Connecting to a VPN server hides your traffic by rerouting it through an encrypted tunnel. Your ISP and other outside parties are no longer able to see your online activity—but the one who owns the tunnel still can. All of your data is then solely handled by a VPN provider and that’s why trusting the service to not keep any logs of your activity is imperative. Almost every major VPN provider today will claim to have a “no-logs” policy. But what does that mean exactly, and why is it critical when choosing a VPN service? I’ll break it all down, discuss why it matters, and how to feel safer with your online privacy while using a VPN. If you’re looking for a VPN that you can trust, all of my picks for best VPN services have been thoroughly vetted via independent no-logs audits, so you can rest assured your data will be in safe hands. What is a no-logs policy? A VPN’s “no-logs” policy means the service does not collect—or log—any traffic that passes through its servers, such as private data including browsing history, home IP address, cookies, and files downloaded. This policy represents a VPN’s stance on data retention and commits the company to comprehensive, across-the-board user privacy measures. The issue with no-logs claims is that it’s impossible for a user to verify that their data isn’t being collected from the outside. That’s why many top VPNs go the extra step of hiring external auditors to substantiate these claims. The very best no-logs VPNs provide as much transparency as possible, not only clearly laying out their data collection practices, but also regularly undergoing independent audits. Of course, VPNs do need to collect some user data to make sure the service is properly maintained and running optimally. If the VPN imposes a device limit, it will need to log connection activity. To make sure that servers are not overloaded, a VPN will need to track data usage.  The key here is to make sure that all of these logs are anonymous and/or temporary. A VPN should only store your connection activity for the time you’re online and no longer. Data usage should be taken in aggregate across all users rather than user-by-user in order to fully anonymize each individual’s traffic. All of these practices should be clearly laid out in a VPN provider’s privacy policy and verified via independent audits. Why does no-logs matter with a VPN? If you’re using a VPN it means that you are trying to gain some privacy and anonymity in one way or another. Even if you only use a VPN to get around geo-blocking restrictions with streaming services, you are still looking to hide your true identity and connection location.  Since privacy is the whole point of a VPN, it should go without saying that the VPN shouldn’t act in any way to compromise that privacy. This is where a no-logs policy comes in. It is the cornerstone of a VPN’s commitment to keeping your activity private and anonymous while connected. Casual VPN users might not be too worried about a VPN recording your traffic, but for political dissidents, journalists, lawyers, and people under oppressive regimes, it’s a huge concern. Without sounding too hyperbolic, for those in high-risk situations, a VPN’s trustworthiness can be a matter of life or death. Even in the worst-case event where a government were to seize control of a VPN’s servers, if the service is abiding by a no-logs policy there would be nothing for the authorities to find. This was the case in 2017 for ExpressVPN when Turkish authorities seized one of its servers while investigating a high-profile assassination. ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy was ultimately vindicated as authorities were left empty-handed. I’m not at all saying that VPNs should be used to hide criminal activity, but they should stay true to the policies they promise. How to check what data your VPN collects IPVanish provides a good example of what a clear and transparent privacy policy should look like. IPVanish If you’re looking to use a VPN to keep you safe online, especially when the stakes are high, then you want a service with a clear and transparent privacy policy as well as a proven no-logs track record.  For users who demand the utmost privacy from a VPN, it’s imperative that you meticulously read through the company’s privacy policy before using the service. Sometimes it can be a bit tricky to find these privacy policies through the provider’s website. Your best bet is to do a Google search for “(VPN’s name) + privacy policy” then choose the link directing you to the company’s website. Some privacy policies can be extremely detailed and full of legal boilerplate. It might be a slog to get through, I know, but it’s worth it to find out what data is being collected. As a rule of thumb, if a company does not clearly and transparently describe the data that it does and does not collect, then you should avoid that service.  Also, be sure that the policy states how long the VPN keeps collected data. This may include connection logs and overall data usage. All of this should be either anonymized or stored for a short time only. If your VPN uses RAM-only servers your data is likely to be safer as anything collected is deleted when the servers restart. Lastly, while a company may have a transparent privacy policy, you’ll have to take them at their word unless they can show proof of independent audits. Third-party audits of a VPN service are one of the best (and only) ways a no-logs policy can be verified. Personally, I do not use a VPN unless it has gone through at least an audit in the last year or two. Ideally, a service will go through regular, yearly or twice-a-year audits. Read...

Microsoft announced in a blog post that its Edge browser is now significantly faster than before. “Through a concerted effort over the past few months, we’ve reached an important milestone: achieving a global First Contentful Paint (FCP) of under 300 milliseconds,” the company writes. FCP measures how quickly a browser starts displaying content on a web page, and a value below 300 milliseconds means that content is displayed almost immediately. Microsoft points out that loading times above 300 to 400 milliseconds can have a negative impact on the user experience. Note that FCP is not the same as the entire page being fully loaded. According to Microsoft, Edge has achieved an average of 40 percent faster load times for 13 key features, including settings, reading aloud, split screen, and workspaces. You can see a demonstration in the video below. Read...

Many users are concerned about what happens to their data when using cloud-based AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Deepseek. While some subscriptions claim to prevent the provider from using personal data entered into the chatbot, who knows if those terms really stand. You also need a stable and fast internet connection to use cloud AI. But if there’s no internet connection, what then? Well, there’s always an alternative. One solution is to run AI applications locally. However, this requires the computer or laptop to have the right amount of processing power. There’s also an increasing number of standard applications that rely on AI now. But if a laptop’s hardware is optimized for the use of AI, you can work faster and more effectively with AI applications. Further reading: ‘Vibe coding’ your own apps with AI is easy! 7 tools and tricks to get started Working with local AI applications makes sense Running AI applications locally not only reduces dependency on external platforms, but it also creates a reliable basis for data protection, data sovereignty, and reliability. Especially in small companies with sensitive customer information or in private households with personal data, the local use of AI increases trust. Local AI remains usable even if internet services are disrupted or the cloud provider has technical problems. The reaction speed improves significantly as computing processes are not slowed down by latency times. This enables the use of AI models in real-time scenarios such as image recognition, text generation or voice control without delay. What’s more, you can learn how to use AI completely free of charge. In many cases, the necessary software is available completely free of charge as an open source solution. Learn how to use AI with the tools and benefit from the use of AI-supported research in your private life too. Why the NPU makes the difference Without a specialized NPU, even modern notebooks quickly reach their limits in AI applications. Language models and image processing require enormous computing power that overwhelms conventional hardware. This results in long loading times, sluggish processes and greatly reduced battery life. This is precisely where the advantage of an integrated NPU comes into play. IDG The NPU handles the computationally intensive parts of AI processing independently and does not rely on the CPU or GPU. As a result, the system remains responsive overall, even if an AI service is running in the background or AI image processing is in progress. At the same time, the operating temperature remains low, fans remain quiet and the device runs stably, even in continuous operation. For local AI applications, the NPU is therefore not an add-on, but a basic requirement for smooth and usable performance. NPUs significantly accelerate AI locally once again As specialized AI accelerators, NPUs enable computationally intensive models to be operated efficiently on standard end devices. This reduces energy consumption compared to purely CPU- or GPU-based approaches and makes local AI interesting in the first place. An NPU is a special chip for accelerating tasks where conventional processors work inefficiently. NPU stands for “Neural Processing Unit.” Such networks are used in language models, image recognition, or AI assistants. In contrast to a CPU, which flexibly executes various programs, an NPU concentrates on calculations that are constantly performed in the field of AI. This allows it to work significantly faster and more economically. An NPU takes on precisely those tasks where a CPU reaches its limits. AI applications calculate with a large number of numbers at the same time, often in the form of matrices. These are tables of numbers with rows and columns. In AI, they help to structure and calculate large amounts of data. Texts, images or language are converted into numbers and represented as matrices. This enables an AI model to carry out computing processes efficiently. NPUs are designed to process many such matrices simultaneously. The CPU processes such arithmetic patterns one after the other, which costs time and energy. An NPU, on the other hand, was specially built to carry out many such operations in parallel. Intel For users, this means that the NPU processes AI tasks such as voice input, object recognition, or automatic text generation faster and more efficiently. Meanwhile, the CPU remains free for other tasks such as the operating system, internet browser, or office applications. This ensures a smooth user experience without delays or high power consumption. Modern devices such as notebooks with Intel Core Ultra or Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite already integrate their own NPUs. Apple has also been using similar technology in its chips for years (Apple Silicon M1 to M4). AI-supported applications run locally and react quickly without transferring data to cloud servers. The NPU ensures smooth operation for image processing, text recognition, transcription, voice input or personalized suggestions. At the same time, it reduces the utilization of the system and saves battery power. It is therefore worthwhile opting for laptops with an NPU chip, especially if you are working with AI solutions. These do not have to be special AI chatbots. More and more local applications and games are using AI, even Windows 11 itself. YouTube Open source brings AI locally to your computer: Ollama and Open Web UI Open source solutions such as Ollama allow you to run LLMs on a notebook with an NPU chip free of charge. LLM stands for “Large Language Model”. LLMs form the heart of AI applications. They enable computers to understand natural language and react to it in a meaningful way. Anyone using an AI to write texts, summarize emails, or answer questions is interacting with an LLM. The AI models help with formulating, explaining, translating, or correcting. Search engines, language assistants, and intelligent text editors also use LLMs in the background. The decisive factor here is not only the performance of the model, but also where it runs. If you operate an LLM locally, you can connect local AI applications to this local model. This means you are no longer dependent on the internet. Ollama enables the operation of numerous LLMs, including free ones. These include DeepSeek-R1, Qwen 3, LLama 3.3, and many others. You simply install Ollama on your PC or laptop with Windows, Linux, and macOS. Once installed, you can operate Ollama via the command line in Windows or the terminal in macOS and Linux. Ollama provides the framework through which you can install various LLMs on your PC or notebook. To work with Ollama in the same way as you are used to with AI applications such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Microsoft Copilot, you also need a web front end. Here you can rely on the OpenWeb UI solution, which is also free of charge. This is also available as a free, open-source tool. What other local AI tools are available? As an alternative to Ollama with Open Web UI, you can also use the more limited tool GPT4All. Another option in this area is Jan.ai, which provides access to well-known LLMs such as DeepSeek-R1, Claude 3.7, or GPT 4 from OpenAI. To do this, install Jan.ai, start the program, and select the desired LLM. Thomas Joos Please note, however, that model downloads can quickly reach 20 GB or more. Additionally, it only makes sense to use them if your computer’s hardware is optimized for AI, ideally with an existing NPU. Read...

Amazon Prime Day 2025 is officially live, and if you’ve been eyeballing those juicy laptop deals, now’s the time to commit and jump in. But this year, Amazon’s switching things up. Prime Day is now a four day event (July 8th to July 11th), which gives you more time to snag the best discounts. Just remember, you’ll need a Prime membership to access the deals. Here’s how to get it for free. If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with a curated list of the best laptop deals on Prime Day. Why should you care about what I’ve got to say? Fair question. I oversee all laptop and Chromebook review coverage at PCWorld. I also maintain our best laptop deals roundup daily, along with our best laptops of 2025 roundup weekly. That means I’m hunting for the best laptop discounts online every single day, so I’m pretty well-attuned to the landscape, while my hands-on knowledge helps me unearth the true gems. Best Prime Day 2025 deals on budget laptops Lenovo IdeaPad 1, Intel Celeron processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/12GB RAM/128GB eMMC + 256GB PCIe), $284.05 ($74.95 off at Amazon) Asus VivoBook Go, AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $329.99 ($100 off at Amazon) Dell Inspiron 15 3535, AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $399.99 ($50 off at Amazon) Our top pick: With 8GB of RAM, a comfortable 1080p display, and a spacious 512GB of storage, the Dell Inspiron 15 3535 really hits the sweet spot at this price point (under $500). If you want a laptop that remains peppy after weeks of use, then this is the one to pick. Best Prime Day 2025 deals on mid-range laptops Samsung Galaxy Book4 (AI), Snapdragon X Plus processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $599.99 ($300 off at Amazon) Dell Inspiron 5441, Snapdragon X Plus processor/14-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $694.99 ($105 off at Amazon) Dell Inspiron 16 Plus, Intel Core i7-13620H processor/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $816 ($133.99 off at Amazon) Apple 2025 MacBook Air, M4 chip/13.6-inch 2560×1664 display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $849 ($150 off at Amazon) Asus Vivobook 14 Flip, Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor/14-inch 1920×1200 OLED touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $869.99 ($130 off at Amazon) Our top pick: The Dell Inspiron 16 Plus is a great pick because you’re getting a high resolution 16-inch display (2560×1600), a good amount of RAM (16GB) and storage (1TB), and a powerful Intel Core?i7-13620H processor–all for under $800. Best Prime Day 2025 deals on premium laptops Microsoft Surface Laptop (2024), Snapdragon X Elite processor/13.8-inch ?2304×1536 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $989.99 ($410 off at Amazon) Apple MacBook Air, M4 chip/13.6-inch 2560×1664 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,049 ($150 off at Amazon) Samsung Galaxy Book5 360, Intel Core Ultra 7 processor/16-inch 1920×1080 AMOLED display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,049.99 ($300 off at Amazon) Asus Vivobook S 14, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor/14-inch 3840×2160 OLED display/24GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,057.99 ($142 off at Amazon) Asus ZenBook 15 Pro OLED, Intel Core i7-13620H processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,099.99 ($100 off at Amazon) HP Envy, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor/17.3-inch 1920×1080 display/64GB RAM/2TB SSD, $1,399 ($290 off at Amazon) Our top pick: Just a little over a grand for the Asus Vivobook S 14? That’s an excellent price for a laptop with the latest AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor and a super crisp 14-inch 3840×2160 display. You’re also getting 24GB of RAM, which is more than most laptops get at this price point. Best Prime Day 2025 deals on gaming laptops Acer Nitro V, Intel Core i5-13420H processor/RTX 4050 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $649.99 ($150 off at Amazon) Acer Nitro 17, AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS processor/RTX 4050 graphics/17.3-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $979.99 ($220 off at Amazon) Asus ROG Strix G16, Intel Core i9-14900HX processor/RTX 4060 graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,359.99 ($340 off at Amazon) Lenovo Legion 16, Intel Core i9-14900HX processor/RTX 4070 graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 display/64GB RAM/2TB SSD, $1,999 ($239.74 off at Amazon) Our top pick: The Asus ROG Strix G16 really stands out. Not only does the RTX 4060 graphics card deliver excellent gaming performance, but you’re also getting 16GB of RAM (ideal for running modern games) and 1TB of SSD storage for large installs. The 16-inch 2560×1600 display also gives you slightly more vertical space than your standard 1080p panel.  Other great Prime Day deals These aren’t the only Prime Day deals being tracked by the PCWorld team. If you’re looking to supercharge your home setup with the juiciest tech sales, hit the links for only the best expert-curated picks we’ve found. Best Amazon Prime Day tech deals: Great sales chosen by experts Best Prime Day PC computer deals: Gaming & mainstream desktops Best Prime Day laptop deals: Gaming notebooks, 2-in-1s, and more Best Prime Day deals on SSDs and storage Best USB flash drive deals for Prime Day 2025 Best monitor deals for Prime Day 2025: OLED, home office, and more Best Prime Day deals on Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs Best Prime Day mini PC deals: Big savings on tiny computers Best Prime Day deals on battery chargers and power banks Best Prime Day 2025 deals on Chromebooks Best Prime Day deals on office chairs and standing desks FAQ 1. What kind of laptop should I get? Well, it depends on your needs and lifestyle. A 2-in-1, for example, is a good fit for someone who travels often. You can swing the screen back 360 degrees and use it in tablet mode for taking notes or you can prop it up like a tent for watching movies with friends. If gaming is a top priority, then you’ll want to look into a laptop with powerful graphics hardware and a display with a high refresh rate. For those of us who need a basic laptop for general web browsing, a low-powered Windows laptop should do you just fine. 2. How can I tell whether a laptop is a good Prime Day deal? I always use CamelCamelCamel, a free tool that tracks Amazon price history. Just create an account, enter a product’s ASIN (found in its Amazon URL and starts with the letter B), and you’ll see a graph of its price history over time. It’s an easy way to spot the good stuff and to also know if you’re getting the lowest price. 3. Do laptop brands matter? Not really, as long as you stick to well-known brands. Big manufacturers like Acer and Dell make solid machines and often offer steep discounts on their websites. You might have a personal preference, though, like maybe you’ve historically stuck with HP machines. 4. How much memory do I need in a laptop? I always tell my friends and family to aim for at least 8GB of RAM. Anything less, and you’ll likely notice things starting to slow down. If you can go higher than 8GB, even better. The more RAM you have, the snappier your laptop will feel, especially for everyday tasks like web browsing or working in spreadsheets. For more demanding work, 16GB is a solid choice for productivity and gaming, while 32GB and beyond is ideal for video editing and other intensive tasks. 5. Is now a good time to buy a laptop? Will tariffs affect laptop prices? Yes! Prime Day tends to offer some of the lowest laptop prices of the year, especially on budget and mid-range models. Prices on premium and gaming laptops are all over the place, but Prime Day is one of those rare times where you’ll see good discounts across every category.  As for external factors like tariffs, there are currently no major new tariffs affecting laptops in the U.S., but this can change fast depending on trade decisions. Manufacturers hike the prices up later in the year, especially if supply chain issues pop up again, so if you’re thinking about pulling the trigger on a new laptop, now’s a good time to do it. Read...

Have you heard? Windows 10 will stop getting updates in October as it finally goes out of service… except it won’t, because Microsoft relented and decided to give everyone an extra year of coverage. Maybe the company got spooked, because Windows 10 still had more users than Windows 11. According to one source, Windows 11 has finally edged past its predecessor, almost at the last second. Statcounter reports that as of the beginning of July, desktop and laptop users on Windows 11 have finally overtaken the number of users on Windows 10, hitting 52 percent of Windows’ total installations. That’s up significantly from June at a hair under 48 percent. It’s essentially swapped places with Windows 10, which fell from 53.2 percent to 44.6 in the same month. Windows 7 (not 8) is still clinging to life with 2.35 percent of the market. Statcounter Windows is still the king of the desktop (which includes most laptops) sitting at 70 percent of the market. But expanding the view to all devices that access the internet with a user interface, crucially including phones and tablets, Android makes up 47.7 percent of the market. Windows gets just 24.7 percent of that total, with iOS/iPadOS coming in third at 16.9 percent. Microsoft is desperate to get more users onto Windows 11, not quite four years after the operating system’s retail debut, and ten years after the release of Windows 10. It’s been begging, pleading, and almost bullying users to upgrade, or (preferably, of course) just buy a new machine. But with various issues affecting the initial rollout, not to mention a bunch of annoying advertising baked in and a reluctance to engage with new Copilot AI tools and controversial features like Windows Recall, it’s not surprising that such a large number of users are sticking with the comfortable Windows 10. The company had let the usual end-of-life setup serve as both a carrot and a stick. And while Windows 10 isn’t more notably long-lived than any other version of Windows, the landscape in 2025 is not what it used to be. Regular consumers are more reliant upon smartphones and tablets for their connection to the digital world, none of which run a Microsoft operating system. Gamers are slowly exploring other options like the Steam Deck (or just looking at consoles as prices for PC graphics hardware skyrockets), and corporations are, as ever, slow to invest in brand new PCs when the old ones are still doing fine. Just last month, Microsoft gave an extension to official support for Windows 10 going to October 2026, though you’ll have to jump through a hoop or two to get it. Between the shifting landscape of the internet and Windows 11’s less-than-glorious rise, Windows 10 has hung around a lot longer than Microsoft hoped it would, despite once positioning it as a forever OS. The shift towards the current operating system will surely be a welcome one, but it’s coming very late indeed… and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Windows 10 cling to life for a long, long time, with or without the blessing of its creators. Read...

Amazon’s Prime Day 2025 sales event is here and there are tons of great deals on desktop PCs. This year, Prime Day runs from July 8 to July 11, and includes solid discounts on everything from gaming PCs to all-in-ones to traditional mainstream desktop computers. You’ll need to be a Prime member to take advantage of Amazon’s steep discounts. If you aren’t a member already, check out our guide for how to get Amazon Prime for free. I’ve been tracking and writing about the best computer deals year-round for a long time now, and at PCWorld I’ve used this knowledge to curate a list of the best available computer deals across the internet specifically for this Prime Day. Other retailers have jumped in on the Prime Day action, and some of the best desktop PC deals can even be found outside of Amazon, so I’ve included those deals too. Best Prime Day deals on gaming desktop computers Skytech Shadow, Core i5-13400F/RTX 5060/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,029.99 (9% off with coupon on Amazon) Alienware Aurora, Core Ultra 7 265F/RTX 5070 Ti/32GB/1TB SSD, $1,899.99 (17% off on Dell) Alienware Aurora, Core Ultra 9 285K/RTX 5080/64GB RAM/2TB SSD, $2,699.99 (21% off on Dell) Alienware Area-51, Core Ultra 9 285K/RTX 5090/32GB RAM/2TB SSD, $4,699.99 (15% off on Dell) Skytech Azure, Ryzen 5 7600X/RTX 5070/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,749.99 (17% off on Amazon) MSI Aegis ZS2, Ryzen 7 7700/RTX 5070/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,699.99 (15% off on BestBuy) Ningmei Gaming PC, Ryzen 7 5700X/RTX 4060/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $949.59 (21% off on Walmart) My top picks: The budget-friendly Skytech Shadow is a solid deal at $100 off on Amazon with the included coupon. The Core i5-13400F CPU and RTX 5060 GPU combo will have you running good framerates at 1080p for most games and it also comes with a generous 1TB of SSD storage to locally store your game library. Dell is running fantastic deals on their Alienware line of gaming PCs, but the best is the Alienware Aurora for $400 off on its website. Rocking a Core Ultra 7 265F and RTX 5070 Ti, this is a killer value for a strong midrange build with a latest-gen GPU. Best Prime Day deals on all-in-one & mainstream computers All-in-one desktop computers combine a PC’s hardware with a modern display to make a desktop computer that has both form and function. Since everything is built together, you can save precious desktop space with an all-in-one. They make capable work computers and they can also be excellent home computers with the wide range of features appealing to the whole family. Dell 24 AiO, Core 5 120U/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/24-inch 1080p touch display, $849.99 (24% off on Dell) HP OmniStudio X AiO, Core Ultra 7 155H/16GB RAM/1TB SSD/27-inch 1080p touch display, $979.99 (31% off on HP) HP AiO 24, Core Ultra 5 125U/8GB RAM/512GB RAM/24-inch 1080p display, $629.99 (32% off on HP) Dell 24 AiO, Core i5-1334U/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/24-inch 1080p display, $699.99 (18% off on Dell) Lenovo 24 AiO, Intel N100/32GB RAM/1TB SSD/24-inch 1080p display, $594.99 (15% off on Amazon) iMac M4, M4/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/24-inch 5K display, $1,541.88 (9% off on Amazon) My top picks: Dell’s reliable 24 AiO is $200 off on its website right now. The always dependable all-in-one comes loaded with the latest-gen Core 5 120U and a handy 1080p touch display. Alternatively, the new HP OmniStudio X AiO model for $460 off on HP’s website is a step up from the Dell if you prefer spending a tad more for more power. The latest all-in-one from HP still comes with a nice 1080p touch display but is powered by the beefier Core Ultra 7 155H CPU and twice the onboard SSD storage. Mini PCs Acemagician Matrix M1 – AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 512GB SSD, triple display support – $278.10 (30% off, was $399) Kamrui E3B – AMD Ryzen 5 7430U, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, triple display support – $220 (37% off, was $350) Beelink SER8 – AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, triple display support – $499 (21% off, was $629) Kamrui GK3 Plus – Intel Alder Lake N95, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, triple display support – $150 (29% off, was $210) GMKTec M2 Pro – Intel Core i7 1195G7, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, triple display support – $420 (34% off, was $640) GMKTec M3 Plus – Intel Core i9 12900HK, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD, triple display support – $439.98 (25% off, was $590) Mini PCs are hot right now — the only thing hotter is these Prime Day discounts. Because of that, we’ve split out a separate roundup of the best Prime Day mini PC deals. The selection above are highlight (especially that Acemagician Matrix M1) but just the tip of the iceberg. Other great Prime Day deals These aren’t the only Prime Day deals being tracked by the PCWorld team. If you’re looking to supercharge your home setup with the juiciest tech sales, hit the links for only the best expert-curated picks we’ve found. Prime Day Live Blog: Real-time deal picks by the PC experts Best Amazon Prime Day tech deals: Great sales chosen by experts Best Prime Day laptop deals: Gaming notebooks, 2-in-1s, and more Best Prime Day deals on SSDs and storage Best USB flash drive deals for Prime Day 2025 Best monitor deals for Prime Day 2025: OLED, home office, and more Best Prime Day deals on Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs Best Prime Day mini PC deals: Big savings on tiny computers Best Prime Day deals on battery chargers and power banks Best Prime Day 2025 deals on Chromebooks Best Prime Day deals on office chairs and standing desks FAQ 1. What type of desktop computer should I get? You’ll see a ton of options when searching for a desktop computer, but they all mainly fit into four main categories: gaming PCs, mainstream PCs (towers or mini PCs), and all-in-ones (AiO). Which you should end up buying is entirely dependent upon what your needs are and what you want to do with your computer. If you’re looking for something that will work in a home office or family room, then a mainstream PC or AiO with a solid CPU and a decent amount of RAM and storage is probably the way to go. If gaming is your main concern, a gaming desktop PC can offer a lot more bang for your buck than a laptop and you should prioritize getting the best GPU possible. 2. How much processing power will I need in a desktop computer? If you’re after CPU power, look for processors with higher numerical labels. Intel processors are available in the newer Core Ultra 3, 5, 7, or 9, and the older Core i3, i5, i7, and i9. AMD processors are available in the Ryzen 5000, 7000, 8000, and 9000 versions. Generally speaking, the higher the number, the more powerful the CPU for both manufacturers. If you don’t need a ton of power, Intel Core Ultra 5 or Core i5 processors are your best bet, as they offer good performance at a decent price. You can get along just fine with a Core Ultra 3 or Core i3 for basic office and web browsing. A Core Ultra 7 or Core i7 is more suited to gaming and more intense work than everyday tasks. Also, if gaming is your concern, you may want to consider opting for the older Core i-processors as the newer Core Ultra processors are optimized for AI performance rather than gaming. As for AMD options, the Ryzen 5000 chips rival Intel’s Core i5 as solid all-arounders. If you need more power, the Ryzen 7000 or 8000 chips are well suited for content creation like video editing. Finally, if you’re dealing with 4K video or want peak gaming performance, spring for a Ryzen 9000. 3. What GPU should I get for a desktop computer? If you don’t intend to do any gaming on your computer, then feel free to save some money by going with integrated graphics. However, if you are looking to get your game on, then we recommend at least an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 or RTX 5060 as these are the least expensive discrete graphics cards that can handle 1080p gaming on High graphics settings in most games. For 1440p gaming you’ll typically want to aim for an RTX 4070/5070, and for 4K gaming you’ll need to shell out for at least an RTX 4080/5080 or upgrade to the RTX 4090/5090 Thankfully, the latest-gen GPUs have dropped significantly in price in pre-built systems so opt for those if you have the money and want a performance boost. But if you’re on a tight budget, then opting for a rig with a previous-generation card can allow you to save some money while still providing decent graphics quality. 4. How much memory do I need in a desktop computer? As for RAM, nowadays I think it’s best to shoot for 16GB at the minimum for all systems. If you’re on a budget or just need a basic browsing machine then 8GB may suffice but you’ll likely notice a performance drop if you tend to have multiple applications or browser tabs open. Those looking to do heavy content creation such as video editing should aim for at least 32GB or go for 64GB for 4K editing. 5. What is a good amount of storage for a desktop computer? Storage size is dependent upon your personal needs, but it is generally a good idea to opt for an SSD over a standard HDD as they are much faster and don’t significantly affect the price of a desktop. Before deciding, it’s best to consider what your intended use of the computer will be. Are you just storing documents or doing web browsing? Then something like 512GB will be plenty. If you want to load up a lot of large files such as games or content creation projects, then you’ll need at least 1TB to 2TB of storage. However, just remember that even if your computer doesn’t have enough storage built-in you can always upgrade your SSD or go with an external drive to increase your available storage options. 6. Will tariffs affect desktop computer prices? Yes, it’s likely that any tariffs on foreign imported computer materials or products is going to lead to an increase in prices for the consumer. As the U.S. still heavily relies on China and other Asian countries for the production of desktops and computer hardware, a tariff on imports from these countries will mean someone has to pay more. Companies typically don’t want, or can’t afford, to eat these increased costs so they shift the burden to consumers. At this point it’s still hard to tell how much prices will increase; just because a 20 percent tariff is imposed doesn’t mean computers will become that much more expensive. Every company will adjust prices differently and products with many individual components—such as computers—will vary due to the tariff effects on each component. That being said, a recent independent Consumer Technology Association study concluded that desktops may see price increases of up to 24% or an average of $287 per computer if the latest round of tariffs hold. 7. Is now a good time to buy a desktop computer? While the prospect of tariff-induce price increases may seem daunting to consumers, I believe the timing on this Prime Day may actually make for a great time to buy a new desktop if you time it right. Currently, tariffs have been paused until July 9 with many countries scrambling to make deals exempting technology products. This means that you might have a small window to get in and snag a good deal on a desktop PC during Prime Day before any additional tariffs take effect. Read...

Mini-PCs have been experiencing a real boom in recent years. No wonder, because these small desktop computers are powerful, space-saving, and flexible. This guide shows what a mini-PC actually is, where its strengths lie, and who can benefit the most from buying one. Also, be sure to check out the PCWorld deals page where we highlight the best deals from around the web on mini-PCs, like the latest stellar deal on a GMKtec M3 Plus mini-PC, and more. In fact, mini-PCs are constantly going on sale for staggeringly low prices, so keep your eyes peeled while shopping and keep checking back with us to see the latest and greatest deals. (If you’re reading this article the day it goes live, we’re also tracking the best Amazon Prime Day mini PC deals.) What is a mini PC? A mini-PC is a fully-fledged computer in a small format. In contrast to laptops, mini-PCs do without a battery and screen, which saves weight on the one hand and makes the small housing possible on the other—many models have a volume of less than one liter. At the same time, flexibility remains high: a monitor, mouse, keyboard, or external drives can be freely selected and easily replaced if necessary. If you like it neat and tidy, mount the mini-PC behind the monitor to save space or integrate it discreetly on the desk. Despite their compact design, modern mini-PCs offer enough power for everyday tasks such as office work, surfing, streaming and even gaming. If you know your way around, you can even build your own mini PC with the right components. Mini-PCs come with some advantages over classic desktop PCs The most obvious advantage of mini-PCs compared to a classic tower PC is their compact dimensions. They take up hardly any space, can be tucked away unobtrusively on the desk or behind the monitor and are still powerful enough for many typical applications. Mini-PCs also have clear advantages when it comes to energy consumption: thanks to the use of energy-saving components, they often only require a fraction of the energy of a large desktop. This not only has a positive effect on the electricity bill, but also reduces heat waste and noise levels. Another plus point: mini-PCs often have a modular design. Although they do not offer the same scope for upgrades as large tower cases, many models allow the SSD, RAM, or WLAN module to be changed. This makes them more flexible in the long term than many laptops. Mini-PCs are also attractively priced with many solid models available for less than $400. However, the best overall package of performance, features, and efficiency is usually offered by mid-range builds which will set you back a bit more. Limitations and disadvantages of mini-PCs A mini-PC is not a laptop replacement because it always needs external peripherals such as a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and possibly speakers or a webcam. So if you’re looking for a device with which you can flexibly transition between the living room, office, and café, you’ll unfortunately need to look elsewhere. There are also limits to their performance. While many mini-PCs can easily cope with office tasks, media playback, or light multitasking, they reach their limits with graphics-intensive applications such as 3D games, video editing, or CAD. Although there are some models with a dedicated graphics card, these are usually significantly more expensive and often cannot keep up with classic gaming or workstation PCs in terms of performance. Last but not least, there are also thermal aspects to consider. Compact housings mean smaller fans and less air circulation—which can lead to heat problems and performance-reducing throttling under continuous load. Although many mini-PCs are surprisingly quiet, some models use an audible fan during intensive use to keep the heat in check. What are the best use-cases for mini-PCs? Mini PCs show their strengths wherever space, energy efficiency, and a tidy desk are required. In the home environment, they are usually used as office computers, streaming stations, or compact gaming alternatives for simple games. While they may lack the portable utility of a laptop and the power capabilities of a full-size desktop, they shine when you need something in-between—small enough to save precious desktop space, but powerful enough to do all but the most intensive tasks. Tip: If you want to set up a small workstation for your desk, you can operate a mini-PC with several monitors and use common office software such as Microsoft Office or Google Workspace without any problems. The performance of many mini-PCs is easily sufficient for casual gaming or less computing-intensive games.GMKtek What you should look out for when buying a mini-PC Not all Mini PCs are the same. Depending on the intended use, you should pay specific attention to certain technical features, otherwise you could end up with frustration instead of flexibility: 1. Processor (CPU):The heart of the system determines its performance. An Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 is usually sufficient for office, web, and streaming. If you frequently edit photos or tackle light video editing projects, you should opt for a Core i5/Ryzen 5 or higher. Pay attention to the specified TDP (Thermal Design Power): Models with a higher wattage deliver more power, but generate more heat waste and require more active cooling. Variants with less than 35 watts are particularly quiet and efficient, but generally offer slightly less computing power. 2. Working memory (RAM):8 GB RAM is sufficient for basic applications, more is recommended for multitasking or memory-intensive programs. Ideally, the RAM in the mini-PC is replaceable or expandable—taking the time to look at the technical data or check out tests will help here. 3. Memory:An SSD ensures fast loading times and smooth processes. 256 GB is considered an entry-level size, 512 GB or more is better—especially if you want to locally store a lot of programs or media files. Some mini-PCs also offer space for a second SSD or a 2.5-inch HDD. Read...

Weaknesses in internet access controls, unmanaged devices and limited monitoring have been found in the review. Read...

TL;DR: Windows 11 Pro is just $9.97 until July 20 — unlock smoother gaming, AI Copilot, and stronger security A new GPU might be out of budget, but a $10 upgrade to Windows 11 Pro could be all your PC needs to feel brand new. For just $9.97, you get serious gaming improvements, smart AI tools, and enterprise-grade protection — all without changing your hardware. DirectX 12 Ultimate comes baked in, offering higher frame rates, real-time ray tracing, and lower latency for your favorite titles. Add in AutoHDR and DirectStorage, and you’re looking at faster load times and crisper visuals across the board. Need help with productivity? Windows Copilot, powered by OpenAI, can assist with everything from summarizing web pages to writing emails or generating content on demand right from your desktop. Plus, you’ll get a suite of pro-level features: Snap Layouts and Virtual Desktops for better multitasking Remote Desktop Access to use your PC from anywhere BitLocker, TPM 2.0, and Secure Boot for security you can trust Hyper-V and Windows Sandbox for safe testing and virtualization Built-in Microsoft Teams for smooth collaboration Skip the pricey hardware upgrades — this one-time purchase makes your machine feel like a whole new rig. Get Windows 11 Pro now for just $9.97 until July 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Microsoft Windows 11 Pro See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

About 1100 households were affected with some residents unable to access 111 emergency services. Read...