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That's completely understandable, but not always accurate. We at PCWorld have tested a ton of USB-C cables and can say with certainty not all of them are made the same. In fact, there can be huge performance differences among cables when it comes to both charging and transferring data.
Hands-on evaluation of numerous cables ranging from the biggest, most-recognizable brand-names to the cheapest of the cheap has revealed some clear winners, which I highlight below.
Why you should trust me: PCWorld has been testing hardware since the 1980s and I've been poking and prodding PC components since I cracked open my Commodore VIC-20 in junior high school to see why it stopped working (who uses aluminum-coated cardboard that frays as an RF shield? Commodore, that's who). I've also been a professional journalist for more than three decades and started my stint at PCWorld as an intern in 1993.
For my USB-C cable reviews, I don't rely on consumer reviews like some "reviewers" — I purchase the cables retail and personally test each one of them, examining the resistance, how they are physically wired, and query the embedded eMarker (if it has one), and then performance test them where appropriate for charge rates, transfer rates, and display support. My picks are separated into two groups to avoid any confusion: USB-C cables that are best for charging, and those best for both charging and fast data transfer.
For more information you can refer to our guide on how to buy a USB-C cable on Amazon without losi
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In May, Microsoft will host its annual Build conference in Seattle. Microsoft will open that conference with a presentation from chief executive Satya Nadella to "share our AI vision across hardware and software," according to Microsoft. That presentation is expected to introduce the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 5 for consumers, both featuring Qualcomm's surprisingly powerful Snapdragon X Elite processor, based on the Arm architecture. Microsoft has already launched versions of both devices with Intel processors inside, for businesses.
But it's the "software" version of Microsoft's AI vision that's intriguing. Microsoft's last feature update of Windows 11 may have introduced AI PCs, but Microsoft is moving more aggressively to a future where AI is more tightly integrated into the operating system. Microsoft appears to have a more formal definition of an "AI PC" waiting in the wings, and we know that it includes a
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Why you should trust us: Hey, 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.
Looking for sweet discounts? Check out our regularly updated roundup of the best laptop deals available right now.
Updated April 18, 2024: We replaced the Best Content Creation Laptop, the Dell XPS 17 (2023), with the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra and added the Acer Chromebook 516 GE as the Best Gaming Chromebook. We also updated our list of recent laptop reviews.
The best laptops we've tested
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Price When Reviewed$1,999
Best Prices Today: Lenovo Yoga Book 9i
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The Dragonfly Pro is HP's premiere consumer laptop design, boasting a sleek .72-inch-thin body made of aluminum and magnesium with a bright 14-inch IPS touchscreen standard. But it's also a surprisingly practical machine. While it's a bit heavier than other laptops in this category at 2.42 pounds, it's packing some serious tech thanks to a Ryzen 7 CPU, a roomy 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage.
HP didn't skimp on the trim, either. Reviewer Brendan Nystedt was impressed by the laptop's great speakers and solid battery life, and it has a 5-megapixel webcam with infrared sensors for Windows Hello face unlocking. If the laptop has a weakness, it's port selection: Three USB-C ports are flexible on their own, but a lack of USB-A, dedicated video-out, and a headphone jack mean you'll probably want to travel with a USB-C dongle in your bag.
B&H Photo's sale doesn't have an end date, which means that it's probably limited to a select number of units on-hand. This is a killer sale on a killer laptop, so if you're interested, grab it before this deal disappears.
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