Software subscriptions are a great way to never own the apps you rely on every single day. If you don't want to be paying for your productivity forever, it might be time to switch to a lifetime license. The price for a Microsoft Office lifetime license just dropped to $129.97 (reg. $149.99), but it won't stay that low.
This version of Microsoft Office includes the core tools on your desktop with no subscriptions, no hidden fees, and no upgrade pressure. It's designed for home or school use, and once installed on your Mac or PC, it's yours for life.
Here's what's included:
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft OneNote
Each app is the full desktop version with access to new AI features like intelligent writing suggestions, advanced formatting tools, and improved data handling. Word lets you write with Smart Compose. Excel now uses dynamic arrays and AI-powered charts. PowerPoint includes presentation r
AI tools like ChatGPT popped into existence, totally changed the professional world, and then immediately became very expensive. It's hard to get by without them now, but that doesn't mean you have to pay for each one individually. Instead of shelling out for OpenAI, Midjourney, and everything else, now you can get the same AI models all under one umbrella. 1min.AI is an AI platform with access to the premium versions of popular AI models like GPT-4.0 and Meta AI, but it's still only $79.97 for a lifetime subscription (marked down from $540).
This platform goes way beyond just text generation. You can use 1min.AI to draft long-form blog posts, rewrite and summarize articles, generate social media captions, build custom brand voices, and even create SEO-optimized content. It's also equipped to produce AI-generated images, upscale them, replace or remove backgrounds, and edit them with simple prompts.
For audio projects, you can convert text to speech, transcribe podcasts or interviews, or translate audio into other languages. It even handles video creation and editing, which means you can go from script to polished visual content in minutes.
Your lifetime subscription gives you 4,000,000 credits every month. That means you can generate over 1,000,000 words, research nearly 6,000 SEO keywords, create $1,186 images, transcribe 14,000 seconds of audio, and more. You can even
Now, to score this awesome deal, you'll need to take two steps. First, this is a Prime-exclusive deal, so you'll need to sign up for a free 30-day Prime trial if you aren't Prime already. Second, you'll need to use the promo code XDH3JBT3 at checkout for the extra 15% savings.
The resulting price is fantastic for what you get: a compact PC with a powerful 14-core Intel Core i9-12900H processor, a hefty 32GB of DDR4 RAM across two slots (upgradeable to a max of 64GB), and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD in M.2 2280 form factor (upgradeable to a max of 2TB). This config is more than capable of handling Windows 11 and all your apps and browser tabs without choking, with plenty of storage space for your documents, videos, and more.
And what makes it even better for home office productivity fiends is that it can support triple 4K@60Hz displays via two full-sized HDMI 2.0 ports and a USB-C video port. That's in addition to the other connectivity options, including two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a headset jack.
Don't miss this new price drop on the Acemagic F1A down to $382, the cheapest it's ever been! And remember to grab a Prime trial and
The latest order is a "clarification of exceptions" to Trump's earlier order on April 2, regarding tariffed goods imported to the United States from China. That order raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 125 percent. Those tariffs of 125 percent remain in place, but exempt a broad swath of the PC industry, plus smartphones.
Essentially, it provides relief for PC and component buyers, which has already been plagued by high prices on computers and components.
Specifically, the order exempts several classifications of products found on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), which in turn provides an esoteric textual description pf products imported to the U.S. For example, one of the listed subheadings, 8473.30, includes "parts and accessories" of "automatic data processing machines" like computers. Those "parts and accessories" specifically describe memory modules. (In this case, The Trump order lists the subheading as 847330, excluding the decimal point.)
The list basically includes computers and servers; smartphones; components like motherboards, processors, and memory; monitors; routers and switches; and devices with recorded media upon them, and more. The list also includes category 8542, covering "electronic integrated circuits," LEDs, and transistors, and machines to produce se
Windows 11 Home is pre-installed on many PCs, while the Pro edition is often installed on business devices. This is because Windows 11 Pro can be integrated into a company's network infrastructure (Active Directory), whereas the Home edition cannot.
However, this feature is not necessary for private users who are unlikely to operate a Windows server in their home network.
Nevertheless, the Windows Pro edition has some features that are of interest to everyone.
Saving tip 1: Buy Windows 11 Pro for just $79 instead of $199
Saving tip 2: Buy a Windows 11 Pro upgrade for just $59 instead of $99
If you want to take advantage of this, you can perform a Pro update for a fee. For details, see the box "Upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro."
You've talked about it, Googled tutorials, maybe even downloaded an app or two—but somehow, learning to code always ended up on the back burner. And now, with no expensive boot camps in your way, there's no excuse.
This $56 learn-to-code bundle finally makes it easy to stop waiting and start building. With Microsoft Visual Studio Pro and 15 expert-led courses, this kit gives you the tools and training to build real-world projects from websites to mobile apps.
Whether you're eyeing a career shift or want to build something cool on t
A couple of things to know before you hit the buy button. One, this is a refurbished laptop, not new, but it's being sold directly from Acer's eBay store and it comes with a two-year warranty—that's double the coverage you get with a new model. (That said, it comes through Allstate, not Acer itself, which might also have a 30-90 day refurb warranty.) I've never had any major issues with manufacturer refurbished electronics, but you have to make this judgment call for yourself.
Second, I'd say that even with the impressive power of a Core Ultra 7 155H processor and an RTX 4070 discrete graphics card, 16GB of RAM is a little on the paltry side for a gaming laptop this expensive. And unlike some similarly chunky gaming laptops, the memory can't be upgraded by just popping off the bottom. (You can, however, swap out the 1TB M.2 SSD for something roomier.) That's a shame, especially if you're planning on using this as a work or school laptop and want to run tons of browser tabs, but not a deal-breaker if gaming is your only priority.
Other highlights of the Acer Predator Helios Neo 14 (deep breath) include a 14-inch 2560×1600 screen running at 120Hz for competitive online gaming, plenty of ports including USB-C and USB-A on both sides, a microSD card slot, a full-sized HDMI port, and three lighting zones on the backlit keyboard. Note that
Well, the good news is that it's here now. And the better news is that most existing garage door openers can be integrated with the rest of your smart home, greatly reducing the cost of that convenience. What's more, these products are rapidly improving in both simplicity and capability. Buy one and you'll not only be able to open and shut the door from anywhere—letting in guests, relatives, or delivery people—you'll also know whether the door is open or closed in real time.
Why you should trust us
TechHive's writers and editors have been reviewing smart home products for decades, and they draw on their deep and wide experience to evaluate every new product that comes to market. We install the products we review in our own homes to gain real-world experience as we evaluate how well they can be integrated into existing systems as well as how they perform on their own.
The Baseus Blade charging station features two AC outlets, three USB-C ports, and a USB-A port. The whole thing is about the size and shape of a typical smartphone, so it can easily slip inside any bag, making it great for travel. (The detachable 5-feet cord is a lovely bonus.) But it's also perfect as a home office desk accessory for keeping all your things charged.
Since it uses modern GaN technology, the Baseus Blade is not only smaller in size but also more power efficient, allowing it to charge faster and give off less heat. And with its 7-point safety system, your devices are protected against over-voltage, over-current, and short circuits.
This charging station delivers a maximum of 140W through the right-most USB-C port, with power throughput being split when multiple ports are in use. You can see exactly how much power each port is delivering by checking out the on-device LCD display.
Don't miss this awesome price! Get this Baseus Blade 6-in-1 charging station for $59.49 on Amazon while you can. Make sure to sign up for a 30-day free trial of Prime for this deal and extra perks if you aren't Prime yet.
Save 30% on this multi-device AC and USB charging station
Google Discover is a personalized recommendation engine that shows you articles from around the web that Google thinks you'd be interested in. The recommendations are based on various factors like your location, your browsing history, your opted-in interests, and more. (If you've disabled history tracking in your Google account, the recommendations will be far less personalized and less useful.)
Search Engine Roundtable reports that Google showed off the new desktop Discover feed during yesterday's Search Central Live event in Madrid, Spain. The Discover feed on PCs will be split into two sections, with one section for Google-recommended articles that might interest you and another section where you'll see more general information, including weather, stock market trends, and more.
From what we know, the Discover feed will seemingly be available on the Google home page (google.com), with the Discover feed appearing below the main search bar. It may or may not come to the Chrome browser's New Tab page, or even elsewhere. We don't know yet. If you don't see the Discover feed on Google's home page, you may have to opt into Google experiments—or wait for the rollout to reach you.
Google has been planning to bring the Discover feed to desktops for several years now, and has tested several different versions of the feature with d
Google Discover is a personalized recommendation engine that shows you articles from around the web that Google thinks you'd be interested in. The recommendations are based on various factors like your location, your browsing history, your opted-in interests, and more. (If you've disabled history tracking in your Google account, the recommendations will be far less personalized and less useful.)
Search Engine Roundtable reports that Google showed off the new desktop Discover feed during yesterday's Search Central Live event in Madrid, Spain. The Discover feed on PCs will be split into two sections, with one section for Google-recommended articles that might interest you and another section where you'll see more general information, including weather, stock market trends, and more.
From what we know, the Discover feed will seemingly be available on the Google home page (google.com), with the Discover feed appearing below the main search bar. It may or may not come to the Chrome browser's New Tab page, or even elsewhere. We don't know yet. If you don't see the Discover feed on Google's home page, you may have to opt into Google experiments—or wait for the rollout to reach you.
Google has been planning to bring the Discover feed to desktops for several years now, and has tested several different versions of the feature with d
And with consumer tech prices expected to rise in the aftermath of Trump's tariffs, there's never been a smarter time to jump on a hot SSD deal like this one: Crucial's X10 Pro (1TB) is now just $102 on Amazon, a solid 32% discount off its $150 MSRP.
Don't think the Crucial X10 Pro is being discounted because it's an underperformer. In fact, it's plenty fast and a great choice for everyday users, with it being one of the fastest 20Gbps models we've tested. When we reviewed it, we gave it a 4.5-star rating and our Editors' Choice award, appreciating its super-thin form factor, IP55 dust and water resistance, and solid performance. "If you want top-flight real-world performance and can't use, or don't want to pay for Thunderbolt 3, then the Crucial X10 Pro is what you want."
This is a durable, high-capacity, travel-friendly portable SSD that's perfect for storing data, transferring files, and recording high-res video directly to the drive. And when I say this portable SSD is tiny, I absolutely mean it. It's smaller than a credit card and it fits right in the palm of your hand. Afraid you're going to lose it? No worries, because it has a little hole in the corner where you can loop in a lanyard.
Go ahead and snag the Crucial X10 Pro for just $102 while this limited-time deal lasts. If you miss it, you might be able
The only catch is the price. Most monitor arms worth buying will cost close to $200, and heavy-duty arms capable of holding two large displays can be priced even higher. The good news is that a good-quality monitor arm is likely to last you for a very long time. That's why it's important to make the right choice when you purchase a monitor arm.
To help you with that, we've tested several popular monitor arms, for both single- and dual-monitor setups. Below you'll find our curated list of recommendations, with detailed explanations of what features and qualities make them stand out. We even have some good budget recommendations. Below our picks, we point out some arms that we aren't so keen on — to provide a point of comparison.
According to Microsoft support, which was last updated yesterday as of this writing, the issue initially involved users who installed classic Outlook via the standalone installer, which always installed in English no matter which display language you had selected.
While that particular issue was fixed—with a drop-down menu with language options when downloading the standalone installer—there are still issues when installing classic Outlook via the Microsoft Store. When you choose a language, you may get a different one.
Microsoft says that the Office Team has fixed the problem, but the fix won't roll out until Monday, April 14, 2025. If you can't wait until then, your only option right now is to download the standalone version of classic Outlook via the link on this support page.
You've probably heard a lot about Recall since Microsoft revealed it last year, because, well, there's a lot to say. Our Windows expert Mark Hachman gave it a thorough test when it hit the Insider Preview Dev channel in December (that's roughly analogous to an alpha test for Windows 11, versus the Release Preview's beta test). He found Recall's performance to be slow and stuttery, though there are a few somewhat comforting nods to the privacy issues, like making you authenticate with Windows Hello whenever you open your own activity history. But the system was inconsistent at best and buggy at worst, and not anywhere near ready to replace, say, a manual screenshot or bookmark you take yourself for referring back to later.
Is that worth the privacy risk of having a huge, visual history of your PC activity, even if you take Microsoft at its word on how secure and safe it is? Well, that's for you to decide. I imagine enterprise users have expressed distaste, because Microsoft has already confirmed that it'll be disabled by default on the enterprise versio
While I advise that you opt for a premium VPN, such as those in our roundup of the best VPNs, I understand that sometimes you just don't want to pay for yet another service. Therefore I've curated a list of the best and most trustworthy free VPNs around. I detail what restrictions they may impose and what activities they're best used for — streaming, torrenting, browsing, etc. Following my recommendations you can read more about what to look for in a free VPN and how I test these services.
Razer PC Remote Play is still marked as beta in the Razer Cortex omnibus application on my PC, and "beta" feels about right. It's far from a tight, integrated package and feels more like a utilitarian remote access tool with some gaming features—most notably integration with Razer's Kishi series of phone controller accessories—bolted on. The app can either stream your entire PC display (just one) or create a virtual window for a game (to optimize bandwidth), and it'll automatically adjust to your phone's resolution and refresh rate.
While you'll need to be on the same local network as the host PC to initiate the connection, once you've set up the connection via your Razer account, it should be possible to play over a mobile connection… but I couldn't manage it. The PC Remote Play app on my phone identified my host PC at home (right in front of me, but routed through miles of cell towers) but couldn't establish a connection, let alone attempt streaming.
I get the feeling that most gamers who want to try this app will already have other ways of achieving the same thing, like Steam's streaming system for going directly to a local PC or Nvidia's GeForce Now for a more hands-off w
But on top of all that, users have spotted a new and rather curious phenomenon: after installing KB5055523 and restarting Windows 11, a new folder called inetpub suddenly appears in the C: drive, which was created by the update. I was personally able to observe this on my own computer after installing update KB5055523.
The Acer Predator X27U is a fantastic monitor that was clearly built for gamers. Between the 27-inch OLED panel, the solid 2560×1440 resolution, the super-fast 240Hz refresh rate, and 0.01ms response time, this monitor's purpose is clear as day. It's a pitch-perfect config for enthuasiast gamers that'll help your gaming rig shine like it's supposed to, whether you're into RPGs, shooters, or racing games.
Acer's monitor also has solid connectivity options, with the two full-sized HDMI 2.1 ports and the single DisplayPort 1.4 connection on the back, allowing you to hook it up to multiple devices if needed. You also get two USB-C 3.2 ports for additional peripherals.
Fast OLED monitors rarely come this cheap, and we expect prices to rise due to Trump's tariffs. Don't miss out on the chance to get Acer's 27-inch 240Hz OLED gaming monitor for $500 at Best Buy!
Upgrade to a super-fast OLED gaming monitor for just $500
Here's a fantastic option for most everyday users, especially now that it's on sale: the Samsung Galaxy Book4 is powerful, travel-friendly, and only $600 at Best Buy right now. That's a significant $300 discount off its original price, making it a no-brainer.
The key specs in this laptop are great for the price: an Intel Core 7 150U processor that's plenty fast and capable of handling your work tasks, web surfing, creative hobbies, and light gaming; 16GB of LPDDR4X RAM that's enough to run Windows 11 Home (included) plus other apps without choking; and a decent 512GB SSD for storage.
The matte 15.6-inch display with a 1080p resolution promises gorgeous colors and contrast, although with just 300 nits of brightness it won't be the best screen for working outdoors. With only 60Hz of refresh and basic Intel graphics, it isn't great for gaming. That said, it's pretty portable, weighing 3.46 pounds and measuring 0.64 inches thick.
At just $600, this Samsung Galaxy Book4 is an absolute bargain of a productivity laptop. Snag this deal while you still can!
Fortunately, some vendors are starting to come forward and explain how their costs are being affected and how they're being passed along to you — or not.
PC vendors are just like you, in that they're buying processors, GPUs, and other components for their products. But while you can track an SSD price as it rises and falls on Amazon, you have no real way of knowing what the future holds. PC vendors do, because they talk to component vendors regularly. Normally, however, they keep these conversations secret.
Recently, two PC vendors, Framework and Puget Systems, have not only begun talking about how tariffs will affect the price of the products that they sell to you, but also about the prices they're paying for components and whether they'll go up or down — and by how much. It's all extremely valuable information, especially if you're confused about what tariffs will affect which parts inside of a PC. Even better, they're updating their insights as new info comes in, especially because the expected cost of the tariffs has been vague and changing.
Of course, neither vendor can say for certain what will happen at any moment in time; President Trump has raised and lowered tariffs unexpectedly throughout the past few days. As of press time, tariffs on imported Chinese goods stand at 125 percent, while he has enacted a "paus
So why are motherboards so technically irksome? It's because as far as hardware goes there's a lot riding on them. They have to accommodate all the varying components of the PC — the CPU, RAM, storage devices, and peripherals, as well as distribute the PC's power and data. Motherboards also house the all-important BIOS.
Suffice it to say, if they are poorly designed or aren't built well — like many cheap motherboards are — they can stop working suddenly or else damage your components.
Looking at some of the concerns about the quality of cheap motherboards mentioned online and it's alarming the problems gamers have encountered. They've pointed out flaws such as attachment points designed so poorly that they bend the SSD, or designs that don't accommodate double-sided SSDs, requiring them to be taped down on the back side.
Then there are motherboards with unusually placed front panel I/Os, such that the cables barely reach the header for connection, and those with such little headroom between the USB header and case that it's impossible to use them.
Another common concern is just shoddy manufacturing. One PC builder pointed out coils that jutted out at different angles rather than coming straight off the board as they should.
If you plan on overclocking your CPU, you're also ill advised to buy a cheap motherboard from a fringe manufacturer. That's because they often have inadequate Voltage Regulator Modules (VRMs). High-quality VRMs are essential for achieving high, stable CPU overclocks
Canva's shift toward the spreadsheet actually makes sense, according to the company. "While data is a critical part of visual communication, whether it's creating charts, forms, reports, dashboards, or infographics, it's also complex and disconnected from the creative process," Melanie Perkins, the chief executive of Canva, said in a blog post.
The snippet of video that shows off what's being called "Canva Sheets" is impressive: not only are Canva's Sheets visually bright and dynamic, but Canva has included so-called "Magic Insights" and "Magic Formulas." Instead of simply fishing around to create a formula, you can enter it in natural language and Canva's AI will come up with the formula and apply it for you. It's a reminder that Microsoft Excel—for all of the power it offers and its installed base—just isn't as visually appealing.
Your smartphone may be the culprit. Every smartphone has its built-in microphone constantly turned on in order for the virtual assistant to hear your voice commands. So, could it be that these devices are also secretly eavesdropping on your conversations in order to serve you ads? Here's everything you need to know, plus a simple test to find out.
How to find out if your phone is listening to you
To test if your phone is listening to your conversations, start by openly discussing a unique topic that you've never searched for or discussed previously while your phone is turned on next to you. It's crucial that this be something that isn't related to your usual interests or search queries.
Spend a day or two discussing this topic out loud with your phone next to you the whole time. Make sure that you don't search about this topic on any of your devices—not just your phone.
You can also try talking about specific things related to this topic. For example, if you're discussing traveling to Spain, you can discuss learning Spanish or what the best restaurant is for paella in Madrid.
During this time, pay close attention to the ads you're served while online—ads on social media feeds, websites you visit, apps you use, and t
As of this writing, most of the tariffs are currently on pause, but the tariffs on China are not. This could be bad news if you're shopping for a laptop, as many laptops are assembled in China. And right now, the current tax on Chinese imports could go as high as 125 percent.
Unfortunately, some retailers and manufacturers are taking advantage of the situation with subtle tricks to get you buying less-than-worthwhile models. Here's what you need to avoid and what you should do instead if you need to buy a laptop before tariff price bumps kick in.
Trick #1: Suspiciously good sale prices
The best-selling laptop on Amazon right now is an unspecified Lenovo IdeaPad that's being sold by a third-party seller named AZXUT STORE—and this product listing is highly suspicious.
It first appeared on Amazon in early April at a price of $1,499, then was cut down to $399. It has since increased to $429, meaning the laptop is listed as "71% off." It's also labeled as the "#1 Best Seller" in the Traditional Laptop Computers category. It even lists 32GB of memory and a 1TB solid state drive. With all that, I can't blame anyone who bought this over the past few days. It looks
As of this writing, most of the tariffs are currently on pause, but the tariffs on China are not. This could be bad news if you're shopping for a laptop, as many laptops are assembled in China. And right now, the current tax on Chinese imports could go as high as 125 percent.
Unfortunately, some retailers and manufacturers are taking advantage of the situation with subtle tricks to get you buying less-than-worthwhile models. Here's what you need to avoid and what you should do instead if you need to buy a laptop before tariff price bumps kick in.
Trick #1: Suspiciously good sale prices
The best-selling laptop on Amazon right now is an unspecified Lenovo IdeaPad that's being sold by a third-party seller named AZXUT STORE—and this product listing is highly suspicious.
It first appeared on Amazon in early April at a price of $1,499, then was cut down to $399. It has since increased to $429, meaning the laptop is listed as "71% off." It's also labeled as the "#1 Best Seller" in the Traditional Laptop Computers category. It even lists 32GB of memory and a 1TB solid state drive. With all that, I can't blame anyone who bought this over the past few days. It looks
The new 50th Anniversary Exclusive model of the Surface Laptop features a twist: Normally, the Windows logo on the back of the laptop complements the color scheme of the Laptop itself — e.g., a black laptop includes a black logo. For this model, Microsoft etched the logo in gold, a rather stunning accent color.
Inside, there's another twist. Microsoft usually leaves its keyboard tray blank and unadorned, without even a logo, let alone a sticker highlighting the manufacturer of the processor inside of it. But on this Laptop, Microsoft has etched the sweet "Microsoft" logo from 1975, giving it an added retro touch.
Microsoft has 50 of these Surface Laptop 50th Anniversary Exclusive models to give away, which the company seems to be doing exclusively on Instagram. (It's not clear what size the Surface Laptop is.) But there's a small catch.
I can't tell you how many important photos and documents I've lost due to faulty cloud storage. Senior prom pictures? Gone. The day I brought home my rescue pup, who has since passed? Not a single photo. I'm done trusting the cloud to keep my favorite memories. What good is paying for cloud storage if my backups are never fully successful? This dual USB-C and USB-A flash drive can be plugged into almost any device to transfer or save files lightning-fast. Now, you can save 36% and get 1TB of storage for $69.97.
The biggest problem with cloud storage services is that you have to pay to play. Most of them use a monthly subscription, so you have to keep paying in order to keep your files stored. Many of us prefer to just let our files sit in the cloud, but that means you'll be paying monthly for, well, forever.
If you're feeling more ambitious, you can venture into smart string lights, light strips, wall and ceiling fixtures, smart lamps, and even smart lighting for the yard or other outdoor areas.
Our guide to the best smart lighting can help you navigate the thicket of options, from the various smart light manufacturers (like Philips Hue, LIFX, Nanoleaf, and Wyze) to the connectivity standards (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Matter). We'll also let you know which voice assistants (like Alexa, Apple's Siri, and Google Assistant) work with which lights.
Why you should trust us
TechHive's editors and contributors have been testing smart bulbs and lighting products practically since the category was invented. We continuously test the latest smart lights, accessories, and the apps that control them. We also have deep experience with a broad range of smart lighting devices, from smart A19 bulbs and color light strips to outdoor lighting and touch-sensitive light panels. You can trust us to guide you to the best smart lights for your home, office, back yard, and more.
The page is now open in Framework's home territory, and indeed, the company was able to keep its promise of offering a lower-cost, modular, repairable laptop with a smaller touchscreen and convertible form factor. The lowest configuration of the Laptop 12 comes without RAM, storage, OS, or charger, all of which you'll need to track down and install yourself, after ponying up $549 for the laptop frame and a 13th-gen Core i3 motherboard. Upgrades for the processor—and of course choose-your-own options for the other parts and Framework's modular USB-C based ports (four of them, just like the Laptop 13)—are configurable, too.
That's cheap for a Windows laptop with a touchscreen, if not exactly "budget" with all the trimmings added on. If you go with a pre-assembled model, you'll be paying at least $800 for the Core i3 setup, with the base configuration including 8GB of memory, 512GB of storage, Windows 11, and four modular USB-C ports, all upgradeable. You can choose from one of five colorways, and I'm partial to the unique green-on-pink "bubblegum" op
Personally, I'd recommend picking a laptop with a 1080p display and at least 8GB of RAM. This ensures peppy performance for everyday tasks and a sharp screen for watching YouTube. While you may need to make some compromises, that's expected for a laptop in this price range.
Below you'll find a meticulously curated list of our top picks for laptops under $500, each and every one tested by our experts.
Why you should trust us: It's in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We've been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who've applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We're also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.
The best laptops under $500
Acer Aspire Go 15 - Best laptop under $500 overall
To be sure, $880 ain't chicken feed, especially when you can find 49-inch super-wide screens for about half that if you don't want an OLED panel. But for an OLED screen that can do 5120×1440 resolution—that's two 1440p panels in one—and still handle 240Hz of refresh for super-speedy games, it's a downright deal. Assuming your gaming PC can actually handle pushing nearly 1.8 billion pixels that quickly, of course.
This gigantic 49-inch display is impressive, but not perfect. It's designed for desktops, as its USB-C ports are unfortunately incapable of video. And you're paying for a lot of extras you might not use, like Samsung's smart TV interface for streaming apps and games over Wi-Fi, and the 5-watt speakers you should ignore. For more details on the ups and downs of this screen, check out the full PCWorld review.
BuyDig is selling this monitor on eBay new—not refurbished!—so you should get the full warranty along with it. The listing shows a price of $1099.99, but you can use coupon code OUTLET20 at checkout to get 20 percent off, bringing the final price down to $879.99. That promo ends on April 14th, so get an order in quickly if you're ready for it.
Get this 49-inch Samsung ultrawide OLED monitor for 51
Microsoft says (via BleepingComputer) that due to a bug that affects an "edge case" of users, Windows Hello might not work after applying the update and running through some recovery settings. The problem affects both face unlock and PIN logins. Users shouldn't be completely locked out of their PCs, so long as they can remember their Windows password, but it's definitely a bit of a heart-stopper if you run into problems getting over that first hurdle.
Fortunately, the issue is indeed an edge case, as Microsoft says it only shows up after using the Settings System Recovery tool to reset your PC and keeping local files. And even then, it only happens if you enable System Guard Secure Launch or DRTM after applying the update. Once you get into Windows, possibly with the help of your password manager or a call to IT, you can set up Windows Hello face unlock again with a fresh face scan.
According to Reddit and Steam Deck HQ, a listing on the US eBay site sold the "Early Valve Engineering 34 Prototype" for $2,000 earlier this week. There's no way to verify its authenticity, but the look and layout does match one of the latter prototypes Valve showed off in its Steam Deck "making of" booklet (PDF), particularly one with two distinctive blue face buttons. In the eBay photos, the rear of the device has a seal that reads, "Engineering Sample 34 - not for resale."
Assuming this is a legitimate Valve engineering prototype, I bet someone at the company—possibly in the legal department—would be very interested in whoever s
Take Amazon, for example. The web giant suggests articles to you based on previous searches. Your purchasing behavior or product research is always recorded and analyzed. This means you receive purchase suggestions in the form of advertising banners for products that you have previously searched for on another site. The data collection mania of web services can also be disadvantageous for you when it comes to dynamic pricing. The product price adapts to demand. This can mean that you end up paying a higher price.
Data slinger IP address
The biggest traitors are your browser and your IP address. The latter is automatically given when you surf so that the server with the website knows where to send its data. This is necessary, but anyone can use the IP address to find out at least your approximate location. We therefore present various ways in which you can surf the Internet as anonymously as possible.
Analyzing your IP address is only one of several identifiers that can be used to track you on the Internet. However, your IP address is the most important common feature that website operators and advertising providers can access. This is why IP address protection requires special attention when it comes to improving your privacy. This is where a virtual machine can be very useful.
The VM helps you to simply surf the net using a cloak of invisibility
This USB-C cable comes in multiple sizes, with the 3.3-foot version being the most affordable. If you want to go longer, you can snag the 6.6-foot version for $10 or the 10-foot version for $13.
Regardless of length, this 100W USB-C cable provides super-fast charging for any of your USB-C devices. It's perfect for laptops, tablets, and phones, as long as you have an appropriately powerful wall charger (i.e., one that can output up to 100W via USB-C).
Baseus cables are both reputable and robust, made with a special zinc alloy and covered with braided nylon for a premium feel and long-term protection against fraying and other kinds of wear and tear. It's also safe thanks to a built-in smart chip that regulates current and voltage. Take it with you anywhere and rest assured that it won't break or catch fire.
As it's so affordable right now, you might want to grab as many as you need—one per USB-C device—before we feel the effects of Trump's tariffs and prices start shooting up.
Now, to score this awesome deal, you'll need to take two steps. First, this is a Prime-exclusive deal, so you'll need to sign up for a free 30-day Prime trial if you aren't Prime already. Second, you'll need to use the promo code XDH3JBT3 at checkout for the extra 15% savings.
The resulting price is fantastic for what you get: a compact PC with a powerful 14-core Intel Core i9-12900H processor, a hefty 32GB of DDR4 RAM across two slots (upgradeable to a max of 64GB), and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD in M.2 2280 form factor (upgradeable to a max of 2TB). This config is more than capable of handling Windows 11 and all your apps and browser tabs without choking, with plenty of storage space for your documents, videos, and more.
And what makes it even better for home office productivity fiends is that it can support triple 4K@60Hz displays via two full-sized HDMI 2.0 ports and a USB-C video port. That's in addition to the other connectivity options, including two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a headset jack.
Don't miss this new price drop on the Acemagic F1A down to $382, the cheapest it's ever been! And remember to grab a Prime trial and
So after reading about what Tablo called a "MASSIVE" update for its Roku app, I was excited to give the system another try. Previous Tablo models once topped our list of the best over-the-air DVRs for cord-cutters, but the fourth-generation version has been too buggy and unreliable to recommend.
My attempt to give Tablo another shot quickly went off the rails, though, as the aforementioned Roku update introduced a connection error that made the app unusable. While the bug doesn't affect everyone, it's indicative of the recurring issues Tablo users have experienced with the latest hardware and corresponding software. I'm still hoping Tablo's close to turning the corner and living up to its promises, but it's not quite there yet.
Some Matter-enabled smart lights, for example, can be turned on or off via Matter or change their color, but Matter controllers might not be able to access their lighting scenes or advanced animation modes.
Likewise, smart home manufacturer Aqara found some of its hardware functionality hamstrung by Matter's limitations, such as the lack of Matter support for facial recognition (which might arrive once Matter finally works with security cameras), or for the fall-detection capabilities of its motion sensors.
One option would be to wait for the Matter specification to catch up and add that functionality—which could take a while, given the slow pace of Matter specification updates.
Instead, Aqara built its own workaround, which involves taking various Aqara scenes and "signals" and turning them into virtual sensors that Matter understands.
Aqara calls its Matter-translating technology "Advanced Matter Bridging," introducing the tech earlier this year in an update for its Hub M3 smart home hub. Now, Aqara says it's bringing Advanced Matter Bridging to all its hubs, including the newer
This is an absolute beast in terms of hardware and capability, running on a 16-core AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX processor and 32GB of DDR5 RAM. You also get a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, which is more than fast enough for media and gaming. But of course it's the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU that's the star of this show. It can handle just about any modern 3D game with high quality settings at a decent FPS.
And can we talk about the screen? It has a massive 17.3-inch IPS display with a 2560×1440 resolution and a gaming-ready 240Hz refresh rate. Simply gorgeous, and spacious enough to provide an immersive gaming experience and plenty of screen real estate for productivity benefits. Overall, this is a stellar machine for everything ranging from streaming Netflix to video editing, from creative hobbies to modern gaming.
B&H has marked this one as "limited supply at this price," and we expect gaming laptops to jump up significantly in price once we start feeling the effects of the Trump administration's tariffs. Grab it now for $1,529 while you can because deals like this won't last.
But as the various password managers compete with each other, they're constantly adding new features that keep complicating what should be simple. Moreover, passwords stored in the cloud are vulnerable to data breaches, as we saw with LastPass and Norton LifeLock.
Fortunately, I haven't had to deal with any of that. I've been using the same lo-fi password manager for nearly 20 years—and since it's entirely offline, I never worry about data breaches or password leaks. My password security is entirely up to me, and I get to enjoy the simplicity of a retro-style interface that never changes.
I use an open-source password manager called KeePass and I absolutely love it. Here's why I prefer it over the bigger name alternatives and why you might want to consider switching to it yourself.
It doesn't actually "know" anything
Of the many reasons I love KeePass, the most important for me is that it's a "zero-knowledge" app. It uses zero-knowledge encryption when storing my data—passcodes, keyfiles, everything else—so that even KeePass doesn't actually
The first is the rollout of a brand new Trust Center, which will provide users with a single place to easily access all of IPVanish's data-handling practices and user-protection initiatives. Here you'll be able to find links to all of the service's independent audit reports as well as detailed "Requests for user data" and security methodologies.
Due to the vast number of user data requests by law enforcement, more and more VPNs are starting to employ Trust Centers like this in order to provide full transparency to users. They are easy and effective ways to help warn users about potential data sharing while delicately, and legally, sidestepping gag orders.
Not just satisfied with the Trust Center, IPVanish has also announced that it completed another successful independent audit in February this year as well. Cyber security firm, Schellman Compliance, LLC, proved once again that IPVanish does not monitor, collect, or store user activity on its servers. The last such no-logs audit for IPVanish was done in 2022.
IPVanish's new Trust Center is now available to view and will be updated every quarter from here on out.
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The LG Ultragear 45GX950A-B is a big deal. Literally.
Measuring 45 inches diagonally across a 21:9 aspect ratio, the 45GX950A-B's total display surface area is about 15 percent greater than a 49-inch super-ultrawide, like the Philips Envia 8000. The 45GX950A-B isn't quite as wide, but it's a lot taller.
On top of that, the Ultragear 45GX950A-B is the first 45-inch OLED ultrawide to offer a display resolution of 5120×2160. Earlier 45-inch OLED ultrawi
At PCWorld, we've had to adjust to remote work just like the rest of the world. Our staff has spent countless hours testing and reviewing hardware, which means we've been lucky enough to find the best gear and accessories available. Below you'll find our favorite work-from-home essentials.
Look sharp during Zoom meetings: Anker PowerConf C200 Webcam
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What is a digital footprint?
A digital footprint, electronic footprint, or digital shadow is the activities and traceable data you leave behind online. There are two types of digital footprints:
? Active digital footprint consists of the data you intentionally leave online, such as posts or comments y
You'll learn how to personalize your system, manage OneDrive, maximize productivity with shortcuts, improve your privacy and security, and troubleshoot issues like a pro. With 10 hours of content and 150 step-by-step lessons, this is ideal for beginners, professionals, or anyone upgrading from older systems. You'll also get training on Microsoft apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, even though the software isn't included.
Whether you're upgrading your career skills or just want to stop Googling how to adjust your settings, this bundle will give you absolute confidence and control.
Get Windows 11 Pro and learn how to use it for $24.99 — 89% off.
We've also included some helpful answers to common questions about buying a computer at the bottom of this article. If you're considering a laptop instead, be sure to check out our best laptop deals, updated daily.
Note: Tech deals come and go quickly, so it's possible some of these computer discounts will have expired before this article's next update.
PROMOTION
GIGABYTE B850 Motherboards: PCIe 5.0 for ALL
All GIGABYTE B850 Motherboards come with PCIe 5.0 x16 as a standard. Having PCIe 5.0 means that these motherboards are next-gen graphics ready. Enjoy lower latency and increased bandwidth as you rise to victory.
Essentially, the new Ryzen 8000 HX series, known as Dragon Range Refresh, is quite similar to the "Dragon Range" Ryzen 7000 HX series that AMD launched in January 2023, and should sit below the Ryzen 9 9955HX and Ryzen 9 9850HX AMD launched in conjunction with the Ryzen 9955HX3D this past January. All three of those latter chips used AMD's Zen 5 architecture.
Copilot Vision debuted (sort of) last December as a Windows-centric version of Copilot Vision for Edge, which was quite underwhelming. But at the company's 50th anniversary party, Microsoft showed off how a Windows-native Copilot Vision could walk you through complex apps like Adobe Photoshop, then visually show you what to do next.
I thought the demo had enough potential to select it as the best Copilot demo Microsoft showed during the event.
Copilot Vision isn't always on. You'll need to first click the small "binoculars" icon within Copilot to launch Vision, then specifically enable Copilot Vision for the application you want help with.
I have a number of questions about Copilot Vision for Windows. How deeply does it know what to do? What can it see? Can it understand what it sees well enough to be useful? I'd say a key test would be its ability to walk me through a task on an unfamiliar piece of software—some on-screen handholding could be extremely helpful, if Vision got it right. But there will be those (me included!) who probably don't want any help with more private matters like, say, per
But choosing an external SSD means sorting through a dizzying array of options, and making a poor choice can leave you feeling hard done by. Lucky for you, we've done the testing and can offer some sure-fire recommendations that are guaranteed to help, and not hinder, your gaming setup.
Why you should trust us: We are PCWorld. Our reviewers have been putting computer hardware through its paces for decades. Our external drive evaluations are thorough and rigorous, testing the limits of every product — from performance benchmarks to the practicalities of regular use. As consumers ourselves, we know what makes a product exceptional. For more about our testing process, scroll to the bottom of this article.
Scroll below our recommendations to learn about other external SSDs for gaming that did not make our list.
Lexar SL600 Blaze - Best 20Gbps external SSD for gaming
A year ago, goods imported into the United States that were valued at less than $800 could be imported duty free, without being affected by tariffs. This was known as the de minimis exemption, and meant that individual consumers could largely escape any trade wars going on between nations, while still essentially being taxed for more expensive consumer goods and appliances.
That way of doing business ended April 2 on goods imported from China, according to an executive order from President Trump that closed the de minimis exemption and applied a tariff of 30 percent. Now, that's changed yet again.
According to an amendment to the order filed Tuesday night, the United States is now dramatically raising de minimis tariffs in line with Trump's existing tariffs on China, which as of April 9 stood at 104 percent. Now, the de minimis tariff also stands at a whopping 90 percent, up from 30 percent a few days ago. (Trump said Wednesday, April 9, that he is raising tariffs on Chinese goods yet again, to 125 percent, while lowering tariffs on all other countries to 10 percent for 90 days.)
In addition, United States customs will also charge a tariff per "postal item," or shipment, as well. Between May 2 and June 1, the "increase in per postal item containing goods" duty will be increased from $25 to
The image-editing tool professional creatives have loved over the past three decades is finally available on our smartphones, opening up professional-level photo editing to all. This is a fantastic opportunity for a new wave of creatives who favor using their phones for image editing to get access to even better tools. Essential features such as layering, masking, and blending are now a tap away, allowing you to quickly edit and enhance your images, right on your iPhone.
The Photoshop app from Adobe is free to download on iPhone, with its core photo-editing features available at no cost-although subscribing will put even more exciting optimization tools at your disposal.
The 8BitDo Retro Keyboard comes in several colorways, themed after the NES, Famicom, Atari, and even Xbox. This version is going for a more button-down look aping the legendary IBM Model M keyboard and other buckling-spring designs from the 80s. It's not a buckling spring, though. It's a standard, modern mechanical keyboard, complete with some impressive wireless options and hot-swap switch sockets that let you customize your typing experience.
The Kailh Box White switches that come in the box are loud and clicky. It also has a couple of programmable add-on buttons (also hot-swap). Sure, they don't make sense with the Model M color choice, but they're still fun. The PBT keycaps that come with the keyboard are pretty great, but if white and gray aren't your thing, you can easily swap them out thanks to its standard TKL layout. For more details, check out my full review.
While $100 was already a pretty good deal for a solid keyboard with both wireless and hot-swap capabilities, this $60 sale price is fantastic. Amazon subsidiary Woot is offerin
Chromebooks offer reliable performance, are largely largely virus-free, and even support cloud gaming for playing the latest AAA titles. That said, searching for "Chromebook" can bring up an overwhelming amount of options. To help you decide, we've complied a list of Chromebooks that PCWorld has tested firsthand.
If you still prefer Windows laptops, check out PCWorld's roundup of the best laptops available today.
Why you should trust us: PCWorld has been going strong since 1983, back in the days when print magazines were more common. Now that we've made the leap to digital, we've been reviewing more than 100 laptops annually. Every laptop that passes through our doors goes through an arduous testing process, in which we evaluate everything from processor performance to display quality. We're committed to reviewing laptops in every price range too.
Windows Latest reports that the KB5002700 update for Office 2016—both Windows 10 and Windows 11 versions—is reportedly causing several apps in the suite to crash. Users on Reddit are reporting that Word and Excel crash when they try to create new documents and spreadsheets. Opening the calendar view in Outlook also causes that app to crash.
Microsoft hasn't yet posted anything about the problems on the update's support page. And given that the software is almost 9 years old now, it may not be a top priority for the company.
If you're still using Office 2016 and affected by these issues, you'll have to wait for Microsoft to push another patch—but who knows how long that could take. Alternatively, you can upgrade to either Office 2024 or a Microsoft 365 subscri
Corsair's iCue program has long been its all-in-one solution for anything to do with mice, keyboards, controllers, headsets, cooling, lighting, and extra gadgets from acquisitions like Elgato. But as PCGamer reports, the new online firmware updater tool can make it obsolete, at least for the task of… well, updating firmware.
To use it, you simply go to the site on a standard web browser, you authorize it to access your hardware via the pop-up, and it can install the latest firmware. Super easy, barely an inconvenience.
Original story from December 10, 2024: Microsoft seems to think Windows 11 users are clamoring for easier ways to insert emojis, as if we're so constantly in need of quick access to emojis on a day-to-day basis that we need super shortcuts for it.
Well, if that describes you, Microsoft wants you to know that they're listening and they care. In the latest Windows 11 Insiders preview (Build 22635.4580), Microsoft has added an emoji panel to the taskbar, granting immediate access to emojis no matter what you're doing.
Although there's already a keyboard shortcut for accessing the emoji panel — simply press Windows key Period or Windows key Semicolon — it's clear that not everyone is aware of it. After all, who can really remember the hundreds of keypress combinations that exist?
If you don't want the emoji panel in the taskbar, you can turn it off in the settings by navi
By exploiting this vulnerability, malicious actors can use attachments in MIME format (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions)—a format the desktop version uses by default—to inject malware on PCs. The theft of sensitive data is also possible with this method.
The risk of an attack that takes advantage of this flaw is relatively high, but an affected user must first interact with the MIME attachment for it to be actively exploited. Nevertheless, you should always be careful when receiving WhatsApp messages from people you don't know, especially when they contain unsolicited attachments.
Dangerous attachments are often disguised as harmless image files—and with one careless click, malware can be activated.
Update your WhatsApp now
If you currently have WhatsApp for Windows installed on your PC, you should update to version 2.2450.6 (via the Microsoft Store) as soon as possible. In this version, the security vulnerability has been fixed and can no longer be actively exploited by attackers.
The normal WhatsApp app for Android and iOS devices is NOT affected by this issue, as the MIME format is only used for delivering content in the PC version o
"We're holding the next step, repricing products for sale in the US, until we have final confirmation that there is no alternative. We'll keep you updated as we make changes, as well as on when we'll be able to open Framework Laptop 12 in the US."
Framework has also had to stop offering the least-expensive versions of the original 13-inch laptop design in the US, as import taxes would force it to be sold at a loss. Framework will open pre-orders to other countries it supplies later today. The original story from last week continues below.
According to Reuters, Trump threatened Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company with an additional 100 percent tax "if you don't build your plant here" when speaking to the Republican National Congressional Committee. This would, presumably, be in addition to the current 32 percent tariff rate on imports from Taiwan itself. Approximately 60 percent of the world's chip manufacturing occurs in Taiwan, focused on the most cutting-edge products, with TSMC producing the lion's share. The US currently manufactures 12 percent.
TSMC, among competing chip manufacturers, had already committed to building fabrication plants within the United States as part of the CHIPS Act, a $52 billion stimulus package enacted during former President Biden's administration. Last month, TSMC announced a $100 billion investment in US-based manufacturing centered in massive facilities in Arizona. This appears to be the announ
But as funny as it was, it raised an interesting question for me, that being: Could I simply use my USB cable right away as I had intended to do, or was my cable now roached? I wasn't sure, so I investigated. Here's what I found out…
Wet USB cables: The lowdown
While most USB cables are water resistant, it's important to note that this is the kind of water resistance you can expect from a knockoff 1980s analog wristwatch, meaning you can splash them a little bit without there being much of a problem, but you generally don't want to submerge them in water — they're simply not made for that.
The most vulnerable part of a USB cable is the connector, since it's open to the environment and not bound by plastic or rubber. Regardless of where your cable gets wet, you should shut down the device you're using quickly and then unplug it if it's plugged in.
You also shouldn't use the cable right away but wait an hour or more until it dries out first. This ensures that you're not transferring the corrosive water (or coffee as it may be) to your USB port or allowing the liquid to damage the cable itself. You can also help dry out your cable with a few carefully applied techniques.
How to dry your cables
If your cable gets wet, you can use a cloth to dry it off, running a closed hand down its length. If the connector gets water inside it, give it a l
The Ugreen Nexode is a GaN charger, which means it uses newer GaN technology that's faster, more efficient, smaller, and produces less heat. We love GaN chargers here at PCWorld because they're just better in every way, and they don't cost much more than older wall plugs if you can spot them on sale like this one.
Long story short, this 65W Nexode model is speedy enough to charge a MacBook Air halfway in about half an hour, which means it's more than fast enough to rejuice your smartphone, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, tablet, earbuds, and more. Basically, unless you have a high-end laptop that needs more than 65W of charging, you're good to go.
This thing can handle up to four devices at once, too. You get two high-speed USB-C ports (65W max each), a lower-speed USB-C (30W max), and a nominal USB-A port (22.5W max). Note that you'll only get the 65W max throughput with single port use. When charging multiple devices simultaneously, the power gets split up accordingly.
The Ugreen Nexode charger is perfect for traveling, by the way, because it's not only small but also has foldable prongs. It won't get caught on stuff, nor will it damage other devices, nor will the prongs get bent, and it can easily slip into most bags. Nice.
You deserve a faster-charging wall plug that minimizes cable clutter and doesn't take up mu
The ViewFinity S80D is a gorgeous display that brings 4K to your desk without breaking the bank. The IPS panel is super responsive and delivers fantastic color contrast with HDR10 at up to 350 nits of brightness, which means it's great for productivity and you'll be able to enjoy whatever you watch on screen with vivid visuals and color accuracy. With just 60Hz of refresh and a 5ms response time, it ain't the best for gaming.
This monitor comes with slim bezels and a minimalist design, so it's an especially good pick if you intend to put two or three of them next to each other. Connectivity options are pretty basic here: a single full-sized HDMI 2.0 port and a single DisplayPort 1.2 connection. You also get two USB-A ports for peripherals. No built-in speakers on this one. If you don't like the stand, you can mount it on a separate monitor arm with the standard 100x100mm VESA mount.
At this price, you can upgrade to a multi-4K-monitor setup and elevate your home office experience without wincing too hard at all. Don't miss this chance to get a 4K Samsung monitor for just $200!
To help avoid these issues, we'll walk you through the aspects you should consider when buying a PC case. We'll also highlight top cases at various price points.
1. Size and form factor are a must
First of all, make sure you get a case that can fit all of the components. The form factor determines whether your mainboard will fit into the case. The most common options are ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX. There's also XL-ATX and E-ATX, which are slightly larger than ATX but are rarely used in gaming PCs.
Large cases often also support small form factors, but the reverse is, of course, difficult. If you try to fit a big custom RTX 5080 into a mini-ITX case, for example, you will quickly realize that it won't fit. So you also need to make sure that the case has enough space for all the components like the graphics cards, AIOs, fans, and power supplies.
Let's take a look at the usual case sizes. There are big towers, midi towers, mini towers, and ITX. Big towers offer the most space; all standard motherboard sizes fit in here, and often XL-ATX and/or E-ATX are also supported. With these cases, you have plenty of space for components and cable management.
Midi towers are somewhat smaller; ATX boards still fit in there, but not always E-ATX. Mini-towers are more compact; only Micro-ATX and smaller
With an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, a decent 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage, this is a fast and capable machine that can handle all things work-related, plus it can stream high-res video and even do some light gaming. Don't push it too hard because it doesn't have a dedicated graphics card, but the integrated Intel Arc graphics are good enough if you're willing to compromise on settings.
While the 14-inch screen may not seem very large, it is a touchscreen. That's great for convenient finger navigation, which comes in handy for reading PDFs, browsing the web, etc. And it all looks crisp with its 1920×1200 resolution, but the 60Hz refresh rate leaves something to be desired—it's merely adequate for light gaming.
The Acer Swift Go 14 comes with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, which isn't too common on laptops in this price range. These are super-fast USB-C ports that can transfer files in a flash and handle video display for external monitors. You also get two USB-A 3.2 ports, a full-sized HDMI 2.1 port, a headset jack, and a microSD card slot. That's a pretty darn good offering for a productivity laptop.
We tested the Acer Swift Go 14 and had nothing but praise for it: "It's true that the Swift Go 14 isn't the most high-end luxurious model you can buy, but it's not trying to be either. It's a travel w
By now, AI-powered transcriptions are relatively passe. Ditto for AI summaries. Now, as you quietly sidle in late for a virtual Google Meet meeting, you'll be able to ask Gemini, "what did I miss?" and get caught up on what was discussed while you were dealing with a sick toddler.
Google said that this and additional capabilities — such as asking about specific action items or decisions — will be available in Meet later this quarter.
Google Cloud Next is also an opportunity for Google to add new features to other apps within Workspace, too. Here are some of the highlights:
Audio docs: In the coming weeks, you'll be able to ask Docs to read your document to you — or, alternatively, you can listen to documents as "audiobooks" during your commute.
"Help me" in Sheets and Docs: One of the challenges in an app like Sheets is simply making sense of a worksheet full of data. "Help me analyze" is a new feature coming to Sheets later this year, where Gemini will simply eyeball your worksheet, highlight interesting data, and launch a few charts making sense of it all. The "help me refine" feature in Docs will debut in alpha later this quarter; instead of correcting your grammar, "help me refine" works to strengthen your argument or improve its structure.
You can finally address @gemini in any Chat application.
In January, Google added its advanced AI capabilities to Workspace "for free:" no longer
But to get the most out of a Chromebook, you need to set it up properly and optimize the settings to fit your specific needs and wants. After you've signed in with your Google account and gone through the first-boot walkthrough, there are several extra steps I recommend taking to make sure your Chromebook experience is good as it can be.
Here are the key first steps any Chromebook newbie or first-timer should take, but feel free to skip any you don't think apply to you.
Windows 11 Home is pre-installed on many PCs, while the Pro edition is often installed on business devices. This is because Windows 11 Pro can be integrated into a company's network infrastructure (Active Directory), whereas the Home edition cannot.
However, this feature is not necessary for private users who are unlikely to operate a Windows server in their home network.
Nevertheless, the Windows Pro edition has some features that are of interest to everyone.
Saving tip 1: Buy Windows 11 Pro for just $79 instead of $199
Saving tip 2: Buy a Windows 11 Pro upgrade for just $59 instead of $99
If you want to take advantage of this, you can perform a Pro update for a fee. For details, see the box "Upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro."
Windows 11 Home is pre-installed on many PCs, while the Pro edition is often installed on business devices. This is because Windows 11 Pro can be integrated into a company's network infrastructure (Active Directory), whereas the Home edition cannot.
However, this feature is not necessary for private users who are unlikely to operate a Windows server in their home network.
Nevertheless, the Windows Pro edition has some features that are of interest to everyone.
Saving tip 1: Buy Windows 11 Pro legally for just $79 instead of $199
Saving tip 2: Buy a Windows 11 Pro upgrade for just $59 instead of $99
If you want to take advantage of this, you can perform a Pro update for a fee. For details, see the box "Upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Pro."
AdGuard goes beyond traditional ad blockers. It removes banners, autoplay videos, and invasive tracking scripts before they load, helping your pages run faster and stay safer. The included parental controls also let you restrict access to inappropriate websites, offering peace of mind for families with kids.
It works across all major operating systems — Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS — and includes malware protection to help guard against phishing attempts and shady websites.
Unlike a VPN, AdGuard runs at the system level for deeper, more consistent protection without slowing you down. And since it's a lifetime subscription, you'll never have to pay again.
Normally $39.99, this deal saves you 60 percent — but it's for new users only, so act fast.
This offer ends 4/27 — Get the AdGuard Family Plan for $15.97 with code FAMPLAN.
At press time, the "gaming laptops" section of Razer.com only allows consumers to buy skins, not the laptops themselves. Those laptops used to include the Razer Blade 14, the Razer Blade 16, and the Razer Blade 18. Those listings have now been removed, according to web pages viewable by PCWorld.com as well as The Verge.
Razer isn't selling the Razer Edge on its website, either; just skins. Razer appears to still be selling its PC and console peripherals on the site, however. Company representatives did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Pausing sales, however, may be a tactic allowing Razer and other manufacturers to devise a strategy to respond to the Trump administration's latest tariffs. In a Monday post on Truth Social, the President threatened an additional 50 percent tariff on goods imported from China in response to a retaliatory tariff from the Chinese government.
Why you should trust us: It's in our name. PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We've been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who've applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We're also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.
The big prediction last year was that a new Apple smart hub powered by an AI-augmented Siri would arrive by spring 2025—right around now—complete with a touchscreen and smart home controls. It was a device that would vault Apple back into the smart home game.
And then there was Google, which had begun testing Gemini on its Nest smart speakers late last year, allowing a small subset of its users to chat with the powerful AI model when asking more complex questions.
Making the biggest splash of all was Amazon, which blew everyone away (myself included) with its AI-revamped Alexa during a late-February event in New York. With none other than Panos Panay chatting away with the far more loquacious Alexa , followed by live demos of the assistant ably fielding natural-language smart home commands, a new era of AI-powered smart home control seemed just within reach.
And yet, while AI keeps tiptoeing toward the smart home, it never seems to jump right in, as it has—quite disruptively—in such fields as coding and illustration.
The (unannounced) Apple smart hub backed by an AI-infused Siri still isn't here, and now we're getting word that it
The E25 and E28 are two brand-new models unveiled by the company. Both feature eufy's award-winning HydroJet mopping technology and deliver a jaw-dropping 20,000Pa suction power for a deep clean.
Deep-clean stained carpets, stairs and sofas
The E28 isn't like other robotic vacuum cleaners with mopping capabilities and a self-cleaning base: this is the world's first robotic cleaning system to feature a detachable portable deep cleaner that can handle carpet stains, and clean stairs and sofas. It's an all-in-one cleaning solution that-if you have kids or pets-your house will thank you for.
The Revodok 105 hub grants 100W of power delivery via USB-C, plus four other ports. That means you can keep your laptop charging while also being able to use your keyboard, mouse, headset, SSDs, flash drives, or whatever else you need to connect via the supplied dual USB-A 2.0 ports (up to 480Mbps data) and USB-A 3.0 port (up to 5Gbps data).
The best port, however, comes at the very end of the hub: a full-sized HDMI connection that supports up to 4K@30Hz. That's perfect for a productivity setup so you can splay out your spreadsheets and documents on screen, and also great for streaming high-res video, but not so great for gaming (unless you're content with 30 FPS).
With its narrow form, this USB-C hub can easily be thrown into your bag without worrying about it taking up space. It's hard to get a hub like this for this cheap, so jump on the Revodok for $10 while you can!
This 5-port USB-C hub is a total bargain for just $10Buy now at Amazon
Below you'll find my picks for the best home office monitors, and below that you can learn more about what specs and features matter when shopping for a home office monitor.
And if you really want to take your home office up a notch, consider adding a monitor arm to your desk setup. It not only looks very slick and professional, but it's the ultimate in ergonomics because of the added flexibility a monitor arm provides for positioning your display.
Dell Ultrasharp U3225QE - Best home office monitor overall
The Acer Aspire 16 is pretty middle-of-the-road in terms of hardware and capability, but it has a 10-core Intel Core 5 120U processor (just one year old) and 16GB of RAM. That's enough to handle most daily tasks with ease, including browsing a ton of tabs, online streaming video, and even some light gaming.
And while a 16-inch 1200p display isn't exactly amazing, it should be more than good enough for work and media duties. The 512GB storage space could be larger, but again, it should suffice unless you need to handle tons of high-res photos and videos on the regular.
This is a refurbished model, but it's being sold directly from Acer's eBay store (shipping from Texas) and comes with a two-year warranty for peace of mind. The extra 20 percent off code, OUTLET20, should be good until April 14th. But given how affordable this deal is—about half the original retail price—the stock might not hold up that long.
Get this 16-inch Acer productivity laptop for just $384Buy now on eBay
The buttons are marked with a revolving door of streaming service logos, from Netflix and Hulu to Max and Apple TV . Press one of the buttons, and you'll jump directly to that streaming service.
That's great if you happen to be subscribed to those four particular streaming services, but if you're not—and I'd wager most of us don't subscribe to four streaming services at a time—you're stuck with one or more useless buttons on your Roku remote. (And no, you can't reprogram those buttons.)
Luckily, the other big streaming device players don't put shortcut buttons on their remotes… oh wait, they do. (The Siri remote that ships with an Apple TV doesn't have them, or at least not yet.)
These TV remote shortcut buttons are nothing new, but now Google is upping the ante with a "Free TV" button for Google TV devices made by third parties (a story that was broken by Android Authority.)
We've already seen an example on Walmart's Onn Google TV 4K Pro, which sports a big blue "Free TV" button right in the middle of the remote. Press it, and you'll jump to Googl
This X-Gaming variant (spotted by VideoCardz) is made as a bit of licensed merch for JX Online 3, an MMO that's hugely popular in China even after nearly a decade. But more relevant to me is that it actually has some color aside from black, white, and brushed metal. The main shroud has a pleasant pink-to-teal gradient going on that reminds me of that one disposable cup pattern from the 90s, you know the one. There's also perhaps a bit of 90s tribal tattoo thrown in. But maybe that's iconography from the game? I wouldn't know since it's only available in China (and that's what we call foreshadowing).
Bob was a complete replacement for Windows 3.1, changing the way users interacted with their PCs. Instead of "windows," you interfaced with a digital house with all files, folders, and features represented as parts of the house. For example, there was a room for mail and one for the calendar, plus furniture and animated characters (like the dog Rover), all in a welcoming cartoony look. The intent was to lower the usability barriers for PC beginners and make computers easier to navigate.
However, user enthusiasm was limited and critical reception was poor. Hardly anyone bought Bob—only about 30,000 copies were sold—and it made high demands on the hardware, requiring 8MB of RAM, which was a lot in 1995. Microsoft discontinued Bob about a year later, around the time Windows 95 came out, but that wasn't the end for Bob.
Microsoft Bob makes a comeback… sort of
With Windows XP's release in 2001, the failed Microsoft Bob made a curious comeback. When Microsoft put Windows XP on installation CDs, they discovered that there were still 30 MB free on those discs—so Microsoft decided to fill up that space. With
Microsoft explains that the reason for the block is to ensure that all users stay safe with the latest security updates and compliance measures. The company first made this announcement back in November 2024, with a message posted to the Microsoft 365 Message Center:
Microsoft Teams is governed by the Modern Lifecycle Policy which requires that the Teams desktop client be kept up to date. […] As documented, when a client falls out of date, the user will see:
Recurring in-app alerts, if the app is between 30d-90d out of date.
A blocking page in Teams, if the app is greater than 90 days out of date. At this point, the app will show options to update, to contact their IT administrator, or continue to Teams on the web.
As an example, if t
And if you need a power bank, then today's your lucky day. This Baseus EnerGeek G12 model is only $45 on Amazon after applying the JSL7VMNK promo code on top of the current sale price. That comes out to a whopping 50% discount, and it only released two months ago!
The Baseus EnerGeek GR12 has a huge 20,800mAh capacity, which is plenty for pretty much any laptop you could possibly own. That's enough to fully recharge a MacBook Air M3 Pro or Steam Deck, or over three full recharges for an iPhone 16 Pro. Get super-fast charging via either of the two 100W USB-C ports, but you'll need a high-speed USB-C cable capable of such throughput.
There are actually four ports available on this power bank—the aforementioned two fast-charging USB-C ports as well as an additional two USB-A ports. This means you can charge multiple devices at once, but note that this thing can provide a max 145W of charging power that gets split up if multiple ports are in use at once.
This Baseus power bank has a 65W input for recharging itself, so it can go from 0% to 100% in about 2 hours. It also supports pass-through charging, so if you're at home and want to recharge your devices while recharging the power bank, you can.
It's an amazing power bank, especially when you can get it for this cheap. With promo code JSL7VMNK at checkout, the newly released Baseus EnerGeek GR12 is
But despite the flat numbers you may have seen in the news (i.e., a now 54 percent tariff on all imports from China, a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports, and the looming possibility of a 25 percent tariff on semiconductor imports), price increases may not end up so exact. Their full effect isn't known yet either, like possible lower availability of products, which could further affect costs. I cover these details in PCWorld's FAQ on the tech tariffs, as well as in a quicker rundown if you only have time for the highlights.
Even knowing that seeing what a 54 percent bump looks like in real numbers makes it feel more real—so I sat down and made some tables to illustrate. (Honestly, doing this exercise was as much for me as for you all.) The results drive home a point mentioned to me more than once during my research: Tariffs are a regressive form of taxes, meaning the less money you make, the harder you're hit. At the same time, how pinched you feel will vary depending on the purchase's importance.
Laptops
Original MSRP10% tariff increase20% tariff increase54% tariff increase
What makes this mini PC such a monster in its class? Start with the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor on board and 64GB of DDR5 RAM. Yes, you read that right! This tiny thing is loaded with tons of memory, way more than you need to smoothly run Windows 11 Pro (included) along with all your apps, browser tabs, games, and more.
The UM890 Pro is essentially a compact desktop rocket that'll help you complete just about any task you need, from your daily workload to image editing to other demanding activities. It doesn't hurt that there's a 1TB SSD on board for storing all your apps, games, videos, and more, while fast enough to boot up the system in a blink.
If there's a downside here, it's the lack of a dedicated graphics card. However, the integrated AMD Radeon 780M is one of the most powerful integrated GPUs for desktops, and it's good enough to run modern 3D games on decent settings at playable frame rates. If you aren't a hardcore gamer and if you keep your expectations in check, this config will serve you well—and it's a fantastic value for the price.
And even if you don't game at all, that graphical power will come in handy for multitasking productivity because the UM890 Pro can support up to quadruple 4K@60Hz displays or double 8K@60Hz via its ports: 2x USB4, 1x DisplayPort, and 1x full-sized HDMI. Other ports include 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x 2.5Gbps Ethern
Before you use one of those dubious sideways glance emojis and click off onto the next story, please hear me out. It really does make a big difference to my workday, I swear.
First and foremost, side-mounting my phone helps boost my productivity. With my phone side-mounted to my PC I can receive and make phone calls hands-free, read my incoming texts and notifications with just a flick, and more easily keep an eye on apps like X (formerly twitter) for news stories as they're breaking, without the cumbersome process of finding and picking up my phone off my desk, or alternatively finding the right tabs on my laptop.
Using my phone like this I can also more easily multi-task. For example, I can keep writing the stories I'm working on for PCWorld, while I'm simultaneously in a Teams call or product briefing where I'm not expected to contribute anything but just listen, so it's a real time saver, too.
Side-mounting my phone to my laptop also helps keep me on point. Since my phone remains at eye-level, I'm less prone to losing my train of thought like I previously was when I had to scramble around for my phone, then regain my attention, reposition my hands on my keyboard, and find the place where I left off in my work — now I simply have to look to the right side of my laptop screen for whatever I need my phone for.
But the best thing about my new setup? I can now use my phone as a second screen. This comes in very handy when I need to compare and contrast hardware specs in stories. Plus, my second display isn't limited to being with me just at my desk in the office — it can be used wherever I hap
"Due to the new tariffs that came into effect on April 5th, we're temporarily pausing U.S. sales on a few base Framework Laptop 13 systems (Ultra 5 125H and Ryzen 5 7640U)," Framework said on Twitter/X. "For now, these models will be removed from our U.S. site. We will continue to provide updates as we have them."
404 Media reported that the models had in fact been removed from Framework's web page, with models starting at $799.
In a followup post, Framework explained: "We priced our laptops when tariffs on imports from Taiwan were 0%. At a 10% tariff, we would have to sell the lowest-end SKUs at a loss. Other consumer goods makers have performed the same calculations and taken the same actions, though most have not been open about it."
What wasn't clear, however, was why Framework didn't simply raise its prices to compensate. Economists and trade organizations have predicted since last year that manufacturers would simply raise prices by the tariffed percentage, simply passing along costs to the consumer. Potential customers responding to the Twitter post wondered the same thing, but the company didn't respond. However, the full effects of the various Trump tariffs (up to 54 percent on imports fro
Is your PC acting sluggish? Before you drop hundreds on a new machine, consider a simple upgrade like this: A fresh operating system and a full suite of productivity tools.
For a limited time, you can upgrade your PC to Windows 11 Pro and get a fresh install of Microsoft Office 2021 for only $54.97, normally priced at $418—that's an 86% discount. But heads up: We're down to limited inventory, so these codes are first-come, first-served.
Here's what you get:
Microsoft Office 2021: A one-time download with lifelong access to
Why you should trust me: Here at PCWorld we've been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. For my part, I'm continually testing all of the major VPNs on the market and many lesser-known services in order to curate a list of the very best VPNs across a variety of categories. Below you'll find my favorite VPNs, and below those, helpful advice about what to look for when choosing a VPN on your own.
If you're looking to use your VPN for more than streaming, be sure to check out our comprehensive roundup of the best VPNs in all categories, as well.
Name any kind of tech device, and it's affected: laptops, desktop computers, PC components, monitors, smartphones, e-readers, and much more. An overwhelming majority of electronics are produced in China.
When the first tariff was announced, big retailers warned about imminent price hikes. The CEOs of both Best Buy and Target commenting on the breadth and immediacy of the tariff effects. Here at PCWorld, I wondered specifically about the impact on computers (surprise!)—laptops and desktop PCs are both major interests of our readers.
To answer my own questions—as well as those of readers, friends, and family—I reached out to industry contacts to better understand what these tariffs mean for the cost of PCs, and what to expect in the coming days. Those who responded manufacture laptops, prebuilt desktop machines, and PC components. Much of this information is generally applicable to electronics overall.
The short answer: Expect pain at the cash register. Businesses won't be able to shield customers from these increases. As Falcon Northwest president Kelt Reeves said to me back in March, "[The] PC industry is infamously low margin, so no one can afford to ‘cushion' 20 percent. Prices already went up incredibly fast on almost every component we buy to build a PC. Stock that was already here vanished, as anything new will be minimum 20% more." Now
But while the headlines spout flat numbers like a now staggering 54 percent on Chinese imports and 25 percent on steel, the tariffs' effect on tech gear isn't as clear cut. To understand the whole situation, I spoke with industry insiders. What they said is a sobering warning to consumers: We're about to get hit hard.
You can read our full rundown on the tech tariffs to understand the deeper details, but if you only have time for the highlights, read on. You'll get up to speed quicker, so you know how to plan your tech purchases for the coming weeks and beyond.
Spoiler: A bumpy ride is headed our way. Buckle up.
The eufy E15 and E18, available for sale now, are a pair of connected robot lawn mowers. These clever gadgets can take this chore off your hands by bringing smart tech into your yard. Read on for more details and a $300 off discount code.
Designed to simplify maintaining a perfectly trimmed lawn, eufy E15 and E18 deliver precision cutting, smart navigation, and energy-efficient operation.
Much like a robotic vacuum cleaner, these eufy lawn mowers make use of a feature called Vision Full-Self Driving. It spots and avoids obstacles, from lawn edges and stone pathways to that football your kid left out in the yard yesterday. It can also dodge any pets that are too lazy to move out the way of the robot approaching them.
