Valve co-founder and CEO Gabe Newell’s new startup plans to launch brain-computer interface chips (BCIs) as soon as 2025.Newell’s company, Valve, owns the world’s largest game distribution platform, Steam, and has developed numerous acclaimed game series like Half Life, Portal, and Counter-Strike.But don’t expect exciting gaming tie-ins from the new chips—at least not right now. Rather than using your brain to play much-rumored titles like Valve's Half-Life 3, the new chips from Starfish Technologies seem earmarked for treating neurological disorders like Parkinson’s, much like Elon Musk’s Neuralink.The company hopes the chips will one day form part of “minimally invasive, distributed neural interfaces” that have simultaneous access to multiple brain regions, enabling the “recording and stimulation of neural activity with a level of precision vastly exceeding what is possible with currently available systems.”In the announcement, the startup said the chips are planned to emphasize “minimal size and low power,” with the “intent of future integration into a fully wireless, battery-free implant.” The startup thinks these chips could one day prove useful for treating disorders where “interactions between brain regions may be misregulated,” requiring “reading and writing to multiple connected parts of the brain at once” to treat. Recommended by Our EditorsWhile the new startup may be focusing on medical use cases, some of the world's largest gaming companies, including Valve itself, have been openly discussing how brain-computer interface chips could help improve in-game experiences.In a 2019 talk given at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), noted by The Verge, a Valve executive discussed how these types of brain interfaces could be used in the future by pro gamers to reduce their reaction times, or even to adapt gameplay in real-time based on players’ brain activity. For example, creating more enemies for a relaxed player, or fewer for a stressed player.Though other gaming giants have been more tight-lipped about their brain interface aspirations, we've seen huge firms like Sony and Chinese tech giant Tencent file patents referencing brainwave-based controls. Meanwhile, plenty of examples have already emerged of disabled gamers using tools like Elon Musk's Neuralink to play mainstream games like Counter-Strike. Meanwhile, Apple is currently testing support for brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS, in partnership with Brooklyn-based startup Synchron, using a synthetic vein implanted in the brain’s motor cortex. Synchron's tech, though not without technical issues, has allowed victims of degenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to enjoy Apple devices.

Apple Music (for iPhone)4.5 ExcellentBottom LineApple Music’s radio stations, curated playlists, lossless playback, Dolby Atmos support, and excellent music-related content make it one of the best streaming audio services.US Street Price$10.99Learn MoreApple Music ReviewVSSpotify4.5 ExcellentBottom LineSpotify leads the streaming music pack with its deep music well, countless podcasts, early album access, collaborative playlists, and AI-powered curation.US Street Price$11.99Learn MoreSpotify Review (Credit: Apple/Spotify/PCMag)Plans and PricesApple Music's Individual plan ($10.99 per month) and Family plan ($16.99 per month, covering six people) cost slightly less than Spotify's equivalent tiers ($11.99 and $19.99 per month, respectively). Both services offer a discounted Student rate for $5.99 per month. These premium packages lack ads and offer unlimited skips per hour. You'll enjoy offline playback on mobile, too. That's where the price similarities end.Spotify has a Duo package ($16.99 per month) aimed at couples that saves a few bucks if you don't need a full Family plan. Don't want to spend any money on streaming music? Check out the ad-supported Spotify Free, which limits your skips per hour and only lets you listen to shuffled songs—you can't play tracks on demand.Apple Music, on the other hand, lacks a free tier. It's a subscription or bust. However, you get a free three-month trial upon purchasing AirPods, an iPhone, or another eligible Apple hardware.If free sounds good, Spotify is a worthwhile choice. If an ad-free subscription with a lower price than Spotify's premium offerings is more your speed, go with Apple Music. Winner: Tie(Credit: Apple Music/Spotify/PCMag)Content: Music, Video, Podcasts, and AudiobooksApple Music and Spotify have more than 100 million songs on their platforms, plus many playlists and videos. That means no matter the service you select, you'll have a lifetime's worth of tunes. So, it's the other content that may sway you in one direction or the other.Apple Music offers live radio, which Spotify lacks. That includes local stations and six dedicated Apple stations. However, Spotify trounces Apple Music with nearly seven million podcasts and 250,000 audiobooks. Those are huge numbers. Apple Music features just two million podcasts and zero audiobooks. Simply put, Spotify has more entertainment variety.Winner: Spotify(Credit: Spotify/PCMag)Music DiscoveryAny streaming music service worth its salt must have a good search engine and recommendation system. Spotify is the older and more experimental of the two platforms, giving you many ways to find content. For example, its For You page has a fantastic, easy-to-read layout that displays playlists and recently played albums. Scrolling up or down spotlights the latest releases from your favorite artists and related music acts.Recommended by Our EditorsSpotify's algorithms auto-generate playlists based on your listening preferences. For example, the Discover Weekly playlist is a cool, weekly mixtape of new music and deep cuts catered to your listening preferences. In addition, AI playlists are a cutting-edge feature that Spotify is exploring. Although still in beta, it lets you generate playlists via text prompts and even emoji. It’s a fantastic way to discover new music if you’re in an adventurous mood. However, if you're more of a hands-off listener, fire up Spotify's AI-powered disc jockey, DJ X, who queues your favorite tracks and adds new ones for variety. Of course, Spotify has curated playlists that cover a wide gamut of musical genres. Like Spotify, Apple Music's Home tab gives you quick access to new and familiar songs. The service also lets you create Stations, which are essentially endless queues of music based on whatever you’re listening to at the moment. Apple Music's Discovery Station is similar to Spotify's Discover Weekly playlist, as it features a music queue based on your listening habits. Apple Music features many curated playlists across different genres, just like Spotify.Both services have a search-by-lyric feature. So, if you can't quite remember a song title but you remember the hook, you can use those words to prompt a search. For example, type, "I said, 'Hey what’s going on,'" into the search box and you'll get results for the song "What’s Up?" by 4 Non Blondes (as well as the arguably superior Slackcircus cover). Apple Music's discovery and recommendation systems are good, but Spotify's AI-powered DJ and playlists top them.Winner: Spotify(Credit: Apple/PCMag)Music Streaming QualitySpotify supports audio streams of up to 320kbps. The audio is serviceable for casual listening and could potentially save you money due to its lower data usage compared with Apple Music. That said, Apple Music has better quality audio, no question. Apple Music streams range between 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD Quality) and lossless 24-bit/192kHz audio files, which is crisp, high-definition audio. The service also supports spatial audio with Dolby Atmos. Not every track supports it, but many do. Apple even provides extensive playlists with music that takes advantage of this audiophile-centric format. Keep in mind that this audio disparity may not affect your day-to-day listening experience, depending on how you consume music. This is especially true if you listen via Bluetooth headphones. Bluetooth streaming comes with audio compression and bandwidth limitations, so you won't enjoy the depth and richness Apple Music delivers. Wired connections are a different story. So, audiophiles with high-quality headphones may pick up Apple Music's sonic superiority.Winner: Apple Music

We test a lot of smart home devices, most of which are meant to work indoors. But there are also plenty of great gadgets that work outside, whether it's to balance the pH content of your pool, mow your lawn, or keep an eye on your property when you're out of town.Here, we've gathered some of the best backyard-friendly gadgets we've tested. It's a diverse selection, from beach-friendly speakers to robotic pool cleaners. There's even a TV you can keep out in a thunderstorm. So, if you're looking to bring the technological comforts of home to the great outdoors, look no further. Best Floodlight Camera Eufy Floodlight Camera E340 4.5 Excellent Keep your driveway or yard fully illuminated and secure with the Eufy E340 floodlight camera. It isn't solar-powered like the S340 below it and so you'll have to wire it, but it has a 2,000-lumen floodlight and mechanical pan-and-tilt so you can cover every inch of your property in its range. Eufy Floodlight Camera E340 review Best Battery-Powered Projector Anker Nebula Mars 3 4.0 Excellent The Anker Nebula Mars 3 is a capable 1080p projector that's ideal for use in the backyard or at a vacation rental thanks to its water-resistant design and its battery that can last up to five hours (in Eco Mode, or two hours at full-blast). It features Android 11, so you can stream from plenty of services without plugging in another device. Plus, it has a useful handle so you can lug it anywhere. Anker Nebula Mars 3 review Best Budget Outdoor Security Camera TP-Link Tapo Indoor/Outdoor Home Security Wi-Fi Camera C120 4.5 Excellent If you want to monitor the outside of your home without spending much money, the TP-Link Tapo C120 Indoor/Outdoor is worth looking into. For just $40, it's loaded with features usually only found on more expensive models, including 2K resolution (2,560 by 1,440 pixels), color night vision, and local video storage. The camera records video when it detects motion and offers free intelligent alerts that differentiate between people, pets, vehicles, and other motion events, a feature many competitors charge extra for. It requires a nearby GFCI outlet for power but saves you a lot of money compared with wireless 2K alternatives. TP-Link Tapo Indoor/Outdoor Home Security Wi-Fi Camera C120 review Best Affordable Bluetooth Speaker Anker Soundcore Motion 300 4.0 Excellent The Anker Soundcore Motion 300 is a deceptively small, cheap outdoor speaker, considering the sound it can produce. It offers robust sound with high-res LDAC Bluetooth codec support and is also completely waterproof. Best of all, it's well under $100 and easy to slip into a bag. Anker Soundcore Motion 300 review Best Portable Speaker JBL Charge 5 4.0 Excellent JBL’s portable, outdoor-friendly Charge 5 Bluetooth speaker is an excellent choice for parties. It has a dust-tight build for the beach, with powerful drivers and dual passive radiators to deliver an impressive amount of sound for its size. You don't get a speakerphone function or an adjustable EQ in the companion app, but those are relatively minor drawbacks. For less than $200, you can't do much better. Best Robot Lawn Mower Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD 4.0 Excellent As with every robot lawn mower we've reviewed, the Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD doesn't come cheap, but it does an excellent job of mowing and trimming your lawn. It features both GPS and cellular radios, plus it connects to a slick companion app that enables remote controls, mowing schedules, and IFTTT integrations. Best of all (depending on your yard), it won't struggle to handle hilly terrain. Best Outdoor Smart Plug TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug EP40A 4.0 Excellent TP-Link’s dual-outlet Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug EP40A ($29.99) doesn't care what smart home system(s) you use: It works with all the major platforms, including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings. That broad compatibility and an IP64 weatherproof rating make it a good choice for bringing smart features to your backyard appliances. TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug EP40A review Best Robot Pool Cleaner Polaris Freedom Plus Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner 4.0 Excellent Polaris robotic pool cleaners have long been among our favorites because of their sturdy build and superb cleaning performance, and the cordless Freedom Plus continues the streak. It's battery-operated, which means it can clean the pool without a cable for power. It has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to activate it in its charging station and a light-based remote for controlling it underwater. Otherwise, you can simply let it roam around until it comes back up to charge and empty. Polaris Freedom Plus Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner review Best Smart Sprinkler System Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller 4.5 Excellent If you love your lawn enough to install a sprinkler system, you need a good sprinkler controller. The Rachio 3 is one of the best: It supports up to eight separate sprinkler zones with automatic weather-based or custom app-controlled watering schedules. You can even control it with Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands and IFTTT applets. Best Smart Hose Timer Orbit B-Hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer With Wi-Fi Hub 4.0 Excellent You don't need a full sprinkler system to automate watering your lawn. The Orbit B-Hyve Smart Hose Faucet Timer turns your ordinary garden hose into a smart watering system that you control from your phone, complete with programmed watering schedules and smart weather-based watering. It's a breeze to install and program, and it works with Amazon Alexa voice commands. Best Pool Water Monitor Crystal Water Monitor 4.0 Excellent The Crystal Water Monitor keeps track of your pool's health, with plenty of water analysis features beyond simple pH levels including oxidation reduction potential (ORP) and total alkalinity. It's a bit pricey and requires a subscription after the first year, but the subscription includes a continuous warranty and replacement sensors when needed. Crystal Water Monitor review Best Wireless Outdoor Security Camera Eufy SoloCam S340 4.0 Excellent The Eufy SoloCam S340 is one of the most feature-filled wireless outdoor security cameras available, starting with a built-in solar panel for keeping its battery charged. It also features dual lenses, 3K video, color night vision, mechanical pan and tilt, a built-in spotlight, and local video storage. That's a lot packed into a single camera, and it easily justifies its high price if you want to keep a close eye on your home. Eufy SoloCam S340 review Best Smart Lock Ultraloq Bolt Smart WiFi Deadbolt Fingerprint Edition 4.5 Excellent The Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint is one of the most flexible smart locks we've seen for securing your front door. You can use an app, your fingerprint, a key, or a PIN code to unlock it. It also works with every major smart home standard except Matter. Ultraloq Bolt Smart WiFi Deadbolt Fingerprint Edition review Best Speaker for Outdoor Parties Sony ULT Field 7 4.0 Excellent If you really want to drive an outdoor party, the big and booming Sony ULT Field 7 is the speaker to get. It's a chunky, completely weatherproof cylinder with stereo woofer/tweeter pairs that can easily fill your backyard with music. It also has colored lighting effects and a mic input for karaoke. Sony ULT Field 7 review Best Smart Bird Feeder Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro 4.5 Excellent The Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro sends highly shareable snapshots and video postcards of the local bird population to your phone, while its companion app is smart enough to call out their species. Overall, the Bird Buddy is a charming piece of tech for naturalists and an Editors' Choice winner—if you're going to get a smart feeder, get this one. Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro review Best Video Doorbell Tapo D225 Video Doorbell 4.0 Excellent Besides a good front door lock, you probably want to be able to see who's knocking or who might be stealing your packages. The TP-Link Tapo D225 video doorbell offers sharp video, both local and cloud storage, and plenty of smart home integration options, and it's surprisingly affordable. Tapo D225 Video Doorbell review Best for Roku-Centric Households Roku Outdoor Smart Plug 4.0 Excellent Roku's Outdoor Smart Plug SE features an IP64 weatherproof build, and makes it easy to control appliances and other electronics with your phone or voice and conveniently tracks how much power they use. It's appealing if you also use Roku devices since you don't need to set up anything else to control the plug from your couch. It also works with Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, but the TP-Link EP40A offers offers better third-party device support. Roku Outdoor Smart Plug review Best Outdoor TV SunBriteTV 55-Inch Veranda 3 Series (SB-V3-55-4KHDR-BL) 4.0 Excellent Most TVs aren’t built to survive the elements, let alone pouring rain, blowing snow, flying sand, or scorching heat, but SunBriteTV’s Veranda Series 3 is up to the task. It offers a few key advantages over previous Veranda models, including a brighter and much more colorful picture with support for Dolby Vision, as well as a full suite of Android TV features such as streaming media services, Google Assistant voice controls, and the ability to mirror your phone. Best Outdoor Party Lights Govee Lynx Dream Bluetooth & Wi-Fi Outdoor String Lights 4.0 Excellent Light strips are ideal for subtle effects, but if you want a more festive way to illuminate your patio, porch, or any other outdoor space, you're better off with smart string lights like the Govee Lynx Dream. Available in lengths of 48 or 96 feet, each string has dimmable multicolor LED bulbs that you can control with your voice or phone. They also support IFTTT applets, and you get a generous selection of preset lighting scenes and a fun Music Sync mode that's great for parties. Best Smart Door Feather River Doors Smart Glass 4.0 Excellent Smart locks and doorbell cameras might make your front door safe but don't add much to the aesthetic appeal. If you want to give your front door a real high-tech makeover, the Feather River Doors Smart Glass is a unique, expensive option. It's a door with a smart glass window that lets you flip between frosted opaque and completely transparent with the push of a button, a voice command, or an app. Feather River Doors Smart Glass review Protect Your Packages Yale Smart Delivery Box 4.0 Excellent Packages get purloined from porches pretty often, so protect those parcels with the Yale Smart Delivery Box. It's a large drop box you can secure to your porch so delivery drivers can safely set anything that will fit inside. Share an access code in the delivery details section of your orders from Amazon and other services, the driver will enter it into a keypad, the box will open, you'll get a notification, and the lid will automatically lock. Yale Smart Delivery Box review Best Smart Padlock Igloohome Smart Padlock 2 and Bridge 4.0 Excellent Smart locks are good for homes, but what about sheds and backyards? The Igloohome Smart Padlock 2 has you covered. It's a solid, waterproof padlock you can control via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It supports unlocking directly through the app, or you can control who can unlock it and at what times by issuing one-time or scheduled PINs and Bluetooth keys. Igloohome Smart Padlock 2 and Bridge review Best Smart Mosquito Repellent System Thermacell LIV Smart Mosquito Repellent System 4.0 Excellent Pesky mosquitoes can ruin an otherwise enjoyable evening in your backyard, but traditional bug sprays are usually unpleasant to use. The Thermacell LIV Smart Mosquito Repellent System is a high-tech alternative that relies on heat-activated repellent cartridges to create 20-foot barriers of protection. The system worked well in testing and we didn't see any vapors or smell any chemicals. You get three repellers in the basic kit, but keep in mind that the system specifically defends against mosquitoes, which means other types of bugs might continue to buzz about. Regardless, it supports both app and voice controls for maximum convenience. Best Wood-Fired Smart Grill Brisk It Origin 940 4.5 Excellent The Brisk It Origin 940 works like any other wood pellet grill, giving you the ability to roast, smoke, bake, and barbecue without having to deal with the mess of charcoal grilling or the taste of lighter fluid. Moreover, it uses generative AI to offer up countless recipes that you can send directly to the grill. In testing, its AI supplied foolproof recipes for pulled pork and whole bass and the grill delivered mouthwatering results. Brisk It Origin 940 review Best Smart Charcoal Grill and Smoker Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker 4.0 Excellent The Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker helps you cook charcoal-fired food to perfection every time. This tank-like kamado grill is simple to use and clean, offers precise temperature control, and works with lots of high-quality accessories. The app is intuitive and has hundreds of recipes you can follow. Kamado Joe Konnected Joe Digital Charcoal Grill and Smoker review Best Smart Gas Grill Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart Gas Grill 4.0 Excellent The Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart Gas Grill is built to last and has plenty of smart tech features to enhance the cooking experience. It features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, an illuminated cooking chamber, a user-friendly mobile app, and hundreds of programmable recipes. Moreover, there’s plenty of built-in storage for utensils, cooking racks, and cleaning accessories. Weber Genesis EPX-335 Smart Gas Grill review

Computex 2025 has concluded after a four-day event at Taipei's Nangang Exhibition Halls, drawing 86,521 buyers from 152 countries, including Japan, the USA, South Korea, Vietnam, and India. The event, themed "AI Next", highlighted avdancements in AI, robotics, next-gen tech, and future mobility, positioning Taiwan as a key player in the global tech supply chain. The exhibition showcased innovations from major Taiwanese companies. Pegatron displayed biometric robot dogs and VR devices, emphasizing human-machine integration. BenQ presented an AI-powered golf simulator with real-time swing feedback through visual tracing and motion sensing. Advantech and Solomon exhibited autonomous mobile robots, collaborative robotic arms, and AIoT platforms, underscoring Taiwan's expertise in intelligent manufacturing. A Smart Mobility Pavilion, organized by TADA, featured 19 brands, including Pegatron and OToBrite, focusing on electric and intelligent vehicle technologies. InnoVEX, the startup segment marking its 10th year, grew by 12.5% compared to 2024, hosting 450 startups from 24 countries. New national pavilions from Thailand and the Philippines included 22 startups. The InnoVEX Forum featured speakers from AWS, Google Cloud, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Solomon, and Advantech, discussing AI’s role in digital transformation. Taiwan’s DeepRad.AI won the Pitch Contest for its AI-based medical imaging technology aimed at early disease detection.Recommended by Our Editors Keynote speeches included NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang, Qualcomm’s Cristiano Amon, Foxconn’s Young Liu, MediaTek’s Dr. Rick Tsai, and NXP’s Jens Hinrichsen, who highlighted Taiwan’s central role in the AI ecosystem. The COMPUTEX Forum, themed “AI in Action,” attracted over 1,300 attendees and featured 13 industry leaders from companies like Intel, Arm, and Google DeepMind, discussing AI applications and market trends. Sustainability was a key focus, with Pegatron winning the Gold Award in the Sustainable Design category, followed by ASUS (Silver) and Lite-On (Bronze). Cross-industry collaborations included a co-branded merchandise line by plain-me and Kuai Kuai, and a Hospitality Lounge hosted by Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation and GQ Taiwan, blending capital markets with lifestyle elements. COMPUTEX 2026 is scheduled for June 2–5 and will expand to include TWTC Hall 1 alongside Nangang Exhibition Halls, aiming to create a dedicated AI-powered tech lifestyle ecosystem.

TCL has intrdocued its 2025 lineup of QD-Mini LED TVs to the UAE market, bringing a range of high-performance large-screen models to consumers in the region. The new series includes the C6K, C7K, C8K, and X11K, each offering distinct features aimed at different segments of users while providing improved display tech, sound quality and design. The 2025 range is built around TCL's QD-Mini LED tech, which enhances contrast control, increases brightness, and expands the color gamut for a more vivid viewing experience. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tbreak Media (@tbreakdotcom)Recommended by Our Editors The C6K series balances cost and performance, offering a 144Hz native refresh rate and ONKYO 2.1 Hi-Fi sound. The C7K adds premium audio from Bang & Olufsen and over 2,800 local dimming zones for enhanced contrast. The C8K features egde-to-edge design, brightness levels up to 5000 nits, and a WHVA CrystalGlow panel. At the top tier, the X11K delivers up to 14,112 dimming zones, HDR brightness of 6500nits, and advanced All-Domain Halo Control tech. Design-wise, TCL emphasizes slim profiles, matte finishes on its 85" and 98" screens for reduced glare, and flexible wall-mounting options. These TVs are positioned for diverse viewing needs including gaming, sports, and home entertainment. The lineup was presented at TCL Studio in Dubai, a new experiential space built to showcase the brand’s latest display innovations to media and industry partners.

Memorial Day Weekend means the official start of summer and the start of summer sales events. We're seeing tons of Memorial Day tech deals, and that includes big discounts on popular Apple products. From the latest and greatest Apple watches to high-performing tablets and Beats headphones, you can score hundreds in savings right now. We've gone ahead and rounded up the best Memorial Day Apple deals. Let's take a closer look, so you can start saving now. Don't forget to check out our round-up of theBest Memorial Day tech sales for all of the best deals out there.Apple Watch DealsAlready $100 off in anticipation of Memorial Day, Apple's flagship smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 10, is our Editor's Choice pick for iPhone users (and it also earned our Best of the Year Award in 2024). It's powered by the fast and efficient S10 chip and boasts tons of health, fitness, and lifestyle features, including GPS workout recording, ECG, sleep and cycle tracking, music, podcast, and third-party app support. It also has the newly added audio playback mode. Plus, the new depth gauge and water temperature sensors also make it an excellent choice for snorkeling and other shallow-water activities. The latest Apple Watch SE that we reviewed hits the sweet spot in terms of balancing performance with price thanks to this $50 discount. It's marketed as the "budget-friendly" model in the Apple Watch line-up, but still boasts many of the same core features, including fall detection, irregular heart rate and rhythm notifications, and pretty much the same access to apps and connectivity features. Basically, if you can forgo an always-on display and some of the more specialized health metrics, like body temperature and ECG, then the Apple Watch SE offers the most bang for your buck, especially on sale.iPad DealsAlthough small, the latest iPad Mini is powerful and capable with the new ability to support Apple Intelligence. In terms of design, it has the same sleek aesthetic of other iPads, only it's a lighter, more portable size that's ideal for traveling while leaving your bulky tablet or laptop at home. Plus, the bright LCD screen features anti-reflective and fingerprint-resistant coatings, so you can use it outside with little glare and clear visibility. In our testing, it performed notably well across gaming, productivity, and media streaming with a solid 7-plus hour battery life — and right now, it's $100 off.Recommended by Our EditorsBeats DealsWhen it comes to noise-cancelling earbuds, the sleek Beats Studio Buds+ are among the best value you can find right now. On sale for just $100, they boast some of the best noise cancellation you can find in the under-$200 price range. The overall audio quality doesn't disappoint either with deep bass and crisp highs. They're compatible with both Apple and Android devices, offering an impressive nine-hour battery life plus an additional 27 hours when you use the charging case. We gave them a rating of "Excellent" in our 2023 review, and that was without a 41% discount.Powered by the Apple H1 chip, the sweat-proof Beats Powerbeats Pro deliver the iconic deep bass sound signature the brand is known for, only in Bluetooth earbud form. In contrast to the Beats Studio Buds+ or AirPods, these feature a sleek design that hooks over the ear and can even be adjusted to ensure an extra secure grip. The nine-hour battery life is also noteworthy, with the case offering an additional 24 hours of playback time. Per our 2019 review, they earned a rating of "Excellent" with one of the big downsides being the price – but with nearly a $100 discount, these are well worth it for fans of the Beats aesthetic and acoustics.The Beats Studio Pro are wireless, over-ear headphones that offer a rich, well-balanced sound complete with head-tracking spatial audio. You can listen to your favorite tunes via wired headphones (for high-res audio playback) or through Bluetooth in either noise-cancelling or transparency mode. We found their seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem to be especially noteworthy along with their comfortable, cushiony fit and premium accessories. While we originally rated them as "Good," at a sale price of $200, they're a more than good pair of noise-canceling headphones, particularly for iOS users. We’re finding Memorial Day Deals everywhere, from retailers like Amazon and Walmart to top brands like Dell and HP. And don’t forget to check out all of the Memorial Day Deals Under $100 and Under $50. But, if you’re looking for something more specific, we’ve rounded up the following holiday deals for you:

Table of ContentsSmartphone DealsTablet DealsComputer Mouse DealsSpeaker DealsAir Purifier DealsWi-Fi Router DealsGaming Monitor DealsSSD DealsSmartwatch DealsSmart Lock DealsTV DealsPrinter DealsGimbal DealsSoundbar Deals Memorial Day Weekend is here, and the tech discounts at Amazon are plenty. From wireless headphones and portable speakers to tablets and smartphones, there’s serious money to be saved on everyday tech. Discounts on some of the biggest brands are on the list. But don’t wait around. Limited-time offers like these tend to disappear quickly, sometimes within hours. Whether you're upgrading your gear or picking up a gift, now’s a smart time to buy. Below, we’ve rounded up some standout picks worth grabbing before they’re gone.Don't forget to check out our round-up of the Best Memorial Day tech sales for all of the best deals out there. Smartphone DealsThe Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a lightweight, compact, beautifully designed foldable smartphone featuring impressive hardware, AI capabilities, and a bright, large screen perfect for watching videos and multitasking. Its solid cameras capture detailed photos with smart editing tools, and the Gemini AI introduces exciting features like advanced photo tweaks. PCMag expert Eric Zeman says, "The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold is an outstanding phone from top to bottom." With an "Excellent" rating in our review, it's a standout choice for AI and photography enthusiasts, especially with this $300 discount.Tablet DealsThe Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a solid Android tablet for sketching, note-taking, and general creative work. "The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is clearly positioned as the Android alternative to the base iPad. And considering that the price includes the S Pen (Apple's Pencil is a $99 add-on), this becomes a better buy," notes our expert Sascha Segan. Its stereo speakers sound way better than you'd expect at this price (now marked down by almost $65), while the headphone jack is a real bonus. Rated “Good” in our 2020 Galaxy Tab S6 Lite review, it nails the basics if you want a budget-friendly tablet that’s ready for creativity right out of the box.Computer Mouse DealsThe Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 gaming mouse is all about speed and simplicity. It's effortless to move and amazingly light without the usual cutouts, making it both comfortable and durable. The rock-solid performance offers precise tracking and a long battery life that keeps you gaming without interruptions. Plus, the grippy texture adds a nice touch. Our rexpert Mark Knapp notes, “At $159, it’s best suited to competitive players who have everything dialed in tight and don’t need to swap DPI settings often, but who do need the fastest polling rates to keep up with the pace of gameplay," while bestowing on it an “Excellent” rating in our review. And that was all before today's 31% discount. Speaker DealsThe Sonos Move 2 is one of our favorite portable speakers out there, and it’s definitely worth the hype. The sound quality is fantastic with rich bass, crisp highs, and stereo audio. It also presents a significant battery life lasting over 24 hours on a single charge. It’s super versatile, working seamlessly over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and the Sonos app is a dream to use. As our expert Tim Gideon put it, “The Move 2 is easily the best Sonos speaker for listening to music outside.” It’s not fully waterproof, but it can handle rain and splashes effortlessly. All these reasons were enough for it to earn an “Excellent” rating in our 2023 Sonos Move 2 review and now it can be yours for $113 less.Air Purifier DealsGet cleaner air and a fan in one sleek machine with the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07. It takes up barely any space, and once you’ve got the app set up, it’s super easy to control from your phone or with voice commands. The display gives real-time air quality updates, which are genuinely helpful if you live in a city or have pets. In 2021, Angela Moscaritolo said, “It’s the most effective smart air purifying fan we’ve tested,” and she rated it “Excellent” in our Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 review and honored it with the Editors’ Choice award. Meanwhile, the magnetic remote is a small but smart touch.Wi-Fi Router DealsThe TP-Link Deco BE63 offers an easy-to-set-up solution for bringing seamless Wi-Fi 7 coverage to your home with impressive speed and reliability. With multi-gig Ethernet ports, this system ensures robust connectivity for demanding users. "It rocked our performance tests, delivering some of the fastest throughput scores we've seen," writes expert John R. Delaney, rating it "Excellent" in our TP-Link Deco BE63 review. Currently discounted by 30%, it's also an Editors' Choice winner, making this a standout deal.Gaming Monitor DealsThe Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is a jaw-dropping ultrawide monitor that’s designed for immersive gaming. The 49-inch OLED screen with a 240Hz refresh rate, vibrant colors, true blacks, and the 32:9 aspect ratio makes titles like Cyberpunk 2077 feel next-level. As our gaming expert said, “The Odyssey OLED G9 is a monitor for enthusiasts, meant for those willing to max out their PC builds.” It’s slim, sleek, and packed with features like Samsung’s gaming hub. We offered a rare “Outstanding” rating in our 2023 Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 review, and it’s an Editors’ Choice winner. With this massive $800 price drop, it's the ultimate pick for ultrawide gaming. The LG 27 UltraGear Gaming Monitor (27GR83Q) is an excellent choice for gamers seeking performance without overspending, especially with a 41% discount. The 27-inch QHD display appears sharp, and the 240Hz refresh rate provides a buttery smooth experience, particularly in fast-paced games like Fortnite and Apex Legends. As a result, our expert Zackery Cuevas rated it “Excellent” in our review of the LG 27 UltraGear, stating, “It’s a reliable, solid choice for gamers looking for a monitor that combines good looks and strong performance.” Furthermore, the screen displays vibrant colors, and the IPS panel guarantees wide viewing angles, eliminating any awkward color shifts when you’re not sitting directly in front. If you have a midrange PC or console, this monitor is a fantastic fit.Recommended by Our EditorsSSD DealsThe 4TB Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield is an external SSD built to handle rough conditions thanks to its rubberized shell that protects it from drops, rain, and dust. Our expert Tony Hoffman says, "If you ever take your laptop on the road or into the great outdoors, whether for business or pleasure, you'll appreciate having a drive like the T7 Shield," while giving it an “Excellent” rating in our 2022 T7 Shield SSD review. Plus, it has built-in encryption to keep your files safe. It’s not the absolute fastest SSD out there, but it still delivers reliable performance. Best of all, it's $220 off today!Smartwatch Deals“If you’re looking for a smartwatch to complement your Samsung phone, the Galaxy Watch 7 should be at the top of your list," says our senior analyst, Andrew Gebhart. It builds on the previous model with upgraded AI-powered health insights, better gesture controls, and smarter sleep tracking. The heart-rate sensor is impressively accurate, and the watch handles everything from workouts to snoring detection with ease. The battery life isn’t groundbreaking, but the overall experience still earns it an “Excellent” rating in our Galaxy Watch 7 review. Also, you get a free SmartTag2 in today's deal while saving over $100.Smart Lock DealsOur expert said, “If you’re looking for a stylish smart lock that is easy to install and offers broad third-party support, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is your best bet and our Editors’ Choice.” It’s one of the smallest models from the company and features complete Wi-Fi support, which gives you total control over locking and unlocking remotely. It works with Alexa, Google, and HomeKit, so you can use voice commands or set up automations easily. All these fantastic features earned the lock an “Outstanding” rating in our 2020 August Wi-Fi Smart Lock review. Plus, its compact design blends right in, making it a sleek and smart addition to any door. Grab it now for a whopping 50% discount.TV DealsThe Hisense 85U6N television has impressive contrast and vibrant colors that actually hold up in real-world viewing. Streaming apps load quickly, Google TV runs super smoothly, and even the voice control works hands-free. The TV also has a small input lag, clocking in at just 3.6ms, making it super responsive. Our expert Will Greenwald called it “the best affordable TV you can buy right now,” and it earned an “Outstanding” rating in our Hisense 85U6N review. Honestly, for movie nights or casual gaming on a massive screen, this one’s hard to top.Printer DealsThe Canon Pixma TR8620a has a 4.3-inch color LCD touchscreen for quick, intuitive printing. Plus, having two black ink dispensers ensures your documents and photos really pop. You can load regular paper in the main tray and photo paper in the rear feed for quick switching. “The Canon Pixma TR8620 all-in-one inkjet scans and prints excellent text, graphics, and photos, making it a sensible choice for low-volume family and home office use,” says our expert William Harrel, who rated it “Excellent” in our 2020 Canon Pixma TR8620a review. This printer keeps things simple and affordable thanks to this $60 discount.Gimbal Deals“The affordable Hohem iSteady Mobile+ phone gimbal helps you capture smooth video while easily tracking subjects,” says Iyaz Akhtar, who rated it “Good” in his review, and that was even before today’s 30% off. It’s light enough to carry around all day, and the simple joystick control makes it easy to pan and tilt. The battery life lasts long enough to record lengthy events, and you can attach your phone quickly without fumbling. If you’re after reliable stabilization on a budget, this is a solid option for the price.Soundbar DealsIf you’re into films and big sound, sweeping scores, and lots of explosions, then you should seriously consider making the JBL Bar 9.1 your new movie night companion, especially with this $400 discount. As our expert Tim Gideon puts it, “The system really draws you in, with a surround experience that combines what is more like a 5.1 build with the Atmos drivers.” That’s why it earned an "Excellent" rating in our JBL Bar 9.1 review in 2020. Plus, setting it up is super simple, the bass is strong enough to shake your room, and the Dolby Atmos feature adds this amazing 3D feel to the audio that pulls you into the action.  And with wireless rear speakers that detach from the main bar, you'll have an actual surround sound experience without the mess of cables.We’re finding Memorial Day Deals everywhere, from retailers like Walmart to top brands like Apple and HP. And don’t forget to check out all of the Memorial Day Deals Under $100 and Under $50. But, if you’re looking for something more specific, we’ve rounded up the following holiday deals for you:

Since 1984, Dell has been dominating the prebuilt PC and accessory market by making hardware that keeps up with modern needs at reasonable prices. Its desktops and laptops are consistently good value and review well when we put them through our benchmarking process in the PC Labs. If you're in the market for a new machine, Dell has launched its Memorial Day sale. Here are six of the top offers we've found, with more to come.Dell Laptop DealsInsiprons are Dell's reliable midrange performers, and the 16 on sale right now is well worth your attention if you want a bigger screen in a nice-looking chassis. With a FHD+ touch-enabled display, it works great for streaming media, lightweight creative tasks, business and more. If you do a lot of videoconferencing, the 1080p 30 fps webcam is better than you'd expect from a budget machine, and there are plenty of ports.The Dell Inspiron 16 Laptop is also available at Amazon for $789Another midrange productivity laptop from Dell, the XPS 14 does enough well to be worth your attention at a $400 price drop. We reviewed this model, noting that it had one of the better touchpads we'd seen on Dell portables, coupled with a LED-illuminated function row that made it a solid choice for spreadsheeters and other heavy keyboard users. The component loadout is good for the price, with 16GB of RAM making multi-tasking smooth and stable. The battery is also massive, adding to its weight but making it a worthwhile option for long trips and other scenarios where you won't have access to a power plug.Dell Gaming Laptop DealsIt's a spendy one but, for all-around performance, the Alienware x16 R2 is a tough gaming portable to beat. That's especially true when it's kitted out with an RTX 4090 graphics card. In our review, we praised the incredible amount of tech in this slim machine, including the gorgeous QHD+ 240Hz display, which is capable of keeping up with the blistering framerate that GPU can pump out. The rest of the silicon is no slouch, with a speedy Core Ultra 9 processor coupled with 32GB of system memory. Customizable RGB keys, touchpad, and chassis lighting adds an extra touch of style, and slicing $900 off makes it tempting.Recommended by Our EditorsFor a more affordable gaming on the go option, Dell's G15 is a solid choice, especially at $300 off retail during their Memorial Day sale. We reviewed this laptop, and although its component loadout didn't dazzle, praised its 120Hz display and fun color options. It feels solid in the hands, weighing in at a little over six pounds, and the keyboard and trackpad both have good responsiveness, along with orange LED backlights for the keys. As you'd expect from a gaming machine, it has plenty of ports for your peripherals as well.Dell Desktop DealsDell's enterprise-oriented towers aren't visually striking, but there's a reason you can find them in homes and offices around the world. They combine solid performance with well-built components at a nice price, and are flexible enough to fill a bunch of different roles. The Slim desktop is designed for minimal footprint while not compromising power, and this configuration ships with a capable Intel Core Ultra 5 processor along with 16GB of RAM. It multitasks well, has plenty of ports, and ships with a keyboard and mouse.If you need a new gaming machine to get you through the lean years ahead, we're quite fond of the Alienware Aurora R16. In our review, we gave it an Editors' Choice award, with tester Charles Jefferies saying that the redesigned tower "marks a new chapter for the Alienware brand" thanks to its whisper-quiet operation, capacious and easily modified case and multiple connectivity options. Dell has a bunch of different configurations on sale during the Memorial Day event, but this is a nice midrange choice with a generous 32GB of RAM paired with a RTX 4060 graphics card.We’re finding Memorial Day Deals everywhere, from retailers like Amazon and Walmart to top brands like Apple and HP. And don’t forget to check out all of the Memorial Day Deals Under $100 and Under $50. But, if you’re looking for something more specific, we’ve rounded up the following holiday deals for you:

Table of ContentsSpeaker DealsComputer Mouse DealsSmartwatch DealsEarbud DealsStreaming Device DealsKeyboard DealsFitness Tracker DealsMicrophone DealsSmartphone DealsProcessor DealsSecurity Camera DealsRobot Vacuum DealsMonitor DealsGame Console DealsPhoto Printer Deals Walmart's Memorial Day tech deals are live, and they include big brands and deep discounts across the board. Whether you’re hunting for a new tablet, a pair of wireless headphones, a smart TV, or even a new smartphone, there’s something here worth checking out. We’re rounding up the best tech deals available at Walmart right now, so you can shop smart, save big, and maybe even beat the shipping delays. Plus, we are going to keep adding new deals all weekend long.Don't forget to check out our round-up of theBest Memorial Day tech sales for all of the best deals out there.Speaker DealsIf you want a rugged speaker that can bring the bass without falling apart at your pool party or the beach, the JBL Charge 5 is worth a try. It sounds way bigger than it looks, and has a powerful, bass-forward, bright sound signature that keeps everything feeling lively. Rated “Excellent” in our 2021 JBL Charge 5 review, it’s built to survive dust, water, and plenty of adventures while still packing a serious punch. Plus, being able to charge your phone off the speaker’s battery is a lifesaver when you're out and about. This thing seriously delivers, especially with this $60 discount.Computer Mouse DealsThe SteelSeries Rival 3 Wireless mouse performs surprisingly well for the cost. It’s got both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz, which means you can switch between work and gaming without fuss. You can pop in a couple of AAA batteries, and you’re good for months. The sensor tracks smoothly, even during fast-paced games. As our expert said in 2020, “Bargain hunters looking for a low-cost, high-value wireless mouse should not ignore.” With an “Excellent” rating in our Rival 3 review, it’s one of the best bang-for-your-buck wireless mice out there, especially with today’s 53% discount.Smartwatch DealsFrom an early jog at sunrise to a late-night workout class, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra can track your health and keep up with your workouts without weighing you down. It offers a handy, customizable button so you can jump right into tracking your favorite exercises in seconds. Our expert, Andrew Gebhart, rated it “Excellent” in our review, calling it “the best Wear OS smartwatch for outdoor excursions.” Plus, its battery life is built to keep up with your busy days. Overall, it’s a solid choice and has a steep discount of over $250.Earbud DealsWith the Google Pixel Buds Pro earbuds, your playlists will gain a little extra thump while ANC scrubs all that background noise, allowing you to listen to podcasts without distortion. Bass remains bold without muddying vocals, and the wireless charging case tops them up between sessions. Meanwhile, it has a comfortable fit for long stretches. Hands-free Google Assistant means texts and timers can happen without touching your phone, which is especially helpful when you've got your hands full or are elbow-deep in cooking. Meanwhile, multipoint pairing switches audio from the laptop to the Pixel during Zoom calls. That’s why our expert, Tim Gideon, rated them “Good” in our 2022 Pixel Buds Pro review. Also good? About $90 in savings. Streaming Device DealsThe Roku Express 4K+ offers easy access to your favorite shows and you’ll love its straightforward interface that keeps your navigation hassle-free. With support for AirPlay 2, you can mirror your content from your iPhone seamlessly. Plus, its affordable price makes premium 4K streaming achievable for anyone. In 2021, our lead analyst, Will Greenwald, gave it an “Excellent” rating in his Roku Express 4K+ review. By bringing this streaming device to your home, you’re investing in a smooth, no-fuss entertainment experience for under $30.Keyboard DealsThe Logitech MX Keys S keyboard delivers a refined typing experience that makes daily work feel effortless. Its elegant design fits smoothly into your workspace with responsive backlighting and excellent battery life. With Smart Actions, you can automate tasks that save you time and reduce repetitive steps. The built-in USB-C charging is convenient and reliable. “If you're looking for an Apple Magic Keyboard alternative or are in the market for a new productivity daily driver, the MX Keys S is a great low-profile keyboard,” our expert Zackery Cuevas raved. He went on to give this one a “Good” rating in our 2023 review. Overall, this low-profile keyboard elevates your routine with practical features that make each keystroke both satisfying and efficient for just under $90. Fitness Tracker DealsThe Fitbit Inspire 2 is a great place to start if you're just getting into fitness tracking, especially at $43. It's super light, doesn’t scream “tech gadget,” and tracks your steps, sleep, and heart rate with barely any input from you. With 10-day battery life, you can forget to charge it for a week and still be covered. “It's a good, wallet-friendly option if you're just starting out on your fitness journey,” said Angela Moscaritolo in her “Good” rated 2021 Inspire 2 review. Plus, the free month of Fitbit Premium for new users is a legit bonus if you want guided workouts or mindfulness content.Recommended by Our EditorsMicrophone DealsThe HyperX QuadCast S is a must-have if you're into any kind of audio content creation. Our expert Will Greenwald calls it, "A gaming-focused USB microphone designed for streamers, Let's Players, podcasters, and anyone who might be putting themselves out on YouTube or Twitch." It has crisp, clear sound quality and supports multiple recording patterns, making it versatile for different setups. The built-in pop filter and adjustable gain control are super handy, and it even comes with customizable RGB lighting to match your style. With an "Excellent" rating in our 2020 HyperX QuadCast S review and an Editors' Choice award, it's one of the best USB mics out there, now at a 25% discount.Smartphone DealsFor only $40, the Galaxy A15 5G punches way above its weight. You get smooth everyday performance, a vibrant AMOLED screen, and bonus points for that microSD slot and headphone jack. Those features are rare even in pricier phones. Battery life is legit too; we streamed for hours and still had juice left. You will definitely find the cameras worth it, especially the main shooter. “The Galaxy A15 5G is one of the best Android phones you can get,” says PCMag's expert Iyaz Akhtar, who rated it “Excellent” in his Galaxy A15 review while giving it the Editors’ Choice award. If you're on a tight budget, this is the one to beat right now.Processor DealsThe AMD Ryzen 7 7700x is a fast and powerful processor with excellent eight-core performance that excels in single-threaded tasks and performs well in multi-threaded ones, making it ideal for demanding applications. It also includes integrated graphics, providing a solid option for light gaming or general display needs. "It's a very solid chip," said our expert, Michael Sexton, in 2022, rating it “Excellent” in his Ryzen 7 7700x review. The performance is competitive with its peers, and its lower power consumption is an advantage for efficiency. Overall, it’s a great choice if you desire strong performance without investing heavily in higher-end models, especially at this sale price.Security Camera DealsSetting up the Google Nest Cam (Battery) is a breeze. You can mount it pretty much anywhere without messing with wires. The magnetic base makes it super easy to adjust the angle or pop it off for charging. You’ll get crisp, colorful 1080p video and surprisingly sharp night vision, which is great for checking on your porch or driveway after dark. It even sends alerts for people, animals, or vehicles. As our expert John R. Delaney puts it in our 2021 Nest Cam review, “If you’re in the market for a security camera that installs in minutes and offers a good selection of features—particularly if you already use other Nest Devices and/or Google Assistant—put the Nest Cam on your short list." It earned an “Excellent,” as does today's near $50 discount.Robot Vacuum DealsThe iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ is a versatile robot vacuum and mop that effectively cleans various surfaces without wetting carpets, thanks to its retractable mop. It excels at both vacuuming and mopping, with features like AI-powered obstacle avoidance and a pet waste-avoidance guarantee. Ideal for homes with mixed flooring, it offers convenient app controls, auto-emptying, and voice command integration. In our Roomba Combo j7+ review, our expert Angela Moscaritolo said in 2023, "If you have a mix of hard flooring and carpets at home, the Roomba Combo j7+ is worth it." With the $236 discount, it's a steal!Monitor DealsThe 43-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 monitor feels like you dropped a living-room TV on your desk, only for shooters instead of sitcoms. As Zackery Cuevas notes, “Indeed, for the most part, it’s an impressive screen with vibrant mini LED backlighting.” The picture smacks you with mini-LED punch, deep contrast, and a 144 Hz refresh that keeps Valorant razor-smooth while AMD FreeSync stomps tearing. Input lag is practically invisible at around 4 ms. Cloud-leaning Gaming Hub is a cool bonus for quick Xbox Pass sessions. Therefore, it earned a “Good” rating in our 2023 Odyssey Neo G7 review. But a $225 discount qualifies this as a great deal!Game Console DealsAs our lead analyst, Will Greenwald, said in 2023, “The refined PS5 remains a top-tier console.” This PlayStation 5 Disc Console Slim fits right into your living room, especially if you're short on space. It has a big 1TB drive to store more of your favorite titles, with the popular Astro Bot game already included. Whether you’re diving into the latest blockbusters or streaming classic shows, you'll find everything runs smoothly. The streamlined design makes it a conversation piece, too. It’s also simpler to place horizontally than before. That’s why it got an “Excellent” rating in our PS5 Slim review, and it’s even an Editors’ Choice winner, so you know you’re getting a standout system that handles your entertainment needs without any hassle, now for $110 less.Photo Printer DealsIf you’re itching to take photos from your phone and stick them on the fridge, the Instax Link Wide makes it ridiculously easy, especially with this $50 price cut. Pair over Bluetooth, drop a shot into the app, add a collage frame or goofy sticker, and in half a minute, a wide-format print pops out. The printed colors punch hard, and the gloss finish screams retro cool. As our lead analyst Jim Fisher says, “If you're tired of just looking at photos on your phone's screen, or just yearn for the days of Polaroid snapshots, this instant film printer might be the right remedy.” Consumables aren’t cheap, but for scrapbooks, party favors, or instant desk décor, this printer is straight-up joy, earning an Excellent rating in our 2021 Instax Link Wide review.We’re finding Memorial Day Deals everywhere, from retailers like Amazon to top brands like Apple, HP, and Dell.. And don’t forget to check out all of the Memorial Day Deals Under $100 and Under $50. But, if you’re looking for something more specific, we’ve rounded up the following holiday deals for you:

UPDATE: When questioned today whether he has the power to tariff only one company, Trump replied that this edict applies to any smartphone maker. "It would be more. It would be also Samsung and anybody that makes that product; otherwise, it wouldn't be fair," he said.Trump says he's setting an end-of-June deadline, but it's unclear if that deadline is for a commitment from these companies to build smartphone factories in the US or actually seeing phones roll off production lines. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, "Moving all iPhone assembly for US models back to the US before Trump’s term ends is unrealistic." "I had an understanding with Tim that he wouldn't be doing this," Trump said of Apple's plan to build iPhones in India versus China. When asked why he thinks Apple can build a phone in the US without raising prices, Trump argued that "a lot of [the production] is computerized now. These plants are amazing, if you look at them," adding, "If they're going to sell it in America, I want it to be built in the United States. They're able to do that."Kuo says, "Apple’s top priority in negotiations with Trump should be finding ways to avoid, delay, or prevent higher iPhone tariffs. For example, Apple could adjust its DEI policies to secure Trump’s temporary commitment to hold off on targeting them.Original Story:President Trump kicked off Memorial Day weekend by threatening to impose a 25% tariff on Apple unless it produces its iPhones in the US. "I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s [sic] that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," Trump posted on Truth Social. "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US. Thank [you] for your attention to this matter!"Separately, Trump posted that the European Union "has been very difficult to deal with," and said he is "recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union," starting June 1.'India Can Take Care of Themselves'Apple has long produced most of its iPhones in China via manufacturing partners like Foxconn, though it has taken steps to diversify. Amid the threat of Trump's tariffs, the highest of which were imposed on China, Apple moved much of its US-based iPhone production to India. "For the June quarter, we do expect the majority of iPhones sold in the US will have India as their country of origin," Cook said in an April earnings call. Most iPads, Macs, and Apple Watch devices sold in the US will come from Vietnam. “China would continue to be the country of origin for the vast majority of total product sales outside the US,” Cook added. That didn't sit well with Trump, who said last week that he called Cook to complain about Apple moving production to India. "We put up with all the plants you built in China for years," he told reporters during a recent trip to the Middle East. "We are not interested in you building in India. India can take care of themselves. They are doing very well. We want you to build [in the US]."Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Recommended by Our EditorsSmartphones are currently exempt from Trump's tariffs, but that could change soon.Is $500 Billion Not Enough?In February, Apple said it would invest more than $500 billion in the US over the next four years. The money will be used to build a server manufacturing facility in Houston, produce silicon chips in Arizona, establish a manufacturing academy in Detroit, and create 20,000 new jobs. But moving iPhone production to the US is probably an unrealistic and expensive goal. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that "in terms of profitability, it's way better for Apple to take the hit of a 25% tariff on iPhones sold in the US market than to move iPhone assembly lines back to US." For now, a lot of Apple-based production in the US is being done via partnerships."We're excited about bringing more production to the US," Cook said during that earnings call. "As you know, we've been very key in the TSMC project in Arizona and are the largest and first customer getting product out of that.""During calendar year 2025, we expect to source more than 19 billion chips from a dozen states, including tens of millions of advanced chips being made in Arizona this year," Cook added. "We also source glass used in iPhone from an American company. All told, we have more than 9,000 suppliers in the US across all 50 states."TSMC, however, is warning that tariffs could hamper its expansion plans in Arizona. "Diminished demand could create uncertainty around the timeline for the construction and operation of our Arizona fabs. It could also undermine TSMC’s financial capacity to timely execute its ambitious Arizona project,” the company said in a letter to the US Commerce Department, which sought public comment on the US potentially tariffing foreign-made semiconductors to help encourage domestic chip manufacturing. A year ago, TSMC said it would receive $11.6 billion in US government funding via the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act signed by President Biden, with $6.6 billion of that as grants and the remaining $5 billion as loans.A $2,300 iPhone? Trump's post suggests that iPhones will be subject to tariffs regardless of their country of origin, which could be costly for those looking to upgrade to the iPhone 17 later this year. Rumors already indicate Apple is considering a price increase for its next-gen phones, which it is trying not to tie publicly to tariffs. In April, an analyst from Rosenblatt Securities tells Reuters that tariffs could increase the cost of producing iPhones by up to 43%, putting the high-end iPhone at $2,300 if Apple passes all the extra costs on to consumers.The White House is currently trying to broker individual trade deals with countries around the globe. Thus far, it's announced one with the UK and paused tariffs on China while it negotiates. In the EU, however, Trump says, "Our discussions with them are going nowhere!"Trump claims the US has a trade deficit of more than $250 million with the EU, "which is totally unacceptable," he said. The only way for the EU to avoid US tariffs is to produce its products in the US.

Other than an extra (and much-needed) day off, the other major benefit of three-day weekends seems to be all of the sales and savings that occur, especially on electronics. Memorial Day is no exception, making it a great time to score an amazing deal. If you're shopping for a new top laptop or desktop, here are a bevy of deep price drops on solid performers to check out (with more being added all weekend long). Laptop DealsIf you need an ultra-budget portable for work or school, the Acer Aspire 3 is one of the most cost-effective machines you can pick up, especially when Amazon has it on sale for fifty bucks off its already cheap list price. In our review, we said that this unit was "basic as bricks," but that's not necessarily a bad thing. All of the components are well-tested, and the casing is durable. Battery life is a strong point, testing out at 16 hours on a single charge when we took it into the lab. Compatibility with Wi-Fi 6 featuring 2x2 Mi-Mo is a nice bonus as wellThe Acer Aspire 3 Laptop (Refurbished) is also available at Target for $299.99.We consistently rate Lenovo laptops highly in our reviews, and the previous model of the ThinkPad E14 got an Editors' Choice award from us when we put it through its paces. We haven't been able to tear down the newest model yet, but it looks to continue the same high standards. With extremely long battery life, this is a productivity portable that will get you through an entire day on the go, and the keyboard is a pleasure to use. Durability is also a strong point, and Wi-Fi 6 support means you'll always be able to tap a speedy connection. One year onsite warranty gives you a little extra security and this sale price keeps close to $790 in your wallet. For Memorial Day you can take $100 off of the Editors' Choice-winning 2025 MacBook Air M4. This featherweight portable is one of the most impressive laptops Apple has ever made, featuring blistering speed and luxurious build quality. In our review, we said that the combination of a price drop from the previous generation of Airs coupled with a performance boost from the new M4 processor was a win-win situation, while also lauding the boosted system RAM and near-silent fanless operation. If you're in the market for a MacBook, this is absolutely the best deal you'll find this weekend.The Apple MacBook Air M4 is also available at B&H Photo for $899.Gaming Laptop DealsLet's lead off with a very impressive $400 price drop on a midrange gaming laptop with some nice components for the price. We reviewed the Acer Swift X 14, raving over its absolutely stunning OLED display, which is one of the best screens you'll see on a portable in this bracket. We also loved the light weight, noting that it almost qualified as an ultraportable, coming it at just 3.42 pounds, and it's got plenty of ports and connectivity options. Internally, you've got solid silicon, including a very welcome RTX 4060 graphics card and a 1TB SSD.Recommended by Our EditorsThe Acer Swift X 14 Gaming Laptop is also available for $1099.99 from Acer.At retail price, the MSI Thin gaming laptop is already a good deal, a solid budget model with a nice 144Hz full HD screen, decent build quality and decent components for the price. But after Walmart cuts almost $300 off, it becomes one of the best offers we've seen in a long time. While you're not going to get future-proof performance here with an eight-core processor, it'll easily handle all of today's top games at good settings, and the backlit keyboard feels good. Solid port selection, including USB-C, is just the icing on the cake.Check out the Best Gaming Laptops of 2025 that we reviewed to see how this one stacks up. Desktop DealsApple's Mac Mini is the perfect illustration of "good things come in small packages," a tiny little rectangle that packs a ton of compute power and can be carried anywhere. Weighing in at just a pound and a half, it's a sleek machine that runs off the potent M4 processor. In our review, we lauded its generous port selection on both the front and back of the machine, including a traditional 1/8 inch audio jack, as well as the efficient cooling and workstation-competitive speeds. It's a tremendous achievement in hardware, and you can save $150 on this model right now at Amazon.Have a little cash in your pocket and looking to get the absolute highest-end gaming setup you can? We've got you covered with a $600 discount on the new Alienware Area-51, an impressive tower that comes loaded with Nvidia's new GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card, the most potent performer on the market. In our recent review of this battlestation, we raved about its virtually silent operation thanks to a cutting-edge positive pressure airflow system, sleek design and absolutely unbeatable component loadout. Storage might be a little slim, but with the cash you save it's easy to add an external drive.Want to save even more? Our Deals Page is where it's at.

Whether you subscribe to them individually or as part of a bundle deal, Disney+ and Hulu both have a lot to offer streaming fans. Disney has the ultra-popular Marvel and Star Wars franchises, represented this month by the latest Captain America flick, while Hulu brings the heat with tons of original shows and movies from around the world, coupled with American TV shows from network partners. There's a lot to watch, with new stuff added every day, so we picked out the three best choices for the last week of May, and the full list of TV shows and movies coming to the streaming services below.This Week on Hulu and Disney+: PCMag's Picks The Seed of the Sacred Fig (May 27)The latest movie from acclaimed Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof, The Seed of the Sacred Fig received a Special Jury Award at Cannes following an over 12-minute standing ovation after its screening. Set against the backdrop of the 2022 protests against Iran's authoritarian government, the plot follows newly appointed judge Iman, who quickly learns that he wasn't given a promotion to find the truth, but rather to rubber-stamp verdicts from the regime. He becomes increasingly paranoid and unhinged, with his family becoming a target.Director: Mohammad RasoulofCast: Soheila Golestani, Missagh Zareh, Mahsa RostamiGenre: DramaRating: PG-13IMDb Rating: 7.6/10Captain America: Brave New World (May 28)Sam Wilson's first solo feature as the new Captain America was a mixed bag, with praise going to the lead performances but a general consensus of it not living up to the high points of the struggling Marvel Cinematic Universe. Captain America: Brave New World is definitely still worth a watch when it premieres on Disney+, though, as it sets up some plotlines that we'd see play out in Thunderbirds, as well as future big adventures.Directors: Julius OnahCast: Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Shira HaasGenre: ComedyRating: PG-13IMDb Rating: 5.7/10Adults (May 29)FX does solid young adult comedy, and AdultsDirectors: Anu Valia, Jason Woliner, Jonathan KriselCast: Malik Elassal, Lucy Freyer, Jack InnanenGenre: ComedyRating: TV-MANew TV Shows and Movies Coming to Disney+ This WeekMay 24Doctor Who - Season 2, Episode 6May 25Captain America: Brave New WorldMay 28Me & Winnie the Pooh - Season 2, 6 episodesPlaydate with Winnie the Pooh - Season 2, 5 episodesRecommended by Our EditorsNew TV Series and Shows Coming to Hulu This WeekMay 24BBQ Brawl: Flay V. Anderson V. Burrell - Season 4Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern - Season 3Fixer Upper: Welcome Home - Season 1Gold Rush - Season 1Homestead Rescue - Season 12May 27Re: Zero - Season 1Tower of God - Season 1Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy - Season 1May 29Adults - Season 1New Movies Coming to Hulu This WeekMay 25How to Please a Woman (2022)May 27The Seed of the Sacred Fig (2024)May 29The Silencing (2020)May 30Into the Deep (2024)Rickey Smiley: Untitled (2025)

There's no escaping spreadsheets. Tools like Excel and Google Sheets are ubiquitous these days, and learning how to use them more effectively will quickly enhance your daily work. But spreadsheets aren't always the easiest thing to work with. Grids of numbers, obscure menus, arcane formula syntax—it can leave you feeling lost and overwhelmed. That's the bad news.The good news? I've figured out how to harness AI to make Excel and Google Sheets much easier to work with. And I'm not talking about specialized plug-ins or spreadsheet-specific apps. Standard (and free) AI tools can give you a major leg up. I've been using my newfound spreadsheet superpowers to do everything from planning birthday dinners to automating work tasks and diving deeper into advanced features in Google Sheets.Here are my three favorite basic ways to level up your spreadsheet game with ChatGPT. You can use basic chatbots to effortlessly get structured data from almost any source, use AI as your personal formula generator, and even get personalized tutorials and guidance for mastering advanced features.Choosing Your AI Spreadsheet AssistantFor this project I'm using Google Sheets for my spreadsheet work and ChatGPT for AI assistance. But I regularly use other tools, like Google Gemini, and the same techniques apply. In fact, these tips will also work with other Anthropic's Claude, DeepSeek, Perplexity, and others.This guide also isn't limited to Google Sheets, since the same general approach works for Microsoft Excel and even more specialized tools like Microsoft Access.While sophisticated, purpose-built AI tools and even integrated AI features within Excel and Google Sheets exist (topics for another time), it's impressive how even these free chatbots can really elevate your everyday spreadsheet use. Right now, I'm using ChatGPT because it's the most popular AI tool out there, but you can get even more out of your spreadsheets when used synergistically with the right chatbot: If you're an Excel user, Microsoft Copilot delivers even more capability, while Google's Gemini is the best tool for enhancing Google Sheets. We'll address those specific tools in future articles but know that what we're looking at here is just scratching the surface.Stepping Up My Spreadsheet Game With Google Sheets and ChatGPTWhile I do not do financial analysis or data science as a writer for PCMag, I do deal with a fair amount of data. From test results to traffic reports—not to mention researching new stories and staying up to date on academic studies around AI and other tech topics—it's not unusual for me to have to dig through some numbers now and then.I've also found ways to speed up my data entry with a couple of handy automations that pull specific bits of information from a website or parse extra-long URLs to let me quickly grab product photos from an article when I need to reuse them elsewhere. But all of those tools require complex functions that, in all honesty, I don't want to figure out from scratch.AI has enhanced all of that, so let's explore the three most basic ways ChatGPT can help you do more with spreadsheets.1. Get Structured Data From Any SourceOne of my favorite uses for tools like ChatGPT is to take data from one source and turn it into a structured table or list. That sort of data manipulation can be grueling when done manually, but AI can do it quickly and accurately, letting you automate data entry and skip that step entirely.For example, I recently planned a birthday dinner for someone who loves sushi. But as anyone who knows their sashimi from their wasabi can tell you, bites of fish and rice get pricey. Putting the sushi selection and pricing details into a spreadsheet could make it easier to track who wanted what, how much, and what it would all cost. But first, I'd need to get all of that delicious data into spreadsheet format. I don't love sushi (or spreadsheets) enough to do all of that manually. Thankfully, ChatGPT is pretty great at taking data from one format (be it plaintext or a PDF) and outputting it as another. In this example, all I had to do was download the menu from the restaurant's website, upload it to ChatGPT, and specifically ask for a table that included all of the items on the sushi menu, with price information.(Credit: OpenAI / Brian Westover)It took a little tweaking to get things just how I wanted them, including details like whether it was priced per roll or per piece, but in short order, I had a nicely formatted table of menu items and prices. (Credit: OpenAI / Brian Westover)Copying and pasting into Google Sheets was a cinch. And here's a bonus tip: Pasting with CTRL+V might result in some funky data formatting. Instead, use CTRL+Shift+V to get tables to paste cleanly. (And for a real upgrade, you can do all of this with Google Gemini, and then output the resulting table directly to your Drive as a Google Sheet.)This works for more than just semi-structured restaurant menus and PDF files. You can do the same thing for plaintext lists, photos of whiteboards, scans of old book pages, almost anything. The output format can be as simple or complex as you want. You can output as a table or CSV or use structured formats like JSON or XML. In this case, while copy and paste would do the job just fine, I also wanted to demonstrate how easy it is to output something to a CSV file. (Credit: OpenAI / Brian Westover)If you're unfamiliar, CSV stands for "Comma-separated values" and is a plaintext file format for storing tabular data—literally tables of text and numbers. II's a file format that's supported by both Excel and Google Sheets, so even huge reports can be opened as a clean spreadsheet.(Credit: OpenAI / Brian Westover)As for the data in CSV format, just copy and paste the resulting text into a text file and change the file extension from .txt to .csv. Now, it can be easily opened in Excel or Google Sheets with proper table formatting, ready to be used however you need.2. The Three Fs: Formulas, Formatting, and FeaturesOnce you have your data, AI can also help you wrangle it. While you can use AI to do some data analysis, I find it's much better to just let AI assist me with building out my spreadsheets the way I want, using ChatGPT as an AI Excel formula generator.Recommended by Our EditorsExcel and Google Sheets formulas hit a sweet spot for tools like ChatGPT, where there's a ton of consistent and helpful instructional material on the topic in their training data. It's a mix of language and straightforward logic, making it easy for the AI to understand the tools and the syntax that often leaves human users scratching their heads. The result is even better: instant, copy-and-paste solutions.There are a ton of different ways to leverage this faculty with formulas. Here are just a few examples of the prompts I've found useful in my own work, starting with simple formulas.(Credit: OpenAI / Brian Westover)As you can see, these formulas work for handling math and logic, but also extracting information, whether it's grabbing domain names from email addresses or sifting through text for numbers.That same formula-writing capability is great for setting up more sophisticated conditional formatting rules:(Credit: OpenAI / Brian Westover)All you need to do is explain what you want the rule to do, and ChatGPT can figure out the formatting rule formulas for you, and even walk you through how to set up your custom formatting.And it goes the other direction, too. Not only can ChatGPT write formulas based on your plain English explanation of what you want it to do, but it can also break down what a complex formula does and walk you through the individual functions and variables. It's a great resource for learning formula syntax, but also for troubleshooting a formula that isn't working.(Credit: OpenAI / Brian Westover)Whether you need it for writing formulas, crafting rules for conditional formatting, explaining a formula you might not understand, or debugging a formula that's causing trouble, ChatGPT becomes your AI spreadsheet wingman.3. Learn Excel With AI: Your Personal VLOOKUP Tutorial and MoreChatGPT is also super-effective as a tutor for learning advanced features in Google Sheets and Excel. For all the same reasons that an AI chatbot is great at writing formulas, they're also well-equipped to teach you how to do things in your favorite spreadsheet app.What's the feature you've always thought would be useful but never really understood? Maybe it's Excel Macros or Google Sheets App Script. Maybe you feel intimidated by Regex, pivot tables, or VLOOKUP. Whatever it is, your AI tool of choice can probably help you learn it, and quickly.Now, you always have the option of looking up tutorial videos or digging through FAQs and help forums. There are even Excel tutors and courses that offer premium instruction on any aspect of the app you want to learn.But ChatGPT is also pretty great, and can do it for free. And it will do more than just regurgitate information; you can ask questions, get clarifications, and ask for step-by-step instructions when needed. You can also use it to create custom learning plans, make tutorials that solve your real-world problems and projects, and answer your questions over and over and over again. Unlike a human, AI won't grow impatient when you get stuck.Honestly, the best feature of using AI for learning is that it's endlessly patient and flexible. You can ask it anything, no matter how simple, complex, or specific to your exact use.For example, I needed to brush up on Google Sheets' ImportXML function to update several tools I use to grab product data as part of my work. So I used an extremely simple prompt to go over the basics:(Credit: OpenAI / Brian Westover)In response, ChatGPT walked me through the essential information about how ImportXML functions work, the nuances of Xpath usage, and the syntax of the formula structure used.(Credit: OpenAI / Brian Westover)And this isn't limited to any one function or feature. You can rinse and repeat to learn any aspect of Google Sheets or Excel, or all of them. You can even ask ChatGPT to put together a learning plan to boost your spreadsheet knowledge across the board.Smarter Spreadsheets for Your Daily LifeThese same uses can help you level up your own daily work in all sorts of ways. Whether you're assembling data for a weekly report, analyzing information to find actionable insights, or mining old content for new data, your use of spreadsheet tools can be simpler, faster, and more insightful.And we've only scratched the surface. Consider experimenting with using AI to go beyond basic formulas. The ability to use natural, conversational language to write complex formulas and fine-tune the more advanced features of modern spreadsheets is powerful. Even casually including your preferred chatbot in your daily work leverages AI productivity to make you faster and more efficient and unlock new ways to explore data for unexpected insights.But that doesn't mean that these lessons need to stay office-bound. AI can make Excel and Google Sheets so much more accessible, and you can leverage that in your daily life in creative ways:Grocery inventory and needs tracker to automate making grocery listsSchoolwork project and assignment tracker to keep you on course all semester longDIY Project materials calculator to keep your next project under budgetFantasy football draft and league tracking, so you can enjoy the gameAnd the broader lessons from these tips apply elsewhere. The same AI that can explain Excel formulas and teach you advanced features can be used to troubleshoot a Python script or quickly master the shortcuts in Adobe Photoshop.Personalized tutoring on things like Pivot Tables and ImportXML functions can also be applied to other subjects and skills. AI like ChatGPT is a hugely powerful learning tool and one that can be tailored to you, your projects, and your needs in any combination.Disclosure: Ziff Davis, PCMag's parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—Google Beam does something uncanny to a 65-inch display: It transforms it into a strange sort of window through which the person to whom you’re speaking appears not as a two-dimensional pack of pixels but as a 3D, holographic image floating in front of the display.Google first showed off what was then called Project Starline at I/O 2021, itself staged as a virtual event due to the pandemic. Almost three years after starting tests with such firms as T-Mobile and Salesforce, the company is now ready to commercialize this technology. Last year, Google announced that HP would bring the first Beam system to market, a partnership CEO Sundar Pichai touted in I/O's two-hour keynote this week. On Wednesday afternoon, I got to take a look at prototype hardware in a booth at the show. The six cameras around a large screen sets Beam apart from typical video conferencing. (Google didn't allow photos.) But then I connected to a Google product manager sitting in front of another Beam setup elsewhere on its campus, and it was as if he had just sat down across the table. Or as if the screen had inflated to a sphere with him at its most forward part.Google accomplishes this by using what it calls a “state-of-the-art AI volumetric video model” to fuse the input from those six cameras into output shown on that light-field screen. That extremely high-resolution display technology shows slightly different images to each eye that create a 3D effect without your having to strap on the kind of glasses required for 3D TVs.Light field isn’t a new concept; the startup Lytro tried to commercialize the technology in its cameras starting in 2012, and firms such as San Jose-based Light Field Lab are working on their own display implementations of it. But Google and HP bring much deeper pockets and corporate customers with the budgets that might accommodate what must be an expensive rig.(Google’s I/O post about Beam says HP will reveal more details at the InfoComm trade show in Orlando next month. Google suggests Beam will need at least 30Mbps of bandwidth, which is less than I would have guessed.)Recommended by Our EditorsBeam will not be a Google-only product, supporting Zoom as well as Google Meet; the latter will include the near-real-time language translation that Google showed off at I/O.Despite a presumably massive amount of computation and bandwidth needed, the audio and video stayed in sync throughout this roughly five-minute session. (“Call” seems inadequate to describe the experience.) But I also noticed some glitches around the edges of my interlocutor’s appearance.For example, when he picked up a green apple, a part of a Starline demo we took in at last year’s I/O, parts of his fingers shimmered around it and the spaces between the apple and his hand blurred. Then I noticed a small green shimmer on his neck that roughly matched where the fruit’s shiny surface could have been reflected on his skin. Beam also seems sensitive to your own placement between its cameras, which can allow for some in-call mischief. Leaning too far to one side or the other yielded an onscreen alert to center myself, a reminder that this is built for chats between individual people. And reaching one arm too far to one side or the other results in your hand appearing to be cut off, with only the virtual background behind where that appendage should have been.And if you reach behind you, you will appear and pierce that wall with your hand. Beam supports virtual backgrounds, although the one for this call was the most boring kind of flat gray possible.The whole effect, however, was realistic enough that a handshake seemed in order instead of the now-traditional Zoom wave. We could not do that, but we could do the closest approximation of a high-five that I’ve ever seen possible on a video call.

After 17 years of saving your favorite articles, Pocket is shutting down. The popular read-it-later app is set to close on July 8, 2025. The app's owner, Mozilla says it plans to shut down the app once used by millions as “the way people use the web has evolved, so we’re channeling our resources into projects that better match their browsing habits and online needs."You’ll be able to export your articles from now through to October 8, 2025. After then, your data will be deleted, so if you have a long list of outstanding articles, you'll want to grab the export so you can move them to an alternative service.Pocket is no longer available on app stores, but you can download it if you’ve previously accessed the tool on that service. To export your article list, head to this link, check your email is correct and then hit the button titled Export HTML File. You'll then be sent your file through email, which Mozilla says can take up to 24 hours.Those with Premium subscriptions will get a prorated refund depending on how long you have left after the shut down date of July 8. Pocket has already arranged refunds to your original payment method, and it says no action is needed to receive the money.Recommended by Our EditorsMozilla, the software company behind Firefox, hasn’t shared any further specifics about why it has chosen to shut down the app. It may be because of an increase in AI tools to help you save articles to read later. Mozilla bought Pocket in 2017 in its first acquisition for an undisclosed amount.If you're looking for an alternative service to Pocket, other options include Raindrop.io and Instapaper. Raindrop.io is a bookmark manager that is designed to work for more than just articles, while Instapaper is more of a Pocket-like experience giving you an easy to read format of everything you save no matter what device you're using. You can import your Pocket saves into both Instapaper and Raindrop.io.

Table of ContentsGroundbreaking GeForce RTX 50 Series GPU ConceptsPrestige 13 AI+ Ukiyo-e EditionMercedes-AMG Motorsport LaptopsTitan 18 HX Dragon EditionClaw AI+ Polar Tempest EditionMEG Vision X AI Gaming DesktopCubi NUC AI SeriesPRO DP80 Business DesktopPowered by MSI AI PCDIY Motherboards and Thermal SolutionsMEG MAESTRO 900 and MAG PANO Series CasesLiquid Cooling and Power SuppliesQD-OLED Monitors with AI EnhancementsIRONMOUSE Themed Hardware Lineup8K Polling Rate Mice and PRO Series Wireless PeripheralsRoamii BE Pro Wi-Fi 7 Mesh SystemDigiME 2.0 and AI Interaction At COMPUTEX 2025, MSI presented its most comprehensive product lineup to date—highlighting a unified vision that blends artificial intelligence, powerful hardware, and creative design. From limited-edition laptops and esports monitors to mini PCs and DIY components, MSI is reinforcing its position at the center of modern gaming, creation, and productivity. The announcements reflect both product innovation and deeper engagement with content-driven communities like VTubers, creators, and PC builders. Here’s a closer look at everything MSI unveiled. Groundbreaking GeForce RTX 50 Series GPU Concepts Among the headline announcements was MSI’s unveiling of its next-generation graphics card lineup based on NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 50 Series, built on the new Blackwell architecture. Designed to push performance and thermal efficiency forward, the RTX 50 Series promises significant gains in AI-driven rendering, gaming, and creative workloads. Key concepts included: SUPRIM TITANIUM Edition: A flagship model that combines lightweight titanium alloy construction with premium design. Known for its strength and corrosion resistance, titanium enhances both the structural integrity and aesthetics of the card. CYCLONE VISUAL: A bold concept featuring an integrated dynamic display inside the fan system, allowing real-time video playback while maintaining cooling performance. TWIN FROZR 2025: An evolution of MSI’s well-known thermal design, this edition incorporates copper-aluminum composite fins and a no-solder-hole structure to boost heat dissipation. It also includes next-gen vapor chamber and core pipe implementations for improved conductivity. MSI also showcased its EXPERT Series GPU lineup, which recently won the iF Design Award for 2025. These cards focus on clean, professional design and modular cooling capabilities, signaling MSI’s broader push into advanced thermal engineering across its GPU portfolio. Prestige 13 AI+ Ukiyo-e Edition Fusing cultural craftsmanship with modern technology, the Prestige 13 AI+ Ukiyo-e Edition was one of the show’s design standouts. Created in collaboration with renowned Japanese lacquerware brand OKADAYA, the laptop features an intricate inlay of Katsushika Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” Beyond its artistic merit, the laptop integrates MSI’s latest AI features and received a COMPUTEX Best Choice Award, positioning it as a unique fusion of heritage and innovation. Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Laptops MSI extended its premium partnership with Mercedes-AMG through two new laptops: the Stealth A16 AI+ and the Prestige 16 AI+, each combining top-tier performance with high-end design. The Stealth A16 AI+ pairs AMD processors with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs and a refined display panel, while the Prestige 16 AI+ comes equipped with an Intel CPU and a sharp 4K OLED screen. Both models feature AMG-branded elements and come bundled with a custom laptop sleeve, mouse, and mousepad, reflecting a synergy between performance engineering and luxury branding. Titan 18 HX Dragon Edition A centerpiece of MSI’s gaming showcase, the Titan 18 HX Dragon Edition draws inspiration from Norse mythology and features a 3D-etched dragon motif across its lid and palm rest. Each unit is hand-finished for a bespoke touch. Powered by the GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU based on NVIDIA’s Blackwell architecture, it supports DLSS 4 and NVIDIA Studio for AI-assisted graphics rendering and creative workloads. It received the Best Choice Golden Award in the Gaming and Entertainment category. Claw AI+ Polar Tempest Edition MSI is doubling down on the handheld gaming space with the Claw 8 AI+ Polar Tempest Edition, building on the momentum of the original Claw 8 AI+. The new version features Intel’s latest Lunar Lake processor and a 2TB SSD—improving on performance and storage without altering the compact form factor. It also won a COMPUTEX Best Choice Award, marking MSI’s rising credibility in the handheld market. MEG Vision X AI Gaming Desktop For those seeking high-end desktop performance, the MEG VISION X AI offers an impressive mix of power and user control. It integrates a 13-inch touchscreen with EZ Mode UI for real-time system management and customization. Internally, it’s powered by Intel Core Ultra 9 CPUs and NVIDIA RTX 5090 GPUs, and it features advanced cooling technologies like Silent Storm Cooling AI and Glacier Armor. The system supports Gen 5 SSDs and DDR5 memory, making it a complete solution for creators and high-end gamers alike. Cubi NUC AI Series MSI's Cubi NUC AI 1UMG and Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG mini PCs target users looking for compact, AI-ready solutions. Made from PCR recycled materials, they include Intel Core Ultra processors, integrated AI Boost NPUs, and features like fingerprint authentication, speakers, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and MSI Power Link. They are built to mount seamlessly behind MSI monitors and can be powered on through the monitor itself. PRO DP80 Business Desktop Built for small and medium-sized business, the PRO DP80 features a 14th Gen Intel Core Ultra processor, optional NVIDIA graphics, and dual LAN connectivity. Its 8ltr chassis supports optical drives, card readers, and enterprise-grade security features including dTPM and chassis intrusion detection. With AI readiness built in, the DP80 bridges performance and IT manageability.Recommended by Our Editors Powered by MSI AI PC MSI demonstrated the upper limit of consumer-grade AI computing with a system built around the MEG X870 GODLIKE motherboard, AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor, and RTX 5090 GPU. Paired with 256GB of DDR5 memory and a PCIe Gen 5 SSD, this configuration is capable of running large language models like Deepseek R1 70b entirely on-device without relying on cloud infrastructure. DIY Motherboards and Thermal Solutions MSI introduced an extensive lineup of new motherboards: MEG X870E ACE: A premium ATX board with gold accents, Wi-Fi 7, 10G LAN, and 18+2+1 phase power design MPG X870I EDGE TI WIFI / B850I EDGE TI WIFI: Silver-white mini-ITX boards with PCIe Gen 5 support and rich I/O MAG X870E TOMAHAWK WIFI PZ: MSI’s first back-connect MAG board, simplifying cable management B850MPOWER: A compact M-ATX board aimed at overclockers with a 2-DIMM layout and integrated debug controls MSI also introduced PinSafe, a new feature that reduces the risk of injury during motherboard assembly by addressing sharp rear-side pin designs. MEG MAESTRO 900 and MAG PANO Series Cases The MEG MAESTRO 900 Series returns as MSI’s flagship PC chassis, featuring diamond-chamfered edges, triple tempered glass panels, and a 4-directional rotatable motherboard tray. Designed for showcase builds and custom loops, it balances aesthetics with modular performance. Meanwhile, the MAG PANO 130R PZ caters to panoramic builds and supports back-connect motherboards for cleaner routing. Liquid Cooling and Power Supplies MSI's new cooling systems span performance and design: MEG CORELIQUID E13: 6-inch customizable LCD, CenterFlow radiator, POGO-PIN mount for flexible installation MPG CORELIQUID P13: Glass-accented block design with hidden cabling, TTS-compatible LCD, and streamlined tubingIn power delivery, the MAG A1000GLS PCIE5 series offers 80 Plus Gold and ATX 3.1 compliance, up to 1000W capacity, and silent operation. A white variant is also available for themed builds. QD-OLED Monitors with AI Enhancements Two new QD-OLED monitors join MSI’s growing display lineup: MAG 272QP QD-OLED X50: 27-inch 2K screen with a 500Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms GTG response for competitive gaming MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50: Adds MSI’s AI Care Sensor that uses ambient human detection to manage OLED panel protection dynamically IRONMOUSE Themed Hardware Lineup MSI’s collaboration with VTuber IRONMOUSE produced a full set of themed components. These include: A custom MPG X870E EDGE TI WIFI motherboard with heart-shaped accents A MAG CORELIQUID A13 360 cooler with mascot motifs An MPG 321URXW QD-OLED monitor with a white frame and pink touches A matching MAG PANO 100R PZ case with printed panels in her whimsical “Demon Queen” aesthetic 8K Polling Rate Mice and PRO Series Wireless Peripherals MSI also showcased its next-gen wireless peripherals designed for extreme responsiveness and professional-grade customization. VERSA 500 WIRELESS 8K: A right-handed ergonomic gaming mouse featuring an 8,000 Hz polling rate and a magnetic scroll wheel with Hall-effect technology. VERSA 300 WIRELESS 8K: A symmetrical design offering the same high polling rate in a lighter and more compact shell. VERSA PRO WIRELESS Mouse: Geared toward versatility, this model includes programmable buttons tailored for a variety of gaming and productivity needs. STRIKE PRO WIRELESS Keyboard: Built with silent mechanical structure, dedicated media keys, a scroll wheel, and customizable macro buttons. A wide array of swappable keycap styles was also on display, appealing to both gamers and mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. Roamii BE Pro Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System MSI introduced the Roamii BE Pro, a Wi-Fi 7 mesh networking system designed to deliver ultra-fast speeds—up to 11Gbps—across the entire home. Powered by Multi-Link Operation (MLO), 320 MHz channels, and 4K-QAM modulation, Roamii BE Pro ensures lag-free 4K streaming, smooth online gaming, and stable connectivity in every corner of a household. To simplify setup, MSI updated its Router 2.0 app with a new “Find WiFi Spot” feature, which helps users identify optimal node placement for maximum performance. The system reinforces MSI’s expanding role in smart home and network infrastructure. DigiME 2.0 and AI Interaction MSI closed its COMPUTEX presence with the unveiling of DigiME 2.0, which now includes MIA, an AI-powered virtual assistant. Built using large language models and real-time voice synthesis, MIA serves as a digital companion and MSI product expert. She supports natural language queries and can summarize meetings, guide system management, or interact through a 3D avatar.

Do you want to save some time, money, and energy? A new robot vacuum can do that for you, week in and week out. There are all different kinds of models out there, including robot vacuums, robot mops, and hybrid versions that both vacuum and mop. No matter what your home needs, chances are there's an early Memorial Day deal for you. That's right – we're currently seeing mega markdowns on some of our favorite robotic household helpers. The sooner you can clean up one of these great deals, the sooner you can cut down on your chore time (and that means more time for summer fun). So, let's take a deeper look at the best on-sale robotic floor cleaning machines, with more to come. iRobot Vacuum DealsEarning our Editors' Choice award for high-end robot vacuums, the iRobot Roomba j9+ boasts strong suction power, camera vision-based navigation, and class-leading obstacle avoidance. Not only is it smart enough to avoid things like pet waste and automatically adjust suction according to dirt levels, but it also learns which areas tend to be dirty and prioritizes those spots first in future cleaning runs. When you combine the exceptional vacuuming performance with the ability to self-empty and ample app features, it's more than worth the high price tag, according to our expert reviewer Andrew Gebhart – so with an outrageous 56% discount, it's a downright steal!Eufy Vacuum DealsThe Eufy Robot Vacuum 11S Max is an affordable robot vacuum that doesn't sacrifice performance for price. It's one of our favorite budget-friendly models, as it provides strong and efficient cleaning capabilities across various floor types in a quiet and compact machine. In fact, it's small enough to fit under most furniture in your home (which is where the most dust tends to collect). You won't find many fancy features, but at a sale price of just $160, it gets the job done well without breaking the bank.Recommended by Our EditorsRobot Mop DealsIf you're after sparkly clean floors, then the iRobot Braava Jet M6 is for you. It's a highly capable robot mop that can also sweep dirt and debris off your floors, covering up to 1,000 square feet in a single session. It left floors noticeably cleaner after both dry sweeping and wet mopping use during our testing and demonstrated expert navigation, including the ability to avoid carpets. While more of a robot mop than robot vacuum, we recommend this for anyone who mainly has hardwood floors or tile as it can be equally (if not more) effective – and with a $200 discount, now is the time to check it out.These early Memorial Day robo vac and mop deals are just getting started – keep checking back as we'll be updating with new deals throughout the week.

Anthropic released two new Claude models today with a focus on coding and software development.Claude Opus 4 and Claude Sonnet 4 aim to set "new standards for coding, advanced reasoning, and AI agents," Anthropic says. The new models can "deliver superior coding" and respond more precisely to user instructions. They can "think" through complex problems more deeply, and search the web along the way. Opus 4, in particular, is "the world's best coding model," Anthropic says, and can operate independently without human intervention. When shopping app Rakuten tested Opus 4, it ran independently for seven hours. Many companies are rapidly adopting AI models this purpose. Microsoft says 30% of its code is already written by AI, and Meta aims for 50% by 2026."These models are a large step toward the virtual collaborator—maintaining full context, sustaining focus on longer projects, and driving transformational impact," says Anthropic.Anthropic did not increase the price for developers who access the models through its API. Opus 4 is $15/$75 per million tokens (input/output) and Sonnet 4 at $3/$15. OpenAI's o3 model, which also promises "leading performance on coding," sits between the two at $10/$40. Recommended by Our EditorsClaude Code is also now available to everyone with this release. It integrates the AI model into developers' existing tools, and helps them get their work done. Claude's proposed edits appear in-line once installed.It seems like every AI company these days is offering their "biggest and smartest model yet." Anthropic backs up its claims by noting Claude 4 is the best at two benchmarks, the SWE-bench (72.5%) and Terminal-bench (43.2%). In the chart below, OpenAI models and Google Gemini 2.5 Pro trail in performance.Claude 4 model scores on key software engineering benchmarks.(Credit: Anthropic)Since AI benchmarks are notoriously difficult for the layperson to understand, Anthropic has resorted to portraying its progress through video games. It built a way for its models to play Pokémon Red autonomously, livestreamed via Twitch. The Sonnet 3.7 model progressed further in the game than Sonnet 3.5, and now Anthropic says the Claude 4 Models are playing the best yet, thanks to a new ability to store "memory files" of key information."This unlocks better long-term task awareness, coherence, and performance on agent tasks—like Opus 4 creating a 'Navigation Guide' while playing Pokémon," Anthropic says. Claude Opus 4 records key information to help improve its game play.(Credit: Anthropic)

What Can Cloud Storage Do for You?The best cloud storage services integrate nicely with other apps and online tools, making the experience of viewing and editing files stored online feel natural. You want the other software you use to be able to retrieve or access your content, so it's a big deal to make sure you use a service that easily integrates with your existing tools. Box and Dropbox are particularly strong in this regard.(Credit: Google/PCMag)The range of capabilities of cloud-based storage services is wider than you may realize. Many of them specialize in a specific area. For example, Dropbox focuses on keeping a synced folder accessible everywhere and sharing folders with colleagues outside your company. Proton Drive emphasizes secure cloud storage. If you mostly store images, you might want a storage service that specializes in hosting photos (two top options are Google Photos with a Google One account and Adobe Lightroom). Some cloud storage providers, such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft, are generalists, giving you folder and file syncing, media playing, device syncing, and backup. These products double as collaboration software because they let multiple people edit the same file in real time.Distinct from but overlapping in some cases with cloud storage are backup services, particularly ones that create online backups. Some of them, such as Acronis Cyber Protect, specialize in data protection and recovery, while others, like IDrive, combine data protection with syncing and sharing capabilities.Most cloud services offer some form of backup due to their intended function. Basically, any files uploaded to a cloud service are also protected from disk failures, since there are copies of them in the cloud. But dedicated backup services sometimes can create a full disk image of your machine so you can restore not just your files, but everything, including system settings and programs. Syncing, by contrast, is about backing up and managing selected files only.(Credit: Box/PCMag)What Is the 'Cloud' in Cloud Storage?There's a half-joke in the tech world: "There is no cloud. It's just someone else's computer." To clear up any confusion, the cloud part of cloud-based storage refers to storing files somewhere other than your computer's hard drive. Usually, it means the service provider's servers. Having data in the cloud allows you to access your files online. Your data is usually encrypted before making the journey over the internet to the provider's servers, and it remains encrypted while it lives on those servers. Recommended by Our EditorsWell-designed services don't upload a brand-new copy of your files whenever you change one little thing. Instead, the file syncing service looks for changes to your files and uploads only them, saving your connection bandwidth.(Credit: Dropbox/PCMag)You can access your cloud files through an app or utility software installed on your computer. Once it's installed, it usually shows a small notification icon and creates your synced folder structure that fits into Windows Explorer or the macOS Finder. You can also get to the files via your web browser. Of course, you need an internet connection for it to work, but if you are temporarily without a connection, that's okay. The service waits until the next time you do have a connection and takes care of business then. For a deeper explanation, see our explainer on cloud computing. Free vs. Paid Cloud StorageMany services give you free cloud storage as part of their entry-level account. They usually come with limitations, such as the amount of storage you get or a tight cap on the size of the files you can upload. We encourage you to sign up for the free tier of service first and try out the cloud service for several weeks before you commit to upgrading. This way, you can fully integrate the cloud service into your life for real-world testing. You get a feel for how it works and determine what might go wrong with your setup.(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)What could possibly go wrong? Human error accounts for many cloud storage tragedies, but the dropped internet connection is another common troublemaker. Not to mention that every internet service suffers the occasional outage. Ask around (or just look through our review comments), and you'll hear sad stories of how cloud storage can go wrong. One of the benefits of paying for an account is that it usually comes with additional support from the provider, so if anything goes wrong, someone from the company can help you resolve the issue.There are many other reasons to pay for cloud storage, from getting a lot more space (a terabyte doesn't cost all that much anymore) to being able to upload huge files. That last benefit is relevant to graphic designers, video editors, and other visual artists who often host enormous files. Other perks of paying for your cloud storage often include increased access to file-version history (meaning you can restore an important business proposal to the version you had before your colleague made a bunch of erroneous changes), more security, and more features for collaboration and teamwork.

Pros Impressive visual upgradeMemorable quest linesDLC is includedUnintentionally hilarious moments Cons Bugs, new and oldDungeons lack variety The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Specs ESRB Rating M for Mature Games Genre RPG Games Platform PC Games Platform PlayStation 5 Games Platform Xbox Series S Games Platform Xbox Series X All Specs It's been 14 years since Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim debuted, and since then, there have been seven unique releases of the seminal open-world RPG (including a voice-only version for Amazon Alexa). Its predecessor, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, has not been so lucky, left behind to languish in its original form on the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3—until now. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered ($49.99, tested on PlayStation 5 Pro, also available on PC and Xbox Series X/S) is a visual update of one of the most important RPGs ever made. It gives the nearly 20-year-old title a much-deserved facelift thanks to Unreal Engine 5—and for better or worse, it preserves everything that made the game iconic. Nearly two decades in, Oblivion remains a highly enjoyable RPG that appeals to newcomers and veterans alike, earning it our Editors’ Choice award. What's New in Oblivion Remastered?"Find him, and close shut the doors of Oblivion." Those were the final words uttered by Emperor Uriel Septum—played by none other than Star Trek's Patrick Stewart—before an assassin leaped out of the shadows to cut him down. That not only capped Elder Scrolls IV's tutorial and began the game in earnest, but also kick-started my Elder Scrolls love nearly 20 years ago. (Credit: Bethesda Game Studios/PCMag)At the time, open-world games were dominated by urban, Grand Theft Auto-like titles, so The Elder Scrolls IV was my first experience with a fantasy realm cut from that template. Even after hours of fast traveling, horseback riding, and slowly jogging from point A to point B, there were more quests to find, gear to loot, and havoc to wreak. Oblivion was rough around the edges, but it touched me in a way that contemporary Bethesda releases, such as Fallout 4, Skyrim, and Starfield, do not.I was surprised by how much Oblivion was ingrained in my brain when I loaded up the remaster on my PlayStation 5. I was also surprised by how much of that original title remains in the new version. From the Lord of the Rings-esque opening track to the weird, center-of-the-screen zoom that frames every conversation, it's immediately apparent that 2025's Oblivion Remastered is nearly the same game as the 2006 release, albeit wrapped in an Unreal Engine shell.(Credit: Bethesda Game Studios/PCMag)That's not to say that nothing has changed, and Oblivion Remastered's new coat of paint comes with art direction shifts that may not resonate with fans of the original. Upon stepping out of the Imperial Sewers and into the world of Cyrodiil, I immediately noticed that the high-contrast green hills I remembered were now muted and shaded more realistically. This gives Oblivion Remastered some visual inconsistencies, as some outfits and characters look noticeably dull. But for every ugly NPC, I found a gorgeous Aurora Borealis stretched across the night sky, or stared at the shadows dancing behind a burning torch illuminating a dark dungeon.I was also impressed by Oblivion Remastered's sound design, which preserves much of the original release's charm. The iconic score is just as I remember it, but most importantly, the fully voiced characters return. Performances from notable actors like Sean Bean and Patrick Stewart stand out, but the real stars are the voice actors who portray dozens of unique characters throughout Cyrodiil. (Credit: Bethesda Game Studios/PCMag)They remind me of a community theatre doing medieval impressions at the local Renaissance Fair. I mean that with love. However, bizarre line deliveries and intonations make it hard not to laugh. Couple that with bugs and the less-than-stellar AI, and you'll encounter many bizarre interactions.In one instance, as I traveled to an objective, I spotted an elf running across the plains with her fist up, punching every deer in her way. In another case, I had just closed an Oblivion Gate, and as soon as the guard captain congratulated me, he became disgruntled and told me to get out of his face. As I walked through the survivors' camp after a Daedra attack, three characters began talking over one another, spouting the same dialogue. Those moments helped solidify Oblivion as an unintended comedic masterpiece. As modern games become obsessed with movie-quality performances and hyper-realistic graphics, it's nice to step back and appreciate the jank that persists underneath Oblivion Remastered's Unreal Engine glow. That authenticity defines and elevates Oblivion for the same reasons an earnest B-movie becomes a cult classic.Recommended by Our Editors(Credit: Bethesda Game Studios/ PCMag)That said, Oblivion's open world, as new as it was at the time, wasn't the real reason I fell in love with it. Rather, I was obsessed with the idea of consequences. More so than being good or evil, Oblivion remembers your actions and responds accordingly. Killing the wrong person gets you kicked out of guilds, while other characters react to you negatively when you try to steal from them. Guards chase you down and toss you into jail. Quests become inaccessible if you take the wrong action. This made the game world feel alive in a way that many games do not. That was true in 2006, and it remains true in the 2025 remaster.GameplayThe beat-by-beat gameplay remains fun, if simple. Although Oblivion Remastered isn't as deep as Baldur’s Gate III, it has a wide variety of classes, races, and playstyles that enable player creativity. I played as a Redguard, a race that's proficient in Athletics, Blade, and Blunt weapons, and Light and Heavy Armor. Born under the Warrior sign, my character enjoyed increased strength and endurance. As a result, I approached almost every situation like a medieval Terminator.(Credit: Bethesda Game Studios/PCMag)There's room to adjust your playstyle. So, if your heart desires a Battlemage for one situation and a stealth archer for another, you can easily pivot in one direction or the other. New gameplay changes claim to improve the combat, but I didn't notice much of a difference during testing. However, the improved controls, camera, and sprint are greatly appreciated.The guilds feature some of the more memorable quest lines. The Dark Brotherhood, one of my favorites, sees you murder targets, Hitman style. Meanwhile, the Thieves Guild tasks you with outwitting guards to steal high-profile gear, but only after you've done a certain amount of independent thievery. The Oblivion Remastered includes the two expansion packs, Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles, plus additional DLC packs (yes, that includes the infamous horse armor pack). The Deluxe Edition includes a digital artbook and new quests, armor, and weapons.(Credit: Bethesda Game Studios/PCMag)The main quest line, which focuses on finding a new heir to battle the evil pouring from giant Oblivion gates, is pretty forgettable. Dungeon crawling is also fairly trite, with caverns and temples that repeat ad nauseam. Although there's much to explore in Cyrodiil, it isn’t too exciting if it's not attached to a quest.Graphics and PerformanceI spent my review time playing on the PlayStation 5 Pro (Oblivion Remastered is PS5 Pro Enhanced), and performance was mostly good. The game defaults to Performance mode and targets 60 frames per second. It didn't hit that target often, especially during large battles. However, switching to Quality mode was just awful. It tanked the frame rate and didn't add much visual fidelity. It's not worth the performance trade-off.Although I praise Oblivion Remastered's core for being authentically stuck in 2006, I must remove my nostalgia goggles for a moment to address the game's bugs and glitches. Many are funny, while others are game-breaking. Oblivion Remastered crashed multiple times during testing. In some cases, quest-giving characters refused to spawn or spawned in the wrong locations. On one occasion, I fell through the floor. A generous auto-save system prevents losing lots of progress, but it's still a pain to retread your last 20 minutes.Some may argue that glitches are part of the Oblivion experience, and in a way, they aren't wrong. However, there's no denying that annoying bugs from nearly 20 years ago should have been squashed by now.

Table of ContentsBeats Headphone DealsSennheiser Headphone DealsSony Headphones DealsSony Earbud DealsAnker Earbud DealsSamsung Earbud Deals Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and what better way to celebrate a new (warm) season than with a fresh set of headphones or earbuds? Whether you're looking for a set of quality cans on a budget or you're in need of an upgrade for true noise-cancelling earbuds, we've got what your ears need: top-rated tech at low, low, holiday sale prices. Memorial Day sales are already firing up like backyard barbecues with slashed prices on the biggest names in the audio game, like Beats and Sennheiser. So expect to see flash sales on some of our favorite headphones and earbuds leading up to the holiday weekend. Don't forget to check out our round-up of theBest Early Memorial Day tech sales for all of the best deals out there.Beats Headphone DealsComing in eight different colors (including blue, tan, brown, and white), the Beats Studio Pro offer long lasting battery life — 40 hours on a full charge. Even if you're not on full power, a 10-minute charge can make the Beats Pro last up to four hours of playback, meaning you'll never have to put any podcast on pause. The headphones also get high marks for their impressive active noise cancellation feature, and incredible sound quality. While the original price tag was an eye-popping $349, you can score the spatial audio cans for 43% off on Amazon. When we reviewed the Beats Studio Pro, our audio expert, Tim Gideon, said it "delivers punchy bass with bright highs" and all in comfy earpads. Sennheiser Headphone DealsSennheiser — an underrated (but not by us) veteran in the audio game — always impresses in its audio proficiency and the Momentum 4 is no different. Packed with excellent bass clarity, and a library-bingeing 60 hour battery life, it’s no wonder why our reviewer said these headphones are "a worthy alternative to our favorites from Bose and Sony." Using a headphone jack, Bluetooth, or with a USB-C cable, the Momentum has some versatility. Not really known for ever being an affordable option, the Momentum 4 garnered our "Excellent" rating, making this 27% discount a can't miss sale.Sony Headphones DealsThe Sony WH-1000XM5 is one of our favorite pair of headphones and it's currently 25% off for the holiday. These cans deliver exceptional noise cancellation, a comfortable fit, intuitive on-ear controls, and a feature-rich companion app with extensive EQ customization. The mic feature has clear voice detection for phone calls, voice commands, or smart phone prompts. As our expert reviewer noted, "Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones continue the role established by their predecessor, offering the best sound quality in relation to noise cancellation," earning our Editors' Choice award.Recommended by Our EditorsThe Sony WH-100XM4 is another outstanding set of headphones that we love. With a traditional rounded ear cups, the Sony XM4 delivers excellent audio with superb bass, best in class ANC, and 30 hours of battery life, along with touch sensor controls. Plus, it's at a lower price than the XM5! Our expert raved about the cans saying, "these are the noise-cancelling headphones to buy if audio performance is your top priority, and they easily earn our Editors' Choice." These outstanding headphones are currently at a jaw-dropping 34% off, making these premium headphones a bargain. Sony Earbud DealsAccording to our expert review, "The Sony WF-1000XM5 earphones are a worthy update to one of our most-recommended models, with the best audio quality of the noise-cancelling pairs we've tested." Wow! With excellent noise cancellation, first in class mic clarity, wireless case charging, customizable EQ settings, and outstanding audio quality, we can see why it won both an Editor's Choice award and a "Best of the Year" nod. The 1000XM5 is also compatible with Sony's Auto Play app, which recognizes hand and head gestures to accept or reject incoming calls. Currently, these Sony earbuds are 34% off, and we honestly can't recommend these hard enough. Anker Earbud DealsWith a great battery life, rich audio details, water resistance body, and a great price, the Anker Space A40 earbuds are a sleeper hit that's on sale. The earbuds offer four different ear tip sizes, four hours of battery life after a 10 minute charge, and they deliver powerful active noise cancellation for the price. In our review, the A40 earned our Editors' Choice award and our expert said these buds, "deliver quality active noise cancellation and balanced, detailed audio for a modest price." And that price is at a very modest 44% off right now. Samsung Earbud DealsThe Galaxy Buds 3 Pro can easily be dismissed as AirPod competitors, but the earbuds are worth considering, especially if you already own a Samsung phone and like saving $50. Delivering above average ANC, these comfortable earbuds use AI to cleverly adjust your sound settings based on how the buds are sitting in your ears. Although the battery life is just around 6-8 hours on a full charge, they still received an "Excellent" rating from our expert, Christian de Looper. In his review, our expert called the earbuds a smart choice for Samsung users saying, "The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are a worthy option with top-notch audio, unique AI features, and classy looks."We’re finding Early Memorial Day Deals everywhere, from retailers like Amazon and Walmart to top brands like Apple and HP. And don’t forget to check out all of the Memorial Day Deals Under $100 and Under $50. But, if you’re looking for something more specific, we’ve rounded up the following holiday deals for you:

Pros Sizzling hot throughput speedsExcellent 4K write speedWill be available in capacities up to 4TB Cons Lackluster PCMark 10 Overall Storage scoreLowest score on 3DMark Storage gaming benchmark of all the Gen 5 drives we've reviewed Lexar Professional NM1090 Pro PCIe 5.0 SSD Specs Bus Type PCI Express 5.0 Capacity (Tested) 4 Controller Maker Silicon Motion Interface (Computer Side) PCI Express Internal Form Factor M.2 Type-2280 Internal or External Internal NAND Type TLC NVMe Support Rated Maximum Sequential Read 14000 Rated Maximum Sequential Write 13000 Terabytes Written (TBW) Rating 2800 Warranty Length 5 All Specs The Lexar Professional NM1090 Pro (starts at $179.99 for 1TB; $494.99 for 4TB as tested) easily beats its rated sequential throughput speeds, according to our extensive tests, and it has the second-highest throughput scores we have seen from an SSD. But the NM1090 Pro's other test results are largely unimpressive; this PCI Express 5.0 internal SSD's sheer raw speed does not translate into great overall performance. So while it doesn't unseat the Editors' Choice-winning WD Black SN8100, it's an acceptable alternative. Design and Specs: Up to 4TB of Storage SpaceThe NM1090 is a four-lane solid-state drive running the NVMe 2.0 protocol over a PCIe 5.0 bus. This internal SSD comes in the standard M.2 Type-2280 "gumstick" format. This drive uses Micron 232-layer 3D TLC NAND flash and a Silicon Motion (SMI) SM2508 controller. Lexar cites this controller's 6nm architecture for helping to control the heat that Gen 5 drives are wont to generate and to minimize thermal throttlng. (Baffled by some of this lingo? Check out our handy guide to SSD jargon.)Physically speaking, this drive is also flashier than many of its competitors. It's adorned with a gold stripe across the front, which contrasts nicely with the black accents. It's sure to complement a classy PC build. The NM1090 Pro comes in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities. The 4TB stick that I reviewed is expected to go on sale in the US in the near future.Pricewise, the NM1090 Pro is midrange, below some of the elite Gen 5 sticks but higher than the modest-performing DRAM-less models we've tested: the Crucial P510 and the soon-to-be-reviewed Addlink G55H.As for durability, expressed as lifetime write capacity in total terabytes written (TBW), the NM1090 Pro matches the Crucial P510, T700, and T705 in the capacities they share. Its durability rating is a notch below the Corsair MP700 Pro, the ADATA Legend 970, and the Aorus 10000, which are rated at 700TBW for 1TB and 1,400TBW for 2TB. The Seagate FireCuda 540 is the reigning Gen 5 durability champ, with ratings of 1,000TBW for the 1TB stick and 2,000TBW for 2TB.The terabytes-written spec is a manufacturer's estimate of how much data can be written to a drive before some cells begin to fail and get taken out of service. Lexar warranties the NM1090 Pro for five years or until you hit the rated TBW figure in data writes, whichever comes first. But the drive's durability rating is such that unless you're writing unusually large amounts of data to the SSD, it's a safe bet that this drive will last the full warranty period and well beyond.The NM1090 includes the Lexar DiskMaster SSD Management tool, which lets you perform firmware updates, manage drive data, securely erase private files, and monitor drive health.System Requirements: Recent Motherboard RequiredPCIe 5.0 SSDs promise a major speed boost over PCIe 4.0 drives, but you can take advantage of it only if you have recent hardware that supports the standard. Only recent enthusiast-grade desktops and a handful of laptops are likely to be PCIe 5.0 SSD-ready off the shelf, so you may have to build your own PC from the ground up or update an existing system to gain the connectivity required. You'll need an Intel 12th Gen or later Core CPU with a motherboard based on Intel's Z690/Z790 or a more recent chipset; or an AMD Ryzen 7000 or 9000 processor with an AM5 motherboard built around an X670, X670E, B650E, or later chipset.Recommended by Our Editors(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Now, an important point: Just because you have one of those chipsets doesn't guarantee that the motherboard maker actually implemented a PCIe 5.0-capable M.2 SSD slot. That's up to the board maker, so check your system's or motherboard's specs and documentation to make sure you actually have such a slot before investing in one of these drives. Some boards have PCIe 5.0 expansion slots for graphics cards and other PCI Express cards, but no PCIe 5.0 slots for SSDs. You need a PCIe 5.0-capable M.2 slot, specifically.Performance: Raw Speed Isn't EverythingIn benchmarking the NM1090 Pro, we used our latest testbed PC, designed specifically for benchmarking PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSDs. It is built around an ASRock X670E Taichi motherboard with an AMD X670 chipset, 32GB of DDR5 memory, one PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slot (with lanes that have direct access to the CPU), and three PCIe 4.0 slots. The system has an AMD Ryzen 9 7900 CPU using an AMD stock cooler; a GeForce RTX 2070 Super graphics card with 8GB of GDDR6 SDRAM; and a Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 Snow 750-watt power supply. The boot drive is an ADATA Legend 850 PCIe 4.0 SSD. (The reviewed SSD is tested as a secondary data drive.)We put the Lexar drive through our usual slate of internal solid-state drive benchmarks: Crystal DiskMark 6.0, UL's PCMark 10 Storage, and UL's 3DMark Storage benchmark. The last measures a drive's performance in a number of gaming-related load and launch tasks.Crystal DiskMark's sequential speed tests provide a traditional measure of drive throughput, simulating best-case, straight-line transfers of large files. We use this test largely to see if our tested speeds are in line with the manufacturer's rated speeds.The NM1090 Pro put up some scorching Crystal DiskMark numbers, easily beating its sequential read and write speed ratings while turning in the second-highest throughput results we've recorded, after the WD SN8100. And while its 4K read was middling for a Gen 5 drive and far behind the SN8100's prodigious score, the NM1090 Pro eked out a high score in 4K write, edging out the SN8100. Good 4K write performance is especially important for an SSD used as a boot drive, though we test them as secondary drives.The PCMark 10 Overall Storage test measures a drive's speed in performing a variety of routine tasks such as launching Windows, loading games and creative apps, and copying both small and large files.The NM1090 Pro's PCMark 10 Overall score was toward the low end of our comparison group, ahead of the two DRAM-less PCI Express 5.0 SSDs (the Addlink G55H and Crucial P510), as well as the two Gen 4 drives we included in the chart above. As for the individual traces that make up the PCMark 10 Overall score, the NM1090 Pro's scores were below average, generally similar to the DRAM-less PCIe 5.0 SSDs and ahead of the Gen 4 sticks. A bright spot was the NM1090 Pro's second-place finish in Adobe Premiere Pro loading (after the WD SN8100), though it was brought down to earth with a last-place finish in Photoshop loading, behind even the two PCIe 4.0 SSDs. The NM1090 Pro also had a last-place finish in the Windows loading trace.In 3DMark Storage, which aggregates a drive's performance at a variety of gaming-related tasks, the NM1090 Pro's score was at the bottom of the pack, with its nearest rival, the Crucial P510, besting it by 18%.

Google's Gemini integrates very closely with just about every Workspace app, including Gmail. When I tested the AI chatbot, I expected options to rephrase an email to sound more professional or summarize long threads. What I got instead was a first-hand lesson in how invasive Gemini can be once it has access to 16 years' worth of emails. What’s more concerning is that signing up for Google’s AI Pro plan automatically unlocks Gemini’s Gmail integration—without an explanation of what it does or the choice to opt out. So you should think twice about signing up for Gemini with your main Google account. If you do want Gemini in Gmail or are curious about how invasive it gets, here’s what you can expect.How Does Gemini Know That?Clicking the Gemini icon in Gmail opens up a sidebar where you can talk to Gemini about your email. In testing, it was able to tell me useful information, such as when my next Trade coffee delivery would arrive and if I had any pressing emails that required responses. But it goes far beyond that.When I asked it about my first crush, Gemini was able to determine that it occurred in elementary school, as well as tell me the name of my first love, how we met, and when we met. Upon request, Gemini also told me who my top Facebook friends were in 2009 and who my best friend was in 2010. Gemini even explained that one of my character flaws is that I get "too laser-focused on what [I] want, which extracts a toll on [my] relationships, much like Drake from the Uncharted game." And, yes, that’s one of my favorite game franchises, which apparently Gemini knows, too.(Credit: Google/PCMag)How does Gemini know that? The simple answer is that the information is somewhere within the 16 years' worth of my email history it can access. Why does Gemini sometimes end its messages with “Cheers, Ruben” as if it’s me? Gemini can write emails for me in my unique style with its new Smart Reply feature, but why does it adopt my style when I talk to it?That may be a simple bug, but I also find the possibilities of Smart Reply worrying, given my previous experiences: What if Gemini includes deeply personal information in an email, and I accidentally send it out? My main takeaway is that I find all of this intensely unsettling.Can You Trust Google to Protect Your Privacy?What does Google do with information about my love life and character flaws? Its privacy policy is fairly clear: Google collects a variety of information when you use Gemini, which includes your entire chat history. The company uses this information to improve its products and train its large language models. However, Google doesn't use Gemini data from Google Workspace apps, like Gmail, for training, ad targeting, or selling. I appreciate the guarantee, but I don’t fully trust Google.Recommended by Our EditorsJust in 2025, Google agreed to pay out $1.375 billion for collecting Texans’ biometric data without consent, and a state-sponsored group exploited a flaw in Google Chrome to spy on Russian users. In 2024, Google came under fire for ‘misleading and aggressive’ data practices. Google’s historical track record isn’t any better, as evidenced by the Google+ leak of user information in 2018 and the Gmail password leak in 2014.Gemini or no Gemini, my data is on Google’s servers, so I am susceptible to all manner of hacks and leaks. However, Gemini in my email means that a bad actor might not just get access to my account or information but also to a convenient tool they can use to ask directly about pretty much any major event in my life for the better part of two decades. Should You Give Gemini Access to Your Email?This question doesn’t have a simple answer, and a lot of it depends on your views on online privacy. I don’t like Gemini in my personal email or in my personal Google Drive files (which is another integration that happens automatically when you sign up for the premium Gemini subscription), but I'm much more open to Gemini in a professional capacity.As someone who makes his living largely working from home on the internet, I’m used to using accounts and devices that aren’t entirely mine. I don’t get nearly as creeped out knowing Gemini can analyze my work interactions with PR representatives or see my meeting history. I'm open to hearing about, say, how the way I schedule meetings reflects poorly on my character.Whether you feel comfortable with Gemini in your email or anywhere else is entirely up to you. Just make sure you know what’s in your data and that you’re comfortable with a chatbot that can learn intimate facts about you before you decide to give it access to your email. As for me, it's all too creepy. I don't plan on letting Gemini access my personal email anymore.Google doesn't make it clear how to turn Gemini off in Gmail, but it's possible. Go to Gmail's settings, and click the "Manage Workplace smart feature settings" button. Here, you can toggle smart features (including Gemini) in Google Workplace off. If you click on the Gemini button going forward, it simply prompts you to turn smart features back on.

Worried that Microsoft Recall might take screenshots of your Signal chats? Don’t be. Signal has introduced a new “Screen security” setting for its Windows 11 app that will give users a black screen every time you or the system attempts to take a screenshot. You might be familiar with the outcome if you have attempted screenshotting shows or movies on Netflix. The feature arrives just a month after Microsoft officially rolled out its controversial Recall feature, which takes screenshots at regular intervals to create a history of everything you have seen or done on your PC. Though announced in May last year, the launch was delayed due to privacy concerns.Explaining the reason behind the feature, Signal said that “although Microsoft made several adjustments over the past twelve months in response to critical feedback, the revamped version of Recall still places any content that’s displayed within privacy-preserving apps like Signal at risk.”Recommended by Our EditorsAdditionally, the press release notes that Microsoft has yet to provide an API for the feature that would allow app developers to opt out of it.“We hope that the AI teams building systems like Recall will think through these implications more carefully in the future,” Signal says. “Apps like Signal shouldn’t have to implement “one weird trick” in order to maintain the privacy and integrity of their services without proper developer tools.”Screen security for Signal is now rolling out to Windows 11 PCs. Users who aren’t worried about Recall or are willing to let it store screenshots of their Signal activity can disable the new feature by going to Signal Settings > Privacy > Screen security.

Acer has introduced two new laptops under its Switch X series aimed at content creators and creative professionals: the Switch X 14 AU and the Switch X 14. Both models are equipped with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU and 3K OLED touch displays, with AI-powered enhancements and hardware designed to support intensive workloads. Acer Swift X 14 AI The Switch X14 AI is powered by AMD's new Ryzen AI 300 series processors, including up to Ryzen AI 9 365, offering 50 TOPs of NPU performance. As a Copilot+ PC, it supports a range of Microsoft AI features like Recall, Cocreator, and Windows Studio Effects. In contrast, the standard Switch X 14 is built around Intel's Core Ultra 9 285H processor and features Intel AI boost for up to 13 TOPS. Both models are validated with NVIDIA Studio Drivers and optimized for AI-assisted tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and image generation. Each device includes a 14.5" Calman-verified OLED display with 2880x1800 resolution, DCI-P3 100% color gamut, and VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 500 certification. This displays also feature Corning Gorilla Glass protection and are offered in touchscreen variants.Recommended by Our Editors Acer Switch X 14 ​​​​​​ The laptops are fitted with up to 32GB of LPDDR4X memory and 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage. They support a full suite of ports including USB-C, HDMI, USB-A and a microSD card reader. For creators who draw or annotate, both models support stylus with MPP 2.5 tilt-enabled input. Thermal performance is handled through dual-fan system, copper heat pipes, and an air intel keyboard. Additional features include 1080p IR webcams with Windows Hello support, biometric login, and Acer User Sensing for auto-lock and wake functionality. Battery life is rated at up to 16hrs for the Intel variant and 11 hours for the AMD-based mode, based on video playback tests. The Acer Swift X 14 AI and Swift X 14 will be available EMEA markets starting July 2025, with prices beginning at USD 1,799.

Gen Z is big into retro cameras. It's something that took me by surprise when the youth movement toward old Coolpix, Cyber-shot, and PowerShot pocket cameras gained enough traction to warrant reports from NPR and The New York Times. Young creators want small cameras that give a different aesthetic than smartphones, with digital noise and the distinctive look of direct flash you won't get from an iPhone snapshot. The problem? You're left scouring eBay or used shops to get a good-quality pocket camera because the few made today cost a bundle and are frequently sold out at stores.So when Fujifilm briefed me on the features of its latest digital camera, the X Half, just about everything seemed perfect for Gen Z photogs. The Half is pocket-sized, has an optical viewfinder, snaps pics in a social-friendly vertical 3:4 aspect ratio, and includes a baker's dozen Film Simulation profiles to give pictures an analog look. Plus, the Half looks great—Fuji's designers are experts at making new cameras with vintage flair.But instead of using a Xenon flash like an old compact, its built-in flash is LED, like a smartphone, and it doesn't work with external flashes. It seems like a missed opportunity for a camera otherwise catered to an over-connected generation that's looking for a disconnected device to use for photography.(Credit: Fujifilm)For instance, you can set the Half to Film Camera mode, in which you'll pick a film simulation and a number of images (36, 54, or 72), and snap a virtual roll with just the optical viewfinder and no option to play back photos in camera. When you finish the roll, you'll need to send it to a smartphone app to develop into individual photos, plus a simulated contact sheet showing the whole roll.Recommended by Our EditorsOf course, you can also use the X Half to take individual photos. It has an optical viewfinder and two rear LCDs. One shows a preview of your photo (or playback) and serves as the main menu, while the second shows a graphic with the current film setting and lets you swipe between options. It has one more neat feature: a film advance lever that lets you create two-shot diptychs in camera. Take a picture, advance the lever, and your next photo will complete the pair.I'm looking forward to trying the X Half and seeing how it works for myself. I'll be sure to try the LED flash for some snapshots to see if it's able to get close to achieving the direct flash look that's all the rage. But I can't help but think that a proper Xenon flash or a hot shoe would have made this one an instant hit with younger creators. Heck, I'd be happy with a center-pin hot shoe, as there are loads of small, inexpensive add-on flashes like the Godox Lux Elf that would have paired well with this camera were it compatible. Time will tell if it's as in-demand as Fuji's most recent TikTok darling, the X100VI, an upscale alternative with a proper Xenon flash tube built-in, plus a hot shoe for an add-on. The X100VI is a hot item that's been on backorder since launch, leaving impatient photographers to pay inflated aftermarket prices to get one without a wait.The X Half will be available in late June for $849.99. Stay tuned for my full review.

Table of Contents1. Project Astra: Your Universal Personal Assistant2. Gemini in Google Chrome Helps You Manage the Web3. Project Mariner: A Next-Level Shopping Assistant4. Google's Many Enhanced Content Creation Tools5. Google Meet's Real-Time Speech Translation At I/O 2025, Google is showcasing the many improvements to its many AI initiatives that promise science-fiction-like conveniences in the very near future. Sure, we aren't getting Jetsons-style flying cars, but a Rosie the Robot-style assistant who helps with online tasks will be in your home sooner than expected. Google promises AI integrations in Chrome, agentic digital agents that handle online tasks for you, and many more fantastic tools that are poised to change how we communicate, create, and generally get things done. These are the top five upcoming AI-related features that wowed me at Google I/O.1. Project Astra: Your Universal Personal AssistantProject Astra was teased last year as a next-generation AI assistant, and part of the larger Google DeepMind initiative. This "universal AI agent" is designed to understand the world around you and interact with it via various multimodal inputs. Google demonstrated its impressive AI capabilities, showing a user requesting assistance with a bike repair. Astra scoured the internet to locate a PDF manual and a YouTube tutorial, and even called a local bike shop to inquire about a part, seemingly without further user interaction beyond voice commands. It can process information from many sources, interact with apps, and manage multiple tasks while maintaining a natural conversation with you.I consider myself a fairly social person, but I hate making appointments or reservations, regardless of whether they're done online or via telephone. An AI-powered assistant to handle those tasks would be a tech godsend. I could also see myself using it in more everyday circumstances, too. It would be a great tool for finding recipes when I'm bustling around in the kitchen. Project Astra is coming later this year.2. Gemini in Google Chrome Helps You Manage the WebGoogle's Gemini chatbot is comingChrome browser, giving ChatGPT fierce competition. Gemini is currently accessible via a dedicated website and mobile app, but this new integration will enable unique functionalities. You'll be able to ask questions about the current web page you're viewing, summarize content, clarify details, retrieve information from past browsing sessions, and engage with Gemini through voice.Gemini integration while browsing has enormous productivity and accessibility potential. Summarization is nice on its own, but Gemini clarification could assist with your understanding and recontextualize what you're reading. Accessing information from multiple tabs without switching between them can keep you focused on other tasks, too. I see myself using Gemini to brainstorm ideas when browsing or shopping, picking the AI's brain about whatever I'm reading on the page, or fact-checking the copious amounts of information (and misinformation) we parse through every day.Gemini in Chrome is available starting May 21, but only for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers ($19.99 per month and $249.99 per month, respectively). It's also available in the Chrome Beta, Dev, and Canary channels. Recommended by Our Editors3. Project Mariner: A Next-Level Shopping AssistantProject Mariner is a smart assistant for the Chrome browser available to Google AI Ultra subscribers that can actively browse the internet to perform tasks on your behalf, such as looking up information, conducting research, booking flights and reservations, and making purchases (with permission). Unlike Project Astra, Project Mariner is meant to operate specifically within web browsers, whereas Astra is more general-purpose and multimodal. Google's Project Mariner demo was quite impressive. During Google I/O, Project Mariner was used to search for real estate listings, make reservations, and even help with shopping. As someone thinking about purchasing a home in the near future, my mind boggles at the thought of having an AI assistant comb the internet on my behalf, finding prospective properties for me to compare based on criteria I assign to it. I’m a sucker for deals too, so having the tool search for the best prices, adding it to a shopping cart, and sending it to me for approval sounds like a proper step toward the future. 4. Google's Many Enhanced Content Creation ToolsGoogle has updated two of its most potent creation tools: Imagen and Veo. Imagen 4 (available in Gemini) has 2K resolution image support and enhanced texture rendering for fabric, fur, and water. The goal? More photorealistic images. It also has Google Workspace integration for apps like Docs, Slides, and Vids, letting you generate images directly within workflows. If filmmaking sounds more like your cup of tea, Google launched Veo 3 (available with a $249.99-per-month Google AI Ultra subscription). It offers shockingly polished AI video creation tools that create life-like images.AI-generated content creation is a divisive subject, but from a consumer perspective, I like the idea of powerful creation tools at my fingertips. Granted, they're not readily available to the public yet. Still, the potential is huge, and given time, I expect many of these features to trickle down into consumer hands soon enough.5. Google Meet's Real-Time Speech TranslationReal-time voice translation has always fascinated me; it’s future tech that seemed within our grasp yet just beyond our fingertips. Google is developing near-real-time speech translation for Google Meet, aiming for natural conversations. The current beta version supports English-to-Spanish translation. More languages are planned for release in the coming weeks. This builds on Google's previous experiments with live video-chat translation, as demonstrated at their I/O event. As someone with family across the globe, these Google Meet improvements sound phenomenal. My Spanish is incredibly rusty, so this improved functionality can help me communicate much more easily with my relatives in Europe and South America. Likewise, as new languages are added, I can also start connecting with my non-English speaking family in Germany and Italy. This AI-powered feature requires a Google AI Pro subscription ($19.99 per month).

Major trade shows like Computex are always exciting for brand-new computing hardware, but companies also take this opportunity to showcase their creative design prowess. At its booth, Asus showed off three new graphics cards ranging from the technologically interesting ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 BTF Edition to the devilishly decorative ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080 Doom Edition. Here's a closer look at each custom RTX 50-series graphics card and everything we know so far. As a heads up, Asus has not issued pricing or release date information for any of these products—this is purely a sneak preview.Asus' New ROG BTF Card Has One Neat TrickAsus debuted its Back To the Future (BTF) hardware a few trade shows ago, with more supported components debuting over time. The underlying concept for Asus’s BTF hardware is to supply all the power a graphics card needs directly from the motherboard, reducing the number of cables cluttering up your PC case. As such, this has required customized graphics cards and motherboards to support it.(Credit: John Burek)The newest card Asus has created to support this design is the Asus ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 BTF Edition, which slots into an Asus ROG Maximus Z890 Hero BTF motherboard. One improved aspect of these new designs is that the edge power connector on the graphics card is removable, turning it into a standard graphics card.(Credit: John Burek)Turning into a regular card conflicts with the purpose of the BTF design. However, doing so enables you to connect the graphics card to standard PCIe-equipped motherboards for testing purposes or to sell the GPU off after a later upgrade.(Credit: John Burek)ROG Goes Full Slayer Mode for DoomDriving hype for the newest entry in the FPS game series, Asus also showed off its Asus ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080 Doom Edition graphics card. This product is a fairly typical RTX 5080 video card in most ways, but its thermal solution is lavishly decorated with artwork inspired by Doom: The Dark Ages.Recommended by Our Editors(Credit: John Burek)This makes the graphics card look a lot cooler and more interesting. It's a callback to the early 2000s, when graphics cards frequently shipped with decorative thermal solutions. Sadly, this isn’t something we typically see anymore. Most graphics cards today tend to be plainer, and colors are often limited to just black, white, and shades of gray.(Credit: John Burek)Noctua Brings Its Signature Beige to GeForce RTXThe final new card that Asus showed us was a more plain-looking product with prominent brown overtones. This color profile is thanks to Asus' collaboration with Noctua. Featuring that unique Noctua look, this graphics card is named the Asus GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua Edition.(Credit: John Burek)The Noctua thermal solution includes three 120mm NF-A12x25 G2 fans that are said to be exceedingly quiet. The card also has a thermal pad for interfacing with the GPU die, which changes phase from a solid to a liquid to support optimal heat exchange as temperatures increase.When to Expect These New Custom RTX 50-Series CardsAll of these new graphics cards that Asus showed off have unique features that some will certainly want, but unfortunately, it’s unclear when or if any of these will go up for sale. Some other BTF hardware has made it to retailers, and we will likely see the new BTF hardware do so, too.The Doom and Noctua graphics cards seem likely to be limited editions. They may go up for sale soon, and if you want one, you should not hesitate to order it. They will likely sell out quickly and never return.

AMD was at Computex in Taipei this week to introduce some new hardware that PC builders might want to consider for their desktop builds.The first major announcement is new graphics cards, AMD’s Radeon RX 9060 XT, which will launch on June 5. The company is trying to make waves by pricing the 9060XT at a surprisingly low $299 for the 8GB model and $349 for 16GB version. "The fastest graphics card available under $350,” AMD SVP Jack Huynh said at the company's press conference.(Credit: PCMag/Matthew Buzzi)The RX 9060 XT cards have been designed for 1440p gaming. The products also outperform Nvidia’s slightly pricier RTX 5060 Ti by about 6% across 40 games when measured without AI-powered upscaling or frame generation, Huynh said. Stay tuned for our review. Still, we’re skeptical AMD can maintain the low price, considering the company’s other graphics card, the RX 9070XT, has been selling closer to $729 to $899, rather than the original $599 starting price. Trump’s tariffs, low supplies, and greed from AMD’s GPU partners have all been blamed as factors for the price increases. Recommended by Our Editors(Credit: PCMag/Matthew Buzzi)The second major announcement involved new heavy-duty Threadripper 9000 CPUs meant to to power high-end workstation PCs and home desktop builds that want to go beyond a mere 16 cores. The new Threadrippers have been upgraded over the older 7000 series by using a 4-nanometer Zen 5 architecture. The Threadripper Pro 9000 series is meant for corporate workstation, with the most powerful chip, the 9995WX, containing a whopping 96 CPU cores and 192 threads. “There’s no contest here. This is absolute workload domination,” Huynh said while comparing the 9995WX against Intel’s Xeon W9-3595X chip. The company will also release Threadripper 9000 processors for home PCs with three CPU models that’ll offer 24, 32 or 64 CPU cores. Although no pricing was announced, expect the home desktop versions to cost from $1,500 to $5,000, based on the pricing for the 7000 series. The new Threadripper chips are slated to arrive in July.

TSMC is signaling to the Trump administration that any plan to tariff foreign-made chips risks derailing the company’s $165 billion investment in Arizona semiconductor factories.The warning comes after the Commerce Department solicited public comment on the US potentially tariffing foreign-made semiconductors to help encourage domestic chip manufacturing. In its letter to the agency, TSMC said such tariffs could threaten demand for electronics and reduce the company’s revenue.  “Diminished demand could create uncertainty around the timeline for the construction and operation of our Arizona fabs. It could also undermine TSMC’s financial capacity to timely execute its ambitious Arizona project,” the company said. TSMC—which manufactures chips for Apple, AMD, Nvidia, and even Intel—added that: “Lower market demand for our leading US customers’ products may consequently reduce demand for TSMC’s manufacturing capacity and service onshore.”In March, TSMC announced an additional $100 billion investment in three new fabs in Arizona, for a total of six. But so far, only one of the fabs has started producing processors, forcing TSMC to rely on its factories in Taiwan for most chip manufacturing. As a result, the letter from TSMC urges the Trump administration to exclude the company from any semiconductor-related tariffs. “To allow investments such as TSMC Arizona to proceed expeditiously, the administration should exempt TSMC Arizona and other companies that have already committed to semiconductor manufacturing projects in the United States from tariffs or other import restrictions,” it said. The letter notes that the company’s Arizona site “will ultimately comprise around 30% of TSMC’s total worldwide capacity for 2nm and more advanced technology nodes,” which should also be enough to meet US demands. In addition, TSMC has already started construction on its third fab in Arizona, “which will initially use 2nm and later A16 process technology, featuring Super Power Rail, TSMC’s best-in-class backside power delivery solution.”Recommended by Our EditorsNumerous other companies and industry groups have also responding to the agency's request. In its letter, PC maker Dell said the effort to manufacture more chips in the US is “nascent and lacks the requisite infrastructure to supply these products at scale to meet current and increasing demand.” Meanwhile, Hewlett Packard Enterprise told the department: "HPE has no alternative but to import semiconductors for its US manufacturing operations. Imposing tariffs on those imported semiconductors would harm HPE's ability to maintain and expand its domestic manufacturing activities and retard US R&D and innovation ultimately to the detriment of national security and economic growth."But Intel, which manufactures chips in the US, took a slightly different view, noting the need to “Protect American Manufactured Semiconductor Wafers and Derivative Products.” “To sustain the US semiconductor industry and support global customers, policies must address structural disparities and incentivize US-based semiconductor manufacturing,” Intel said. “As foreign buyers increasingly design out US chips due to tariff-related costs, exempting goods with US-made semiconductors from these financial burdens is crucial.”The same letter calls for the Trump administration to exempt semiconductor wafers either made in the US “as well as wafers manufactured based on US-based process technologies and US-owned IP.” In addition, Intel wants exemptions for its supply chain, which includes chip-making equipment developed overseas. “While Intel is committed to building semiconductors in the US, fully localizing every element of the supply chain is economically unfeasible without significant cost increases and production delays,” the company added.