How reliable is your internet connection? That depends a lot on how you measure “good” and in how many different ways. Conventional browser-based tests like the ever-popular Speedtest.net can give you a few metrics, but it’s missing a lot of deeper data. A new test from the founders of Ookla, SpeedTest’s parent company, hopes to give you a better, always-on option. Orb opens today as an app for all major desktop and mobile platforms. It’s designed to give you a deeper, more holistic look at your active internet connection, with real-time monitoring, more useful and active information, and a better look at your connection over time. It shows you zero-to-100 scores for responsiveness (based on latency, jitter, and packet loss), reliability (status over time and packet loss), and speed (download/upload). In addition to raw data and your overall scores, the system has a couple of other tricks. By logging in, you can actively monitor multiple devices at once, even on separate connections — I’m looking at my desktop connection on my home network and my phone on Verizon in the same window. And for those who really like to keep a tight watch on their network, the Orb app can be installed on a Raspberry Pi or similar device for round-the-clock monitoring of a LAN. I like the “keep awake” option for the Android app, allowing my phone to essentially become an always-on network monitor. Orb According to a PR representative, Orb is planning to release “recipes” that will allow you to test your connectivity for specific services, giving YouTube and Microsoft Teams as examples. I can think of a few others that some of the most network-obsessed users would also like to test, such as Valve, EA, and Microsoft’s online multiplayer servers. Orb is a free download for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. In the current version of the Windows and Android app I tested in pre-release, it can be used without an account, though you need to log in for some of the cool multi-device options.

Choosing a laptop doesn’t have to be an overwhelming process. Whether you’re diving into the latest games, tackling school assignments, or just casually browsing the web, the key is finding a laptop that fits in with your lifestyle and routine. We’ve reviewed the best laptops in every category, from lightweight Chromebooks to powerful gaming rigs and everything in between. Our goal is to make your decision ease, with clear recommendations based on what actually matters in life. Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (2024) – Best laptop overall Pros Strong performance Exceptional battery life Wonderful typing experience Cons CPU throttles under heavy loads No user upgrades Who should buy the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus? If you want a laptop that truly does it all and does it well, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is the one to beat. This laptop nails the essentials with style, speed, and stamina. It’s a top pick for anyone who needs dependable performance without being tethered to an outlet all day. The 14-inch form factor also hits the sweet spot between portability and screen space, making it perfect for either work or play. One of the biggest selling points is the seriously impressive 17-hour battery life. Whether it’s a long study session or a long workday, this laptop will power along with you. And with a price tag around $1,000, it delivers incredible value for the performance you’re getting. Beyond the long battery life, the 14-inch 2560×1600 display comes with an anti-glare coating and a peak brightness of 418 nits, making it comfortable to use in different lighting environments. Dell Inspiron 14 Plus: Further considerations The conservative design might not appeal to users looking for more pizzazz. While integrated graphics are fine for daily use, power users may want to look elsewhere for a laptop can handle heavier workloads. For most users though, this laptop ticks nearly every box. Read our full Dell Inspiron 14 Plus review Asus Zenbook 14 OLED – Best OLED laptop Pros Attractive OLED touchscreen Good CPU and integrated GPU performance Outstanding battery life Cons Blah design Keyboard isn’t memorable Mediocre connectivity options Who should buy the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED? Anyone would be happy with the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED–it nails the vital aspects, especially in the display and battery departments. The 14-inch 1920×1200 OLED panel is deliciously vivid, delivering rich colors and deep contrast, which is great for creators and editors. It’s also fast (thanks to the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor) and lightweight (2.82 pounds), and the 75 watt-hour battery churned out 17 hours of charge. That’s not bad for the $850 price tag. It’s a fantastic notebook that would work great for anyone, especially if you want vivid visuals from an OLED panel. Asus Zenbook 14 OLED: Further considerations The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED would have been our top pick, but it fell short in a few areas. For instance, the port selection is more limited–no Ethernet and fewer USB-A’s. The reflective display also makes it harder to use outdoors or in bright rooms. Finally, the Dell Inspiron Plus 14 (our current top pick) has slightly better battery life and performance. Read our full Asus Zenbook 14 OLED review Acer Aspire Go 15 – Best budget laptop Pros Affordable Decent battery life Good display visibility Cons Big and bulky Cheap build Limited performance Who should buy the Acer Aspire Go 15? The Acer Aspire Go 15 is the must-have laptop for budget-conscious buyers that just need the basics. The Intel Core i3-N305 processor handles everyday tasks like browsing and word processing with ease. Battery life is also close to 12 hours on a single charge. The appeal mostly lies in its value, though. While more expensive laptops nail the polish and the speed, the budget variety is strictly about what’s functional and that’s exactly what you’re getting here. It’s a good option for students or anyone seeking a reliable, no frills machine under $500. You’ll also find a surprisingly generous port selection on the Acer Aspire Go 15–USB-A on both sides, a USB-C, an HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Kensington lock. That’s more than what some laptops get twice the price. Acer Aspire Go 15: Further considerations Like many budget-friendly laptops, the Aspire Go 15 comes with a few trade-offs. The plastic chassis helps keep the cost down, and while it weighs a bit over four pounds, it’s still manageable for day-to-day portability. The 1920×1080 display is also pretty dim (250 nits), so it’s better suited for indoor use due to its 250 nit brightness, but it still delivers sharp visuals for everyday tasks. That said, if you’re looking to get solid utility at a great price, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is the total package. Read our full Acer Aspire Go 15 (2024) review Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 – Best battery life Pros Remarkable battery life Sturdy, lightweight design High-visibility display Cons Variable performance trails competitors A bit pricier than the competition Who should buy the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6? The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is a great option for anyone who needs a reliable, long-lasting laptop. Weighing just 2.66 pounds and offering an incredible battery life of nearly 24 hours, it’s ideal for people who are always on the move. Plus, with a Snapdragon X Elite processor running the show, it offers the perfect blend of portability, endurance, and capable everyday performance. The build quality is also standout, with the chassis being notably sturdy, and the keyboard offers a delightfully tactile typing experience ThinkPads are known for. Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6: Further considerations The one area where this laptop falls a bit short is the display. While the 1920×1200 IPS screen is perfectly usable for productivity, it lacks the richness and contrast of an OLED panel. So if you’re doing color-sensitive creative work, you may want to look elsewhere. But if long battery life and portability matter more to you, then the ThinkPad T14s is the way to go. Read our full Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 review Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 – Best Chromebook Pros Zippy processor performance Nice keyboard A wide array of connectivity options Chic design Cons Battery life isn’t competitive The display’s 16:9 aspect ratio feels a little cramped Who should buy the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34? The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is great for everyday users looking for a reliable yet stylish device. It stands out as the best overall Chromebook because it offers a harmonious marriage of performance, design, and affordability. Inside you’ll find an Intel Core i5-1335U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of SSD storage–in other words, it efficiently handles everyday tasks. The 14-inch 1080p display delivers sharp visuals, and the laptop includes a 1080p webcam for those web conferencing calls. The chic pearl colorway also adds a nice touch of elegance, making it suitable for personal or professional environments. Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Further considerations While the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 offers smooth performance and a pretty design, there are minor trade-offs to be aware of like the non-competitive battery life (13 hours) and the lack of a touchscreen. Read our full Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 review MacBook Air (M3) – Best MacBook Pros Excellent battery life 256GB SSD is now two NAND chips, maintaining performance Cons Expensive memory upgrades Dual external display support requires closed lid Who should buy the MacBook Air (M3)? The MacBook Air (M3) is a stellar option for anyone who wants a premium macOS experience without paying MacBook Pro prices. Starting at $1,299, it delivers fast performance for everyday tasks, light creative work, and multitasking–all in a fanless design that runs silent even under load. The Apple M3 chip brings performance on par with the base MacBook Pro (M3) model and, in testing, the battery lasted up to 19 hours on a single charge. If you’re looking for a powerful yet quiet macOS laptop with plenty of endurance to spare, this one hits the sweet spot. The 15-inch Liquid Retina (2880×1864 resolution) display doesn’t quite match the brightness or contrast of the mini-LED panel found in the MacBook Pro, but it’s still sharp and vibrant. The Air is also impressively thin and lightweight (3.3 pounds!), so it’s pretty darn portable. MacBook Air (M3): Further considerations If you’re after high-end performance for professional level workloads like 3D rendering or heavy video editing, a MacBook Pro with active cooling might be a better fit. However, for most users, the MacBook Air (M3) delivers good performance, long battery life, and an elegant design. Read our full MacBook Air (M3) review Lenovo Legion 5i – Best gaming laptop Pros Great GeForce RTX 4060 performance Solid build quality Nice cooling and vent positioning Cons Display is a little dim Who should buy the Lenovo Legion 5i? The Lenovo Legion 5i is a solid mid-range pick for gamers who want strong gaming performance and a fast display. With an Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU and an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU under the hood, it delivers the power needed for smooth gameplay as well as lightning-fast load times. The spacious 16-inch (2560×1600 resolution, 165Hz refresh rate) is another highlight. It offers crisp visuals and fluid motion, which is perfect for immersive single-player games and competitive gaming. In addition to it being a fast display, it also produces vibrant colors. For the price ($1,399 as tested), it offers an impressive balance of performance and value. Lenovo Legion 5i: Further considerations The Lenovo Legion 5i doesn’t just bring blazing-fast performance to the table, it also includes thoughtful features like a 1080p webcam with an electronic shutter switch and a full-size keyboard with a number pad and four zones of LED lighting. The webcam is perfect for streaming and the number pad allows for quick access to numeric inputs. While this laptop hits the mark for most gamers, for those that want more graphics firepower and higher frame rates, we’d recommend springing for a laptop with RTX 4070 graphics or higher. Read our full Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9 review Acer Nitro V 16 – Best budget gaming laptop Pros Solid performance Fast 165Hz display with good colors Cons Fully plastic build Mushy keyboard Who should buy the Acer Nitro V 16? The Acer Nitro V 16 is a fantastic pick for gamers who want good performance and a fast display without breaking the bank. With an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU, and a 16-inch 1920×1200 IPS display running at 165Hz, it can comfortably handle most modern games on High settings. Acer Nitro V 16: Further considerations The Nitro V 16 really embraces the gaming aesthetic, with its angular lines and backlit keyboard that glows like embers in a fireplace. If you’re into that bold style, you’ll love it, but if you prefer a more understated design, it might not be for you. Battery life is also limited to about four hours, which is typical for a laptop in this category, but it’s something to keep in mind. Bottom line? If your priority is strong gaming performance at an affordable price, the Nitro V 16 offers a lot of bang for your buck. Read our full Acer Nitro V 16 review Asus ProArt P16 – Best content creation laptop Pros Big touchpad with virtual scroll wheel Gorgeous 4K OLED display More connectivity than the competition Good battery life Cons Chassis is light, but doesn’t look remarkable CPU performance falls behind the best Can get hot under load Who should buy the Asus ProArt P16? The Asus ProArt P16 is a top-tier choice for creative professionals and prosumers who prioritize display quality, connectivity, and performance. With its stunning 16-inch (3840×2400 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio), it’s definitely well suited to photo editing tasks and video production. It also boasts an Intel Core i9-13980HX CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, a powerhouse combination that delivers desktop-class performance. Battery life is another strong point, with the ProArt P16 lasting over nine hours on a single charge. It also includes USB 4.0 support via one of its USB-C ports, which enables speeds up to 40Gbps, making high-speed transfer possible. Asus ProArt P16: Further considerations Performance and display quality are the standout features, but there’s something compelling about the understated design. Some may find the all-black chassis too plain while others find it elegant. Under more demanding workloads, the chassis can also run a bit warm. Still, the ProArt P16 is an excellent fit for anyone that needs a serious workhorse. Read our full Asus ProArt P16 review Asus Zenbook S 14 – Best ultraportable Pros Transcendent battery life Large OLED screen Great audio Cons Keyboard needs more key travel Performance needs improvement Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Asus $1499.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Asus Zenbook S 14? The Asus Zenbook S 14 is a standout ultraportable for those who want a lightweight design, all-day battery life, and premium display quality. Weighing just 2.65 pounds–lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Air–it’s a great pick for regular travelers and commuters. Despite its slim build, this laptop delivers surprising endurance. Its 73 watt-hour battery lasted an impressive 21 hours in testing and it comes paired with a vibrant 14-inch (2880×1800 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate) OLED display. Asus Zenbook S 14: Further considerations The Asus Zenbook S 14 offers more than just its slender build and extended battery life. The built-in audio is a pleasant surprise, as it delivers rich, clear sound, making it a solid option for media consumption. While it’s not exactly a powerhouse for resource intensive creative work, the Zenbook S 14 really excels in portability and endurance. Read our full Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406SA) review HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 – Best 2-in-1 laptop Pros OLED touchscreen looks great Nice solid build Long battery life Cons Few ports in odd spots Expensive  Who should buy the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14? If you’re in the market for a premium 2-in-1, the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is one of the best options available today. It’s perfect for anyone who wants the flexibility of a convertible form factor and the reliability of a long-lasting machine. The 360-degree hinge feels both sturdy and smooth, and the 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED touchscreen is vibrant and bright enough (500 nits!) for indoor use. The battery life is exceptional as well–lasting up to 17.5 hours on a single charge. Typing on the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is a real pleasure thanks to its responsive keyboard and clearly labeled keys. Not only do they have satisfying travel, but the bold letting improves visibility. These minute details really enhance day-to-day usability. HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14: Further considerations The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is a premium product, there’s no doubt about that. The design is an interesting blend of sustainability and durability–the chassis is made of 85 percent PIR metal and five percent of PCR (post-consumer recycled) material is in the top cover and keyboard deck. That said, we’ve got one minor nitpick. The port placement is bit unconventional, with both USB-C ports located at the rear corners of the machine. It’s just something to be aware of, as the port placement may not suit every setup. Read our full HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review Framework Laptop 13 – Best laptop for upgrading Pros Customizable, repairable, and upgradeable Detailed repair documentation Cons On the expensive side for the specs Not the best battery life Who should buy the Framework Laptop 13? The Framework Laptop 13 is an awesome choice for tech-savvy users who value reparability and long-term sustainability. If you want a laptop you can upgrade over time rather than replace, this is one of the most compelling options you can find right now. Nearly every component of the Framework Laptop 143 is modular and user-replaceable. Each part is labeled with a QR code linking directly to guides and replacement listings on Framework’s website. You can even configure the port layout using swappable Expansion Cards, which are small rectangular modules that slide into the chassis like Lego pieces, allowing you to mix USB-C, HDMI, and so on. The Framework Laptop 13 is also surprisingly lightweight (2.87 pounds) for a laptop with this level of flexibility. It also handles general productivity tasks with ease thanks to the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor. Framework Laptop 13: Further considerations Performance is more mid-range than high-end and the pricing can feel steep when compared to traditional laptops with similar specs. The value here lies in its longevity–you’re buying a laptop that can evolve and change over time rather than a device with a set expiration date. Read our full Framework Laptop 13 review Other products tested While these laptops didn’t make PCWorld’s top picks list, they’re still noteworthy options that may appeal to certain folks. The Asus Zenbook A14 impressed us with its vibrant OLED touchscreen, robust build quality, and amazing battery life. For environmentally conscious buyers, the Acer Aspire Vero 16 stands out with a chassis made from PCR and other bio-based materials. Finally, if you’re someone that’s always on the go, the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro offers a 16-inch 2880×1800 AMOLED 120Hz touchscreen and an impressive 23 hours of battery life. How we test laptops The PCWorld team puts each and every Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against others we’ve tested. Chromebooks, on the other hand, go through a series of web-based tests. For a much deeper look at our review methodology, check out how PCWorld tests laptops. Why you should trust PCWorld for laptop reviews and buying advice It’s in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We’ve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who’ve applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We’re also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget. Who curated this article? This article was curated by Ashley Biancuzzo, who oversees all of PCWorld’s laptop and Chromebook review coverage. Ashley has been immersed in the ever-changing world of consumer technology and brings a keen editorial eye to every review. She specializes in evaluating laptops across a wide range of categories–from budget-friendly models to high-end powerhouses. How to choose the best laptop What form factor is best for a laptop? Traditional clamshells are great for general use while 2-in-1 convertibles offer flexible designs with displays that rotate 360 degrees. Chromebooks, on the other hand, are a budget-friendly option that are best for everyday web-based tasks. How much processing power do you need? It depends on your workload. For everyday use, an Intel i5 (11th gen or later) or AMD Ryzen 5 (4000 series or later) is solid. If you’re into creative tasks like video editing, go for an Intel i7/i9 or Ryzen 7/9. For 4K video editing or heavy multitasking, a Ryzen 9 is ideal. Discrete graphics vs. integrated graphics? If you’re into gaming or video editing, you’ll want discrete graphics (like Nvidia or AMD cards) for better performance. For basic tasks like browsing or streaming, integrated graphics will do just fine. How much RAM? 8GB of RAM is zippy enough for general use. If you’ve got a gaming laptop, 16GB of RAM is the way to go, with 32GB being a future-proof configuration. Content creators will want as much as possible. What’s the right display size? If you’re a video editor or someone who does a lot of multimedia work, you’ll want a display that’s anywhere from 15- to 17-inches. The sweet spot is anywhere from 13- to 14-inches, though. The bigger the display, the heavier your laptop is going to be. A 13- or 14-inch display is the best in terms of portability and value. Battery-life expectations If you plan on taking your laptop anywhere with you, aim for something that can last 10 to 12 hours on a single charge. That’s more than a full workday, so it should theoretically get you through long flights or a day of classes. That said, many of the newest Snapdragon-powered Windows laptop are pushing well past that number, with one of them offering up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge–this is due to the chip’s ultra-efficient Arm-based architecture. Just know that the bigger the battery, the heavier the laptop. Read our roundup of the best laptop chargers. Laptop pricing guide Many good laptops cost around $500 to $750, but the price really depends on your budget. If you’re strapped for cash (been there, trust me), go for a Chromebook or an entry-level business laptop. You can find solid options for under $500. Spending $750 to $1,000 can get you better displays, additional performance, more storage, and nicer designs. If you splurge for a laptop that costs over $1,000, you’re usually paying up for premium build quality, great extras, and top-shelf performance. Gaming laptops are different. You can sometimes find gaming laptops with entry-level discrete graphics on sale for around $850, but you’ll usually need to spend at least $1,000 for a system with decent 1080p gaming chops. You can pay more — often much more — for better graphics firepower and nicer displays, but the costs can rise rapidly depending on your hardware of choice. Some fully loaded gaming laptops can go for multiple thousands of dollars but you’re getting the equivalent of a desktop replacement in return. Spending $1,200 to $2,000 usually gets you a very good gaming laptop. Don’t forget the ports A wide array of ports is always a plus in my book, as it eliminates the need for an adapter. I’d recommend a laptop that has both USB-C and USB-A. An HDMI port is good, too. This is especially useful when you want to hook up to an external monitor. FAQ 1. What is the best laptop? The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus (2024) stands out as the best overall choice for most people. Priced at around $1,000, it delivers reliable performance, exceptional battery life (17 hours on a single charge!), and a vibrant 14-inch 1400p display. 2. What is the best cheap laptop? The Acer Aspire Go 15 is PCWorld’s top budget pick because of its reliable performance and low price point. It features an Intel Core i3-N305 processor, a sharp 1080p display, and surprisingly good battery life. 3. What is the best gaming laptop? The Lenovo Legion 5i exhibits a fantastic balance of performance and value. Powered by an Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU and an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, it delivers top-tier gaming performance, easily crushing demanding titles like Metro Exodus with an average of 41 frames-per-second. The 16-inch IPS display boasts a 2560×1600 resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate, meaning you can expect smooth gameplay. While the display isn’t as vibrant as an OLED panel, it still offers a great picture at a competitive price. 4. When is the best time to buy a laptop?  The best time to buy a laptop usually falls during major sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Back-to-school season (late summer to early fall) is also a great time to buy a laptop, as many retailers target students. 5. What is a 2-in-1 laptop? A 2-in-1 laptop (also known as a convertible) is a device that combines the functionality of a traditional laptop (also known as a clamshell laptop) with the versatility of a tablet. These laptops feature a touchscreen display that can fold back, rotate, or detach. It’s ideal for those who need a full keyboard for productivity and a tablet for browsing the web or doodling. They’re pretty popular among students and creatives who want the best of both worlds.

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

Who doesn’t like a free performance upgrade? And if you own a laptop or a handheld PC with an Intel Core Ultra 200V (Lunar Lake) chip inside, you’re getting one. Intel said Tuesday that the company’s latest graphics driver (32.0.101.6734) is offering a power-management update that has the effect of boosting GPU performance by about 10 percent in terms of higher frame rate. You’ll see it first in handhelds, specifically the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and MSI Claw 7 AI+, but it will be rolled out to other Lunar Lake / Core Ultra 200V systems soon, Intel said. Essentially, the driver allows higher performance at the default power level of 17W, Intel said. There are two improvements: the higher frame rate, and a 25 percent improvement on what’s known as the “99th percentile” frame rate. The latter term is also sometimes referred to as “the lows” or “1 percent lows,” and refers to rare moments when the frame rate drops suddenly. These rare moments still manifest themselves as a jitter or hitch, and can disrupt timing-driven games — and they just look bad. Essentially, this new graphics update will make games run faster, as well as smoother. And what games? Intel provided a sample, below: Intel Intel has invested heavily in software driver development to avoid the issues that plagued the first-gen Intel “Alchemist” GPUs,” Intel fellow Tom Petersen told PCWorld’s The Full Nerd podcast in December. And Intel’s second-gen Arc B580 “Battlemage” GPU was essentially a tariff-buster, before there were tariffs. Since the Lunar Lake chips include the Xe2 GPU that later ended up in Battlemage, it seems reasonable that Intel’s driver update could enable these gains. Will we see something similar inside the B580 cards, too?

At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Available in a fantastically capable free version File-level and imaging (Pro version) backup Supports prosumer/IT online storage services Cons Pro version with imaging is subscription only Lacks support for Consumer-grade online storage services Proprietary data containers and images Our Verdict In its free incarnation, MSP360 Desktop Backup is a worthwhile upgrade to Windows File History. However, the Pro version is subscription-only which makes it very pricey over time. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: MSP360 Desktop Backup Retailer Price MSP360 $29.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket I checked out both the free and paid versions of MSP360 Desktop Backup for this review. Shockingly, the free version maintains enough of the paid version’s features to warrant a 4-star rating — even without support for consumer-grade online storage support that its Cloudberry Backup ancestor featured. MSP360 Desktop Backup Jon L. Jacobi Consider the free MSP360 Desktop Backup a nicely robust upgrade from Windows eminently useful File History. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best Windows backup software for comparison. What are MSP360 Desktop Backup’s features? The most salient difference between the free and paid versions of MSP360 Desktop Backup is the former’s lack of support for image backups. It also lacks encryption/compression, backup of virtual machines, support for Exchange, and other decidedly pro features. Like I said, think File History. Beyond that, a surprising amount of functionality is present and as far as I could tell, it’s not neutered at every turn as with a number of other freebies. There are full and incremental backups; scheduling that’s granular down to minutes; culling of backups (purging older backups, including grandfather/father/son options; as well as pre- and post- program execution). Even the free version of MSP360 offers extremely granular scheduling down to the minute. Also on the feature list: NTFS options (permissions); file filters; a backup consistency check; email notifications; and a disaster recovery boot disk, albeit minus bare metal restore — i.e. the ability to restore to new, dissimilar hardware. Bare metal restore is nice, but Windows includes generic drivers for everything basic these days, so the need isn’t nearly what it was back in the day when you might need to inject the Ethernet or Wi-Fi drivers to facilitate downloading all the other drivers. You can even back up from, as well as to, network locations — if they’re already mounted as drive letters under Windows. Online storage may serve as a source as well. More on supported services in a bit. Whew! I did mention that this is the freebie, right? MSP360 Desktop’s file filtering options are extensive. My biggest disappointment with MSP360 Desktop Backup, including the paid version, is that, unlike its Cloudberry Backup predecessor, online storage support is limited to prosumer/IT-oriented services such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon S3, S3-compatibles, Google cloud, etc. In other words, there’s no support for the Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, etc., that most of us use. Only prosumer online storage services (and local destinations) are supported by MSP360 Desktop Backup. That pretty much means that the freebie, when it comes to the average user, is good only for local storage and local network backup. I do have one or two other minor gripes. Numero uno, I wish there was support for non-proprietary container files such as VHD so that the program wasn’t required for restore operations. Also, it would be nice to be able to define multiple destinations for each data set rather than having to create a new job for every destination. On the other hand, you can chain backup jobs for execution. Those are standard suggestions on my part for a lot of backup software and don’t really affect overall functionality — or the rating. Not much at least. MSP360 also offers a WinPE boot disk, though the disk produced by the free version is limited like the Windows version. How much does MSP360 Desktop Backup cost? MSP360 Desktop Backup is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Obviously, the free version costs nothing, but the Standalone version with imaging will set you back $30 a year. There is no perpetual option — a bit of a bummer, as rarely do backup programs improve drastically in a year’s time. Blame that on their existing maturity. Are you listening, Acronis? The Pro version of MSP360 Desktop with imaging is $30 yearly. If you are interested in the paid-level features and online (remote) management of multiple computers, there’s also MSP360 Managed Backup for $2.50 per seat, per month, or $30 per seat yearly. However, storage is extra, with $72 yearly for 1TB Wasabi being the default. Alas, no consumer-grade online storage services are supported so you can’t leverage those. That makes the Managed Backup version possibly the better deal than Desktop, but only if your storage service aligns. Note that restore functionality remains intact perpetually so you can always restore your backups if you drop your paid subscription. That’s essential if you’re using proprietary data containers as MSP360 does. How does MSP360 Desktop Backup perform? I did my initial testing with the free version, and my only issue was self-inflicted — choosing a drive without enough free space to contain the backup. This forced an error. Hitting the restart button caused another error as the program tried to create an incremental backup. Obviously, the program didn’t realize that the first job had failed. I reformatted the destination to free up enough space in the mean time, and choosing the “Force full backup” command solved that issue. Am I a bit hasty? Yes. I tend to rush testing in order to better spot possible weaknesses that might bite end users. You’d be surprised how often it works. That said, the program could be just a tad smarter about checking that there’s enough space on the destination, or that there’s a valid full backup before trying to create an incremental addition. Without space-challenged destinations, MSP360 Desktop Backup proceeded through numerous jobs without issue. Restore functionality remains intact perpetually so you can always restore your backups if you drop your paid subscription. Green bars at 100% are what we like to see with any backup program. Too much red and the rating plummets. The company sent me a license for the paid version so I could test the imaging backup. I’m very happy to report that the imaging works quite well. The disaster recovery disk booted fine, and restore operations (image and file) went off without a hitch. Good on ya’, MSP360. Should you buy MS360 Desktop Backup? If you need something more powerful than Windows File History for your file backups, then the free version of MS360 Desktop Backup is a no-brainer. However, it’s difficult to recommend the paid version, which is subscription software that’s not going to evolve significantly on a year-to-year basis. On the other hand, the soon-to-be-reviewed, and like-priced MS360 Managed Backup might just be worth the expense if you need to monitor and control backup chores for several computers remotely.

The old saying that goes, “If you don’t know history, you’re bound to repeat it,” can be just as easily applied to PC builder history as to anything else. So, in the spirit of not repeating the mistakes that others have made — some very costly, too — here’s a list of the biggest PC builder regrets that keep popping up online in forums time and time again. Going too budget and not future-proofing the PC There’s a strong argument for chipping away at the overall cost of your rig by buying cheaper hardware components, but how much performance you will forfeit by doing this isn’t always apparent at the time you build. A classic example of that is if you’ve only invested in a modest video card but suddenly find yourself not able to play games at the resolution you want. You might have even upgraded your monitor from say a 1080p to a 1440p one but still find you can only play at 1080p because of your bottlenecked GPU. So budget where possible, but also think of the specs you need down the track. Buying newly released components a little too soon One Redditer recently bemoaned buying a water-cooled heatsink as soon as it was released only for it to break shortly thereafter. Yep, without proper research by reading good reviews, you’re almost guaranteed to buy at least one piece of hardware that has a flaw — and if you buy too early you won’t find proper reviews online. Even if that component doesn’t break, it can still cause you a lot of anxiety if others have found flaws in it and it weighs on your mind. We saw that with owners of Intel 13th- and 14th-generation CPUs. Some were living on the edge everyday not knowing if their expensive CPUs were going to succumb to the voltage instability issues these processors were discovered to have. So, wait a while and do your research for best results. Forgetting just how much heat a PC makes Fact 101 about PC building is that PCs produce a lot of heat. That seems straightforward enough to remember, but that one point is often overlooked in the pursuit of more power for the CPU, GPU, and PSU. I‘d like to apply an Uncle Ben quote from Marvel’s Spiderman here, because it seems fitting: “With great power comes great responsibility.” In this case, doing the responsible thing when you’re building a powerful PC is to give equal consideration to your PC’s cooling. There are many ways to do that, but one of the most effective ways is to find a case with a big enough footprint and with decent airflow. You’re also going to want to buy cooling components that have a track record of being able to effectively cool what you want to put inside your PC. Not buying all the components at the same time Although you have to put down more cash upfront to buy all your components at the same time, doing that can actually save you money in the long run. PC builders on Reddit have pointed out, and quite rightly so, that if you buy your components over time, you can’t properly test that they work and/or are compatible with each other until you have them all. In the meantime, you’re burning up your warranty periods on the ones you do have, which could mean you have to forfeit replacements if you eventually do find problems. Buying all the PC’s components at once means you can test them within the warranty period.  Pexels: Athena Sandrini Buying too much into the RGB hype Don’t get me wrong, RGB lighting can look amazing in a PC. But if you’re going to go all out with it, you must also be prepared to do the maintenance involved on it too, which can be substantial. What can go wrong with humble RGB lighting, you ask? Surprisingly, a lot! You may have to deal with LEDs that die, lights that reflect off your screen too much, or lights that are showing incorrect colors. Then there are possible cable management issues in your PC, or issues with syncing up the effects, or with software that doesn’t work as it should. Suffice it to say, sometimes just a humble PC build free of RGB is easier to manage, and it can look just as good. Installing noisy fans It’s an often-overlooked fact that some PC fans are super loud — even if they are doing a decent job cooling down your rig. You shouldn’t underestimate how annoying loud fans can be. They can affect your own enjoyment of your PC, not to mention the people you live with. In fact, one PC builder recently expressed their dismay online that they couldn’t use their PC when their partner was in the room — their PC’s fans were so audible they were just driving them nuts. Further reading: How to buy a decent CPU that’ll last you at least 5 years

TL;DR: 1minAI’s lifetime subscription is on sale for $79.97 (over 80% off) before this price drop expires. You’ve heard of ChatGPT, Gemini, and the other top AI tools, but probably not the newest one that’s rising as their biggest competitor. Why? It combines them all into a single platform without subscription fees—and we think it’s far easier to use, especially if you’re new to AI. So, you need to generate articles for work? (We won’t tell). Use 1minAI’s preset tool and select a tone, length, number of sections, and keywords, then describe your desired content. This is where you can also select your preferred AI model like GPT-4o, Gemini 1.5 Pro, or Claude 3.5 Sonnet, among others. There are also AI tools for images, documents, audio, video, and code. 1minAI works on a credit system. You trade credits for AI-generated content, but unless you’re generating full books daily, you’re probably not going to run into any walls. Your lifetime subscription gives you 4,000,000 credits every month. That means you can generate about 32,000,000 words or 640 images. And just by logging in, you can get an extra 450,000 credits every month.  Get lifetime access to this all-in-one AI tool for $79.97 (reg. $540) for a little while longer. No coupon is needed for this price drop. 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime SubscriptionSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Roku is best known for its streaming boxes and sticks, but it also offers free TV entertainment on its Roku Channel, including live linear TV and some original movies, and you don’t need to have Roku’s hardware—or a Roku TV—to watch it. We’ll show you all the ways you can enjoy the bounty. You can access the Roku Channel via a web browser or via Roku’s mobile apps for Android and iOS. To watch on a smart TV or another brand of streaming device (an Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, Samsung smart TV), you’ll need to install the Roku Channel app from that device’s app store. Unfortunately, Roku doesn’t have a version of the Roku Channel app for LG smart TVs or the Apple TV streamer. But we’ll show you some workarounds for those platforms later. You don’t need a Roku-powered streaming device or TV to watch the free entertainment on the Roku Channel; in fact, you don’t need a media streamer at all. Just point your web browser to theRokuChannel.com and pick what you want to watch.Michael Brown/Foundry What’s available on the Roku Channel? The Roku Channel offers a wide array of FAST (free ad-supported TV) channels, movies and TV series you can watch on demand, as well as live linear TV (movies and shows are streamed on a fixed schedule—as in the good ol’ days of broadcast television—but you can drop in whenever you want). You’ll find some of this same content on other FAST services, such as Pluto and Tubi, but Roku always has a selection of popular films and shows that are exclusive to the Roku Channel. Roku’s most high-profile original project so far is the Emmy-winning Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, starring Daniel Radcliffe as the satirical singer. Roku offers a small amount of its own original programming, including Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, starring Daniel Radcliffe.Jared Newman / Foundry Other original shows include The Great American Baking Show, Honest Renovations, and Visionaries: The Arch Project with Keanu Reeves. It’s a tiny catalog when compared to what’s streaming on Max or Netflix, but you can watch all these shows for free (with ads). Roku has also gone bargain hunting, picking up worthy projects other streaming services have dropped. That includes the entire library of Quibi, the failed “quick bites” short form video service that Hollywood mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg (former chief executive of Disney and co-founder of Dreamworks), designed for phones. Roku rescued an entire library of Quibi shows like Die Hart with Kevin Hart, Most Dangerous Game, a Punk’d revival with Chance the Rapper, the Reno 911! revival, and Bill Burr Presents Immoral Compass. Roku also picked up The Spiderwick Chronicles TV series from Disney+. Roku acquired the entire Quibi library of short films and offers it for free on the Roku Channel.Quibi Since The Roku Channel was designed as a hub for Roku streaming devices, there’s a lot of emphasis on luring users to subscribe to other streaming services, such as Prime Video, Peacock, MGM+, and Paramount+. If you’re not familiar with the catalogs of those streaming services, you might find yourself routed to their apps or websites when you click on a title. If you are interested in subscribing to those services, it’s best to sign up for them directly, so that your customer relationship is with the service provider and not a go-between. How to use a browser to watch the Roku Channel First, point your browser to therokuchannel.com. You’ll see a large grid with thumbnail images of the movies and TV shows on offer. At the risk of contradicting everything I’ve said about this entertainment being free and ad supported; well, some of it—a little of it—isn’t. But the Roku Channel user interface makes it easy to tell the difference.Roku’s browser view makes it easy to identify which content is free with ads and which requires a subscription to one service or another. Each section features tiles that slide to the left or right with arrows on each side of the screen, much like the navigation on Netflix. You’ll need to scroll down three times to see the entire user interface when viewing the Roku Channel in a web browser on an iPhone. Michael Brown/Foundry What you can’t do is adjust the view of the page to hide the Premium Subscription content. That makes sense—for Roku, at least—because part of the company’s business model revolves around you subscribing to outside services from within its site, for which Roku collects a commission. But it would be nice if users could hide the subscription options they don’t plan to use. A Browse tab allows a viewer to focus on such categories as Roku Originals, Movies, Series, Comedy, Drama, Western, and dozens of others. You can click a + button next to a program’s description to add it to a Saved tab. The Live TV tab shows what’s streaming now with the same sliding tile interface the rest of The Roku Channel site uses. It’s a bit counterintuitive for anyone who grew up with the traditional cable guide grid interface that Pluto and Tubi use for their live TV offerings. How to use the Roku Channel mobile app The Roku Channel lives inside the Roku app for iOS and Android. That app is primarily designed to act as a remote for a Roku device or Roku-powered television, so you’ll need to get used to working around that capability if you’re primarily using the app to just watch the Roku Channel. There is no Roku Channel app for the Apple TV streaming box, but you can play the service on your phone and cast it to the box connected your big-screen TV via Apple AirPlay.Michael Brown/Foundry For example, I use an Apple TV streamer with a TCL television that happens to have the Roku software built in. I don’t use the Roku software on the television, but I do have a Roku account. Press the wrong icon on the screen, and the Roku interface launches on the TV screen. There’s no way to turn that off or eliminate the icons for apps you may have installed on a Roku device or television. The mobile app uses the same sliding tile interface as the web version, but it’s far more difficult to use on a smaller screen. There’s no way to get an overview of what’s streaming live, and it’s impossible to surface a list of Roku Originals if you’re looking to focus on movies and shows exclusive to the channel. If you own an Apple TV, you can watch The Roku Channel on your television screen via mirroring. There’s no support for AirPlay. That means you won’t have access to anything but the streaming video when watching. What’s the best way to watch the Roku Channel? If have a Google-, Amazon Fire- or Roku-powered streaming device or television, download the Roku Channel app for your respective device, as that’s the easiest way to watch the service, as you’ll be able to use a remote control. If you don’t have one of those devices, the easiest way to watch the Roku Channel is on a web browser on a computer or tablet. If you’re looking to use your mobile device and want to have access to the full catalog of movies and shows, your best bet is to log in via a web browser and add what you want to your Save List. That content will then be easily accessed on the mobile app. Free streaming has become a major player in home entertainment. If you’re willing to put up with a few commercials (and sometimes the same commercials playing during every single ad break), there’s a wide variety of classic and relatively new movies and shows available on the Roku Channel—and other FAST services—to pass the time.

For a decade or so, a major threat to your laptop wasn’t a virus, malware, or hacking — it was Janet Jackson’s hit song, “Rhythm Nation.” What you might think of as an apocryphal urban legend was apparently true, including to some internal sleuthing by Microsoft employee and blogger Raymond Chen, who has unearthed some new details on one of tech’s more fascinating stories. Let’s start at the beginning. In 2022, prolific storyteller Chen related a story that was told to him from a colleague who had previously worked on the Windows XP team. There was a problem: somehow, playing back “Rhythm Nation” over a laptop’s speakers would crash the laptop. In fact, it could crash nearby laptops as well. Microsoft tried to isolate the fault, eliminating other variables, and the staff were left with a single conclusion: it was the sound itself that was at fault. Remember, laptops at the time didn’t ship with the SSDs that they do today. Instead, they used hard drives: 5,400-RPM hard drives with an actuator, magnetic heads, and platters. And it just so happened that “Rhythm Nation” inadvertently hit the resonant frequencies of at least one of the components. The vibration caused faults in the drive. It wasn’t enough to wobble the hard drive’s magnetic head into the platter — though that would do it! — but simply cause enough read faults that the laptop’s OS crashed. Remember, resonant (or resonance) frequencies are just simple physics. Tap a glass, and it will “ring.” Project the same sound back at the glass, and it will vibrate in sympathy — even shatter. San Francisco’s Exploratorium museum once had a ton or so of metal suspended from a chain, and visitors could try to move the suspended metal using a tiny, cheap, bar magnet on a string. If you pulled slightly at the right time, the metal would eventually move. It’s the same principle that brought the Tacoma Narrows bridge down: small movements at the right frequency combine with one another. For some reason, that’s exactly what happened with “Rhythm Nation.” Retired Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer (who worked with Chen) dug into it, too, concluding that something in the song also had hit the published resonance frequency of the Western Digital’s hard-drive platters. But Plummer was unable to reproduce the issue, prompting Chen to conclude that Plummer used the wrong hard drive — he used an external 5,400-RPM hard drive, and not one designed for laptops. The important consequence of this, however, is that Microsoft specifically engineered in a fix: a specific filter (a notch filter, as Plummer notes) to eliminate or at least downplay the tiny frequency band. For years, if you listened to “Rhythm Nation” on your laptop, you’d hear the song minus that tiny little laptop-killing audio slice. The update to this story was Chen’s question: how long did that notch filter remain in place? Essentially, it remained from Windows XP (2001) until Windows 7 (2009), because Chen reported that another PC vendor still remained freaked out by Janet’s ability to crash laptops. Microsoft had tried to put in a rule that would make it possible to disable with all “Audio Processing Objects (APOs),” which included the notch filter. “The vendor applied for an exception to this rule on the grounds that disabling their APO could result in physical damage to the computer,” Chen wrote. “If it were possible to disable their APO, word would get out that “You can get heavier bass if you go through these steps,” and of course you want more bass, right? I mean, who doesn’t want more bass? So people would uncheck the box and enjoy richer bass for a while, and then at some point in the future, the computer would crash mysteriously or (worse) produce incorrect results.” The waiver meant that even if all of the APOs were disabled, the notch filter would remain in place. It was granted. Of course, virtually all laptops today use SSDs, which don’t include mechanical components that can be affected by vibration. That’s not to say that the materials of an SSD don’t have their own resonance frequencies — they do, but there’s no indication that hitting them would even be possible with an audible tone, or that it could cause errors to occur. That’s kind of a shame. Imagine how different the world would be if “Baby Shark” had caused laptops to fail. “Sorry, kiddo — guess we’ll have to listen to Daddy’s music instead.”

Intel said Tuesday that the company’s Arizona fab has run the first lots of the company’s Intel 18A wafers, the manufacturing technology powering its Panther Lake chips, while announcing a high-performance derivative process. Intel also offered a sneak peek at its 14A process, the next-generation manufacturing technology, which will include “turbo cells” for faster clock speeds. Intel made the announcements at its Foundry Direct Connect symposium on Tuesday, as the company tries to convince Wall Street and its customers that its manufacturing processes are back on track. Despite Intel executives’ on-stage promotion of their foundry roadmap, the products consumers will purchase directly influence Intel’s process roadmap. Intel’s upcoming Panther Lake processors will be manufactured on Intel’s 18A process node, completing the “five nodes in four years” goal that former chief executive Pat Gelsinger laid out. Intel’s next-gen 14A should be the technology Intel uses to fabricate “Nova Lake,” due in 2026. Intel has used foundry partner TSMC to fabricate many of the tiles found within its disaggregated processors like Lunar Lake, and bringing that production in-house will save Intel money as well as demonstrate to customers that it can compete with TSMC. Intel chief executive Lip-Bu Tan has said previously that Intel 18A is now in “risk production” and will reach volume production this year. Intel 18A includes technologies like RibbonFET, a next-gen “gate all around” transistor, as well as PowerVia, a backside power delivery architecture that can nudge up power performance by 4 percent. Intel 18A is “ready for full product design start” — just another way that Intel is saying that it’s ready to go. This is Intel’s process technology roadmap as of April 2025.Intel On top of the generic 18A process, Intel has now added two new variants: what it calls 18A-P, designed for “enhanced performance” to a small subset of customers; and 18A-PT, which “builds on 18A-PT performance and power efficiency variants.” Early wafers based on Intel 18A-P are in the fab now, the company said. Intel 18A-PT can be connected to the top die using Foveros Direct 3D with a hybrid bonding interconnect pitch of less than 5 micrometers, Intel said in a statement. Intel 14A, by contrast, improves upon PowerVia with a new technology called PowerDirect, its second-gen power delivery network. RibbonFET 2 will also improve upon RibbonFET, Intel said. Intel was supposed to move next to an intermediary 20A process but cancelled it. The most intriguing part of the new 14A process may be something called “turbo cells,” which Intel refers to as a “boosted cell technology.” It will further enhance speed (including CPU maximum frequency and GPU critical paths) when paired with RibbonFET 2, Intel said. That might be key, as Intel and other chipmakers continually struggle with how to improve chip performance. “Turbo Cells allows designers to optimize a mix of more performant cells and more power-efficient cells within a design block, enabling a tailored balance between power, performance, and area for target applications,” Intel said. It will be combined with High Numerical Aperture (High NA) EUV technology for smaller process features. Intel 14A and Intel 18A-PT dies can be packaged together, Intel added, using Foveros Connect 3D stacking and embedded multi-die interconnected bridging, or EMIB. Intel is also announcing EMIB-T for future high-bandwidth memory needs as well as two additional Foveros derivatives, Foveros-R and Foveros-B.

For some years now, smartphones have had a built-in feature that protects against unauthorized access via USB. In iOS and Android, you get pop-ups that ask for confirmation when a data USB connection is established before you can actually start transferring data. However, this guard against “juice jacking”—a hacking method in which charging stations are manipulated to inject malicious code, steal information, or allow access to the device when plugged in—is apparently not as secure as expected. Cybersecurity researchers have discovered a serious loophole in this system that can be easily exploited. A new way to hack smartphones via USB As Ars Technica reports, attackers can use a new method called “choice jacking” to ensure that access to smartphones is easily authorized without the user being aware of it. To do this, attackers first install a feature on a charging station so that it actually appears as a USB keyboard when connected. Then, via USB Power Delivery, it executes a “USB PD Data Role Swap” to establish a Bluetooth connection, trigger the file transfer consent pop-up, and approve consent while acting as a Bluetooth keyboard. The charging station can therefore be used to bypass the protection mechanism on the device, which is actually intended to protect against hack attacks with USB peripherals. In the worst case scenario, hackers could gain access to all files and personal data stored on your smartphone in order to take over accounts. The researchers at Graz University of Technology tested this method on devices from various manufacturers, including Samsung, who sells the most smartphones alongside Apple. All tested devices allowed data transfer as long as the screen was unlocked. No real solution available for most devices Although smartphone manufacturers are aware of the problem, there still isn’t sufficient protection against choice jacking. Only Apple and Google have implemented a solution, which involves users first entering their PIN or password before they can add a device as a trusted source and start the data transfer. However, other manufacturers have not implemented sufficient protection against such attacks yet. If your device has USB debugging enabled, it’s especially at risk because USB debugging can allow attackers to gain access to the system via the Android Debug Bridge and install their own applications, execute files, and generally use a higher access mode. How to protect yourself The easiest way to protect yourself from choice jacking attacks via USB charging stations is, of course, to never use a public charging station or any charging station that isn’t your own. USB charging stations in high-traffic areas—like airports—are especially dangerous. It’s better to use your own power bank when traveling and make sure that your smartphone is always up-to-date with the latest security updates. Further reading: Your USB cable could be hiding hacker hardware

At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Awesome “AniMe Matrix” exterior display Good keyboard, big touchpad Bright Mini-LED display, strong audio Well-rounded performance for the price Cons No rear-facing ports A bit thick, heavy Short battery life Our Verdict Want a laptop with RTX 5080 series inside? Asus’ Strix Scar 16 is a relatively affordable option with solid CPU and GPU performance and nice extras, like a Mini-LED display and a large touchpad.  Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today The release of Nvidia’s RTX 50-series mobile GPUs has, of course, spawned a new generation of high-end gaming laptops designed around them. Asus’ ROG Strix Scar 16 is among the more affordable options in this new line-up—though I’m not sure most people would call the laptop’s $3,299.99 MSRP “affordable.” Even so, the Scar 16’s pricing and performance make it a good value. The Scar 16 also offers a few extras like a big touchpad and top-tier audio, that competitors tend to skip. Asus ROG Strix Scar 16: Specs and features The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 is part of a new wave of laptops powered by Nvidia RTX 50-series graphics and Intel Core Ultra HX processors. This configuration is a step down from the most capable, as it has an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (instead of 285HX) and RTX 5080 (instead of RTX 5090). Still, these chips are just a step down from the top and still powerful when compared to most laptop hardware. Model number: G635LW CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Memory: 32GB DDR5-5600 Graphics/GPU: Nvidia RTX 5080 (Max 175W with Dynamic Boost) NPU: Intel AI Boost up to 13 TOPS Display: 16-inch 2560×1600 240Hz Mini-LED IPS-LCD Storage: 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD Webcam: 1080p 30fps camera with Windows Hello support Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 5 with DisplayPort / Power Delivery and G-Sync, 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 3x USB-A Gen 2 (10Gbps), 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack, 1x 2.5G Ethernet LAN port Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Biometrics: Facial recognition Battery capacity: 90 watt-hours Dimensions: 13.94 x 10.55 x 1.21 Weight: 6.17 pounds Other features: Aura Sync light features (light bar, logo, RGB keyboard), AniMe vision LED lid Operating System: Windows 11 Pro Price: $3,299.99 MSRP Asus’ pricing is reasonable. The Strix Scar 16 I reviewed retails at an MSRP of $3,299.99. That’s in line with similar laptops like the Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 ($3,099.99) and the MSI Vector HX AI 16 ($3,519.99). As mentioned, Asus also sells this model of the Strix Scar 16 with an Nvidia RTX 5090, but choosing that upgrade bumps the price by $1,000 to $4,299.99. Overall, the Scar 16 is a well-priced, high-end gaming laptop that delivers strong CPU and GPU performance. Asus ROG Strix Scar 16: Design and build quality IDG / Matthew Smith Asus has invested a lot of effort into the design of its high-end gaming laptops recently, and the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 reaps the dividends. At first glance, it looks rather basic. The laptop is built from black matte plastics that don’t stand out. Turn it on, though, and you’ll immediately notice the Asus “AniMe Matrix” LED light panel built into the lid. You’ve probably seen it before, but if you haven’t, refer to this video. Basically, the AniMe Matrix is a monocolor white LED display that can show simple information (like the time) or animated images. I love it. The laptop also benefits from RGB-LED lighting elements around its perimeter, the ROG logo, and the keyboard. This design is typical for a laptop in the Scar 16’s price bracket, but it looks nice. The laptop also supports Asus Aura Sync RGB-LED light syncing, which can sync lighting themes across multiple supported devices. Looks aside, the Scar 16’s build quality is par for the category. The plastics feel nice, with the interior providing a bit of a soft-touch texture, and the chassis is rigid. However, you’ll still notice flex if you pick the laptop up from one corner while it’s open or when opening the display lid. Asus ROG Strix Scar 16: Keyboard, trackpad The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 has a spacious keyboard and lacks a numpad. That second point is important. A missing numpad will disappoint some owners but also allows a more spacious layout that’s properly centered. Personally, I prefer laptops without a numpad in this size category, but your opinion may differ. Key feel is good, if not amazing. There’s good key travel and a firm response, but the bottoming action is a little vaguer and rubberier than I’d prefer. I am nitpicking here, though. It’s a perfectly enjoyable keyboard, and I had no problem using it for hours at a time. The touchpad is where the Scar 16 outmaneuvers most competitors. It’s huge, measuring about six inches wide and four inches deep. Many competitors, including the MSI Vector 16 HX and Gigabyte Aorus Master 16, have smaller touchpads. A spacious touchpad is better for multi-touch gestures and generally allows a more responsive feel. You’ll also find “NumLK” printed on the touchpad. Press it, and the touchpad surface turns into a numpad. It’s better than nothing, I suppose, but I wouldn’t want to have to rely on it. Asus ROG Strix Scar 16: Display, audio IDG / Matthew Smith The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 has a 16-inch display with 2560×1600 resolution, a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz, and a Mini-LED backlight behind an IPS-LCD display. It contrasts sharply against the OLED displays found in some competitors. First, the positives. The Scar 16’s Mini-LED panel is wonderfully bright, looks excellent in HDR, and has a wide color gamut. Contrast performance is spectacular, too, though you will see blooming (in the form of halos around bright objects) that doesn’t occur on an OLED display. On the other hand, competitors with an OLED display will have a deeper, more immersive image, thanks both to their incredible contrast and lack of blooming. OLED also provides superior motion clarity due to its lower pixel response times, which reduce motion blur. The Scar 16’s Mini-LED is still crisp, but fast-moving objects have more detail on an OLED display, like that found in the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i. The Scar 16 supports G-Sync, which is an important point. G-Sync allows the display to synchronize its refresh rate with a game’s frame rate to achieve better motion clarity and eliminate ugly image artifacts like screen tearing. Oh, and one final note. The Scar 16 has a semi-gloss panel, while most OLED laptops have a glossy panel. The Scar 16’s audio is clever. It packs tweeters into a soundbar hidden in a hump along the display hinge. They’re subtle enough that it took me about a half-minute to figure out where, exactly, the audio was coming from. These tweeters are paired with downward-firing subwoofers. The result is a loud, well-balanced sound system that’s genuinely entertaining. Asus ROG Strix Scar 16: Webcam, microphone, biometrics The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 has a 1080p webcam and a dual-array microphone. Neither is remarkable, but both do the job. The webcam is crisp in good lighting, and the microphone picked up my voice with good volume and clarity even as I spoke softly. Biometric login is supported through Windows Hello facial recognition. It works great, as with most laptops that have the feature (and it is very common these days). The laptop doesn’t have a fingerprint reader.   Asus ROG Strix Scar 16: Connectivity IDG / Matthew Smith The star of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16’s connectivity is a pair of Thunderbolt 5 ports on the laptop’s left flank. These ports support USB-C, have high data rates (80Gbps bi-directional/120Gbps uni-directional) and DisplayPort, so they’re a great option for connecting to high-speed storage or a display. They also support Power Delivery, but it may not be sufficient to fully power the laptop when it’s under high load. These ports are joined by three USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, an HDMI 2.1-out, a 2.5G Ethernet LAN port, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. These are typical ports for a laptop in this category. Unfortunately, the Scar 16’s port configuration is sub-par. The left flank houses most of the ports, including the Thunderbolt 5 and HDMI ports. That decreases versatility, as it means you’ll need to snake cords around the laptop if your peripherals happen to be to the laptop’s right. Some of the ports are very far forward, too, so you’re going to see cable clutter. To be fair, most 16-inch gaming laptops have the same problem. Still, placing at least some ports on the laptop’s rear would be better, and it’s something to keep in mind when considering how the Scar 16 will fit in your setup. Wireless connectivity is strong, though typical, with support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 (the most recent version of each standard). All the competitive laptops I could find offer the same wireless connectivity, but it’s still good to see. Asus ROG Strix Scar 16: Performance The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 has an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU with a total of 24 cores (8 performance cores and 16 efficient cores). That’s paired with Nvidia’s RTX 5080, which, in this case, is given access to the maximum supported graphics power (175 watts counting Dynamic Boost). The CPU and GPU are supported by 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2TB PCIe 4.0 solid state drive. IDG / Matthew Smith We kick things off in PCMark, a holistic system test. Here the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 reached an excellent score of 8,383. That’s extremely fast, defeating most laptops tested last year by a wide margin. However, as the graph shows, new competitors with similar hardware scored a hair better. IDG / Matthew Smith Handbrake is a video encoding and transcoding program. Our benchmark converts a two-hour-long film from MP4 to MKV format using the CPU. It tends to be a long-duration test, but the Scar 16 with Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX chewed through it in just seven minutes. While this is behind the Scar 16’s competitors, the margins here are so slim that they’re not meaningful. That’s good news for the Scar 16, as it’s less expensive than the other Intel Core Ultra 9 HX laptops we tested. IDG / Matthew Smith It’s a different story in Cinebench R23, however, where the Scar 16 reached a score of 30,717. While the Scar 16 is still faster than many mobile CPUs, it falls noticeably behind the Lenovo Legion 7i Pro and MSI Raider 18 HX AI. Overall, the Scar 16’s CPU performance is outstanding but clearly a step behind the leaders. That’s not a huge problem, though, because the Scar 16 is also more reasonably priced, and it’s still plenty fast for a wide range of tasks, from gaming to video editing and much more. Of course, for many buyers, the Scar 16’s CPU performance is just a nice-to-have. This is a laptop built and sold for gaming. So, how does the Nvidia RTX 5080 perform? IDG / Matthew Smith 3DMark’s Time Spy and Port Royale benchmarks peg the Scar 16 off to a solid, though expected level of performance. It trades blows with the two alternative RTX 5080 gaming laptops we’ve tested to date. While there are some small variations in performance, they’re essentially tied in these benchmarks. We’ll need to look at games to find significant differences. IDG / Matthew Smith Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which we run without the use of DLSS or raytracing, is a good representation of high-end titles from the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 console generation. Of course, the Scar 16 with RTX 5080 has no problem in this title and averaged 189 frames per second at 1080p and highest detail. With that said, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i leapt far ahead in this game. IDG / Matthew Smith Metro Exodus is a cross-generation title. We don’t run it with DLSS or raytracing enabled, but we do use the extreme preset at 1080p resolution, which lives up to its name. Even the mighty RTX 5080 doesn’t quite beat an average of 100 fps. The story for the Scar 16 is a less extreme version of the Shadow of the Tomb Raider results. The Scar 16 is a bit behind, and the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i runs ahead. Still, I wouldn’t call this a big loss for the Asus. IDG / Matthew Smith Now let’s check out Cyberpunk 2077, a current-generation title that is constantly updated to embrace the latest features. I ran the game at 1080p in both the Ultra preset and the ray-traced Overdrive preset. All forms of image upscaling and frame generation were disabled. These are the kind of results I like to see, because they make my job easy. The Scar 16 once again ends up a bit behind the competition, but not so much so that it’s likely to take the Scar 16 out of contention. That’s especially true in the Overdrive preset, where the lower average framerates among all tested systems reduce the apparent gaps between them. I also tried the Scar 16 in Overdrive mode with the DLSS Transformer Model and DLSS Frame Generation in use, with DLSS Quality selected. That boosted the Scar 16’s performance quite a bit, to an average of 63 frames per second. So, it’s entirely possible to enjoy Cyberpunk with ray tracing on the Scar 16. Overall, the Scar 16’s performance is precisely what I expected going in. The Scar 16 is a bit less expensive than other laptops with Nvidia RTX 5080 that PC World has reviewed to date. It’s also much smaller than some, like the MSI Raider 18 HX AI, which weighs about two pounds more. Given its price and size, it’s reasonable to expect the Scar 16 would be a little slower than the alternatives, and that’s what happened. Fortunately for Asus, the Scar 16’s performance disadvantage is not significant enough to matter in many situations, and especially in gaming. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i posted better game performance overall, but it’s also $300 more expensive, so the choice between them really comes down to your budget and preference. Asus ROG Strix Scar 16: Battery life, portability Gaming laptops like the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 aren’t usually great for battery life, but there’s reason to have hope for the Scar 16. It supports Nvidia Optimus and doesn’t require a reboot between hybrid and full-GPU mode; you can just flip it on or off in the settings. Advanced Optimus is also in use by default and should automatically turn the Nvidia GPU off when it’s not required. IDG / Matthew Smith And yet, the Scar 16 didn’t do well in our standard battery test, which loops a 4K file of the short film Tears of Steel. It appeared that the Nvidia GPU was engaged anyway. The Intel Core Ultra 9 isn’t particularly power-efficient, which I suspect had some impact on the results. In the real world, I found the Scar 16’s battery life to be extremely variable. I think a good five or six hours would be possible in a light-load situation, but two to four hours is more typical. Note, too, that the scenario I’m describing is still a modest workload; I’m browsing the web with a few tabs open, editing photos, and writing in Word. Playing a game will drain the battery even more quickly.  In any case, the Scar 16 isn’t portable, in any case, weighing over six pounds and measuring up to 1.21 inches thick. These are normal figures for a gaming laptop, but more than I want to pack day-to-day. The laptop’s large 380-watt power brick doesn’t help matters. Asus ROG Strix Scar 16: Conclusion The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 is a solid 16-inch gaming laptop for shoppers looking to snag Nvidia’s mobile RTX 5080. Nvidia’s GPU performs quite well here, only slightly lagging the performance of larger 18-inch systems. It’s a similar story for the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, which, though a step down from the 285Hx, is still extremely fast in any multi-core test. Asus’ design is an advantage as well, with an attractive “AniMe Matrix” display across the laptop’s lid and decent build quality. On the downside, the laptop’s battery life wasn’t great despite the inclusion of Nvidia Optimus to switch off the GPU in some situations. I also think the placement of the physical ports, which line the sides of the laptop, is inconvenient. Priced at $3,299.99, the Scar 16’s pricing is mid-pack among its direct competitors, though most land within a couple hundred dollars. I think the Scar’s design offers some advantages over the Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 and MSI Vector 16 HX AI (like a large touchpad). The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is the Scar 16’s most difficult opponent. It has an OLED display, which I prefer, and performed a bit better overall. However, the Lenovo is $3,599.99. At MSRP, I’d probably still go with the Lenovo, but a $100 or $200 discount on the Scar 16 could push me in that direction. Overall, the Scar 16 is a well-priced, high-end gaming laptop that delivers strong CPU and GPU performance.

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