No, you aren’t imagining things. Microsoft has indeed started showing full-screen notifications more frequently in Windows 10 since the August 2025 update, reports Windows Latest. The nagging notifications warn that support for Windows 10 is officially slated to end on October 14th, 2025, which is when Microsoft will stop delivering security updates and offering technical support. Users who are still on Windows 10 are given the option to download or schedule the installation of Windows 11… but even if you choose to “Keep Windows 10,” the reminders continue to pop up. Microsoft also includes the new features of Windows 11 with the prompt, apparently doing all it can to entice you just enough to finally pull the trigger. If you want to continue using Windows 10 beyond the official cut-off date, there’s always the option to extend support to October 2026 by signing up for extended support in Windows Update. Read...

IT and security experts have long recommended using password managers to keep your login data safe and in one place. They’re generally considered reliable and secure, but a common vulnerability has now been discovered in 11 providers that hackers can exploit. (See our own recommendations for the most trustworthy password managers.) This vulnerability was discovered by security researchers from The Hacker News. The following password managers have affected browser extensions that are based on DOM (Document Object Model): 1Password Bitwarden Dashlane Enpass iCloud Passwords Keeper LastPass LogMeOnce NordPass ProtonPass RoboForm This list includes some of the best-known and most widely used password managers, affecting an estimated 40 million users worldwide. Extreme caution is therefore advised. The security flaw hasn’t yet been patched by most of these providers, so data theft can still occur as of this writing. How hackers get your passwords The vulnerability in question is known as clickjacking. Attackers can lure unsuspecting users to fake websites that imitate real websites and look deceptively real, except the fakes ones contain invisible elements. In some cases, users can inadvertently switch on their password manager with a single false click, which then tries to enter access data automatically. Hackers monitor these attempted entries and interfere, gaining access to the password manager and taking over saved passwords. The attack usually goes unnoticed as users simply close the affected page and receive no warning that someone has gained access to their password manager. So why do these password managers now run the risk of becoming a gateway for attacks using this method? It’s due to the DOM, which contains a vulnerability that allows for this kind of attack. Incidentally, not only passwords but also other types of sensitive data can be intercepted in this way, including stored credit card details, names, addresses, telephone numbers, and more, which could then be used for phishing attacks. Although the vulnerability was reported to affected providers back in April 2025, just under half of them have responded to the warning. Bitwarden has provided a new version of its plugin that addresses the problem. How to protect yourself There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to protect yourself from clickjacking. As always, it’s important that you never click on unknown or unexpected links, even if they lead to supposedly legitimate websites. It’s always safest to manually open up a new tab in your browser and directly navigate to the site, or use your own trusted bookmarks for quick access. If you use a Chromium-based browser (which is most browsers these days) and a password manager, it’s recommended that you switch your password manager’s auto-fill settings to “on-click.” This is an important step that helps prevent passwords from being entered or completed automatically without you first confirming intent. Alternatively, you might want to deactivate the automatic completion of email addresses (and other data) in the browser settings under the “Autofill and passwords” section. Read...

If the Wi-Fi suddenly disappears, it’s not always the internet provider’s fault. Sometimes the culprit is a simple power outage. All it takes is a brief interruption for your router to restart or go totally offline. This is especially frustrating during important video calls or right in the middle of a critical update. The easy fix? A power bank as an emergency power source. Here’s how it works: Wi-Fi crash due to power failure? A power bank can help The Green Cell Power Bank is a powerful option with 20,000 mAh capacity, pass-through charging, and Power Delivery support.Green Cell Routers need surprisingly little power–usually only 6 to 12 watts. A standard power bank with 20,000 mAh (˜100 Wh at five volts) can keep your router alive between six and 12 hours depending on the model. That’s enough for a power failure or a mains-related restart. Important: The power bank should support Power Delivery (PD) and supply an adapter cable that passes the required nine to 12 volts to the router. DC barrel (or hollow) plugs are common. Most AVM Fritzboxes require 12 volts via round plugs, so a simple USB-C connection won’t work. A PD to DC cable with an integrated voltage converter can help. A suitable power bank with PD output is, of course, required. Recommended USB-C to DC cables available on Amazon: HUNSOOL USB C to DC cable Supports 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, and 20V Compatible with USB-C PD chargers Includes 8 connector tips Cable length, 3.9ft SinLoon PD Supports 5V, 9V, and 20V Compatible with USB-C PD chargers and power banks Features DC 5.5 x 2.1 mm barrel connector input Durable nylon braided cable Charge and power simultaneously with pass-through power banks It’s even more practical with a power bank that supports pass-through charging. These models can charge themselves while simultaneously powering a connected device (like a router). This setup is perfect for continuous operation on the shelf. In the event of an unexpected power failure, the Wi-Fi stays “alive” without any extra effort. A small investment for a big peace of mind A good power bank isn’t just practical for your smartphone, it can also save your Wi-Fi in an emergency. Even during a power cut, you can stay online if you have the right cables at home. If you work from home, need to be reachable, or require a reliable internet connection, an (inexpensive) power backup can quickly pay for itself. Bonus tip for tech enthusiasts: If you want a particularly elegant solution, install a small UPS (uninterruptible power supply) with a DC output. However, for most cases, a good power bank with at least 20,000 mAh and suitable connections is more than enough. Read...

Dolby Atmos in your living room isn’t as easy as it sounds. Whether you’re dealing with a component A/V system or a soundbar, your speakers must be carefully positioned and calibrated to create that immersive Atmos experience—and if your furniture is in the way, you’ll just need to move it.  But with its new FlexConnect technology, Dolby is looking to make its Atmos audio technology more home decor-friendly, and it’s teaming up with TCL for the hardware.  First announced earlier this year and on sale starting today, the TCL Z100 is a smart and “panoramic” wireless speaker that can pair with a Dolby Atmos FlexConnect-enabled QD-Mini LED TV—specifically, TCL’s QM8K, QM7K, or QM6K series TVs.  Unlike the speakers used in other Dolby Atmos systems, TCL’s cylindrical Z100 speaker can be placed anywhere in the room, while Dolby’s FlexConnect technology will “intelligently optimize” the sound depending on the position of the speaker, TCL says. You can use anywhere from one to four of the Z100 speakers with a single TCL TV, and the system can scale itself up as you add more speakers to your living room setup. Just to be clear, though, the Dolby Atmos FlexConnect tech employed in TCL’s Z100 speakers requires the use of one of those three TCL QD-Mini LED TV models (which come in sizes ranging from 55- to 115-inches) mentioned above. Dolby originally unveiled FlexConnect back in 2023, but while it announced TCL as a partner and gave some ears-on demonstrations at IFA 2023 in Berlin, this marks the first TCL has released details about the TCL Z100, along with a price: $399.99 per speaker. Nope, that’s not cheap, but it’s roughly in line with the cost of a mid-range home theater speaker. Besides being sold in single-speaker configurations, the Z100 is also available in bundles, including one with two speakers and a subwoofer ($1,299.97) and three speakers plus the sub ($1,699.96). As for the Z100 itself, the 170W, 5.62-pound speaker measures 5.42 x 11.87 x 5.22 inches (WxHxD) and boasts four separate drivers that combine to deliver 1.1.1-channel Dolby Atmos audio. The first “1” in the “1.1.1” is for the main audio channel, the second “1” is for low-frequency sound, and the final “1” refers to the height channel that bounces off your ceiling. Meanwhile, the nearly 10-pound, 130-watt Z100-SW subwoofer measures 9.61 x 13.15 x 8.87 inches (WxHxD) and arrives with a 5.25-inch woofer. The Z100 speakers and Z100-SW subwoofer connect wirelessly to your supported TCL TV, and you can also stream music to the speakers from your phone via Bluetooth. TCL is promising “effortless” setup, including a “smart calibration” process that detects the position of the speakers and adjusts the audio to match the contours of the room. Sounds good, but what about performance? And how do Dolby’s FlexConnect speakers actually sound? I don’t think anyone expects Dolby’s FlexConnect tech to compete with, say, a precisely positioned, calibrated, and loftily priced 7.2.2 system with ceiling-mounted Atmos height speakers. But for average users who want enveloping Atmos audio in their living rooms without drilling holes or completely redoing their living room decor, Dolby Atmos FlexConnect may wind up being an affordable and effective solution. Personally, I’m eager for an in-person demo. This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart speakers. It’s been updated with pricing as well as new details about the speakers themselves. Read...

I don’t know how your tech drawers look, but mine are filled with wires I’ll likely never use again because technology has advanced quite a bit. Thankfully, USB-C seems to be here to stay since there is no wrong way to plug these things in. It’s not just smartphones, tablets, and laptops that use these, however, but also a long list of gadgets. We’ve scoured the market for hidden gems: 11 gadgets that will make you think “Wow, I didn’t know I needed that, but it will make my life so much easier!” Let’s dive in and see what cool devices you’ll be able to use your type-C cables and ports with. Wowstick 1F+ mini electric screwdriver Wowstick If you often have to fiddle around with your computer or other gadgets, this Wowstick mini electric screwdriver may be just what you need. This pen-shaped screwdriver features three LED lights so it’s easier to see what you’re working on and rotates 200 times per minute so you can finish the job faster. The screwdriver has a stylish base so you can hold it on your desk, and a whole collection of 56 aluminum alloy bits. The screwdriver can be charged via USB-C and it can last for hours. This super fun electric screwdriver usually goes for $41. Anker Nano Power Bank Anker One thing you need to have in you bag/pocket/backpack is a power bank because you never really know when your phone will fail you and cry for a recharge. Well, the Anker Nano power bank is tiny enough to fit just about anywhere. It comes with a foldable USB-C connector and a port on the side so you can charge two devices at once if you need to. The 5,000mAh capacity is just about enough for a full phone recharge, so it will be great in a pinch. It’s also only $30, but we’ve seen it as low as $16. Endoscope camera with light Ennovor Although it’s not something you’ll use every day, this Ennover endoscope camera can definitely come in handy. You just plug it in your phone, install and app, and see everything your camera does. Our team swears by it, using it for finding whatever they dropped behind the desk, while working on the car, or looking for pipe leaks. Since it has an IP67 rating, you can even plop it in your aquarium. The camera comes with a 16.4ft semi-rigid cable and several accessories, including a hook, magnet, and a mirror. You can get this one for $23 right now. Blukar flashlight Blukar I don’t care who you are—you need a flashlight. The smaller, the better, because you get to shove it into any pocket. This model from Blukar comes with a built-in 1800mAh battery that you’ll recharge with one of those many type-C cables you have in that tech drawer we were talking about. It can work for up to 16 hours on a single charge, which is pretty decent. There are four different lightning modes to cycle through, including one that will help you signal for help. Plus, one of these is only $10, so no excuse to pass on this one. Heat It insect bite healer Anyone plagued by mosquitoes in the summer will be particularly pleased with this ingenious gadget. This tiny device, which can be easily connected to your smartphone via USB-C, can significantly reduce the itching of bites and stings with targeted heat. You simply charge the small Heat It bite healer via the app and then hold it on the bite. The heat then does the rest, breaking down the proteins in the mosquito bite that cause the area to swell, itch, and hurt. A true must-have for summer, and it costs only $20. A tiny air pump Also perfect for summer is this small air pump from Cycplus, which fits in any bag while on the go. Not only can it inflate a bicycle tire in two minutes at the touch of a button, but it’s also USB-charged. According to the manufacturer, it’s suitable for mountain bikes, road bikes, motorcycles, and even cars! In addition to being an air pump, this practical gadget can also be used as a flashlight or power bank for on-the-go use — all things that come in very handy on a bike ride. And at just $57, it’s highly recommended if you need quick help with a flat tire. USB-C mini fan These little fans are also pretty ingenious; you can easily carry them in your pocket in the summer and quickly use them whenever you need them. Anyone who’s ever sat on a crowded subway train in 30-degree heat and wished for at least a little fresh air will love this gadget. The mini fan, which costs just $20, has a USB-C port and can be easily powered by power banks, computers, laptops, or USB chargers. There are even smaller and cheaper fans available that can be connected directly to your phone, costing under $10 each. But these also provide less powerful airflow, so we recommend the standalone version. Reading light with a book clamp Anyone who enjoys reading a lot, sometimes late into the night, will appreciate this little gadget: a reading lamp that you can simply clip onto your book. It may not be groundbreaking, but with a total of three color temperatures and five different light modes, you can individually adjust how much light you need for reading. The Gritin reading lamp costs just $15 on Amazon and features a 1200 mAh battery that lasts up to 80 hours depending on usage. Afterward, you can easily recharge it via USB. You can swivel the neck of the lamp back and forth as desired, and there’s even a small charging indicator. What more could you want? External DVD Drive Amicool If your laptop is like mine and lacks a DVD drive, then this little gadget will come in handy for you. This Amicool external DVD drive uses a USB-C (or USB-A) to connect to your laptop and give yout he optical drive you sometimes need. It can read and burn DVDs and CDs with ease, allowing you to install software, copy files, back up data, play games, and so on. You won’t even need to install drives as this thing is plug and play. While this thing’s usually $29, you can often get it for around $20, which is an absolute bargain. Samsung flash drive Samsung The vast majority of flash drives have a USB-A connector, but this one from Samsung has a Type-C connector. With transfer speeds of up to 400MB/s, you’ll move files around in no time. The beauty of this thumb drive is that you can even pop it in your smartphone to record 4K vids directly on it. The Samsung Type-C flash drive comes in multiple storage options, starting at 64GB and up to 512GB and they start at $14. The 256GB version, for instance, is $27 at the time of writing. Type-C microSD card reader Ugreen Most laptops nowadays don’t come with a card reader anymore (I know mine doesn’t), so finding other ways to get data off those little buggers is a must. Whether you need to pull data off your dashcam’s card or if it’s from your camera, this tiny Ugreen USB-C microSD reader will work just fine. This reader is tiny enough that you should probably put it on a keychain of some kind. If you’d rather a slightly more versatile version, Ugreen has a model that also works with SD cards and features both USB-C and USB-A connectors. Any of these will cost you less than $10, so they’re worthwhile investments. Editor’s note: This article was originally published on May 16, but was updated to include additional devices. Read...

Imagine yourself at work in a busy office. Colleagues chatter away. Your boss approaches your desk, as you’re asking a question of Copilot: How do I win the Northwind account? They notice, turn, and give you a look. What is that look? Condescending? Approving? Collegial? And how do you feel when you receive it? Like you’re part of the team or that you should know better? It’s a scenario that could play out if Microsoft has its way. Because Microsoft’s Windows chief is trying to make voice chats with Copilot a thing — again — a decade after Microsoft Cortana and Windows 10 debuted. Are we finally comfortable in publicly chatting with an AI, or is this something that we’ll collectively be embarrassed to do? A lot rides on your reaction. Microsoft recently released a video interview with Pavan Davuluri, head of the Windows + Devices team (covering Windows and Surface). Davuluri’s video outlined what Microsoft sees as the future of Windows, at least conceptually. As you might expect, Microsoft plans to lean heavily into AI and into the cloud. The more interesting discussion, however, is a cultural one. Microsoft has always believed in what it calls modalities: interacting with your computer via your keyboard and mouse, but also via touch, stylus, even by tracking your eyes and listening to your voice. Actively talking to your PC would be an enormous cultural shift. And don’t think Davuluri was speaking in a vacuum, either: in a second Microsoft video describing Windows in 2030, corporate vice-president David Weston describes the replacement of mice and keyboards with voice input. Microsoft’s vision is voice and vision — Copilot Vision. The AI assistant will see what you’re looking at and help you plan, strategize, and perform tasks. Orally. Out loud. Even if you’re wearing earbuds, others nearby could hear your interactions. “The other thing I think is going to get more intuitive is multimodal interactions,” Davuluri said. “So you’ll be able to speak to your computer while, you know, writing, inking, interacting with another person.” No one talks to AI at work. They just don’t Ages ago, around the launch of Windows 10, I was invited down to Nuance Software’s office in Silicon Valley. Nuance makes Dragon Software, which at least then was the premier dictation application for Windows. The company was also expanding into cars, developing hands-free navigation solutions. I remember walking back and forth between the demo rooms in near silence. No one was using Dragon’s software. No one was talking with or dictating to their PCs. This was the one place that you would expect people to actively dogfooding their own software, showing anyone who came near how easy it was to use. Not a soul did. I’ve been in many offices since and I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone talking to Cortana, Copilot, ChatGPT, you name it. Microsoft’s Copilot Vision “sees” what’s on your PC and helps out.Mark Hachman / Foundry And why should you? We live in a world dominated by people “dunking” on one another on social media, constantly judging others by their actions, inactions, language, and politics. It’s easier to remain quiet than to loudly proclaim what you’re working on or where you need help. And god forbid you call the chatbot by a name, or ask it to refer to you by a title or in a weird style. Even using AI is risky. On one hand, you might curry favor with management. They want employees to leverage AI tools to increase productivity. On the other hand, relying on AI might prevent you from moving up the ranks. So if not work, where? Microsoft’s Cortana was quickly transformed into a meme — HI I’M CORTANA AND I’M HERE TO HELP!!! — and the application’s capabilities were somewhat limited. Finally, there was the performative aspect, and later the fact that Microsoft’s Halo team turned Cortana into a villain. All those, I think, helped contribute to Cortana’s early demise. But there’s one big thing that’s changed since Cortana debuted: more people now work from home. It’s far less embarrassing to have a conversation with an Ai chatbot in private, rather than in public.miss.cabul / Shutterstock.com At home, you have the freedom to talk to Copilot or ChatGPT nonstop. There’s no one there to care, or to judge. Most (good) remote jobs simply evaluate workers on their ability to perform and produce, leaving how they accomplish their goals up to the employee. This is the world in which Microsoft’s Windows future will thrive. It’s ironic, then, that Microsoft reportedly is joining the “return to office” movement, requiring its employees to work at least three days a week in Redmond. I’ve only been able to be escorted around Microsoft’s offices on a few occasions, so I’m not sure how many work in cubes versus the luxury of a private office. I do wonder how many would be bold enough to orally chat with Copilot, risking disturbing their coworkers and tipping off their boss. And, of course, there are many, many big businesses without the full-throated support for AI that Microsoft espouses. It all leads to a rather startling conclusion, however. If Microsoft truly thinks that workers should be chatting with Copilot, maybe it should become a more vocal proponent of remote work. After all, if people are holding conversations with AI therapists and girlfriends, they certainly aren’t doing it where their boss could overhear. Why should Copilot be any different? Read...

Why AI chatbots validate grandiose fantasies about revolutionary discoveries that don`t exist. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Beautiful high-refresh rate OLED display Good price for that OLED Solid performance per dollar Lots of ports Cons Doesn’t pull far ahead of RTX 5070-powered laptops NPU is too slow for Copilot+ PC AI features 12 GB VRAM is low for GPU-heavy AI models Bad speakers Our Verdict The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI feels like it was meant to be a gaming laptop and the marketing department wanted to slap “AI” on it. It’s a reasonable midrange gaming laptop with a stunning OLED display. If you want AI laptop features, though — look elsewhere. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI is a 16-inch gaming laptop with solid hardware for a reasonable price. But if you’re looking for a true “AI laptop,” this isn’t it. The neural processing unit (NPU) is too slow to handle Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC AI features nor is it ready to run the most current AI tasks. Many buyers don’t realize that modern “AI laptops” often fall short of Microsoft’s advertised standards. Like other gaming laptops rebranded as AI laptops, this machine would excel at GPU-based AI tasks, but no more than any other gaming laptop. With 12 GB of VRAM, the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti GPU here isn’t ideal for local AI models. (For example, OpenAI’s new gpt-oss-20B model is intended for GPUs with at least 16 GB of VRAM.) Moving beyond the AI branding, this is a fine laptop — if we treat it as a gaming laptop and not an AI laptop. And this OLED display at less than $2,000 is extremely impressive. So, for the rest of this review, I’ll just treat it like a gaming laptop. Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI: Specs The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S is a 16-inch gaming laptop with a blazing-fast 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, a current-generation Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, 32 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD. That’s the Best Buy-exclusive configuration we reviewed, and it retails for $1,899. The RAM and storage are end user-upgradable, too. All you have to do is remove the bottom cover. Model number: PHN16S-71-98RF CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Memory: 32 GB DDR5 6400 MHz RAM Graphics/GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 12GB NPU: Intel AI Boost (up to 13 TOPS) Display: 16-inch 2560×1600 OLED display with 240Hz refresh rate Storage: 1 TB PCIe Gen4 SSD Webcam: 1080p webcam Connectivity: 2x USB Type-C (1x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps), 3x USB Type-A (2x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1), 1x HDMI 2.1 out, 1x Ethernet, 1x microSD card reader, 1x combo audio jack, 1x DC power in Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4 Biometrics: IR camera for facial recognition Battery capacity: 76 Watt-hours Dimensions: 14.06 x 10.9 x 1.01 inches Weight: 4.8 pounds MSRP: $1,899 as tested If you want a 16-inch OLED with 240Hz refresh rate for under $2,000, you should seriously consider this machine.” Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI: Design and build quality IDG / Chris Hoffman The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI is a 16-inch gaming laptop that lands somewhere between the thinnest gaming laptops and the chunkiest ones. At just under five pounds, it’s still plenty portable for a gaming laptop. It’s all black, aside from a reflective Predator logo on the lid and a silver logo on the keyboard tray. The good news is that there’s no “AI” logo anywhere on this machine. While Acer doesn’t specify the materials in its reviewer’s guide, the lid appears to be made of a black aluminum, with much of the rest of the machine made of a black plastic. It feels solid. The hinge also feels nice and smooth, and it’s easy to open with a single hand. While the keyboard lights up with multicolored LEDs if you want it, the rest of the machine in its “Obsidian Black” color scheme is restrained, and it could pass for more of a professional laptop than a gaming laptop. There are no light bars or other effects elsewhere on the laptop. That silver “Predator” logo below the keyboard marks it as a gaming laptop, however. It’s a solid laptop. It feels sturdy, and the plastic finish doesn’t feel cheap. At an inch thick, it’s a reasonable thickness for a gaming laptop. But it doesn’t feel quite as luxurious to the touch as an all-metal laptop chassis. Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI: Keyboard and trackpad IDG / Chris Hoffman The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI has a full-size keyboard complete with a number pad (there’s plenty of room for it) and four zones of RGB LED backlighting. That customizable backlighting lets you set up colorful effects without the cost of including more expensive per-key RGB backlighting. With 1.5mm of key travel, this is a standard membrane-style chiclet keyboard on a gaming laptop of this size. There’s plenty of room for enough key travel to make the keyboard feel nice without any extra tricks. It feels fine — not mushy — but it doesn’t feel as unusually snappy as when manufacturers go the extra mile to include a mechanical keyboard or one with extra actuation force. The trackpad is a good size, smooth, and responsive. The surface isn’t as smooth as a glass touchpad, and there’s perhaps a little more friction than on some other trackpad finishes I’ve used recently — plus the click-down action lands with a bit more of a “thunk” than a “click” — but it’s fine. It’s a standard touchpad, but nothing that stands out against its competitors. I game with a mouse, anyway, and I’d be happy using this while I wasn’t gaming. Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI: Display and speakers IDG / Chris Hoffman The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI has a 16-inch 2560×1600 OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate and up to 400 nits of brightness (peaking a bit higher in HDR mode.) It supports HDR and Nvidia G-Sync, too. The display looks great — I’m a sucker for a good OLED. I’m excited to see an OLED with such a high refresh rate, too. For years, it felt like you had to pick between OLED or a high refresh rate on a gaming laptop. You can get displays that are brighter or even higher resolution on a gaming laptop, but this one looks good with the deep blacks you’ll find on an OLED. While this is very nice OLED, it’s not the best one I’ve seen. While playing Doom: The Dark Ages, the blacks on this OLED display looked nice and deep, but these aren’t the vivid colors and high brightness I normally see on an OLED-powered laptop. In a lot of ways, it reminds me more of a good IPS display. That’s not a surprise due to that 400 nits brightness. The blacks are nice and deep, but the colors aren’t as vivid as I see on brighter OLEDs. As an OLED, it’s a little glossy and prone to reflections, and that can be an issue in a bright room, more brightness usually helps overpower these reflections. I test the speakers on every laptop I review by playing Steely Dan’s Aja and Daft Punk’s Get Lucky. The Helios Neo 16S AI’s two stereo speakers delivered plenty of volume. They did a better job in Get Lucky than in Aja with its precise instrument separation. But the upper midrange was a little harsh, especially at higher volume settings — something that really comes through in sounds like the singing in Get Lucky‘s chorus. I found the upper midranges fatiguing after just a few minutes in Doom: The Dark Ages, too. I don’t like the way the speakers sound, and I would really want to use headphones while gaming. Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI: Webcam, microphone, biometrics The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI has a 1080p webcam that looks fine for a gaming laptop. In fact, I’d say it’s on the better side for a gaming laptop, though the color and general image quality aren’t up there with business laptops optimized for video conferencing. Since Acer is pushing AI features for the webcam and microphone, it’s worth noting that the “PurifiedView” button in the PredatorSense app’s “Experience Zone” just opens Windows Studio Effects webcam settings — you’ll get these particular effects (automatic framing, eye contact, and background blur) on basically any laptop with this NPU. And you’ll get more on a Copilot+ PC that delivers extra features. The microphone setup was on the quiet side and not particularly high-quality. That’s normal for gaming laptops, but Acer markets this as a three-microphone setup for crystal-clear voice quality. You’ll probably be using an external microphone, anyway. This machine has Acer Purified Voice features you can tweak in the PredatorSense’s “Experience Zone,” and they’re an improvement over no effects. However, stronger microphone hardware would deliver a better voice input experience than these trendy AI effects do. You don’t need an “AI laptop” for background noise removal, anyway. This machine has an IR camera for facial recognition with Windows Hello, so you can sign in with your face. As usual on modern laptops, it works well. Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI: Connectivity IDG / Chris Hoffman The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI has a good collection of ports that are positioned well. But it also has one of the big problems I tend to see on laptops like these — USB port confusion. On the left side, the machine offers an Ethernet jack, a USB Type-A port, a microSD card reader, and combo audio jack. On the right side, it’s got two more USB Type-A ports. On the back, you’ll find a DC power in jack, HDMI 2.1 out, and two USB Type-C ports (one is Thunderbolt 4 and one is USB 3.2). That’s a great location and means cables like power in and video out are coming out the back of your laptop and aren’t in the way of your mouse and other things on your desk. The annoyance is the usual USB port confusion. On the back, one of the USB Type-C ports is a Thunderbolt 4 port while the other operates at USB 3.2 speeds. You’ll need to keep an eye on which is which if you have Thunderbolt 4 devices or you’ll find them operating at reduced speeds. This laptop features Killer Wi-Fi 6E hardware and Bluetooth 5.4 support, and it thankfully has that 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port for wired networking. It’s disappointing that Acer skipped Wi-Fi 7 here. It’s not a big deal, but Wi-Fi 7 support would make it more futureproof. Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI: Performance I put the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI to the test in Doom: The Dark Ages, and it performed well — as it should with this CPU and GPU! Under load, the fans aren’t unusually loud for a gaming laptop. They blow hot air out of both the back and sides. I’d prefer if they only blew it out the back. The keyboard can also get a little toasty, especially in the middle. As always, we ran the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI through our standard benchmarks to see how it performs. IDG / Chris Hoffman First, we run PCMark 10 to get an idea of overall system performance. This is an overall system benchmark, but the CPU is a huge factor here. The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI delivered a solid score of 8,320 thanks to its speedy Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU. IDG / Chris Hoffman Next, we run Cinebench R20. This is a heavily multithreaded benchmark that focuses on overall CPU performance. It’s a quick benchmark, so cooling under extended workloads isn’t a factor. But, since it’s heavily multithreaded, CPUs with more cores have a huge advantage. With an average multithreaded Cinebench R20 score of 13,072, this laptop was a bit behind some competitors with the same CPU, possibly suggesting cooling may be a factor. IDG / Chris Hoffman We also run an encode with Handbrake. This is another heavily multithreaded benchmark, but it runs over an extended period. This demands the laptop’s cooling kick in, and many laptops will throttle and slow down under load. The Helios Neo 16S completed the encode process in an average of 562 seconds. That’s over nine minutes. Again, we see it slipping behind similar laptops that presumably have better cooling systems and need less throttling under load. If I were approaching this as an AI laptop and saying you might be looking to do CPU inference, I’d point out this is a real issue — you’d want a laptop with better cooling to run heavy CPU-crunching tasks for extended periods of time. (But, since we’ve left the idea of this being an AI workstation behind, it’s fine and likely won’t have a huge effect on gaming performance.) IDG / Chris Hoffman Next, we run a graphical benchmark. First, we run 3Dmark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU performance. The Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti GPU here produced a Time Spy score of 13,528. A benchmark like this one is all about the GPU. What’s interesting here is the RTX 5070 Ti in this machine doesn’t pull very far ahead of the RTX 5070 in the Alienware 16X Aurora. It’s ahead, but only by a little bit. Comparing on-paper GPU speeds, it should be ahead by a lot! The cause is likely the TDP. In this machine, the RTX 5070 Ti is limited to 115 W max, so it can’t take full advantage of the 5070 Ti’s theoretically higher performance in the ideal world. (The Alienware 16X Aurora also runs its 5070 at a 115 W TDP.) IDG / Chris Hoffman Then, we benchmark some games. We start with Shadow of the Tomb Raider, an older game, but a great way to compare performance across hardware. With an average FPS of 160 in our standard benchmark here, this machine is in line with other similar laptops and even ones with faster RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 GPUs. IDG / Chris Hoffman Finally, we benchmark a demanding game. We run the Extreme benchmark in Metro Exodus. With an average FPS of 56 in this benchmark, this comes in roughly where we’d expect to see it — behind RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 laptops. Again, this is only a hair faster than the RTX 5070 in the Alienware 16X Aurora. While the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S does have a faster GPU, the advantages are marginal at this TDP level. Overall, the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI performed fine. But it doesn’t take full advantage of its hardware. The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX doesn’t deliver the kind of sustained performance it can on competing PCs (likely due to the cooling hardware), for example. More importantly, while the choice of a faster RTX 5070 Ti GPU looks like a big on-paper win that will deliver faster performance than an RTX 5070, the TDP here means that the GPU in this machine performs similarly to machines with RTX 5070 GPUs running at the high end of what they can manage. Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI: Battery life The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI has a 76 Watt-hour battery, which is middle of the road for a gaming laptop. Still, it helps keep weight down and you aren’t going to game on battery power anyway. IDG / Chris Hoffman To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Steel on repeat on Windows 11 with airplane mode enabled until the laptop suspends itself. We set the screen to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmarks. This is a best-case scenario for any laptop since local video playback is so efficient, and real battery life in day-to-day use is always going to be less than this. Also, since this laptop has an OLED screen that doesn’t have to use extra power to display the black bars around the video, that gives it a bit of an edge against competing laptops with IPS displays on this test. The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI lasted for an average of 371 minutes in our benchmark — that’s just over six hours. You’ll get less in the real world, so this laptop won’t make it through a workday (maybe not even have a workday) before you must plug it in. That’s standard for gaming laptops with power-hungry Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processors. Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI: Conclusion If you want a 16-inch OLED with 240Hz refresh rate for under $2,000, you should seriously consider this machine. Asus’s ROG Zephyrus G16 is another 16-inch laptop with an RTX 5070 Ti, a slower Intel Core Ultra 9 285H CPU, and a 240Hz refresh rate, and Asus’s online store has it at $2,799 as I’m wrapping up this review. The Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI tries a few other gimmicks. The “AI” branding isn’t a reason to buy this PC over another gaming laptop. And the RTX 5070 Ti GPU — a win on paper — is held back and doesn’t deliver the theoretical high-end performance it might. If you aren’t excited by this OLED at this price, I recommend you consider other options. This display at this price is this machine’s standout feature, not AI. Read...

There’s a common misconception about PCIe 5.0 SSDs that since they’re the latest-generation SSD storage and boast faster speed and bandwidth compared to PCIe 4.0 SSD, anyone who gets one is going to experience a big uptick in PC performance. That’s certainly not the case as we’ve shown by analyzing things like gaming performance. But there are a few exceptions to that rule. In fact, if any of the below statements are true for you, you may well have a justifiable reason for splurging out on a costly PCIe 5.0 SSD upgrade. Am I working with large datasets? Scientists and other professionals work with very large amounts of data — often terabytes but sometimes even petabytes in size. PCIe 5.0 SSD doubles the bandwidth of PCIe 4.0 SSD delivering theoretical speeds of 14,000MB/s for reads and 12,000MB/s for writes to disk. These faster transfer speeds can help prevent one of the biggest problems data scientists have to deal with nowadays — that is, the bottlenecks that occur on their PCs loading and preprocessing data from storage. Tada Images / Shutterstock.com For data scientists, especially those working with datasets in Large Language Models (LLMs), tasks like running complex queries on a database, accessing files while training models, or saving large model checkpoints should be much snappier with a PCIe 5.0 SSD, therefore reducing the time workers are idle and likely therefore also boosting productivity. Am I a video editor, 3D animator, or designer working with very large files? If your job title is 3D animator, designer, or video editor and, again, you’re working with large files, then a PCIe 5.0 SSD is likely to make your workflow much quicker. That’s especially the case if you work with 4K or even 8K video files, where the speed and bandwidth increases will likely translate to smoother timeline scrubbing and faster rendering. Do I want to future-proof my hardware for gaming? Right now, there’s not much of an advantage gaming with a PCIe 5.0 SSD over a PCIe 4.0 SSD, but as hardware and software applications continue to evolve, it’s likely they will better take advantage of the speed and bandwidth benefits of PCIe 5.0 SSD for gaming. That looks to be the case with the emerging technology of DirectStorage that reduces load times and improves asset streaming in games, especially data-heavy open-world RPGs. DirectStorage allows games to load data directly from the SSD to the GPU, thereby bypassing the CPU. While the technology works on PCIe 4.0 SSDs, PCIe 5.0 SSDs are better suited to utilize the DirectStorage technology when it becomes more widespread. Related content Best SSDs Best PCIe 4.0 SSDs What happened to DirectStorage? Why don’t more PC games use it? 5 useful upgrades for your PC’s unused PCIe slots Read...

Rabbitohs star has been charged with illegal betting and drug supply after allegedly contacting a dealer to provide illegal substances to his former Roosters teammates. Read...