Plus, many free PDF editors are browser based, which means you don't need to worry about about platform- or device-compatibility issues.
Of course, free products won't come with every feature of their premium counterparts. So, if you find that you need more advanced tools such as password protection, Bates numbering, or e-signatures, then you're probably better served by a premium PDF editor.
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EaseUS is a free PDF editor that offers options to read, create, edit and convert PDFs both in program and online. The streamlined interface allows you to edit or convert with ease for any formats like doc, excel, ppt, jpg, png or epub, even merge, split, compress, watermark e-sign or OCR PDF files.
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If Windows 11 is on the table for you, today is your lucky day because you can get Windows 11 licenses for super cheap on the PCWorld Software Store right now. Seriously, both Windows 11 Home and Windows 11 Pro are currently priced at $14.97 each. That's down from $139 (89% off) and $199 (92% off), respectively. Huge savings!
Casual users who don't need all the fancy features of the Pro version can get away with Windows 11 Home, although given that they're on sale for the same price, you might consider getting Windows 11 Pro for the heck of it. Windows 11 Pro unlocks advanced features like BitLocker encryption, Remote Desktop Server, Hyper-V virtualization, and Windows Sandbox. (See our breakdown of Windows 11 Pro versus Home.)
Get Windows 11 for up to 92% off right nowBuy now via PCWorld Software Store
How to activate your Windows 11 license
After you've made your order, you'll have to check your email inbox for the license key. Once you have that and your chosen Windows 11 copy is installed, here's how to activate t
And by "you," I mean Adam, Mark, and Will, not me. Because I'm too far away from Arizona to see Intel's massive industrial fabrication center. And I'm not jealous at all, not even a little bit.
Sadly, because it's 1) a clean facility that's ten times as strict as an average surgical theater in terms of cleanliness and 2) stuffed floor-to-very-high-ceiling with proprietary technology and industrial secrets, the PCWorld team didn't get to take photos or video of the brand new Fab 52-18A facility, which is gearing up to produce Intel's next-generation Panther Lake chips for 2026.
The team did get to take notes and had a nice long chat in the Arizona sunshine about their experiences. For a deep dive on what has to be one of the most complex facilities on the planet, check out the full conversati
Those are just some of the things that Google's Gemini have been reporting in its Home Briefs—the summaries it can produce of the daily goings-on detected by Nest security cameras and other connected smart home devices—and some Gemini for Home users say they're getting thoroughly creeped out by the briefings, particularly with Halloween right around the corner.
"Throughout the morning, several instances of people in black cloaks or robes were observed standing in the yard," read a Home Brief screenshot posed by a Google Home user on Reddit. "The unusual presence of individuals in black cloaks or robes continued into the afternoon, with multiple sighting in the yard and approaching the driveway."
Talk about a spooky report, but the reality turned out to be pretty innocuous.
"It's hilarious, I got this summary today," the user said. "For the ‘black cloaks or robes,' I have Halloween decorations that the camera sees."
The user allowed that the creepy description was more or less "accurate," but that another event reported in the briefing ("a person was seen walking by the playset in the Backyard") didn't happen: "The person by the playset doesn't exist, the clip showed nobody."
In a similar occurrence, another Gemini for Home users posted a
The LG UltraGear 27GS60QC-B is a stunning 27-inch display that delivers exceptional performance you can rely on. It has a crisp "sweet spot" 2560×1440 native resolution, which is great whether you're gaming or streaming Netflix. Add in the fast 180Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time and you have a liquidy smooth visual experience that's lag-free even during the most action-packed scenes and games.
This monitor has a nice 1000R curvature that bends around your vision, easing eye fatigue and making for more comfortable sessions whether you're gaming, tackling work projects, or just mindlessly browsing the web and doomscrolling on social media. Other nice features include HDR10, AMD FreeSync, and a sleek "borderless" bezel. It also has both DisplayPort and double HDMI ports, plus a 3.5mm audio jack.
Right now, you can grab this 27-inch 1440p gaming monitor for just $169.99, and that's an excellent deal for an LG display with these specs, so don't wait and miss this opportunity.
That's a stellar deal for a curved 27-inch 1440p 180Hz monitorBuy this LG monitor on Amazon
We've actually tried out every laptop on this list ourselves, so they're real recommendations based on hands-on experience.
PROMOTION
PLAY TO DIFFER
Meet the GIGABYTE AERO X16, the one notebook that does it all. Powered by the latest AMD Ryzen processors and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 50 Series GPUs, this laptop is perfectly designed to game, create, or simply entertain on the go.
see it now
Why you should trust us: It's in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We've been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who've applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We're also committed to r
This tiny power adapter features three ports: two USB-C and one USB-A. The USB-C ports are faster, each delivering up to 70W of charging, which will juice up your phone in under an hour and is even fast enough to power many laptops, including MacBooks. That's only when the USB-C ports are used on their own, though. When multiple are being used, the 70W total gets split up. (The USB-A maxes out at 33W, by the way.)
Apart from being able to charge three devices at once, what I love about this wall plug is that it's compact with foldable prongs. It fits easily into pockets and bags, and you can take it with you while traveling without worrying that it'll get damaged or scuff up anything else. And don't forget that it comes with a free USB-C cable that's capable of handling the fast charging power of this power block.
This is a must-have for anyone, so don't miss out on this deal. Get this Anker Nano USB-C charger block with cable for $34.99 before this discount expires! It's the best price we've ever seen for it.
A fast 3-port USB-C charger with a cable for $34.99? That's a bargain!Buy this USB-C charger with cable on Ama
The 8-core, 16-thread 7800X3D was the sweet spot for gaming performance and price a couple of years ago, though it's been superseded by the Zen 5-based 9800X3D (which can be installed in the same AM5 motherboards). That said, the newer chip is $460 from various retailers right now and only about 5 percent faster in higher-end games.
That makes this deal on the older 7800X3D a no-brainer. Put that extra budget towards your GPU or a bigger SSD and your upcoming PC build will be a lot more capable. Oh, and remember that the X3D processors don't come with coolers—as AMD assumes you'll want something a little beefier—so make sure to include one in your PCPartPicker list.
Grab the Ryzen 7 7800X3D for $319.99 on Amazon while you still can. There's no indication of how long this particular deal will last, but Walmart is also selling it on sale, which you can snag if the Amazon deal runs out. (In fact, depending on where you are in relation to the nearest distribution center, you could get the
In the months ahead, the company will add AI-powered voice search for its smart TVs and streaming players. While Roku's existing voice search can find specific programs, actors, or genres, the upgrade will allow for more conversational queries, such as "What's the Barbie movie about?" or "How scary is The Shining." It will also support follow-up questions.
Other forthcoming Roku features include a "What do you like to watch?" feature to tweak Roku's home screen recommendations, live scores in the Sports section, and a search function in Roku's live TV guide. Roku is also updating its recently-launched Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick Plus to support private listening through Bluetooth headphones and earbuds.
TV-focused AI
Unlike rivals Amazon and Google, Roku isn't trying to launch an all-purpose AI that also happens to work on TVs. Roku doesn't sell its own smart speakers, and users primarily interact with voice control through the mic button on Roku remotes. The new AI-powered assistant will only respond to entertainment-related queries, Roku says.
"Even in this case, with us evolving Roku voice to now answer entertainment Q&A, we are specializing in a TV-related solution only," Amit Desai, Roku's director of product and UX for voice and conversational AI, told reporters. He added that the feature will use a combination of in-house and commercial AI technology.
So, instead of talking up 2FA, today I'll let this cute parrot just show you instead:
Original video on Instagram
Your password is that first food cover. Two-factor authentication is the second. With just one cover, your meal gets eaten by the parrot. With two, your food is still yours to enjoy.
Setting up two-factor authentication can be as easy as dropping that second cover over the dish, by the way. You can use something you already own—your phone or tablet—to set up at least one 2FA method. I recommend using a dedicated app like Bitwarden Authenticator or Authy as the best balance between security and convenience.
That said, with a bird that cute, I'd probably share
‘A faster, more efficient, and more capable chip'
The M5, as you would expect, is a higher-performance chip than its M4 predecessor. Although it's still built using 3-nanometer technology (albeit 3rd-gen, compared to 2nd-gen on the M4), Apple claims substantial improvements in graphical speed in particular.
According to the announcement, the M5's 10-core GPU architecture, with a Neural Accelerator in each core, delivers "over 4x the peak GPU compute performance compared to M4" as well as "enhanced graphics capabilities and third-generation ray tracing." Overall, Apple claims, the new chip is capable of up to 45 percent higher graphics performance than the M4.
On the CPU side, what Apple describes as "the world's fastest performance core" promises a 15 percent bump in multithreaded performance compared to the M4. And unified memory bandwidth has been improved by almost 30 percent to 153GB/s.
All of which sounds good on paper, but what's all this theoretical power for? Apple makes this very clear: AI. Unlike the M4 announcement in May 2024, which referenced AI only twice in the first seven paragraphs, the M5's press release mentions the current tech obsession in the headline, the standfirst, the first subhead, the captions of the first two pictures, twice in the first paragraph, twice in the second paragraph, three times in the third paragraph…
So we can expect lots more discussion of Apple Intellige
Yeah, this is a strange one. In terms of form factor, the whole 2.1 unit is basically a boom box or perhaps an especially large speaker bar. That bottom section houses a pair of 52mm drivers and a 100mm woofer, a 60-watt amp, and a pair of passive radiators. Up top is a 2.8-inch screen over the area where a "CPU" would be if this was a PC (again, this is not a PC), and various blocks and LED-bedecked sections roughly mimic RAM DIMMs, SSDs, fans, and GPUs sitting on top of a motherboard. Those things that look like coolant lines are, allegedly, braided speaker cables.
This Geekom mini PC comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS processor and an impressive 32GB of DDR5 RAM. That's a solid combo that will not stumble over any task. There's also a speedy 1TB SSD on board, as well as Radeon 780M integrated graphics that can handle modest gaming with pretty good performance. It's seriously robust and will last you for many years as long as you aren't doing super-intensive stuff.
The Geekom AX8 is especially good for multitaskers because it supports a quadruple 4K setup. Between the two USB4 ports (up to 8K@30Hz) and two HDMI ports (up to 4K@60Hz), you can run several high-def displays for tons of screen real estate. It's the perfect solution whether you're reading dozens of documents, researching numerous browser tabs, streaming movies or playing music, meeting on Zoom, etc.
A laptop with these kinds of specs could easily cost you twice as much, so why waste the money? Get this Geekom AX8 mini PC for $499 while this limited-time Amazon deal is still around!
Save $250 on this Ryzen 7 mini PC with 32GB RAM and quad 4K support
Into this fractious and uncertain landscape lands the Asus ROG Xbox Ally handheld, and its more souped-up version, the ROG Xbox Ally X. Launching later this week at $600 and $1,000, respectively, these gadgets are some major firsts for Microsoft. They're the first Xbox portable devices, even if their claim to being "Xboxes" is mostly a matter of marketing. They're the first post-Steam Deck portable gaming PCs made explicitly in cooperation with Microsoft and Xbox, though Asus has made two generations before them. And they're the official debut of the Xbox Fullscreen Mode, Microsoft's answer to the Steam Deck user interface.
What are data brokers?
As we've already outlined, data brokers collect information from websites, services and other companies, then package it to be sold to the highest bidder. It's a legal practice, but not one that feels fair to consumers or in their best interests.
There are two main types - public and private. You may have seen public ones, as they come in the form of people search sites where you can look up a surprising amount of information about individuals - often including their address and contact details.
Then there are the private brokers. These collate the personal information of people and offer them to range of sectors, including marketing, risk-mitigation (for insurance companies, healthcare, etc.), recruitment (providing background information on candidates), and financial (data on whether you should be offered accounts, loans or other services).
So, is this just the price of using online services, or should you be worried about how this information could affect your life?
How does your personal data become available?
One of the main currencies of the internet is information. This means that when you join a new site or service, there's a good chance that elements of the data you provide could be sold to data brokers. These companies can then put together the information they glean from various sources to build a profile on you, which is then either made available on people search sites or sold to a range of interested customers.
What harm comes with having personal data online?
Not only does this have potential risks to your privacy and safety, as anyone could get access to things like your phone number, businesses you own, or other contact details. But it could also work against you in a number of ways.
Data brokers can sell your data to financial bodies such as banks and insurance companies, who might decide that you're too much of a risk for loans, credit cards or mortgages.
Recruitment consultants can go to brokers for background checks on potential employees, all without your consent.
Healthcare providers can also approach brokers as part
I actually like it in the center position, because it's easier to orientate my searches without having to drag my mouse pointer all the way to the side of the screen. That said, not everyone feels the same way. It bugs some long-time users of Windows 10 who are used to the far left-hand side placement. But fret not, because you can change it back to the left in just a few clicks.
What to do:
Right click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
Find the submenu "Taskbar behaviors" and click the dropdown arrow next to it.
Now next to "Taskbar alignment" change Center to Left. Close the window and watch your taskbar magically shift position.
The free VPN service will apparently complement the paid Mozilla VPN service that Mozilla already offers. Our tests, however, found Mozilla's paid VPN service somewhat wanting.
Integrating a VPN service into the browser has been a feature of niche browsers for years — including Mozilla. In 2019, Mozilla began testing the Firefox Private Network, a VPN-like service that obscured the user's IP address. The trial was part of a beta program, and the technology was never really commercialized. Opera, too, launched a more sophisticated integrated VPN service. In March, Vivaldi teamed up with Proton for an integrated VPN into the browser, as well.
In one 30-second clip, you've caught someone breaking the law-but you might also have broken one yourself.
Smart cameras are everywhere now—mounted on porches, tucked under eaves, perched on fences, and watching over driveways, garages, and balconies. They're cheaper, easier to install, and produce sharper video than ever. But with that convenience comes a degree of legal uncertainty. Can you record anything your camera sees? What about what it hears? Can a neighbor make you take it down? And what if you rent instead of own?
We'll break down what the law actually says about surveillance at home—what's legally allowable, where things get complicated, and how to protect your home without accidentally violating someone else's privacy.
It doesn't say so in as many words, of course. According to the Google Ads & Commerce Blog (spotted by PCMag), it's a move meant for "improving navigation and introducing a new control." The new look groups all of the text-based links that are paid for into a single "Sponsored results" section, which can be collapsed by clicking or pressing a button. The new look is coming to Search on desktop and mobile, "currently rolling out globally."
The fact that this was an update to the tool that immediately preceded the self-imposed deadline that Microsoft set for a Windows 11 upgrade is u
First, the news: In its announcement that the Brad Pitt blockbuster F1: The Movie will make its debut on Apple TV in December, Apple casually noted that as of now, Apple TV isn't Apple TV anymore.
"Apple TV is now simply Apple TV, with a vibrant new identity," Apple's press release reads. What's the new identity, you ask? Aside from a new and multicolor Apple TV logo, that's hard to say.
Those of us who follow the streaming industry greeted the news with furrowed brows. So Apple TV the streaming service is now on Apple TV, the streaming box? Isn't that kind of confusing? Yes, the Apple TV streaming player is officially known as "Apple TV 4K," but still.
Well, it's details like the " " and the "4K" that cause headaches when it comes to clear and consistent branding, and the truth is most folks haven't bothered with the "plus" for a long time. Severance, The Studio, The Morning Show, Ted Lasso—those are all Apple TV shows, according to everyday streamers.
Sometimes, simplicity and familiarity are best. Take HBO Max, which went through a three-year-old rebranding drama that saw the service renamed as "Max," a change that was mainly driven by the now-unraveling alliance between the former WarnerMedia and Discovery.
Warner Bros. Discovery likely spent a fortune trying to get the Max branding to stick, but most subscribers just kept calling it HBO Max. Finally, the entertainment giant stopped swimming against the ti
But if you haven't done anything about it yet, you probably should. Here's a quick summary of what you need to know and what to do about it.
Your options for Windows 10
You don't have to leave Windows 10 if you don't want to. Hundreds of millions of PCs (about half of them, in fact) won't stop working today just because of a specific date on the calendar. This is not a Y2K situation. Even Microsoft itself has backtracked on the ultimatum, offering regular users "free" ways to extend security support for another year, albeit with some distasteful strings attached.
A good monitor arm is one of the best home office upgrades you can make, and gas spring monitor arms offer easier and smoother adjustments than coil spring monitor arms. This one has a central pole plus a gas spring arm on either side, so tiny adjustments will be darn easy to make and you'll be able to position your displays exactly where you need them (with one centered in front of you).
This triple-monitor arm fits monitors between 17 to 32 inches and can hold monitors weighing between 4.4 to 17.6 pounds. Most modern monitors fall into those ranges, so nothing to worry about there. The arms are also compatible with both VESA 75×75 and 100×100 mounts, which are pretty standard for most VESA-compatible monitors. The arm itself can mount to your desk via C-clamp or grommet.
It ain't cheap, but it's certainly a deal with this discount—and there's no better way to run a triple-monitor setup than with a triple-monitor arm. Get this Huanuo triple monitor arm for $119.98 while you can!
A triple-mounting arm with gas springs for 20% off? Yes, please!Ge
What's not a given is paying full retail price. Yep, you can snag discounts on Windows 11. How much you'll save depends on your circumstances (and your stomach for hassle), but if you're lucky, you could technically get it for free. Legitimately for free, since installing Windows without ever activating it doesn't count as a full, sanctioned copy of the software. (Ahem.)
Here's how, in several different ways. These strategies often apply for Windows 10 licenses too, but that operating system got the axe on October 14. Your better bet will be Windows 11, as it'll get feature updates.
Simple upgrade: Trade up from Windows 10 to Windows 11
Conventional power strips suck because they have lined-up outlets, meaning your chunkier plugs and adapters get in the way of each other and sometimes even cover up neighboring outlets. But with this one, the six AC outlets are spaced out and oriented away from each so your plugs never collide or overlap. That's plenty for all your devices, monitors, PCs, accessories, and whatever else needs tethered power.
But what takes this power strip a step further is the inclusion of two USB-A and two USB-C ports along the bottom edge, allowing you to charge your phones, tablets, laptops, earbuds, etc. without taking up valuable AC outlet vacancies. (The USB-C ports deliver up to 20W and the USB-A ports up to 12W, so they aren't blazingly fast but fast enough.)
Other nice details include the 5-foot power cable so you can position this almost anywhere, the flat profile plug that easily reaches behind furniture, and a built-in 8-point safety system to protect your devices from surges, short circuits, excess heat, overloads, fires, and more.
This is a pretty crazy get for just $19.99, allowing you to streamline your charging station setup for years to come. Get this 10-in-1 Anker power strip on sale while you can before this deal expires!
However, experts—including former Microsoft employee David Plummer—recommend taking a further step: grab the Windows 10 ISO file before Microsoft removes it from the website.
What's a Windows 10 ISO file? And why do I need to download it?
An ISO file contains all the data, files, folders, and structures of a particular program. It's usually kept on hand for archiving purposes. It's essentially the digital equivalent of what you'd get if you bought a software CD, for example, Windows 10.
You can use the Windows 10 ISO file to completely reinstall Windows 10 if problems arise on your current system. If you burn the ISO file to a bootable CD or drive, you can use it at any time to run Windows.
If you think you'll ever want to run or install Windows 10 again, it's a good idea to download the Windows 10 ISO file ASAP. We don't know how much longer it'll be made available by Microsoft.
How to download the Windows 10 ISO file
There are two ways to obtain the Windows 10 ISO: either via Microsoft's download page or via the Media Creation Tool.
Most robots rely on simple LiDAR or front cameras for navigation. The Aqua10 Ultra Roller upgrades this with AstroVision™ obstacle intelligence, combining dual HD AI cameras with NVIDIA Isaac Sim training. The cameras capture depth to form 3D maps with 1mm precision, and reinforcement learning helps the robot recognize and adapt to dynamic environments.
In practice, this translates into fewer collisions and smoother routing around furniture. Dreame highlights support for 240 object categories, with features like Active Pet Avoidance and Chaos-Proof Routing—ideal in homes where toys, pet bowls, and clutter shift constantly.
The Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller MSRP is $1,599.99. From October 13 to October 31, U.S. and Canadian consumers can get an extra 5% off with code DMPWAQUANA on Amazon and the Dreame website.
But as some reviewers have noted, the boosts from DLSS aren't always as impressive in real life as they are in marketing materials. And it's often less powerful systems—like gaming laptops—that see the most modest benefits. So, I decided to test it out myself.
Here are my Nvidia DLSS 4 results on a gaming laptop. Keep reading for the exact laptop I used and the various gains (or lack thereof) I saw in a handful of different high-profile games.
The laptop I used for these tests
When Nvidia boasted about the awe-inspiring eight-fold improvement in Cyberpunk 2077 performance, those tests were done under ideal conditions. According to the fine print, it was achieved on a PC with an RTX 5090 at 4K resolutions with all the graphical bells and whistles turned on, and in DLSS performance mode.
But that's far from your typical gaming PC. Most modern gaming PCs are budget laptops—like the Lenovo LO
The Razer Naga V2 HyperSpeed isn't just uber-fast with a 30K optical sensor, but it also comes with an insanely high number of programmable buttons. I'm talking a total of 19 buttons that you can set up to do whatever you need, with 12 of them being on the side of the mouse. Just imagine playing World of Warcraft and cycling through your action rotation without touching your keyboard. Fantastic!
The Naga V2 HyperSpeed also features Razer's HyperScroll technology, which allows you to quickly scroll through all the content you need at blazing speed, even entering free-spin mode. It's totally wireless—with both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth options—also has excellent battery life, with a single AA battery providing almost 400 hours of usage, which is pretty great because you won't be spending a fortune on batteries.
If you're into MMOs, you'll love the convenience of a button-loaded wireless mouse like this. Get the Razer Naga V2 HyperSpeed for $62.49 while you still can and level up your MMO experience!
The Razer Naga V2 HyperSpeed is a dream for all MMO gamersGet the Naga V2 mouse for 38% off
The question is: Is Windows 10 really better than 11? I myself switched to Windows 11 when it launched back in 2021. So to find out the difference, I pulled out my old Windows 10 computer and ran it for a week.
The test made me realize how much better Windows has actually become—and going back to Windows 10 was unexpectedly painful. Here are my key lessons learned.
Last month, the company published a "30-day reminder" that Windows 10 version 22H2 (including Enterprise and Education Editions) will reach the end of its support period on October 14th, 2025:
On October 14, 2025, Windows 10, version 22H2 (Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise editions) will reach end of servicing. October 14, 2025 will also mark the end of support for Windows 10 2015 LTSB and Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSB 2015. The October 2025 monthly security update will be the last update available for these versions. After this date, devices running these versions will no longer receive monthly security and preview updates containing protections from the latest security threats.
However, Microsoft also wants Windows home users to know that there's the opportunity to receive extended support for another 12 months with Microsoft's Extended Security Update (ESU) program.
All in all, if you're still actively using Windows 10, the deadline is almost here. What should you do? Here are all your options:
Still running Windows 10 and pretending everything's fine? No shame — we've all hit "Remind me later" more times than we care to admit. However, if you're still running Windows 10, your Microsoft support just ended.
With this deal, you can finally make the jump to Windows 11 Pro for just $14.97. That's a full-fledged, professional-grade operating system for the price of two fancy lattes.
First of all, Windows 11 Pro is smooth. Like, way smoother than its predecessors. The redesigned interface is clean, centered, and customizable, which is great for focus and flow. Plus, it comes with features that make multitasking feel like second nature: snap layouts, virtual desktops, and lightning-fast search tools.
You get enterprise-grade features like BitLocker encryption, Windows Hello biometric login, and TPM 2.0 compatibility — all designed to protect your work, files, and peace of mind.
Broadcom actually announced four different designs — the BCM6718 for the residential access point market, the BCM43109 for mobile handsets, plus the BCM43840 and BCM43820 for enterprise APs — that it will sell as chips as well as license as intellectual property. The sampling process has already begun, Broadcom said.
Wi-Fi 7 is already well established in both PCs and handsets across the world. That Wi-Fi 7 technology, launched in 2023, is still being worked on: Intel's Panther Lake laptop processor, for example, includes Wi-Fi 7 Release 2 support, which works toward better communication between your PC and the access point to reduce latency and increase the overall performance.
That's the whole point behind Wi-Fi 8, which broke cover in late 2024 and is set to be formally adopted probably by late 2028. That's never stopped wireless chip vendors, however, which tend to put as much as they know of the specification into silicon as soon as they can to start landing design wins with customers just as soon as possible.
It's probably not a coincidence that the latest Wi-Fi 7 standards are transitioning into the overarching guidelines behind Wi-Fi 8: To improve the quality and reliability of Wi-Fi 8 wireless connections, rather than just improve performance. Wi-Fi 8 still
We've also included some helpful answers to common questions about buying a computer at the bottom of this article. If you're considering a laptop instead, be sure to check out our best laptop deals, updated daily.
PROMOTION
PLAY TO DIFFER
Meet the GIGABYTE AERO X16, the one notebook that does it all. Powered by the latest AMD Ryzen processors and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 50 Series GPUs, this laptop is perfectly designed to game, create, or simply entertain on the go.
See it now
Note: Tech deals come and go quickly, so it's possible some of these computer discounts will have exp
These discounted Kindle Scribes are refurbished devices that were tested and certified to be in perfect working order. Quite honestly, it's likely that these are returned items from last week's sale since "like new" Amazon gear always pops up at a discount after major sale events.
The Kindle Scribe is a solid digital notebook option, enabling you to take notes, sketch, journal, and so on without the distractions you get from a tablet. Since the Scribe can turn your handwritten notes into text, it's even more useful as you can transfer those to other apps later on. You can even write on books, which is something we know you'd never do in real life (hopefully).
The Kindle Scribe features a 10.2-inch Paperwhite display that's quite larger than your regular e-reader, so there's plenty of space to write your notes.
So go ahead and get yourself a Kindle Scribe with 32GB of storage space and a Premium Pen for only $228 while this deal's still around.
Read and write on this super discounted Kindle ScribeBuy now at Amazon
Seriously, no brand is best in all situations! That's what we've seen throughout our laptop reviews. The best brand for you depends on what you're looking for, the type of laptop you're buying, and the prices you can afford — and the right laptop sale could change the whole calculus.
You'll find a mix of both Dell and HP laptops, plus laptops from many other manufacturers, on our best laptop list here at PCWorld. But there's a lot to be said for comparing these brands. So, let's take a closer look.
Dell vs. HP laptop product ranges
Both Dell and HP offer a wide range of different laptops for different needs, from budget picks to premium stunners.
Dell offers a variety of laptop lineups. Until recently, it was broken down as XPS laptops for the premium line, with Latitude and Inspiron laptops for business and consumer use, respectively. Starting in 2025, however, Dell scrapped that naming convention ostensibly to be more simplified, but you be the judge. Still, the same range of performance and prices remains.
Usually available for $1,370 at Best Buy, this $320-off laptop has everything you could need — a gorgeous display, a powerful CPU, plenty of storage space, and a top-notch graphics card. Frankly, you can't go wrong by getting this laptop.
For starters, the HP Victus has a 15.6-inch IPS display with a decent 1920×1080 resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. This combo will deliver good visuals no matter if you're watching movies or playing games. That speedy refresh rate, however, is going to ensure you can't blame a slow screen on your lack of reaction time during boss fights.
Overall, this laptop was built for speed. With an Intel Core i7 and 16GB DDR5 RAM, this model is ready to tackle your daily workload, gaming, and keeping entirely too many tabs open in your browser. Throw in the RTX 5060 and you get a future-proof laptop — at least for a few years.
Frankly, when you see a laptop with these specs for $1,050 the only possible reaction is to add it to your cart because that's a purchase you won't regret.
That's a fantastic price for a great gaming laptop
With a $30 MSRP, this Iniu power bank has a 10,000mAh capacity, which means it has enough juice to recharge you phone about twice over, although that depends on what phone you have and if you're using the device while it's recharging or not.
The Iniu power bank has a cute strap you can use to carry it around town. The best part is that the strap is actually a short USB-C cable you can use to plug your phone in.
The power bank has a total of three ports, two of which are USB-C and one of which is USB-A, which means you can technically recharge multiple devices at once. With the 45W total output, charging speed would drop considerably if you plug in multiple gadgets.
Remember that in order to get the fabulous $11.21 price, you have to redeem the on-page coupon for the extra 40% discount that goes on top of the 38% off that's already available for the power bank. Stop wasting time because there's no way to know when this deal will expire.
Take this tiny power bank everywhere you goBuy now at Amazon
Even if its components are powerful enough for Windows 11, it may become electronic waste: This is because Microsoft has strict requirements for the hardware on which the new operating system can run — especially when it comes to the processor.
Most PCs and laptops that are more than eight years old are therefore excluded from the upgrade — even though they work without any problems under Windows 10 and would certainly do the same under Windows 11.
However, you can make your computer officially fit for Windows 11 with small hardware upgrades: Whether this is worthwhile, whether it is even possible, and how much it costs depends on the specific PC or laptop.
What your computer needs for Windows 11
The requirements that Microsoft places on a computer for Windows 11 look low at first glance:
Processor with 64-bit support, two cores and a clock speed of 1GHz
4GB RAM
64GB storage for the installation
Many old c
How can you be sure this mini PC is capable of handling your daily workload, streaming sessions, and everything in between? Well, because its specs are nothing to turn your nose at. Under the hood of this tiny little computer is an AMD Ryzen 7 5825U processor and a sensible 32GB DDR4 RAM. That's a stellar combo that indicates your system will boot in no time and your apps will load in a blink. The Bosgame P4 also has plenty of storage space since there's a 1TB SSD on board.
We're pretty sure you'll also love that you can set up the Bosgame P4 with up to three monitors at once. The system supports 4K displays over the HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C ports, more than can be said about most laptops these days, which require hubs to make this possible. Of course, connectivity isn't going to be an issue with these mini PCs because there are plenty of USB-A ports for peripherals, an audio jack, as well as two LAN ports.
Frankly, that's quite a lot for a $320 computer and you'll certainly have quite a bit of fun using the Bosgame P4 for your daily tasks. So get one for 20% off at Amazon sooner rather than later.
First think about physical security
Your laptop should be a prized possession to look after. But what does that mean exactly? It means doing everything you can to prevent damage and/or theft. First off, you're going to need a drop resistant and waterproof laptop sleeve to prevent physical damage. The Voova Laptop Sleeve Case, for example, comes in various sizes and colors, and costs less than $20.
You should also always use a laptop lock if you're using your laptop out and about. It's not guaranteed protection, but it can be a big deterrent for thieves. Well-reviewed locks can also be found for as less than $20.
Eating and drinking near your laptop is risky business, especially drinking. All it takes is one spill to destroy a keyboard
We get it: you're trying to turn a profit, not blow your budget on business-level security software and an IT team to manage it. Norton Small Business is a competitively priced security suite for small businesses with up to 10 employees, and right now there is a 30% discount on the first year, making it phenomenal value for money and a no-brainer for any small business owner who is serious about their company's digital security.
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Norton Small Business comes with real-time antivirus, a firewall, and business support ready to assist you with virus removal. But it does so much more than helping protect your business devices from malware.
Norton Small Business can help you protect your business from financial fraud with Financial Monitoring, preventing the loss of your data due to ransomware, PC theft or hard drive failures with Cloud Backup for Windows, empower your employees to work more securely from anywhere, and enables increased productivity with a suite of Windows PC optimisation tools.
Could your small business fall victim to one of these threats?
In June, the Home Office released its Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 report, detailing the most common cyberattacks experienced by UK small businesses in H2 2024. Here are the most common ways hackers attempted to gain money or data from UK small businesses last year:
Phishing: 85% of businesses that reported cyberattacks identified phishing as a key threat. These scams trick employees into clicking on fake links - often via email - and inadvertently handing over sensitive data. Now powered by AI, phishing tactics are getting smarter than ever and more difficult to spot.
Employee impersonation: More than half (51%) of businesses said hackers had posed as company employees to deceive their ‘colleagues' into handing over information.
Malware on company devices: While AI-powered scams today grab the headlines, malware is still very much present and very m
How did this happen? Unbeknown to Carol, two days earlier her son Jack downloaded a free game infected with malware on her laptop. That was their way in and, once the cybercriminals had infiltrated Carol's device and her home network, Mike's unsecured business data became easy prey. While Carol is distraught over the situation, Mike's the one now facing small business ruin.
This is an illustrative example of just how easily remote workers can cripple your small business when you don't take adequate security precautions. Are you so sure that remote workers won't place your small business in peril?
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What small businesses need to know about remote workin
Because of these limitations, I use ShareX instead for more complicated or precise screen captures. As well as capturing GIFs, ShareX offers significantly more advanced features, including precise capture with a magnifier, scrolling screenshot capture, and timed capture. ShareX even lets you add annotations like arrows, lines, and text bubbles to screenshots. And another great thing… it's totally free!
Here I'll show you how to use the highly coveted GIF recording function.
What to do:
Download, install, and run ShareX.
Type Ctrl Shift Print Screen. A crosshair will appear on your screen.
Now select the part of your screen you want to record a GIF with by moving the crosshair over it—it will automatically select the window or area surrounding your cursor. Click your mouse to begin recording.
To stop recording you can either type the shortcut again (Ctrl Shift Print Screen) or hit the stop button in the ShareX media control bar.
The testing official explained to Procolored that both Google Chrome and Microsoft Defender had triggered an alarm when the printer software was downloaded, and quarantined it.
Despite Procolored's protests, the tester persisted. He sent the software to the security company G Data, a manufacturer of antivirus programs.
Upon investigation, it turned out that the printer software actually contained a backdoor virus called Xred and a Trojan.
When G Data then confronted Procolored with the results, the company admitted that a virus had crept into its download area and provided a new version of its software.
There's really only one problem: my laptop is too old for a Windows 11 update. On October 14th, 2025, Windows 10 will reach the end of its life period, which means no new features or security updates. The former is not a big problem. The latter will be a disaster.
I'm not alone in this situation. Over 50 percent of users are still running Windows 10, and this figure is gradually dropping. How many will have updated in six months' time is anyone's guess, but whatever the percentage, one thing is clear. A large proportion of the world's 1.6 billion Windows PCs will still be running Windows 10 on October 14th, 2025.
What makes this challenging is that Windows 11 is so technically demanding that it's not possible to update all fully functional computers. Sadly, my six-year-old laptop is one of them.
Once upon a time, TikTok tried to convince us that Erewhon Market is the most luxurious place to get groceries, but we'd argue that Sam's Club takes the cake. It might not have ridiculously expensive berries, but you can get multiple errands done under one roof.
The only downside is that you have to be a member to get in. If you want that access just in time for holiday savings, you can save $35 with this Sam's Club membership offer and get one year for $15 (MSRP $50).
Sam's Club members can shop for everything from fresh and frozen groceries to electronics and furniture in one place. You won't have to hop between multiple stores (or as many) to get everything on your list anymore.
If your cart is full to the brim and the line looks long, there's no need to s
Some devices force you to choose between power and flexibility. The Surface Book 3 says, why not both? This like-new 2020 model is a triple threat — a high-performance laptop, a creative studio, and a lightweight tablet — all in one seriously premium design.
Inside, it's packing a 10th Gen Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU, 32GB RAM, and 512GB SSD, so whether you're editing 4K videos, working on design projects, gaming on the go, or just juggling 37 browser tabs, this machine keeps up without breaking a proverbial sweat.
And with three distinct modes, it adapts to whatever you throw at it:
Owning Microsoft Office Pro 2021 is one thing. Actually knowing how to unlock its full potential? That's another story. Right now, you can get a lifetime license to Office Pro 2021 for Windows plus a complete Microsoft training bundle for just $39.97 (MSRP: $239.99).
Office Pro 2021 gives you lifetime access to the classics — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, Publisher, Access, and OneNote. It's a one-time install for your home or office without any monthly fees.
But this offer also includes 25 hours of structured Microsoft training. That means instead of fumbling through Excel formulas or guessing your way through PowerPoint design, you'll actually know how to work faster and smarter.
The included training covers everything from beginner to advanced lessons in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. You'll even pick up in-demand tricks like VLO
If you're looking for a complete productivity suite that offers seamless updates, cloud storage, and advanced security, Microsoft 365 Personal has you covered.
For $74.97 (on sale through October 19), you'll get 15 months of Microsoft 365 with full access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Defender, OneDrive, Outlook, Editor, Clipchamp, and OneNote — all with the latest features at your disposal.
This plan is designed with flexibility in mind, allowing you to install apps on up to five devices at once, whether you're using Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android. So, you can easily switch between your phone, tablet, and computer without missing a beat.
If your current laptop is your "main character," this Lenovo Chromebook is the trusty sidekick. For just $74.99 (MSRP $475.99) with free shipping, this refurbished Lenovo 11.6? 2-in-1 Chromebook 300e 2nd Gen (2018) makes for a perfect backup device, travel companion, or light daily driver.
It's built to multitask. The touchscreen folds into four modes—laptop, tablet, tent, and stand—so you can type, swipe, binge, or present, depending on your needs. With 4GB RAM, 32GB of storage, and Chrome OS, it handles everyday tasks like st
Will's test PC is running an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card, so it's just about the best hardware you can reasonably expect in the current PC gaming landscape. What we're looking for isn't necessarily high frame rates but smoothness. So what we don't want to see is big spikes in the frame rendering time, which normally oscillate between 5 and 12 milliseconds. And most of the standard campaign gameplay doesn't really have any of it, though some of the showpiece scripted sections (such as the beach landing) can hit it hard with effects like smoke.
Some Battlefield veterans might be a lot more concerned with multiplayer performance, where W
It should run CAD and simulations easily, but still be light enough to toss in your bag between classes. A keyboard that's comfortable to type on for hours on end, a screen that doesn't strain your eyes after an hour, and a battery that actually lasts—these are non-negotiable. And don't even get me started on hunting for an outlet when your laptop's gasping for life… ugh. No thanks.
These picks have been tested to cover those bases, with something for every budget.
Why you should trust PCWorld for laptop reviews and buying advice: It's in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We've been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who've applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We're also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.
Originally, Microsoft had made the Limited Edition Crocs available in October, timed with the company's 50th anniversary celebration. The "shoes" were originally made available as part of a Microsoft-sponsored sweepstakes. However, the footwear has now become a viral hit of sorts.
"Based on the incredible response and positive engagement across social media, we're thrilled to share that the Microsoft Limited Edition Crocs Bundle officially drops globally beginning today," the company said in an updated blog post.
The Crocs ship in a Windows XP-inspired theme. It's based upon the "Bliss" background, inspired by a photograph from Charles O'Rear taken just a few miles from my home. (Like Windows, the Sonoma, Calif. vista looks nothing like the original photograph.) They also include custom Jibbitz charms taken from Microsoft iconography, such as the mouse cursor. There's even a Bliss-themed drawstring backpack, perfect for carrying them to your next gala or shindig.
Where can you buy such wonders? At Microsoft's official merch site, where sizes are available from a women's 4/men's 2 all the way up to a women's 19/men's 17.
While I have actually purchased several Microsoft's
We've tested nearly three dozen PCIe 4.0 SSDs and our list includes the best of the bunch for various needs. Whether you want to upgrade, or add more storage to your PCIe 4.0 computer, there's an SSD for you. Read on to learn more, including what to look for in PCIe 4.0 SSD.
Why you should trust PCWorld for PCIe 4.0 SSD reviews and buying advice: We're not called PCWorld for nothing. Our reviewers have been testing PC hardware for decades. Our storage evaluations are exhaustive, testing the limits of every product — from performance benchmarks to the practicalities of regular use. As PC users ourselves, we know what makes a killer product stand out. Only the best SSDs have made our list of picks.
This past summer, we saw the launch of Windows Edit, a new version of MS-DOS Editor which runs in the command line and offers support for Unicode. The 300 KB file limit has been removed, which means you can now handle gigabyte-sized files with Edit if desired.
The latest news is that Edit will soon be the default text editor in the Windows 11 Command Prompt, as noted by Windows Latest. If you want to try Edit now, you can download the program via GitHub.
Edit is open source software and written in the Rust programming language. You don't have to be running Windows to use the text editor; it works just as well on macOS and Linux.
According to the Windows Insider Blog, the latest version of the Copilot app on Windows can now connect to Google personal services to scan their contents. A Google account connected can let Copilot search through and analyze (at least) Gmail, Drive, Calendar, and Contacts. You can also use this third-party connection to let it access other Microsoft accounts beyond your primary one, so it can get into OneDrive and Outlook on another account too.
The main idea here is natural language search and analysis. For example, you can ask, "What's the email address for Sarah," assuming you only know one Sarah and that Copilot understands the context. But if you're inclined to do that and you need information that's in your Google account and not your Microsoft account… why wouldn't you just use Gemini, which is Google's flavor of the same thing? It's available right in the browser, no extra legwork required.
Possibly more useful (and less alarming) is a new document creation tool. The Windows Copilot app can now adapt a conversation into a Word document, Excel spreadsheet, PowerPoint slide deck, or PDF, and export it. Both features are available via the Insider channel on the Microsoft Store, though they might not be turned on right away for all users.
Using Instagram without an account
Instagram only works in a web browser without registration. On the official iPhone or Android app, you'll be forced to sign up right away. If you try using a mobile browser, you won't get very far because Instagram will redirect you to the app.
The following functions are available in the web browser without an Instagram account:
Access public profiles: You can directly access Instagram pages of celebrities, companies, or influencers as long as they're not set to private. To do this, enter https://www.instagram.com/[profile name] in the address bar.
View posts and comments: Open a post by right clicking "Open in new tab." Initially, a login window will appear, but you can close it by clicking on the small X at the top. The prompt will then disappear, allowing you to read the post and comments as normal.
Retrieve stories (with a diversion): Instagram blocks Stories if you don't have an account, but you can view them anonymously through third-party websites or specialized viewers.
Not possible without an account:
CNCDan on YouTube (spotted by PCGamer) loves to dabble in hobby-style form factors like FPV drone piloting and racing simulators, both of which have a lot of overlap with headset and head-mounted displays. As it turns out, there are tons of semi-generic parts for this stuff on Aliexpress, including the crucial dual, high-resolution displays (one for each eye) that almost all VR headset designs use. Lenses, possibly adapted from the old Google Cardboard design, were easy to find.
The last complex element was the head tracking, which is complicated, but a problem that's already solved. CNCDan popped in an existing open source system called Relativty [sic] VR that uses an Arduino board and an IMU (inertial measurement unit) sensor. A super-basic PCB with a bit of soldering keeps those two parts connected.
But now there's a real threat. A new malware called Stealerium apparently knows when you're viewing pornographic material in your browser and automatically takes snapshots of what you're viewing and webcam photos of you in that moment. The malware then sends those recordings to cybercriminals who use them for blackmail.
Security researchers at Proofpoint have analyzed the malware and warn of a new escalation level in these so-called "sextortion attacks."
How Stealerium gets onto your PC
The Stealerium malware is spread via phishing emails that look deceptively genuine. The attackers disguise their emails as messages from reputable organizations (e.g., banks, streaming services, charities) and encourage recipients to open attachments or click on links.
These phishing emails take the usual scare tactics, generating a sense of urgency with subject lines "Payment Due," "Court Summons," and "Donation Invoice." When you open said emails, the hope is you're so alarmed that you've let down your guard, making it more likely that you'll download attachments and/or click malicious links and buttons.
What makes Stealerium even more worrying is that its source code has been freely available
This charging station features four three-prong AC outlets oriented in opposite directions so your bulky plugs don't get in the way of each other. And you know how all your USB power adapters take up so much room on your power strip? This solves that problem with built-in USB ports along the bottom edge—two USB-C, two USB-A—so those AC outlets can be reserved for importance stuff (like monitors).
As far as power, the main USB-C maxes out at 20W, the secondary USB-C at 15W, and the USB-A ports at 12W. When multiple ports are used at the same time, they typically max out around 15W shared (except for the USB-As, which max out at 12W shared). While that's far from "super fast" charging speeds, it's still plenty speedy for a budget-friendly charging station that's meant to be used while you're at home for a while.
I also love this charging station's flat profile—measuring 4.72 x 3.15 inches and only 0.71 inches thick—and the AC outlets recess when you aren't using them, so the whole thing takes up less space than your typical power strip and feels quite sleek. The power cord is 5 feet long so you can position it almost anywhere, and the end plug is flat and angled so you can easily reach it behind furniture hassle-free.
You can't go wrong with this, especially at this price. Get this 8-in-1 Anker
Sometimes you can notice the signs of a failing SSD. For instance, the once-quick transfer speed slows to crawl, there are frequent program or system crashes, or file system access errors or SMART errors occur. If you notice these things, especially in combination, there's a good chance your SSD is on its way out. In that case, it's time to prepare for the worst and do the following:
Back up critical files
It goes without saying that the first thing you'll want to do if you think your SSD is on the blink is to back up your critical data. Backups should be done regularly anyway, but even if you're doing that, you'll still want to make a new backup of your critical files at this point to have them ready to go should your SSD suddenly die.
See our roundups of the best Windows backup software and
These are full-blown 5th-gen Echo Dot smart speakers with limited-edition themed covers, meaning you can take them off once the holiday season is over and use these Echo Dots like normal. This isn't the first time we're seeing the Jack Skellington cover, but it is the first time we're seeing Sally! And she's looking just gorgeous.
Echo Dots have improved a lot over the years, and these are the latest model so you're getting crisp vocals, impressive bass, and overall great audio performance. Alexa integration makes it easy to play music, search the web, control other smart home devices, and more. (Learn more about why we recommend smart speakers as a first step for beginners!)
If you don't have a smart speaker yet, this is a great opportunity. Don't miss your chance to order the Jack Skellington Echo Dot or Sally Echo Dot bundles for just $64.98 each—or both for $129.96.
What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network is software that creates an encrypted ‘tunnel' through which your data flows when using the internet. This makes it very hard for hackers to track your activities online or steal your data.
Today, you can score this Baseus Enercore 100W charger block for 20% off on Amazon, bringing its price down from $59.99 to a more affordable $47.99. But that's not all! With this special promotion, you can also get a fast 100W USB-C charging cable included for free. (That's a $15 value!) On the promo page, add both products to your cart and you'll see the discounts applied at checkout.
The Baseus Enercore is a wall plug adapter that delivers up to 100W of power, meaning it's super fast at charging devices like phones, tablets, and earbuds, and it's fast enough to work with most laptops as well. The charger block itself has a built-in retractable USB-C cable, which you can pull out and connect on demand, then push back in when you're done. It's really convenient, especially with its 2.6-foot length.
On top of the retractable USB-C cable, this charger block also has two other ports—one USB-C, one USB-A—that you can use to charge other devices. That's up to three devices at once. (Note that the total 100W of charging power gets split up when multiple ports are being used. When used on their own, the retractable cable and the USB-C port both reach up to 100W max while the USB-A tops out at 22.5W.)
I also mentioned a free USB-C cable with your purchase, right? This Baseus promo tosses in a 3.3-foot 100W cable with a rig
This week, I've learned how to successfully copy data from a PDF table into a spreadsheet. It sounds easy and straightforward, but it's not. The few times I've attempted this in the past were a disaster.
It turns out that I tried to do what most people do — that is, I tried to copy and paste directly from the PDF itself. But that just results in the text being copied over with formatting all askew. No, a better way to do it is to use Excel's built-in data copying feature. Not only is it simple and easy to do, but the data will be copied over with perfect formatting as well.
What to do:
Open the PDF document and make a note of where the table with the data is located and the number designation for the table. For this exercise, I'm using a PDF of a review guide for a laptop I reviewed.
Now open Microsoft Excel. Also open a new Excel document by selecting File New Blank Workbook.
In the top menu of Excel select Data Get Data From File From PDF.
Browse your files and select the PDF with the table in it. Now select Import.
Choose the table from the list that appears and click Load. The table you want will now load into the Excel document with perfect formatting.
I never thought I'd think on laptops with envy. But here I am, writing these words.
It comes on the heels of Intel's deep reveal of Panther Lake, which is what Adam, Will, and Mark were learning about last week. (Such is the super sekret life of tech journalists.)
Mark's quick rundown of the facts is extensive, as overviews go—there's just that many details to cover. I highly recommend reading his deep dive as well, but among the highlights: Three chip families represented by one 8-core and two 16-core processors, with a claim of 50 percent better multithreaded performance over previous generations. The top-tier 16-core CPUs pack juggernaut-level integrated graphics, including dedicated support for ray-tracing. Said integrated graphics take the form of Xe3 GPU cores touted as 50 percent faster on average compared to last gen. Multiframe generation support (yep, "fake frames").
Intel is also cramming in upgrades to the "image processing unit" in its integrated laptop processors to boost clarity and color fidelity of video during we
Want to see even more? Take a peek at PCWorld's list of the top laptops you can get right now.
Why you should trust us: It's in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We've been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who've applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We're also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.
What's under the hood here? A brand-new 2025-era AMD Ryzen 9 270 processor, a hefty 32GB of fast DDR5 RAM, and a speedy 1TB Gen 4 SSD that all come together to zip through any task you need to handle. It'll boot up in a flash, won't struggle with Windows 11, move enormous files in minutes, and run games as smoothly as butter. (It has two memory slots and can be expanded up to 64GB of RAM, by the way.)
And don't forget that just-released Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card that future-proofs this laptop for several years at least. It unlocks Nvidia's latest gaming features, including DLSS 4, and you'll love how it plays on the 16-inch IPS screen with 1920×1200 resolution and 165Hz refresh rate and Nvidia G-Sync support.
It offers more connections than most modern laptops, too, with dual USB-A on the right side plus USB4, USB-C, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, and a 3.5mm audio jack on the left side. Use it for up to 10 hours on a single battery charge, and other nice bits include a 1080p webcam, backlit keyboard, and a CPU that qualifies it as a Copilot PC for AI features.
Best Buy has this listed as a "Techtober Deal" that ends on (or around) October 12th, so don't miss it.
Because when you look beyond the glassy surface with its rounded corners and the Start menu in its strict position, the differences are not that insanely big actually. It's not like switching to Mac or Linux, not by a long shot.
In many cases, these are fairly small changes that you can quickly get used to. In many cases, it's even possible to restore or mimic old behavior, and new additions you don't need can often be turned off or hidden.
But now the clock is ticking for the system. In October 2025, the very last regular update of the system will come. After that, Microsoft will only make security updates available to customers who pay extra for the Extended Security Update (ESU) program or use Microsoft Backup or 1000 Microsoft Reward Points to gain ESU access.
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College courses and online boot camps can cost hundreds, sometimes thousands, per class. If you've ever wanted to learn new skills without draining your wallet, there's finally a better option. EDU Unlimited by StackSkills gives you lifetime access to 1,000 e-courses in virtually any subject for just $19.97 during this sale (MSRP $600).
From coding and marketing to creative hobbies like photography or design, StackSkills lets you build your dream skill set at your own pace, without the pressure.
This one-time payment opens the door to endless topics, so you can explore, jump around, and binge-learn as much as you want. Courses are self-paced and available whenever you need them, perfect for diving into career-boosting skills, side hustles, or just picking up something new to impress your friends.
That's where we come in. We break things down without all the technical word vomit so you can quickly find the best machine for your lifestyle. From featherlight models that disappear in your bag to laptops with marathon battery life, we've got you covered.
Also known as NextGen TV, the new broadcast standard promised to revolutionize free over-the-air TV with features like 4K HDR video, time-shifting, on-demand viewing, and interactive programming. For cord-cutters who get free local channels with an antenna, this was a genuinely exciting technology when it began rolling out way back in 2019.
Six years later, that excitement has evaporated thanks to restrictive digital rights management (DRM) and high adoption costs. While the broadcast TV industry has failed to make ATSC 3.0 stick, they've succeeded in getting tech enthusiasts, consumer advocates, and even some individual broadcasters to fear and despise it.
Now, broadcasters are hoping for a bailout from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which announced this week that it will consider their wishes to wind down the existing ATSC 1.0 standard and mandate ATSC 3.0 adoption. If that happens, most antenna users will need a new TV or tuner box by 2030 at the latest. Having failed in the marketplace, broadcasters now want the government to help foist ATSC 3.0 upon people instead.
Sadly, it didn't have to be this way.
What's happening with ATSC 3.0?
NextGen TV broadcasts are available in more than 90 U.S. markets, covering 70 percent of the population, but accessing these broadcasts requires an ATSC 3.0 tuner, and most TVs don't have one.
A modern design with dark mode
CCleaner's user interface has been completely redesigned and now looks much tidier and more responsive. Users can now choose between a light, dark, or automatic theme depending on their personal preferences and/or Windows settings.
According to Piriform, CCleaner 7 improves compatibility with newer PCs. The tool now fully supports Arm64 devices, which should ensure noticeably better performance on newer Windows systems.
A better approach to uninstalling apps
CCleaner's uninstaller feature now uses a new engine that removes apps more reliably than the built-in Windows uninstaller. Multiple apps can be uninstalled in one go without repeatedly clicking on confirmations. Orphaned files and remnants are also deleted automatically.
They invariably have logging systems, so you can keep track of who's coming and going-and when. That's incredibly useful whether you have a teenager who tends to break curfew or merely want to give temporary access to houseguests, service providers, or Airbnb guests. Smart locks are an incredible upgrade over the old way of doing things, and these are our top picks in several categories.
The latest test version of Copilot in Edge includes a "Browser Actions" toggle, which gives Copilot access to your Edge profile—that includes logins, saved passwords, browsing history, and cookies. This allows the AI assistant to effectively act as you on your behalf to launch pages, click on links, and fill out forms without annoying login prompts.
Another new feature is called "Journeys," which allows Copilot to analyze the last seven days of your browsing history to create summaries and "cards" on the new tab page. Microsoft emphasizes that all your data is kept local and isn't used for AI training or advertising purposes. However, the feature does require a Microsoft account.
Microsoft also emphasizes that Copilot can't control Windows outside the Edge browser or bypass passwords and two-factor authentication. You must authorize access and manually send tabs to Copilot. It isn't yet clear when this deeper integration will be released in full.
In addition to well-known tips—such as staying on top of system updates, keeping storage space free, and regularly scanning for malware—Microsoft highlights OneDrive and visual effects as performance killers. We show you how to get around these issues.
The 12-core version of the Panther Lake iGPU is obviously the one to watch, jumping core count over Lunar Lake by 50 percent and giving a huge graphics boost to thin-and-light laptops (and possibly even PC gaming handhelds, currently dominated by AMD's Ryzen Z series). In addition to the usual power boost that newer chips get, the Xe3 series is getting new intelligent bias control powers for more game-specific resource management, x3 and x4 frame generation for all games that support XeSS 2, and a handful of other optimizations.
Tom's a great guest—whom you might recognize from The Full Nerd podcast—but unfortunately he couldn't get specific on that new In
The 27-inch screen is about the perfect size for any home office that only has a modestly sized desk, and it's still big enough to enjoy the crisp 3840×2160 resolution in 16:9 aspect ratio. The IPS panel delivers beautiful, color-accurate images that'll serve you well whether you're churning through spreadsheets or streaming Netflix, and it's made all the better with HDR10 that brings those colors fully to life.
Other great bits about the LG UltraFine 27US500-W display include its "virtually borderless" bezels (excellent for multi-monitor setups), the on-screen controls that let you split the display or adjust settings via mouse clicks, and connectivity via double HDMI and a DisplayPort. The included stand isn't that great—it can only tilt a bit—but it does have a VESA 100×100 mount so you can put it on a monitor arm instead.
It's rare that you'll be able to grab a stunning 4K monitor from a top-tier brand at a price like this, so if you're looking to upgrade your display setup on the cheap, take advantage of this. Get the LG UltraFine 27US500-W for $179 before this deal expires! Or read our roundup of the best monitors for a home office to explore more options.
A 27-inch 4K IPS monitor from LG for just $179? Yes, please!
If you go on vacation or a business trip, chances are you're going to need a data cable for your phone anyway, and an extra can't hurt. But a power-only cable is a handy way of securing your phone no matter what out-of-the-way, dodgy hotel or airport you end up in.
Some people call these "USB condoms," usually referring to a dongle that you can buy that blocks data from being transferred over the USB connection. In this case, "data" equals malware. Is a foreign government or hacker group building in standalone devices to push malware to your phone? Do credit-card skimmers exist? Okay then. If a malicious cable can be used to conceal malware, the wall port sure can.
I recently returned from a pair of trips to Arizona and Hawaii, and had planned to invest in a data-only USB-C cable anyway. As it turned out, Plugable alerted me about its entrance into the market, and asked if I'd like to try one out. The company offers a few cables of different lengths, and I think that Plugable's $15.95 6-foot-cable works best, if only because it accommodates awkwardly placed outlets in airports, airplanes, and hotels. (There are also cheaper, shorter options.)
On Reddit, several users are once again reporting scorched power connections, even though they used the yellow-colored 12V 2×6 connectors from MSI. These are actually supposed to be colored to help ensure that the plug is fully inserted.
In January, Nvidia assured everyone that its new 50-series cards wouldn't melt power plugs. In February, one Reddit user's RTX 5090 power connector had melted, prompting YouTube Roman "der8auer" Hartung to investigate and discover clear traces of overheating on two 12VHPWR pins under a microscope. His investigation revealed temperatures of up to 150 degrees Celsius, despite correct installation.
Two more recent cases have emerged
According to recent Reddit threads, MSI security plugs are affected. One user reports that the power connector on his second RTX 5090 within
POP Smart Button owners began sharing the end-of-line emails from Logitech late last month, which noted that the buttons would cease working on October 15, giving them only slightly more than two weeks' notice.
"For close to a decade, we have maintained the POP ecosystem, but as technology evolves, we have made the decision to end support for the device," Logitech's email reads. "As of October 15, your POP button(s) and the connected hub will no longer be supported and will lose all functionality."
Logitech added that it would give POP button owners a promo code giving them a 15-percent discount on Logitech and Ultimate Ears products (Logitech owns the Ultimate Ears audio brand).
Annoyed POP button owners on Reddit didn't hold back about the prospect of their devices being turned into paperweights.
"This is why, ‘local first'" wrote one user, while another complained, "12 buttons and 3 hubs in my home are going to become beautiful useless [pieces] of tech. Why?"
