Laptop

Microsoft splits the Windows Insider Program into three channels going forward

Microsoft has announced some changes to the way in which the Windows OS will be distributed to those who need or want to experience its latest features in advance. This includes their distribution via 3 channels: Dev, Beta and the pre-existing Release Preview channels. The Redmond giant asserts that they should keep developers or enthusiasts apprised of what its engineers are up to in 2022.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 05 Feb 2022 17:11

14-inch Acer Swift 3 with Ryzen 7 5700U, full sRGB IPS display, 8 GB RAM, and 512 GB NVMe SSD on sale for $639 USD (Source: Amazon)

Deal | 14-inch Acer Swift 3 with Ryzen 7 5700U, full sRGB IPS display, 8 GB RAM, and 512 GB NVMe SSD on sale for $639 USD

The Swift 3 is one of the more affordable 14-inch laptops to ship with a high quality IPS panel capable of reproducing the full sRGB standard. Its processor is also comparable to Intel's 11th gen Core i7 series that typically retail for more.

Allen Ngo, 04 Feb 2022 19:01

The Core i7-12700H offers significantly better performance than the outgoing Core i7-11800H. (Image source: Intel)

The Intel Core i7-12700H dispatches the AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX in performance and efficiency benchmarks

The Intel Core i7-12700H is showing itself as not only a powerful processor, but also a comparatively efficient one. Surprisingly, the Alder Lake processor matches the Apple M1 Pro's performance per watt at 40 W in benchmark suites like Cinebench R23. The Core i7-12700H sees off representatives from the Ryzen 5000 series too, such as the Ryzen 7 5800H and the Ryzen 9 5900HX.

Alex Alderson, 04 Feb 2022 17:05

Acer TravelMate P4 in review: Business endurance runner with Thunderbolt 4

Acer TravelMate P4: Compact 14-inch laptop supports Power Delivery

The TravelMate P4 scores points with long battery life, relatively low emissions, and a Thunderbolt 4 slot. Windows 10 Pro serves as the operating system. A plus: Acer grants the laptop a three-year warranty.

Sascha Mölck, 03 Feb 2022 03:48

Testing the Fujitsu Lifebook A3510: An affordable office laptop with a maintenance cover

Fujitsu Lifebook A3510: With Power Delivery, maintenance cover, and DVD burner

Fujitsu's 15.6-inch laptop produces relatively low emissions, does not weigh too much (1.8 kg, ~4 lb), and offers a DVD drive. Windows 10 Pro serves as the operating system (upgradable to Windows 11). A positive feature is the maintenance flap that gives access to the SSD, RAM, and battery.

Sascha Mölck, 02 Feb 2022 21:22

The Kudu refresh offers high-end performance for Linux users. (Image Source: System76)

System76 refreshes Kudu Linux-based laptops with Ryzen 9 5900HX processor and Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU

More high-end performance options are now available for Linux-based users through the introduction of the updated System76 Kudu6 laptops that now feature the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X APU and Nvidia's RTX 3060 GPUs.

Bogdan Solca, 02 Feb 2022 17:34

Leaked scores indicate AMD Rembrandt may have a tough time displacing Intel Alder Lake. (Image Source: AMD)

AMD Ryzen 7 6800H leak from Acer Nitro 5: Slightly ahead of the Ryzen 9 5900HX, but Alder Lake-H Core i7-12700H has the last laugh

Performance numbers of the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H are now available via an early review of an Acer Nitro 5 laptop. The initial figures show some gains for the 6 nm Ryzen 7 6800H over Cezanne Ryzen 9 5900HX, but Intel Alder Lake-H may have the edge in raw performance until Phoenix-H or Raphael-H hit the market.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 02 Feb 2022 16:05

HBO Max is coming to more regions soon. (Source: Warner Media)

HBO Max expands into 15 new European markets

Warner Media has announced that its streaming service HBO Max is to launch in 15 new markets in early 2022. The countries in question are all located in continental Europe, which may stand ready to access movies such as the new Dune remake through this new source of content. It is slated to expand even further thereafter.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 01 Feb 2022 22:47

Both the Dell XPS 17 and Alienware M15 R4 are ready for gaming thanks to RTX 30-series GPUs. (Image source: Dell/Nvidia - edited)

Deal | RTX 30-series laptops Dell XPS 17 and Alienware M15 R4 available with US$500 to over US$1,000 in savings

Dell is offering a couple of incredible deals on RTX 30-series laptops at the moment. There is a choice between a notebook from the well-respected Dell XPS line and the powerful Alienware gaming range, in the form of an XPS 17 and M15 R4, respectively. Shoppers can save over US$1,000 on the M15 R4 gaming laptop with RTX 3070 GPU.

Daniel R Deakin, 31 Jan 2022 20:53

The Craob X is advertised as the world's first-ever fully portless laptop (image via Craob)

Craob X: Purported portless laptop pictured with a 13.3-inch 4K screen and 7 mm thick chassis

A questionable-looking render of a completely portless laptop called the Craob X has emerged online. It is just 7 mm (0.27 in) thick and packs an Intel Core i7-1280P and a 13.3-inch 4K screen. One needs to charge it wirelessly with a dedicated accessory that doubles up as a port hub.

Anil Ganti, 31 Jan 2022 20:26

The Schenker Vision 14 with the GeForce RTX 3050 Ti does not really have any competitors

You can now get the lightweight ultrabook Schenker Vision 14 with a dedicated RTX 3050 Ti GPU, but still weighs less than 1.2 kg. The compact laptop leaves a good impression in many regards, but there are also some drawbacks and Intel's H35 CPU is not really convincing, either.

Andreas Osthoff, 31 Jan 2022 13:13

Deal | MSI Modern 15 office laptop now just $499 USD with 11th gen Core i5 CPU, 8 GB expandable RAM, and 512 GB NVMe SSD

If you're on a $500 budget, then this sale will be one of the better 15.6-inch laptops you can find if maximizing both performance and portability for the price.

Allen Ngo, 28 Jan 2022 02:08

Apple is once again the most valuable brand on Earth in 2022

Apple has been placed at #1 in a newly-released list of 500 brands ranked by "value" in 2022. The Cupertino giant has retained this position due to its perception as a company that releases high-end, reliable and easily recognizable products on a regular basis. Of course, being a tech company has not hurt in this respect, either.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 27 Jan 2022 21:14

A first-gen Lenovo processor. (Source: Lenovo)

Lenovo invests nearly US$50 million into its chip-design ambitions

Lenovo has become the latest PC company with the resources to pair the future of its hardware with first-party chipsets. Its new subsidiary for the purpose has received an injection of hundreds of millions of RMB in capital, and now lists the development of proprietary integrated circuits among its functions.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 27 Jan 2022 19:29

Austrian Audio PG16 gaming headset (Source: Austrian Audio)

Austrian Audio launches the PG16, its first gaming headset

Compatible with a wide range of devices, the TeamSpeak-certified Austrian Audio PG16 gaming headset features 44 mm high-excursion drivers, a lift-to-mute omnidirectional microphone, easily replaceable earcups, metal hinges, as well as a foldable design that ensures maximum portability. The price tag reads 139 Euros (about US$157).

Codrut Nistor, 27 Jan 2022 18:28

The OASIS external AIO is completely optional. (Image Source: XMG)

XMG starts pre-orders for NEO 15 E22 gaming laptop + OASIS external AIO and provides product roadmap for 2022

XMG is offering the NEO 15 E22 with the RTX 3080 Ti dGPU and the Intel i7-12700K processor starting at €3,277. The OASIS external AIO unit is completely optional and costs €199. Roadmap reveals AMD Ryzen 6000 models and additional support for OASIS.

Bogdan Solca, 27 Jan 2022 15:00

The Intel Core i9-12900HK is a chip for laptops that comes with a 24 MB L3 cache. (Image source: Intel/UserBenchmark - edited)

Superlative Intel Core i9-12900HK outbenches AMD Ryzen 9 5950X on UserBenchmark as a last hurrah for Alder Lake before Zen 4 comes along

The new Alder Lake mobile chip, the Intel Core i9-12900HK, has made its first appearance on UserBenchmark, and it’s unsurprisingly impressive. The i9-12900HK was even able to just outbench the Zen 3 Ryzen 9 5950X, which is a desktop chip. But it shouldn’t be too long before AMD’s Zen 4-based Ryzen 7000 series shakes things up some more.

Daniel R Deakin, 26 Jan 2022 18:31

New Blade 15 and Blade 17 configurations will start shipping on February 22. (Image source: Razer)

The Razer Blade 15 and Razer Blade 17 are now available with Intel Alder Lake processors and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

Razer has opened pre-orders for new configurations of the Blade 15 and Blade 17. The pair are now orderable with Core i7-12800H and Core i9-12900H processors, along with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPUs. All Alder Lake-based configurations will ship in late February.

Alex Alderson, 26 Jan 2022 16:31

The AMD Ryzen 5 6600H could give Intel Alder Lake processors a run for their money

AMD Ryzen 5 6600H showcases impressive performance gains over the Ryzen 5 5600H on Geekbench

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600H has scored 1,472 and 8,054 on Geekbench's single and multi-core tests, respectively. It manages to keep up with the Alder Lake-based Intel Core i5-12500H in the multi-core test but falls flat in the single-core part and offers a remarkable performance uplift over the AMD Ryzen 5 3600H.

Anil Ganti, 26 Jan 2022 14:28

This Year's Razer Blade 17 is among the slimmest laptops with an RTX 3080 Ti dGPU. (Image Source: Hardware Canucks)

GeForce RTX 3080 Ti laptops launching today, Nvidia releases detailed performance metrics

Unfortunately, Nvidia chose to compare the RTX 3080 Ti with the 2020 RTX 2080 SUPER. Of course, the performance improvements are clear, but a comparison with the RTX 3080 would have been more appropriate. The Razer Blade 17 2022 used for the RTX 3080 Ti tests appears to not feature the max TGP version and yet performance is comparable to a desktop RTX 3070 Ti.

Bogdan Solca, 25 Jan 2022 15:19

The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX has made its first appearance on Geekbench

The AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX cannot keep up with a similarly-specced Alder Lake-P processor on Geekbench

The Rembrandt-based AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX was benchmarked on Geekbench, where it managed single-core scores of 1,593/1,616 and multi-core scores of 10,151/9,939. While it is faster than its previous-generation counterpart, it cannot hold up against the Alder Lake-based Intel Core i9-12900HK.

Anil Ganti, 25 Jan 2022 10:31

The Hasee ZX9 is available in multiple configurations, including one with a Celeron G6900 processor. (Image source: Hasee)

Hasee ZX9: New gaming laptop variant launches with an LGA 1700 socket and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 laptop GPU

Hasee has released new variants of its ZX9 gaming laptop with a rather strange CPU and GPU combination. For some reason, one variant, the ZX9-DA3DA, features an Intel Celeron desktop processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 laptop GPU. The presence of an LGA 1700 socket provides some added upgradability that most laptops lack, though.

Alex Alderson, 24 Jan 2022 23:16

The Surface Laptop Studio could start at €1,739 in Europe from next month. (Image source: Microsoft)

Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio: European release date, configurations and prices revealed by retailer

The Surface Laptop Studio is on the verge of making it out of North America, four months after its initial release. The innovative laptop could arrive in Europe in just under a month; memory configurations and prices have emerged, too.

Alex Alderson, 24 Jan 2022 13:04

Apple has gone bananas with its hectic product release schedule for fall of 2022. (Image source: Apple/Unsplash - edited)

Apple goes bananas: iPhone 14, M2 iPad Pro, and entry-level MacBook Pro join list of over a dozen products rumored for a fall '22 release

The iPhone 14 series, a refreshed iPad Pro with M2 silicon, and a new entry-level MacBook Pro are some of the highlights of a full launch schedule Apple reportedly has planned for fall (autumn) 2022. On top of those headliners, it’s also believed that Cupertino will have the Apple Watch Series 8 and an updated Mac Pro to show off.

Daniel R Deakin, 23 Jan 2022 22:38

APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming UPS BGM1500 is big on looks and features, but its interface could be better

It's probably the sleekest UPS you can find in the market right now for about $259 USD. However, a few small quality-of-life changes could have made it even easier to use.

Allen Ngo, 23 Jan 2022 22:35

Dell Inspiron 13 5310 on sale for $599 USD with newest 35 W Core i5-11320H CPU, 16:10 1200p display, and 16 GB RAM (Source: Costco)

Deal | Dell Inspiron 13 5310 on sale for $599 USD with newest 35 W Core i5-11320H CPU, 16:10 1200p display, and 16 GB RAM

This is one of the least expensive 13.3-inch laptops you can find with the same 16:10 aspect ratio and Tiger Lake-H Core i5-11320H processor. The 16 GB of RAM is a relief since the modules are soldered and not upgradeable.

Allen Ngo, 23 Jan 2022 03:48

Schenker XMG Pro 15 Late 2021 (Clevo PC50HS-D) in review: Slim, lightweight 4K gaming laptop

Schenker XMG Pro 15: 2-kg gaming laptop with 4K OLED screen and Thunderbolt 4

The Core i7-11800H CPU and GeForce RTX 3080 mobile GPU complement the bright, high-contrast 4K OLED screen well and are able to run all current titles smoothly. The GPU comes with 16 GB of video memory. Another plus: The laptop integrates a Thunderbolt 4 port.

Sascha Mölck, 23 Jan 2022 03:34

Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is one of the easiest laptops to service in its price range

We love how quick and easy it is to add RAM and storage to the Dell Inspiron 15 3511

Do you hate it when PC manufacturers artificially make it difficult to service a laptop? All you'll need a simple Philips screwdriver for any upgrades on the Inspiron 15 3511.

Allen Ngo, 22 Jan 2022 20:17

The 2021 model, the Lenovo ThinkPad T15 G2, was only orderable with Intel CPUs

Lenovo confirms upcoming ThinkPad T16 will feature AMD Ryzen 6000

Lenovo has not yet announced most of their 2022 ThinkPad lineup. At CES, only the premium models of the ThinkPad X1 line and the new ThinkPad Z series were unveiled. In an unprecedented move, Lenovo has revealed some information about unannounced models - notably, the new Lenovo ThinkPad T16.

Benjamin Herzig, 21 Jan 2022 16:21

Underrated ADATA XPG Xenia 14 laptop on sale for $849 USD with 11th gen Core i5, 512 GB NVMe SSD, and 16 GB RAM (Source: Best Buy)

Deal | Underrated ADATA XPG Xenia 14 laptop on sale for $849 USD with 11th gen Core i5, 512 GB NVMe SSD, and 16 GB RAM

The Xenia 14 maximizes performance while maintaining both the desirable 16:10 aspect ratio and a weight of just under 1 kg. It's a bit more expensive even when on sale, but you're getting a bit more in return to make the investment worthwhile.

Allen Ngo, 21 Jan 2022 03:15

The RTX 3070 TI laptop GPU is expected to be as fast as an RTX 3080 mobile version. (Image Source: Nvidia)

First Geekbench results for the RTX 3070 Ti laptop GPU are in: Slightly faster than the RTX 3080 mobile and on par with Titan RTX

The RTX 3070 Ti manages to slightly outclass the median score of an RTX 3080 mobile GPU and it even matches a desktop Titan RTX from a few years ago in OpenCL tests. The first laptops powered by the RTX 3070 Ti mobile GPU are expected to go on sale in early February starting at US$1,499.

Bogdan Solca, 20 Jan 2022 19:49

Sharkoon SKILLER SGH50 Hi-Res Audio-certified gaming headset (Source: Sharkoon)

Hi-Res Audio-certified Sharkoon SKILLER SGH50 gaming headset now available for 59.9 Euros (~US$68)

With a certified frequency range from 10 Hz to 40 kHz, the Sharkoon SKILLER SGH50 gaming headset provides an excellent audio experience for more than just online or offline battles that require accurate reproduction of explosions, footsteps, or engine sounds. Those interested can already acquire it for less than 60 Euros (US$68).

Codrut Nistor, 20 Jan 2022 19:04

Laptops are versatile computers that sometimes offer unique features. (Image source: Unsplash)

3 best laptop features that never made it mainstream

From displays to chassis designs, we take a look at 3 of our top picks for laptop features that should be in our laps right now, but just haven't quite made it. Are these features truly innovations or just cheap gimmicks OEMs will use to sell you a laptop for one or two years?

Julian van der Merwe, 20 Jan 2022 18:14

MediaTek has Wi-Fi 7 chips in the works. (Source: MediaTek)

MediaTek holds an inaugural Wi-Fi 7 technology demo

MediaTek has confirmed that it is working to support the roll-out of Wi-Fi 7 already. These products are projected to incorporate new and upgraded specs for improved speeds and bandwidths compared to Wi-Fi 6 or 6E. MediaTek aims to have its first examples of its new chipsets and components on the market by 2023.

Deirdre O'Donnell, 19 Jan 2022 22:41

Samsung is catching up (Image Source: CrispIdea)

Samsung plans to overtake TSMC by 2030

Samsung is still trailing behind TSMC, but the South Korean foundries already managed to surpass Intel as far as 2021 revenues are concerned. 70% of the yearly revenue is invested by Samsung in improved production capacity, while TSMC only invests 50%, so the South Korean giant is confident that it can catch up and eventually overtake its main competitor by 2030.

Bogdan Solca, 19 Jan 2022 22:11

Newegg's current deal on the Gigabyte AORUS 17G YD lowers the effective price of the high-end RTX 3080 gaming laptop to US$1,699.

Deal | Gigabyte AORUS 17G YD gaming laptop with RTX 3080, Core i7-11800H, 32GB RAM and 300 Hz display now on sale for US$1,699

Gigabyte's beefy 17-inch gaming laptop is heavily discounted and can basically be bought for the current price of a desktop Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, which turns this deal into a decent upgrade opportunity for high-end gamers.

Enrico Frahn, 19 Jan 2022 20:26

Manufacturers increasingly try to attract gamers and professionals at the same time - Schenker XMG Pro 17 (Clevo PC70HS) review

The Schenker XMG Pro 17 we just tested shows the attempt of the manufacturer to also design and advertise large gaming laptops as a slim solution for creative professionals. While this may turn off some gaming enthusiasts who value the highest performance, it may also attract another target group.

Christian Hintze, 19 Jan 2022 20:20

The Framework Laptop is available with a choice of three Tiger Lake processors. (Image source: Framework)

Framework Laptop: Third-party expansion modules start appearing with MagSafe-style magnetic charging and RF support

The Framework Laptop has four module bays for swapping in different ports and connections. People have now started developing third-party modules that bring more versatility to the innovative laptop, including magnetic charging.

Alex Alderson, 19 Jan 2022 16:31