Laptop

5 Things to Do After Purchasing a New Laptop

So you made the jump and just spent $1000 on a fresh new laptop. Here are the five first steps we think you should take to better protect your purchase and make sure you get everything that the laptop has to offer.

Allen Ngo, 12 Sep 2019 17:50

Intel's first white label gaming laptop now available for $2200, will be adapted by resellers like Maingear, Schenker, and Eluktronics

Our full review on the promising Intel chassis will follow in the weeks ahead. Intel thinks it can out-design gaming veterans like MSI, Asus, Alienware, Gigabyte, and Clevo with its very own chassis that we will be eager to put to the test.

Allen Ngo, 12 Sep 2019 15:00

Lakefield processors are Intel's first to feature its Foveros 3D stacking technology. (Image source: Intel)

Intel Lakefield processor appears on GFXBench; Iris Plus Graphics G7 on a 7 W chip?

Lakefield processors will be the first example of Intel's Foveros 3D stacking technology. GFXBench confirms that the upcoming 10 nm chips will feature Gen11 GPUs with up to 64 execution units (EU), putting them technically on par with the Iris Plus Graphics G7. Iris Plus Graphics performance in thin 2-in-1s or dual-display devices? Not quite, according to GFXBench.

Alex Alderson, 12 Sep 2019 13:57

Apple Arcade goes live on November 1, 2019. (Source: Apple)

Apple's TV+ and Arcade titles, formats and pricing structures are outlined in full

The latest Apple keynote introduced the new iPhones and iPad, yet did not stop there. It also outlined the company's new gaming- and TV-streaming services in detail. They will both go live in November 2019, cost US$4.99 per month and have content ready to go.

Deirdre O Donnell, 11 Sep 2019 21:13

The Intel Core i7-10710U is based on 14nm manufacturing technology. (Image source: TechnoFAQ)

Intel Core i7-10710U delivers powerful single-core performances in UserBenchmark and Geekbench 5; flies past AMD Ryzen 7 3700U and 3750H rivals

An Intel Core i7-10710U processor has been spotted being put through its paces on both UserBenchmark and Geekbench 5. The energy-efficient six-core CPU, which was tested in MSI’s new Prestige 15 laptop, particularly shines in single-core benchmarks where it manages to outclass the quad-core Ryzen competition from AMD.

Daniel R Deakin, 10 Sep 2019 00:07

The Dell Vostro 15 5590 and 7590 come with free shipping. (Image source: Dell)

Deal | Save almost US$900: Eye-popping price cuts on Dell Vostro laptops with GTX 1650 GPU or 10th Gen Intel CPU

Dell has some mouth-watering deals currently available on various SKUs from its Vostro line, which include laptops featuring a Turing-based discrete GPU from Nvidia or processors from Intel’s new Comet Lake generation. The models included in the current deal would be ideal for business users looking to upgrade or renew existing notebooks.

Daniel R Deakin, 08 Sep 2019 22:28

Malware is now a problem when downloading textbooks. (Source: Wikipedia)

Kaspersky claims to have found malware in digital college textbooks

The online security company Kaspersky has reported the presence of dangerous programs in the digital versions of educational content for university students. These essays and texts were found to contain malware of varying severity and virulence. Some were described as capable of infecting whole networks from a single student's PC.

Deirdre O Donnell, 06 Sep 2019 23:04

The new Arun power station. (Source: IFA International)

IFA 2019 | The new Arun power station has both USB and AC outputs to charge a laptop at up to 100W

The charging accessory brand Arun has a new travel product that can charge both mobile devices and full notebooks. This "power station" has variants with 22000mAh or 30000mAh capacities, both of which has a full AC outlet, as well as USB type A and C ports. The latter can charge a mobile device at up to 45 watts (W), whereas the former can deliver up to 100W.

Deirdre O Donnell, 06 Sep 2019 20:23

Razer Blade 15 just got $400 cheaper, now shipping with a new GeForce GTX 1660 Ti option

The price of entry for Razer laptops has always been on the high side. The new entry-level GTX 1660 Ti SKU should make it a little easier for users to pull the trigger by dropping the minimum price of a 2019 Blade 15 from $2000 to $1600 USD.

Allen Ngo, 06 Sep 2019 19:30

The QTM527 mmWave antenna module. (Source: Qualcomm)

IFA 2019 | Qualcomm unveils the new QTM527 mmWave antenna module for the Snapdragon X55 modem

Qualcomm has introduced its latest "add-on" for its 2nd-generation 5G modem, the Snapdragon X55. The QTM527 is an antenna that confers mmWave reception on the chipset. It is intended to enable the X55 to handle fiber-level connections for homes and businesses, regardless of their location.

Deirdre O Donnell, 06 Sep 2019 18:38

Dynabook claims that the new Tecra X50 is the company's thinnest and lightest 15-inch notebook to date. (Source: Dynabook)

Dynabook announces thin and light 15.6-inch Tecra X50 business notebook

Unlike other OEMs that immediately jumped on the Ice Lake bandwagon, Dynabook decided to stick with Whiskey Lake and powered the new Tecra X50 with a Core i7-8665U CPU. The business-class notebook also comes with a 15.6-inch IGZO FHD LCD display, 32 GB of RAM, 1 TB NVMe SSD storage, Wi-Fi 6 and two Thunderbolt 3 ports.

Bogdan Solca, 06 Sep 2019 16:40

Schenker has partnered with Intel for the XMG Fusion 15. (Image source: Schenker)

IFA 2019 | Schenker announces the XMG Fusion 15, Europe's answer to the Eluktronics MAG-15

The Schenker XMG Fusion 15 features a Core i7-9750H processor, either an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti or RTX 2070 Max-Q GPU and up to 64 GB of DDR4 RAM. The XMG Fusion 15 comes with a 94 Wh battery, Thunderbolt 3 and a 144 Hz 1080p 15.6-inch IPS panel too. Schenker will officially launch the Fusion 15 on September 17.

Alex Alderson, 06 Sep 2019 13:48

The Acer Chromebook 315 offers an optional Intel Pentium Silver N5000 CPU. (Source: Acer)

IFA 2019 | Acer launches a slew of new Chromebooks with entry-level Intel processors and Google Assistant starting from €299

Acer has announced a total of four Chromebooks at IFA 2019. Of these, the Chromebook Spin 311 is a 11.6-inch convertible while the remaining three sport a traditional laptop form-factor. All Chromebooks are powered by entry-level Intel CPUs and feature USB Type-C ports, Gigabit Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 06 Sep 2019 10:58

The new Lenovo Yogas have ultra-slim metallic builds. (Source: Lenovo)

IFA 2019 | Lenovo's new Yoga 2-in-1s offer up to 10th-gen Intel Core CPUs and smart thermal controls

Lenovo has unveiled new Yoga C- and S-series models. As expected, they conform to Project Athena and feature premium materials and features in many variants. Some also offer up to 10th-gen Intel Core processors and AI features intended to boost performance and cooling under certain circumstances

Deirdre O Donnell, 06 Sep 2019 00:08

VESA's DisplayHDR standards can improve a screen's performance. (Source: Pinterest)

VESA's updated HDR standards may improve the display panels of the future

The Video Electronics Standards Association (or VESA) is the body that can confer official certifications for state-of-the art quality standards such as DisplayHDR on new screens. Its latest update to the criteria by which they are granted is called version 1.1. It calls for ultra-modern specs such as active dimming, as well as tougher yardsticks for color gamut and luminance.

Deirdre O Donnell, 05 Sep 2019 18:43

The AsusPro B9 is said to be the lightest 14-inch business notebook, weighing only 1.94 lbs. (Source: MSPoweruser)

IFA 2019 | AsusPro B9 is the world's lightest 14-inch business notebook powered by Ice Lake CPUs

Hours after Acer announced its thinnest and lightest book with the introduction of the new Swift 5 model, Asus retaliated with the unveiling of a thinner and lighter AsusPro B9 business-class 14-incher. The AsusPro B9 is only 0.58 inches thick and weighs 1.94 lbs, yet it can still integrate Ice Lake quad-core CPUs, up to 32 GB of RAM, a dual 1 TB NVMe SSD storage combo and a Thunderbolt 3 port.

Bogdan Solca, 05 Sep 2019 15:44

The Honor MagicBook Pro. (Source: Honor)

Honor launches Ryzen 3000-powered versions of the MagicBook Pro

The Honor MagicBook Pro is an ultrabook that seems to take after the MacBook in design. It was launched with Intel Core i7-8565U or i5-8265U CPUs. Now, it maker has launched new variants that replaces them with AMD APUs.

Deirdre O Donnell, 04 Sep 2019 23:01

Leak: Lenovo ThinkPad E14 previews new naming scheme for well-known business laptop brand

Lenovo ThinkPads have a very long history. Even the naming scheme of the business laptop line has a history, as it is more than 10 years old in its current iteration. Its roots are even older and date back to the IBM ThinkPad days. Now, it has apparently run its course, as the ThinkPad L13 does not adhere to the known naming scheme – and it seems like its not going to be the only upcoming Lenovo ThinkPad model.

Benjamin Herzig, 04 Sep 2019 20:47

IFA 2019 | Acer's Nitro XV3 series of monitors brings NVIDIA G-SYNC-compatibility and various eye-saving features

Acer's new series of XV3 gaming monitors offer modern refresh rates of up to 240Hz and response times of as low as 1 millisecond. They are also G-SYNC ready with the variable refresh rate (VRR) necessary to handle either the RTX or GTX 10-series of graphic cards. These new IPS panels come in either 24.5- or 27-inch variants, and will start at €249 (about US$275).

Deirdre O Donnell, 04 Sep 2019 20:06

Gen12 UHD Graphics have previously appeared online in Tiger Lake-U and Y series processors. (Image source: Intel)

Intel UHD Graphics Gen12 performs woefully in GFXBench

The successor to the GPUs powering Intel's new Ice Lake-U series has appeared on GFXBench, and boy is it currently a stinker. The GPU, identified as the UHD Graphics Gen12, performed miserably in benchmarks. However, as it is not slated to arrive for another eighteen months, we are certainly looking at an early engineering sample.

Alex Alderson, 04 Sep 2019 16:27

The Acer Swift 5 gets an upgrade to Intel Ice Lake and NVIDIA MX250. (Source: Acer)

IFA 2019 | Acer launches new Swift 3 and Swift 5 notebooks with Intel Ice Lake and NVIDIA MX250 graphics

Acer has updated the Swift 3 and Swift 5 notebooks to offer Intel Ice Lake and NVIDIA GeForce MX250 options. The new Swift laptops are thin and extremely lightweight thanks to a magnesium alloy chassis. Both the Swift 3 and Swift 5 come with features such as Wi-Fi 6, Thunderbolt 3, and a long-lasting battery with fast charge that can offer up to 12.5 hours of runtime.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 04 Sep 2019 14:54

The Asus Zephyrus S GX701 will be the first laptop to offer a 300 Hz panel option. (Image source: Asus)

IFA 2019 | Asus ROG introduces world's first gaming laptop sporting a 300 Hz display with the Zephyrus S GX701

Asus is known for making technological leaps forward in regard to gaming-laptop displays, and now it seems the Taiwanese manufacturer is ready to make another spectacular bound. Asus has revealed that the Zephyrus S GX701 will be the world’s first notebook to offer a display capable of a 300 Hz refresh rate, ideal for esports and gaming professionals. Update: It looks like Acer beat Asus to the punch for this "world's first" claim.

Daniel R Deakin, 04 Sep 2019 14:00

The Asus ProArt StudioBook series is aimed at graphics professionals. (Image source: Asus)

IFA 2019 | New Asus ProArt StudioBook series features flagship model with Core i9-9980HK CPU and powerful Nvidia Quadro RTX 6000 GPU

Asus has claimed that its ProArt StudioBook lineup includes the “world’s most graphically-powerful laptop” with the ProArt StudioBook One (W590) workstation. The device comes with a 9th Gen Intel mobile processor and Nvidia’s Quadro RTX 6000. The new series also features the ProArt StudioBook Pro X (W730) that offers up to a Quadro RTX 5000 and incorporates the innovative ScreenPad 2.0 secondary display.

Daniel R Deakin, 04 Sep 2019 14:00

NVIDIA adds the Quadro RTX 6000 to its mobile Quadro RTX lineup. (Source: NVIDIA)

IFA 2019 | NVIDIA announces the mobile Quadro RTX 6000 GPU, sets new Ace Reference Design standard for mobile workstations

NVIDIA has introduced a new mobile Quadro RTX card, the mobile Quadro RTX 6000 at IFA 2019. The specifications of the mobile Quadro RTX 6000 are yet to be officially disclosed, but NVIDIA's performance numbers show that it performs within 10% of that of its desktop counterpart. NVIDIA is working with partners to create mobile workstation laptops based on its Ace Reference Design and a total of 39 RTX Studio laptops and desktops will be made available.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 04 Sep 2019 14:00

The reversible Type-C connector will be used for the new USB4 standard. (Source: Notebookcheck)

USB4 spec finalized, brings Thunderbolt 3 compatibility and speeds up to 40 Gbps

The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has finalized the specification for USB4. A few things are different this time around including the way the it named, as well as its support for another standard in the form of Thunderbolt 3.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 04 Sep 2019 13:35

The Lenovo IdeaPad S540 13-inch offers a QHD display. (Source: Lenovo)

IFA 2019 | Lenovo introduces the 13-inch IdeaPad S540 with a QHD display and choice of Intel Comet Lake-U and AMD Ryzen Zen+ CPUs

Lenovo has announced a 13-inch variant of the IdeaPad S540 at IFA 2019. The new IdeaPad S540 comes in both Intel Comet Lake-U and AMD Ryzen Zen+ APU options. Both the variants sport a QHD 16:10 IPS display with the Intel version offering optional Wi-Fi 6 and NVIDIA MX250 graphics. The IdeaPad S540 13-inch starts from €799.00 (incl. VAT) and will be available from October 2019.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 04 Sep 2019 09:01

Lenovo IdeaPad S340 is now available with a 13.3-inch screen. (Source: Lenovo)

IFA 2019 | Lenovo announces refreshed IdeaPad S340 13-inch with Intel Comet Lake and NVIDIA MX250 options

At IFA 2019, Lenovo has introduced a 13.3-inch IdeaPad S340 with Intel 10th gen Comet Lake-U and NVIDIA GeForce MX250 GPU options. The new IdeaPad S340 is available in three color options and weighs just 1.3 kg. Sadly though, Lenovo's choice of ports leave a lot to be desired.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 04 Sep 2019 08:07

New Razer Blade Stealth to offer the largest graphics boost for the series ever, will come with Ice Lake Core i7-1065G7 and GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q graphics

IFA 2019 | New Razer Blade Stealth to offer the biggest leap in graphics for the series ever, will come with Ice Lake Core i7 and GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q graphics

It's more than just a simple Ice Lake update that everyone was expecting. The refreshed Blade Stealth will launch in September-October to be Razer's first ever Stealth laptop equipped with GeForce GTX graphics. The jump from GeForce MX150 to the GTX 1650 should offer a massive ~150 percent increase in graphics horsepower albeit likely with shorter battery life in the process.

Allen Ngo, 04 Sep 2019 06:00

The RedmiBook 14 Enhanced. (Source: Redmi)

The RedmiBook 14 Enhanced reportedly attracts over 1.5 million reservations in China

The RedmiBook 14 Enhanced is essentially its brand's first ultrabook, but with 1 important difference: 10th-generation Intel Core silicon. Its fans in China can sign up to buy their unit on mi.com at present. Redmi has announced that the volume of these reservations have now exceeded 1.5 million in number.

Deirdre O Donnell, 03 Sep 2019 18:41

A Snapdragon 8cx can be found in the Samsung Galaxy Book S. (Image source: Phoneweek)

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx amasses respectable score on Geekbench and closes in on Intel's Core i5-8250U

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx processor has recently been spotted on Geekbench as part of a system recorded as “Qualcomm CLS”. The California-based chip designer had already compared the Snapdragon 8cx’s performance with Intel’s Core i5-8250U and this latest benchmark reveal seems to show that the former can keep up with the latter.

Daniel R Deakin, 03 Sep 2019 18:14

In review: The Lenovo ThinkPad L490 - a poor man's L480?

Lenovo has upgraded its ThinkPad L series to new Intel Whiskey Lake processors, but it is not all rosy. Our ThinkPad L490 review unit is somehow slower than its predecessor despite having a nominally more powerful CPU. Has Lenovo sweetened the deal with any other reasons to upgrade, or should you give the ThinkPad L490 a miss?

Alex Alderson, 03 Sep 2019 18:07

Even though Intel chose to collaborate with lesser-known OEMs like Eluktronics, the build quality and thermal performance is unparalleled. (Source: Eluktronics)

Intel develops the lightest gaming laptops with large batteries and outstanding thermal performance

Thanks to a full-magnesium chassis, the Mag-15 gaming laptop developed by Intel in collaboration with Eluktronics is the lightest and thinnest on the market right now. It also comes with one of the largest 94 Whr batteries and the cooling system ensures the best thermal performance to date. Powered by the i7-9750H CPU, the Mag-15 also integrates up to 64 GB of DDR4-2666 RAM, up to 2 TB NVMe SSD storage and up to an RTX 2070 Max-Q GPU, all for considerably lower prices compared to established brands.

Bogdan Solca, 03 Sep 2019 16:25

The C425 is a more affordable C434 without the convertible bells and whistles. (Source: Amazon)

Asus introduces non-convertible Chromebook C425 powered by Intel Core m3-8100Y CPUs

The new Asus Chromebook C425 quietly made its way to retailers like Amazon. Unlike the C434 model that comes with a 360-degree touchscreen, the C425 offers only a 180-degree FHD display, but it does retain all the other hardware specs, including the Intel Core m3-8100Y CPU with integrated HD Graphics 615 GPU, 8 GB of LPDDR3 RAM and 64 GB eMMC storage.

Bogdan Solca, 03 Sep 2019 15:29

Who's up for a wooden HP Envy 13 powered by Intel Ice Lake? (Source: HP)

These are some of the Ice Lake and Project Athena laptops that can be expected this year apart from the Dell XPS 13 7390 2-in-1

News about laptops powered by Intel 10th gen Ice Lake processors has been far and few in between save for the Dell XPS 13 7390 2-in-1. We list some of the Ice Lake-powered laptops we expect to see this year and some of these could get grace the stage during IFA 2019.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 03 Sep 2019 07:30

The Dell XPS 15 9570. (Image source: Dell)

Dell continues to bait and switch XPS 15 9570 owners over Modern Standby sleep issues

Dell has quietly posted an update on its support website for the XPS 15 9570 titled "Modern Standby Performance Improvement Package Application". The 66.94 MB update promises to fix Connected Modern Standby being enabled by default, a change that Dell previously claimed required re-installing Windows 10. The company labels the update as urgent, with it apparently updating machines to BIOS 1.12.0 too. The update is available to download now.

Alex Alderson, 02 Sep 2019 12:42

Razer hinting at a new "world's first" Blade laptop set for IFA 2019

Razer is teasing another Blade laptop set to be unveiled on September 4th. Could this be the redesigned Blade Stealth powered by 25 W Intel Ice Lake-U Iris graphics?

Allen Ngo, 01 Sep 2019 09:18

Laptop

5 Things to Do After Purchasing a New Laptop

Intel's first white label gaming laptop now available for $2200, will be adapted by resellers like Maingear, Schenker, and Eluktronics

84% Asus VivoBook 14 X403FA Review: The elegant subnotebook offers a lot of endurance

Intel Lakefield processor appears on GFXBench; Iris Plus Graphics G7 on a 7 W chip?

Apple's TV+ and Arcade titles, formats and pricing structures are outlined in full

83% Acer Swift 3 SF314-54 Laptop Review: An all-rounder at a great price

87% Dell Latitude 7300 Laptop Review: business subnotebook falls short of its performance goals

86% Hot Ice: Dell XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 Core i3 Laptop Review