If you’re on your computer for school or work, you want a good keyboard. If you do a lot of PC gaming, you want a good keyboard. If you just like keyboards, you—wait for it—also want a good keyboard. And odds are pretty good that you’d also like a good deal on one. I’ve scoured the web for the selling smorgasbord that is Amazon Prime Day, and found the best keyboard deals around. As PCWorld’s resident keyboard nut and reviewer of dozens of models over the last three years, I’m not just suggesting the best discounts. I’m really suggesting the best keyboards that I’d actually buy for myself. And because Amazon doesn’t have a monopoly on sales, I’ve also checked out its competition like Best Buy, Walmart, Newegg, and the rest for deals as well. Read on for the best keyboards at the best prices, and check out our Prime Day 2024 deals hub for great sales in other tech categories. You can also read our review roundups for the best gaming keyboards and best mechanical keyboards if you want to dig deeper. First published on July 12, 2024. Last updated on July 16, 2024. Prime Day 2024 deals on gaming keyboards Razer BlackWidow V3 TKL mechanical keyboard, $79.99 ($20 off at Amazon) 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard, $79.99 ($20 off at Amazon) Roccat Vulcan TKL TKL mechanical keyboard, $44.99 ($65 off at Amazon) Roccat Vulcan II Mini Air 65% wireless optical keyboard, $90.99 ($89 off at Best Buy) HyperX Alloy Origins 60 mechanical keyboard, $34.99 ($25 off at Newegg) For my money, I’d hit that little HyperX keyboard at a sweet 35 bucks. But if you want something a little more capable and gaming-focused, the Razer BlackWidow has a rare discount at the moment. The Roccat Vulcan series (which now goes by the Turtle Beach brand) is at a huge discount, if you want an RGB light show, but those who want hot-swap mechanical key switches might be better-served by the 8BitDo keyboard and its free add-on macro buttons. Prime Day 2024 deals on mechanical keyboards Keychron C3 Pro TKL mechanical keyboard, $24.99 ($25 off at Amazon) Logitech MX Mechanical wireless full-size keyboard, $129.99 ($40 off at Amazon) Logitech POP Keys wireless mechanical keyboard, $69.99 ($30 off at Amazon) Mountain Everest Max modular mechanical keyboard, $139.99 ($150 off at Newegg) Keychron’s C3 Pro is already an incredible deal at $50, but at $25 it’s in impulse buy territory. Logitech’s MX Mechanical is frankly way too expensive normally, but the sale price makes it a little more palatable. POP Keys is great for something a little more colorful (especially if you constantly use emojis), and the Mountain Everest Max is a beast of a keyboard with tons of modular add-ons. Prime Day 2024 deals on keyboards Logitech Combo Touch keyboard for iPad Air/Pro 11?, $129.99 ($70 off at Amazon) Logitech MX Keys, $104.99 ($15 off at Amazon) Logitech MX Keys Mini, $79.99 ($20 off at Amazon) Microsoft Designer Compact Keyboard, $32.89 ($5.10 off at Amazon) Lenovo ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard II, $87.99 ($9 off at Amazon) If you’re not into mechanical designs, Logitech is probably a go-to brand. The MX Keys is a great choice if you like compact, laptop-style designs. But personally I’d go for Lenovo’s ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard, which basically strips one of the much-loved ThinkPad keyboards off a laptop and onto a regular wireless keyboard, complete with the “red nub” mouse pointer. More great Prime Day 2024 deals  PCWorld covers all the tech categories of interest to PC users and tech enthusiasts. Check out all the other great deals we’ve found. Best Amazon tech deals across PCWorld’s top categories PC computer deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Laptop deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Monitor deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 SSD and storage deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 USB flash drive deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Thunderbolt dock and USB-C hub deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Office chairs and standing desks: Best of Prime Day 2024 Battery charger deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Laptop bag and backpack deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Chromebook deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 iPad, Galaxy Tab and Kindle deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Keyboard deals FAQ 1. What kind of keyboard should I buy? That depends on what you’re doing with it. If you have a laptop and you like typing on it, you’re good to go. But if you have a desktop, or you just don’t feel good typing for long periods of time on the keyboard you’re using now, it might be time for an upgrade. Most of the high-quality keyboards on the market are mechanical now, with big, chunky builds and long, loud key presses, because that seems to be what people prefer. But there are still slim, quiet boards available from companies like Logitech, Microsoft, and Apple. 2. What kind of mechanical switch do I need? Again, that comes down to what you want to do with it. There are broadly three kinds of switch: Linear (smooth from the top of the key press to the bottom), tactile (a small “bump” where the key press registers), and clicky (a loud “click” where the key press registers). These are generically color-coded to Red, Brown, and Blue switches, respectively, though that’s not universal — if you want to be sure, look for the linear, tactile, or clicky terms. It’s all a matter of individual taste, but gamers tend to prefer linear switches, because they can be pressed and released quickly. Those who type for long stretches of time like tactile switches thanks to their finger feedback. And if you want even more feedback, along with a bit of noise, go witch a clicky switch. Just be aware that the noise might not be so well-received by other people in your home or office! If you want to experiment with different kinds of switches without needing to buy multiple keyboards, get a board with hot-swap sockets. These let you pull out the switches and replace them with a different type. You can even mix and match the switches you put on a single board, if you have enough of them — Reds for WASD and Browns for the rest, for example. 3. What layout keyboard should I get? Keyboards come in a shocking variety of layouts these days, from full-sized (with the number pad on the left) to 60%, which is just the main alphanumeric section between the two CTRL keys with the Function row cut off. Tenkeyless, or TKL, is a good middle ground that doesn’t shrink any keys but chops off the number pad, and 75% preserves the function row and arrow cluster by shrinking a few of the less-used keys. 60% is great for travel keyboards, or those who don’t have a lot of space. Full-size is almost a must if you do a lot of data entry, and rely on rapidly inputting long strings of numbers. Everything else is a balancing act between space and comfort. But keep in mind, the smaller you go, the more often you’ll need to use a function key modifier — a standard 60% keyboard doesn’t have arrows or a Delete key on the main later, for example. Smaller boards include a learning curve if you’re not used to them. 4. Should I get a wireless keyboard? That depends on what’s important to you. If your keyboard sits in front of your desk and never moves, it’s probably not important. But if your keyboard is constantly on the go with you in a bag, or needs to connect to multiple devices over Bluetooth, wireless is the way to go. The latest boards can connect to three or four computers (or phones or tablets) easily, and last for months and months on a charge…as long as you take it easy with the backlighting. There’s one exception: gaming. If you’re playing PC games with your keyboard, you want to use a wireless connection with low latency, and that means a dongle you plug in. Unlike some older wireless keyboards, and just like newer kinds of mice, modern wireless gaming boards have almost zero latency. That means you’ll never notice a gap between when you press a button and when your character reacts on screen. Just don’t use Bluetooth (even if it’s an option), as the high latency and crowded wireless bands can cause performance issues. 5. Do I need a gaming keyboard? Most of the time, no, you don’t. You can play PC games on pretty much any keyboard. Gaming keyboards offer a few nice perks, though, including fast polling rates (so even less lag time between key press and on-screen action) and custom programming tools. They also tend to be flashier, with rainbow lights and exotic case materials…not that any of that will really make a difference to how you play. Again, if you want a wireless keyboard that’s also good for gaming, look for a gaming-specific model that uses a dedicated wireless dongle and not Bluetooth. Keyboards Read...

Amazon’s Prime Day sales event is here, and there are tons of great deals on desktop PCs. This year, Prime Day will run from July 16th through July 17th, and includes solid discounts on everything from gaming PCs to all-in-ones to traditional desktop computers. Deals can be found not just from Amazon, but other online sites as well, so we’ve curated the best sales on PCs from all over the internet. Barring Black Friday, there is really no better time to snag a discounted desktop. I’ve built multiple PCs from scratch, and at PCWorld, I’ve used my desktop knowledge to curate a list of the best available computer deals for several years. Other retailers have jumped in on the Prime Day action, and some of the best desktop PC deals can even be found outside of Amazon, so I’ve included those deals too. Read on for all of the best computer deals, and be sure to check out our Prime Day 2024 deals hub for more great sales across all the tech categories. First published July 12, 2024. Last updated July 16, 2024. Best Prime Day deals on PC gaming computers MSI Aegis Z, Ryzen 7/RTX 4070 Super/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,399.00 (10% off on Amazon) Skytech Nebula, Core i5/RTX 4060/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $849.99 (11% off on Amazon) CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme, Core i7/RTX 4060 Ti/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,299.99 (13% off on Amazon) PowerSpec G518, Ryzen 7/RTX 4060/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $999.99 (20% off on MicroCenter) Alienware Aurora R16, Core i9/RTX 4080 Super/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $2,199.99 (21% off on Dell) Legion Tower 7i, Core i9/RTX 4080 Super/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $2,239.99 (28% off on Lenovo) ABS Eurus Aqua, Core i9/RTX 4090/32GB RAM/2TB SSD, $2,999.99 (25% off on Newegg) The MSI Aegis Z for $150 off is a killer deal. It comes loaded with a Ryzen 7 7700 CPU and a strong RTX 4070 Super GPU. It’s a strong mid-range desktop build, all for a price that looks more like budget rig. If you’re on the hunt for something that’s even more budget friendly, look no further than the Skytech Nebula for $110 off. Sporting a Core i5-13400F CPU and RTX 4060 GPU, you’ll get strong gaming performance without breaking the bank. Best Prime Day deals on mainstream productivity computers Minisforum Venus NAB9, Core i9/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $491.90 (19% off on Amazon with coupon) Apple Mac Mini 2023, M2/8GB RAM/256GB SSD, $499.00 (17% off on Amazon) Apple Mac Mini 2023, M2/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,149.00 (12% off on Amazon) HP Envy desktop with monitor, Core i5/12GB RAM/1TB SSD/27-inch 1080p monitor, $799.98 (20% off on BestBuy) Mini-PCs are all the rage and the absolutely loaded Minisforum Venus NAB9 is on sale for $118 off with the site’s included coupon. This Minisforum is stacked with performance features including a Core i9-12900HK, 32GB of RAM, and a sizeable 1TB of SSD storage. Mac fans can also find good deals this week, with Amazon offering two versions of the M2 Mac Mini for $100 off and $150 respectively, on its website. The M2 is still a solid CPU and considering, if rumors are true, the M4 Mac Mini isn’t set to be released until later this year, it’s the perfect time to buy an older version model at a discount—you’ll still get a great mini desktop without the exorbitant price of a new-gen Apple product. Best Prime Day deals on all-in-one computers Acer Aspire C24-1300, Ryzen 5/8GB RAM/512GB SSD/24-inch 1080p display, $499.00 (27% off on Amazon) iMac M3 2023, M3/8GB RAM/256GB SSD/24-inch 5K display, $1,199.00 (8% off on Amazon) Inspiron 24 AiO, Core 7-150U, MX570A, 16GB RAM/1TB SSD/24-inch 1080p touch display, $949.99 (21% off on Dell) HP Envy AiO 34, Core i5/RTX 3050/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/34-inch 5K display, $1,429.99 (32% off on HP) Not to be outdone, Dell kicked off what we jokingly call “Black Friday in July” with a great deal on its Inspiron 24 AiO for $250 off on its website. It features the brand new Core 7-150U processor, an MX570A GPU, and a generous 1TB of SSD storage. Good performance features and a functional touchscreen make this a great option for anyone looking for a powerful AiO. Or you could decide to go big with the HP Envy AiO 34 deal for $680 off on HP. This gigantic all-in-one from HP is an absolute beauty with tons of screen real-estate thanks to its 34-inch 5K display. Plus, it even comes with an RTX 3050 discrete graphics card — unheard of in an all-in-one computer. More great Prime Day 2024 tech deals PCWorld has searched for great deals across all the major PC tech categories, so check out some other Prime Day roundups: Best Amazon tech deals across PCWorld’s top categories Laptop deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Monitor deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 SSD and storage deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 USB flash drive deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Thunderbolt dock and USB-C hub deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Office chairs and standing desks: Best of Prime Day 2024 PC keyboard deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Battery charger deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Laptop bag and backpack deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Chromebook deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 iPad, Galaxy Tab and Kindle deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 PC deals FAQ 1. What type of desktop should I get? You’ll see a ton of options when searching for a desktop computer, but they all mainly fit into four main categories: gaming PCs, productivity PCs (towers or mini PCs), and all-in-ones (AiO). Which you should end up buying is entirely dependent upon what your needs are and what you want to do with your computer. If you’re looking for something that will work in a home office or family room, then a productivity PC or AiO with a solid CPU and a decent amount of RAM and storage is probably the way to go. If gaming is your main concern, a gaming desktop PC can offer a lot more bang for your buck than a laptop and you should focus on getting the best GPU possible. Or if you just want something that can fit anywhere and provide basic computing then a mini PC is a good bet. 2. How much processing power will I need? If you’re after CPU power, look for processors with higher numerical labels. A Core i7 is more suited to gaming and more intense work than everyday tasks. Intel processors are available in Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9. Typically, the higher the number, the more powerful the CPU. If you don’t need a ton of power, Intel Core i5 processors are your best bet, as they offer good performance at a decent price. You can get along just fine with a Core i3 for basic office and web browsing. As for AMD options, the Ryzen 3 is good for basic productivity and web browsing, while Ryzen 5 chips rival Intel’s Core i5 as solid all-arounders. If you need more power, the Ryzen 7 chip is well suited for content creation like video editing. Finally, if you’re dealing with 4K video, spring for a Ryzen 9. 3. What GPU should I get? If you don’t intend to do any gaming on your computer, then feel free to save some money by going with integrated graphics. However, if you are looking to get your game on, then we recommend at least an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 or RTX 4060 as these are the least expensive discrete graphics cards that can handle 1080p gaming on High graphics settings in most games. Thankfully, the latest-gen GPUs have begun dropping in price in pre-built systems so opt for that if you have the money and want a performance boost. But if you’re on a tight budget, then opting for a rig with a previous-generation card can allow you to save some money while still providing decent graphics quality. 4. What about memory? As for RAM, nowadays I think it’s best to shoot for 16GB at the minimum for all systems. If you’re on a budget or just need a basic browsing machine then 8GB can suffice. Those looking to do heavy content creation such as video editing should aim for 32GB. 5. What is a good amount of storage? Storage size is dependent upon your personal needs, but it is generally a good idea to opt for an SSD over a standard HDD as they are much faster and don’t significantly affect the price of a desktop. Before deciding, it’s best to consider what your intended use of the computer will be. Are you just storing documents or doing web browsing? Then something like 512GB will be plenty. If you want to load up a lot of large files such as games or content creation projects, then you’ll need at least 1TB to 2TB of storage. However, just remember that even if your computer doesn’t have enough storage built-in you can always upgrade your SSD or go with an external drive to increase your available storage options. Desktop PCs Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating ProsVery thin and light for a 16-inch laptopLong battery lifeBeautiful OLED displayHighest-end Snapdragon X Elite hardware availableConsNo facial recognition logineUFS storage is soldered to the motherboardLimited to 16GB of RAMExpensive compared to other Snapdragon-powered laptopsThe top-end Snapdragon X Elite hardware isn’t much fasterOur VerdictThe Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge is an excellent Snapdragon X Elite-powered PC with a beautiful display, long battery life, and great build quality. But you’re paying extra for high-end Snapdragon X Elite hardware on the 16-inch model, and it doesn’t deliver the big performance bump you might expect. The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge is part of the first wave of Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X Elite hardware. The 16-inch model we reviewed is special, as it’s the only laptop that includes the highest-end Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 chip. This model boasts faster CPU performance than the others, but it’s also the only Snapdragon X Elite variation with an upgraded GPU. Samsung delivered a great laptop here: It’s surprisingly thin and light, with long battery life and a beautiful OLED display. But lots of Snapdragon X Elite laptops are delivering that and this machine is on the expensive side compared to your other options. Part of what you’re paying for is that exclusive top-end Snapdragon X Elite hardware. And I’ll be honest. While the difference is somewhat noticeable, you’ll be just fine picking any Snapdragon X Elite laptop you might prefer. The high-end hardware here doesn’t make a massive difference. Like other Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X Elite hardware, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge is an Arm-based laptop. As discussed in our reviews of the Surface Laptop, Surface Pro, and Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x, application compatibility is good but not perfect. While most applications run just fine, some applications may not run at all or may run with bad performance. The situation is quickly improving, but it’s still early days. Also, as far as AI, those exclusive Copilot+ PC AI features aren’t very interesting. Looking for more options? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available today. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge: Specs IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge is part of the first wave of Copilot+ PCs that arrive with Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chips. All Snapdragon X Elite chips include a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS) as well as a Qualcomm Adreno GPU. Our review unit was a 16-inch model and it included Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 hardware. On paper, that’s the highest-end Snapdragon X Elite hardware available with the fastest speeds and a higher-performance GPU. Samsung is offering an exclusive here: The Galaxy Book4 Edge is the only laptop that offers this top-end hardware, at least at launch. There are four Snapdragon X packages at launch, from lowest-end to highest-end: The Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 avoids the “Elite” name and only has 10 cores. The Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 includes 12 cores. The Snapdragon X Elite X1E-80-100 has 12 cores as well, but it gains a “Dual Core Boost” feature that can go up to 4.0 GHz for extra power when the CPU needs it. The Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 in this machine has 12 cores, but its Dual Core boost goes up to 4.2 GHz. It also offers faster multi-threaded CPU performance and a high-performance Qualcomm Adreno GPU. Qualcomm Qualcomm Qualcomm While the 16-inch version of the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge has the highest-end Snapdragon X Elite hardware, it’s not just about those on-paper specs. Other things matter, too. For example, if a laptop can’t deliver enough cooling to sustain high performance, it may throttle the hardware and not deliver the higher speeds you might expect. Unfortunately, Samsung only offers this laptop with 16GB of RAM. You can’t get this machine with 32GB of RAM, which is an option for some other laptops. The fastest Snapdragon X Elite hardware can’t be paired with 32GB of RAM, and that feels like a big missed opportunity. There’s one other surprise in the specs: Samsung has chosen to use eUFS storage instead of the PCIe Gen4 SSD hardware other manufacturers are shipping their Copilot+ laptops with. This type of storage is more frequently used on smartphones and other mobile devices. The storage is soldered to the laptop’s motherboard, so you won’t be able to replace or upgrade it. In theory, this interface has slower throughput than an NVMe SSD. On the other hand, it may use less power and boost the laptop’s battery life. In practice, the SSD hardware on the other Snapdragon X Elite PCs doesn’t seem to be hitting the limits of the interface, anyway. The eUFS storage performed just fine in day-to-day use, and I never noticed a perceptible difference in storage performance compared to the other Snapdragon X Elite laptops I’ve been using. Finally, it’s worth noting that the high-end Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 hardware is only an option for the 16-inch version. The less-expensive 14-inch version doesn’t include it as an option, and it has some other tweaks: No microSD reader, a slightly smaller battery, and nearly a pound less weight. CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 Memory: 16GB RAM Graphics/GPU: Qualcomm Adreno Display: 16-inch 2880×1800 AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and touchscreen Storage: 1TB eUFS storage (soldered to motherboard) Webcam: 1080p webcam Connectivity: 2x USB Type-C (USB4), 1x USB Type-A (USB 3.2), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x combo headphone jack, 1x microSD reader Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 Biometrics: Fingerprint reader Battery capacity: 61.8 Watt-hours Dimensions: 13.99 x 9.86 x 0.48 inches Weight: 3.42 pounds MSRP: $1,749 as tested ($1,349 starting price for the 14-inch version) Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge: Design and build quality IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge is available in a color Samsung calls “Sapphire Blue,” but it looks more like a silver or gray with a hint of blue to my eye. This 16-inch laptop is made of aluminum and it’s nice and thin. The edge tapers from the back of the laptop toward the front. At just 3.42 pounds and 0.48 inches thick for a 16-inch laptop, that’s an impressively slim frame for such a large machine. It feels like a big piece of metal, and the design is pretty simple. You’ve got unobtrusive Samsung logos on the lid of the laptop and right below the screen and black bezels around the AMOLED display that look nice with the standard dark desktop background. The hinge works well, and there’s a nice lip to grab onto while opening it. Thanks to the solid aluminum chassis and light weight, you can easily pick up the laptop from a corner and there’s no flex – no small feat for a 16-inch laptop! It’s a well-built laptop with a good simple design language – all thin slightly-blue-but-mostly-silver aluminum made as thin as possible. This Samsung laptop will likely appeal to people who use Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets. Samsung has a Quick Share application for sending files back and forth pinned to the taskbar by default – along with a Second Screen application that will let you use a Samsung tablet as a second display for your laptop. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge: Keyboard and trackpad IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman The 16-inch Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge includes a full number pad at the right. In general, I’m a big fan of having that number pad, but I know some people aren’t. Still, it’s a smart choice that puts that large keyboard tray space to use. The keyboard has a white backlight, and it’s fine to type on. It feels a tad mushy to me – not as snappy and responsive and the keyboard on the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x laptop I recently reviewed. It’s not a problem, but it’s also probably not the absolute best typing experience on a Snapdragon X Elite laptop, unless you want that number pad. The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge is a great laptop, there’s no doubt about it. The trackpad is the first thing that draws the eye when you open this laptop. It’s absolutely massive – I don’t know if I’ve ever used a trackpad this big on a laptop before. It works well whether you’re using gestures or just swiping your finger along it, and it offers good palm rejection. The click action feels fine, but it doesn’t feel as premium as the haptic touchpad found on the Microsoft Surface Laptop. The combination of the massive touchpad and number pad pushes the standard keyboard to the upper-left corner of the keyboard deck. It’s probably just what I’m used to, but that layout felt odd at first to me. Still, I quickly got used to it while using this laptop. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge: Display and speakers IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge has an absolutely beautiful display. The 16-inch 2880×1800 OLED display delivers dark blacks and vibrant colors with plenty of brightness at a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s a touch screen, too. It’s a real looker, and it’s a big upgrade over the IPS display included on the Surface Laptop. The speakers are mounted on the bottom of the laptop. They put out solid audio quality with decent volume. (As always, though, bass is lacking compared to a good pair of external speakers.) Between the beautiful 16-inch display and speakers, I was able to watch some streaming TV in a hotel room on a road trip with a good experience. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge: Webcam, microphone, biometrics The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge has a 1080p webcam, and it captures good video quality. This is a pretty standard 1080p webcam – Samsung isn’t going above and beyond here, but that’s fine. Since this is a Copilot+ laptop, you also get access to Windows Studio Effects for tweaks like forcing eye contact and blurring your background in any application. The microphone is also fine and will do a good job in online meetings. Samsung included a standard-sounding microphone here, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It did a good job of picking up my voice with reasonable audio quality, even with some background noise. The biometrics are a bit of a letdown. Samsung chose to only include a fingerprint reader for Windows Hello here. It’s built into the power button at the top-right corner of the keyboard, and you can rest your finger on it to sign in. It does work very well for a fingerprint sensor – I never had any problems, and it was always speedy. However, I really enjoy the IR camera experience for Windows Hello as it can sign you in immediately as soon as you open your laptop. That’s missing here. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge: Connectivity IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge has a reasonable collection of ports. On the left side, you’ve got two USB Type-C ports (USB4) and one HDMI 2.1 output port. This laptop charges via USB-C, so you’ll be plugging the charger into one of those ports to charge. On the right side, you’ve got a combo audio jack for headsets, a USB Type-A port (USB 3.2), and a microSD reader slot. (The microSD reader slot is only included on the 16-inch model and isn’t present on the 14-inch model.) That’s a reasonably collection of ports, especially for a laptop this thin – thank those nicely tapered edges that offer more room on the side of the laptop near the back. Like other Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptops, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge includes Wi-Fi 7 support and Bluetooth 5.4-capable hardware. (Samsung lists it as Bluetooth 5.3 on the laptop’s specs sheet because Windows isn’t compatible with Bluetooth 5.4 yet.) The laptop’s Wi-Fi performed well, although I don’t have a Wi-Fi 7 network to test the latest standard on yet. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge: Performance Like other Copilot+ PCs with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite hardware, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge delivered snappy day-to-day performance while running on battery power. It worked well when running common productivity applications, including web browsers, the Microsoft Office suite, and Slack. The fans didn’t make noticeable noise in day-to-day use and only became audible when the laptop was really pushed, as in our benchmarks. As always, we ran the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge through our standard benchmarks to see how it performs. IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman First, we ran a CPU benchmark with Geekbench 6. We normally run PCMark 10, but it doesn’t run on Arm computers like this one. Geekbench 6 runs natively on ARM, so we can get an idea of this machine’s CPU performance when running native Arm code without Microsoft’s Prism translation layer playing a part. The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge delivered a Geekbench 6 multi-thread score of 1,5493, which beats the Microsoft Surface Laptop and Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x. We’re seeing the benefits of that top-tier Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 and its higher top-end performance here. The fans stayed nice and quiet while this benchmark was running. In my experience, these machines tend to run hottest and loudest while running heavy workloads using x86 code through the Prism translation layer. IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman Next, we run Cinebench R24. Cinebench R24 has a native Arm version, which means it isn’t running through the Prism translation layer. 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. The fans spun up while the multi-threaded Cinebench benchmark was running — they kick in to provide extra cooling for intensive workloads like the one in this test. With a multi-thread score of 883, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge wasn’t much faster than the Microsoft Surface Pro and fell behind the results I saw from the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x. It goes to show that the differences between the various Snapdragon X Elite hardware variations aren’t huge. There’s likely something else going on here. Samsung may be running the hardware a bit slower or cooling may be a factor – with such a thin laptop chassis, there may just not have enough cooling ability to keep this CPU going at the fastest possible speeds. I had seen some online chatter about this laptop not delivering dramatically better performance than similar laptops with lower-tier Snapdragon X Elite hardware, so I’m not surprised that’s what my benchmarks showed. IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman Next, we run a graphical benchmark. Despite Qualcomm talking a lot about gaming performance, this isn’t really a gaming laptop. We recommend against buying a Snapdragon X Elite powered laptop for gaming. Still, as always, we run 3DMark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU performance. We also ran 3DMark Night Raid. Time Spy is running through the Prism translation layer, while Night Raid is running natively on Arm. The pair of results shows the difference between x86 code translated with Prism and native Arm code. With a Time Spy score of 2,146, the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge’s demonstrated the advantages of its faster GPU, beating other Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptops on running the code through Prism. However, for running typical x86 games, Intel’s integrated Arc graphics were faster. IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman When we ran the Night Raid benchmark, which runs natively on Arm, the Qualcomm Adreno GPU shows it’s more powerful than Intel’s offerings when running native code. The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge delivered faster performance than Intel integrated graphics with a score of 27821. While Prism works well, it’s clear these machines will perform best when running native Arm code. Overall, the Snapdragon X Elite hardware in the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge performs well. But for the most part, it performs similarly to other Snapdragon X Elite-powered systems. You don’t need to spend a bunch of extra money for the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 hardware when you can spend hundreds of dollars less and get similar CPU performance. If you’re focused on GPU performance, you do get stronger GPU performance from this system than any other Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptops. On the other hand, if GPU performance is your top priority, you’d probably be better off with a more traditional gaming laptop. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge: Battery life Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptops should post huge battery life numbers in our benchmarks. With a Snapdragon X Elite chip and a 61.8 Watt-hour battery, that’s exactly what we would expect to see from the Galaxy Book4 Edge. Thankfully, that’s exactly what we saw and the numbers are incredible for a 16-inch laptop with an OLED screen. IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman IDG / Chris Hoffman To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Steel on repeat with airplane mode enabled until the laptop suspends itself. 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. We set the screen to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmarks and it’s worth noting that the Galaxy Book4 Edge’s OLED display has a bit of an advantage, as OLED screens use less power to display the black bars around the video. The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge lasted an average of 1,242 minutes in our test. That’s nearly 21 hours. Now, you’re not going to get this kind of battery life when you’re using the laptop normally, but it’s a huge number and something we don’t see very much, especially on a 16-inch laptop with an OLED display, as those are usually more power-hungry. While the eUFS storage is a controversial choice for a laptop, it may be giving the Galaxy Book4 Edge a boost here. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge: Conclusion The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge is a great laptop, there’s no doubt about it. The display is absolutely beautiful, the design is solid aluminum, and it’s extremely thin and light. Yet, thanks to the Snapdragon X Elite hardware, this machine can run for a very long time on a charge even while using a more power-hungry OLED screen. The big concern is the price. At $1,749, you’re paying a good amount extra for that top-end Snapdragon X Elite hardware, which doesn’t make a huge difference. Plus, since this laptop is only available with 16GB of RAM, some workloads may perform better on a Snapdragon X Elite laptop with 32GB of RAM. There are better values to be had elsewhere. You can pick up a Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x with 1TB of storage and 32GB of RAM for just $1,313. That’s a lot less money for double the RAM. Yes, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is a bit smaller and it has lower-end Snapdragon X Elite hardware. But they’re pretty comparable, performance-wise. Luckily, as we’re finishing this review, this machine is already on sale. Samsung was selling it for $1,499 on sale as we wrapped up the review, which is more reasonable. If you manage to grab this laptop on a particularly good deal and the current Windows on Arm experience fits your needs, I’m confident you’ll be happy with it. It’s just a shame that this laptop truly isn’t a showcase for the power of its exclusive high-end Snapdragon hardware. The cooling doesn’t seem good enough to really run the CPU hard, the machine tops out at 16GB of RAM, and that eUFS storage certainly isn’t the fastest possible choice. None of this is bad – the machine performs fine and offers comparable performance to other Copilot+ laptops – but it’s not speeding way ahead of them, as the specs might lead you to believe. Laptops Read...

Exciting times! Microsoft recently announced at its developer conference about artificial intelligence, a new laptop class with significantly more powerful Snapdragon X CPUs, and its new operating system for the Arm architecture all sounds really promising. This is also true in view of the fact that Apple took this step very successfully and consistently years ago. In the meantime, the entire Mac model range has been converted to Arm CPUs from its own production; models with Intel x86 processors are no longer offered. The fact that Microsoft is now announcing a similar step together with the important computer manufacturers Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung is therefore definitely a sign of things to come. On the other hand, as a long-time IT observer, it is almost alarming when Microsoft once again announces a “new PC era.” The company had already promised the same thing with Windows RT in 2012, but less than two years later, “the new generation of PCs on the Arm platform” was already history. The last devices with Windows RT were then withdrawn from the market. Certainly, times have changed a lot since then and today’s Arm CPUs can hardly be compared with those of the past. The strength of Apple’s Arm chips compared to those from AMD and Intel on the so-called x86 architecture can be seen, among other things, in the fact that they work faster with the same number of cores and still consume less power. As a result, the notebooks last longer on a single battery charge. Microsoft defines “Copilot+ PCs” as a new class of computers that have a powerful Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for AI tasks in addition to the CPU and GPU. Microsoft defines “Copilot+ PCs” as a new class of computers that have a powerful Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for AI tasks in addition to the CPU and GPU. IDG Microsoft defines “Copilot+ PCs” as a new class of computers that have a powerful Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for AI tasks in addition to the CPU and GPU. IDG IDG This alone does not guarantee success for the new system and the new computers. After all, one of the strengths of Windows has always been its compatibility with legacy software. However, this has yet to be proven, as some of the existing applications in the new Windows on Arm run on an emulation. In the best-case scenario, users won’t even notice this, not even in terms of speed. In the worst case, however, some software might not run at all, and for many Windows users this is likely to be a no-go and therefore a conscious decision against the Arm architecture. Until recently, Microsoft’s promise that “most existing apps and tools will run smoothly on new Arm devices” could not be verified. After the experience of the past two decades that only every second Windows version is successful — this applies to XP, 7, and 10 and stands in contrast to the ME, Vista, 8, and 11 editions in between — the next one could now succeed again. As I said, exciting times. Further reading: Good news! Most apps I’ve tried on Microsoft’s Copilot+ Surface just work Windows and Surface devices with new Arm architecture After this categorization, let’s take a detailed look at what Microsoft presented at the end of May. Much of the company’s developer conference centered on artificial intelligence and the associated new Copilot functions and versions. At the same time, AI was and is at the center of the new PC hardware with CPUs based on Arm architecture and the associated new Windows version. After the flop of Windows RT, such devices have only been available from Microsoft as absolute niche products. Now Redmond is making a new attempt to counter the increasing competition from Apple. Alongside Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung, Microsoft is also offering AI laptops with Arm processors. The new Surface devices cost between $1,000 and $2,000. Alongside Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung, Microsoft is also offering AI laptops with Arm processors. The new Surface devices cost between $1,000 and $2,000. Foundry Alongside Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung, Microsoft is also offering AI laptops with Arm processors. The new Surface devices cost between $1,000 and $2,000. Foundry Foundry The new “Windows on Arm” will initially only run on laptops with processors from Qualcomm. In other words, the company that is already extremely successful with chips for smartphones. In line with this, Microsoft is launching its own devices in the new “Copilot+ PC” class: The Surface Laptop as a classic notebook and the Surface Pro as a detachable device with a touch display and detachable keyboard. Further reading: Microsoft Surface Pro (2024) review: A tantalizing glimpse of the future Both models are powered by either the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip with 10 cores or the Snapdragon X Elite with 12 cores. The Surface Pro with a 13-inch display starts at around $1,200, depending on the amount of main memory and SSD. The Surface Laptop is available with a 13.8-inch or 15-inch screen, with prices also ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 depending on the features. Microsoft is not sparing with superlatives for the new device class and calls them the “fastest, most secure and most intelligent Windows PCs ever built.” The new system architecture consisting of CPU, graphics processor, and the additional high-performance NPU (Neural Processing Unit) should lead to an “unprecedented level of performance.” A “Copilot+ PC” is up to 20 times more powerful and up to 100 times more efficient at AI tasks compared to a 12th-generation Intel Core i7 configuration. Microsoft also promises an all-day battery life: Videos should run for up to 22 hours on a single charge, while surfing the internet should be possible for over 15 hours. In addition to at least 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 256GB SSD, a powerful AI processor is a prerequisite for classification as a “Copilot+ PC.” Microsoft does not specify more precise requirements for the CPU, but the integrated NPU alone should deliver at least 40 TOPS, or 40 trillion operations per second. Microsoft and several hardware manufacturers have announced 16 new AI notebooks with two different Snapdragon X CPUs from Qualcomm for the coming weeks. Microsoft and several hardware manufacturers have announced 16 new AI notebooks with two different Snapdragon X CPUs from Qualcomm for the coming weeks. IDG Microsoft and several hardware manufacturers have announced 16 new AI notebooks with two different Snapdragon X CPUs from Qualcomm for the coming weeks. IDG IDG Initially, Microsoft and the other manufacturers will only be using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips. Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, and Samsung have announced a total of 16 AI notebooks for the summer, with some of the new devices expected to be available as early as June. Later, “Copilot+ PC” computers with CPUs from AMD and Intel are also set to follow; however, both manufacturers will continue to rely on the previous x86 architecture, supported by powerful Nvidia graphics. A fantastic copilot+ laptop Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x Read our review For x86 and Arm: Windows 11 version 24H2 twice Although the operating system for the new AI notebooks is also called Windows 11 and looks the same as the previous one, technically they are two different systems with different instruction sets. While Windows, with a few exceptions, has so far mainly run on x86 hardware, mostly with processors from AMD and Intel, the newly introduced variant works exclusively on the Arm architecture. This is another reason why it is only supplied pre-installed and not sold separately. In the coming months, it will be important to pay attention to the version status. While Windows on Arm will be released immediately as version 24H2, the same version of traditional Windows will not follow until the autumn. The new features that the autumn update will bring for all Windows 11 users include a new installation routine, native support for Wi-Fi 7, the use of Android phones as a webcam, the integration of the PC Manager optimization tool, the “sudo” superuser command familiar from Linux, the pack option in 7z and TAR formats, improved energy and quick settings for network, airplane, and night mode as well as the mobile hotspot. Microsoft also wants to end the coexistence of the two parallel Teams versions with Teams. Finally, the AI assistant Copilot will soon be available on Windows 11 PCs in the EU for installation as an app from the Windows Store. Recall: New AI function is not on board for the time being In addition to the aforementioned changes in version 24H2, Windows on Arm offers additional new functions. Thanks to the high computing power of the NPU chips, various AI tasks will in the future be executed locally on the device and therefore much faster than before. Finally, latencies over the network will be eliminated. Important: This new feature, known as Recall, is not currently included in Copilot+ PCs. This is because Microsoft has withdrawn Recall following protests. It remains to be seen what will happen with Recall. Read more about this here: Microsoft pulls Recall from initial launch of Copilot+ PCs. More AI performance for Paint, videos, and other software With the AI-supported Restyle function, personal photos can be given a new style. Restyle combines image editing and generation in a single step. With the AI-supported Restyle function, personal photos can be given a new style. Restyle combines image editing and generation in a single step. IDG With the AI-supported Restyle function, personal photos can be given a new style. Restyle combines image editing and generation in a single step. IDG IDG Other AI-supported programs will also benefit from the integrated Neural Processing Unit in the future. With Restyle, Paint, which is integrated into Windows, will receive a new function that changes the style of existing images. There is also the improved tool for generating AI images, which has been renamed Image Creator. The Live Captions function will in the future translate the sound of audio and video content in real time; the translations will be displayed as subtitles. The free AI assistant Copilot and AI-supported software from third-party providers, including the Adobe software Photoshop, Lightroom, and Express, will also benefit. Windows Read...

If you’re on your computer a lot for school or work, you want a good keyboard. If you do a lot of PC gaming, you want a good keyboard. If you just like keyboards, you — wait for it — also want a good keyboard. And odds are pretty good that you’d also like a good deal on one. I’ve scoured the web before the selling smorgasbord that is Amazon Prime Day, and found the best early deals around for keyboards of all kinds. As PCWorld’s resident keyboard nut and reviewer of dozens of models over the last three years, I’m not just suggesting the best discounts, I’m suggesting the best keyboards that I’d actually buy for myself. And because Amazon doesn’t have a monopoly on sales, I’ve also checked out its competition like Best Buy, Walmart, Newegg, and the rest for deals as well. I’ll be constantly updating this list throughout Prime Day to find the absolute best keyboards at the best prices. Read on for the best keyboards at the best prices I can find across the web this week, and check out our Prime Day 2024 deals hub for great sales in other tech categories. Early Prime Day 2024 deals on gaming keyboards Razer BlackWidow V3 TKL mechanical keyboard, $79.99 ($20 off at Amazon) Roccat Vulcan II Mini Air 65% wireless optical keyboard, $90.99 ($89 off at Best Buy) HyperX Alloy Origins 60 mechanical keyboard, $34.99 ($25 off at Newegg) Razer Huntsman Mini 60% white optical keyboard, $88.49 ($42 off at Amazon) For my money, I’d hit that little HyperX keyboard at a sweet 35 bucks. But if you want something a little more capable and gaming-focused, the Razer BlackWidow has a rare discount at the moment, ditto for the faster Huntsman Mini. The Roccat Vulcan II (which now goes by the Turtle Beach brand) is at a huge discount, but only really benefits gamers who are on the go regularly. Early Prime Day 2024 deals on mechanical keyboards Keychron Q4 60% wired hot-swap mechanical keyboard, $69.99 ($120 off at Woot.com) Keychron Q2 65% wired hot-swap mechanical keyboard, $79.99 ($120 off at Woot.com) Epomaker Shadow-X wireless hot-swap mechanical keyboard, $42.99 ($43 off at Amazon) Logitech POP Keys wireless mechanical keyboard, $79.99 ($20 oiff at Best Buy) Mountain Everest Max modular mechanical keyboard, $139.99 ($150 off at Newegg) Keychron’s Q series is fantastic if you want an all-metal, easily-modded keyboard with classy looks, and several are on sale at Woot.com right now (Amazon’s closeout sister site). But the Epomaker Shadow-X has wireless capability and a teeny tiny screen if you’re looking for more bling and a lower price. Speaking of keyboards, the Mountain Everest Max is an absolutely insane plug-and-play design with multiple add-ons, at towering discount while supplies last at Newegg. Early Prime Day 2024 deals on keyboards Logitech MK520 wireless keyboard and mouse, $36.99 ($13 off at Woot.com) Logitech MX Keys Mini wireless keyboard, $74.99 ($25 off at Woot.com) Logitech Combo Touch keyboard for iPad Air/Pro 11?, $129.00 ($70 off at Amazon) Microsoft Designer Compact Keyboard, $32.99 ($5 off at Amazon) Lenovo ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard II, $87.99 ($9 off at Amazon) If you’re not into mechanical designs, Logitech is probably a go-to brand. The MX Keys is a great choice if you like compact, laptop-style designs. But personally I’d go for Lenovo’s ThinkPad TrackPoint Keyboard, which basically strips one of the much-loved ThinkPad keyboards off a laptop and onto a regular wireless keyboard, complete with the “red nub” mouse pointer. More great Prime Day 2024 deals  PCWorld covers a wide range of tech deals every Prime Day, so make sure to check out some other best deal roundups that may be of interest.  Best SSD and external storage deals for Prime Day 2024  Best battery charger and power bank deals for Prime Day 2024  Best Thunderbolt dock and USB-C hub deals for Prime Day 2024  Best monitor deals for Prime Day 2024  Best Amazon tech deals for Prime Day 2024  FAQ 1. What kind of keyboard should I buy? That depends on what you’re doing with it. If you have a laptop and you like typing on it, you’re good to go. But if you have a desktop, or you just don’t feel good typing for long periods of time on the keyboard you’re using now, it might be time for an upgrade. Most of the high-quality keyboards on the market are mechanical now, with big, chunky builds and long, loud key presses, because that seems to be what people prefer. But there are still slim, quiet boards available from companies like Logitech, Microsoft, and Apple. 2. What kind of mechanical switch do I need? Again, that comes down to what you want to do with it. There are broadly three kinds of switch: Linear (smooth from the top of the key press to the bottom), tactile (a small “bump” where the key press registers), and clicky (a loud “click” where the key press registers). These are generically color-coded to Red, Brown, and Blue switches, respectively, though that’s not universal — if you want to be sure, look for the linear, tactile, or clicky terms. It’s all a matter of individual taste, but gamers tend to prefer linear switches, because they can be pressed and released quickly. Those who type for long stretches of time like tactile switches thanks to their finger feedback. And if you want even more feedback, along with a bit of noise, go witch a clicky switch. Just be aware that the noise might not be so well-received by other people in your home or office! If you want to experiment with different kinds of switches without needing to buy multiple keyboards, get a board with hot-swap sockets. These let you pull out the switches and replace them with a different type. You can even mix and match the switches you put on a single board, if you have enough of them — Reds for WASD and Browns for the rest, for example. 3. What layout keyboard should I get? Keyboards come in a shocking variety of layouts these days, from full-sized (with the number pad on the left) to 60%, which is just the main alphanumeric section between the two CTRL keys with the Function row cut off. Tenkeyless, or TKL, is a good middle ground that doesn’t shrink any keys but chops off the number pad, and 75% preserves the function row and arrow cluster by shrinking a few of the less-used keys. 60% is great for travel keyboards, or those who don’t have a lot of space. Full-size is almost a must if you do a lot of data entry, and rely on rapidly inputting long strings of numbers. Everything else is a balancing act between space and comfort. But keep in mind, the smaller you go, the more often you’ll need to use a function key modifier — a standard 60% keyboard doesn’t have arrows or a Delete key on the main later, for example. Smaller boards include a learning curve if you’re not used to them. 4. Should I get a wireless keyboard? That depends on what’s important to you. If your keyboard sits in front of your desk and never moves, it’s probably not important. But if your keyboard is constantly on the go with you in a bag, or needs to connect to multiple devices over Bluetooth, wireless is the way to go. The latest boards can connect to three or four computers (or phones or tablets) easily, and last for months and months on a charge…as long as you take it easy with the backlighting. There’s one exception: gaming. If you’re playing PC games with your keyboard, you want to use a wireless connection with low latency, and that means a dongle you plug in. Unlike some older wireless keyboards, and just like newer kinds of mice, modern wireless gaming boards have almost zero latency. That means you’ll never notice a gap between when you press a button and when your character reacts on screen. Just don’t use Bluetooth (even if it’s an option), as the high latency and crowded wireless bands can cause performance issues. 5. Do I need a gaming keyboard? Most of the time, no, you don’t. You can play PC games on pretty much any keyboard. Gaming keyboards offer a few nice perks, though, including fast polling rates (so even less lag time between key press and on-screen action) and custom programming tools. They also tend to be flashier, with rainbow lights and exotic case materials…not that any of that will really make a difference to how you play. Again, if you want a wireless keyboard that’s also good for gaming, look for a gaming-specific model that uses a dedicated wireless dongle and not Bluetooth. Keyboards Read...

If you’re looking to save some dough on a computer display, it’s a great time to hunt for monitor deals thanks to Amazon’s Prime Day and competing sales events from other retailers. I’ve scoured the web for the best deals on the best screens. PCWorld constantly reviews the latest monitor models with the newest tech, as well as hunting for the best value if you don’t need all the bells and whistles. You can trust us to not just find the biggest discounts, but the discounts on the monitors that are actually worth buying in the first place. Prime Day starts next week, but we’re already seeing deals pop up all over the web on gaming monitors, standard office models, and the elusive and expensive upgraded OLEDs. Read on for the best keyboards at the best prices I can find across the web this week, and check out our Prime Day 2024 deals hub for great sales in other tech categories. Early Prime Day 2024 deals on OLED monitors Alienware 32-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor, $999.99 ($200 off at Dell.com) Acer Predator 34-inch OLED Ultrawide gaming monitor, $799.99 ($200 off at Newegg) LG 34-inch OLED ultrawide gaming monitor, $796.99 ($504 off at Amazon) LG 45-inch OLED ultrawide gaming monitor, $999.99 ($700 off at Amazon) Samsung Odyssey 49-inch OLED ultrawide gaming monitor, $1199.99 ($500 off at Amazon) OLED monitors are the cream of the crop for gamers, and at the moment you can’t get any bigger than Samsung’s 49-inch super-duper-mega-ultrawide. But for a good balance between size and utility, I think I’d prefer the 45-inch LG model, if only because its 21:9 aspect ratio and lower resolution is much easier for gaming PCs to handle. On the other hand if you’re more of a movie fan, the 32-inch Alienware with its 16:9 4K screen is the way to go. Early Prime Day 2024 deals on gaming monitors Acer 34-inch ultrawide VA 100Hz gaming monitor, $189.99 ($90 off at Newegg, use coupon code FTTPDU8446) Gigabyte 34-inch ultrawide VA 144Hz gaming monitor, $319.99 ($80 off at Amazon) Dell 27-inch IPS 1440p 165Hz gaming monitor, $179.99 (regular price at Dell) ASUS ROG 49-inch ultrawide VA 165Hz gaming monitor, $699.00 ($100 off at Amazon) Gigabyte 32-inch 4K 144Hz IPS gaming monitor, $524.99 ($205 off at Amazon) I’m an ultrawide fanboy, so if I was on a budget I’d gobble up that Gigabyte 34-inch VA monitor in a hurry. It’s already a budget favorite, and it’s $80 off at the moment. But if you wanna go big, finding that massive 49-inch Asus for under a grand is quite a coup. For a monitor that can do it all—games, movies, office work, and even some photo editing or video production—that Gigabyte 32-inch IPS panel is a Jack of all trades. Early Prime Day 2024 deals on office monitors Dell 27-inch 1080p VA monitor, $99.99 ($20 off at Dell.com) Acer 27-inch 1440p IPS monitor, $139.99 ($55 off at Amazon) Asus 24-inch USB-C 1080p IPS Monitor, $109.99 ($40 off at Amazon) Lenovo L15 USB-C 1080p portable monitor, $195.49 ($30 off at Amazon) Dell is a go-to for low-cost, high-quality monitors, but Acer has it beat with a 27-inch monitor with both upgraded 1440p resolution and a better IPS model for just a little more. Asus has a 24-inch USB-C monitor if you want an easy connection with your laptop that’ll also charge it up. And for more screen space on the go, that 15-inch Lenovo portable monitor is a great way to level up your mobile setup. It also works with some phones and tablets. More great Prime Day 2024 deals  PCWorld covers a wide range of tech deals every Prime Day, so make sure to check out some other best deal roundups that may be of interest.  Best SSD and external storage deals for Prime Day 2024  Best battery charger and power bank deals for Prime Day 2024  Best Thunderbolt dock and USB-C hub deals for Prime Day 2024  Best keyboard deals for Prime Day 2024  Best USB flash drive deals for Prime Day 2024 FAQ 1. What size of monitor should I buy? Monitor size depends on personal preference and location.  A 24-inch monitor is fine for a desk that is around 24 inches deep, or less. Its small size will still be sufficient because the monitor is closer to you. Most people, however, will want to go with a 27-inch monitor. The added size will make the monitor easy to see. This also opens up a wider range of 4K monitor options, as 4K is very rare on a 24-inch monitor. Larger monitors, such as a 32-inch widescreen or 34-inch ultrawide, are great for deep desks and people who want an immersive experience. Monitors this large can serve as a TV replacement in a small room.  Displays of even larger size, such as 42-inch or 48-inch HDTVs, are best for home theater setups or an unusually large office. You’ll want to sit four to six feet away from a display of this size. 2. What display input is best? (HDMI vs. DisplayPort vs. USB-C) USB-C is the best display input for most people. It works by bundling DisplayPort into USB-C, so offers all the same features as DisplayPort. Yet it retains the features of USB-C including optional support for Power Delivery to charge external devices. This is why we recommend a USB-C monitor for most people. DisplayPort is generally second-best. It supports higher resolutions and refresh rates than HDMI. This input is particularly common on desktop computers.  HDMI comes in third due to lower resolution and refresh rate support. This is improved by HDMI 2.1, but this feature remains hard to find and often adds to a monitor’s price. All three of the options above handle 1080p at 60Hz, which is the most common resolution and refresh rate available today. It’s also important to buy a monitor that has an input compatible with your PC. 3. Are all monitors compatible with Windows and MacOS? Modern monitors are compatible with all recent versions of Windows and MacOS. They’re plug-and-play, which means the monitor should display an image without the need to install driver software or mess with Windows or MacOS settings. Monitors Read...

Transferring files between PCs can feel laborious, especially when you have only just a few small ones to deal with. A lot of people still hunt for a USB drive to put the documents on—or upload them to the cloud to then download them on the second computer. If you’re a little fancier, you might have the two systems visible to each other on your local network.Each method has some form of drag—either multiple steps that slow the process during each transfer (USB and cloud), or upfront when setting up the system (local network). But if you have only small files to copy over, there’s a better way built into Windows. It’s called Nearby Sharing, and not only has it been around for years, but it’s super fast, easy to use, and available to both Windows 10 and 11 PCs. Further reading: How to format USB sticks and external drives in Windows How to use Nearby Sharing Step 1: Enable Nearby Sharing From the taskbar, open search or the Start Menu, then type nearby sharing. Choose Nearby Sharing settings from the search results that appear. A window will appear for the Shared Experiences settings. Look for Nearby Sharing, then flip on the toggle for Share content with a nearby device using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The Nearby Sharing settings in Windows 10 (left image) and Windows 11 (right image). While you’re in the settings, you can choose to stay open to everyone in the area, or limit sharing and receiving to your devices only. You can also change the location for where received files are saved. (Normally, they’ll go to your default downloads folder). You must enable Nearby Sharing on all PCs that you want to share files between. Step 2: Share the file(s) between computers Right-click on the file(s) you want to share, then choose Share from the context menu. If you’re in a File Explorer window, you can also choose Share > Share from the ribbon menu. You should see the name of the receiving PC in the list of available devices. Click on it to send a sharing request, then accept the request via your Windows notifications. (If you don’t see the pop up, check the Notifications Center on the taskbar). You can transfer files between Windows 10 and 11 PCs freely—there are no operating system version restrictions between them. The Sharing menu options when right-clicking on a file (Windows 11). The Sharing menu options when right-clicking on a file (Windows 11).PCWorld The Sharing menu options when right-clicking on a file (Windows 11).PCWorld PCWorld When to use Nearby Sharing Nearby Sharing isn’t always the fastest method for transferring files—when the connection goes over Bluetooth instead of Wi-Fi, it becomes much slower than uploading to the cloud and downloading, or using a USB drive. However, that lag isn’t as noticeable for small files (like smartphone photos or screenshots). Using Nearby Sharing also keeps transferred files more private, since they’ll only be available locally on each PC. And in some cases, it can be less work, especially if you were uploading images to Slack and having to do it in batches of 10 each time. (Cough). You just fire and forget. Windows Read...

Amazon’s Prime Day sales event is nearly here, but the early deals on desktop PCs have already begun. This year, Prime Day will run from July 16th through July 17th, and should include solid discounts on everything from gaming PCs to all-in-ones, as well as more traditional desktop machines. Early deals are well underway not just from Amazon, but other online sites as well, and we’ve curated the best sales on computers from all over the internet. So, whether you’re looking to update your gaming setup with a sweet new rig or you’ve had your eye on that latest all-in-one, there is no better time to snag a discounted desktop. I’ve built my own PC from scratch, and at PCWorld, I’ve used my desktop knowledge to curate a list of the best available computer deals for several years. Other retailers have jumped in on the early Prime Day action, and some of the best desktop PC deals can even be found outside of Amazon, so I’ve included those deals too. Read on for all of the best computer deals, and be sure to check out our Prime Day 2024 deals hub for more great sales across all the tech categories. Best early Prime Day deals on PC gaming computers MSI Aegis Z, Ryzen 7/RTX 4070 Super/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,399.00 (10% off on Amazon) MSI Codex R2, Core i5/RTX 4060/16GB RAM/2TB SSD, $979.99 (11% off on Amazon) PowerSpec G518, Ryzen 7/RTX 4060/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $999.99 (20% off on MicroCenter) Alienware Aurora R16, Core i9/RTX 4080 Super/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $2,199.99 (21% off on Dell) Legion Tower 7i, Core i9/RTX 4080 Super/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $2,519.99 (20% off on Lenovo) Acer Predator Orion, Core i7/RTX 4070/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,279.99 (23% off on Newegg) ABS Eurus Aqua, Core i9/RTX 4090/32GB RAM/2TB SSD, $2,999.99 (25% off on Newegg) It might not be Prime Day yet, but there is already a killer deal on the MSI Aegis Z for $150 off on Amazon. It comes loaded with a Ryzen 7 7700 CPU and a strong RTX 4070 Super GPU. It’s a strong mid-range build all for a price that looks more like budget rig range. If you’re on the hunt for something that’s even more budget friendly, look no further than the MSI Codex R2 for $120 off on Amazon. Sporting a Core i5-14400F CPU and RTX 4060 GPU, you’ll get strong gaming performance without breaking the bank. Best early Prime Day deals on mainstream productivity computers IdeaCentre Mini, Core i5/8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $489.99 (24% off on Lenovo) HP Envy Desktop, Core i7/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $799.99 (20% off on BestBuy) XPS Desktop, Core i7/RTX 4060Ti/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,099.99 (29% off on Dell) Apple Mac Mini 2023, M2/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,149.00 (12% off on Amazon) Mini-PCs are all the rage and the excellent IdeaCentre Mini is currently $160 off on Lenovo. The IdeaCentre is one of the best small form-factor PCs on the market and this particular model impresses thanks to its Intel Core i5-13500H processor and 512GB of SSD storage. Mac fans can also find good deals this week, with Amazon offering the M2 Mac Mini for $100 off on its website. The M2 is still a solid CPU and considering, if rumors are true, the M4 Mac Mini isn’t set to be released until later this year, it’s the perfect time to buy the older version at a discount — you’ll still get a great mini desktop without the exorbitant price of a new-gen Apple product. Best early Prime Day deals on all-in-one computers Inspiron 24 AiO, Core 7-150U, MX570A, 16GB RAM/1TB SSD/24-inch 1080p touch display, $949.99 (21% off on Dell) HP Envy AiO 34, Core i5/RTX 3050/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/34-inch 5K display, $1,499.99 (28% off on HP) Acer Aspire C24-1300, Ryzen 5/8GB RAM/512GB SSD/24-inch 1080p display, $499.00 (27% off on Amazon) iMac M3 2023, M3/8GB RAM/256GB SSD/24-inch 5K display, $1,199.00 (8% off on Amazon) Not to be outdone, Dell kicked off its Black Friday in July sales event recently and it has a great deal on its Inspiron 24 AiO for $250 off on its website. It features the brand new Core 7-150U processor an MX570A GPU and a generous 1TB of SSD storage. Good performance features and a functional touchscreen make this a great option for anyone looking for a powerful AiO. Or you could decide to go big with the HP Envy AiO 34 deal for $610 off on HP. This gigantic all-in-one from HP is an absolute beauty with tons of screen real-estate thanks to its 34-inch 5K display. Plus, it even comes with an RTX 3050 discrete graphics card — unheard of in an all-in-one computer. PC deals FAQ 1. What type of desktop should I get? You’ll see a ton of options when searching for a desktop computer, but they all mainly fit into four main categories: gaming PCs, productivity PCs (towers or mini PCs), and all-in-ones (AiO). Which you should end up buying is entirely dependent upon what your needs are and what you want to do with your computer. If you’re looking for something that will work in a home office or family room, then a productivity PC or AiO with a solid CPU and a decent amount of RAM and storage is probably the way to go. If gaming is your main concern, a gaming desktop PC can offer a lot more bang for your buck than a laptop and you should focus on getting the best GPU possible. Or if you just want something that can fit anywhere and provide basic computing then a mini PC is a good bet. 2. How much processing power will I need? If you’re after CPU power, look for processors with higher numerical labels. A Core i7 is more suited to gaming and more intense work than everyday tasks. Intel processors are available in Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9. Typically, the higher the number, the more powerful the CPU. If you don’t need a ton of power, Intel Core i5 processors are your best bet, as they offer good performance at a decent price. You can get along just fine with a Core i3 for basic office and web browsing. As for AMD options, the Ryzen 3 is good for basic productivity and web browsing, while Ryzen 5 chips rival Intel’s Core i5 as solid all-arounders. If you need more power, the Ryzen 7 chip is well suited for content creation like video editing. Finally, if you’re dealing with 4K video, spring for a Ryzen 9. 3. What GPU should I get? If you don’t intend to do any gaming on your computer, then feel free to save some money by going with integrated graphics. However, if you are looking to get your game on, then we recommend at least an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 or RTX 4060 as these are the least expensive discrete graphics cards that can handle 1080p gaming on High graphics settings in most games. Thankfully, the latest-gen GPUs have begun dropping in price in pre-built systems so opt for that if you have the money and want a performance boost. But if you’re on a tight budget, then opting for a rig with a previous-generation card can allow you to save some money while still providing decent graphics quality. 4. What about memory? As for RAM, nowadays I think it’s best to shoot for 16GB at the minimum for all systems. If you’re on a budget or just need a basic browsing machine then 8GB can suffice. Those looking to do heavy content creation such as video editing should aim for 32GB. 5. What is a good amount of storage? Storage size is dependent upon your personal needs, but it is generally a good idea to opt for an SSD over a standard HDD as they are much faster and don’t significantly affect the price of a desktop. Before deciding, it’s best to consider what your intended use of the computer will be. Are you just storing documents or doing web browsing? Then something like 512GB will be plenty. If you want to load up a lot of large files such as games or content creation projects, then you’ll need at least 1TB to 2TB of storage. However, just remember that even if your computer doesn’t have enough storage built-in you can always upgrade your SSD or go with an external drive to increase your available storage options. Desktop PCs Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating ProsGood performance for productivitySolid aluminum buildTactile, spacious keyboardConvertible form factorLong battery lifeIncludes stylusConsMiddling display brightnessOnly 8GB of RAM in base modelNo Trackpoint on keyboardOur VerdictThe Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 offers solid performance and a great value for anyone who needs a laptop to get work done. To many, Lenovo’s ThinkPad laptops are the gold standard for Windows productivity, but they can be pretty spendy. The ThinkBook lineup offers almost every luxury you’ve come to expect from Lenovo’s serious business laptops with a much lower price point. The Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 starts at just over $1,000 with solid but not amazing specs and fantastic build quality. It won’t scratch your gaming itch, but if you need to get work done, it’s hard to go wrong with the ThinkBook 14.  Looking for more options? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now. Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4: Specs and features The Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 is a “budget-premium” business laptop—the base configuration has a Core Ultra 5 and just 8GB of RAM, and the 14-inch LCD touchscreen is only 1920×1200 and 60Hz. On the other hand, the aluminum chassis is robust and durable, which is necessary if you’re going to haul a laptop to meetings and toss it in your bag. The 2-in-1 design also makes this notebook useful in more situations than your average productivity machine.  Lenovo also offers this laptop with a more powerful Core Ultra 7 CPU and 16 or 32GB of RAM, which will make the ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 better for multitasking and working with large files. These upgrades don’t add too much to the price, either. Fully decked out, the ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 clocks in around $1,400. The Meteor Lake chip in this machine does have AI acceleration, but it’s not fast enough to qualify for Microsoft’s Copilot+ features. Here are the specs of the laptop I tested.  CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 125U Memory: 16GB DDR5 Graphics/GPU: Intel Arc iGPU Display: 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS LCD touchscreen, 60Hz Storage: 512GB M.2 SSD PCIe Gen 4 Webcam: 1080p, IR for Windows Hello Connectivity: 1x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps), 1x USB-C (10 Gbps), 2 x USB-A (5 Gbps), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x microSD card reader, 1x 3.5mm audio jack Networking: WiFi 6 802.11AX, Bluetooth 5.2 Battery capacity: 60Whr, 65W charging Dimensions: 12.32 x 8.81 x 0.66 inches Weight: 3.61lbs MSRP as tested: $1,149.99 Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4: Design and build quality IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam The ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 has a mature, elegant design. If you walk into a room with this machine, no one will think you grabbed a gaming notebook off your desk. The underside tapers to present a slimmer side profile, which also makes the machine very easy to pick up from almost any angle.  The chassis is fully aluminum, with a slick dual-texture finish on the lid. It comes with a Lenovo Slim Pen, which is about as good a stylus as you’ll find bundled with a Windows laptop. It attaches magnetically to the right edge of the laptop for quick access. There’s a robust settings application, and the pen is comfortable to hold. Sadly, Windows 11 still isn’t very good for stylus input, but that’s not Lenovo’s fault.  Lenovo’s latest ThinkBook is sleek, sturdy, and a delight to carry around. Next to the stylus attachment, you’ll find the ThinkBook’s power button with integrated fingerprint scanner. It’s a bit slow if you’re accustomed to using a fingerprint sensor on a phone, and I don’t like how close it is to the pen. You have to sneak your finger in right next to the stylus tip to reach the button. That said, the accuracy is good if you can reach it. This edge also sports a microSD card slot, a USB-A port, and a Kensington lock. On the opposite side, the ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 has both of its USB-C ports, another USB-A, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.  The 3.61-pound weight is slightly heavy for a 14-inch laptop, but the compact footprint makes it easily portable. The size also helps when you utilize the convertible 360-degree hinge to prop the machine up like a tent or fold the keyboard back. The hinge is on the stiff side, which is preferable for a 2-in-1, so it’ll stay put when you move between postures. You’ll probably need two hands to open the notebook, though.  The lid has Lenovo’s trademark reverse display notch, which gives you an ergonomically friendly lip to grasp when opening the laptop. This area houses the 1080p webcam (with Windows Hello support), but the rest of the bezel is extremely narrow—it’s almost all screen. The privacy-minded will also be happy to hear there is a physical camera shutter for the webcam.  Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4: Keyboard and trackpad IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam Lenovo’s laptops consistently offer good keyboards, but some are better than good. The ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 is in the latter camp—it’s got an excellent keyboard. There’s no room for a number pad, but the compact layout fills most of the available space with full-sized keys that feel tactile and sturdy. The keys have reasonable travel, and the bottom out is firm without being harsh.  The ThinkBook has a small cutout that gives the arrow cluster a bit more space. These keys are not quite full size, but they’re not split in half like many of today’s mainstream laptops. Not only are these keys easy to find by touch, the layout is super-smart. I adore having the page up and down keys right next to the arrows.  If you do a lot of typing on the go, this is a fantastic machine to use. There’s even a Windows Copilot key, in case you want to consult a robot. The only thing you’re missing from the more expensive ThinkPad line is Trackpoint, but most people don’t need that additional pointer. It’s one of the few features you lose with the ThinkBook 14 versus the ThinkPad X1 convertible.  The trackpad isn’t the largest, but neither is this laptop. At 120 x 75mm, the trackpad occupies a sizable chunk of the space below the keyboard. It’s extremely responsive, and the smoothness is incredible. Lenovo opted to cover the surface of the trackpad with mylar. It gives the trackpad a silky texture that embodies the “premium” feel you’d expect from a high-end notebook.  Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4: Display and audio IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam The display on the ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 is not a show-stopper, but it is entirely serviceable for its intended use case. The resolution clocks in at 1920 x 1200, which is lower than many similarly priced laptops in 2024. The refresh rate is also stuck at 60Hz, and the brightness tops out at 300 nits. Again, there are 14-inch notebooks that offer more capable displays with OLED technology, higher brightness, faster refresh rates, and a lot more pixels. Those machines are much more expensive, though.  The screen is plenty sharp for productivity work, and a higher resolution at this size wouldn’t make apps or videos look any better. It’s a nice overall visual experience that won’t drain too much power. The brightness might be annoying if you need to use the ThinkBook in a brightly lit office, or, heaven forbid, outdoors. I’d like to see at least 400 nits of brightness on a laptop in this price range.  The ThinkBook has stereo speakers tucked into the bottom of the chassis. The sound is typical of laptop speakers. They’re fine for movies and TV, anything where the audio is mostly spoken words. Music sounds acceptable at lower volumes, provided you’re not too picky. There’s next to no bass in the sound profile, and the speakers will distort if you crank them too high.  Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4: Performance and benchmarks The ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 is designed for efficiency and portability, which means it’s not the fastest machine out there. However, it makes up for that with its long battery life, and it does still compete well with other laptops in its price range.  IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam PCMark 10 is designed to test a machine across a variety of metrics like web browsing, video chat, and photo editing. With Lenovo’s default adaptive power setting, the ThinkBook competes well with Core Ultra 5 and Core Ultra 7 chips. It only loses about 10 percent compared to the more expensive ThinkPad X1 convertible.  IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam Cinebench is a CPU-focused test that shows how a PC handles heavy but brief multi-core workloads. The ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 catches up to the ThinkPad X1 here, scoring in the middle of the pack among similarly priced Windows laptops. The Ryzen in the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED and Core Ultra 7 155H in the Dell XPS 14 are well out in the lead, though.  IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam The Handbrake test is similar to Cinebench in that it shows how a computer handles multithreaded tasks, but this is a longer-duration test where thermals matter more. Scores in this test are consistent across the U-series Intel Core processors, so the ThinkBook, ThinkPad X1, and performance-tuned Lenovo Yoga 7i score around the same. Dell’s XPS 14 with a Core Ultra 7 155H steals the show, though.  IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam While the ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 is not a gaming machine, it can be helpful to know what the integrated GPU is capable of doing. The unfortunate answer is: not much. It runs neck and neck with other Meteor Lake chips with their modest Intel graphics. The Dell XPS 14 leads the way, showing what’s possible with a real GPU. It’s followed by the Asus Zenbook 14, which has strong AMD integrated graphics. The ThinkBook 14 is not the best laptop if you intend to play anything more complex than Vampire Survivors.  Benchmarks only tell part of the story. Using the ThinkBook day-to-day is a good experience. Apps open quickly, and you can multitask without noticeable slowdowns. Even 16GB of RAM can feel a bit claustrophobic in 2024, particularly if you like to keep a lot of browser tabs open. I’d recommend staying away from the base model with 8GB of RAM. That’s not enough, even for productivity use. The 16GB of RAM version I tested was good enough for what you can realistically do on a 14-inch laptop.  If your use case involves transferring large files over Wi-Fi, you may want to look elsewhere. While the Wi-Fi 6 radio is fine for browsing the web, it has lower maximum throughput than Wi-Fi 6e and 7, which are available on competing laptops. You will need a compatible network, though.  Lenovo doesn’t add too much software on top of the standard Windows loadout. There’s the Vantage settings app, which I like much more than the configuration utilities offered by other OEMs. There is also, however, a trial of McAfee on the machine that pops up alarming warnings trying to get you to upgrade. You can uninstall it, though.  Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4: Battery life The ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 has a 60Wh battery, which is a bit small compared to other laptops of this size. Lenovo’s performance tuning is efficient, though, offering healthy longevity on par with some computers with larger batteries.  IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam IDG / Ryan Whitwam Our battery test consists of playing a 4K copy of Tears of Steel on repeat in the Movies & TV app (in airplane mode) until the laptop runs out of juice. The ThinkBook lands in the middle of the pack, but all these laptops have overall good battery life. It ran for more than 14 hours in our test. There’s no doubt you can make it through a work day with this notebook, even if you have to crank up the display brightness.  Charging is accomplished via the USB-C ports. The ThinkBook comes with a 65W charger, which is much more compact than most laptop power supplies, but you can get smaller USB-C chargers. I tested the ThinkBook with a third-party USB-PD charger, and it worked just as well as the OEM model. It’s nice to have that option.  Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4: Conclusion Lenovo’s latest ThinkBook is sleek, sturdy, and a delight to carry around. The 2-in-1 design lets you reorient the machine to make better use of the touchscreen display, and I appreciate that Lenovo includes the Slim Pen even if Windows 11 isn’t always great at stylus input. It’s not the fastest computer you can buy, but it’s more than good enough for browsing, writing, spreadsheets, video, and anything else you’re likely to do at work.  You should have no problem getting in a full workday with the Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4, even if you forget the charger at home. If you do somehow manage to drain the battery, you can recharge with almost any USB-C plug, possibly even the one you use for your phone if it supplies enough power. That can help reduce the clutter you have to haul around.  While I don’t recommend the base model with 8GB of RAM, the 16GB upgrade isn’t much more spendy. Lenovo always juggles its pricing frequently, so sales on this configuration or the upmarket Core Ultra 7 version are likely. If you do pick up the ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4, you’ll get a fantastic little productivity laptop at a good price. Laptops Read...

TL;DR: This July, you can get Microsoft Office Pro 2021 and a Windows 11 Pro upgrade for just $59.97. Everyone wants the best software for their computers, but not everybody wants to pay the premium prices necessary to get it. Fortunately, this July, you can get two major upgrades for one low price. The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle offers lifetime licenses to both Windows 11 Pro and Microsoft Office Pro 2021. Through 7/21, you can get it for just $59.97. If your PC is lagging a little behind, this deal will bring it right up to speed. With Windows 11 Pro, you’ll have a host of premium productivity and security features to help you do your best work and keep your data safe. Add in Microsoft Office Professional, and you’ll have a comprehensive collection of tools to streamline your workflows. Give your PC a boost for a great price. Through 11:59 pm PT on 7/21, you can get Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and Windows 11 Pro for 86% off $438 at just $59.97.   The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle – $59.97 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Personal Software, Professional Software Read...