Nobody loves vacuuming. That’s why robot vacuums have become the darlings of smart home technology, promising to tackle one of our most tedious household chores. But with hundreds of models flooding the market, ranging from basic bumper-car cleaners to AI-powered navigators, finding the right one can feel overwhelming. Here’s how to pick a robot vacuum that actually delivers on its promise of making your life easier. And once you’re ready to decide, browse our favorite robot vacuums and mops of 2024, where you’ll find picks for every budget. A robot vacuum can be a game-changing addition to your home—if you choose the right one. 1. Start with your space Your home’s layout should be your north star when choosing a robot vacuum. A basic model might work fine in a small apartment with an open floor plan. But if you’ve got a larger home with multiple rooms and hallways, you’ll want a vacuum with sophisticated navigation and mapping capabilities. The best robot vacuums use LiDAR or camera-based systems to create detailed maps of your home. Think of it like giving your vacuum a GPS—it knows exactly where it’s been and where it needs to go. These smarter models clean in efficient patterns rather than bouncing around randomly, which means faster, more thorough cleaning and fewer missed spots. Wyze Robot Vacuum: Laser navigation on a budget Pros Includes laser mapping and room customization Three suction levels Budget price Cons Easily gets stuck under low-profile furniture No Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant support No specialty cleaning modes Best Prices Today: $199 at Amazon$274.99 at Wyze Labs 2. Match your vacuum to your floors Your flooring type can make or break a robot vacuum’s performance. Hard floors are generally easier to clean, but if you have deep carpets, you’ll need a model with extra muscle. Look for vacuums with adjustable suction power that can detect surface changes and boost power automatically when moving onto carpets. Pet owners, take note: not all robot vacuums excel in handling fur. Models with rubber brush rolls often outperform traditional bristle brushes at grabbing pet hair without tangling. Some even come with special tangle-resistant designs that prevent you from having to regularly cut away wrapped hair from the brush roll—a common hassle with standard vacuums. Eufy X10 Pro Omni: Great vacuum/mop combo for pet owners Pros Thorough, balanced vacuuming and mopping Excellent obstacle avoidance Requires little hands-on attention from user Cons Large base station Self-cleaning functions are noisy Best Prices Today: $799.99 at Amazon 3. Look for smart features that actually matter While basic app control has become standard across most robot vacuums, the sophistication of smart features varies between models. Basic apps might only offer simple start/stop controls and scheduling. The more advanced models, however, unlock powerful capabilities like room-specific cleaning zones, virtual barriers, and customizable cleaning scenarios. Want your vacuum to run a quick sweep of high-traffic areas twice daily but deep clean the whole house on weekends? The better smart systems can handle these complex routines. Voice control through Alexa or Google Home can be surprisingly useful too. Being able to say “Hey Google, clean the living room” when you spot a mess is more convenient than you might think. 4. Remember, self-emptying bins make life easier One of the biggest innovations in recent years is the self-emptying base station. Instead of requiring you to manually empty the dust bin after every cleaning session, these models automatically dump their contents into a larger bin in their charging base. Many can go weeks or even months between empties, making these robot vacuums truly hands-off. Yes, you’ll pay more for this feature, but if you have a large home, pets, allergies, or just hate dealing with dust, it might be worth the investment. iRobot Roomba Combo J9+: A sophisticated robot vacuum with a self-emptying bin Pros Retractable mop arm keeps carpets dry New Clean Base design blends in with home furnishings Recognizes and prioritizes dirtiest areas Cons Companion app’s maps are basic and many controls are buried in sub-menus Mop pads must be cleaned manually Expensive Best Prices Today: $999 at Amazon 5. Plan for practical needs Consider the vacuum’s height if you want it to clean under furniture. The slimmer the better—some models can slip under beds and couches with just 3 inches of clearance. Noise level matters too, especially if you work from home or plan to run your vacuum at night. The quietest models hover around 50-55 decibels (about as loud as a conversation), while others can sound more like traditional vacuum cleaners. Battery life deserves attention if you have a larger space. Most robots can clean for 60-90 minutes before needing a recharge, but some premium models push past two hours. Better yet, many will automatically recharge and resume cleaning where they left off, which is essential for larger homes. 6. Don’t forget warranty and support options Before making your final decision, take a look at warranty coverage and customer support options. Most robot vacuums come with a one-year limited warranty covering manufacturing defects. Some manufacturers allow you to purchase extended warranties. Keep in mind that consumable parts like brushes, filters, and batteries typically aren’t covered under warranty, as they’re expected to wear out with normal use. Customer support quality varies widely between brands. Look for companies that offer multiple support channels (phone, email, chat) and check online reviews specifically mentioning warranty claims and repairs. Some manufacturers maintain active user communities and detailed online resources, which can be invaluable for troubleshooting issues or getting the most from your device. Support response times and quality of help can make a big difference when you’re trying to get your robot vacuum back up and running. 7. Making the smart choice Start by setting your budget. Basic models start around $200, mid-range options with mapping and smart features run $400-600, and premium models with all the bells and whistles can stretch past $1,000. But don’t just buy the most expensive model you can afford. Instead, match the features to your specific needs. Have pets? Prioritize strong suction and specialized brushes. Live in a larger home? Focus on navigation capabilities and battery life. Work from home? Look for quieter models with scheduling features. Dreame X40 Ultra: A hands-off vacuuming and mopping experience Pros Excellent vacuuming and mopping performance Empties its dustbin and sanitizes its mops Accurately detects and avoids obstacles Cons Mop heads tend to get stuck on carpet edges Expensive Best Prices Today: $1,899.99 at Amazon 8. Find your perfect match A robot vacuum can be a game-changing addition to your home—if you choose the right one. Take time to evaluate your needs and match them to the features that matter most. The best robot vacuum isn’t necessarily the most expensive or feature-packed model, but the one that fits seamlessly into your home and lifestyle. Remember: even the most advanced robot vacuum won’t completely replace your traditional vacuum (especially for stairs and detailed cleaning), but it can dramatically reduce how often you need to pull out the big gun. And that’s the true test of any smart home device—not whether it’s perfect, but whether it makes your home life noticeably easier. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Useful “MoonHalo” ambient light, plus ambient light sensor  Lots of USB connectivity  Tack-sharp 32-inch 4K display  Excellent color performance  Cons USB hub lacks features of some competitors, like Thunderbolt or Ethernet  Meager HDR performance  Only a 75Hz refresh rate, no Adaptive Sync  Our Verdict The BenQ RD320U is a great choice for programmers and can also prove itself useful as a do-it-all home office monitor. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: BenQ RD320U Retailer Price $649.99 View Deal BenQ $649.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Do you need a monitor for programming?   Technically, almost any monitor can work and, because of this, monitor makers often fail to market their displays specifically to programmers. However, BenQ is addressing this gap with its latest line of programming monitors. We’ve previously reviewed the BenQ RD280U, which is notable for its distinctive 3:2 aspect ratio. However, the company also offers the more traditional RD320U, a 32-inch 16:9 4K display packed with features tailored to meet the needs of programmers.  BenQ RD320U specs and features  At its core, the BenQ RD320U is a solid 32-inch 4K display. It has an IPS Black panel (which should improve the contrast ratio) and delivers a sharp image at 3840×2160 resolution.  Display size: 32-inch 16:9 widescreen  Native resolution: 3840×2160  Panel type: IPS Black  Refresh rate: Up to 75Hz  Adaptive sync: None  HDR: Yes, VESA DisplayHDR 400 Certified  Ports: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C with 90 watts of Power Delivery and DisplayPort Alternate Mode, 1x USB-B 3.2 Gen 1 upstream, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 downstream, 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 downstream, 3.5mm audio-out  VESA mount: 100x100mm  Speakers: 2x 3-watt speakers  Price: $649.99 MSRP  It’s also jam-packed with ports, including a USB-C port with DisplayPort and USB Power Delivery. Though pitched to programmers, the RD320U’s specifications make it a competitor to high-end home office monitors like the Dell Ultrasharp U3223QE and Philips Creator Series 27E2F7901.  Further reading: Best home office monitors BenQ RD320U design   At a glance, the BenQ RD320U’s design is basic. It’s clad in various shades of charcoal black that don’t immediately catch your eye. Take a second look, though, and you’ll notice the details, like the rippled pattern that cascades down the rear of the monitor and the lower display bezel. These add a subtle bit of flair that makes the monitor distinct from its competition.  The star of the show, however, is in fact a moon — or MoonHalo, as BenQ calls it. The MoonHalo is a ring of LED lights centered on the rear of the monitor. It’s like the RGB-LED lights on gaming monitors, but instead meant to provide soft, consistent ambient light. The MoonHalo is always white, but you can adjust the color temperature to match the display. I enjoyed the MoonHalo; it looks nice and I felt it made the display less tiring to view after dark.  The “MoonHalo” on the back of the BenQ RD320U.Matthew Smith / Foundry The monitor ships with an ergonomic stand that adjusts for height, tilt, pivot, and swivel. The stand is attached to a mid-sized, flat base. It’s a bit wider than it needs to be, but since it’s flat, the desk space it occupies remains usable. I’m not a fan of the stand’s cable management, however. The faux-leather strap BenQ provides for the purpose is attractive but can’t hold many cables.  While the included stand is nice, BenQ also provides a 100x100mm VESA mount for use with third-party monitor arms and stands.  BenQ RD320U connectivity and menus   The BenQ RD320U has four video inputs: two HDMI, one DisplayPort, and one USB-C with DisplayPort. To be honest, I’d rather it had two DisplayPort ports than two HDMI, but that’s a nitpick. This is a solid range of video connectivity.   In addition to DisplayPort, the USB-C port also provides up to 90 watts of USB Power Delivery and supports data for connections to multiple downstream USB-A and USB-C ports. Two USB-A ports, and one USB-C port, are located on the monitor’s chin, which makes them easy to access. A KVM switch function is included, too.  A USB-B upstream port provides an alternative way to connect to the monitor’s USB hub, which is useful if your PC lacks USB-C.   The BenQ RD320U’s USB connectivity isn’t as extensive as the Dell Ultrasharp U3223QE, which has more USB ports and provides Ethernet, so those looking for a USB hub should give Dell’s alternative a look. Still, the BenQ’s connectivity is a hair above average, as it delivers several downstream USB ports and places them in convenient locations.   The BenQ RD320U’s on-screen menu.Matthew Smith / Foundry BenQ’s on-screen menus are accessed with a quick, responsive joystick centered on the monitor’s chin. The menu is large, which makes it easier to see and read (though, unfortunately, the menu’s font is still a bit thin). I also found the menus logically arranged and had no issues finding the settings I want. BenQ, like most of its competitors, also provides a Windows software utility (Display Pilot 2) to access and control monitor settings.  The BenQ RD320U’s image quality options are a bit underwhelming. It uses vague presets for gamma and color temperature instead of providing the proper, numerical labels. An sRGB color gamut preset is available, but no preset is available for DCI-P3 or AdobeRGB. I understand this isn’t a “creator” monitor, but its performance is certainly good enough to make these presets useful.  Programmers won’t mind, however, because the RD320U offers several features that come in handy while coding. This includes two preset “Coding Booster” modes that adjust brightness, contrast, and gamma to make code easy to read.   The monitor also has an ambient light sensor that can automatically adjust the monitor’s brightness throughout the day. The ambient light sensor is pitched to programmers as a way to reduce eye strain, but the feature is just as useful for writers, creators, accountants, and anyone else who spends a lot of time in front of a monitor.  Speakers are included, but they’re not great. The pair of bundled 3-watt speakers produce sound with reasonable clarity at low volumes but quickly become overwhelmed as volume is increased. They’re fine for listening to a podcast or playing soft, ambient tones, but speakers or headphones will be necessary for true audio enjoyment.   The BenQ RD320U includes two preset ‘Coding Booster’ modes that adjust brightness, contrast, and gamma to make code easy to read.   BenQ RD320U SDR image quality  The BenQ RD320U is a great example of a monitor that doesn’t necessarily need great image quality to satisfy its intended user. Programmers are staring at code, right? Fortunately, BenQ doesn’t use that as an excuse to deliver half-baked SDR image quality. On the contrary, the BenQ RD320U looks great.   Matthew Smith / Foundry BenQ gets off to a great start in brightness, as the RD320U delivers an excellent 426 nits of peak SDR luminance. That’s a lot, and certainly far more than most programmers will need.   Still, a high level of SDR brightness means the monitor remains usable in a brightly lit room. That’s good news if your office has sunlit windows or you’re coding in a bullpen that looks straight out of The Wolf of Wall Street.  Matthew Smith / Foundry There’s more good news in contrast, as the BenQ RD320U comes close to delivering a contrast ratio of 2000:1. BenQ doesn’t market the monitor as having an “IPS Black” display panel, but this is a level of contrast I’ve only witnessed in IPS panels of that type. It keeps the RD320U competitive with class leaders like the Dell U3223QE and Philips 27E2F7901.  The comparison with BenQ’s RD280U is notable, as well. BenQ’s smaller programming monitor clearly has a different IPS panel that doesn’t match the RD320U in contrast.  While the BenQ RD320U’s contrast is great for its category, shoppers should remember that OLED displays can achieve an effectively infinite contrast ratio, which makes them a better choice for games, movies, and other entertainment.   Matthew Smith / Foundry I was worried the BenQ RD320U might neglect the color gamut and limit itself to a narrower range, but that’s not the case. It covers up to 95 percent of the DCI-P3 gamut and up to 89 percent of DCI-P3. The RD320U looks vibrant and alluring when displaying photos, videos, and games.  With that said, however, the RD320U falls behind the Dell U3223QE and Philips 27E2F7901 in coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut. So, while the RD320U does well enough, it’s not the best choice for content creators who care about DCI-P3.   Matthew Smith / Foundry I was even more surprised by the BenQ RD320U’s color accuracy, which absolutely bakes. Or cooks? What are the kids saying, these days?  Either way, it’s good. Extremely good. Top-5-PCWorld-has-ever-tested good. It’s a bit of a surprise, and I suspect there’s a little bit of random variance at play here; I likely lucked out with an especially good example of the RD320U. Still, BenQ has a history of good color accuracy, and it’s excellent to see the RD320U score well here. Though meant for programming, the RD320U can serve as an entry-level monitor for digital artists and photographers.  The gamma and color temperature tests reported more good news, as the BenQ RD320U hit our target gamma of 2.2 and color temperature of 6500K. Most monitors come close to these targets, but it’s nice to see the RD320U hit both dead-on. This means the monitor does not look overly bright or dark, nor too cool or warm.   With that said, the ideal gamma and color temperature can vary depending on your needs and personal preference. The monitor has options to adjust both — though, as mentioned previously, they’re not well-labeled.   Sharpness is yet another perk. The 32-inch 3840×2160 panel provides a sharpness of 138 pixels per inch (PPI). It’s not quite as sharp as a 27-inch 4K display, which hits 163 PPI, but it’s noticeably superior to any 1440p monitor. This is helpful for programmers, as it helps the monitor display small fonts with a crisp, tack-sharp look.   The BenQ RD320U scores high marks in SDR image quality. It scores well across every metric and has no significant weakness that might place it behind the competition. Alternatives like the Dell U3223QE can match the RD320U, but older monitors like the ThinkVision P32p-32 can’t keep up.  BenQ RD320U HDR image quality  The BenQ RD320U supports HDR and has VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification, but it’s not a good pick for HDR movies and games.  Contrast and luminance are issues. While the monitor can peak above 400 nits, that’s not enough to deliver the full oomph of HDR, as most HDR content targets a peak brightness of at least 1,000 nits.   The monitor also lacks a dynamic backlight, which means the monitor’s contrast isn’t comparable to Mini-LED or OLED displays. Placed next to such alternatives, the BenQ RD320U’s HDR image will look flat and washed-out.  This, to be fair, is a typical problem for all mid-range IPS monitors. A productivity and programming display like the BenQ RD320U might support HDR, but it’s not the focus, as nearly all productivity software is designed for SDR. Still, buyers should be aware: This is not the monitor for HDR.  BenQ RD320U motion performance  It’s not the monitor for motion clarity, either.  The BenQ RD320U has a maximum refresh rate of up to 75Hz and doesn’t support Adaptive Sync for smooth frame pacing in PC games. Motion clarity is fine for less hectic games, but it’s an obvious step behind a 144Hz monitor.  Of course, programmers spend most of their time looking at relatively static code, so mediocre motion clarity isn’t a huge deal. Still, I suspect many programmers would like to play some PC games in their downtime. The BenQ RD320U isn’t the best choice for that.   Is the BenQ RD320U worth it?  The BenQ RD320U is a solid 32-inch 4K monitor. Though it’s targeted at programmers, and offers several features they’ll appreciate, it has broader appeal as a home office and productivity monitor. It has a bright, crisp image, an ambient sensor to automatically adjust brightness, and packs a useful USB-C hub.   BenQ faces a lot of competition in this space, such as the Dell U3223QE, which has an equally attractive panel and a wider range of connectivity, including Ethernet. I’d still recommend the Dell U3223QE over the RD320U for general productivity, but it’s a close call, and the discounts available at the time you buy could sway the decision either way. If you’re a programmer, though, the RD320U has an advantage. Read...

Whether you’ve been working from home for years, or you’re new to the game, there are probably several ways in which you can improve your home-office setup for maximum comfort and productivity. We’re talking both hardware and software upgrades here. Things such as a Thunderbolt dock for adding extra ports for external displays and storage, or a monitor arm for total flexibility and improved ergonomics, or a trustworthy VPN and full-featured PDF editing software can all make a world of difference in your overall work satisfaction and success. Here we present our favorite work from home tech of 2024/2025, all of which has been personally tested and approved by PCWorld’s hardware and software experts. Dell Inspiron 14 Plus – Best work-from-home laptop Your home office laptop needs to be reliable; it needs zippy performance and a penchant for productivity; and for optimum flexibility the device should be easy to transport and have exceptional battery life. You get all that with the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus — and you get it for less than $1,000. The Inspiron line is all about business-like practicality, but the Inspiron 14 Plus, while feeling quite durable, features some welcome aesthetic upgrades in the form of its partially aluminum chassis and slender profile. Inside, an Intel Core 7 Ultra 155H, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD make for exceptionally snappy performance. But there’s more to a satisfying work laptop than capable internals. The Inspiron 14 Plus comes correct with an array of suitable accoutrements: a firm and surprisingly quick keyboard with white backlighting, a biometric fingerprint sensor for easy login, and a nice assortment of ports that belie its compact size — headphone jack, microSD card reader, a couple USB-A ports, Thunderbolt 4 port, and full-size HDMI. The screen is also a treat, with a clear 2240×1400 resolution image, comparatively high peak brightness, and an anti-glare coating that can withstand challenging lighting conditions. The icing on the cake is an exceptional battery life lasting just over 17 hours. Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus – Best work-from-home Chromebook Let’s face it, there are many work scenarios in which a full-fledged Windows laptop is overkill. Emails, documents, spreadsheets, and even presentations, are all easily handled using online apps — something a Chromebook can accomplish for a fraction of a Windows laptop’s cost. Of course, some Chromebooks are more capable than others, such as the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus. Among Chromebooks, the Plus designation signifies more robust performance, in this case an Intel Core i3-1315U CPU, Intel UHD graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of SSD. What really sets the Flex 5i Chromebook Plus apart, however, is its attractive styling and impressive build quality. In the words of our reviewer: “This thing looks and feels fancy, real fancy.” The 2-in-1 design lets you use the device as a standard clamshell, in a tent configuration, or as a tablet. Input options include both a backlit chiclet-style keyboard that’s pleasantly springy to use, or touch input via the 1200p crisp and vibrant display. Performance is speedy and satisfying, and the battery, while not stellar, ran for over nine hours on a single charge — enough to last a full day away from an outlet. Read our full Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus review NexiGo HelloCam – Best work-from-home webcam Best Prices Today: $69.99 at Amazon$69.99 at NexiGo There are a couple reasons why we consider the NexiGo HelloCam to be the best work-from-home webcam. For starters, it does what you want a webcam to do: Its 1080p/30fps fixed-focus lens produces a good picture that will have you making a positive impression in your Zoom meetings. The noise-cancelling mics will ensure that you’re being heard loud and clear. But the NexiGo HelloCam offers another perk for home workers: Windows Hello support, which lets you log in to your Windows computer with facial recognition. This is a feature that’s usually relegated to higher-priced webcams. The HelloCam also offers a requisite privacy shutter, here in the form of a physical barrier that shuts when the webcam is not in use. Alternative option: If you don’t need Windows Hello, you can save a little money and get a slight boost in resolution (to 1440p) with the Anker PowerConf C200. Dell U2724DE – Best work-from-home monitor Best Prices Today: $499.99 at B & H Photo There’s no better all-around home office monitor than Dell’s Ultrasharp U2724DE. Image quality is top-notch thanks to the IPS Black panel. Besides boasting an impressive contrast ratio, it also excels at color performance. A 120Hz refresh rate means that it can be pressed into service for after-hours gaming sessions. The stand is fit for purpose with solid construction and all the expected ergonomic adjustments, including 90-degree rotation into portrait mode. But the real show-stopper is the near-universal connectivity that should meet the needs of almost any scenario. Multiple video inputs, support for “daisy-chaining,” 90 watts of power for charging a device connected via USB-C, downstream ports for peripherals, and even a 2.5G RJ45 jack. There’s also a KVM switch and an ambient light sensor for intelligently adjusting screen brightness. Indeed, the U2724DE is no slacker! Read our full Dell U2724DE review Herman Miller Flo – Best work-from-home monitor arm Best Prices Today: $295 at Herman Miller A monitor arm is one of those pieces of gear that turns a conventional home office into a seriously professional setup. That’s particularly true of the Herman Miller Flo, which ticks all the boxes for a premier product. Aesthetically, it’s about as smooth and stylish as a monitor arm can be, capable of blending in with any environment. Setting it up is simple, thanks to a refined design that requires relatively few screws and a VESA mount that can be pre-mounted to a monitor and then clipped into place. The Flo offers a wide range of adjustment including tilt, swivel, and rotation, but more importantly, its operation is smoother than other products, moving into place with only a nudge. It also comes with a 12-year warranty and 24/7 customer support. It’s pricey, but everything about the Flo is top shelf. Anker 555 PowerExpand 8-in-1 USB-C Hub – Best work-from-home USB-C hub Best Prices Today: $49.99 at Amazon Whether you’re using a laptop or a desktop PC, port accessibility might be lacking. In such cases, the Anker 555 8-in-1 USB-C Hub has the answer. Anker’s hub offers a full complement of connectivity for legacy USB devices like mice and keyboards, for both SD and microSD media, for charging USB-C devices at up to 85W, and for running a monitor over HDMI at 60Hz. An Ethernet port is also part of the mix. The hub is well designed, even elegant, with a premium aluminum and polycarbonate exterior that keeps cools in use. It’s got a nice, sturdy heft at 4.5 ounces, and even comes with a carrying pouch. Plugable TBT3-UDZ – Best work-from-home Thunderbolt dock Best Prices Today: $255.41 at Amazon$369 at Newegg There are times when a USB-C hub falls short of your connectivity needs, such as when you want to connect two high-res monitors — scenarios that call for a Thunderbolt dock. The the best of the bunch is Plugable’s TBT3-UDZ. Okay, yes, it uses Thunderbolt 3 rather than Thunderbolt 4, but the capabilities and performance are mostly equivalent (while saving you a few dollars). What impresses us most about the TBT3-UDZ is its flexibility. Whether your two monitors use DisplayPort cables or HDMI, this dock will accommodate them. Two 4K displays can run at 60Hz in tandem. Of course, the TBT3-UDZ has every other kind of port you could want, as well — USB-C, a plethora of USB-A, standard and micro card reader, headphone jack, Ethernet, the whole gamut. It can charge a smartphone and a laptop. We also appreciate the space-saving vertical orientation of the attractive and solid gun-metal chassis, and the ample 30-inch cable that connects the dock to your PC. Read our full Plugable TBT3-UDZ review Logitech MX Keys S Keyboard – Best work-from-home wireless keyboard Best Prices Today: $109.99 at Amazon For anyone who favors a stylish keyboard that works effortlessly with multiple devices, the Logitech MX Keys S is it. Sporting an almost Apple-like clean aesthetic, the MX Keys S is a low-profile board that comes in Graphite, Gray, or Rose colorways. Besides being visually stunning, the full-sized layout is comfortable to type on, with a smooth and sure feel to the keys. The white backlighting automatically adjusts to the ambient lighting conditions. Using either Bluetooth or the bundled proprietary Logi Bolt dongle, the keyboard can be switched among three devices. If you prefer a mechanical, “clicky” keyboard, we recommend the also-very-good Logitech MX Mechanical variant. Read our full Logitech MX Keys S Keyboard review Creative Pebble X Plus – Best work-from-home computer speakers No home office is complete without a good set of computer speakers. For a compact, capable, but affordable solution, we think the best option is the Creative Pebble X Plus. The system consists of two speakers and a subwoofer. It offers Bluetooth, aux, and USB connection to your audio source of choice. A button on one of the satellites lets you switch between devices. The sound output is clear and can easily fill a room. There’s excellent detail in the treble and midrange. Besides providing a significant boost over your laptop’s audio, the Pebble X Plus features RGB for some added visual flare when it’s time to clock off and unwind. Read our full Creative Pebble X Plus review Lexar SL600 Blaze 20Gbps USB SSD – Best work-from-home external SSD Best Prices Today: $129.99 at B & H Photo There are many very fast external SSDs to choose from. But in our tests, the Lexar SL600 Blaze is not only among the fastest, but also competitively priced, making it an obvious recommendation for portable storage. Available in up to 4TB capacity, this USB 3.2 x 2 (Superspeed 20Gbps) not only has the space for even large, multimedia projects, it will be reading and writing that data at a wonderfully brisk pace. While SSDs are known for their durability, the SL600 Blaze’s 5-year warranty just provides extra assurance. Read our full Lexar SL600 Blaze 20Gbps USB SSD review SanDisk Desk Drive 10Gbps USB SSD – Best work-from-home SSD for backups Best Prices Today: $249.99 at Western Digital There is no worse feeling than laboring over a project — be it work-related or personal — only to lose it all because of a drive crash, power outage, mistaken deletion, or some other tragedy. This is why the importance of a solid backup solution cannot be overstated. Laptop users in particular should consider an external drive for backup. And if time is money, an SSD will get ‘er done far faster than an external hard drive. The SanDisk Desk Drive 10Gbps USB SSD is the external backup SSD to beat. Available in 4TB or 8TB capacities, this rugged desktop companion will not only provide that relatively speedy auxillary storage for data redundancy and/or overflow, as an SSD you needn’t worry about its susceptibility to jostles, shocks, or drops, as you would with a mechanical hard drive. Read our full SanDisk Desk Drive 10Gbps USB SSD review R-Drive Image 7.2 – Best work-from-home Windows backup Best Prices Today: $44.95 at R-tools Technology As noted above, there’s no excuse not to prepare for data disaster. We’ve told you what backup drive to use, but what about backup software? R-Drive Image has a legacy of reliability that makes it unmatched in this space. Indeed, in our experience its record is unblemished! Now at version 7.2, R-Drive Image is more full-featured and capable than ever. It offers the range of backup duties: disk and partitions, files and folders, WinPE and Linux boot media creation, the works. You can save your backups locally, to the network, or to your preferred cloud storage. You can even replicate backups across multiple destinations.  The interface is straightforward, and performance is speedy. There’s really no need to consider other options.  Read our full R-Drive Image review EaseUS PDF Editor – Best work-from-home PDF editor Best Prices Today: $49.95 at EaseUS There is no denying that the pinnacle of PDF editing is Adobe’s Acrobat Pro DC. But it’s probably overkill for the needs of most home office-workers, while being relatively expensive. That’s why our recommendation for the best PDF editor for a home office is EaseUS PDF Editor. For just $49.95 a year, or an incredible $79.95 lifetime subscription, you get a full set of PDF editing tools, including a variety of annotation tools for easy collaboration. The app is straightforward, making it possible to jump right in and get started. Add and remove text; add images; change font type, color, and size; add watermarks, background, headers and footers; enable permissions and password protection. It’s all here. The one caveat is that it’s Windows only. For more suggestions, see our roundup of the best PDF editors. Read our full EaseUS PDF Editor review ExpressVPN – Best work-from-home VPN A virtual private network (VPN) is a key component of online privacy, routing all your internet traffic through an anonymized and encrypted funnel. If you want to protect your work (or personal) online activities protected from prying eyes and/or hackers, a VPN is a must. In addition to that, by allowing you to run your internet browsing through servers all across the globe, a VPN can help you access your streaming services when you’re abroad, or bypass other regional restrictions. ExpressVPN is our favorite VPN overall. It’s feature-rich but easy to use; it provides broad device support; it uses diskless servers, so none of your data is ever permanently stored; it undergoes third-party audits for added reassurance about its privacy practices; and it offers some added benefits such as ad- and tracker-blocking and a password manager. Read our full ExpressVPN review Norton 360 Deluxe – Best work-from-home antivirus software For full-coverage antivirus protection at a reasonable price, Norton 360 Deluxe is the total package. You can relax knowing that Norton’s strong online protection has your back with minimal resource overhead. In addition to real-time monitoring against threats online, you can also perform scans of varying scope or complexity at will or on a schedule. Norton has earned very high marks from the major third-party testing outfits. Norton 360 Deluxe also offers lots of extras, such as cloud backup, a password manager, dark web monitoring, and even PC utilities. All those things might be value adds for you, but the core competency of the product — keeping you, your data, and your devices safe from nefarious actors — is why we consider it the best antivirus software overall. Read our full Norton 360 Deluxe review Read...

The gaming platform has previously been criticised for allowing young users to be exposed to harmful content. Read...

TL;DR: Manage your PDFs easily with this SwifDoo lifetime license, now only $34.99 (reg. $129). While PDFs are the universal file type used by countless businesses, they’re not necessarily the easiest to manipulate if you find spelling errors or want to add an annotation for clarity. Fortunately, PDF management is simple when you have SwifDoo PDF Pro. A lifetime license is now available for only $34.99 (reg. $129) while supplies last. Enjoy lifelong access to intuitive, user-friendly PDF tools with SwifDoo PDF Pro. This platform offers editing and annotating features to make contracts, business reports, work proposals, and academic writing more clear by adding text, highlighting passages, and inserting notes. PDF conversion is also seamless with this platform, as you can turn them into Word, Excel, JPG, and CAD (and vice versa) without losing the formatting you selected. In addition, you can add or remove protective PDF watermarks in a single click, secure sensitive PDFs with encryption, and even add digital signatures. Working with PDFs doesn’t have to be a nightmare.  Grab a lifetime license for Swifdoo PDF Pro for just $34.99 while inventory is still available.   SwifDoo PDF Pro: Perpetual Lifetime License for Windows Only $34.99 at PCWorld StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

Skillable has launched new features to enhance virtual lab creation, facilitating easier training development for users worldwide and driving innovation. Read...

In October, Microsoft unveiled a roadmap for next-generation AI experiences within Windows 11. Today, two of those — in Paint and Notepad — begin rolling out to testers. Microsoft’s October AI roadmap included tweaks to Paint, Notepad, and Search. Microsoft Recall was expected soon, too. Recall, of course, has been delayed again until December, as Microsoft works to ensure it’s secure and private. For now, three new features are debuting in the Canary and Dev Channels within Windows 11: AI rewriting within Notepad, plus Generative Fill and Generative Erase within Microsoft Paint. Generative Erase is already within the Photos app, and the addition to Paint looks very similar. In Paint, you can highlight a section of the image and Paint will “erase” it, intelligently filling in the background. I find this especially useful in Photos, in case I need to touch up and remove a bit of dust. (In general, however, I leave images untouched for authenticity’s sake.) Generative Erase with Microsoft Paint.Microsoft Generative Fill, however, is more interesting. Paint already includes Creator, which produces a 1024×1024 image that can be added to a screen via a layer, one of the additions Microsoft made previously. Those additions, however, don’t naturally flow and combine with the existing content of a scene. Generative Fill allows you to first outline or designate a particular region of the image with the Selection Tool, then “fill” it with AI-generated art. Generative Fill’s magic is that it is designed to integrate the AI art into the scene, so that it looks more natural. Microsoft is also making Cocreator faster, using the local NPU. Generative Fill will only be available to Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft said, but Generative Erase will be available for any PC running the Windows Insider code. An example of Generative Fill within Microsoft Paint.Microsoft You’ll see generative erase and fill features in other programs, such as Photoshop — but Paint is simpler, and most importantly, free. As for Notepad, well, if you ever wanted some AI help creating a note, AI can help. It’s not designed to actually “write” for you, but simply to change the tone and length of a highlighted selection. The new additions are part of Paint (version 11.2410.28.0) and Notepad (version 11.2410.15.0). Read...

A new Windows Insider test build seeks to solve one of the more frustrating problems with Windows on Arm: when an application simply doesn’t work. Build 27744 within the Microsoft Windows 11 Canary Channel contains a new version of Microsoft’s Prism emulator, with a key addition: Prism now supports legacy AVX as well as AVX2 instructions. “You may find some games or creative apps that were blocked due to CPU requirements before will be able to run using Prism on this build of Windows,” a post describing the new build explains. This is a big deal. Microsoft Windows runs applications written for either x86 or Arm processors, though the version of Windows has to match up with the specific instruction set. Because the vast majority of Windows apps were written for x86, Microsoft co-developed an emulator, called Prism, that can be used to allow x86 apps to run on Arm. In most cases, Prism can step in and allow those x86 apps to run on processors like the Snapdragon X Elite. In certain cases — games, mainly — the app simply won’t run at all. That’s what this new update is designed to address. Microsoft isn’t saying which apps will be affected, save for Adobe Premiere Pro on Arm. That app was specifically included in the version of Prism which is currently within Windows 11 24H2, or the Windows 11 2024 Update. Now, the new build will expand that support “to any x64 application under emulation,” Microsoft says. So far, the key applications that have been largely excluded from the Windows on Arm ecosystem have been games, though Microsoft did not specifically call those out in its announcement. “At a technical level, the virtual CPU used by x64 emulated applications through Prism will now have support for additional extensions to the x86 instruction set architecture,” Microsoft says. “These extensions include AVX and AVX2, as well as BMI, FMA, F16C, and others, that are not required to run Windows but have become sufficiently commonplace that some apps expect them to be present.” The only catch is that this updated version of Prism is designed with 64-bit applications in mind. Older 32-bit apps, or apps with a 32-bit helper, won’t detect the new features within Prism, Microsoft says. Qualcomm has been steadily making progress in working with developers to code new Arm-specific versions of apps like Google Drive and VPN applications like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, which Qualcomm announced at IFA. Still, allowing Prism to “fill in” the gaps with improved instruction support is a big step for Windows on Arm, and evidence that Prism will continue to evolve and improve. Read...

The Black Friday vibe settled in early this year because the M2 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM just dropped to $799, a $200 discount from its MSRP and $400 off the price it was just a week ago before Apple updated it. This is easily the best price we’ve seen for this laptop. The best part about this discount is that it makes the 16GB version of the laptop just $50 above the model that sports half the RAM, making the upgrade an easy pick as Apple charges $200 for the upgrade. Both models are otherwise identical down to the same 256GB storage capacity. This is a laptop we loved testing, as our review concluded with a 4.5-star rating and our Editors’ Choice award. Our expert, Jason Cross, praised the laptop’s “outstanding performance in its class,” the amazing battery life, and the improved display. It’s also an even better Apple Intelligence machine than the 8GB model. Apple’s AI in late October arrived with macOS Sequoia 15.1, with features designed to help users write content, edit images, play around with Siri, and much more. So hurry up and snatch the M2 MacBook Air for $799 while it’s still available with this amazing early Black Friday deal. Buy it now at Amazon Read...

Ready to pull the trigger on a top-notch gaming laptop but waiting for a stunning deal? Your time has come! The MSI Katana 15 is absolutely stacked, and right now it’s on sale for $1,200 at Best Buy. That’s a hefty $300 discount, bringing this RTX 4070-equipped laptop down in line with those that only have RTX 4060s. It’s a solid option for gamers and professionals who need power. Under the hood, this MSI Katana configuration features an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor alongside 16GB of DDR5 RAM. That’s more than enough power and memory to handle most of what you could throw at it, and you can later upgrade it up to 64GB of RAM when needed. But the real selling point here is the GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, which can push your gaming experience to the max in all but the most graphics-intensive AAA games. And you’ll appreciate those visuals on this laptop’s 15.6-inch display with 1080p resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. This MSI Katana 15 also features a 1TB SSD, which should be more than enough for all your photos, videos, games, apps, and more. Not enough for you? It has a USB-C port, three USB-A ports, and an HDMI port so you can connect whatever external drives and accessories you need. Don’t miss out on this fantastic deal on a powerful gaming laptop at a great price. Get this MSI Katana 15 for $1,200 at Best Buy while you still can because this deal isn’t going to last forever. Save $300 on this RTX 4070 and Ryzen 9 gaming laptopBuy now at Best Buy Read...