At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros 4K video with a wide field of view Reliable PoE connection with 24/7 recording AI detection for people, vehicles, and pets Cons Requires the $400 ProSecure NVR to function Installation involves drilling and cable runs No Apple Home support Our Verdict The Eufy PoE Turret Security Camera E41 delivers dependable, subscription-free security with crisp video and smart detection, but only if you’re willing to commit to Eufy’s wired ProSecure NVR system. It’s a strong option for homeowners ready to go beyond Wi-Fi cameras. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Eufy PoE Turret Security Camera E41 Retailer Price $99.99 View Deal $129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Wi-Fi cameras are popular because you can set them up almost anywhere and be watching video on your phone within minutes. The convenience is hard to beat. But they can also be temperamental. Most are limited to operating on crowded 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks, live feeds can buffer and stall, and you’re never completely sure the camera captured what you needed–especially with battery-powered cameras that don’t record anything until they detect movement. A power-over-ethernet (PoE) camera, such as the Eufy PoE Turret Security Camera E41 reviewed here, avoids those headaches. PoE cameras are also immune to Wi-Fi jamming, although you’ll want to ensure the cable is out of reach of an intruder armed with wire-cutters. A single cable carries both power and data, delivering steadier streams and 24/7 recording not subject to the vagaries of an overburdened wireless network. In this case, the camera’s recordings are stored locally on a network video recorder (NVR, a concept similar to the digital video recorder–DVR–you might use to record video entertainment). This eliminates the need for ongoing subscription fees to store and process video in the cloud. This particular camera is designed to be used with an 8-channel (expandable to 16 channels) Eufy ProSecure S4 NVR ($400 with a 2TB hard drive), which you’ll plug into your router. It cannot operate on its own, so that’s how I reviewed it here. This NVR was part of the TechHive Editors’ Choice-winning Eufy PoE NVR Security System S4 Max system I reviewed in July 2025, so it also includes local AI processing that enables facial, pet, and vehicle, detection to reduce false alerts; “AI Smart Search” that enables you to search for specific events in recorded video; and a host of other advanced features. The Eufy PoE Turret Security Camera E41 and Eufy ProSecure S4 NVR combo use artificial intelligence to distinguish between people, vehicles, and pets, which helps cut down on false alerts. The camera itself has an onboard siren and flashing red and blue LEDs, so it can deter intruders as well as record them. Given its system requirements and the need to string cable, the Eufy PoE Turret Security Camera E41 will mostly be of interest to hardcore home security buffs and small business owners. Design and features The Eufy PoE Turret Security Camera E41 looks similar to a pan/tilt model, but turret cameras are not motorized, so their field of view can’t be adjusted via an app. A ball-and-socket design enables you to manually adjust a turret camera’s angle of view to a limited degree after mounting it. Eufy’s E41 turret camera is more compact and less conspicuous than bullet cameras, and when mounted under an eave, it blends in and doesn’t draw much attention to itself. The Eufy Turret E41 has a 122-degree field of view, sufficient to cover most front yards, driveways, or side entrances without the need for multiple cameras. Its lens can be manually tilted over an 82-degree arc.Michael Ansaldo/Foundry This is a 4K UHD camera (3,840 x 2,160 pixels) with a 122-degree field of view and 5x digital zoom. That wide viewing angle should cover most front yards, driveways, or side entrances, eliminating the need for multiple cameras. In low light, the Turret E41 relies on a starlight sensor for clear nighttime footage, and it can switch between infrared and spotlight modes depending on the situation. If you want to keep things discreet, infrared captures in black and white while emitting little visible light. If you’d rather see full color video at night and don’t mind a light kicking on, the spotlight mode brightens the area. The camera can be deployed indoors or out, and it carries a weatherization rating of IP67. According to our guide to IP codes, that means the Turret E41 is completely dustproof and that it can withstand immersion in up to one meter (approximately 3.3 feet) of water for up to 30 minutes. The camera itself has a built-in siren and red-and-blue flashing lights that can deter intruders as well as record them. The camera and NVR combo use artificial intelligence to distinguish between people, vehicles, and pets, which helps cut down on false alerts. Deployed with compatible Eufy cameras, a cross-camera tracking feature can follow a person as they move around your property, stitching the recordings of several cameras into a continuous clip. You’ll use the Eufy Security app to manage the system’s cameras, and it can be integrated with Amazon Alexa or Google Home, but Apple Home is not currently supported. The eufy Network Video Recorder S4 includes 2TB of local storage that can exdpanded be up to 16TB). Its built-in AI handles detection and tracking without relying on the cloud. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Setup and performance As I’ve already mentioned, the Eufy PoE Turret Security Camera E41 must be wired directly to the ProSecure NVR with an ethernet cable. That means you’ll need to figure out how to run the cable cleanly as well as how to secure it, whether by tacking it along your home’s soffit or siding and possibly drilling a hole through an exterior wall to bring it inside your home. The 2TB mechanical hard drive in the ProSecure NVR S4 will be sufficient for light use, but you’ll run out of storage quickly if you opt for 24/7 recording with multiple cameras. While the camera(s) won’t stop recording as the drive fills up, the NVR will overwrite older recordings; in other words, you’ll lose that history. Fortunately, the drive sits in a standard 3.5-inch bay and can be easily swapped out for a higher-capacity drive, up to 16TB. Just be sure to buy a mechanical drive that’s rated for surveillance, because a run-of-the-mill hard drive won’t stand up to the constant writing. Hard drive manufacturers label their drives accordingly, with Western Digital’s Purple drive lineup and Seagate’s SkyHawk series being two popular choices. SSDs (Solid State Drives) are generally not recommended for this type of application. The NVR must be wired directly to your router, and you’ll use the included mouse and an HDMI-connected monitor to handle the initial configuration. From there it’s about picking your camera spot, mounting the bracket, and connecting the ethernet cable. Once plugged into the NVR, the camera comes online automatically, and you can manage the system from the monitor or the Eufy Security app. In daily use, the Turrent Camera E41 delivers sharp daytime video that lets you pick out small details like license plates or clothing logos. At night, the starlight sensor maintains color well when there’s some ambient light, and the spotlight can light up an area when you want full color. The Eufy Security app lets you view live and recorded video and manage features such as motion detection and lighting. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry The AI detection does a solid job of discerning between people from a cars or wandering pets, so you don’t get bombarded with unnecessary alerts. If you’re running more than one camera, as most people will with this system, you can also default to the NVR’s global AI settings. These override whatever you’ve set on individual cameras, which makes it easier to apply consistent detection rules across the system without tweaking each camera one by one. But reliability is the selling point here, and it held up in my testing. I mounted the Turret Cam E41 in a spot where Wi-Fi cameras have given me issues with dropped connections. This one streamed continuously without buffering, and recordings went straight to the NVR without a hitch. The Eufy Security app is straightforward to use and gives you full control of the Turret Cam. It was my preferred interface for viewing live feeds, reviewing recordings, and fine-tuning motion zones, alerts, and audio settings. Everything is laid out cleanly, so you don’t waste time digging through menus to make simple changes. Should you buy the Eufy PoE Turret Security Camera E41? At around $130, the Eufy PoE Turret Cam E41 delivers solid value. You get sharp 4K video, reliable AI detection, and built-in deterrence features without paying for a cloud subscription. Just remember that it doesn’t work on its own—you’ll need the Eufy Network Video Recorder S4 ($400) to run it. If you’re starting from scratch, Eufy sells bundles that combine its NVR with mixes and quantities of its cameras (turret, bullet, and pan/tilt), which is a better deal if you’re planning whole-home coverage. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Inoffensive design includes a VESA mount Good sharpness and brightness for a budget monitor 100Hz refresh rate enhances motion clarity Cons Design is a bit too simple Doesn’t ship with a height-adjustable stand Modest contrast ratio and color gamut Our Verdict Though certainly drab, the MSI Pro MP275Q provides solid image quality for an office productivity monitor, and does it at an appealing price. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: MSI PRO MP275Q Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Are you shopping for a basic productivity monitor that won’t disappoint? The MSI Pro MP275Q might be what you need. Though it has a ho-hum design and barebones feature set, it delivers high brightness and sharpness on a budget. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best home office monitors for comparison. MSI PRO MP275Q specs and features The MSI Pro MP275Q’s specifications are firmly targeted at office productivity. It provides a 27-inch panel with 2,560 x 1,440 resolution, which is a nice bump from 1,920 x 1,080. It also has speakers, a VESA mount, and supports both HDR and Adaptive Sync. Display size: 27-inch Native resolution: 2560×1440 Panel type: IPS-LED Refresh rate: 100Hz Adaptive Sync: Yes, Adaptive Sync HDR: Yes, “HDR Ready” Ports: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x 3.5mm audio-out Audio: 2x 2-watt speakers VESA Mount: Yes, 100x100mm Price: $179.99 MSRP, $139.99 typical retail Buying the MSI Pro MP275Q will set you back about $180 at MSRP but, like most monitors, it is often on sale and often for less than $150. That’s a decent price for a 27-inch 1440p monitor, but I wouldn’t call it a deal. MSI PRO MP275Q design The MSI Pro MP275Q doesn’t make much impression out of the box, and I suspect that’s the point. It’s a “Pro” monitor and, in this case, the professional could be anyone from a work-from-home administrator to a retail clerk ringing up an order. The Pro MP275Q looks fine, and it feels reasonably durable for a budget monitor, but it’s nothing special. However, the monitor’s function doesn’t live up to its branding. It has a simple stand that only adjusts for tilt. It’s not a tall stand, either, so tall users will find themselves looking down at the screen at an uncomfortable angle. The monitor does include a 100x100mm VESA mount, at least, so it’s possible to add a third-party stand or monitor arm. Matthew Smith / Foundry MSI PRO MP275Q connectivity MSI keeps it basic with the Pro MP275Q’s connectivity, but it covers the necessities. We’re talking two HDMI 2.0 ports, plus one DisplayPort 1.4, and a 3.5mm audio-out. This is the expected range of connectivity for a monitor around $150. It’s neither better nor worse than usual. USB-C would be nice, but it’s not common south of $250. MSI PRO MP275Q menus, audio Menu navigation is provided with a joystick tucked around the right flank of the MSI Pro MP275Q. Many monitors offer a joystick (which is often the easiest, most responsive way to navigate a monitor’s menus), so this isn’t unusual. The monitor’s menu options are easy to navigate, but barebones. There are some image quality presets, a few color temperature options, and an EyeCare mode for reduced eye strain, all of which is normal for a monitor in this price bracket. You can also adjust monitor features using MSI Display Kit, a desktop software utility. It provides easy access to most monitor options and is often more intuitive to use than the on-screen menu controls. Display Kit is not the most visually appealing example of such a tool—I think those from Asus, BenQ, and Dell look a bit better. Still, it gets the job done. Matthew Smith / Foundry The only unusual feature is an “Eye-Q Check” feature, which displays an Amsler Grid that’s supposed to help you determine if you’re experiencing eye strain. Does it work? Probably not. While I was able to find medical studies on using an Amsler Grid to detect problems like macular degeneration, I couldn’t find studies suggesting it’s useful for general eye strain.A pair of 2-watt speakers are included. They provide modest volume and no hint of bass but, as budget monitor speakers go, they’re not bad. The speakers are fine for listening to podcasts or ambient music at low volumes—which is more than I can say for most budget monitors. MSI keeps it basic with the Pro MP275Q’s connectivity, but it covers the necessities: two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, and a 3.5mm audio-out. MSI PRO MP275Q SDR image quality The MSI Pro MP275Q is the type of monitor that will frequently be used for spreadsheets, web browsing, PDFs, and other office productivity. These tasks don’t require incredible image quality but benefit from good results in brightness, accuracy, and sharpness. Fortunately, the Pro MP275Q delivers. Matthew Smith / Foundry Brightness is definitely a highlight for the MSI Pro MP275Q. A maximum brightness of nearly 400 nits is extremely high for any monitor in the sub-$200 price bracket. This level of brightness isn’t required in most situations, but it’s helpful if you’re planning to position a monitor near bright windows or in an office environment without light control. The monitor also has an anti-glare finish to minimize reflections, which further helps with usability in bright rooms. If you want a bright, readable office monitor, the MSI Pro MP275Q is a top choice. Matthew Smith / Foundry Contrast, on the other hand, is an unsurprising weakness. The MSI Pro MP275Q uses an IPS display panel and doesn’t have a fancy dynamic Mini-LED backlight. Because of that, its contrast ratio is just 1190:1 at 50 percent of maximum brightness.That’s not a terrible result, and it’s typical of budget IPS monitors. However, technologies like IPS Black and VA panels (like the Lenovo Legion R27fc-30) can achieve a contrast ratio of 3000:1 or better, and OLED’s contrast ratio is effectively infinite. On the other hand, monitors with those technologies are often twice the price. While the contrast ratio isn’t great, it’s arguably not that important for an office monitor. Text-based workflows rarely benefit much, if at all, from a very high contrast ratio. Matthew Smith / Foundry Color gamut isn’t the Pro MP275Q’s strength. It’s okay, with a color gamut that covers 99 percent of sRGB and 78 percent of both DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB. However, these are not impressive figures in 2025, and many alternative monitors do better. The color gamut will be a limitation if you need to do photo or video editing, or digital art, as many colors visible on more capable displays won’t be visible on this monitor. Matthew Smith / Foundry While the Pro MP275Q’s color gamut doesn’t impress, color accuracy is more in its favor. The monitor’s color accuracy is solid, and most people won’t notice any issue. Color inaccuracy is highest in cyan and blue tones—a fairly common result for an IPS-LCD monitor—but even there, it didn’t come across to me in subjective viewing. Again, I wouldn’t recommend using this monitor to edit professional photography for, say, National Geographic. But that’s to be expected at this price point. The Pro MP275Q’s color temperature and gamma results were fine for a budget display. It displayed a gamma curve of 2.3, off the target of 2.2, which means content looks a tad darker than it should. But this is often hard to notice. The color temperature came in at 6600K, also just a shade off the target of 6500K. I didn’t find that difference noticeable. Sharpness is a strong point. The Pro MP275Q’s resolution of 2560×1440 works out to about 110 pixels per inch across the 27-inch screen. That’s a respectable pixel density. Speaking personally, I find it sharp enough—and a big upgrade over 1080p. With that said, shoppers should keep in mind that 4K monitors aren’t much more expensive. Even MSI has one priced at $200. Overall, the MSI Pro MP275Q’s image quality is good for a budget monitor. Its brightness and sharpness make it ideal for its target use case, which is office productivity. The monitor’s color performance and contrast are less impressive, and make it a less appealing choice for entertainment. However, at $150, you’ll be hard pressed to find alternatives that clearly defeat it in SDR image quality. MSI PRO MP275Q HDR image quality and motion The MSI Pro MP275Q doesn’t advertise HDR support, but its specifications list it as “HDR Ready.” This is, I think, a fair way to market the monitor. It can technically support an HDR signal, but its image quality is entirely insufficient to do much with HDR. It’s not bright enough, doesn’t have a wide enough color gamut, and doesn’t have enough contrast. However, this is true of all budget monitors. I actually like that MSI doesn’t advertise this feature. Some budget monitors do, which annoys me, because their claims of HDR support can be misleading. In reality, you’ll need to upgrade to a much more expensive OLED or MiniLED monitor if you want good HDR. Adaptive Sync is also technically supported, but the Pro MP275Q lacks AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync certification. My AMD video card did detect it as a variable refresh rate display, however, and I saw smooth motion in games. The monitor also has a maximum refresh rate of 100Hz. Though that won’t make headlines in 2025, it’s high enough to provide a noticeable improvement in motion clarity. The Pro MP275Q will look a bit less blurry in fast motion than 60Hz competitors. Note, however, that it is fairly subtle—your mileage will vary depending on how sensitive you are to motion clarity improvements. Gamers should note that budget gaming monitors like the Lenovo Legion R27fc-30 and Pixio PX248 Wave will provide a higher refresh rate of up to 240Hz for less than $200. However, you’ll often have to make a trade-off in either display size or resolution. Should you buy the MSI PRO MP275Q? The MSI Pro MP275Q is a workmanlike monitor meant for, well, work. It provides good image quality in SDR with high brightness and sharpness. The monitor’s build quality is simple and notably lacks a height-adjustable stand, which is its only significant flaw. Still, the Pro MP275Q is a good option if you want a 27-inch 1440p monitor for just about any work environment, from a home office to a corporate bullpen. Read...

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Cord-cutting is a challenging proposition for any sports fan, but puckheads just might have it the worst. Unlike the NFL, which broadcasts most of its games on channels available over the air in every major U.S. city, the NHL’s TV schedule still leans heavily on cable and subscription platforms. For the 2025-26 season, ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu, and TNT will air a combined 172 nationally televised games during the regular season, with only ABC’s games available over the air. ESPN will stream its games via its direct-to-consumer app, while TNT’s coverage will stream on HBO Max. For the Stanley Cup Final, ABC holds exclusive broadcast rights in even-numbered years such as 2026, so the full Final series will be on over-the-air television (and simulcast via ESPN). But to follow your local team, you’ll still need access to its regional or in-market broadcaster, which varies by team. That’s a tall order, but not an impossible one. We’ve put together a guide to all your options, so you can catch every game that matters to you. Watch hockey over the air Most streaming services advertise ABC as being included in their subscription packages, but its actual availability will depend on your local market (most services offer an easy way to check availability based on your zip code). In the event the network is not available to stream in your area, consider picking up an over-the-air antenna to reach your local ABC affiliate. Check out the best picks by category in our guide to the best TV antennas for cord-cutters. ESPN and ESPN+ will host regular season broadcasts with ABC, Hulu, and TNT.ESPN Sling TV Sling TV offers ESPN and TNT, and you can get them together in the Sling Orange package for $45.99 a month. You can round out your hockey coverage with the NHL network with the Sports Extra package for an additional $11 a month. Sling TV typically includes device discounts with prepaid commitments. Check the current promotions—they change frequently—but you can usually expect some combination of streaming-device deals or introductory discounts when you sign up. DirectTV Stream DirectTV Stream offers ABC, ESPN, and TNT in its Entertainment package for $84.99 a month. You can get the NHL Network as well by upgrading to the Ultimate package for $119.99 a month. DirecTV Stream frequently runs promotional discounts on its plans, so check for current offers when signing up. DirectTV Stream is also a great choice to follow your local team’s broadcasts. Over the last few years, Sling TV, FuboTV, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV have all dropped various regional sports networks from their product offerings. DirectStream TV is the only service to offer a full complement of regional sports networks, including the NBC Sports regional networks, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, New England Sports Network, YES Network, and Spectrum SportsNet LA. It also offers ESPN, FS1, TBS, and MLB Network. FuboTV Sports-centric streaming service FuboTV offers ABC and ESPN, in its $84.99-per-month Pro package. That includes unlimited Cloud DVR space that can be used for recording games, so you don’t miss a minute of action. You can add the NHL Network with the Sports Lite add-on for $10.99 a month. A Hulu + Live TV subscription gives you ABC, ESPN and TNT in their single one-size-fits-all offering.Hulu Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV Both Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV offer live TV services for a flat fee, and both include ABC, ESPN, and TNT in their base packages. Hulu + Live TV currently costs $82.99 a month with ads ($89.99 effective October 21) or $95.99 without ads ($99.99 effective October 21), and the plan also includes access to Disney+ and ESPN+. That gives hockey fans an edge, since many out-of-market NHL games stream exclusively on ESPN+. YouTube TV is $82.99 a month and also includes unlimited DVR storage. ESPN Streaming Out-of-market NHL games are available through ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer service, which launched in August 2025. The Select tier (essentially the legacy ESPN+) carries live out-of-market games, on-demand replays, and exclusive NHL coverage for $11.99 a month. Hockey fans who also want access to ESPN’s linear channels and simulcasts of ABC games can upgrade to the Unlimited tier, which costs $29.99 a month. Both tiers can be bundled with Hulu and Disney+. Catch all the action on the ice While streaming hockey can still require a bit of juggling, fans have more legitimate options than ever. With national broadcasts spread across major platforms and every out-of-market game available to stream, following the NHL no longer depends on a cable subscription. The landscape will keep evolving, but for cord-cutters the direction is finally headed in the right direction. Read...

In the days leading up to a potential blackout of NBC channels on YouTube TV, NBCUniversal made a seemingly outlandish claim. “Google, with its $3 trillion market cap, already controls what Americans see online through search and ads—now it wants to control what we watch,” the company said. While NBC did not elaborate on what exactly that meant, we’ve since learned that Google (which owns YouTube TV) wants to fundamentally change how programmers like NBC distribute video in the streaming age. In addition to carrying NBC’s broadcast and cable channels, Google also wants YouTube TV to serve streaming content from Peacock, NBC’s separate streaming service. (For now, the companies have agreed to a short-term deal extension to avoid a blackout.) Why is this a big deal? If Google gets its way, it will give customers one place to watch all of NBC’s programming, tearing down a longstanding divide between pay TV packages and standalone streaming services. While that ultimately makes sense for viewers, it’s probably not something NBC and its programming peers want. What the YouTube TV and NBC dispute is about As I often tell folks who are trying to cut cable TV, streaming TV options typically fall into two buckets. The first bucket includes standalone streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and Peacock. They offer a mix of original and library programming, including exclusive shows and movies that aren’t available on cable. The second bucket consists of live TV streaming services, also known as cable replacements, or vMVPDs in the TV industry (the acronym stands for virtual multichannel video programming distributor). These services replicate the cable experience with a big bundle of live TV channels, cloud-based DVR service, and a library of on-demand programming. YouTube TV is the largest of these services with an estimated 10 million subscribers. Others include Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and Sling TV. The distinction between these buckets used to be pretty clear, but in recent years the lines have blurred. Standalone streaming services increasingly carry content that was once exclusive to cable channels, and live TV providers have started bundling up access to individual streaming services that have their own exclusive programming. (DirecTV, for instance, offers a bundle of entertainment channels, Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max for for $35 per month.) These changes are happening because traditional pay TV bundles are becoming worthless for anything but news and sports. The best new shows moved over to standalone streaming years ago, so distributors want to bundle up those services as a way to preserve value. But surely you can see the problem, right? If YouTube TV starts offering bundled access to services like Peacock, people might spend less time using the actual YouTube TV app. The future could be one in which subscribers must sign into a bunch of different apps to watch everything that comes with a YouTube TV subscription, which isn’t great for YouTube and isn’t ideal for viewers either. Enter “ingestion” So when Reuters’ Aditya Soni and Puck’s John Ourand report that YouTube TV is seeking “ingestion” of Peacock’s content, they mean that YouTube wants to solve the problem of sending subscribers elsewhere. YouTube TV doesn’t want to just bundle Peacock subscriptions with its service, it wants the full Peacock catalog to be available directly inside YouTube TV. NBCUniversal doesn’t like that idea. It wants people spending time inside the Peacock app, where it can collect viewing data, make more money from targeted ads, and promote more Peacock content. When the company says Google “wants to control what we watch,” it’s likely alluding to YouTube being in control of the experience, plus all the advertising and data collection that comes with it. (Also, NBCUniversal is owned by Comcast, which has its own plans to aggregate streaming content, so it might not want to cede ground to a competitor.) Not every programmer is entirely opposed to “ingestion.” Philo, for instance, says it will bring HBO Max and Discovery+ content into its own app early next year, and Fubo will add ESPN+ programming to its app in the coming weeks. Amazon has also built a thriving business selling subscriptions to other streaming services (including Peacock’s ad-free tier) and offering their content through its own Prime Video app. Still, programmers are unlikely to give up complete control of their content to third-party aggregators, which means skirmishes like the one between YouTube TV and NBC will keep happening with each new carriage renewal. While Hollywood loves to complain about how streaming destroyed the pay TV bundle, it’s not all too eager to let streaming companies build it back up again. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming insights. Read...

Sony Interactive Entertainment New Zealand reported a rise in annual profit to NZD $1.22 million despite lower cash reserves and increased costs in 2025. Read...

We all think of wireless when it comes to smart home and home entertainment—Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Bluetooth, Thread, Z-Wave, and what have you—but a surprising number of smart devices depend on good, old-fashioned wired ethernet for the best performance.  The Philips Hue Bridge? Needs an ethernet cable. Got an Apple TV streaming box? It does Wi-Fi, but ethernet makes it better. That smart hub? An ethernet cable would certainly boost its reliability. Running a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X? A respectable K/D ratio demands ethernet.  All those ethernet cables and ports will add up, though, and most Wi-Fi and mesh routers only serve up a handful of ethernet connections—or, most likely, only a single extra port.   That’s why I’ve been investing in ethernet switches, and my favorite—this unmanaged 5-port gigabit ethernet bridge from TP-Link—is just $13 during the runup to Amazon’s October Prime Day, good for a 35% savings. If you’re looking for more ports, this 8-port configuration is selling for $29.99, or 25% off the list price. I have three of the 5-port TP-Link bridges in my smart home: one sits under my desk, connected to my PC, my Philips Hue Bridge, and my HDHomeRun over-the-air TV tuner. The link port is connected to my mesh Wi-Fi router, and the fifth port is connecting to… yes, another ethernet bridge.  My second bridge lives in a steel cabinet in the corner of the office, and it’s all about the Raspberry Pi’s–four of them, to be exact. Those Raspberry Pi boards run a series of locally hosted applications, including HomeBridge, an app that lets me bring non-HomeKit smart devices into the Apple Home app; Home Assistant, an open-source smart home platform I’ve been tinkering with; and Plex, a self-hosted media server and DVR that works with my HDHomeRun TV tuner. My Raspberry Pi systems will work just fine over Wi-Fi, but a rock-solid ethernet connection makes them far more reliable, especially for streaming media.  Finally, my third TP-Link ethernet switch sits in the living room behind my TV, where it’s connected to my Apple TV 4K, my PlayStation 5, and my Denon AVR-x1600H, ensuring perfectly smooth streaming video, cutting down on gaming latency, and preventing audio dropouts when streaming tunes via AirPlay.  Setting up these TP-Link ethernet bridges is a snap; because they’re unmanaged (meaning they can’t assign IP addresses on their own), it’s really just a matter of connecting the link port to a nearby Wi-Fi router or mesh hub and then plugging in your ethernet devices. You can have multiple ethernet switches downstream, meaning you can daisy-chain them if necessary. An AC adapter with a small wall wart supplies the power.  I’ve been rocking these particular TP-Link switches for years now and have never had any problems. I highly recommend them if you’re running out of ethernet ports in your smart home or home theater setup—the more the merrier.  Snag a TP-Link TL-SG105 5-port gigabit ethernet switch for $12.99Buy on Amazon Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Extremely thin and easy to pack High brightness with anti-glare panel make for comfortable viewing 180Hz refresh rate with Adaptive Sync Cons Uses Mini-HDMI input instead of full-sized HDMI Mediocre contrast ratio and color performance Currently a bit expensive compared to the competition Our Verdict The Arzopa Z3FC serves up a high-refresh 2560×1440 IPS-LCD in a slim, light package, though it’s a tad more expensive than it should be. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Arzopa Z3FC Retailer Price Arzopa $199.99 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Most portable monitors are meant for basic productivity, but that’s not always true. The Arzopa Z3FC is a large IPS LCD portable monitor with an 180Hz refresh rate that aims to be of use both for office productivity and gaming. It’s successful, but its launch price is an obstacle. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best portable monitors for comparison. Arzopa Z3FC specs and features The Arzopa Z3FC is a step up from the budget portable monitors that retail around $100 or less, and it provides some upgrades. The Z3FC has 2560×1440 resolution which, of course, is superior to the 1920×1080 resolution that most budget alternatives provide. The Z3FC also has a speedy 180Hz refresh rate, which is high for a portable monitor. Display size: 16.1-inch 16:9 aspect ratio Native resolution: 2560×1440 Panel type: IPS-LED Refresh rate: 180Hz Adaptive sync: Yes, AMD FreeSync HDR: None Ports: 2x USB Type-C with Power Delivery and DisplayPort, 1x Mini-HDMI 2.0 Audio: 2x 1-watt speakers Additional features: Built-in kickstand Dimensions: 13 x 8 x 0.39 inches Weight: 1.72 pounds Price: $229.99 MSRP, $199.99 typical retail The Arzopa Z3FC has an MSRP of $229.99, but I don’t think it was ever sold at MSRP (which is not unusual for an Amazon product listing). It’s more typically available at $199.99. Even that is towards the high end of where I expect this product to land as it ages. Its predecessor, the Arzopa Z1FC, was introduced at $259.99 but has sold as low as $96.98. I’d expect the Z3FC will gradually limbo closer to that figure. Arzopa Z3FC design The Arzopa Z3FC combines an aluminum frame and rear panel with plastic bezels to produce an attractive, durable feel. Despite its extremely thin profile—it measures less than 4/10-inch thick—the Z3FC feels solid when handled and doesn’t easily show flex. Don’t get me wrong: You could absolutely snap this thing over your knee if you wanted. But the same could be said of the iPad Pro. Big, thin devices are never bomb-proof, but the Z3FC feels nice. Matthew Smith / Foundry Its thin profile means the portable monitor is, well, portable. It weighs in at roughly 1.7 pounds, which is a tad lighter than average for a 16-inch portable monitor. Arzopa avoids using a bump-out to accommodate the ports and the kickstand retracts fully into the monitor’s case, both of which make the display easy to carry. Yet despite its small size, the kickstand supports use in both portrait and landscape orientation. A sleeve is included, as well. It looks okay but includes a flap that is secured with velcro. While the carrying case largely does its job, it doesn’t offer much padding, so I wouldn’t trust it alone to protect the monitor when packing it in checked luggage. The same can be said for most sleeves included with portable monitors, though. Arzopa Z3FC connectivity Connectivity is a mix bag with the Arzopa Z3FC. It includes two USB-C ports, each with DisplayPort and Power Delivery, and a HDMI port. So far, so good. The HDMI port is mini-HDMI, though, which is a bummer. While the Arzopa Z3FC does include a HDMI to mini-HDMI cable, mini-HDMI is much less common overall. You may have difficulty finding a cable around an office, or for sale in a store, if you leave the included cable at home. Matthew Smith / Foundry Of course, you could just rely on USB-C, which might be easier. The USB-C ports support Power Delivery to power the monitor when connected to a USB-C port that provides enough wattage. The specs don’t state what’s required, but an 18-watt power source was adequate. The USB-C ports support power pass-through. That means you can connect a USB-C source with power to one USB-C port, then use the portable monitor to charge a USB-C device connected to the other USB-C port. A USB-C power brick is not included, but will be required if you plan to deliver video to the Z3FC over HDMI, or if you use a USB-C video input that lacks power. The lack of a power brick is a minor disappointment, but most competitive portable monitors also ship without a power brick. Arzopa Z3FC menus, audio The Arzopa Z3FC’s menu system offers a wider range of options than most. It includes not only the typical brightness and contrast but also several color gamut modes, RGB calibration, and a 4:3 aspect ratio mode. As simple as these might seem, they aren’t guaranteed on a portable monitor. Some alternatives only provide brightness, contrast, and sharpness adjustment. Matthew Smith / Foundry Adjustments are easy, too, as the monitor includes two buttons and a volume rocker. The buttons are used to enter or exit menus and the rocker is used to select or adjust options. Overall, the Arzopa Z3FC’s menu can’t quite match that typically provided by Viewsonic, but beats budget portable monitors like the MSI Pro MP165 E6. A pair of 1-watt speakers can be found on each flank of the Z3FC. They’re weak, providing barely adequate volume even at maximum. The speakers are okay for a podcast but otherwise of limited use. The Arzopa Z3FC’s menu system offers a wider range of options than most. Arzopa Z3FC SDR image quality The Arzopa Z3FC isn’t expensive, but I wouldn’t say it’s a budget portable monitor—at least, not at its current typical retail price of $199.99. That means the monitor’s image quality matters. It scores well in several areas, though in others it feels pressure from OLED competition. Matthew Smith / Foundry Brightness is a positive for the Arzopa Z3FC. It comes close to 400 nits of SDR brightness, which is great for a portable monitor. This level of brightness is excessive for most situations, but portable monitors are likely to be used in areas where you have no control over the lighting, like a conference room or airport lounge. The Z3FC’s high brightness will make the monitor more comfortable to use in bright rooms and near large, sunlit windows. Matthew Smith / Foundry Contrast, on the other hand, is a miss for the Z3FC. Most portable monitors with an IPS-LCD panel struggle with contrast, and the Z3FC comes in towards the bottom of the pack. That means the image can look flat and dull. It’s not a problem in Microsoft Office, but disappointing when playing a game. Portable monitors with an OLED panel, like the Innocn 15K1F, are a much better choice for entertainment. They provide a deep, immersive image that easily stands out. Keep in mind, however, that price-comparable OLED portable monitors will have a 60Hz refresh rate. That’s a trade-off you’ll need to weigh. Matthew Smith / Foundry The Arzopa Z3FC’s color gamut is good, or mediocre, depending on your perspective. It covers 99 percent of sRGB as well as 78 percent of DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB. As the graph shows, that’s average to above-average for a portable monitor with an IPS-LCD display. The Z3FC’s color gamut is enough to provide good color volume and a vibrant image. However, the Z3FC’s color gamut is far behind the Innocn 15K1F’s OLED panel, and will significantly lag OLED alternatives in general. OLED provides an incredibly rich, hyper-saturated look that many will prefer. Matthew Smith / Foundry The Arzopa Z3FC achieved modest results in color accuracy. Its average color error isn’t bad, but the average includes noticeable errors in colors such as blue and cyan. The overall impression is that the monitor can look a bit too red or orange. That’s also represented in the monitor’s color temperature of 6300K, which is a bit warmer than the target of 6500K. Gamma, on the other hand, was solid with an on-target gamma curve of 2.2. Content generally looks as bright as it should, and while the monitor’s overall contrast isn’t great, it does a fine job of preserving detail in dark areas of a scene. Sharpness is a highlight. The 16.1-inch panel has a resolution of 2560×1440. That works out to about 182 pixels per inch. That’s a higher pixel density than a 27-inch 4K monitor (at about 163 ppi) and much better than a 27-inch 1440p monitor (at roughly 110 ppi). High-resolution video looks great and text looks sharp. So what’s the verdict? I think the Z3FC’s image quality is fine, even good. It benefits from a decent color gamut and high brightness, two traits that help it deliver an attractive image when used in a bright room. It’s less impressive in darker rooms, as the limited contrast ratio becomes more noticeable. The main decision you’ll need to make is whether you’d prefer an IPS-LCD display with high brightness and a fast refresh rate, like the Z3FC, or an OLED competitor with superior contrast and color gamut, like the Innocn 15K1F. Arzopa Z3FC HDR image quality and motion The Arzopa Z3FC includes HDR, but it’s nothing to write home about—or, if you did, you might use language your pen pal wouldn’t appreciate. While HDR is supported, the monitor’s limited contrast ratio and brightness means there’s not much, if any, benefit to using it. The image looks a bit different, but not better. I recommend sticking to SDR. This is not a problem exclusive to the Z3FC, however. All portable monitors suffer bad HDR to varying degrees. It’s a direct result of their portability and low pricing. The Viewsonic VX1655-4K-OLED is the only portable monitor I’ve tested to deliver passable HDR—but it retails at $519.99. The Z3FC’s motion clarity benefits from the IPS-LCD panel’s 180Hz refresh rate, which is high for a portable monitor with 2560×1440 resolution. A higher refresh rate translates to reduced blur in fast-moving and rapidly changing images, and the improvement is obvious, particularly when compared to a 60Hz alternative. Arzopa lists a pixel response time of 9 milliseconds on the monitor’s Amazon page. That’s not great—a desktop LCD-IPS gaming monitor will typically quote a response time of 0.5 milliseconds to 5 milliseconds. Overall motion clarity is solid for single-player titles and cooperative games, though esports fans with a critical eye and fast reactions should keep expectations in check. While the Z3FC’s motion clarity isn’t perfect, its portability and price should be kept in mind. Most portable monitors have a much lower refresh rate and, as a result, have much more noticeable motion blur. OLED alternatives will beat the Z3FC, but those with a 120Hz refresh rate start around $250 ($50 more than the Z3FC) and go up from there. The Z3FC is a price-to-value middle ground for people who want acceptable motion clarity in games but still need to be mindful of their budget. Should you buy the Arzopa Z3FC? The Arzopa Z3FC is another solid portable monitor in the company’s line-up. It provides good image quality and a fast 180Hz refresh rate for $199.99. It also benefits from slim, attractive design and an easy-to-use menu system. With that said, pricing doesn’t currently work to its favor. Arzopa’s older Z1FC, which is similar but has a slightly slower 144Hz refresh rate, can be had for $109.99—a much better deal overall. I expect the Z3FC’s price will gradually be reduced, but at the moment it’s too expensive for what it offers. Still, the Z3FC provides high brightness, decent color performance, slim design, and good motion clarity. These traits make it an appealing general-purpose portable monitor and also useful for gaming on the go. Read...

Disney is raising prices on most of its streaming services again, and the subtext is clearer than ever: If you’re not bundling, you’re wasting money. The price hikes, which take effect on October 21, push the standalone cost of Disney+ to $12 per month with ads and $19 without, while Hulu’s ad-supported plan is increasing from $10 to $12 per month. While Disney’s various bundles will also cost more, the price hikes for those services aren’t as drastic, and in some cases aren’t increasing at all. (Yes, the timing is terrible, with Disney’s temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel last week leading to a wave of Disney+ and Hulu cancellations, but it’s also coincidental. The company has raised prices every October since 2023, and it told Bloomberg that it planned the latest round months ago.) This was all too easy to see coming. Disney and its peers have latched onto the idea that when people bundle services together, they’re less likely to cancel. They are now taking those incentives to their logical conclusion, in which bundled pricing provides cover for price hikes across the board. Disney price hikes compared Here’s a full list of Disney’s 2025 streaming price hikes, which take effect on or after October 21: Streaming ServiceCurrent PriceNew PriceDisney+ (with ads)$10/mo.$12/mo.Disney+ (no ads)$16/mo.$19/mo.Hulu (with ads)$10/mo.$12/mo.Hulu (no ads)$19/mo.$19/mo.ESPN Select$12/mo.$13/mo.ESPN Unlimited$30/mo.$30/mo.Disney+ and Hulu (with ads)$11/mo.$13/mo.Disney+ and Hulu (no ads)$20/mo.$20/mo.Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) with ESPN Select$17/mo.$20/mo.Disney+ and Hulu (no ads) with ESPN Select$27/mo.$30/mo.Legacy Disney+ (no ads), Hulu (with ads), and ESPN Select$22/mo.$25/mo.ESPN Unlimited with Disney+ and Hulu (with ads)$36/mo.$36/mo.ESPN Unlimited with Disney+ and Hulu (no ads)$45/mo.$45/mo.HBO Max with Disney+ and Hulu (with ads)$17/mo.$20/mo.HBO Max with Disney+ and Hulu (no ads)$30/mo.$33/mo.Hulu + Live TV (includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited)$83/mo.$90/mo.Hulu + Live TV (ad-free Disney+, ad-free Hulu on-demand, and ESPN Unlimited)$96/mo.$99/mo.Some observations: As before, the “Duo” bundle of Disney+ and Hulu is only $1 more than getting either service a la carte, either with or without ads. On their own, Disney+ and Hulu will become $2-per-month pricier with ads, but as a bundle the price only increases by $2 per month total. Although ad-free Disney+ is getting a $3-per-month price hike, the bundled price for ad-free Disney+ and Hulu stays the same. While the cost of Disney’s “Trio” bundles with ESPN Select are increasing by $3 per month, newly launched bundles with ESPN Unlimited (which includes all of ESPN’s cable programming) aren’t changing. (A limited-time promo also knocks the price ESPN Unlimited, Disney+, and Hulu down to $30 per month for one year.) Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav recently argued that HBO Max is “way underpriced.” Don’t be surprised if the new bundle price accounts for an eventual HBO Max price hike. Pushing bigger bundles The overall trend is similar to what played out with ad-supported streaming plans several years ago. Originally pitched by programmers as a way to bring streaming prices down, in the end they merely provided cover for more price hikes. (To wit: At $12-per-month, Disney+ with ads costs nearly twice what the ad-free version sold for in 2019.) Looking ahead, we’re likely to see a bigger push toward larger TV packages with more streaming services thrown in. An early example is DirecTV’s MyEntertainment plan, which includes ad-supported Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max; plus, a collection of cable news and entertainment channels (no sports or local broadcasts) for $35 per month. The cost for that package is not increasing. Likewise, Spectrum has packed a slew of streaming services into its TV Select plans, whose non-promotional rates start at $125 per month. The streaming offerings include all of Disney’s services, HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock, and AMC+, but of course require paying for an entire cable TV package. Comcast, meanwhile, is doing a $15-per-month bundle of Netflix, Peacock, and Apple TV+ for Xfinity internet customers. That’s only $4 per month more than the standalone cost of Peacock after it drastically raised prices over the summer. Disney’s latest round of price hikes will inevitably push more people toward bundling, and that’s by design. With ever-higher standalone rates, these bundles are starting to feel less like a deal and more like a necessity. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for streaming TV insights. Read...