop/spd/alienware-m16-r1-amd-laptop/useahctom16r1amd10&amp;sid=2-1-550968-1-0-0" rel="nofollow">Alienware m16</a>, <strong>$1,049.99 ($700 off at Dell) </strong></li>
  3777.  
  3778.  
  3779.  
  3780. <li><a href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1745674-REG/lenovo_82wk0082us_16_legion_pro_5i.html?BI=21883&amp;KBID=28249" rel="nofollow">Lenovo Legion Pro 5i</a>, <strong>$1,179 ($620 off at B&amp;H) </strong></li>
  3781.  
  3782.  
  3783.  
  3784. <li><a href="https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adorama.com%2Fle21hd0088us.html&amp;publisher_slug=pcworld&amp;exclusive=1&amp;article_name=pcworld&amp;article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Ffeed&amp;u1=2-1-550968-1-0-0" rel="nofollow">Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 4</a>, <strong>$1,229 ($650 off at Adorama) </strong></li>
  3785.  
  3786.  
  3787.  
  3788. <li><a href="https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lenovo.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Fp%2Flaptops%2Fthinkpad%2Fthinkpadx1%2Fthinkpad-x1-carbon-gen-11-%2814-inch-intel%29%2F21hmcto1wwus1&amp;publisher_slug=pcworld&amp;exclusive=1&amp;article_name=pcworld&amp;article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Ffeed&amp;u1=2-1-550968-1-0-0" rel="nofollow">Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon</a> <strong>$1,391.42 (<strong>$1,007.58 off at Lenovo)</strong> </strong></li>
  3789. </ul>
  3790.  
  3791.  
  3792.  
  3793. <h2 class="wp-block-heading toc" id="best-laptops-deals-under-500">Best laptops deals under $500</h2>
  3794.  
  3795.  
  3796.  
  3797. <p><strong>Asus Vivobook 14: $229.99 ($200 off at Best Buy)</strong></p>
  3798.  
  3799.  
  3800. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  3804. "lightboxEnabled": false,
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  3810. "targetWidth": "none",
  3811. "targetHeight": "none",
  3812. "scaleAttr": "",
  3813. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  3814. }
  3815. }
  3816. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-31-11.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" alt="Asus Vivobook 14" class="wp-image-2307192" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Asus Vivobook 14" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  3817. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  3818. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  3819. </svg>
  3820. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  3821. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  3822. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  3823. </button>
  3824. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Asus Vivobook 14" class="wp-image-2307192" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Asus</p></div>
  3825. </div>
  3826. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Asus Vivobook 14" class="wp-image-2307192" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Asus</p></div>
  3827. </div>
  3828. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  3829. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Asus</p></div>
  3830.  
  3831.  
  3832.  
  3833. <p>The Asus Vivobook is an inexpensive Windows laptop with a 1080p display. The laptop&rsquo;s Intel i3-1215U CPU is a few generations behind at this point, but it&rsquo;s still powerful enough to handle everyday tasks like checking e-mail and watching Netflix. It also comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage. The 14-inch 1080p display has a brightness level of 250 nits, which isn&rsquo;t super bright, but it&rsquo;s perfectly fine for web surfing and office work. In fact, with dimmer displays, you&rsquo;ll likely get better battery life out of the machine, as the display can be a major power suck. This is a great machine for anyone that&rsquo;s on a tight budget.</p>
  3834.  
  3835.  
  3836. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Fasus-vivobook-14-laptop-intel-core-i3-1215u-with-8gb-memory-128gb-ssd-quiet-blue%2F6568805.p%3FskuId%3D6568805&amp;publisher_slug=pcworld&amp;exclusive=1&amp;article_name=pcworld&amp;article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Ffeed&amp;u1=2-1-550968-7-0-0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">View Deal</a></p>
  3837.  
  3838.  
  3839. <p><strong>Lenovo IdeaPad 1: $249.99 ($170 off at Microcenter)</strong></p>
  3840.  
  3841.  
  3842. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  3843. { "image":
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  3854. "scaleAttr": "",
  3855. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
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  3857. }
  3858. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lenovo-IdeaPad-1-1.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad 1" class="wp-image-2285252" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Lenovo IdeaPad 1" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  3859. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  3860. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  3861. </svg>
  3862. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  3863. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  3864. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  3865. </button>
  3866. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad 1" class="wp-image-2285252" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  3867. </div>
  3868. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad 1" class="wp-image-2285252" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  3869. </div>
  3870. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  3871. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  3872.  
  3873.  
  3874.  
  3875. <p>The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 has an AMD Ryzen 5 5599Y processor inside of it, which is capable of handling day-to-day tasks like browsing the web and checking e-mail. The 14-inch 1080p display is perfect for everyday use and the connectivity options include one USB 2.0 Type-A, one USB 3.2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 Type-A, one HDMI, and one audio. The port selection is surprisingly diverse for such an inexpensive machine, so you don&rsquo;t have to carry around an adapter. The 720p webcam isn&rsquo;t great, but you can always <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/393756/1080p-4k-webcam-buying-guide.html">plug into an external webcam</a> if you want to look better on Zoom calls.</p>
  3876.  
  3877.  
  3878. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://www.microcenter.com/product/671050/lenovo-ideapad-1-14-laptop-computer-cloud-grey&amp;xcust=2-1-550968-7-0-0&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">View Deal</a></p>
  3879.  
  3880.  
  3881. <p><strong>Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3</strong>: <strong>$299 ($230 off at B&amp;H</strong>)</p>
  3882.  
  3883.  
  3884. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  3885. { "image":
  3886. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  3887. "initialized": false,
  3888. "lightboxEnabled": false,
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  3894. "targetWidth": "none",
  3895. "targetHeight": "none",
  3896. "scaleAttr": "",
  3897. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  3898. }
  3899. }
  3900. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lenovo-IdeaPad-Slim-3.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3" class="wp-image-2285255" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  3901. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  3902. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  3903. </svg>
  3904. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  3905. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  3906. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  3907. </button>
  3908. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3" class="wp-image-2285255" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  3909. </div>
  3910. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3" class="wp-image-2285255" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  3911. </div>
  3912. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  3913. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  3914.  
  3915.  
  3916.  
  3917. <p>The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is another good option for everyday work, school, or home use because of its Intel Core i3-1315U processor and robust connectivity options. You should be able to zip right through office tasks or binge your favorite show on Netflix, and the large 15.6-inch 1080p matte display is sharp enough for those types of tasks. The port selection includes one USB-C 3.0, two USB-A 3.0, one HDMI, and one audio&ndash;effectively eliminating the need for an adapter. Similar to other laptops in this price range, it has a 720p webcam, which isn&rsquo;t the best, but it&rsquo;s a reasonable sacrifice in the budget laptop realm. </p>
  3918.  
  3919.  
  3920. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1762582-REG/lenovo_82x70005us_15_6_ideapad_slim_3.html?BI=21883&amp;KBID=28249" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">View Deal</a></p>
  3921.  
  3922.  
  3923. <p><strong>HP Pavilion x360: $459.99 ($340 off at HP)</strong></p>
  3924.  
  3925.  
  3926. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  3927. { "image":
  3928. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  3929. "initialized": false,
  3930. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  3931. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  3932. "preloadInitialized": false,
  3933. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
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  3937. "targetHeight": "none",
  3938. "scaleAttr": "",
  3939. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  3940. }
  3941. }
  3942. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-31-16.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" alt="HP Pavilion x360" class="wp-image-2312495" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: HP Pavilion x360" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  3943. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  3944. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  3945. </svg>
  3946. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  3947. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  3948. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  3949. </button>
  3950. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="HP Pavilion x360" class="wp-image-2312495" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">HP</p></div>
  3951. </div>
  3952. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="HP Pavilion x360" class="wp-image-2312495" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">HP</p></div>
  3953. </div>
  3954. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  3955. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">HP</p></div>
  3956.  
  3957.  
  3958.  
  3959. <p>The HP Pavilion x360 is a great option for those who want an affordable convertible laptop. You can swing the screen around and use the laptop like a handheld tablet or you can prop it up like a painter&rsquo;s easel for watching movies or sharing information. Inside you&rsquo;ll find an Intel Core i5-1235U CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage&ndash;so this laptop should be able to handle day-to-day tasks like binge watching your favorite show on Hulu, surfing the web, and so on. The 768p display is also quite spacious at 15.6-inches and is multitouch-enabled. Although it&rsquo;s not the highest resolution display we&rsquo;ve ever seen, it&rsquo;s perfectly fine for everyday use. </p>
  3960.  
  3961.  
  3962. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=7168&amp;awinaffid=531979&amp;clickref=2-1-550968-7-0-0&amp;ued=https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-pavilion-x360-convertible-15t-dw400-4v223av-1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">View Deal</a></p>
  3963.  
  3964.  
  3965. <h2 class="wp-block-heading toc" id="best-laptops-deals-under-1000">Best laptops deals under $1,000</h2>
  3966.  
  3967.  
  3968.  
  3969. <p><strong>HP Envy x360: $569.99 ($379.01 off at Adorama)</strong></p>
  3970.  
  3971.  
  3972. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  3973. { "image":
  3974. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  3975. "initialized": false,
  3976. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  3977. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  3978. "preloadInitialized": false,
  3979. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  3980. "imageUploadedSrc": "",
  3981. "imageCurrentSrc": "",
  3982. "targetWidth": "none",
  3983. "targetHeight": "none",
  3984. "scaleAttr": "",
  3985. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  3986. }
  3987. }
  3988. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/HP-Envy-x360.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" alt="HP Envy x360" class="wp-image-2285264" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: HP Envy x360" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  3989. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  3990. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  3991. </svg>
  3992. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  3993. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  3994. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  3995. </button>
  3996. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="HP Envy x360" class="wp-image-2285264" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">HP</p></div>
  3997. </div>
  3998. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="HP Envy x360" class="wp-image-2285264" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">HP</p></div>
  3999. </div>
  4000. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4001. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">HP</p></div>
  4002.  
  4003.  
  4004.  
  4005. <p>The HP Envy x360 is powerful, lightweight, and versatile. The 2-in-1 form factor means you can fold the screen back and use the laptop like a tablet, and it comes equipped with a good amount of RAM (16GB) and storage (512GB SSD). The 1080p display is quite large at 15.6-inches and it&rsquo;s a touchscreen, which is perfect for habitual notetakers and doodlers. The keyboard is also full-sized and has backlighting&ndash;useful for when you&rsquo;re using the laptop in low light environments. </p>
  4006.  
  4007.  
  4008. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adorama.com%2Fihp644f0uar.html&amp;publisher_slug=pcworld&amp;exclusive=1&amp;article_name=pcworld&amp;article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Ffeed&amp;u1=2-1-550968-7-0-0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">View Deal</a></p>
  4009.  
  4010.  
  4011. <p><strong>Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8: $749 ($560 off at B&amp;H)</strong></p>
  4012.  
  4013.  
  4014. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  4015. { "image":
  4016. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  4017. "initialized": false,
  4018. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  4019. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  4020. "preloadInitialized": false,
  4021. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  4022. "imageUploadedSrc": "",
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  4024. "targetWidth": "none",
  4025. "targetHeight": "none",
  4026. "scaleAttr": "",
  4027. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  4028. }
  4029. }
  4030. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lenovo-LOQ-15IRH8.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" alt="Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8" class="wp-image-2285283" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  4031. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  4032. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  4033. </svg>
  4034. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  4035. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  4036. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4037. </button>
  4038. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8" class="wp-image-2285283" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  4039. </div>
  4040. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8" class="wp-image-2285283" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  4041. </div>
  4042. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4043. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  4044.  
  4045.  
  4046.  
  4047. <p>The Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 is another good option for budget-minded gamers. It has an Intel Core  i7-13700H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, so you should be able to play most modern titles with the graphics dialed up to medium or high. The 15.6-inch 1080p display (tuned for 144Hz) is perfect for a gaming laptop with these entry-level components. The LOQ 15IRH8 also has a wide range of connectivity options that include one USB-C 3.1, two USB-A 3.1, one USB-A 3.0, one HDMI 2.1, one Ethernet, and one headphone/microphone input/output. </p>
  4048.  
  4049.  
  4050. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1745673-REG/lenovo_82xv005gus_15_6_loq_15irh8_gaming.html?BI=21883&amp;KBID=28249" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">View Deal</a></p>
  4051.  
  4052.  
  4053. <p><strong>HP Dragonfly Pro: $799 ($600 off at B&amp;H)</strong></p>
  4054.  
  4055.  
  4056. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  4057. { "image":
  4058. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  4059. "initialized": false,
  4060. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  4061. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  4062. "preloadInitialized": false,
  4063. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  4064. "imageUploadedSrc": "",
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  4066. "targetWidth": "none",
  4067. "targetHeight": "none",
  4068. "scaleAttr": "",
  4069. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  4070. }
  4071. }
  4072. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-31-10.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" alt="HP Dragonfly Pro" class="wp-image-2303011" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: HP Dragonfly Pro" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  4073. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  4074. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  4075. </svg>
  4076. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  4077. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  4078. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4079. </button>
  4080. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="HP Dragonfly Pro" class="wp-image-2303011" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">HP</p></div>
  4081. </div>
  4082. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="HP Dragonfly Pro" class="wp-image-2303011" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">HP</p></div>
  4083. </div>
  4084. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4085. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">HP</p></div>
  4086.  
  4087.  
  4088.  
  4089. <p>The HP Dragonfly Pro is a lightweight laptop with a lovely 1200p touchscreen display. It weighs just 3.1 pounds, which is hardly a back breaker&ndash;great news if you&rsquo;re a frequent traveler. It&rsquo;s also powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7736U CPU and AMD Radeon 680M graphics, so you shouldn&rsquo;t have any problem flying through office work or daily tasks. The 14-inch 1200p touchscreen display has an aspect ratio of 16:10 and a maximum brightness of 400 nits. The taller aspect ratio is nice because it makes scrolling through documents and webpages a lot easier. Connectivity options also include two USB-C and one USB-C 3.1. Overall, this is a solid laptop, especially for $600 off.</p>
  4090.  
  4091.  
  4092. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1820574-REG/hp_889t2aa_aba_14_dragonfly_pro_one.html?BI=21883&amp;KBID=28249" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">View Deal</a></p>
  4093.  
  4094.  
  4095. <p><strong>Dell Inspiron 16: $859.99 ($500 off at Dell)</strong></p>
  4096.  
  4097.  
  4098. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  4099. { "image":
  4100. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  4101. "initialized": false,
  4102. "lightboxEnabled": false,
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  4104. "preloadInitialized": false,
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  4108. "targetWidth": "none",
  4109. "targetHeight": "none",
  4110. "scaleAttr": "",
  4111. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  4112. }
  4113. }
  4114. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-31-8.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" alt="Dell Inspiron 16" class="wp-image-2302320" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Dell Inspiron 16" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  4115. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  4116. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  4117. </svg>
  4118. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  4119. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  4120. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4121. </button>
  4122. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Dell Inspiron 16" class="wp-image-2302320" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Dell</p></div>
  4123. </div>
  4124. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Dell Inspiron 16" class="wp-image-2302320" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Dell</p></div>
  4125. </div>
  4126. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4127. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Dell</p></div>
  4128.  
  4129.  
  4130.  
  4131. <p>The Dell Inspiron 16 is a great laptop for day-to-day use as well as some light gaming. In addition to the powerful Intel Core i7-1360P CPU and 1TB of SSD storage, this machine also has an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2050 GPU, which should be powerful enough to run most games at 1080p resolution. The 1600p display is a roomy 16-inches with a refresh rate of 60Hz and a maximum brightness of 300 nits. Have we seen brighter screens? Sure. That said, it&rsquo;s bright enough for daily use as well as some casual gaming. Other cool features include a 1080p webcam, up to 13 hours of battery life (according to Dell), and a fingerprint reader. </p>
  4132.  
  4133.  
  4134. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8200811-12839518?url=https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-16-laptop/spd/inspiron-16-5630-laptop/usicpbto5630fxky&amp;sid=2-1-550968-7-0-0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">View Deal</a></p>
  4135.  
  4136.  
  4137. <p><strong>XPS Xenia 15G: $999 ($700.99 off at Walmart)</strong></p>
  4138.  
  4139.  
  4140. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  4141. { "image":
  4142. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  4143. "initialized": false,
  4144. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  4145. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
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  4156. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/XPG-Xenia.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" alt="XPG Xenia" class="wp-image-2285292" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: XPG Xenia" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  4157. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  4158. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  4159. </svg>
  4160. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  4161. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  4162. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4163. </button>
  4164. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="XPG Xenia" class="wp-image-2285292" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">XPG</p></div>
  4165. </div>
  4166. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="XPG Xenia" class="wp-image-2285292" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">XPG</p></div>
  4167. </div>
  4168. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4169. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">XPG</p></div>
  4170.  
  4171.  
  4172.  
  4173. <p>If you&rsquo;re looking for a slightly more powerful gaming laptop, the XPG Xenia will certainly fit the bill. You don&rsquo;t see many gaming laptops with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU go on sale for under $1,000 often, so this is a true deal. Between the Intel Core i7-13700H CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, you should be able to play triple-A titles on the High or Ultra graphics detail. This machine even comes with 1TB of SSD storage, which is good news if you&rsquo;ve got a massive backlog of games. The 15.6-inch 1080p display should also provide smooth gameplay thanks to the 144Hz refresh rate. If you can afford it, this would be a better long-term gaming option than the $800 models listed above thanks to the RTX 4060&rsquo;s much faster performance.</p>
  4174.  
  4175.  
  4176. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://goto.walmart.com/c/321564/565706/9383?veh=aff&amp;sourceid=imp_000011112222333344&amp;subid1=2-1-550968-7-0-0&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FXPG-Xenia-15G-15-6-FHD-Gaming-Laptop-Intel-Core-i7-13700H-16-GB-DDR5-NVIDIA-GeForce-RTX-4060-1-TB-SSD-Windows-11-Home-Black-75260049%2F2130763084" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">View Deal</a></p>
  4177.  
  4178.  
  4179. <h2 class="wp-block-heading toc" id="best-laptops-deals-under-1500">Best laptops deals under $1,500</h2>
  4180.  
  4181.  
  4182.  
  4183. <p><strong>Lenovo Flex 7: $1,039.99 ($220 off at Adorama)</strong></p>
  4184.  
  4185.  
  4186. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  4188. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  4189. "initialized": false,
  4190. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  4191. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  4192. "preloadInitialized": false,
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  4194. "imageUploadedSrc": "",
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  4196. "targetWidth": "none",
  4197. "targetHeight": "none",
  4198. "scaleAttr": "",
  4199. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  4200. }
  4201. }
  4202. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lenovo-Flex-7.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" alt="Lenovo Flex 7" class="wp-image-2285298" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Lenovo Flex 7" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  4203. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  4204. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  4205. </svg>
  4206. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  4207. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  4208. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4209. </button>
  4210. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Lenovo Flex 7" class="wp-image-2285298" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  4211. </div>
  4212. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Lenovo Flex 7" class="wp-image-2285298" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  4213. </div>
  4214. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4215. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  4216.  
  4217.  
  4218.  
  4219. <p>The Lenovo Flex 7 is a great laptop for those who want an affordable 2-in-1. You&rsquo;re getting a lightweight design as well as a decent amount of power for just over $1,000. It has an Intel Core i7-1355U CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. Zipping through spreadsheet work, everyday tasks, and so on should be no problem for this machine. In addition to the 2-in-1 form factor, in which the screen swings back 360 degrees, it also weighs just 3.53 pounds. That means you can easily slip it in a backpack or messenger back and take it with you anywhere.  </p>
  4220.  
  4221.  
  4222. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adorama.com%2Fle82y20003us.html&amp;publisher_slug=pcworld&amp;exclusive=1&amp;article_name=pcworld&amp;article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Ffeed&amp;u1=2-1-550968-7-0-0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">View Deal</a></p>
  4223.  
  4224.  
  4225. <p><strong>Alienware m16: $1,049.99 ($700 off at Dell)</strong></p>
  4226.  
  4227.  
  4228. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  4229. { "image":
  4230. {   "imageLoaded": false,
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  4240. "scaleAttr": "",
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  4243. }
  4244. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-31-17.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" alt="Alienware m16" class="wp-image-2313021" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Alienware m16" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  4245. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  4246. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  4247. </svg>
  4248. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  4249. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  4250. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4251. </button>
  4252. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Alienware m16" class="wp-image-2313021" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Dell</p></div>
  4253. </div>
  4254. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Alienware m16" class="wp-image-2313021" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Dell</p></div>
  4255. </div>
  4256. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4257. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Dell</p></div>
  4258.  
  4259.  
  4260.  
  4261. <p>The Alienware m16 is a gaming laptop that&rsquo;s both powerful and affordable. You should be able to fly through modern games on the higher graphics setting because of the RTX 4060 GPU and the AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX CPU. The 16-inch 1600p display should also produce smooth visuals thanks to the 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time. Connectivity options are plentiful, too. You&rsquo;re getting one USB 3.2 Gen 1 (with PowerShare) port, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, one Ethernet port, one HDMI 2.1 port, one power adapter port, and one mini-Display port. Additional features include a 86 watt-hour battery and an RGB backlit keyboard.  </p>
  4262.  
  4263.  
  4264. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8200811-12839518?url=https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/gaming-laptops/alienware-m16-gaming-laptop/spd/alienware-m16-r1-amd-laptop/useahctom16r1amd10&amp;sid=2-1-550968-7-0-0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">View Deal</a></p>
  4265.  
  4266.  
  4267. <p><strong>Lenovo Legion Pro 5i: $1,179 ($620 off at B&amp;H)</strong></p>
  4268.  
  4269.  
  4270. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  4271. { "image":
  4272. {   "imageLoaded": false,
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  4280. "targetWidth": "none",
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  4284. }
  4285. }
  4286. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lenovo-Legion-Pro-5i.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" alt="Lenovo Legion Pro 5i" class="wp-image-2285303" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Lenovo Legion Pro 5i" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  4287. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  4288. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  4289. </svg>
  4290. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  4291. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  4292. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4293. </button>
  4294. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Lenovo Legion Pro 5i" class="wp-image-2285303" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  4295. </div>
  4296. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Lenovo Legion Pro 5i" class="wp-image-2285303" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  4297. </div>
  4298. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4299. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  4300.  
  4301.  
  4302.  
  4303. <p>The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i is a good option for those who play more intensive titles. We say this because of the display&rsquo;s ridiculously high 240Hz refresh rate. Gameplay should be as smooth as your mother&rsquo;s freshly churned butter. There&rsquo;s a lot of power behind that display, too. You&rsquo;re getting an Intel Core i7-13700HX CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, 32GB of RAM (that&rsquo;s a lot!), and 1TB of SSD storage. Other goodies include an Ethernet port, an RGB backlit keyboard, and a 1080p webcam. </p>
  4304.  
  4305.  
  4306. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1745674-REG/lenovo_82wk0082us_16_legion_pro_5i.html?BI=21883&amp;KBID=28249" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">View Deal</a></p>
  4307.  
  4308.  
  4309. <p><strong>Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 4: $1,229 ($650 off at Adorama)</strong></p>
  4310.  
  4311.  
  4312. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  4326. }
  4327. }
  4328. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-31-14.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad T14" class="wp-image-2308589" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Lenovo ThinkPad T14" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  4329. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  4330. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
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  4332. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  4333. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  4334. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4335. </button>
  4336. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad T14" class="wp-image-2308589" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  4337. </div>
  4338. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad T14" class="wp-image-2308589" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  4339. </div>
  4340. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4341. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  4342.  
  4343.  
  4344.  
  4345. <p>The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 is a powerful machine with a 1200p display, an array of versatile ports, and 512GB of SSD storage. It&rsquo;s also lightweight at just under three pounds, making it the perfect travel companion. Driven by an Intel Core i7-1365U CPU, it should be able to handle both day-to-day tasks as well as heavier loads. Connectivity options include one Ethernet, one HDMI 2.1, one headphone/microphone combo jack, one USB 3.2 Gen 1, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Always On), and two Thunderbolt 4. That means you don&rsquo;t have to worry about carrying an adapter around with you. </p>
  4346.  
  4347.  
  4348. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adorama.com%2Fle21hd0088us.html&amp;publisher_slug=pcworld&amp;exclusive=1&amp;article_name=pcworld&amp;article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Ffeed&amp;u1=2-1-550968-7-0-0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">View Deal</a></p>
  4349.  
  4350.  
  4351. <p><strong>Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon</strong>: <strong>$1,391.42 ($1,007.58 off at Lenovo)</strong></p>
  4352.  
  4353.  
  4354. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  4364. "targetWidth": "none",
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  4366. "scaleAttr": "",
  4367. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  4368. }
  4369. }
  4370. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Untitled-design-31-2.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11" class="wp-image-2285840" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  4371. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  4372. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  4373. </svg>
  4374. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  4375. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  4376. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4377. </button>
  4378. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11" class="wp-image-2285840" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  4379. </div>
  4380. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11" class="wp-image-2285840" width="1024" height="683" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  4381. </div>
  4382. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4383. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Lenovo</p></div>
  4384.  
  4385.  
  4386.  
  4387. <p>The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a competent business laptop with a lot of great features. First, let&rsquo;s talk hardware. This machine weighs well under three pounds and yet it manages to squeeze in an Intel Core i5-1335U, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage. It has a decent amount of power, especially for such a lightweight laptop. You should be able to zip through office work, everyday activities, and more. The 14-inch 1200p display has a maximum brightness of 400 nits and a refresh rate of 60Hz, which should be clear enough for productivity tasks. Plus, you&rsquo;re getting a 1080p webcam, a backlight keyboard, a fingerprint reader, and ThinkPad&rsquo;s famously comfortable keyboard with the red nub in the middle.</p>
  4388.  
  4389.  
  4390. <p class="cta wp-block wp-block-button cta__btn_"><a class="cta__btn" href="https://shop-links.co/link/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lenovo.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Fp%2Flaptops%2Fthinkpad%2Fthinkpadx1%2Fthinkpad-x1-carbon-gen-11-%2814-inch-intel%29%2F21hmcto1wwus1&amp;publisher_slug=pcworld&amp;exclusive=1&amp;article_name=pcworld&amp;article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcworld.com%2Ffeed&amp;u1=2-1-550968-7-0-0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-link-position="CTA Button">View Deal</a></p>
  4391.  
  4392.  
  4393. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-block faq-block"><h2 class="faq-block-title" id="faq"> FAQ </h2><hr class="block-horizotal-divider">
  4394. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">1.</span>
  4395. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-much-ram-will-i-need-in-my-laptop">How much RAM will I need in my laptop?</h3>
  4396.  
  4397.  
  4398.  
  4399. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  4400. <p>You&rsquo;ll want at least 8GB, though 16GB is preferable, especially if you play games. Don&rsquo;t buy <em>laptops</em> with under 4GB of RAM or 128GB of SSD storage&mdash;though on a Chromebook or a budget Windows machine, this configuration is acceptable. Check out our article on <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/395018/how-much-ram-do-you-need-in-a-laptop.html">how much RAM does a laptop need</a> for more in-depth info.</p>
  4401. </div>
  4402. </div></div>
  4403.  
  4404.  
  4405.  
  4406. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">2.</span>
  4407. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="whats-the-difference-between-a-chromebook-and-a-windows-laptop">What&rsquo;s the difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop?</h3>
  4408.  
  4409.  
  4410.  
  4411. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  4412. <p>The one big difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop is the operating system. Chromebooks run ChromeOS and Windows run, well, Microsoft Windows. Chromebooks make good everyday machines because they&rsquo;re designed for browsing the web, checking e-mail, and so on. They use less resources and are generally more affordable than the Windows variety. They also don&rsquo;t need antivirus protection. A Windows laptop is a lot more versatile in what it can do, and not just in terms of running local programs. You can really pump a Windows laptop up with a ton of RAM, storage, and so on. </p>
  4413. </div>
  4414. </div></div>
  4415.  
  4416.  
  4417.  
  4418. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">3.</span>
  4419. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="when-should-i-look-for-a-laptop-deal">When should I look for a laptop deal?</h3>
  4420.  
  4421.  
  4422.  
  4423. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  4424. <p>You&rsquo;ll likely find the best laptop deals during Prime Day (mid-July), Black Friday (November 29th), and back-to-school season (June-August). Sure, you&rsquo;ll find good laptop deals throughout the year, but if you really want to save big, we&rsquo;d recommend scoping out your favorite online retailers during those times.  </p>
  4425. </div>
  4426. </div></div>
  4427.  
  4428.  
  4429.  
  4430. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-inner-block faq-save-block"><div class="faq-save-content"><span class="faq-rank">4.</span>
  4431. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="which-retailers-offer-the-best-deals">Which retailers offer the best deals?</h3>
  4432.  
  4433.  
  4434.  
  4435. <div class="wp-block-idg-base-theme-faq-answer-block how-to-tip">
  4436. <p>You can find all kinds of deals across a wide range of online retailers such as Newegg, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, and so on. However, we&rsquo;d recommend checking out deals from laptop manufacturers like Lenovo, HP, and Dell. You&rsquo;ll usually find many different configurations on sale and the discounts can be pretty darn steep. </p>
  4437. </div>
  4438. </div></div>
  4439. </div>
  4440.  
  4441.  
  4442.  
  4443. <p>For more options, check out PCWorld&rsquo;s roundup of the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/436674/the-best-pc-laptops-of-the-year.html">best laptops</a> available right now.</p>
  4444.  
  4445. <category>Laptops</category></body></div>
  4446. ]]></description>
  4447. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/550968/best-laptop-deals-3.html</link>
  4448. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">550968</post-id> </item>
  4449. <item>
  4450. <title>Meet Snapdragon X Plus: Qualcomm says its slowest CPU still beats Intel</title>
  4451. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Snapdragon-X-plus-logo-1.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="977722" type="image/jpeg" />
  4452. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  4453. <description><![CDATA[
  4454. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  4455. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  4456.  
  4457.  
  4458.  
  4459. <p>Laptops using Qualcomm&rsquo;s latest Snapdragon chips have yet to ship. But PC makers &mdash; and you &mdash; will now have another option: the Snapdragon X Plus.</p>
  4460.  
  4461.  
  4462.  
  4463. <p>Think of the Snapdragon X Plus as Qualcomm&rsquo;s version of the Intel Core i5: It&rsquo;s based on the same design as the Snapdragon X Elite, the Arm PC processor that Qualcomm has been talking about since last fall. But it&rsquo;s stripped down, with fewer cores, and without the &ldquo;turbo&rdquo; characteristics of its more powerful sibling. On the other hand, Qualcomm still believes that it will compete with and surpass Intel&rsquo;s latest processors.</p>
  4464.  
  4465.  
  4466.  
  4467. <p>Qualcomm began <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2112907/qualcomm-snapdragon-x-elite-chips-promise-major-pc-performance.html">talking about the Snapdragon X Elite last fall</a>, and has since made waves with a pretty open quasi-testing process where journalists have been able to monitor benchmarks Qualcomm employees have run, along with hands-on gaming opportunities. At the beginning of the month, <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2284554/qualcomm-says-snapdragon-x-elite-kicks-intel-core-ultras-butt-too.html">Qualcomm began comparing the Snapdragon X Elite to the latest Core Ultra</a> processors, and let me have a turn playing the PC games <em>Control</em> and <em>Redout 2</em>. Both games ran above 30fps at 1900&times;1200 resolution and Low settings.</p>
  4468.  
  4469.  
  4470.  
  4471. <p>Now the company is taking Snapdragon performance down a notch&hellip; or is it? Qualcomm is claiming that the Snapdragon X Plus will still outperform the Core Ultra 7 155H at the same power levels by a whopping 28 percent in the latest multithreaded Cinebench benchmark, Cinebench 2024. And it&rsquo;s 10 percent faster than the Apple M3, too.</p>
  4472.  
  4473.  
  4474. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  4490. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Qualcomm-Snapdragon-Plus-performance.png?w=1200" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus vs Core Ultra performance Cinebench" class="wp-image-2311565" width="1200" height="683" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus vs Core Ultra performance Cinebench" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  4491. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  4492. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  4493. </svg>
  4494. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Although the Snapdragon X Plus offers less performance than the X Elite, Qualcomm still claims that it outperforms an Intel Core Ultra.</figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  4495. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  4496. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4497. </button>
  4498. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus vs Core Ultra performance Cinebench" class="wp-image-2311565" width="1200" height="683" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Although the Snapdragon X Plus offers less performance than the X Elite, Qualcomm still claims that it outperforms an Intel Core Ultra.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Qualcomm</p></div>
  4499. </div>
  4500. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus vs Core Ultra performance Cinebench" class="wp-image-2311565" width="1200" height="683" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Although the Snapdragon X Plus offers less performance than the X Elite, Qualcomm still claims that it outperforms an Intel Core Ultra.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Qualcomm</p></div>
  4501. </div>
  4502. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4503. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Qualcomm</p></div>
  4504.  
  4505.  
  4506.  
  4507. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="qualcomm-snapdragon-x-plus-what-is-it">Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus: What is it?</h2>
  4508.  
  4509.  
  4510.  
  4511. <p>In the words of Nitin Kumar, senior director of product management, Qualcomm is aiming the X Plus toward a &ldquo;broader range of devices.&rdquo; </p>
  4512.  
  4513.  
  4514.  
  4515. <p>Qualcomm&rsquo;s chip designs aren&rsquo;t overly complex. The 4nm Snapdragon X Elite includes 12 single-threaded Oryon CPU cores, with two cores able to boost to 4.3GHz from the base speed of 3.8GHz. (Qualcomm plans to further subdivide the Snapdragon X Elite by adjusting the boost clock speed.)</p>
  4516.  
  4517.  
  4518.  
  4519. <p>The Plus is similar. It, too, is fabricated at 4nm. But it has 10 single-threaded Oryon cores, not 12, all of which run at a slower 3.4GHz, alongside the same 42MB of cache. There is no turbo option available. Inside is the same Adreno GPU core as the Snapdragon X Elite. And it has the same AI NPU, too, running at the same 45 TOPS as its larger sibling.</p>
  4520.  
  4521.  
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  4543. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  4544. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4545. </button>
  4546. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus summary" class="wp-image-2311570" width="1200" height="672" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Qualcomm</p></div>
  4547. </div>
  4548. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus summary" class="wp-image-2311570" width="1200" height="672" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Qualcomm</p></div>
  4549. </div>
  4550. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4551. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Qualcomm</p></div>
  4552.  
  4553.  
  4554.  
  4555. <p>Qualcomm will offer just one Snapdragon X Plus chip, at least for now, using its new, complex naming scheme: the Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100.</p>
  4556.  
  4557.  
  4558.  
  4559. <p>&ldquo;As experiences evolve, as there are more use cases that are going to play a more prominent role in these next-gen PCs, we want to offer consumers the same AI experiences across both the Elite and the Plus, Kedar Kondap, the senior vice president and general manager of Compute and Gaming for Qualcomm, told me in a video interview. You can dive deeper into the Snapdragon X Elite and Plus in our exclusive video below.</p>
  4560.  
  4561.  
  4562.  
  4563. <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
  4564. <iframe title="Breaking Down The Snapdragon X Series Strategy" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TXhFbPEmvcw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
  4565. </div></figure>
  4566.  
  4567.  
  4568.  
  4569. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="qualcomm-snapdragon-x-plus-how-fast-is-it">Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus: How fast is it?</h2>
  4570.  
  4571.  
  4572.  
  4573. <p>Since the Plus shares many of the same characteristics as the Snapdragon X Elite, some of the points of comparison to competing chips &mdash; such as the NPU TOPS are redundant. However, Qualcomm shared how the X Plus compares on both the Geekbench and Cinebench 2024 platforms. Those are two of leading synthesized benchmarks used to compare CPU performance, so their inclusion is significant.</p>
  4574.  
  4575.  
  4576.  
  4577. <p>And while PCWorld doesn&rsquo;t care as much about how the X Elite and X Plus shape up to Apple&rsquo;s best, it&rsquo;s worth mentioning. The X Elite is 28 percent faster (15,610) and the X Plus is 10 percent faster (13,350) on the Geekbench v6.2.0 benchmark, compared to the Apple M3 inside a MacBook Pro (12,154).</p>
  4578.  
  4579.  
  4580.  
  4581. <p>Otherwise, Qualcomm provided this comparison slide.</p>
  4582.  
  4583.  
  4584. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  4604. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  4605. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  4606. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4607. </button>
  4608. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite performance geekbench" class="wp-image-2311582" width="1200" height="682" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Qualcomm</p></div>
  4609. </div>
  4610. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite performance geekbench" class="wp-image-2311582" width="1200" height="682" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Qualcomm</p></div>
  4611. </div>
  4612. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4613. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Qualcomm</p></div>
  4614.  
  4615.  
  4616.  
  4617. <p>Remember, Qualcomm began with its Snapdragon 8cx series for phones and PCs, and eventually broke it out into sub-categories like the 7 series, too. If Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus are as popular as they seem to be, it&rsquo;s possible we&rsquo;ll see new derivatives in the future, too.</p>
  4618.  
  4619.  
  4620.  
  4621. <p>The first laptops with the Snapdragon X Elite chips inside are expected by midyear. We&rsquo;re hoping to see some at Computex in Taiwan in early June.</p>
  4622.  
  4623.  
  4624. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  4640. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Snapdragon-X-Plus-with-chip-2.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1200" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus logo with chip" class="wp-image-2311588" width="1200" height="900" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus logo with chip" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  4641. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  4642. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  4643. </svg>
  4644. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Qualcomm Snapdragon Plus chip.</figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  4645. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  4646. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4647. </button>
  4648. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus logo with chip" class="wp-image-2311588" width="1200" height="900" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Qualcomm Snapdragon Plus chip.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  4649. </div>
  4650. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus logo with chip" class="wp-image-2311588" width="1200" height="900" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Qualcomm Snapdragon Plus chip.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  4651. </div>
  4652. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4653. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  4654.  
  4655. <category>CPUs and Processors</category></body></div>
  4656. ]]></description>
  4657. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/2311442/qualcomm-already-has-a-spinoff-of-the-snapdragon-x-elite.html</link>
  4658. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2311442</post-id> </item>
  4659. <item>
  4660. <title>Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite branding reads like Elon Musk baby names</title>
  4661. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Snapdragon-X-Plus-with-chip.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="847149" type="image/jpeg" />
  4662. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  4663. <description><![CDATA[
  4664. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  4665. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  4666.  
  4667.  
  4668.  
  4669. <p>Qualcomm is now breaking down exactly how fast each of its new Snapdragon X Elite and Plus Arm processors are&hellip;but with a list of chips and a product number decoder that is virtually impenetrable to read, let alone say.</p>
  4670.  
  4671.  
  4672.  
  4673. <p>Let&rsquo;s face it: Processor naming schemes have become ridiculously complex. <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1063208/amd-mobile-ryzen-naming-scheme.html">AMD launched its with an actual decoder ring</a>, and the names <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1445760/amds-mobile-ryzen-naming-scheme-is-stupidly-complex.html">still don&rsquo;t make sense</a>. But Intel began this nonsense more than five years ago, when <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/397829/intel-10th-gen-ice-lake-chips-specs-features-pricing-availability.html">trying to figure out what the 10th-gen Core chip names meant</a> necessitated its own story. </p>
  4674.  
  4675.  
  4676.  
  4677. <p>Now it&rsquo;s Qualcomm&rsquo;s turn. And boy, is it a doozy. (Qualcomm also released a list of the four Snapdragon X Elite and Plus processors, complete with names and clock speeds &mdash; which it hasn&rsquo;t done before. Unfortunately, before we list those, we have to explain what the names and numbers mean. We apologize in advance. Take note of the similarity to the name of Elon Musk and singer Grimes&rsquo; child: <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52557291&amp;xcust=2-1-2311599-1-0-0&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" rel="nofollow">X &AElig; A-12</a>.)</p>
  4678.  
  4679.  
  4680.  
  4681. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-to-talk-about-the-snapdragon-x-series-to-your-teens">How to talk about the Snapdragon X Series to your teens</h2>
  4682.  
  4683.  
  4684.  
  4685. <p>Let&rsquo;s face it: The Snapdragon X1E-78-100 will never be mentioned in polite society. It will not appear in a sonnet, or in a card you send to your spouse for your anniversary. If it is ever mentioned that evening, it will be in anger, with one of you sulking off with the half-finished bottle of chardonnay. These are &ldquo;names&rdquo; that practically demand to be opened inside a PDF, or on a mimeographed requisition form that requires seven signatures, some in triplicate. Somewhere, a military supply sergeant&rsquo;s eyes are lighting up.</p>
  4686.  
  4687.  
  4688.  
  4689. <p>Keep in mind that Qualcomm has two brands (the X Elite and the Plus) and <em>four</em> total chips. This naming scheme has room for&hellip;how many, exactly? The Bible has less complexity than this.</p>
  4690.  
  4691.  
  4692. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  4712. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
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  4714. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4715. </button>
  4716. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Plus model number decoder" class="wp-image-2311602" width="1200" height="675" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Qualcomm</p></div>
  4717. </div>
  4718. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Plus model number decoder" class="wp-image-2311602" width="1200" height="675" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Qualcomm</p></div>
  4719. </div>
  4720. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4721. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Qualcomm</p></div>
  4722.  
  4723.  
  4724.  
  4725. <p>I could probably give this a pass if Qualcomm&rsquo;s naming scheme just ended on the SKU. But there are three whole digits <em>reserved</em> for something in the future. (They&rsquo;re all just &ldquo;100,&rdquo; for now.) A mystery!</p>
  4726.  
  4727.  
  4728.  
  4729. <p>So: Snapdragon X1 E (Elite) or P (Plus), plus the standard &ldquo;bigger number is better&rdquo; naming scheme. Qualcomm could have just gone with the Snapdragon X Elite 80, say, or the X1E-80. Instead, we have something that looks like a Social Security number.</p>
  4730.  
  4731.  
  4732.  
  4733. <p>And are the dashes silent? Or are we really going to have to say &ldquo;SnapdragonXOneE<em>dash</em>EightyFour<em>dash</em>onehundred&rdquo; over the phone? C&rsquo;mon, Qualcomm. There&rsquo;s an entire generation of older folks who are going to run out of breath and keel over.</p>
  4734.  
  4735.  
  4736.  
  4737. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="the-snapdragon-x-elite-and-plus-speeds-and-feeds">The Snapdragon X Elite and Plus: Speeds and feeds</h2>
  4738.  
  4739.  
  4740.  
  4741. <p>Qualcomm <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2116463/qualcomms-upcoming-snapdragon-is-the-chip-we-begged-intel-to-make.html">originally launched the Snapdragon X Elite</a>. On Wednesday, it added the Snapdragon X Plus, a slightly cut-down version of the Elite with a slower 3.4GHz clock speed and no turbo boost. Fortunately, there&rsquo;s only one Snapdragon X Plus name to worry about: the X1P-64-100.</p>
  4742.  
  4743.  
  4744.  
  4745. <p>What we didn&rsquo;t know previously is that the Snapdragon X Elite now has not one, but three chips inside the family: the X1E-84-100, the X1E-80-100, and the X1E-78-100. </p>
  4746.  
  4747.  
  4748. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  4764. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Qualcomm-Snapdragon-X-Elite-Plus-speeds-and-feeds.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1200" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Plus model speeds and feeds" class="wp-image-2311601" width="1200" height="668" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Plus model speeds and feeds" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  4765. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  4766. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  4767. </svg>
  4768. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  4769. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  4770. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4771. </button>
  4772. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Plus model speeds and feeds" class="wp-image-2311601" width="1200" height="668" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Qualcomm</p></div>
  4773. </div>
  4774. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Plus model speeds and feeds" class="wp-image-2311601" width="1200" height="668" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Qualcomm</p></div>
  4775. </div>
  4776. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4777. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Qualcomm</p></div>
  4778.  
  4779.  
  4780.  
  4781. <p>What differentiates one from the other? Differences in turbo clock speed as well as the base clock. While rivals tend to vary both the base clock as well as the turbo clock speed, both the X1E-80-100 and the X1E-78-100 share the same 3.4GHz clock speed.</p>
  4782.  
  4783.  
  4784.  
  4785. <p>We don&rsquo;t know how much variation Qualcomm will introduce in the current generation, or what it plans for the next-gen Qualcomm X2E (see, we&rsquo;re playing along!). How many more of these crazy chip names could we see? With Qualcomm&rsquo;s future-proofed naming scheme in place, we could be in for a rough ride. </p>
  4786.  
  4787.  
  4788.  
  4789. <p></p>
  4790.  
  4791. <category>CPUs and Processors</category></body></div>
  4792. ]]></description>
  4793. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/2311599/snapdragons-new-x-elite-chip-list-is-just-elon-musk-baby-names.html</link>
  4794. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2311599</post-id> </item>
  4795. <item>
  4796. <title>Hotspot Shield review: This speedster VPN’s still got it</title>
  4797. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/hotspot-shield-100903333-orig-1.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="22596" type="image/jpeg" />
  4798. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 10:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  4799. <description><![CDATA[
  4800. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  4801. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  4802.  
  4803.  
  4804. <div id="review-body" class="review"><span class="review-title">At a Glance</span><h3 class="review-subTitle" id="experts-rating">Expert's Rating</h3><div class="starRating" style="--rating: 3.5;" aria-label="Rating of this product is 3.5 out of 5."></div>
  4805. <div><div class="review-columns"><div class="review-column"><h3 class="review-subTitle" id="pros">Pros</h3><ul class="pros review-list"><li>Good speeds</li><li>Free version available</li><li>Streaming supported servers</li></ul></div><div class="review-column"><h3 class="review-subTitle" id="cons">Cons</h3><ul class="cons review-list"><li>Expensive</li><li>No independent audit</li><li>Some privacy issues</li></ul></div></div></div><h3 class="review-subTitle review-subTitle--borderTop" id="our-verdict">Our Verdict</h3><p class="verdict">Hotspot Shield is a good-quality VPN with some of the fastest speeds I&rsquo;ve ever seen from a VPN. It also has a slick desktop app and a large server network. Privacy is an issue though as there is no independent audit and the service collects user data that may be uncomfortable for some.</p>
  4806. </div><h3 class="review-price" id="price-when-reviewed">Price When Reviewed</h3><p>$12.99 per month</p>
  4807. <h3 class="review-best-price" id="best-prices-today-hotspot-shield">
  4808. Best Prices Today: Hotspot Shield </h3>
  4809. <div class="wp-block-price-comparison price-comparison ">
  4811. <div id="New" class="new_products_tab tabcontent">
  4812.  
  4813. <div class="price-comparison__record price-comparison__record--header">
  4814. <div>
  4815. <span>Retailer</span>
  4816. </div>
  4817. <div class="price-comparison__price">
  4818. <span>Price</span>
  4819. </div>
  4820. </div>
  4821.  
  4822. <div class="price-comparison__record">
  4823. <div class="price-comparison__image">
  4824. <span>Aura</span>
  4825. </div>
  4826. <div class="price-comparison__price">
  4827. <span>$12.99</span>
  4828. </div>
  4829. <div>
  4830. <a class="price-comparison__view-button" href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://www.hotspotshield.com/select-plan/&amp;xcust=2-1-395084-2-391188-17306&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" data-vars-product-name="Hotspot Shield" data-vars-product-id="391188" data-vars-category="Professional Software" data-vars-manufacturer-id="17306" data-vars-manufacturer="Pango" data-vars-vendor="Aura" data-vars-po="" data-product="391188" data-vars-link-position-id="001" data-vars-link-position="Price Comparison Top" data-vars-outbound-link="https://www.hotspotshield.com/select-plan/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">View Deal</a> </div>
  4831. </div>
  4832. <div class="price-comparison__record price-comparison__record--footer">
  4833. <span class="price-comparison__footer-text">
  4834. Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide </span>
  4835. </div>
  4836. </div>
  4837.  
  4838. <div id="Refurbished" class="refurbished_products_tab tabcontent">
  4839. <div class="refurbished-padding price-comparison__record price-comparison__record--header">
  4840. <div>
  4841. <span>Product</span>
  4842. </div>
  4843. <div class="price-comparison__price">
  4844. <span>Price</span>
  4845. </div>
  4846. </div>
  4847. <div class="price-comparison__record price-comparison__record--footer">
  4848. <span class="price-comparison__footer-text">
  4849. Price comparison from Backmarket </span>
  4850. </div>
  4851. </div>
  4852. </div>
  4854.  
  4855.  
  4856. <p><strong>Hotspot Shield in brief:</strong></p>
  4857.  
  4858.  
  4859.  
  4860. <ul>
  4861. <li>P2P allowed: Yes</li>
  4862.  
  4863.  
  4864.  
  4865. <li>Device connections: 5 simultaneous connections</li>
  4866.  
  4867.  
  4868.  
  4869. <li>Business location: United States</li>
  4870.  
  4871.  
  4872.  
  4873. <li>Number of servers: 1,800+</li>
  4874.  
  4875.  
  4876.  
  4877. <li>Number of country locations: 90</li>
  4878.  
  4879.  
  4880.  
  4881. <li>Cost: $12.99 per month or $95.88 for a yearly subscription</li>
  4882. </ul>
  4883.  
  4884.  
  4885.  
  4886. <p>In our previous reviews, Hotspot Shield has been our reigning speed champion, taking our top spot for fastest VPN by a mile. But with so many VPN services bolstering their servers and adopting faster protocols, it&rsquo;s worth taking another look to see how it stacks up in today&rsquo;s market.</p>
  4887.  
  4888.  
  4889.  
  4890. <blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
  4891. <p><strong>Further reading:</strong> See our roundup of the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/406870/best-vpn-services-apps-reviews-buying-advice.html" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.pcworld.com/article/406870/best-vpn-services-apps-reviews-buying-advice.html">best VPN services</a> to learn about competing products.</p>
  4892. </blockquote>
  4893.  
  4894.  
  4895.  
  4896. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="what-are-hotspot-shields-features-and-services">What are Hotspot Shield&rsquo;s features and services?</h2>
  4897.  
  4898.  
  4899. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  4900. { "image":
  4901. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  4902. "initialized": false,
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  4910. "targetHeight": "none",
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  4912. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  4913. }
  4914. }
  4915. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Hotspot-Shield-homescreen.png" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307200" width="807" height="754" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Hotspot Shield" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
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  4919. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  4920. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  4921. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4922. </button>
  4923. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307200" width="807" height="754" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Sam Singleton</p></div>
  4924. </div>
  4925. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307200" width="807" height="754" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Sam Singleton</p></div>
  4926. </div>
  4927. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4928. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Sam Singleton</p></div>
  4929.  
  4930.  
  4931.  
  4932. <p>When you start Hotspot Shield it shows a matte-black background with a giant power button in the center of the window. The default screen includes two tiles below the power button. One is for choosing your location, and the other displays your cumulative daily data usage. It&rsquo;s a pleasing user interface that continues to feel slick and modern &mdash; even though it hasn&rsquo;t changed in years.</p>
  4933.  
  4934.  
  4935. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  4936. { "image":
  4937. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  4938. "initialized": false,
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  4949. }
  4950. }
  4951. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Hotspot-Shield-servers.png" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307202" width="808" height="755" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Hotspot Shield" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  4952. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  4953. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  4954. </svg>
  4955. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>Hotspot Shield&rsquo;s server list includes streaming and gaming optimized servers.</p>
  4956. </figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  4957. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  4958. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  4959. </button>
  4960. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307202" width="808" height="755" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>Hotspot Shield&rsquo;s server list includes streaming and gaming optimized servers.</p>
  4961. </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Sam Singleton</p></div>
  4962. </div>
  4963. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307202" width="808" height="755" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>Hotspot Shield&rsquo;s server list includes streaming and gaming optimized servers.</p>
  4964. </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Sam Singleton</p></div>
  4965. </div>
  4966. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  4967. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Sam Singleton</p></div>
  4968.  
  4969.  
  4970.  
  4971. <p>When you open up the server locations tab, you&rsquo;ll find an extensive list of 1,800 or so servers spread across an impressive 90 countries. Before Hotspot Shield changed ownership to Aura, it had over 3,200 servers.&nbsp;When we previously reached out to Aura to ask why it decided to drop server count the company said, &ldquo;Aura uses more powerful servers and has a more efficient software stack. We have continued to innovate on the VPN infrastructure stack leveraging our proprietary Hydra technology, which has led to an architecture that utilizes a smaller number of specialized servers that work together to deliver a superior VPN experience.&rdquo;</p>
  4972.  
  4973.  
  4974.  
  4975. <p>Hotspot Shield also supports streaming services such as Netflix. Rather than making a blanket statement that its servers will work with streaming, it actually has dedicated streaming servers in both the U.S. and UK. In addition to streaming locations you can choose servers dedicated to gaming as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
  4976.  
  4977.  
  4978.  
  4979. <p>Zooming back out to the home screen, there are a number of options on the left rail to choose from. These include a handy built-in speed test, account information, a support page, and a settings menu.</p>
  4980.  
  4981.  
  4982. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  4983. { "image":
  4984. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  4985. "initialized": false,
  4986. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  4987. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  4988. "preloadInitialized": false,
  4989. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  4990. "imageUploadedSrc": "",
  4991. "imageCurrentSrc": "",
  4992. "targetWidth": "none",
  4993. "targetHeight": "none",
  4994. "scaleAttr": "",
  4995. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  4996. }
  4997. }
  4998. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/HotSpot-Shield-settings.png" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307204" width="805" height="754" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Hotspot Shield" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  4999. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  5000. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  5001. </svg>
  5002. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>Hotspot Shield&rsquo;s settings menu provides a good amount of customization options for the VPN.</p>
  5003. </figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  5004. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  5005. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  5006. </button>
  5007. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307204" width="805" height="754" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>Hotspot Shield&rsquo;s settings menu provides a good amount of customization options for the VPN.</p>
  5008. </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Sam Singleton</p></div>
  5009. </div>
  5010. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307204" width="805" height="754" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>Hotspot Shield&rsquo;s settings menu provides a good amount of customization options for the VPN.</p>
  5011. </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Sam Singleton</p></div>
  5012. </div>
  5013. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  5014. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Sam Singleton</p></div>
  5015.  
  5016.  
  5017.  
  5018. <p>The settings area has a number of useful items. There&rsquo;s an internet kill switch that stops all web traffic if the VPN connection crashes, and resumes only when you reconnect to the VPN. There&rsquo;s also an &ldquo;Auto-protect&rdquo; feature that will automatically connect to the VPN when you&rsquo;re on public Wi-Fi.</p>
  5019.  
  5020.  
  5021.  
  5022. <p>In fact, since our last review, Hotspot Shield has added a number of great new features that can be turned on under the settings menu. It now offers split tunneling which allows you to pick and choose which apps or websites should be run through the VPN and which should be excluded. Additionally, it added support for the WireGuard protocol.</p>
  5023.  
  5024.  
  5025. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  5026. { "image":
  5027. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  5028. "initialized": false,
  5029. "lightboxEnabled": false,
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  5031. "preloadInitialized": false,
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  5035. "targetWidth": "none",
  5036. "targetHeight": "none",
  5037. "scaleAttr": "",
  5038. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  5039. }
  5040. }
  5041. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Hotspot-shield-connected.png" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307205" width="808" height="680" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Hotspot Shield" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  5042. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  5043. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  5044. </svg>
  5045. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p></p>
  5046. </figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  5047. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  5048. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  5049. </button>
  5050. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307205" width="808" height="680" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p></p>
  5051. </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Ian Paul</p></div>
  5052. </div>
  5053. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307205" width="808" height="680" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p></p>
  5054. </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Ian Paul</p></div>
  5055. </div>
  5056. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  5057. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Ian Paul</p></div>
  5058.  
  5059.  
  5060.  
  5061. <p>Once you&rsquo;re connected, the app displays small informational tiles that show your VPN location, the VPN IP address you&rsquo;re using, the amount of bandwidth you&rsquo;ve used going up and down, speed data, plus the name of the local network you&rsquo;re currently on. The server information tile also has some nice data in it, including your current IP address, the load of the server (as a percentage), the latency, and length of time connected.&nbsp;</p>
  5062.  
  5063.  
  5064.  
  5065. <p>Hotspot Shield supports up to five simultaneous device connections, which for a service this pricey is on the low side and hasn&rsquo;t been changed in recent years. The service has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. There are also instructions for setting up a router, as with numerous other services.</p>
  5066.  
  5067.  
  5068.  
  5069. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-much-does-hotspot-shield-cost">How much does Hotspot Shield cost?</h2>
  5070.  
  5071.  
  5072.  
  5073. <p>Hotspot Shield is one of the more expensive VPNs at $12.99 per month. There is also a yearly plan that drops the price to $7.99 per month or $95.88 for the whole year. In the past, these higher prices could be justified as Hotspot Shield offered its subscriptions as bundled services &mdash; not just the VPN, but also a password manager, antivirus, and call blocker. Nowadays, though, many other services are offering these same features for no additional price.</p>
  5074.  
  5075.  
  5076.  
  5077. <p>Hotspot Shield does offer a free version of its VPN for no charge whatsoever. The free version limits you to 500MB of data per day, connection speeds are capped at 2Mbps, and there is only one U.S. server available. You&rsquo;ll also have to wade through quite a few ads while using it, especially with the Android app. Still, these restrictions aren&rsquo;t a dealbreaker and are actually relatively mild compared to those of many other free services.</p>
  5078.  
  5079.  
  5080.  
  5081. <p>Hotspot Shield accepts payments via credit card and PayPal.</p>
  5082.  
  5083.  
  5084.  
  5085. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-is-hotspot-shields-performance">How is Hotspot Shield&rsquo;s performance?</h2>
  5086.  
  5087.  
  5088.  
  5089. <p>For a long time, Hotspot Shield&rsquo;s Hydra protocol was the flat-out fastest VPN you could find. In recent years, however, that&rsquo;s changed, as many competitors have adopted the new-ish WireGuard protocol. The lightning-fast speeds of WireGuard mean that Hotspot Shield no longer stands alone at the top of the heap of <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/616724/fastest-vpn.html">fastest VPNs</a>.</p>
  5090.  
  5091.  
  5092.  
  5093. <p>When testing Hotspot Shield&rsquo;s performance, I measured connection speeds across its servers in six different countries around the world and then compared them to my baseline internet speed. I did this using both its proprietary Hydra protocol as well as WireGuard.</p>
  5094.  
  5095.  
  5096.  
  5097. <p>The average download speeds for the once vaunted Hydra were 61 percent of base download speed. Upload speeds clocked in at 70 percent of my base upload speed. That&rsquo;s not bad, but it&rsquo;s no longer great either. Just like an aging Usain Bolt, the competitors were bound to catch up eventually, I guess.</p>
  5098.  
  5099.  
  5100.  
  5101. <p>When connected to WireGuard, however, I actually noticed a slight speed increase, with download speeds jumping to 64 percent of base while upload speeds remained about the same. This just goes to show that Hydra isn&rsquo;t what it once was and, quite honestly, I&rsquo;d be hard pressed to recommend it over WireGuard going forward.</p>
  5102.  
  5103.  
  5104.  
  5105. <p>All of this is not to say that Hotspot Shield is slow. It&rsquo;s still much faster than many other VPNs, but it no longer runs away with the fastest title. Other VPNs such as <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/398777/nordvpn-review-3.html">NordVPN</a> and <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/402413/protonvpn-vpn-review.html">ProtonVPN</a> have caught up and overtaken it.</p>
  5106.  
  5107.  
  5108.  
  5109. <p>For those who&rsquo;re looking to use Hotspot Shield to unblock streaming content, you&rsquo;re in luck. It worked surprisingly well when it came to accessing geo-restricted content on sites such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and others. The service maintains a few streaming optimized servers in the U.S. and UK, but I actually found that even random servers I connected to in places like Japan and Australia allowed me to access content as well.</p>
  5110.  
  5111.  
  5112.  
  5113. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-is-hotspot-shields-security-and-privacy">How is Hotspot Shield&rsquo;s security and privacy?</h2>
  5114.  
  5115.  
  5116. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  5117. { "image":
  5118. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  5119. "initialized": false,
  5120. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  5121. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  5122. "preloadInitialized": false,
  5123. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  5124. "imageUploadedSrc": "",
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  5126. "targetWidth": "none",
  5127. "targetHeight": "none",
  5128. "scaleAttr": "",
  5129. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  5130. }
  5131. }
  5132. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Hotspot-shield-protocols.png" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307206" width="808" height="758" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Hotspot Shield" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  5133. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  5134. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  5135. </svg>
  5136. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>Hotspot Shield offers three protocols to choose from: WireGuard, IKev2, and its own Hydra protocol.</p>
  5137. </figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  5138. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  5139. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  5140. </button>
  5141. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307206" width="808" height="758" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>Hotspot Shield offers three protocols to choose from: WireGuard, IKev2, and its own Hydra protocol.</p>
  5142. </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Sam Singleton</p></div>
  5143. </div>
  5144. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307206" width="808" height="758" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>Hotspot Shield offers three protocols to choose from: WireGuard, IKev2, and its own Hydra protocol.</p>
  5145. </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Sam Singleton</p></div>
  5146. </div>
  5147. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  5148. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Sam Singleton</p></div>
  5149.  
  5150.  
  5151.  
  5152. <p>Hotspot Shield offers three protocols: WireGuard, IKEv2, and its own proprietary protocol called Catapult Hydra. There isn&rsquo;t too much known about Hydra, but it is used by Kaspersky, Bitdefender, and McAfee, among other trustworthy security brands and I suppose that goes a long way towards demonstrating its reliability.</p>
  5153.  
  5154.  
  5155.  
  5156. <p>The service also offers a kill switch, turned off by default, which in my testing successfully blocked my internet traffic when my VPN connection was unexpectedly terminated. It&rsquo;s worth noting, however, that the kill-switch function only works with the Hydra protocol, not with WireGuard or IKEv2. This is highly unusual and quite vexing as I&rsquo;ve never come across a VPN that doesn&rsquo;t allow its kill-switch feature to work across all protocols.</p>
  5157.  
  5158.  
  5159. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  5160. { "image":
  5161. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  5162. "initialized": false,
  5163. "lightboxEnabled": false,
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  5172. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  5173. }
  5174. }
  5175. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Hotspot-Shield-Privacy-notice.png" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307207" width="645" height="602" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Hotspot Shield" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  5176. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  5177. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  5178. </svg>
  5179. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>Hotspot Shield&rsquo;s privacy notice when you first open the application.</p>
  5180. </figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  5181. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  5182. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  5183. </button>
  5184. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307207" width="645" height="602" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>Hotspot Shield&rsquo;s privacy notice when you first open the application.</p>
  5185. </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Sam Singleton</p></div>
  5186. </div>
  5187. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-full enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Hotspot Shield" class="wp-image-2307207" width="645" height="602" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>Hotspot Shield&rsquo;s privacy notice when you first open the application.</p>
  5188. </figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Sam Singleton</p></div>
  5189. </div>
  5190. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  5191. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Sam Singleton</p></div>
  5192.  
  5193.  
  5194.  
  5195. <p>While the security might be top-notch, Hotspot Shield drops the ball when it comes to privacy. Its parent company Aura still collects the domains you visit, as did the previous Hotspot Shield owners. Not the specific URLs, mind you, just the higher-level domains. Aura says it does this in order to, &ldquo;monitor, support, and optimize our VPN services.&rdquo; As a side note, this optimization is likely one of the reasons Hotspot Shield is able to stay at the top of our speed rankings.&nbsp;</p>
  5196.  
  5197.  
  5198.  
  5199. <p>In addition to the domains, Hotspot Shield also creates a hash based on your device attributes and uses that to measure bandwidth use, provide support, analytics, and so on. Your IP address is also kept (in an encrypted state) during your VPN session and then deleted. Finally, the company also collects the duration of your sessions and bandwidth consumption. Aura says it does this &ldquo;to monitor, support, and optimize our VPN services, as well as enforce free app usage limits.&rdquo;</p>
  5200.  
  5201.  
  5202.  
  5203. <p>Although Hotspot Shield claims that this data is anonymized and logs can&rsquo;t be traced back to specific users, this has unfortunately never been verified by independent audit. So it&rsquo;s up to you whether you&rsquo;re willing to take them at their word.</p>
  5204.  
  5205.  
  5206.  
  5207. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="is-hotspot-shield-worth-it">Is Hotspot Shield worth it?</h2>
  5208.  
  5209.  
  5210.  
  5211. <p>Hotspot Shield is a great option if your only concern is VPN speeds for streaming, gaming, and so on. It&rsquo;s no longer the standout that it once was, as other VPNs have caught up, but it&rsquo;s still plenty fast. The Windows and Android apps are easy to use and it works with Netflix and other streaming services.</p>
  5212.  
  5213.  
  5214.  
  5215. <p>The company&rsquo;s privacy policy leaves a lot to be desired though, and proprietary VPN protocols, even one with wide support like Hydra, are still a little questionable. The reality is that there are other VPN services that log far less data, and still have acceptable speeds. Go with Hotspot Shield for the speed, but not the privacy.</p>
  5216.  
  5217.  
  5218.  
  5219. <p><strong><em>Editor&rsquo;s note</em></strong><em>: Because online services are often iterative, gaining new features and performance improvements over time, this review is subject to change in order to accurately reflect the current state of the service. Any changes to text or our final review verdict will be noted at the top of this article.</em></p>
  5220.  
  5221. <category>VPN</category></body></div>
  5222. ]]></description>
  5223. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/395084/hotspot-shield-vpn-review.html</link>
  5224. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">395084</post-id> </item>
  5225. <item>
  5226. <title>What is an AI PC, exactly? We cut through the hype</title>
  5227. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cf9624ea-077f-4fca-9800-c0a9f21988a7-edit-1.png" length="1985786" type="image/png" />
  5228. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 10:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
  5229. <description><![CDATA[
  5230. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  5231. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  5232.  
  5233.  
  5234.  
  5235. <p>An AI PC is the next big thing in PCs&hellip;or so a lot of companies would have you believe. But what is an AI PC, why should you buy one, and what &mdash; if anything &mdash; does an AI PC offer? While those answers are evolving over time, we can tell you what we know right now.</p>
  5236.  
  5237.  
  5238.  
  5239. <p>The short answer: Microsoft appears to have a definition of an &ldquo;AI PC&rdquo; that it&rsquo;s working to define behind the scenes. But it&rsquo;s very possible that you own an &ldquo;AI-capable PC&rdquo; right now. The difference between the two may be a list of specifications and maybe even a dedicated sticker to grace your laptop.</p>
  5240.  
  5241.  
  5242.  
  5243. <p>When the industry talks about an &ldquo;AI PC,&rdquo; it refers to a PC that can process AI tasks faster. But vendors understand that in different ways. Some, like Microsoft, appear to define it as a PC that can access &ldquo;AI&rdquo; like Windows Copilot, which currently lives natively in the cloud. Chip vendors like AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm feel strongly that AI should be processed locally, via its microprocessors, on your PC. And PC vendors? We&rsquo;d like to think that they&rsquo;ll choose any approach that nets them more sales.</p>
  5244.  
  5245.  
  5246.  
  5247. <p>So which is it? All three perspectives, actually. &ldquo;AI PCs&rdquo; have evolved from a nebulous concept, but Microsoft has a specific definition in mind that&rsquo;s reminiscent of the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/394763/windows-11-system-hardware-requirements.html">Windows 11 hardware requirements</a>. Let&rsquo;s walk through where AI PCs came from, and where they&rsquo;re going.</p>
  5248.  
  5249.  
  5250.  
  5251. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="what-ai-is-and-what-it-does">What AI is, and what it does</h2>
  5252.  
  5253.  
  5254.  
  5255. <p>The simplest way to run AI is in the cloud: LLMs (AI chatbots) like <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2200853/microsoft-copilot-adds-a-premium-subscription-copilot-pro.html">Microsoft Copilot</a>, AI art like the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1666493/hands-on-with-bing-image-creator-bing-chats-ai-art-tool.html">Bing Image Creator</a> (now part of Copilot and Microsoft Designer), <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2304523/forget-ai-images-ai-video-is-heading-to-adobe-premiere-pro.html">AI video from Adobe</a> and <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/1665235/ai-already-turns-text-prompts-into-stunning-art-next-up-video.html">Runway</a>, and <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2302035/udios-ai-music-is-my-new-obsession.html">AI music like Udio</a>. In this format, AI is just another website that you can interact with. You can do that with your PC. You can do that with your phone.</p>
  5256.  
  5257.  
  5258. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  5259. { "image":
  5260. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  5261. "initialized": false,
  5262. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  5263. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  5264. "preloadInitialized": false,
  5265. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  5266. "imageUploadedSrc": "",
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  5268. "targetWidth": "none",
  5269. "targetHeight": "none",
  5270. "scaleAttr": "",
  5271. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  5272. }
  5273. }
  5274. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/fooocus-parrot-detective.png?w=1200" alt="Fooocus AI PC AI Art" class="wp-image-2305882" width="1200" height="668" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Fooocus AI PC AI Art" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  5275. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  5276. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  5277. </svg>
  5278. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">I love playing around with AI art, and one of my favorite apps to do so is Fooocus.</figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  5279. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  5280. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  5281. </button>
  5282. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Fooocus AI PC AI Art" class="wp-image-2305882" width="1200" height="668" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">I love playing around with AI art, and one of my favorite apps to do so is Fooocus.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5283. </div>
  5284. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Fooocus AI PC AI Art" class="wp-image-2305882" width="1200" height="668" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">I love playing around with AI art, and one of my favorite apps to do so is Fooocus.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5285. </div>
  5286. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  5287. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5288.  
  5289.  
  5290.  
  5291. <p>This is where the concept of an &ldquo;AI PC&rdquo; becomes more PC-centric. If you work for a business, your IT department is probably paranoid about confidential information leaking on to the Internet. While you might ask Copilot for tips on how to save for your retirement, your company doesn&rsquo;t want the possibility of Google or Microsoft learning about its plans. So if it chooses an LLM, it might want to run it within the protection of its corporate firewall. Likewise, you might want to experiment with AI art or ask an embarrassing question of an LLM that you don&rsquo;t want recorded in the cloud. Privacy matters.</p>
  5292.  
  5293.  
  5294.  
  5295. <p>Local AI advocates also say that running AI locally may be faster than the cloud. In our experience, that&rsquo;s not necessarily true. OpenAI, Bard, and Microsoft have spent considerable time and effort making sure their cloud AI is fast and responsive. </p>
  5296.  
  5297.  
  5298.  
  5299. <p>The final argument is that a local LLM can be &ldquo;trained&rdquo; to know you and your specific preferences and actions. </p>
  5300.  
  5301.  
  5302. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  5303. { "image":
  5304. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  5305. "initialized": false,
  5306. "lightboxEnabled": false,
  5307. "hideAnimationEnabled": false,
  5308. "preloadInitialized": false,
  5309. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  5310. "imageUploadedSrc": "",
  5311. "imageCurrentSrc": "",
  5312. "targetWidth": "none",
  5313. "targetHeight": "none",
  5314. "scaleAttr": "",
  5315. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  5316. }
  5317. }
  5318. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Photoshop-hub-coral-reef.png?w=1200" alt="Photoshop USB-C hub coral reef" class="wp-image-2305885" width="1200" height="766" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Photoshop USB-C hub coral reef" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  5319. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  5320. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  5321. </svg>
  5322. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">In Photoshop, I can use local AI to highlight and separate the USB-C hub to the right, filling in the remainder with an AI-generated background. This could all be done locally in the future.</figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  5323. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  5324. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  5325. </button>
  5326. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Photoshop USB-C hub coral reef" class="wp-image-2305885" width="1200" height="766" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">In Photoshop, I can use local AI to highlight and separate the USB-C hub to the right, filling in the remainder with an AI-generated background. This could all be done locally in the future.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5327. </div>
  5328. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Photoshop USB-C hub coral reef" class="wp-image-2305885" width="1200" height="766" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">In Photoshop, I can use local AI to highlight and separate the USB-C hub to the right, filling in the remainder with an AI-generated background. This could all be done locally in the future.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5329. </div>
  5330. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  5331. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5332.  
  5333.  
  5334.  
  5335. <p>Applications can strike a balance. Photoshop is a good example, as it runs &ldquo;AI&rdquo; tools like the ability to remove objects from an image on your PC. But if you want to change a king&rsquo;s crown to a baseball cap, for example, Adobe&rsquo;s own <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2067182/adobe-fireflys-ai-tools-go-live-but-with-a-credit-plan.html">cloud-based Firefly service</a> performs those tasks. <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2199842/ai-pcs-are-everywhere-at-ces-2024-what-does-it-really-mean-for-you.html">We&rsquo;re always on the lookout for new AI apps</a> that can justify local AI processing, as these will make or break AI PCs. </p>
  5336.  
  5337.  
  5338.  
  5339. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="you-probably-already-own-an-ai-pc">You probably already own an AI PC</h2>
  5340.  
  5341.  
  5342.  
  5343. <p>As I noted earlier, most AI can be run through the cloud. But when you run AI locally on your PC, you have three (and maybe four) options.</p>
  5344.  
  5345.  
  5346.  
  5347. <p>A PC has three main processing engines: the CPU, the GPU, and a new addition, the NPU. CPUs and GPUs (or graphics cards) have existed for decades, and <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2199565/ai-reality-check-new-npus-dont-matter-as-much-as-youd-think.html">they&rsquo;re just fine for running local AI art and LLMs</a> &mdash; really! <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2217387/heres-the-simplest-way-to-run-a-private-ai-chatbot-on-your-pc.html">Running a local LLM on just your CPU</a> is slow, but add in a dedicated GPU and performance dramatically speeds up. In terms of AI, the GPU is <em>still</em> the fastest local processor you&rsquo;ll own, but it&rsquo;s <em>not</em> the most efficient.</p>
  5348.  
  5349.  
  5350.  
  5351. <p>Put another way: if you own a gaming PC with a dedicated GPU, you already own an AI-capable PC.</p>
  5352.  
  5353.  
  5354.  
  5355. <p>Now, existing and upcoming processors have NPUs inside. <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2055579/inside-meteor-lake-intels-14th-gen-core-cpu-optimized-for-the-future.html">Intel&rsquo;s Meteor Lake/Core Ultra processor</a> will compete with the <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2193400/amds-ryzen-8000-brings-ai-to-the-desktop-with-an-am4-surprise.html">AMD Ryzen 8000</a> series. <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2117798/qualcomms-next-snapdragon-looks-like-the-fastest-pc-processor.html">Qualcomm&rsquo;s Snapdragon X Elite</a> is waiting in the wings, with a number of laptops scheduled to ship by midyear. Intel already claims that it&rsquo;s shipped 5 million AI PCs, with about 100 million due to ship by the end of the year.</p>
  5356.  
  5357.  
  5358. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  5374. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/gpt4all-example.png?w=1200" alt="AI PC GPT4all" class="wp-image-2305881" width="1200" height="671" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: AI PC GPT4all" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  5375. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  5376. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  5377. </svg>
  5378. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">AI chatbots or LLMs can be run in the cloud, but sometimes if&rsquo;s more comfortable to run them locally.</figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  5379. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  5380. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  5381. </button>
  5382. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="AI PC GPT4all" class="wp-image-2305881" width="1200" height="671" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">AI chatbots or LLMs can be run in the cloud, but sometimes if&rsquo;s more comfortable to run them locally.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5383. </div>
  5384. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="AI PC GPT4all" class="wp-image-2305881" width="1200" height="671" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">AI chatbots or LLMs can be run in the cloud, but sometimes if&rsquo;s more comfortable to run them locally.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5385. </div>
  5386. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  5387. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5388.  
  5389.  
  5390.  
  5391. <p>What chip vendors would like to sell you on, though, is the concept of a Neural Processing Unit, or NPU. An NPU (ideally) is the heart of an AI PC. It&rsquo;s actually conceptually similar to a GPU, in that it can perform repetitive tasks, quickly. In fact, that&rsquo;s where the defining &ldquo;speed&rdquo; metric of an NPU comes in: TOPS, or trillions of operations per second.</p>
  5392.  
  5393.  
  5394.  
  5395. <p>We think of how fast CPUs are in terms of gigahertz: one billion hertz (or cycles) per second. NPUs are defined in TOPS, churning through trillions of operations per second. In a LLM, the speed of an NPU is also defined in tokens: the basic data units. One token generally equates to about four characters of text, so the &ldquo;answers&rdquo; an LLM provides are actually tokens, in AI-speak. </p>
  5396.  
  5397.  
  5398.  
  5399. <p>The effectiveness of the AI depends on how quickly and in what volume an LLM can process tokens, as well as how complex the AI model is. If the LLM runs on your machine, how fast it is in TOPS determines how quickly the LLM can spit out an answer.</p>
  5400.  
  5401.  
  5402. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  5418. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Qualcomm-Snapdragon-compute-execs.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1200" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Kedar Kondap Nitin Kumar" class="wp-image-2116468" width="1200" height="900" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Kedar Kondap Nitin Kumar" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  5419. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  5420. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  5421. </svg>
  5422. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Qualcomm has had an AI processor for its mobile Snapdragon processors for years now, allowing features like &ldquo;portrait mode&rdquo; in smartphones.</figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  5423. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  5424. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  5425. </button>
  5426. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Kedar Kondap Nitin Kumar" class="wp-image-2116468" width="1200" height="900" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Qualcomm has had an AI processor for its mobile Snapdragon processors for years now, allowing features like &ldquo;portrait mode&rdquo; in smartphones.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5427. </div>
  5428. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Kedar Kondap Nitin Kumar" class="wp-image-2116468" width="1200" height="900" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Qualcomm has had an AI processor for its mobile Snapdragon processors for years now, allowing features like &ldquo;portrait mode&rdquo; in smartphones.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5429. </div>
  5430. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  5431. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5432.  
  5433.  
  5434.  
  5435. <p>Chip vendors typically define TOPS in terms of their NPU, or sometimes as their NPU, GPU, and CPU working together. I actually haven&rsquo;t seen any application that can use all three in conjunction, but I&rsquo;m sure those days are coming.</p>
  5436.  
  5437.  
  5438.  
  5439. <p>Here are the TOPS each of the big three PC chip vendors&rsquo; NPUs provides:</p>
  5440.  
  5441.  
  5442.  
  5443. <ul>
  5444. <li>Intel Core Ultra (Meteor Lake): <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2169875/intel-core-ultra-meteor-lake-ai-pc-era.html?utm=smart_answers">34 TOPS</a></li>
  5445.  
  5446.  
  5447.  
  5448. <li>AMD Ryzen 8040 Series: <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2162142/amd-announces-ryzen-8000-laptop-processors-with-a-renewed-ai-push.html">39 TOPS</a></li>
  5449.  
  5450.  
  5451.  
  5452. <li>Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite: <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2112907/qualcomm-snapdragon-x-elite-chips-promise-major-pc-performance.html">45 TOPS</a> (75 total)</li>
  5453. </ul>
  5454.  
  5455.  
  5456.  
  5457. <p><a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2195582/intels-2024-isnt-over-arrow-lake-lunar-lake-are-next-up.html">Intel said at CES that its upcoming Lunar Lake processor</a> will deliver three times the AI performance (102 TOPS, presumably). That mobile chip is due before the end of the year, and will likely be called the Core Ultra Series 2. </p>
  5458.  
  5459.  
  5460. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  5474. }
  5475. }
  5476. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Intel-Lunar-Lake-Gelsinger.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1200" alt="Intel Lunar Lake TOPS AI PC" class="wp-image-2305893" width="1200" height="846" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Intel Lunar Lake TOPS AI PC" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  5477. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  5478. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  5479. </svg>
  5480. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Intel is already talking about &ldquo;Lunar Lake,&rdquo; the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 chip.</figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  5481. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  5482. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  5483. </button>
  5484. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Intel Lunar Lake TOPS AI PC" class="wp-image-2305893" width="1200" height="846" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Intel is already talking about &ldquo;Lunar Lake,&rdquo; the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 chip.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Intel</p></div>
  5485. </div>
  5486. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Intel Lunar Lake TOPS AI PC" class="wp-image-2305893" width="1200" height="846" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Intel is already talking about &ldquo;Lunar Lake,&rdquo; the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 chip.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Intel</p></div>
  5487. </div>
  5488. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  5489. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Intel</p></div>
  5490.  
  5491.  
  5492.  
  5493. <p>Nvidia doesn&rsquo;t release the performance of its PC GPUs in TOPS, but a GeForce RTX 4090 delivers between 83 to 100 TFLOPS, or trillions of floating-point operations. That&rsquo;s generally considered to be more intensive than the &ldquo;standard&rdquo; integer operations used in TOPS.</p>
  5494.  
  5495.  
  5496.  
  5497. <p>There&rsquo;s a wild card, too: <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2196895/first-pc-ai-accelerator-cards-from-memryx-kinara-debut-at-ces.html">AI accelerator cards</a>, which we first saw earlier this year. Will they make a splash? We don&rsquo;t know yet.</p>
  5498.  
  5499.  
  5500.  
  5501. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="whats-an-npu-good-for-in-an-ai-pc">What&rsquo;s an NPU good for in an AI PC?</h2>
  5502.  
  5503.  
  5504.  
  5505. <p>Most enthusiasts think of chips in terms of performance: how fast is it? At least for now, NPUs are being positioned in terms of efficiency: how much AI performance can they deliver while minimizing power? </p>
  5506.  
  5507.  
  5508.  
  5509. <p>In this context, vendors are thinking about laptops running on battery. And right now the flagship NPU task is Windows Studio Effects.</p>
  5510.  
  5511.  
  5512. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  5526. }
  5527. }
  5528. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Standard-blur.png?w=1200" alt="Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (5G) webcam Windows Studio Effects blur" class="wp-image-1360490" width="1200" height="579" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (5G) webcam Windows Studio Effects blur" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  5529. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  5530. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  5531. </svg>
  5532. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">While Windows Studio Effects performs background blurring like Teams or Zoom, it does so more efficiently using the NPU.</figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  5533. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  5534. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  5535. </button>
  5536. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (5G) webcam Windows Studio Effects blur" class="wp-image-1360490" width="1200" height="579" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">While Windows Studio Effects performs background blurring like Teams or Zoom, it does so more efficiently using the NPU.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5537. </div>
  5538. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (5G) webcam Windows Studio Effects blur" class="wp-image-1360490" width="1200" height="579" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">While Windows Studio Effects performs background blurring like Teams or Zoom, it does so more efficiently using the NPU.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5539. </div>
  5540. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  5541. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5542.  
  5543.  
  5544.  
  5545. <p>Windows Studio Effects are Microsoft&rsquo;s AI tools for improving Teams video calls. They consist of the ability to replace or blur your background; audio filtering; using the camera&rsquo;s cropping ability to &ldquo;pan and zoom&rdquo; on your face as you move around, and a kind of creepy AI technique of making it seem like your eyes are always on the camera and paying attention.</p>
  5546.  
  5547.  
  5548.  
  5549. <p>By offloading that task to the efficient NPU, AI can keep your laptop on and powered up for a marathon day of video calls. Hurray for progress, am I right?</p>
  5550.  
  5551.  
  5552.  
  5553. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="the-ai-pcs-hardware-requirements-according-to-microsoft">The AI PC&rsquo;s hardware requirements, according to Microsoft</h2>
  5554.  
  5555.  
  5556.  
  5557. <p>So we know what an AI PC is supposed to do, and what it&rsquo;s good for. Is there going to be an approved, official AI PC?</p>
  5558.  
  5559.  
  5560. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  5576. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image_02009d.png?w=1200" alt="AI PC requirements from Microsoft" class="wp-image-2305901" width="1200" height="675" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: AI PC requirements from Microsoft" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  5577. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  5578. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  5579. </svg>
  5580. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  5581. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  5582. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  5583. </button>
  5584. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="AI PC requirements from Microsoft" class="wp-image-2305901" width="1200" height="675" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Intel</p></div>
  5585. </div>
  5586. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="AI PC requirements from Microsoft" class="wp-image-2305901" width="1200" height="675" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Intel</p></div>
  5587. </div>
  5588. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  5589. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Intel</p></div>
  5590.  
  5591.  
  5592.  
  5593. <p>I think so. Intel executives alluded to it in a conference call, revealing that for now there are <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2280765/microsofts-ai-pc-definition-an-npu-and-a-keyboard-sticker.html">three components of an &ldquo;official AI PC</a>:&rdquo; a <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2191837/a-copilot-key-is-coming-to-your-pcs-keyboard.html">Copilot key</a>, the ability of the PC to run Copilot, and a dedicated NPU inside. Additional reports have said that there is a TOPS requirement of 45 TOPS, but Microsoft hasn&rsquo;t confirmed this.</p>
  5594.  
  5595.  
  5596.  
  5597. <p>If the latter requirement is true, that would mean that PCs with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip inside would qualify as AI PCs, but PCs with Intel&rsquo;s first Core Ultra inside would not. When you consider that Microsoft is expected to launch <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2269179/microsoft-signals-a-second-surface-ai-event-for-may.html">consumer versions of its Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 5</a> at its Build conference in May with Snapdragon X Elite chips inside, it all makes sense: this could be the formal unveiling of the AI PC.</p>
  5598.  
  5599.  
  5600.  
  5601. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="where-can-i-buy-an-ai-pc">Where can I buy an AI PC?</h2>
  5602.  
  5603.  
  5604.  
  5605. <p>Microsoft hasn&rsquo;t formally defined what an AI PC is. It&rsquo;s possible that we&rsquo;ll eventually see some sort of official badging, like the &ldquo;Designed for Windows XP&rdquo; stickers of old.</p>
  5606.  
  5607.  
  5608.  
  5609. <p>Every Intel Core Ultra PC and most AMD Ryzen 7000 and 8000 PCs &mdash; assuming they have Ryzen AI inside &mdash; include an NPU inside that can accelerate AI. But only the very latest (as of this writing) laptops include that Copilot key that Microsoft endorses. </p>
  5610.  
  5611.  
  5612.  
  5613. <blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
  5614. <p><strong>Further reading: </strong><a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/436674/the-best-pc-laptops-of-the-year.html">The best laptops we&rsquo;ve tested</a></p>
  5615. </blockquote>
  5616.  
  5617.  
  5618. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
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  5620. {   "imageLoaded": false,
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  5631. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  5632. }
  5633. }
  5634. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2289137/asus-zenbook-14-oled-review-3.html"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/asus-zenbook-14-oled-2024-2.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1200" alt="Asus Zenbook keyboard" class="wp-image-2289270" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Asus Zenbook keyboard" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  5635. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  5636. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  5637. </svg>
  5638. </button></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>NPU, Copilot key, and ships with Microsoft Copilo<span style="color: var(--figcaption--font-color);font-family: var(--figcaption--font-family);font-size: 0.75rem">t&hellip;  the Asus ZenBook 14 OLED is an AI PC. </span></p></figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  5639. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  5640. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  5641. </button>
  5642. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2289137/asus-zenbook-14-oled-review-3.html"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Asus Zenbook keyboard" class="wp-image-2289270" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>NPU, Copilot key, and ships with Microsoft Copilo<span style="color: var(--figcaption--font-color);font-family: var(--figcaption--font-family);font-size: 0.75rem">t&hellip;  the Asus ZenBook 14 OLED is an AI PC. </span></p></figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Matthew Smith</p></div>
  5643. </div>
  5644. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2289137/asus-zenbook-14-oled-review-3.html"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Asus Zenbook keyboard" class="wp-image-2289270" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><p>NPU, Copilot key, and ships with Microsoft Copilo<span style="color: var(--figcaption--font-color);font-family: var(--figcaption--font-family);font-size: 0.75rem">t&hellip;  the Asus ZenBook 14 OLED is an AI PC. </span></p></figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Matthew Smith</p></div>
  5645. </div>
  5646. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  5647. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Matthew Smith</p></div>
  5648.  
  5649.  
  5650.  
  5651. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="should-you-buy-an-ai-pc">Should you buy an AI PC?</h2>
  5652.  
  5653.  
  5654.  
  5655. <p>We still, <em>still</em> don&rsquo;t know whether Microsoft will run Copilot or a version of Copilot on local PCs or not, and that could be a big selling point for an AI PC &mdash; if the experience proves satisfactory. Likewise, we don&rsquo;t know whether some killer app will, um, surface: will there be <em>something</em> that screams, <em>you&rsquo;ve got to own this</em>? (My vote so far is for this killer <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2251954/laptop-ai-audio-can-magically-erase-your-jams-from-zoom-calls.html">AI-powered audio filtering</a> that just obliterates background noise.)</p>
  5656.  
  5657.  
  5658.  
  5659. <p>It&rsquo;s likelier that Microsoft will drip new AI features into Windows over time, making it more and more compelling. Remember, <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2258181/hey-everyone-its-time-to-switch-to-windows-11.html">I think that it&rsquo;s time to switch to Windows 11</a>, but that&rsquo;s in part because Microsoft will likely tie AI into its latest feature release of the Windows 11 operating system. </p>
  5660.  
  5661.  
  5662.  
  5663. <p>But really, it could be anything: an AI-powered character that is dropped into a hot new game, perhaps <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2281252/nvidia-joins-the-full-nerd-to-show-off-ai-npcs.html">powered by Nvidia&rsquo;s ACE</a>, might prompt an AI-powered gaming shift. Maybe it will be updates to Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet that will all use AI. Something else, perhaps. </p>
  5664.  
  5665.  
  5666.  
  5667. <p>AI PCs aren&rsquo;t here yet, but they will be. We&rsquo;ll be watching to see what happens, and you should too.</p>
  5668.  
  5669. <category>Desktop PCs</category></body></div>
  5670. ]]></description>
  5671. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/2302123/what-is-an-ai-pc-we-cut-through-the-hype.html</link>
  5672. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2302123</post-id> </item>
  5673. <item>
  5674. <title>Get Microsoft Office 2019 for Windows or Mac for just $30</title>
  5675. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PCWorld-Microsoft.jpeg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="252093" type="image/jpeg" />
  5676. <pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 08:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
  5677. <description><![CDATA[
  5678. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  5679. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  5680.  
  5681.  
  5682.  
  5683. <p>While there are many free office tools on the market, few utilities are as powerful as Microsoft Office. And right now, you don&rsquo;t have to break the bank to get it. Now through 4/30, we&rsquo;re offering <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://shop.pcworld.com/sales/microsoft-office-professional-plus-2019-for-windows-3?utm_source=pcworld.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsoft-office-professional-plus-2019-for-windows-3&amp;utm_term=scsf-595237&amp;utm_content=a0xRn000000xoDhIAI&amp;scsonar=1&amp;xcust=2-1-2313081-1-0-0&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows</a> or <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://shop.pcworld.com/sales/microsoft-office-home-business-2019-for-mac-4?utm_source=pcworld.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsoft-office-home-business-2019-for-mac-4&amp;utm_term=scsf-595238&amp;utm_content=a0xRn000000xoDhIAI&amp;scsonar=1&amp;xcust=2-1-2313081-1-0-0&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Microsoft Office Home &amp; Business 2019 for Mac</a> for $200 off.</p>
  5684.  
  5685.  
  5686.  
  5687. <p>Rated 4.8/5 stars by purchasers, both of these versions of Microsoft Office come with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams. That&rsquo;s everything you need to unleash your productivity and even run your own business. With the Windows edition, you&rsquo;ll also get Publisher and Access, giving you greater creative and database capabilities. Regardless of your preferred system, you&rsquo;re getting a great deal.</p>
  5688.  
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  5690.  
  5691. <p>Take advantage of this deal while it&rsquo;s available through 11:59 pm PT on 4/30.</p>
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  5701. </ul>
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  5705. <p><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://shop.pcworld.com/sales/microsoft-office-professional-plus-2019-for-windows-3?utm_source=pcworld.com&amp;utm_medium=referral-cta&amp;utm_campaign=microsoft-office-professional-plus-2019-for-windows-3&amp;utm_term=scsf-595237&amp;utm_content=a0xRn000000xoDhIAI&amp;scsonar=1&amp;xcust=2-1-2313081-1-0-0&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;</a></p>
  5706.  
  5707.  
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  5729. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  5730. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  5731. </button>
  5732. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="" loading="lazy" /></figure></div>
  5733. </div>
  5734. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="" loading="lazy" /></figure></div>
  5735. </div>
  5736. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  5737. </div></figure></div>
  5738.  
  5739.  
  5740.  
  5741. <p><strong>Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows &ndash; $29.97</strong></p>
  5742.  
  5743.  
  5744.  
  5745. <p><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://shop.pcworld.com/sales/microsoft-office-professional-plus-2019-for-windows-3?utm_source=pcworld.com&amp;utm_medium=referral-cta&amp;utm_campaign=microsoft-office-professional-plus-2019-for-windows-3&amp;utm_term=scsf-595237&amp;utm_content=a0xRn000000xoDhIAI&amp;scsonar=1&amp;xcust=2-1-2313081-1-0-0&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">See Deal</a></p>
  5746.  
  5747.  
  5748.  
  5749. <p><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://www.stacksocial.com/&amp;xcust=2-1-2313081-1-0-0&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" rel="nofollow"><em>StackSocial</em></a><em> prices subject to change.</em></p>
  5750.  
  5751. <category>Accessories</category></body></div>
  5752. ]]></description>
  5753. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/2313081/get-microsoft-office-2019-for-windows-or-mac-for-just-30.html</link>
  5754. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2313081</post-id> </item>
  5755. <item>
  5756. <title>Photoshop took my favorite feature and massively boosted it with AI</title>
  5757. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Adobe-Photoshop-AI-background-1.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="565776" type="image/jpeg" />
  5758. <pubDate>Tue, 23 Apr 2024 19:53:57 +0000</pubDate>
  5759. <description><![CDATA[
  5760. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  5761. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  5762.  
  5763.  
  5764.  
  5765. <p>It&rsquo;s probably fair to say that the Generative Fill feature within Adobe Photoshop has utterly transformed my photo-editing workflow. Today, Adobe just made it better &mdash; and spun off several additional features that complement Generative Fill, too.</p>
  5766.  
  5767.  
  5768.  
  5769. <p>Adobe added what it called the &ldquo;Firefly Image 3 Model&rdquo; to its <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2067182/adobe-fireflys-ai-tools-go-live-but-with-a-credit-plan.html">Firefly image-generation service</a> as well as to Photoshop &mdash; at least <a href="https://adobe.prf.hn/click/camref:1011lroIY/pubref:2-1-2312877-1-0-0/destination:https://creativecloud.adobe.com/campaign/creative-cloud?workflow=route-to-path&amp;route-path=/apps/beta-apps&amp;id=psaprilbetarelease&amp;source=acom" rel="nofollow">the beta</a>. Firefly is a text-to-image generator, trained on Adobe stock imagery to avoid complaints that it&rsquo;s been trained on artists&rsquo; work without permission.</p>
  5770.  
  5771.  
  5772.  
  5773. <p>It&rsquo;s difficult to show exactly how Firefly Image 3 differs from earlier models, but this is what Adobe has to say: &ldquo;This combination delivers considerably better photographic image quality, precise controls to inform your outputs, prompt comprehension to understand complex descriptions, and generation variety to explore different results.&rdquo;</p>
  5774.  
  5775.  
  5776.  
  5777. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="how-i-use-generative-fill">How I use Generative Fill</h2>
  5778.  
  5779.  
  5780.  
  5781. <p>You might wonder why a journalist would use AI to alter images. It&rsquo;s true that I use it sparingly; one of my favorite features within the Windows&rsquo; Photos app has been Spot Fill, which uses AI to get rid of any spare specks of dust which might coat a laptop or USB-C hub. That&rsquo;s now been <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2301057/why-pay-one-of-photoshops-best-features-is-free-within-windows.html">replaced by Generative Erase</a>. </p>
  5782.  
  5783.  
  5784.  
  5785. <p>The broader point is that we need art to illustrate our stories, when art isn&rsquo;t always available. My editors would prefer that I use real images of products, or logos. But those might be just tiny images tucked away on a website or within a PowerPoint presentation. Could I enlarge them? Sure. But that might make them look grainy or odd. What to do?</p>
  5786.  
  5787.  
  5788.  
  5789. <figure class="wp-block-jetpack-image-compare"><div class="juxtapose" data-mode="horizontal"><img decoding="async" id="2312905" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Intel-Core-generative-fill-mid.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" alt="Adobe Photoshop Generative Fill logo final" width="1750" height="1217" class="image-compare__image-before" loading="lazy" /><img decoding="async" id="2312904" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Intel-Core-generative-fill-final.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all" alt="Adobe Photoshop Generative Fill logo final" width="1935" height="1285" class="image-compare__image-after" loading="lazy" /></div><figcaption>Yes, this is an <em>extremely</em> basic use of Photoshop. But a journalist shouldn&rsquo;t get in the habit of editing reality, either.</figcaption></figure>
  5790.  
  5791.  
  5792.  
  5793. <p>In this case, I&rsquo;ll take a chip image or logo, &ldquo;remove&rdquo; it from the presentation, then expand the size. Here&rsquo;s where Generative Fill comes in: Photoshop&rsquo;s &ldquo;crop&rdquo; tool can actually &ldquo;expand&rdquo; the boundaries of an image, which allows me to effectively enlarge the total scene. (To be accurate, Photoshop calls this particular feature Generative Expand.)</p>
  5794.  
  5795.  
  5796.  
  5797. <p>Most readers aren&rsquo;t going to care about the background of an image, as long as the product is portrayed accurately. Generative Fill allows me to create a neutral though unique background in case I need it.</p>
  5798.  
  5799.  
  5800.  
  5801. <p>All I need to do is &ldquo;crop out&rdquo; from an image and let Generative Fill/Expand do its work. Counterintuitively, I do <em>not</em> enter a prompt; I just let it extend the image.</p>
  5802.  
  5803.  
  5804.  
  5805. <p>The other point, too, is that Generative Fill works quickly and accurately. I don&rsquo;t have to &ldquo;lasso&rdquo; an object and maneuver it around, hoping I&rsquo;ve captured every pixel accurately. Photoshop&rsquo;s AI understands what (if anything) it needs to remove, <em>and</em> generates a replacement. It&rsquo;s important to note that I and other editors still frame shots of say, laptops with an eye toward simply cropping down an existing backdrop, rather than replacing it with something that&rsquo;s artificially generated. (Teams, Zoom, Google Meet and others do that on video calls!)</p>
  5806.  
  5807.  
  5808.  
  5809. <h2 class="wp-block-heading toc" id="whats-new-in-photoshop-in-april-2024-ai-ai-ai">What&rsquo;s new in Photoshop in April 2024: AI, AI, AI</h2>
  5810.  
  5811.  
  5812.  
  5813. <p>Generative Fill <em>does</em> allow you to specify what Photoshop fills in, such as adding a castle to the background of a beach scene. But it&rsquo;s always had to work from what it guesses from your prompt. Even suggesting three options can be unsatisfying.</p>
  5814.  
  5815.  
  5816.  
  5817. <p>Now, Generative Fill can work from a reference image that you specify, which makes sense: &ldquo;Make it look like <em>this</em>&rdquo; is a perfectly valid way of describing something.</p>
  5818.  
  5819.  
  5820. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  5821. { "image":
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  5833. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  5834. }
  5835. }
  5836. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Adobe-Generative-Fill-Refeence-Image.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1200" alt="Adobe Generative Fill Reference Image" class="wp-image-2312892" width="1200" height="747" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Adobe Generative Fill Reference Image" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  5837. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  5838. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  5839. </svg>
  5840. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  5841. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  5842. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  5843. </button>
  5844. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Adobe Generative Fill Reference Image" class="wp-image-2312892" width="1200" height="747" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Adobe</p></div>
  5845. </div>
  5846. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Adobe Generative Fill Reference Image" class="wp-image-2312892" width="1200" height="747" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Adobe</p></div>
  5847. </div>
  5848. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  5849. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Adobe</p></div>
  5850.  
  5851.  
  5852.  
  5853. <p>There&rsquo;s more. When Adobe&rsquo;s Generative Fill suggests new AI art, it gives you a choice of three options. Generate Similar works like Reference Image: it allows you to use one of the suggestions as a reference image, and iterate on that.</p>
  5854.  
  5855.  
  5856.  
  5857. <p>But it&rsquo;s also true that Adobe has wanted you to use Photoshop to edit an image, not create one wholesale. (You could already do that in Firefly, but would then have to import it. You couild also use Generative Fill to add elements to an existing image.) Now you can go to&nbsp;<em>Generate Image</em>&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Contextual Task Bar&nbsp;on a blank canvas or to <em>Edit&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;Generate Image</em>&nbsp;on the&nbsp;<em>Tools&nbsp;</em>panel and start from scratch. </p>
  5858.  
  5859.  
  5860. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  5861. { "image":
  5862. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  5863. "initialized": false,
  5864. "lightboxEnabled": false,
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  5866. "preloadInitialized": false,
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  5870. "targetWidth": "none",
  5871. "targetHeight": "none",
  5872. "scaleAttr": "",
  5873. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  5874. }
  5875. }
  5876. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Adobe-Photoshop-text-to-image.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1200" alt="Adobe Photoshop text to image" class="wp-image-2312894" width="1200" height="731" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Adobe Photoshop text to image" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  5877. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  5878. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  5879. </svg>
  5880. </button> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  5881. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  5882. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  5883. </button>
  5884. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Adobe Photoshop text to image" class="wp-image-2312894" width="1200" height="731" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Adobe</p></div>
  5885. </div>
  5886. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Adobe Photoshop text to image" class="wp-image-2312894" width="1200" height="731" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">Adobe</p></div>
  5887. </div>
  5888. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  5889. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Adobe</p></div>
  5890.  
  5891.  
  5892.  
  5893. <p>This feels overdue. Otherwise, this looks like many of the other image generation tools on the market. Photoshop even adds &ldquo;upscaling,&rdquo; of a sort, through a feature called Enhance Detail. Essentially, this uses AI to produce sharper images. </p>
  5894.  
  5895.  
  5896.  
  5897. <p>Finally, Photoshop also allows you to remove and then generate a new background. Essentially, it&rsquo;s removing the steps of selecting a foreground subject, removing it, creating a new background mask, and adding it in.</p>
  5898.  
  5899.  
  5900.  
  5901. <p>For years, I hesitated to use Photoshop for two reasons: one, I wasn&rsquo;t sure how much I should edit reality, and two, it was so dang complicated time-consuming to use. Photoshop&rsquo;s AI additions have been a game-changer in making its tools faster, more efficient and more accessible.</p>
  5902.  
  5903.  
  5904.  
  5905. <p><em>Updated at 2:53 PM to clarify Generative Fill versus Generative Expand.</em></p>
  5906.  
  5907. <category>Professional Software</category></body></div>
  5908. ]]></description>
  5909. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/2312877/photoshop-took-my-favorite-feature-and-massively-boosted-it-with-ai.html</link>
  5910. <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2312877</post-id> </item>
  5911. <item>
  5912. <title>Copilot running locally on your PC? Microsoft’s new AI could be the key</title>
  5913. <enclosure url="https://www.pcworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Copilot-key-1.jpg?quality=50&#038;strip=all" length="1366259" type="image/jpeg" />
  5914. <pubDate>Tue, 23 Apr 2024 18:56:47 +0000</pubDate>
  5915. <description><![CDATA[
  5916. <div id="link_wrapped_content">
  5917. <body><section class="wp-block-bigbite-multi-title"><div class="container"></div></section>
  5918.  
  5919.  
  5920.  
  5921. <p>Many people believe that Microsoft will eventually provide a version of Copilot that will run within Windows right on your PC. Microsoft may have just tipped its hand with a new AI model, or LLM, that is specifically designed to run on local devices.</p>
  5922.  
  5923.  
  5924.  
  5925. <p>On Monday, Microsoft <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=111346X1569483&amp;url=https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.14219&amp;xcust=2-1-2312816-1-0-0&amp;sref=https://www.pcworld.com/feed" rel="nofollow">introduced</a> &ldquo;Phi-3-mini,&rdquo; a 3.8-billion parameter language model that the company claims rivals the performance of the slightly older ChatGPT 3.5 and Mixtral 8x7B. The paper is titled &ldquo;Phi-3 Technical Report: A Highly Capable Language Model Locally on Your Phone,&rdquo; which is clear evidence that Microsoft now has an LLM that can run directly on your PC.</p>
  5926.  
  5927.  
  5928.  
  5929. <p>Microsoft hasn&rsquo;t said that Phi-3-mini will be the next Copilot, running locally on your PC. But there&rsquo;s a case to be made that it is, and that we have an idea of how well it will work.</p>
  5930.  
  5931.  
  5932.  
  5933. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="1-local-ai-matters">1.) Local AI matters</h2>
  5934.  
  5935.  
  5936.  
  5937. <p>It&rsquo;s a familiar argument: if you issue a search request to Bing, Google Gemini, Claude, or Copilot, it lives in the cloud. This could be embarrassing (&ldquo;is this wart bad&rdquo;?) or sensitive (&ldquo;can I get in trouble for stealing mail?&rdquo;) or something that you don&rsquo;t want to leak at all like a list of bank statements. </p>
  5938.  
  5939.  
  5940.  
  5941. <p>Corporations would like to ask questions of their data via AIs like Copilot, but there are no &ldquo;on premises&rdquo; versions of Copilot to date. A local version of Copilot is almost a necessary option at this point.</p>
  5942.  
  5943.  
  5944. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  5945. { "image":
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  5958. }
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  5960. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Edge-Copiot-and-math.png?w=1200" alt="Microsoft Edge Copilot and math" class="wp-image-2156015" width="1200" height="1006" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Microsoft Edge Copilot and math" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  5961. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  5962. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  5963. </svg>
  5964. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Microsoft Copilot in action.</figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  5965. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  5966. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  5967. </button>
  5968. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Microsoft Edge Copilot and math" class="wp-image-2156015" width="1200" height="1006" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Microsoft Copilot in action.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5969. </div>
  5970. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Microsoft Edge Copilot and math" class="wp-image-2156015" width="1200" height="1006" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Microsoft Copilot in action.</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5971. </div>
  5972. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  5973. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Mark Hachman / IDG</p></div>
  5974.  
  5975.  
  5976.  
  5977. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="2-phi-3-mini-is-small-and-thats-good">2.) Phi-3-mini is small, and that&rsquo;s good</h2>
  5978.  
  5979.  
  5980.  
  5981. <p><a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2217387/heres-the-simplest-way-to-run-a-private-ai-chatbot-on-your-pc.html">Many local LLMs</a> require at least 8GB of RAM and many gigabytes of storage space for the necessary files on the PC alone &mdash; and that&rsquo;s assuming the LLMs have been &ldquo;quantized,&rdquo; or compressed. There&rsquo;s a reason Copilot runs in the cloud. It&rsquo;s because Microsoft&rsquo;s Azure cloud has both the necessary compute and storage to house it.</p>
  5982.  
  5983.  
  5984.  
  5985. <p>This is one of the paper&rsquo;s most important lines: &ldquo;Thanks to its small size, phi3-mini can be quantized to 4-bits so that it only occupies &asymp; 1.8GB of memory,&rdquo; it says. &ldquo;We tested the quantized<br>model by deploying phi-3-mini on iPhone 14 with A16 Bionic chip running natively on-device and fully offline achieving more than 12 tokens per second.&rdquo;</p>
  5986.  
  5987.  
  5988.  
  5989. <p>What this means is that PCs with 1.8GB of extra memory could run a local version of Copilot. That&rsquo;s many more PCs than the status quo, including probably legacy PCs with 8GB of RAM. And if an iPhone can run it, chances are that most PCs can too.</p>
  5990.  
  5991.  
  5992.  
  5993. <p>LLMs spit out data like a dot-matrix printer, so twelve tokens per second is about 48 characters per second &mdash; not great, but not too shabby.</p>
  5994.  
  5995.  
  5996.  
  5997. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="3-its-performance-is-good-too-but-not-too-good">3.) Its performance is good, too &mdash; but not too good</h2>
  5998.  
  5999.  
  6000.  
  6001. <p>Microsoft still wants to tempt people into using Copilot in the cloud, and paying for subscriptions like <a href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2200853/microsoft-copilot-adds-a-premium-subscription-copilot-pro.html">Copilot Pro</a>. And Microsoft takes time to show off how Phi-3-mini performs just as well as other LLMs. But a smaller number of parameters means that an AI model doesn&rsquo;t &ldquo;know&rdquo; as much as more sophisticated LLMs.</p>
  6002.  
  6003.  
  6004. <div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure data-wp-context='{ "core":
  6005. { "image":
  6006. {   "imageLoaded": false,
  6007. "initialized": false,
  6008. "lightboxEnabled": false,
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  6010. "preloadInitialized": false,
  6011. "lightboxAnimation": "zoom",
  6012. "imageUploadedSrc": "",
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  6014. "targetWidth": "none",
  6015. "targetHeight": "none",
  6016. "scaleAttr": "",
  6017. "dialogLabel": "Enlarged image"
  6018. }
  6019. }
  6020. }' data-wp-interactive class="wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container"><img decoding="async" data-wp-effect--setstylesonresize="effects.core.image.setStylesOnResize" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.setButtonStyles" data-wp-init="effects.core.image.initOriginImage" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-on--load="actions.core.image.handleLoad" src="https://b2c-contenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Microsoft-phi-3-mini-in-action.jpg?quality=50&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1200" alt="Microsoft Phi-3-mini LLM in action" class="wp-image-2312848" width="1200" height="826" loading="lazy" /><button class="lightbox-trigger" type="button" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-label="Enlarge image: Microsoft Phi-3-mini LLM in action" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.showLightbox" data-wp-style--right="context.core.image.imageButtonRight" data-wp-style--top="context.core.image.imageButtonTop">
  6021. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewbox="0 0 12 12">
  6022. <path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z"></path>
  6023. </svg>
  6024. </button><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Microsoft&rsquo;s Phi-3-mini LLM, without search (left) and with search (right).</figcaption> <div data-wp-body="" class="wp-lightbox-overlay zoom" data-wp-bind--role="selectors.core.image.roleAttribute" data-wp-bind--aria-label="selectors.core.image.dialogLabel" data-wp-class--initialized="context.core.image.initialized" data-wp-class--active="context.core.image.lightboxEnabled" data-wp-class--hideanimationenabled="context.core.image.hideAnimationEnabled" data-wp-bind--aria-modal="selectors.core.image.ariaModal" data-wp-effect="effects.core.image.initLightbox" data-wp-on--keydown="actions.core.image.handleKeydown" data-wp-on--touchstart="actions.core.image.handleTouchStart" data-wp-on--touchmove="actions.core.image.handleTouchMove" data-wp-on--touchend="actions.core.image.handleTouchEnd" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox" tabindex="-1">
  6025. <button type="button" aria-label="Close" style="fill: #000" class="close-button" data-wp-on--click="actions.core.image.hideLightbox">
  6026. <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" height="20" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"><path d="M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z"></path></svg>
  6027. </button>
  6028. <div class="lightbox-image-container"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large responsive-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="context.core.image.imageCurrentSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Microsoft Phi-3-mini LLM in action" class="wp-image-2312848" width="1200" height="826" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Microsoft&rsquo;s Phi-3-mini LLM, without search (left) and with search (right).</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Arxiv.org</p></div>
  6029. </div>
  6030. <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Microsoft Phi-3-mini LLM in action" class="wp-image-2312848" width="1200" height="826" loading="lazy" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Microsoft&rsquo;s Phi-3-mini LLM, without search (left) and with search (right).</figcaption></figure><p class="imageCredit">Arxiv.org</p></div>
  6031. </div>
  6032. <div class="scrim" style="background-color: #fff" aria-hidden="true"></div>
  6033. </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">Arxiv.org</p></div>
  6034.  
  6035.  
  6036.  
  6037. <p>But Microsoft has a solution. &ldquo;The model simply does not have the capacity to store too much &lsquo;factual knowledge&rsquo;, which can be seen for example with low performance on TriviaQA [a benchmark],&rdquo; the paper notes. &ldquo;However, we believe such weakness can be resolved by augmentation with a search engine.&rdquo; </p>
  6038.  
  6039.  
  6040.  
  6041. <p>Bing to the rescue!</p>
  6042.  
  6043.  
  6044.  
  6045. <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="4-its-a-month-before-microsoft-build">4.) It&rsquo;s a month before Microsoft Build.</h2>
  6046.  
  6047.  
  6048.  
  6049. <p>Microsoft&rsquo;s developer conference kicks off in a month&rsquo;s time. This gives Microsoft time to get a version of Copilot running on top of Phi-3-mini to demonstrate to developers and users before it begins on May 21. That should be plenty of time to whip up a prototype and test out a few queries. </p>
  6050.  
  6051.  
  6052.  
  6053. <p>Copilot, of course, will likely be the star of the show. Will we get one that runs natively on your PC? I think it&rsquo;s much more likely than it once was.</p>
  6054.  
  6055.  
  6056.  
  6057. <p></p>
  6058.  
  6059. <category>Windows</category></body></div>
  6060. ]]></description>
  6061. <link>https://www.pcworld.com/article/2312816/copilot-running-on-your-pc-microsofts-new-ai-could-be-the-key.html</link>
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