Reading Time: 16 minutes We don’t need to tell you that 43% of marketers have seen better customer experiences with marketing automation. And you don’t need a reminder that marketing automation software can save time. You’ve heard it a hundred times already. The real question is: which tools are actually worth using, and which are just eating up your budget with over-the-top features no one uses? In this guide, we’re cutting through the noise to break down the five best marketing automation software platforms that are easy to use, actually deliver, and won’t crush your budget.   What is Marketing Automation Software? Marketing automation software is a technology designed to streamline, automate, and measure a wide range of online marketing activities such as email campaigns, lead nurturing, customer segmentation, personalized messaging, and customer journey tracking — all managed from a single, centralized dashboard. Many businesses with great ideas struggle to grow. The challenge? Manually managing marketing tasks leads to burnout and inconsistent messaging. Without marketing automation, it’s difficult to see what’s truly effective and to act on insights quickly. Marketing automation software addresses these issues by automating repetitive tasks, ensuring consistent communication, and providing data-driven insights for faster, better decisions, allowing businesses to scale efficiently.   What Types of Marketing Automation Tools Are Available? Not all marketing automation tools are built to solve the same problem; and that’s where most teams get tripped up. Choosing the wrong type means you’ll either overpay for features you won’t use, or miss out on capabilities that actually move the needle. Types of Marketing Automation Software at a Glance Tool Type What It Does Pros Cons Email Marketing Automation Tools Automate email campaigns, segmentation, and A/B testing. Quick setup, easy to use, great for email-focused strategies. Limited cross-channel support, and can feel robotic. CRM-Integrated Automation Platforms Combine marketing automation with CRM data for seamless lead nurturing. Full view of customer journey, ideal for complex sales cycles. Expensive, require resources for setup, steep learning curve. Social Media Automation Tools Schedule posts, track engagement, and automate responses. Save time, ensure consistent posting across platforms. Lack deep personalization, can feel automated and impersonal. Customer Journey/Workflow Tools Map out and automate personalized customer journeys. Highly customizable, great for dynamic customer engagement. Complex setup, requires clear customer data and resources. All-in-One Marketing Suites Integrate email, CRM, social, landing pages, and analytics. Everything in one place, scale as your business grows. Feature bloat, high cost, steep learning curve. Here’s a breakdown of the major types of marketing automation software, what they’re good at, and where they might fall short. 1. Email Marketing Automation Tools These are the bread and butter of marketing automation. Think of them as your go-to for creating, sending, and optimizing emails — from simple newsletters to more advanced drip campaigns. They take care of segmentation, personalization, A/B testing, and scheduling. What’s great about them: If your business revolves around email marketing (which it probably does), these email marketing automation tools are built for speed and ease. You can send tailored emails based on customer behavior, run automated follow-up sequences, and even trigger messages based on time zones or customer activity. Where they fall short: These tools are fantastic for email campaigns, but they can’t handle everything. If you need more cross-channel capabilities or in-depth customer journey tracking, you’ll need something more robust. Plus, email fatigue is real; too much automation can sometimes feel a bit robotic. 2. CRM-Integrated Automation Platforms These are for teams that want their marketing and sales teams to work seamlessly together. They integrate marketing automation directly into your customer relationship management (CRM) system, making it easy to track leads, score them, and trigger follow-ups. What’s great about them: They bring all your customer data into one place — so whether someone interacts with your email, visits your website, or even calls your sales team, you get a full picture of their journey and behavior. If your sales cycle is long or complex, having everything synced up in one system is a game-changer. You can build workflows that nurture leads from the first touch all the way to a closed deal. Where they fall short: They’re not always easy to set up and require a good amount of buy-in from both your marketing and sales teams. Plus, they can get really expensive if you’re scaling fast, and the learning curve is steeper than you might expect. If you don’t have the resources to keep everything aligned, this kind of marketing automation tool can become a mess. 3. Social Media Automation Tools These tools focus on automating your social media efforts. From scheduling posts across multiple platforms to tracking engagement and even automating responses, social automation tools can save you a ton of time. What’s great about them: If your brand has a heavy social media presence, these tools can help you stay consistent without burning out. You can plan weeks of posts in advance, track how your content is performing, and engage with your audience on autopilot. Where they fall short: Social media automation tools often fall short when it comes to personalization or deeper customer insights. While they help you manage content and engagement, they’re not built to nurture leads or manage complex customer journeys. And let’s be honest — automation on social media can feel, well, automated. Customers notice when you don’t show up with a human touch. 4. Customer Journey/Workflow Automation Tools These are the tools that take personalization to the next level. Instead of just automating one-off tasks like sending an email, these marketing automation tools help you map out an entire customer journey. They allow you to build complex workflows where a customer’s actions trigger specific responses, like sending an offer, changing the content they see, or re-engaging them with an email sequence. What’s great about them: If your business has a detailed customer lifecycle or funnel, these tools allow you to create dynamic, personalized experiences. For example, if a customer browses a product but doesn’t buy it, you can automatically trigger a series of emails that offer discounts or more product info. The level of customization can really increase engagement and conversions. Where they fall short: These marketing automation software tools can be powerful, but they’re not the easiest to set up. If you don’t have clear data on your customer journey or if your funnel is still in the early stages, you might end up building overly complicated workflows that don’t drive real value. They can also require a fair amount of resources to build and maintain properly — from setting up detailed workflows to continuously optimizing them as per customer journey analytics as your business scales. 5. All-in-One Marketing Automation Suites These platforms try to do it all — from email marketing automation to CRM integration, social media management, landing page creation, analytics, and more. What’s great about them: If you’re a small-to-medium business (SMB) that wants everything in one place, these suites can help you consolidate your tools and get a unified view of your marketing efforts. No need to jump from platform to platform anymore. They also scale with you as your business grows, adding features as needed. Where they fall short: The downside? Feature bloat. These tools often pack in more than you need, and you end up paying for a lot of extra features you’ll never use. Plus, the onboarding can be time-consuming, and there’s a steep learning curve. Be careful not to get too comfortable in one system. If you outgrow it, you might find it difficult to migrate your data to a new platform without major headaches.   How to Choose the Right Marketing Automation Software Choosing the right marketing automation software is a big decision — one that can either streamline your marketing efforts or lead to more headaches. So, what should you really consider before you pick a platform? Here’s a detailed guide to help you navigate the process. 1. Understand Your Marketing Goals and Needs First things first, what exactly are you trying to achieve with this tool? Whether your goal is to drive lead generation, increase customer retention, or automate repetitive tasks, your objectives should be at the core of your decision-making process. What to consider: What’s the primary goal — leads, engagement, or sales? Do you need full customer journey automation or just parts of it? Is multi-channel support (email, SMS, social) important? What metrics will define success? The clearer your goals are, the better you’ll be able to assess whether a platform can meet them. 2. Ease of Use and Setup A great marketing automation tool is one that your team can adopt quickly and easily. It shouldn’t require days of training or a full-time technical team just to get it up and running. Ease of use matters, especially if your team doesn’t have a dedicated marketing tech expert. What to consider: How long does setup take? Is the interface intuitive? Can your team start using it quickly? Are tutorials and onboarding resources available? 3. Integration with Existing Systems You probably already have tools in place that power different aspects of your marketing strategy. A new marketing automation platform shouldn’t create a silo; rather, it should be an extension of your current systems. Ask yourself, “How well does this tool integrate with our existing tech stack?” What to consider: Does it integrate with your CRM, email, and analytics tools? Is syncing customer data and marketing activities easy? Are APIs and pre-built integrations available? Integrations often separate a smooth customer experience from a headache down the road. 4. Scalability Your marketing automation software should grow with your brand’s needs and the complexity of your marketing efforts. So, look for a platform to accommodate future needs and handle increased data, more contacts, and expanded functionality. What to consider: Will this tool be able to scale with your team’s growing needs and increasing data volumes? Does the tool allow for easy expansion, like adding new users, features, or channels? Does the platform offer flexible pricing or feature upgrades to meet future demands for marketing automation campaigns? Choosing a scalable solution from the start saves you from a replacement down the road. 5. Budget and Pricing Structure While it’s tempting to go for the tool with the most features, it’s essential to consider the total cost of ownership (TCO). Some marketing automation tools might seem affordable upfront, but come with hidden fees or significant costs as you scale. What to consider: What is the pricing model — per user, per feature, or based on usage volume? Does the platform offer different pricing tiers depending on features and scale, or is it a one-size-fits-all tool? Are there hidden fees for additional users, integrations, or customer support? Being mindful of costs ensures you’re getting the right value for your investment. 6. Customer Support and Resources Support is crucial, especially when you’re dealing with a complex tool that’s integral to your marketing operations. Make sure the marketing automation software offers reliable support channels and resources to help your team get the most out of it. What to consider: Is 24/7 support available? Can you reach support easily (email, chat, phone)? Is there a structured onboarding program? With the right support, you can avoid costly downtime and ensure smooth operations. 7. Reporting and Analytics You need to be able to track your performance in order to improve your campaigns. Make sure the marketing automation tool you choose offers robust reporting and analytics features so you can measure ROI, spot trends, and optimize your strategies in real time. What to consider: Can you track and analyze data across multiple channels from one dashboard? Does the platform provide customizable reports for specific metrics (e.g., engagement rates, conversion rates, etc.)? How real-time is the data, and can you drill down into more detailed reports? Can you export data for deeper analysis or share it with your stakeholders? Choosing the right marketing automation software doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By focusing on your goals, ease of use, integration, scalability, budget, support, and reporting needs, you can find a solution that fits your business and helps you build better customer relationships. But once you’ve narrowed down your options, it’s crucial to look for key features that can make or break your marketing efforts, which we’ll explore in the next section.   8 Essential Features of Marketing Automation Software If the term “marketing automation software” makes you think, “OK, but what does it actually do?” — you’re not alone. It’s one of those tech labels that gets tossed around a lot, but rarely explained clearly. Here’s what truly matters when picking the right platform — and what MoEngage delivers. 1. Cross-Channel Automation That Actually Works A real marketing automation platform doesn’t stop at email. It should automate at least two or more of these channels: Email SMS In-app messaging Push notifications On-site messaging Digital advertising You need the flexibility to create journeys like: If a customer clicks this button, send that notification. If they ignore an email, retarget them elsewhere. And it shouldn’t feel like coding a spaceship. Customers don’t stick to one channel, and neither should your campaigns. Tools like MoEngage make it easy to connect experiences across every touchpoint, without overcomplicating setup. 2. Solid Integration Marketing doesn’t happen in a vacuum. You’ve got a CRM, a CMS, maybe a CDP, sales pipelines, customer support tools — and if your marketing automation platform can’t talk to them all, it becomes another silo. Integrated systems unlock better customer insights and smarter campaigns. For example, MoEngage is built to integrate deeply with the tools you already use, so you can actively engage data — not just collect it. 3. Visual Workflow Builder That Makes Sense A drag-and-drop journey builder should do more than look pretty. It should allow you to: Set triggers (e.g., customer sign-ups, link clicks, cart abandonment) Define branches based on customer behavior (clicked vs. ignored) Automate follow-ups, delays, and lead scoring Manage time-based sequences without coding You don’t just want to automate tasks; you want to orchestrate meaningful journeys. If your tool can’t map the customer lifecycle visually and let you tweak flows fast, it’ll slow you down more than it helps. That being said, MoEngage’s Journey Builder gives you the flexibility to create dynamic customer experiences visually. You can map out entire lifecycle journeys that adjust based on behavior, all while maintaining a smooth, intuitive workflow. 4. Price That Matches What You Actually Get Some tools boast of “custom pricing,” but let’s be honest — that often means “Enter your email so we can push you into a $10K contract.” On the flip side, others promise everything under the sun for free and then hit you with hidden limits the second you try to scale. A good marketing automation platform should justify its price with actual outcomes. With MoEngage, you get value for what you pay. No inflated costs or surprises as you grow. The pricing structure reflects the powerful features you’ll actually use, not just some theoretical high-tier plan. 5. Personalization That’s Actually Smart Personalization goes beyond “Hey, {First Name}.” A good marketing automation tool pulls real-time data, like browsing behavior, engagement history, or past purchases — and lets you: Customize messages based on customer behavior Segment customers successfully Send tailored content at the right moment Run A/B or multivariate tests on message variants Personalization drives relevance. Relevance drives conversion. If your tool can’t make content feel timely and targeted, it’s just noise your customers will tune out. MoEngage empowers true 1:1 personalization at scale, helping brands deliver messages that feel timely, thoughtful, and meaningful, not spammy. 6. Segmentation That Doesn’t Break Your Brain You shouldn’t need SQL to create an audience. A proper marketing automation tool lets you build segments with filters like: Engagement activity (opens, clicks, visits) Demographic data Customer lifecycle stages Purchase behavior or lead score Great campaigns start with great targeting. Without smart segmentation, even the best messaging falls flat because it lands in the wrong inbox at the wrong time. And with MoEngage, segmentation is straightforward yet powerful. You can easily create precise segments in seconds using simple AI prompts. Adjust them as needed, making sure your messages always hit the right target. 7. Analytics That Go Beyond Open Rates This is where a lot of marketing automation tools quietly fail. You need more than vanity metrics. A strong platform gives you visibility into conversion paths, drop-offs, engagement by channel, cohort behavior, and lets you slice and dice that data by campaign, audience, or even individual flows. Data should help you optimize decisions, not just check a box. MoEngage’s powerful analytics provide in-depth insights into every stage of your customer journey. Track conversions, cohort behaviors, and customer interactions across multiple channels, then fine-tune campaigns with data-driven decisions. 8. Integration-Ready (Not “Integration Eventually”) Marketing automation doesn’t exist in isolation. You need native or low-lift integrations with: CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.) CMS platforms (WordPress, Webflow, etc.) Analytics tools (GA4, Mixpanel) Ecommerce systems Digital ad platforms Your data should flow seamlessly between tools. If you’re stuck syncing CSV files or setting up brittle third-party connectors every week, it’s not automation — it’s a time suck. MoEngage takes this seriously, offering native integrations that ensure your data flows seamlessly between platforms. Forget about spending hours syncing CSV files or dealing with unstable third-party connectors. MoEngage ensures that everything you need is connected out of the box, keeping your marketing ecosystem running efficiently. To help you make an informed decision, here’s a quick overview of the key features you should look for in a marketing automation platform, and how MoEngage stands out in each of these areas. Feature Why This is a Key Criterion How MoEngage Excels Cross-Channel Automation Seamless engagement across touchpoints boosts retention. Automates email, SMS, push, in-app, and more from one platform. Solid Integration Integrations ensure smooth data flow and efficiency. Integrates with CRMs, CMS, and analytics tools like Salesforce and HubSpot. Visual Workflow Builder Easy-to-use workflows save time and enhance campaign accuracy. Drag-and-drop builder for quick, no-code journey creation. Price That Matches Value Fair pricing ensures you only pay for what you use. Scalable plans suited for businesses of all sizes. Personalization Personalized content drives better engagement and conversion. Real-time behavioral data for highly targeted, personalized messaging. Segmentation Effective segmentation improves targeting and conversion. Dynamic segmentation based on customer behavior and data. Analytics Data insights optimize campaigns and improve ROI. Advanced analytics for cross-channel performance tracking. Integration-Ready Easy integrations reduce manual work and improve accuracy. Seamless integrations with major platforms like Salesforce and Shopify.     How to Integrate Marketing Automation Tools Into Your Tech Stack So you’ve picked a marketing automation software. Great! But just buying the tool doesn’t mean you’ll get the expected results. The real value comes from how well it plugs into your existing tech stack, and how aligned your data, teams, and workflows are. Here’s how to do that right. 1. Audit Your Existing Stack and Map the Workflow Gaps Before you plug in anything new, take a look at what’s already running — CRM, CMS, analytics tools, sales systems, support platforms, ad networks, etc. Ask yourself: Where do leads come from? Where does data drop off or get siloed? Which tools already talk to each other and which don’t? This clarity shows you exactly where automation can close the loop — whether it’s nurturing leads from form fill to conversion, or retargeting dormant customers without manual work. 2. Choose a Tool That Plays Nice With the Rest Don’t get stuck with a shiny marketing automation software platform that requires duct-taping 10 APIs or third-party connectors. Look for a solution that offers: Native integrations with your CRM, CMS, and ad tools Webhooks and APIs for deeper custom connections Flexible data mapping (so customer info syncs cleanly) The smoother the integration, the faster your team can launch campaigns and the less time your developers spend troubleshooting data sync issues. 3. Define Unified Data Models and Tagging Systems Automation relies heavily on clean data. Before syncing anything, align on: What a lead or customer means across systems How lifecycle stages are defined to run customer lifecycle marketing campaigns Which tags, events, or properties get tracked How you’ll handle duplicates or missing values Messy data leads to missed triggers, bad personalization, and broken journeys. Having a consistent model avoids all that and makes reporting far more reliable. 4. Set Up Automated Data Syncs and Triggers Once the connection points are in place, you’ll want your automation to kick in based on real-time events, not stale lists exported weekly. Set up: Real-time syncs for lead activity (form fills, downloads, visits) Behavior-based triggers (e.g., cart abandonment, pricing page views) Feedback loops from other tools (support tickets, product usage) The entire point of marketing automation is to act quickly and intelligently. You can’t do that if you’re relying on old data or manual imports. 5. Test, Validate, and Continuously Monitor Even well-planned integrations can hit snags — missing fields, broken workflows, or data drift. Set up: End-to-end testing with dummy data before going live Alerts for failed syncs or dropped contacts Regular audits to ensure all systems are still in alignment Integration isn’t a “set and forget” task. Treat it like a living system. Catching issues early means fewer unsuccessful campaigns and missed opportunities.   5 Best Marketing Automation Software, Tools, and Platforms Choosing the right tool can feel overwhelming with so many options out there. To help you cut through the noise, here’s a quick look at some of the top marketing automation software tools and platforms that bring unique features to the table, each designed to streamline your marketing and drive real results. 1. Best for Cross-Channel Marketing and Real-Time Engagement: MoEngage MoEngage stands out as the go-to platform for teams that care about more than just email automation. It’s built for brands that want to talk to their customers across every channel—email, SMS, push notifications, WhatsApp, in-app messaging, you name it—and actually make it feel like a single, connected conversation. What makes it stand out: Dynamic segmentation and real-time customer profiling. Predictive AI (Sherpa AI) that recommends the best channel and the best time to engage. Visual drag-and-drop journey orchestration that supports branching, testing, and channel-switching logic in one flow. Built-in campaign optimization based on engagement scores and delivery performance. Strong mobile-first features (especially relevant for app-based businesses). Deep analytics to see what’s working, what’s not, and what to do next. Whether you’re trying to onboard new customers, win back lapsed ones, or boost retention, MoEngage gives you the tools to do it easily. Pricing: Starts around $750/month for growth plans; enterprise pricing varies based on volume and features. Best for: Mid-sized to enterprise-level companies in industries like Ecommerce, fintech, OTT, travel, and BFSI—especially those with a mobile app or multi-channel presence. If your marketing team is focused on delivering consistent, personalized experiences across platforms, this is a strong fit. 2. Best for Simple Automation and Ease of Use: HubSpot HubSpot’s Marketing Hub is one of the simplest CRM and marketing automation platforms out there. It offers no-code workflow builders, lead scoring, and AI-powered content tools like Breeze Agents to streamline customer engagement. Pricing: Ranges from $800 to $3,600/month, depending on the features and usage scale. Best for: Small to mid-sized businesses or B2B marketing teams looking for an easy way to get started with marketing automation and CRM without being overwhelmed. 3. Best for Complex Campaigns and Advanced Segmentation: ActiveCampaign ActiveCampaign excels in customer segmentation and personalized customer experiences. It’s great for crafting targeted email campaigns based on customer behavior and interactions. If you want to automate complex workflows or need a deeper dive into customer engagement, this one’s a solid choice. Pricing: Ranges from $29 to $149/month, based on features and number of contacts. Best for: Small to mid-sized businesses looking for an affordable, all-in-one marketing and sales automation solution. 4. Best for Ecommerce Marketing Automation: Klaviyo Klaviyo is the go-to marketing automation tool for Ecommerce businesses looking to drive revenue through personalized messaging. It integrates seamlessly with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, allowing you to send triggered emails based on a customer’s browsing history, past purchases, and other actions. Beyond email, Klaviyo also offers SMS marketing automation, enabling Ecommerce brands to engage customers through multiple channels. Its powerful segmentation and reporting tools help Ecommerce brands personalize their marketing at scale. Pricing: Offers a free plan, with paid plans starting at $20/month. Best for: Ecommerce businesses looking for deep integration with their store and the ability to drive personalized marketing through email and SMS. 5. Best for Simple Email Automation: Mailchimp Mailchimp is steadily evolving from a basic email tool into a more complete marketing automation platform. While some of the newer automation features are still catching up, its core email automation remains incredibly user-friendly and reliable. If you’re just starting out or looking for something straightforward that gets the job done, Mailchimp is a solid pick. Pricing: Plans range from $6 to $175/month based on features and contact volume. Best for: Small businesses or solo marketers who want a no-fuss way to automate emails without getting into complex workflows.   Use the Right Marketing Automation Software for Your Needs At the end of the day, the right marketing automation software tool can totally change the customer engagement game. With all the ideal automation features and tools we’ve gone over, you’re well on your way to finding the perfect fit for your team, whether you need something simple, advanced segmentation, or full-funnel automation. If you’re ready to take your customer engagement to the next level, MoEngage’s cross-channel automation can help you do just that. Check out how MoEngage can work for you, and don’t just take our word for it — book a demo to see it in action. The post Best Marketing Automation Software: 5 Tools to Try appeared first on MoEngage.

Any monitor can be used for PC gaming, but a display built for productivity will likely leave you underwhelmed. Limited contrast, blurry motion, and slow refresh rates still hold basic productivity monitors back in games. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of excellent gaming monitors available at a wide range of price points—and the best of them embrace cutting-edge technology unavailable in any other PC display.  The following are the best gaming monitors we’ve tested throughout this year and last. If you want to learn more about what we look for in a good gaming monitor and how we test them, scroll further down the page. MSI MPG 341CQPX – Best gaming monitor Pros USB-C power with 98 watts of Power Delivery Great color performance Higher HDR peak brightness than some peers 240Hz refresh rate and outstanding motion clarity Cons Stand is too large Works with FreeSync and G-Sync, but lacks certification SDR brightness is mediocre Best Prices Today: Retailer Price MSI $849.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket If you’re in the market for the best gaming monitor, look no further than the MSI MPG 341CQPX. This 34-inch ultrawide with a Samsung QD-OLED panel stands out in a crowded field with features that put it ahead of its competition. Its 240Hz refresh rate and remarkable motion clarity make it an excellent choice for gamers seeking smooth, responsive gameplay. The MSI MPG 341CQPX also delivers good HDR performance with vibrant colors and excellent contrast. VESA Adaptive Sync is supported and provides compatibility with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync. MSI pairs the monitor’s beautiful OLED panel with practical features. It has a USB-C port offering up to 98 watts of Power Delivery, which is ideal for those who want to connect and charge a laptop or tablet with a single cable. While the MSI MPG 341CQPX is excellent, it has a few downsides. The stand is bulky and takes up more space than needed. The monitor also lacks RGB-LED lights, which might disappoint gamers looking for added flair. However, these are minor inconveniences. Pricing is another advantage. The MPG 341CQPX typically retails for about $850. Though hardly inexpensive, the monitor’s price is fair for its performance, and it’s not much higher than older QD-OLED monitors with a lower refresh rate and lackluster USB-C connectivity. It’s easily worth the price. Read our full MSI MPG 341CQPX review Dell G2724D – Best gaming monitor under $300 Pros Handsome design with functional stand Attractive SDR image quality Good motion clarity at 165Hz Supports all Adaptive Sync standards Cons No USB connectivity or 3.5mm audio-out Lackluster HDR Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $299.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Dell G2724D is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a budget gaming monitor that doesn’t compromise on quality. With attractive design, strong motion clarity at 165Hz, and wide Adaptive Sync support, it provides an immersive gaming experience at an affordable price. It has a 27-inch IPS LCD panel with 1440p resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate. The color gamut spans 100 percent of sRGB, 86 percent of DCI-P3, and 82 percent of Adobe RGB, delivering a bright and vibrant image that’s excellent in games and adequate for most content creation. The monitor’s Adaptive Sync support is a standout feature, with official support for VESA Adaptive Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium, and Nvidia G-Sync. It also delivers a handsome design with a matte black and gray chassis and sporty rear vents that provide an aggressive yet unobtrusive look. The functional monitor stand offers a range of ergonomic adjustments and has a compact base that doesn’t consume excessive desk space. There are a few downsides: The monitor doesn’t offer USB connectivity or 3.5mm audio-out. HDR performance is lackluster, too, making it a so-so choice for HDR gaming. Yet it’s hard to beat the G2724D’s performance at $300 and, more importantly, it offers everything an average PC gamer is going to need for a smooth, responsive, and attractive gaming experience. It’s the kind of monitor that, despite its budget price, could have a place on your desk for several years. Read our full Dell G2724D review Pixio PX248 Wave – Best gaming monitor under $150 Pros Attractive design, especially in unique colorways Built-in speakers are surprisingly decent Solid color accuracy and respectable gamut Good motion clarity Cons Built-in stand only adjusts for tilt Just two video inputs Awkward menu controls Color temperature skews cool Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Pixio $149.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Pixio PX248 Wave stands apart from other budget gaming monitors with colorful, stylish design and solid motion performance, all available at an enticing price of $149.99. Pixio offers the PX248 Wave in four colorways: black, white, blue, and pink. The latter two are rather special, as only a handful of monitors — like the more expensive Samsung M8 Smart Monitor — offer similarly alluring colors. The stand matches the monitor’s colorway, and Pixio even offers an optional color-coordinated monitor arm for those who want to go all-in on a particular desktop vibe. The monitor’s 24-inch Fast IPS display boasts a 200Hz refresh rate that delivers fluid motion. Image quality is reasonable, too, as the PX248 Wave delivers respectable color accuracy and coverage, making it suitable for both gaming and casual content creation. It has built-in speakers, too. Despite its visual appeal, the PX248 Wave sticks to the basics with connectivity, which includes HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4. USB connectivity isn’t available. The included stand is also basic, as it only adjusts for tilt, and the menu controls could be more user-friendly. Most competitors at this price point have a similar display panel wrapped in a more generic black, gray, or charcoal case. Pixio’s PX248 Wave manages to match them in image quality and beat them on looks, yet it stays on a budget. Read our full Pixio PX248 Wave review MSI MPG 272URX – Best 4K gaming monitor Pros 26.5-inch 4K OLED panel looks sharp Great contrast and color performance Strong motion clarity Respectable HDR performance Lots of connectivity including USB-C Cons Design is a bit bland Gamma, color temperature slightly off-target 4K OLED panel carries a premium price Best Prices Today: Retailer Price MSI $1099.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket If you’re looking for a high-performance gaming monitor, the MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED should be at the top of your list. This 26.5-inch display delivers stunning 4K resolution with an ultra-smooth 240Hz refresh rate in a cutting-edge OLED panel, making it an excellent choice for gamers who want both visual clarity and fluid motion. With its 240Hz refresh rate, the MSI is built for fast-paced gaming yet maintains the deep contrast and vibrant colors OLED monitors are known for. It also supports adaptive sync for smooth frame pacing. But wait, there’s more! The QD-OLED panel offers excellent contrast and color accuracy, which makes it a solid pick for creative professionals and anyone who enjoys watching HDR movies. Connectivity is another plus, with HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1a, and USB-C inputs, as well as 98 watts of USB Power Delivery for charging laptops or tablets. While the design is a bit plain, the stand is sturdy and fully adjustable. Priced at $1,099.99, the MSI MPG 272URX is more expensive than 1440p OLED alternatives, which can be found for under $800. But if 4K clarity and a fluid 240Hz refresh rate are what you’re after, this monitor is worth the investment. Read our full MSI MPG 272URX review Gigabyte GS34WQC- Best budget ultrawide gaming monitor Pros Plenty of connectivity and menu options Good contrast ratio Solid color performance Up to 144Hz refresh rate with good motion clarity Cons Stand setup uses screws instead of clip mechanism Modest maximum brightness HDR is supported but lackluster The Gigabyte GS34WQC stands out as an impressive ultrawide gaming monitor available at a low price. It has a sharp 34-inch display with a resolution of 3440×1440. That’s paired with good motion clarity driven by a 120Hz refresh rate (overclockable to 135Hz) and support for AMD FreeSync, ensuring smooth and consistent gameplay. Camera movements are detailed, and fast-paced action is easily tracked. Beyond its motion clarity, the GS34WQC delivers great image quality that’s comparable to monitors twice its price. It has a Vertical Alignment (VA) panel instead of the more common In-Plane Switching (IPS). This provides improved contrast with deeper black levels and more convincing shadow detail in dark scenes. These qualities make it especially suitable for games with a dark, gritty presentation. The monitor boasts a dull but functional design. It has an ergonomic stand that provides height and tilt adjustment, but its assembly requires manual attachment of four screws, unlike competitors with tool-free clip-in stands. The GS34WQC compensates with an intuitive menu system that has extensive customization options, allowing gamers to tailor the visuals to their preferences. Value, however, is where the GS34WQC really beats the competition. It’s not the least expensive budget ultrawide monitor, but it delivers better image quality and motion clarity than many competitors while keeping the price in check. Indeed, the GS34WQC is so good it makes $400-to-$500-dollar ultrawide gaming monitors more difficult to recommend. The GS34WQC looks just as good at a lower price. Read our full Gigabyte GS34WQC review LG Ultragear 45GX950A-B – Best ultrawide gaming monitor Pros Class-leading 5K2K resolution Strong SDR image quality Solid HDR brightness Incredibly immersive 45-inch ultrawide panel Cons Design isn’t bad, but not up to the price tag Limited USB connectivity Curved display will be too extreme for some Best Prices Today: Retailer Price LG $1999.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG – Best HDR gaming monitor Pros Compact ergonomic stand Superb contrast with deep, inky black levels Excellent HDR performance Inexpensive for an OLED monitor Cons HDMI ports don’t support 240Hz refresh rate No USB-C SDR performance is great, but slightly lags QD-OLED peers Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Asus $699 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket If you’re searching for the best gaming monitor for HDR, look no further than the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. It has an LG WOLED panel that delivers stunning HDR without breaking the bank. The XG27AQDMG’s third-generation LG WOLED panel provides exceptional HDR brightness that outperforms QD-OLED competitors and closes gap the with Mini-LED monitors. It can hit a maximum sustained brightness of 724 nits in a 10 percent window, which is enough to deliver punchy HDR highlights and detail across luminant areas of a game or movie. This pairs well with OLED’s deep, inky blacks and wide color gamut, which covers 96 percent DCI-P3 coverage. Put simply: It looks exceptionally immersive and realistic. However, the XG27AQDMG lags in SDR. Its color performance, though strong, isn’t quite as good as QD-OLED alternatives. Sharpness is merely okay, too, and small fonts can look pixelated at times.  Gamers will appreciate the high refresh rate of up to 240Hz, which is paired with adaptive sync technologies like AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync for fluid, tear-free gaming. The refresh rate is lower than some QD-OLED competitors, which achieve up to 360Hz. On the other hand, though, the XG27AQDMG provides motion clarity far better than Mini-LED gaming monitors, such as the Red Magic 4K Gaming Monitor. Pricing is another upside. Sold at an MSRP of $749.99, and immediately available for just $699.99 at release, the XG27AQDMG undercuts the competition on price. Gamers who mostly stick to SDR may want to pay $50 to $100 more for a QD-OLED alternative, but the XG27AQDMG has the edge in HDR. Read our full Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG review LG Ultragear 27GN950 – Best 144Hz gaming monitor Pros Excellent gaming performance Incredible image quality Ergonomic adjustment options Special gaming configurations Cons High power consumption Best Prices Today: Retailer Price LG $799.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket If you’re not a professional gamer or you just don’t require the obscenely fast 240Hz, then you can find a whole host of great options at 144Hz instead. Our pick for the best of the bunch is the LG Ultragear 27GN950. Not only is it still super fast, but it also has 4K resolution, all of the ports your heart desires, and impressively high color fidelity. It is a great option for those who will use it for multimedia other than just gaming and don’t mind sacrificing a little speed to gain a lot of pixel density. Admittedly, it’s a bit pricey for a 27-inch monitor and you will need a high-end GPU to take advantage of its full potential, but if you can afford it, then this just might end up being the pièce de résistance in your display setup. Read our full LG Ultragear 27GN950 review Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDP – Best high refresh-rate gaming monitor Pros A new high mark for motion clarity Excellent image quality Easy-to-use menu with many options Broad official Adaptive Sync support Cons Stand is too large No USB-C Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Asus $999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDP is an ideal monitor for competitive gamers, as it’s the world’s first monitor to deliver a 480Hz refresh rate at 1440p resolution. This combination of motion clarity and resolution results in stunning motion performance that will give players an edge in esports and action-packed games. Gamers will also appreciate the monitor’s excellent image quality, which enhances immersion across all genres. The WOLED panel provides excellent contrast that adds atmosphere in RPGs and horror games, while its wide color gamut, which spans 96 percent of DCI-P3, delivers a vivid and saturated look. The monitor’s good HDR brightness ensures that explosions and special effects in HDR games are displayed with convincing brightness and contrast. The PG27AQDP is packed with gamer-centric features. It supports multiple adaptive sync technologies, including Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync. Asus’ Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) technology further enhances motion clarity (though, unfortunately, it is only available at a 120Hz or 240Hz refresh rate). Asus also provides aspect ratio modes to contrast the display’s viewable area to that of a 24.5-inch monitor for competitive gamers, or to a 4:3 aspect ratio for older games that lack widescreen support. It’s not perfect. The monitor lacks USB-C connectivity, which might affect some multi-device setups. Asus’ also ships the monitor with a chunky stand that won’t fit well on smaller desks. Those minor downsides aside, the PG27AQDP is an excellent monitor that will appeal to gamers who crave the best motion clarity possible. Read our full Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDP review Other gaming monitor reviews Alienware AW2725Q: Yet another excellent 27-inch 4K 240Hz QD-OLED monitor, and less expensive than the competition. BenQ PD3226G: This is a monitor for creative professionals, but it’s not bad in PC games, either.   Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM: This 27-inch 4K QD-OLED monitor delivers gorgeous image quality and a long list of features, though it certainly isn’t cheap. MSI MPG 321URXW QD-OLED:  Yet another excellent 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitor — but with the added perk of USB connectivity.   HP Omen Transcend 32: Great USB-C connectivity and top-tier SDR image quality make this 4K OLED monitor worth its high price. Lenovo Legion R27fc-30: At less than $200, this is a good budget gaming monitor with a focus on motion clarity.   Acer Predator X32 X3: The Acer Predator X32 X3 is a great 4K OLED monitor that separates itself from the competition on two key points: connectivity and price. Asus ProArt Display 5K: Sets the new bar that all 5K monitors must clear. It’s not the best high-resolution display on the market, but it delivers a gorgeous 5K image and long list of features at a reasonable price.  Gigabyte G34WQCP: This $350 ultrawide earns high marks in SDR brightness, contrast, and color performance. Sony Inzone M10S: This 480Hz display is focused on competitive PC gamers, who might be more inclined to pay the premium price. Acer Predator X34: It’s another in a spate of OLED monitors with a 240Hz refresh rate, but with the added distinction of boasting a curved screen for immersive gameplay. Of course, it also features USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 90 watts of USB Power Delivery and a collection of USB-A and -C ports for connecting peripherals. Alienware AW2725QF: Dual-resolution mode offers 4K resolution at up to 180Hz, or 1080p at up to 360Hz. That makes the monitor more versatile, but mediocre image quality makes the monitor hard to recommend.. Samsung Odyssey OLED G8: An all-purpose display that offers 4K resolution, up to a 240Hz refresh rate, Adaptive Sync, HDR, and built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to support its Smart TV functionality. It’s the perfect display for small spaces, fulfilling the roles of productivity, gaming, and entertainment in one screen. Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDP: It’s an excellent 32-inch 4K OLED monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate, but also offers the unique feature of being able to run in 1080p mode with a 480Hz refresh rate, giving gamers an extra boost of motion clarity when desired. What to look for in a gaming monitor Gamers have unique needs that exceed an average user. Here’s what PC gamers should look for in a gaming monitor. Resolution Most widescreen gaming monitors have a resolution of 1920×1080 (1080p), 2560×1440 (1440p), or 4K (3840×2160). A higher resolution improves sharpness and clarity, which helps games look more detailed and lifelike. Increasing resolution also increases demand on your video card, however. Gamers with less powerful hardware may want to avoid 4K.  Refresh rate A higher refresh leads to smoother motion by increasing the number of frames that can appear each second. It also reduces input lag, as each frame appears more quickly. A 144Hz refresh rate is a big improvement over the standard 60Hz, and 240Hz is better still. The improvement becomes more difficult to notice after 240Hz, but 360Hz monitors exist for those who want the lowest input lag possible. DIsplayPort and HDMI 2.1 DisplayPort is the best connection for PC gaming. Even DisplayPort 1.4, which is rather old, can support 4K at 144Hz. HDMI 2.1 can handle 4K at 120Hz and is an acceptable connection for PC gaming, though most gamers will use it for a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S game console. How we test gaming monitors We test all monitors with a Datacolor Spyder X2 Ultra calibration tool. This tool can report objective measurements for brightness, contrast, color gamut, color accuracy, color temperature, gamma, and other metrics.  Our results are recorded and compared to the results for past monitors. Though we rely on our eyes for initial impressions, comparing objective results lets us evaluate monitors against hundreds of older models from past reviews and testing.  We examine motion clarity by quickly moving the camera across the map in Civilization VI, playing a round of Rocket League, and panning the camera across the landscape in Final Fantasy XIV—among other games. Finally, we use the popular UFO Test for an apples-to-apples comparison between displays. In addition to gaming prowess, we consider a monitor’s on-screen menu, ergonomic stand (or lack thereof), and overall build quality—all important qualities irrespective of use case. FAQ 1. What resolution is best for a gaming monitor? Many competitive gamers prefer 1080p resolution because it allows for high frame rates and low input lag even on modest hardware. This also makes it ideal for budget shoppers. 1080p is not as crisp as higher resolutions but, if it allows for higher frame rates, can look good in motion. 1440p remains a great mid-range option. It looks much sharper than 1080p but doesn’t drastically increase load on your video card. A variety of 1440p monitors now support a refresh rate up to 240Hz.  4K is the last word in sharpness and clarity. Playing a modern game on a 4K monitor takes the experience to a new level. It’s very demanding on your video card, however, so you’ll need top-tier hardware for a smooth experience.  Ultrawide monitors differ in resolution because they have a wider screen. Most ultrawide monitors have a resolution of 3440×1440, which delivers sharpness similar to a 1440p ultrawide. Some larger monitors have more exotic resolutions: the 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9 Neo, for example, has 5120×1440 resolution. 2. Should I use AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync? AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync can synchronize the refresh rate of a compatible monitor with the output of an AMD or Nvidia video card. This ensures smooth motion and eliminates screen tearing, a distracting visual artifact. You might be surprised to learn that most AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync monitors rely on the VESA Adaptive Sync standard. This is why many gaming monitors now support both. The difference in performance is minimal. Our G-Sync vs. FreeSync comparison goes in-depth on their similarities and differences. 3. Should I buy an ultrawide gaming monitor? The short answer? Yes.  Our top choice, the Alienware AW3423DW, is an ultrawide gaming monitor. An ultrawide aspect ratio is more immersive in racing, simulation, and role-playing games. It also offers a large, more impressive perspective in many strategy games.  Not all games support an ultrawide aspect ratio, however. It’s wise to check that your favorite games support ultrawide monitors before making a purchase. Consoles rarely support ultrawide aspect ratios, so console gamers should stick with a widescreen display.

(Image credit: Nvidia) Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has once again called the U.S. government to revise the previous administration's AI processors export restrictions, arguing that these regulations hinder American companies from fully participating in global markets, according to a report from Bloomberg. However, the current administration seems to disagree, as it plans to further restrict exports of AI GPUs so it can use them as bargaining chips when negotiating trade deals with other nations, according to Reuters. "I am not sure what the new AI Diffusion Rule is going to be, but whatever happens to be, it it really has to recognize that the world has changed fundamentally since the previous AI diffusion rule was was released," Huang said at the Hill and Valley Forum, where business leaders and lawmakers gather to discuss technology and national security, according to Bloomberg Podcasts. "We need to accelerate the diffusion of American AI technology around the world, so the policies and encouragement from the administration really need to be behind that."According to the AI Diffusion framework introduced by the Biden administration, access to advanced AI chips such as Nvidia’s H100 is only unrestricted for companies based in the U.S. "Tier 1" nations (a group of 18 allied nations). Those located in "Tier 2" nations face annual limits, capped at roughly 50,000 units of H100-class processors, unless they obtain verified end user (VEU) approval. (However, firms from Tier 2 regions can import up to 1,700 units per year without requiring an export license — these smaller purchases do not count toward the 50,000-unit national cap.)For countries under arms embargoes — "Tier 3" — including China, Russia, and Macau, nearly all shipments of advanced AI processors are effectively barred. The Trump administration is currently evaluating this tiered structure to enhance its clarity and enforceability.Nvidia has criticized Biden's AI Diffusion Rule, saying that restrictions of American GPU exports will support development and proliferation of competing hardware, software, and standards — specifically those developed in China. Therefore, Nvidia and its CEO have been advocating for change. While the Trump administration agrees that change is needed, it looks like it may not be the change Nvidia and other American hardware developers are hoping for.Under the proposed revisions, the tiered model may be replaced by a global licensing regime involving formal agreements between governments. This would enable the U.S. to negotiate access on a case-by-case basis, giving the U.S. government more leverage in trade discussions. Officials are also considering a change to the volume of chips that can be exported without formal approval. Currently, shipments of less than 1,700 H100-class units can be made with only a notification; this threshold may be lowered to 500 units.Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross confirmed this approach is under consideration, though no decisions have been finalized, according to Reuters.If the new rules are applied, Nvidia's success will depend not on the capabilities and performance of its GPUs, but rather on trade deals inked between the U.S. government and other nations. Needless to say, at least some nations might prefer to deal with China's Huawei — which is just behind Nvidia, according to Huang."China is not behind anybody, China is right behind us, we are very, very close," Huang said. "There is no question that Huawei is one of the most formidable technology companies in the world, and they are incredible in computing, they are incredible in networking technology, and in software capabilities, all of the essential capabilities to advance AI. And they have they've made enormous progress in the last several years."Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.Stay On the Cutting Edge: Get the Tom's Hardware NewsletterGet Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox. TOPICS Huawei

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Duolingo drops nearly 150 new language courses, says AI helped build them David Uzondu Neowin · Apr 30, 2025 16:38 EDT Several days ago, Duolingo stirred up some talk across the internet by declaring it was going "AI-first" and signaling a move away from using human contractors for tasks AI could handle. This sparked quite a bit of discussion and concern, with many worrying about job losses and the potential impact on the quality of language content Duolingo provides. The company has now announced a massive launch: 148 brand new language courses, more than doubling its current lineup and marking the largest content expansion in its history. This rollout arrives as the company continues to face criticism over its AI strategy. While some users and commentators have expressed anxieties that an "AI-first" approach might dilute the human element of language learning or lead to less nuanced translations compared to those done by people, especially the contractors who were previously involved in creating course content, Duolingo says this sudden, massive expansion is possible precisely because of its investments in AI and automation. Luis von Ahn, Duolingo's CEO and co-founder, highlighted the speed this enables in the announcement. He stated: Developing our first 100 courses took about 12 years, and now, in about a year, we’re able to create and launch nearly 150 new courses. This is a great example of how generative AI can directly benefit our learners. This launch reflects the incredible impact of our AI and automation investments, which have allowed us to scale at unprecedented speed and quality. The company explained that historically, building just one new course from scratch was a lengthy process, sometimes taking small teams years. Now, using generative AI to create and validate content, along with internal tools and a new "shared content" approach (where a base course is built and quickly adapted for different languages), it can apparently turn out courses much faster. Jessie Becker, a Senior Director of Learning Design at Duolingo, added: It used to take a small team years to build a single new course from scratch. Now, by using generative AI to create and validate content, we’re able to focus our expertise where it is most impactful, ensuring every course meets Duolingo’s rigorous quality standards. So, what does this mean for people trying to learn a language on Duolingo? It makes Duolingo's top seven languages besides English – Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin – available to users speaking any of the 28 interface languages the app supports. This dramatically expands learning options and could potentially open up these popular languages to over a billion more potential learners worldwide. For example, the announcement specifically mentioned that speakers of many languages in Latin America, Europe, and Asia who previously might have only had the option to learn English can now access these other top languages, including high-demand ones like Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin. These new courses primarily cover beginner levels, known as CEFR A1 to A2. They include familiar Duolingo features like Stories for reading practice and DuoRadio for listening. Duolingo did note that more advanced content for these courses is planned for future rollout. This new update follows other AI-driven tools Duolingo has introduced earlier, like the video call feature added to Android back in January. It’s part of the Duolingo Max subscription and lets users practice real-time conversations with an AI character. Tags Report a problem with article Follow @NeowinFeed

NIST: Clocks on Earth are ticking a bit more regularly thanks to NIST-F4, a new atomic clock at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) campus in Boulder, Colorado. This month, NIST researchers published a journal article establishing NIST-F4 as one of the world's most accurate timekeepers. NIST has also submitted the clock for acceptance as a primary frequency standard by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), the body that oversees the world's time. NIST-F4 measures an unchanging frequency in the heart of cesium atoms, the internationally agreed-upon basis for defining the second since 1967. The clock is based on a "fountain" design that represents the gold standard of accuracy in timekeeping. NIST-F4 ticks at such a steady rate that if it had started running 100 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed, it would be off by less than a second today. By joining a small group of similarly elite time pieces run by just 10 countries around the world, NIST-F4 makes the foundation of global time more stable and secure. At the same time, it is helping to steer the clocks NIST uses to keep official U.S. time. Distributed via radio and the internet, official U.S. time is critical for telecommunications and transportation systems, financial trading platforms, data center operations and more. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Emily Chapman shares advice for inspired, functional fashion

Halfway through making his film about John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s first years in New York, director Kevin Macdonald received an unexpected treasure trove. He was sent hours of never-before-heard phone calls that Lennon and Ono recorded in the early 1970s – the couple assumed their calls were being bugged by the US authorities and wanted their own record of what had been said. The incredibly intimate recordings feature conversations with friends, journalists, Lennon’s manager, and activists like AJ Weberman, who was involved in a bizarre plan to raid Bob Dylan’s bins, for which Ono demands he apologise. Macdonald first listened to them on a long train journey and realised they should play a central role in his documentary. “They were this little window into their private life,” he says. “Usually you hear them when they’re being interviewed and they’re prepared, and presenting an image of themselves. This is just them chatting on the phone.” Through the calls, even major fans learn far more about the couple, Macdonald says, through “the tone of voice, the turn of phrase and the wit.” But given the phone calls make up around 15 minutes of screen time in the final film, this presented an unusual design challenge. “Of all the films that I’ve ever done, this is definitely the most graphics dependent,” Macdonald says. “The graphics are a major part of what the film is.” Planning Unit’s phone call graphics for One to One: John & Yoko. Courtesy of Plan B/KM Courtesy of Plan B/KM Films and Mercury Studios. Macdonald was already working with London-based Planning Unit on the film – the studio had previously designed for his 2018 Whitney Houston documentary, Whitney, and his 2021 Guantanamo Bay legal drama, The Mauritanian. To focus viewers on the content of the calls, Macdonald knew he wanted them to be animated type, and he worked closely with Planning Unit co-founder Jeff Knowles to try out various options, from the size of the text to the timing of the animation, and the way they are structured on screen. “We tried a lot of different things to get something that felt right, that felt like it was going to occupy your mind and be visually satisfying, but not feel overwhelming, with too much movement,” Macdonald explains. https://d3faj0w6aqatyx.cloudfront.net/uploads/2025/04/PhoneCall016_1.mp4 Knowles says that a key unlock came when they decided to use Franklin Gothic for the type – the same font used on Lennon and Ono’s famous 1969 War is Over poster. They also developed a split screen design with one speaker on each side. The final visuals animated word for word, “like a game of Pong” and individuals are colour-coded for clarity – Lennon is yellow, like the famous submarine. Macdonald says the simplicity of the graphics is paradoxically powerful. “I have this feeling that the most cinematic moments happen when you don’t see everything – when you’re given space for your mind to do the work,” he says. Planning Unit’s title graphics for One to One: John & Yoko. Courtesy of Plan B/KM Films and Mercury Studios. One to One: John & Yoko is set against a turbulent era in American history and tells the story of Lennon and Ono’s personal, political and artistic responses to that upheaval. It also includes footage of Lennon’s only full-length performances after The Beatles, remastered by the couple’s son, Sean Ono Lennon. Planning Unit worked on everything from the titles and the posters to other in-film graphics – like an electoral map for Nixon’s 1972 presidential victory. For the captions that help contextualise the narrative and archive footage, Macdonald was inspired by Lithuanian filmmaker Jonas Mekas, himself a collaborator of Lennon and Ono’s. Mekas created captions by typing sentences onto paper, sticking them to a wall and filming them. “There’s something very homemade about those poorly-typed captions, and it spoke to me about that period and its lack of pretentiousness,” Macdonald says. But it turned out replicating Mekas’ style was easier said than done. Knowles tried various tricks in After Effects, adding “grain and jitter” to try and recreate the same sensibility. https://d3faj0w6aqatyx.cloudfront.net/uploads/2025/04/Jonas-Mekas-001.mp4 “We did a lot of work trying to match it, but in the end we couldn’t quite get the quality of the typewriter,” Knowles explains. Eventually they borrowed the typewriter from the reconstruction of Lennon and Ono’s flat used in the film, and Knowles typed them out himself, much like Mekas used to do. “It looks very simple, but actually it was a lot of work to figure out,” Macdonald says. “The digital versions all felt a bit ironic.” Knowles is proud of the final outcome and pleased that the studio was able to work on such a wide range of the film’s visuals. “As designers, one of our bugbears is when we’re watching a film and the graphics within it are different to the titles, which are different to the end titles, and that’s all different to the posters,” he says. “That’s when we start twitching. But this was a lot more hands-on than just being given a list of deliverables.” He says it was important that Franklin Gothic was contemporaneous with the time the film depicts – he recalls designers’ widespread horror at the war film 1917‘s use of Futura (released in 1927) – but also that it was used consistently. “We were keen to create a thread going through the movie that becomes its graphic identity,” Knowles explains. https://d3faj0w6aqatyx.cloudfront.net/uploads/2025/04/Main-Title.mp4 Planning Unit’s poster for One to One: John & Yoko. Courtesy of Plan B/KM Films and Mercury Studios.

Pilgrimage is the start of the Knights of the Nine questline in Oblivion Remastered. It begins by speaking to NPCs around churches across Cyrodiil or by heading into the city of Anvil and approaching the NPC called the "Prophet," who is shouting outside the Anvil Chapel. There's been a murder committed in the chapel, and the Prophet tasks you with hunting down who is responsible. Unfortunately, the Prophet believes that an ancient deity named Umaril the Unfeathered committed the murder, meaning you can't track down the culprit easily. Instead, you need to find and pray at nine different wayshrines along the "Pilgrim's Way" in Cyrodiil. By doing this, you'll be deemed worthy by the Divine Crusader and given a chance to find the Relics of the Crusader, which is the only way to defeat Umaril. To see how to find all nine wayshrines for the Pilgrimage quest in Oblivion Remastered, take a look at the guide below. If you want more general tips and advice on main story quests in Oblivion Remastered, make sure to check out our full walkthrough of the game. All Wayshrine locations in PilgrimageDuring your conversation with the Prophet, he'll ask you if you're a worthy enough hero to go on the pilgrimage of the Divine Crusader. After he asks you this, you can choose three dialogue options, two of which answer "yes" to the question and one that answers "no." You need to answer "no" to this question, as it's the only way you'll receive a map that shows you the locations of all nine wayshrines. The map can be viewed in the "Miscellaneous" section of your inventory. When you bring up the map, you'll see the nine wayshrines and their approximate location in Cyrodiil. However, you won't receive any quest markers for the shrines, so it can be difficult to know exactly where they are. Every wayshrine looks the same, as they are gray, circular stone ruins with pillars around them. They're also all above ground, so don't bother looking inside any cave.We'll show you the location of each wayshrine below. Wayshrine of DibellaUp first is the Wayshrine of Dibella, which is located just south of the city of Chorrol and the Black Road. To get here, you can either fast travel to the Chorrol Stables and head south or go to Weynon Priory, which is where the first main story quest takes place, so you likely already have it unlocked. From the priory, head west and you'll find the shrine. The shrine is lying at the bottom of a hill and when you arrive, choose the option to "activate" it and then move on to the next one. Wayshrine of MaraNext up is the Wayshrine of Mara, located to the northwest of the city of Skingrad along the Gold Road. As always, you can fast travel to Skingrad by default in Oblivion Remastered, so either head there or possibly to one of the Oblivion Gates that surround the city if you've explored those yet. After traveling from Skingrad, you could head back, as there are plenty of gold-making strategies that you can utilize both in and outside of the city. Wayshrine of ArkayMoving on, we have the Wayshrine of Arkay up next. This shrine is located northwest of Kvatch and northeast of Anvil, both of which are located along the Gold Road on the far southwestern side of Cyrodiil. The fastest way to reach the Wayshrine of Arkay is by fast traveling to the Anvil Stables and heading northeast, as you might not have any fast travel points near Kvatch if you haven't progressed the Oblivion Remastered story far enough. Wayshrine of AkatoshThe Wayshrine of Akatosh is located just south of the city of Bruma in the northern part of Cyrodiil. The simplest way to reach this shrine is by fast traveling to the Bruma Stables and heading directly south of the city. Just before you reach the Orange Road, you'll find the Wayshrine of Akatosh nestled in between a couple of snow-covered mountains that are surrounded by trees. Wayshrine of JulianosThe Wayshrine of Julianos is one of the more difficult shrines to find along the Pilgrim's Way. This shrine isn't located near a city, so you'll have to rely on fast travel points you've discovered or make a longer trek to it. It's located southeast of the Imperial City along the Yellow Road. If you've progressed the Mage Guild questline enough, you will have the Wellspring Cave fast travel point nearby. Go to the exact location our character arrow is in the screenshot above, but the shrine itself is covered by trees, so you need to view it from the right angle to see it properly. Wayshrine of TalosIf you're doing these wayshrines in the same order we are, then the Wayshrine of Talos is located just southwest of the Julianos shrine. The Talos shrine is located directly north of the city of Bravil in the southern part of Cyrodiil, but it's not too close to Bravil. Either way you get there, you can find the Wayshrine of Talos just below the "The Nibenay Valley" text on the world map. Specifically, go right underneath the "ib" in the word Nibenay on the map. Wayshrine of ZenitharFortunately, the Wayshrine of Zenithar is located much closer to the city of Bravil. Either fast travel to the Bravil Stables or head south from the Talos shrine. You can find the Zenithar shrine just north of a mine along the Niben Bay lake and at the tail end of the word "Valley" on your map. Wayshrine of StendarrThe penultimate wayshrine in Pilgrimage is the Wayshrine of Stendarr, which is located in between the cities of Bravil and Leyawiin. Fast travel to either one of these cities (go south from Bravil and north from Leyawiin) and find the Stendarr shrine along the main road that connects them. At the halfway point between the cities, you'll find the Stendarr Shrine just off the road on the western side of it. Wayshrine of KynarethFinally, we've saved the most arduous shrine for last. The Wayshrine of Kynareth isn't located near any city, as it's found in the middle of nowhere on the far eastern side of Cyrodiil. The closest city to the shrine is Cheydinhal to the north, but you also have Bravil to the west. If you head from Bravil, you have to cross the Niben Bay. If you head from Cheydinhal, you'll have to traverse over both rocky and watery terrain, so it's truly a dealer's choice decision. Either way, the Kynareth Shrine is located just to the northeast of a small pond in the Nibenay Basin. You can go to the "s" in the word "Basin" on your map to find the shrine easily. How to complete PilgrimageOnce you have visited and prayed at all nine wayshrines across the map, your character will begin to glow, and your game will freeze. After a few seconds, you'll be transported to the clouds and see the Divine Crusader's ghost walking towards you. They explain the next steps of your journey, and after you're done talking with them, you're transported back to the last shrine you visited.The Pilgrimage quest is complete, and you're now onto The Shrine of the Crusader quest in Oblivion Remastered. This questline ultimately ends in re-establishing the Knights of the Nine, which is a faction that allows you to recruit permanent companions in Oblivion Remastered.

Once Monoco joins your Expedition party in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, you'll quickly realize that the non-human gains skills differently than the other playable characters.

Tame dinosaurs to survive an island paradise, mix and match card decks to win big and head to the far-future for some retro shooting action with May’s PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup. Ark: Survival Ascended, Balatro and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun will be available to PlayStation Plus members from May 6.  View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Ark: Survival Ascended | PS5 Are you ready to form a tribe, tame and breed hundreds of species of dinosaurs and other primeval creatures, explore, craft, build, and fight your way to the top of the food-chain? Your new world awaits in this survival sim, reimagined from the ground-up with Unreal Engine 5, with high-end graphic features, advanced physics systems and quality of life revamps in every area. Ark: Survival Ascended includes access to all of Ark’s worlds, including Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, Ark Genesis Part 1, Ark Genesis Part 2, and more. The game supports public online multiplayer for up to 70 players, private-session multiplayer for up to 8 players, and local split-screen for 2 players. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Balatro | PS5, PS4  In this poker-inspired roguelike deck builder, it’s all creating powerful synergies and winning big. Play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers and trigger outrageous combos in this roguelike strategy experience. Combine valid poker hands with unique joker cards in order to create varied synergies and builds. Earn enough chips to beat devious blinds, all while uncovering hidden bonus hands and decks as you progress. You’re going to need every edge you can get in order to reach the boss blind, beat the final ante and secure victory. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun | PS5, PS4  Load up your Boltgun and plunge into battle headfirst! Experience a perfect blend of Warhammer 40,000, classic, frenetic FPS gameplay and the stylish visuals of your favourite 90’s retro shooters. Play a battle-hardened Space Marine on a perilous mission across the galaxy, as they battle against the Chaos Space Marines and daemons of Chaos. In glorious boomer shooter style, unleash your devastating Space Marine arsenal as you blast through an explosion of sprites, pixels and blood. Run, jump and charge across huge levels to shoot, shred and slice the worst heretics across the galaxy! All three games will be available to PlayStation Plus members on May 6 until June 2. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Last chance to download April’s games PlayStation Plus members have until May 5 to add RoboCop: Rogue City, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory to their game library.