Personal Computers

The gaming PC ecosystem should benefit greatly from the forced transition to Windows 11, an analyst firm wrote Friday, with a 35 percent increase in hardware sales alone during 2025. But there are clouds on the horizon: Over the next five years, millions will leave PC gaming entirely.

Jon Peddie Research, which has followed the PC graphics market for decades, issued the incredibly optimistic result on Friday. The company’s prediction is that the market for global PC-based gaming hardware — which includes desktops and notebooks, DIY, and peripherals/accessories, JPR said — will grow 35 percent in 2025 to $44.5 billion.

And the actual spending by consumers could be even more. “JPR applies a purchase motivation model to the PC gaming hardware market, which calculates financial market magnitude based on the customers’ intent to play video games with the hardware,” the firm said in a release. “As a result, JPR’s data is conservative in relation to total PC hardware expenditure.”

JPR’s report comes a day after market researcher Canalys predicted that consumer PC sales in the United States alone will dip by 3.9 percent in 2025 to 25.284 million units, then grow 5.4 percent in 2026 to 26.651 million. Rival market researcher IDC forecast flat U.S. PC sales for the second quarter, though a 6.5 percent increase for the worldwide PC market.

Tariffs have roiled the U.S. economy, including the PC market, boosting and lowering sales as they have come and gone. But retail sales in August did climb 0.6 percent, more than expected.

Best Buy CEO Corie Bary told Yahoo Finance that shoppers were looking for deals. “We see almost everyone looking for value now,” Barry said. “We actually are seeing a consumer… bifurcated a bit, [that’s] still willing to spend if they really feel like it’s a great value.”

Best Buy

JPR, however, took into account PC sales as well as DIY components and accessories, all of which has been affected by the Windows 10-to-Windows 11 transition, which goes beyond the financial cost.

“Never before in the history of the Microsoft Windows operating system has there been a forced hardware migration requirement,” said Ted Pollak, JPR’s senior analyst of game tech, in a statement. “And this cannot be solved by swapping out a graphics card. It requires a CPU upgrade for over 100 million gamers, which, in turn, requires a motherboard upgrade and most likely RAM as well.”

Pollak said that most PC gamers are simply buying new prebuilt systems. But those who built their own systems are prepared, too.

The DIY gamers are also prepared for this transition, and many have been building new computers alongside their existing Windows 10 PCs, instead of trying to Frankenstein their current systems,” Pollak said. “This allows them to continue using their PC until their Windows 11 builds are complete.” 

JPR has tracked PC graphics for more than 30 years, and the company reported earlier that Intel’s share in PC graphics had sunk to essentially zero.

The future, however, looks less rosy to JPR’s president, Jon Peddie. Peddie said that the firm is projecting a “significant decrease in entry-level PC gaming” over the next five years, reducing the number of entry-level gamers by 13 percent.

“Included in this drop are over 10 million people leaving the PC platform entirely,” Peddie said in a statement. “Consoles, handhelds, and mobile all offer compelling value for the budget-limited gamer. However, a few million entry-level defectors are not actually leaving the PC platform but are migrating to the more expensive hardware tiers of midrange and high-end PC hardware.”

Mini PCs. They’re like regular PCs, only less so. And they’re getting very, very popular because they combine laptop components and low-cost upgradeable options in a teeny, tiny, often affordable package. Today, Adam is in the PCWorld Labs to get a top-tier Geekom mini PC box, tear the box open, then tear the mini PC open right after that.

The Geekom IT15 mini PC is a shockingly powerful option that retails for around $1,199.99. Using the latest “Arrow Lake” Intel Core Ultra 9 mobile CPUs and some speedy RAM, with up to 64GB of memory and 2TB of storage right from the factory. Despite the tiny size, it has tons of port options—around back are two each of USB-C 4.0 (both with DisplayPort over video, one with power delivery), USB-A, and HDMI ports, plus 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet. On the front are another two USB-A ports with up to 3.2 Gen 2 speeds. And on the side, wonder of wonders, is a full-sized SD card slot. (I know some photographers who just squealed in delight.)

But what about the guts? If you unscrew the feet on the bottom (which also includes a VESA mount for sticking it on a monitor), you get access to three M.2 slots, one 80mm-long one for SSDs, a 42mm slot for additional storage, and a 30mm slot for a laptop wireless card (which is included). There’s an additional SATA connection right on the board if you want to slide a 2.5-inch drive into the combination slot and M.2 cooler built into the case, a very cool touch. There are two SO-DIMM slots, filled with 16GB modules on our example.

If you pop off the plastic top, you can take a look at the internal cooler and fan, which is pretty tightly spaced in there. If you’re brave enough to continue, you’ll need to take the case retention screws out of the bottom to slide the plastic portion off and unplug the wireless antenna. There’s really no point in going any further, since it’s a laptop chip underneath there and nothing user-upgradeable… but Adam kept going, of course.

It’s pretty cool to see every functional part of the Geekom IT15 mini PC sitting on a board barely bigger than a Raspberry Pi. For more deep dives into the latest hardware, be sure to subscribe to PCWorld on YouTube and check out our weekly podcast The Full Nerd.

Any monitor can be used for PC gaming, but a display built for productivity will likely leave you underwhelmed. Limited contrast, blurry motion, and slow refresh rates still hold basic productivity monitors back in games. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of excellent gaming monitors available at a wide range of price points—and the best of them embrace cutting-edge technology unavailable in any other PC display. 

The following are the best gaming monitors we’ve tested throughout this year and last. If you want to learn more about what we look for in a good gaming monitor and how we test them, scroll further down the page.

• 26.5-inch 4K OLED panel looks sharp
• Great contrast and color performance
• Strong motion clarity
• Respectable HDR performance
• Lots of connectivity including USB-C

• Design is a bit bland
• Gamma, color temperature slightly off-target
• 4K OLED panel carries a premium price

If you’re looking for a high-performance gaming monitor, the MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED should be at the top of your list.

This 26.5-inch display delivers stunning 4K resolution with an ultra-smooth 240Hz refresh rate in a cutting-edge OLED panel, making it an excellent choice for gamers who want both visual clarity and fluid motion. With its 240Hz refresh rate, the MSI is built for fast-paced gaming yet maintains the deep contrast and vibrant colors OLED monitors are known for. It also supports Adaptive Sync for smooth frame pacing.

But wait, there’s more! The QD-OLED panel offers excellent contrast and color accuracy, which makes it a solid pick for creative professionals and anyone who enjoys watching HDR movies. Connectivity is another plus, with HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1a, and USB-C inputs, as well as 98 watts of USB Power Delivery for charging laptops or tablets. While the design is a bit plain, the stand is sturdy and fully adjustable.

Priced at $1,099.99, the MSI MPG 272URX is more expensive than 1440p OLED alternatives, which can be found for under $800. But if 4K clarity and a fluid 240Hz refresh rate are what you’re after, this monitor is worth the investment.

Read our full MSI MPG 272URX review

• Handsome design with functional stand
• Attractive SDR image quality
• Good motion clarity at 165Hz
• Supports all Adaptive Sync standards

• No USB connectivity or 3.5mm audio-out
• Lackluster HDR

The Dell G2724D is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a budget gaming monitor that doesn’t compromise on quality. With attractive design, strong motion clarity at 165Hz, and wide Adaptive Sync support, it provides an immersive gaming experience at an affordable price.

It has a 27-inch IPS LCD panel with 1440p resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate. The color gamut spans 100 percent of sRGB, 86 percent of DCI-P3, and 82 percent of Adobe RGB, delivering a bright and vibrant image that’s excellent in games and adequate for most content creation. The monitor’s Adaptive Sync support is a standout feature, with official support for VESA Adaptive Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium, and Nvidia G-Sync.

This monitor also delivers a handsome design with a matte black and gray chassis and sporty rear vents that provide an aggressive yet unobtrusive look. The functional monitor stand offers a range of ergonomic adjustments and has a compact base that doesn’t consume excessive desk space.

The monitor doesn’t offer USB connectivity or 3.5mm audio-out. HDR performance is lackluster, too, making it a so-so choice for HDR gaming.

Yet it’s hard to beat the G2724D’s performance at $300 and, more importantly, it offers everything an average PC gamer is going to need for a smooth, responsive, and attractive gaming experience. It’s the kind of monitor that, despite its budget price, could have a place on your desk for several years.

Read our full Dell G2724D review

• Attractive design, especially in unique colorways
• Built-in speakers are surprisingly decent
• Solid color accuracy and respectable gamut
• Good motion clarity

• Built-in stand only adjusts for tilt
• Just two video inputs
• Awkward menu controls
• Color temperature skews cool

The Pixio PX248 Wave is a great budget monitor for gamers who want more than a no-frills display. The PX248 Wave stands apart from the budget pack with a colorful, stylish design, and solid motion performance, all available at an enticing price of $159.99.

Pixio offers the PX248 Wave in four colorways: black, white, blue, and pink. The latter two are rather special, as only a handful of monitors — like the more expensive Samsung M8 Smart Monitor — offer similarly alluring colors. The stand matches the monitor’s colorway, and Pixio even offers an optional color-coordinated monitor arm for those who want to go all-in on a particular desktop vibe.

The monitor’s 24-inch Fast IPS display boasts a 200Hz refresh rate that delivers fluid motion. Image quality is reasonable, too, as the PX248 Wave delivers respectable color accuracy and coverage, making it suitable for both gaming and casual content creation. It has built-in speakers, too.

Despite its visual appeal, the PX248 Wave sticks to the basics with connectivity, which includes HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4. USB connectivity isn’t available. The included stand is also basic, as it only adjusts for tilt, and the menu controls could be more user-friendly.

Most competitors at this price point have a similar display panel wrapped in a more generic black, gray, or charcoal case. Pixio’s PX248 Wave manages to match them in image quality and beat them on looks, yet it stays on a budget.

Read our full Pixio PX248 Wave review

• Plenty of connectivity and menu options
• Good contrast ratio
• Solid color performance
• Up to 144Hz refresh rate with good motion clarity

• Stand setup uses screws instead of clip mechanism
• Modest maximum brightness
• HDR is supported but lackluster

If you’re looking for the immersive experience of a curved, ultrawide monitor at a cost that won’t leave you hurting, this is it. The Gigabyte GS34WQC checks those boxes and then some. It has a sharp 34-inch display with a resolution of 3440×1440. That’s paired with good motion clarity driven by a 120Hz refresh rate (overclockable to 135Hz) and support for AMD FreeSync, ensuring smooth and consistent gameplay. Camera movements are detailed, and fast-paced action is easily tracked.

Beyond its motion clarity, the GS34WQC delivers great image quality that’s comparable to monitors twice its price. It has a Vertical Alignment (VA) panel instead of the more common In-Plane Switching (IPS). This provides improved contrast with deeper black levels and more convincing shadow detail in dark scenes. These qualities make it especially suitable for games with a dark, gritty presentation.

The monitor’s design is plain, but functional. It has an ergonomic stand that provides height and tilt adjustment, but its assembly requires manual attachment of four screws, unlike competitors with tool-free clip-in stands. The GS34WQC compensates with an intuitive menu system that has extensive customization options, allowing gamers to tailor the visuals to their preferences.

Value, however, is where the GS34WQC really beats the competition. It’s not the least expensive budget ultrawide monitor, but it delivers better image quality and motion clarity than many competitors while keeping the price in check. Indeed, the GS34WQC is so good it makes $400-to-$500-dollar ultrawide gaming monitors more difficult to recommend.

Read our full Gigabyte GS34WQC review

• Class-leading 5K2K resolution
• Strong SDR image quality
• Solid HDR brightness
• Incredibly immersive 45-inch ultrawide panel

• Design isn’t bad, but not up to the price tag
• Limited USB connectivity
• Curved display will be too extreme for some

The LG Ultragear 45GX950A-B is the best big-screen gaming monitor for anyone who wants a premium immersive gaming experience.

The monitor’s class-leading 45-inch 5K2K (5120×2160) OLED panel helps to set the monitor apart, providing a resolution previously unseen in this size class. It’s a significant upgrade over lower-resolution predecessors, like the Corsair Xeneon Flex. The higher resolution pairs well with OLED’s excellent contrast and color performance. HDR performance is solid, with brightness comparable to other leading OLED monitors.

Motion clarity is good, as well. The monitor is a “dual mode” display, meaning it can achieve 5120×2160 at a refresh rate up to 165Hz, or 2560×1080 up to 330Hz. It also supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync for smooth gameplay.

The 45GX950A-B is expensive, and its aggressive 800R curve can feel “off” for productivity. The monitor also has limited USB connectivity. USB-C input is supported, but it only has two downstream USB-A ports.

But if your priority is unparalleled immersion backed by incredible sharpness and excellent HDR on a truly massive display, the LG Ultragear 45GX950A-B is a winner.

Read our full LG Ultragear 45GX950A-B review

• Compact ergonomic stand
• Superb contrast with deep, inky black levels
• Excellent HDR performance
• Inexpensive for an OLED monitor

• HDMI ports don’t support 240Hz refresh rate
• No USB-C
• SDR performance is great, but slightly lags QD-OLED peers

If you’re searching for the best gaming monitor for HDR, look no further than the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG. It has an LG WOLED panel that delivers stunning HDR without breaking the bank.

The XG27AQDMG’s third-generation LG WOLED panel provides exceptional HDR brightness that outperforms QD-OLED competitors and closes the gap with Mini-LED monitors. It can hit a maximum sustained brightness of 724 nits in a 10 percent window, which is enough to deliver punchy HDR highlights and detail across luminant areas of a game or movie. This pairs well with OLED’s deep, inky blacks and wide color gamut, which covers 96 percent DCI-P3 coverage. Put simply: It looks exceptionally immersive and realistic.

Gamers will appreciate the high refresh rate of up to 240Hz, which is paired with Adaptive Sync technologies like AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync for fluid, tear-free gaming. The refresh rate is lower than some QD-OLED competitors, which achieve up to 360Hz. On the other hand, though, the XG27AQDMG provides motion clarity far better than Mini-LED gaming monitors, such as the Red Magic 4K Gaming Monitor.

While the XG27AQDMG has strong color performance, it isn’t quite as good as QD-OLED alternatives with SDR. Sharpness is merely okay, too, and small fonts can look pixelated at times. 

Pricing, however, is an upside. Sold at an MSRP of $749.99, and immediately available for just $699.99 at release, the XG27AQDMG undercuts the competition on price. Gamers who mostly stick to SDR may want to pay $50 to $100 more for a QD-OLED alternative, but the XG27AQDMG has the edge in HDR.

Read our full Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG review

• Excellent gaming performance
• Incredible image quality
• Ergonomic adjustment options
• Special gaming configurations

• High power consumption

If you’re not a professional gamer or you just don’t require the obscenely fast 240Hz, then you can find a whole host of great options at 144Hz instead. Our pick for the best of the bunch is the LG Ultragear 27GN950.

Not only is it still super fast, but it also has 4K resolution, all of the ports your heart desires, and impressively high color fidelity. It is a great option for those who will use it for multimedia other than just gaming and don’t mind sacrificing a little speed to gain a lot of pixel density.

Admittedly, it’s a bit pricey for a 27-inch monitor and you will need a high-end GPU to take advantage of its full potential, but if you can afford it, then this just might end up being the pièce de résistance in your display setup.

Read our full LG Ultragear 27GN950 review

• A new high mark for motion clarity
• Excellent image quality
• Easy-to-use menu with many options
• Broad official Adaptive Sync support

• Stand is too large
• No USB-C

The Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDP is an ideal monitor for competitive gamers, as it’s the world’s first monitor to deliver a 480Hz refresh rate at 1440p resolution. This combination of motion clarity and resolution results in stunning motion performance that will give players an edge in esports and action-packed games.

Gamers will also appreciate the monitor’s excellent image quality, which enhances immersion across all genres. The WOLED panel provides excellent contrast that adds atmosphere in RPGs and horror games, while its wide color gamut, which spans 96 percent of DCI-P3, delivers a vivid and saturated look. The monitor’s good HDR brightness ensures that explosions and special effects in HDR games are displayed with convincing brightness and contrast.

The PG27AQDP is packed with gamer-centric features. It supports multiple Adaptive Sync technologies, including Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync. Asus’ Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) technology further enhances motion clarity (though, unfortunately, it is only available at a 120Hz or 240Hz refresh rate). Asus also provides aspect ratio modes to contrast the display’s viewable area to that of a 24.5-inch monitor for competitive gamers, or to a 4:3 aspect ratio for older games that lack widescreen support.

It’s not perfect. The monitor lacks USB-C connectivity, which might affect some multi-device setups. Asus’ also ships the monitor with a chunky stand that won’t fit well on smaller desks. Those minor downsides aside, the PG27AQDP is an excellent monitor that will appeal to gamers who crave the best motion clarity possible.

Read our full Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDP review

• Attractive design with compact stand
• Good range of video, USB-C, USB-A connectivity
• High SDR and HDR brightness
• Outstanding motion clarity at 1080p/330Hz

• USB-C only supports 15 watts of power delivery
• Extremely glossy display finish
• Only 165Hz refresh rate at 4K

The Asus ROG Strix OLED XG32UCWG stands out with its rare dual-mode display mode, which lets you choose between the sharpness of 4K at 165Hz or ultra-fast 1080p at 330Hz. That flexibility makes it appealing for gamers who sometimes need extreme responsiveness and motion clarity in esports titles, but also want to play games with leading-edge graphics at 4K.

The 165Hz mode is aided by Asus’ Extreme Low Motion Blur feature, which uses backlight strobing to reduce perceived blur. The 330Hz mode, meanwhile, delivers top-notch motion clarity at the expensive of reduced resolution.

Image quality is good, too. The monitor’s brightness is strong for OLED, delivering punchy SDR and HDR visuals, and its TrueBlack Glossy finish boosts perceived contrast for incredibly deep, inky blacks.

Add in a compact stand, solid connectivity with USB-C and multiple USB-A ports, as well as a competitive launch price of $899, and this monitor is an easy recommendation.

The monitor’s TrueBlack Glossy finish is divisive. It looks vivid and contrast-rich in dark rooms but acts like a mirror in brighter rooms. Color performance, while strong, trails the top competitors in gamut coverage, and the 4K refresh rate caps at 165Hz, whereas some rivals offer 4K at 240Hz.

Read our full Asus ROG Strix OLED XG32UCWG review

The Alienware AW2725Q is an excellent 27-inch 4K 240Hz QD-OLED monitor, and less expensive than the competition; the BenQ PD3226G is a monitor for creative professionals, but it’s not bad in PC games, either; the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM 27-inch 4K QD-OLED monitor delivers gorgeous image quality and a long list of features, though it certainly isn’t cheap; the MSI MPG 321URXW QD-OLED is an excellent 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitor — but with the added perk of USB connectivity; the HP Omen Transcend 32 offers great USB-C connectivity and top-tier SDR image quality that make this 4K OLED monitor worth its high price; at less than $200, the Lenovo Legion R27fc-30 is a good budget gaming monitor with a focus on motion clarity; the Acer Predator X32 X3 is a great 4K OLED monitor that separates itself from the competition on two key points: connectivity and price; the Asus ProArt Display 5K is not the best high-resolution display on the market, but it delivers a gorgeous 5K image and long list of features at a reasonable price; the Gigabyte G34WQCP is a $350 ultrawide that earns high marks in SDR brightness, contrast, and color performance.

We test all monitors with a Datacolor Spyder X2 Ultra calibration tool. This tool can report objective measurements for brightness, contrast, color gamut, color accuracy, color temperature, gamma, and other metrics. 

Our results are recorded and compared to the results for past monitors. Though we rely on our eyes for initial impressions, comparing objective results lets us evaluate monitors against hundreds of older models from past reviews and testing. 

We examine motion clarity by quickly moving the camera across the map in Civilization VI, playing a round of Rocket League, and panning the camera across the landscape in Final Fantasy XIV—among other games. Finally, we use the popular UFO Test for an apples-to-apples comparison between displays.

In addition to gaming prowess, we consider a monitor’s on-screen menu, ergonomic stand (or lack thereof), and overall build quality—all important qualities irrespective of use case.

For more details, see our article on on how we test monitors at PCWorld.

We’re PCWorld, after all. We’ve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review dozens of monitors every year. All of our recommendations have been personally tested and vetted by our expert reviewers, who’ve applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards.

Matthew S. Smith is a freelance technology journalist with 15 years of experience reviewing consumer electronics, including the universe of computer monitors. In addition to PCWorld, his work can be found on Wired, Digital Trends, Reviewed, Lifewire, and other technology publications.

Gamers have unique needs that exceed an average user. Here’s what PC gamers should look for in a gaming monitor.

Most widescreen gaming monitors have a resolution of 1920×1080 (1080p), 2560×1440 (1440p), or 4K (3840×2160). A higher resolution improves sharpness and clarity, which helps games look more detailed and lifelike. Increasing resolution also increases demand on your video card, however. Gamers with less powerful hardware may want to avoid 4K. 

A higher refresh leads to smoother motion by increasing the number of frames that can appear each second. It also reduces input lag, as each frame appears more quickly. A 144Hz refresh rate is a big improvement over the standard 60Hz, and 240Hz is better still. The improvement becomes more difficult to notice after 240Hz, but 360Hz monitors exist for those who want the lowest input lag possible.

DisplayPort is the best connection for PC gaming. Even DisplayPort 1.4, which is rather old, can support 4K at 144Hz. HDMI 2.1 can handle 4K at 120Hz and is an acceptable connection for PC gaming, though most gamers will use it for a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S game console.

The best gaming monitor overall is the MSI MPG 341CQPX. The 34-inch panel joins a field of QD-OLED ultrawides, but stands out from the pack with better HDR, a 240Hz refresh rate, and USB-C port with 98 watts of Power Delivery.

At less than $300, the Dell G2724D offers incredible value for gamers. The 1440p/165Hz monitor has all the essentials: good image quality, strong motion clarity, and broad Adaptive Sync support.

Many competitive gamers prefer 1080p resolution because it allows for high frame rates and low input lag even on modest hardware. This also makes it ideal for budget shoppers. 1080p is not as crisp as higher resolutions but, if it allows for higher frame rates, can look good in motion.

1440p remains a great mid-range option. It looks much sharper than 1080p but doesn’t drastically increase load on your video card. A variety of 1440p monitors now support a refresh rate up to 240Hz. 

4K is the last word in sharpness and clarity. Playing a modern game on a 4K monitor takes the experience to a new level. It’s very demanding on your video card, however, so you’ll need top-tier hardware for a smooth experience. 

Ultrawide monitors differ in resolution because they have a wider screen. Most ultrawide monitors have a resolution of 3440×1440, which delivers sharpness similar to a 1440p ultrawide. Some larger monitors have more exotic resolutions: the 49-inch Samsung Odyssey G9 Neo, for example, has 5120×1440 resolution.

AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync can synchronize the refresh rate of a compatible monitor with the output of an AMD or Nvidia video card. This ensures smooth motion and eliminates screen tearing, a distracting visual artifact.

You might be surprised to learn that most AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync monitors rely on the VESA Adaptive Sync standard. This is why many gaming monitors now support both. The difference in performance is minimal.

Our G-Sync vs. FreeSync comparison goes in-depth on their similarities and differences.

The short answer? Yes. 

Our top choice, the Alienware AW3423DW, is an ultrawide gaming monitor. An ultrawide aspect ratio is more immersive in racing, simulation, and role-playing games. It also offers a large, more impressive perspective in many strategy games. 

Not all games support an ultrawide aspect ratio, however. It’s wise to check that your favorite games support ultrawide monitors before making a purchase. Consoles rarely support ultrawide aspect ratios, so console gamers should stick with a widescreen display.

• PCWorld monitor reviews
• Best monitors
• Best 4K monitors
• Best home office monitors
• Best ultrawide monitors
• Best USB-C monitors
• Best portable monitors
• Best monitor arms
• I switched to an ultrawide monitor. It’s a bigger change than I expected
• 4K vs. HDR monitors: How to choose
• Your gaming monitor specs could be deceiving you

• Connects directly to Wi-Fi, no bridge or smart home hub required
• Impressive motion sensor catches everything
• Incredible collection of user options
• Great 3-way support, including a wireless option

• Requires a neutral wire
• Motion sensitivity is nearly blind at lower levels
• More expensive than the competition

Leviton’s updated motion-sensing dimmer pulls out all the stops with wired (or wireless) 3-way circuit support and impressive customization options.

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$54.99 (MSRP)

With both dimming and motion sensing built in; plus, support for 3-way wiring setups, Leviton’s 2^nd-gen Decora Smart Motion Sensing Dimmer (model D2MSD) in-wall smart switch has just about everything you could ask for.

As its name explicitly states, this is an update to an earlier model, the main additions being improved compatibility with third-party ecosystems and support for Leviton’s wireless remote control companion, which I’ll delve into in a bit. All told, it’s well worth its $40 street price.

This dimmer has an extensive list of features, but the short of it is that it’s quite the loaded device.

A Guidelight setting turns a controlled light on very dimly when motion is detected at night, but turns the light on to your normal brightness settings when daylight is detected.

Again, this is an in-wall switch that requires permanent installation and the presence of a neutral wire in the box where it’s installed. The switch is rated to support up to 300 watts of LEDs or 450 watts of incandescent bulbs, or another load of up to 450 volt-amps. It’s also compatible with MLV (magnetic low voltage) loads. As with most dimmers, fluorescent bulbs are not recommended for use with this product (although dimmable compact fluorescents are OK).

Leviton’s app offers a host of fine controls for the company’s motion-sensing dimmer.

Christopher Null/Foundry

The switch connects to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks only, and you’ll need Leviton’s mobile app for setup and management. You can also integrate the dimmer into Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant ecosystems. It is not, however, compatible with Matter today (Leviton tells me a firmware update is in the works; many of the company’s other 2nd-gen Wi-Fi products–including its conventional on/off switch and dimmer–already support Matter after a firmware update).

The centerpiece of the device is its built-in motion sensor, which sits just above the button-style power switch. This sensor features a 180-degree field of view with a maximum range of 30 feet. Naturally, the sensor’s primary function is to turn the lights on when motion is detected, though this can be easily disabled and adjusted in the app.

Physical controls work as expected. Press the central button once to toggle the light on or off. Or use the pair of tiny buttons to the right of the power button to adjust brightness, either by tapping up or down to quickly jump through 10 broad levels of brightness, or by holding one of the buttons down to more smoothly and gradually adjust it, releasing when you get to the light level you want.

Press the large button beneath the motion sensor to toggle the controlled light on and off; press the small buttons on the right-hand side to brighten or dim the light.

Christopher Null/Foundry

Lastly, the device supports the Leviton Anywhere Companion Dimmer ($27 at Amazon), a wireless remote control with a 50-foot range that syncs with the D2MSD and replicates its dimming functions (although not its motion-sensing feature). It’s also compatible with the Leviton Anywhere Companion Switch ($25 at Amazon) Powered by two coin-cell batteries, either device can be mounted to the wall and covered with a plate to emulate a three-way switch without requiring any wires or electrical work at all (the Switch product, of course, lacks a dimming feature).

If the switch you’re replacing is already wired on a 3-way circuit, however, you’ll need to replace that other switch with a Leviton Dimmer Companion ($27 at Amazon) or Switch Companion ($25 at Amazon)—both of which are wired products—for the D2MSD to work.

Like most wired smart switches and dimmers, the D2MSD requires a level of comfort with light electrical work and a modest amount of know-how to complete the installation properly (we can walk you through the process with this easy-to-follow guide to installing a light switch). The device is designed entirely with pigtail connections, with wire nuts included in the box to help you connect the four mandatory wires (five if connecting to a 3-way circuit).

The Leviton smart dimmer D2MSD requires a neutral wire and it offers the option of a 3-way installation via a traveler wire (or you can use Leviton’s wireless companion switch). 

Christopher Null/Foundry

As is common, the in-wall portion of the dimmer is rather large (though Leviton says the 2nd Gen device is slimmer than the 1st Gen), so getting it into the receptacle so it’s fully flush against the wall can take some effort, but I was able to wedge the device into place without much trouble. A white switch plate is included in the box, which snaps on over a mounting frame that connects to the switch with two small screws (so the screws won’t be visible when you’re finished).

From there, electronic onboarding is completed through the My Leviton app. The app is straightforward, auto-discovering new Leviton devices nearby as soon a they are powered on. A few simple choices let you bridge the device to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network. Oddly, while setup runs you through a few basic configuration options, it does not prompt you to update firmware. You’ll want to do that manually, under the “Device Health” menu option in the Settings tab; out of the box mine was well out of date.

If you want to add the switch to HomeKit, the QR code is printed on a sticker attached to the switch, beneath the frame.

Leviton’s smart dimmer can support a variety of lighting types, including compact fluorescent, incandescent, LED, and magnetic low voltage loads.

Christopher Null/Foundry

Out of the box, the D2MSD worked exactly as I expected it to. At the highest motion sensitivity setting, the switch was very responsive to movement in the room. I installed the switch in my garage, on the same wall as the door leading into the house, about 6 feet away from it. The sensor was so effective that the connected light would typically be on by the time I took my first step from the house into the garage, with zero delay.

It’s almost too sensitive, to be honest; yet I found the medium and low sensitivity levels to be too insensitive to use. The low setting often would not activate without me standing directly in front of the dimmer and waving my arms. What I would really like is a sensitivity setting somewhere between high and medium, though that’s a very minor complaint.

The dimmer can either be set to return to the most recently used brightness level or to a preset brightness each time it is used. Fade on and off speeds can also be set by the user.

One half of Leviton’s two-piece switch cover gets screwed to the switch itself. The other half snaps onto this half, hiding the screws.

Christopher Null/Foundry

Digging deeper into the settings, the dimmer can be set in one of two modes: Occupancy turns the lights on when motion is detected and off when it stops; Vacancy requires you to turn the light on manually, it then leaves them on until motion stops, at which point it turns them off. You can configure the length of time for no motion to be detected until the lights turn off, with options ranging from 1 to 60 minutes.

An ambient light sensor built into the switch can be used to keep the lights off if the room is already bright from another source (such as daylight from a window). This can be toggled on or off and the minimum light level specified by a slider. (You’ll need to use some trial and error to dial this in.)

A final motion sensor feature is the option to enable or disable a red LED within the sensor to flash if motion is detected. There’s also a separate green LED under the motion sensor that can be set to be either on or off when the light is active, or off altogether.

You can add Leviton’s smart dimmer to your Apple HomeKit ecosystem by scanning the QR code on the device. 

Christopher Null/Foundry

Another handy feature of the switch is called Guidelight. This is an optional mode that turns the lights on very dimly during night hours when motion is detected, but turns the lights on to your normal brightness settings during other times. These hours can be configured manually or in relation to sunrise and sunset, based on your location.

I had zero trouble with any of these features, and the dimmer worked flawlessly throughout a week of testing. The hardware controls work well, and the app is easy to navigate and quick to respond. Novices should find it easy to work with, but power users who want total control over the way it works won’t be disappointed, either.

I’ve been using a very similar product, the motion-activated Kasa Smart ES20M Smart Wi-Fi Dimmer from TP-Link, for nearly three years. After replacing it with Leviton’s device, I must say the edge goes to Leviton.

These are both very good products, but Leviton’s device has a superior motion sensor, it supports 3-way circuits–including that wireless remote–and I simply preferred working with the My Leviton app over the Kasa Smart app. You’ll pay $15 more for the D2MSD, however, so if cash is a concern, TP-Link offers performance that’s nearly as good. If you don’t need 3-way support, you can’t go wrong with either selection.

Nearly half a million Anker power banks are being recalled by the company, after an investigation by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found over thirty reports of fire and explosion incidents associated with the devices.

The recall involves Anker Power Banks with model numbers A1647, A1652, A1257, A1681, and A1689, a number which can be found in the model listing but is also engraved on the back or side of the power bank. About 481,000 of these power banks that were previously sold are affected.

“Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled power banks and visit Anker’s Recall Page to verify the product serial number and register for the recall,” the CPSC wrote in an advisory. Anker also publishes a separate product recalls page as well.

The recall includes some of the power banks that Anker itself voluntarily recalled back in June, though that recall also included the Model A1263 Power Bank, one that the CPSC recall does not name. Anker also recalled the A1642, A1647, and A1652 power banks in Sept. 2024.

The CPSC advises against simply throwing the affected battery packs away. “Recalled lithium-ion batteries must be disposed of differently than other batteries, because they present a greater risk of fire,” the agency said.

Amazon appears to have pulled the affected power banks from its shopping pages, although the CPSC also said that the power banks had been sold at AliExpress, eBay, Walmart, and via TikTok from August 2023 to June 2025. They cost about $30 to $50 per power bank. What should you buy instead? Consult our list of the best power banks for some ideas.

With more than three months remaining in 2025, the CPSC said that it had issued 376 recalls and safety warnings, a record. The Trump administration has sought to replace several commissioners on the panel, claiming they violated the non-partisan nature of the agency.

Hot dang, have I got a solid deal for you if you want a value laptop. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 combines plenty of power and a convertible touchscreen for a great mix of parts, and today you can grab a refurbished model off eBay for just $410.

When PCWorld reviewed this laptop, we weren’t fans at its original $1,100 price tag (note, that was with a more powerful processor). But at less than half of that price for a refurbished model with an Intel Core 5 120U processor and 16GB of RAM, I think it makes a lot more sense. Other highlights include a roomy 16-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen, 512GB of storage, and an infrared webcam for Windows Hello face unlock.

This is a larger laptop thanks to that 16-inch touchscreen, and it’s on the heavy side too at 4.59 pounds. It also doesn’t have incredible battery life like some of the competition. But that big frame means plenty of ports (double USB-C, double USB-A, full-sized HDMI, microSD) and the keyboard has room for a full number pad. As a “manufacturer refurbished” unit distributed by Lenovo, it comes with a two-year Allstate warranty, which is better than the typical 90 days for a refurb.

eBay says that this particular sale lot is trending, so it might not stick around for long. I’m even seeing an extra $5 off discount, but that appears to be variable. If it’s not what you’re looking for, be sure to check out our roundup of the best laptops, including budget options.

Valve recently announced that Steam will stop supporting 32-bit versions of Windows as of January 1st, 2026.

Right now, Windows 10 32-bit is the only 32-bit version of Windows that officially works with Steam—and according to the company’s own hardware survey, it’s used by less than 0.01 percent of Steam gamers.

Meanwhile, all 64-bit versions of Windows (including Windows 10 64-bit) will continue to be supported and can keep playing 32-bit games.

For users still on Windows 10 32-bit, this will mean that the installed Steam client will continue to work as-is but without any updates, security fixes, or technical support. Valve also emphasizes that it can’t guarantee that functionality will continue on unsupported systems.

According to the company, this move is necessary because basic components of Steam require drivers and libraries that are no longer supported in 32-bit environments.

Engineering school isn’t for the faint of heart. You’re juggling heavy-duty software and unforgiving deadlines. So yeah, your laptop has to be powerful and reliable, but light enough to actually carry.

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.

• Robust build quality
• Attractive OLED touchscreen
• Good CPU and integrated GPU performance
• Outstanding battery life

• Uninspiring design
• Keyboard isn’t memorable
• Mediocre connectivity options

The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED tops our list thanks to a winning combination of power, portability, and solid battery life. The AMD Ryzen 7 chip inside (eight cores and 16 threads, by the way) can handle heavy stuff like CAD without slowing down, even if you’ve got a bunch of tabs open. The 14-inch 1920×1200 OLED touchscreen also looks fantastic and will make your diagrams and projects really stand out.

One thing that really sticks out is the battery. Seriously, it went for over 16 hours in our test, which kind of blew my mind. So yeah, you can probably survive a whole day of classes without panicking about finding an outlet. The audio is also quite good and it should offer you good volume and clarity during remote lectures.

The build quality’s pretty good, especially considering it’s just $850 right now. It’s also thin (0.59 inches) and light (2.82 pounds), by no means back-breaking. While the keyboard isn’t the best we’ve ever used due to the undersized keys, it’s totally fine for daily tasks.

Read our full Asus Zenbook 14 OLED review

• Affordable
• Decent battery life
• Good display visibility

• Cheap build
• Limited performance

If you’re on a strict budget and need a straightforward laptop for note taking and running light coding software, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is a fantastic choice. The Intel Core i3-N305 processor can easily run basic tasks like research, basic coding, and video streaming. You can also count on solid battery performance here, with up to 12 hours on a single charge. The port selection is pretty generous as well, offering USB-A, USB-C, and HDMI.

This Acer Aspire Go 15 laptop is made of all plastic, so it may feel a bit flimsy to some. There’s no backlit keyboard or fingerprint reader, either (if that matters to you). That said, for students doing just general coursework, this laptop will get the job done very affordably.

Read our full Acer Aspire Go 15 (2024) review

• Over 24 hours of battery life (in our standard test)
• Solid build quality
• Snappy desktop performance
• 2-in-1 experience with pen

• On the expensive side
• Lunar Lake’s low multithreaded performance is an issue for some workflows

If you need a laptop that just won’t quit, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 is an excellent choice with its incredible battery life–PCWorld recorded up to 25 hours on a single charge. That means you can power through long study sessions without constantly searching for an outlet.

Weighing just under three pounds, it’s actually pretty portable for a 2-in-1 device. The switch between laptop and tablet modes is truly seamless. This is great if you’re sketching out engineering diagrams or taking notes with the included Lenovo Yoga Pen.

The keyboard is comfortable to use, and you’ve got the classic ThinkPad TrackPoint there if precision is your thing. The 14-inch 1920×1200 IPS touchscreen is also bright (500 nits) and has an anti-reflective coating, making it easy to see even when you’re outside in the elements.

This laptop is a premium business machine and the price definitely reflects that ($2,336). But keep in mind that you’re paying for good build quality and a battery life that only a select few can match right now. 

Read our full Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition review

• Solid performance
• Competitive price
• Dedicated button for quick performance mode switching
• Fast 165Hz display with good colors

• Fully plastic build
• Mushy keyboard
• Weak battery life

If you want something that can handle school and gaming without fuss, the Acer Nitro V 16 is a pretty sweet pick. It’s got a Ryzen 7 CPU and an RTX 4060 GPU, so most modern games run smooth on medium to high settings. Plus, if you’re into 3D modeling or any heavy graphics work, the GPU has got your back. The 16-inch 1920×1200 screen with a 165Hz refresh rate also makes faster paced games look super smooth too.

Design-wise, it leans into a gamer aesthetic with its orange backlit keys and noticeable branding but it’s not overly flashy. Still, it might not suit everyone’s taste. As you might expect from a gaming rig, the battery life doesn’t last too long–around four hours on average. The keys also feel somewhat mushy.

Read our full Acer Nitro V 16 review

• Compact and well-built
• Good office performance
• All Copilot Plus features available
• Good battery life

• Narrow screen to work on
• No HDR support
• No charger included

If you’re an engineering student with a jam-packed schedule, often needing to run from class to class, the Surface Pro 2025 is so lightweight (just a little over a pound) you’ll hardly notice its presence. Inside this laptop you’ll find a Snapdragon X Plus chip and Intel Arc 130V graphics, so you can expect it to deliver a quiet, fanless experience (perfect for working in libraries and lecture halls) and it should handle basic coding and homework just fine.

The 12-inch 2196×1464 screen offers sharp colors and touchscreen capabilities, allowing you to draw and take notes with the (optical) Slim Pen.

Though we really vibe with the high-resolution display, it’s a bit small if you’re the kind of person that has many windows open at once. Battery life is also all over the place, ranging from two to three hours under heavy loads to 19 hours with light usage. You’re also limited to just two USB-C ports, so you’ll probably want to pick up a dock or hub.

Read our full Microsoft Surface Pro 2025 review

A few laptops just missed the top spots but are still worth checking out. The Dell 14 Premium ($2,049.99) looks great and handles everyday work like a champ, though the battery isn’t amazing and it’s missing some older ports you might need. The Lenovo Legion 5i 15IRX10 ($1,199) is a powerhouse for gaming with a gorgeous 15.1-inch 1600p OLED display and solid performance, but Lenovo’s pricing can be a little confusing. And, if you’re on a budget, the Asus Chromebook CX15 ($159) gets the job done for basic tasks and schoolwork, even if it’s not lightning fast.

The PCWorld team puts each and every Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against others we’ve tested. Chromebooks, on the other hand, go through a series of web-based tests.

For a much deeper look at our review methodology, check out how PCWorld tests laptops.

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.

Hi, I’m Ashley Biancuzzo, and I oversee all laptop and Chromebook coverage at PCWorld. While you’ll see me review Chromebooks on occasion, I’m also really into the broader world of consumer tech. I spend a lot of time writing and thinking about where laptops are headed–from AI and sustainable designs to long-term trends. When I’m not deep in the world of tech, you’ll probably find me gaming, getting lost in a good book, or chilling with my rescue greyhound, Allen.

The following are important questions to ask before making a purchase.

You’ll need a good amount of power. Engineering classes usually have you running some pretty heavy stuff like CAD, MATLAB, SolidWorks, and simulations. That stuff can slow your laptop down if it’s not up to the task, especially if you’ve got a bunch of apps open. A Core i5 or Ryzen 5 will get you through most of it, but if you want things to run smoother, a Core i7 or Ryzen 7 is where it’s at (so long as your wallet agrees).

For sure. You’ll be using code editors, compilers, simulation tools, sometimes all at once. RAM keeps your laptop from freezing up when you’ve got a ton going on. 8GB might work if you’re just starting out, but 16GB is way better—especially later on when your classes get more intense.

You’ll collect a ton of files–project folders, software installs, maybe some video editing or game dev work depending on your focus. We’d say go for at least 512GB SSD so you’re not constantly clearing space. If you can get 1TB, do it. It’s faster and gives you more breathing room for whatever your classes (or side hobbies) throw at you.

If you’re an engineering student who needs something light, fast, and reliable for coding or writing papers (plus a great screen and battery), the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is a dang fine pick.

If you’re on a tight budget and just need a no-fuss laptop for lighter coding programs, the Acer Aspire Go 15 gets the job done for under $500.

Heck yeah! Long battery life means you can power through those long nights at the school library.

We’d say the best screen size is anywhere from 13- to 15-inches. It can’t be too cumbersome otherwise it’ll get too difficult to carry around.

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Windows machines running on Arm are here! Actually, they’ve been here for years. But don’t call it a comeback, because those laptops based on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors—which Microsoft pushed so, so hard last year—aren’t selling so great. But according to Microsoft, those worries about app compatibility are pretty much over.

That’s the gist of a new Windows Developer Blog post, which says that “native Arm versions available for apps representing 90% of total user minutes.” Which seems great! But that’s a highly selective statement, which led me to follow into a disclosure page linked on the post. You can probably work out on your own that testing “user minutes” isn’t the same as saying that almost all individual apps are running Arm-native versions, instead of using emulation for x86 and x64-based apps.

That alone seems okay… but there’s another bit of flim-flammery that Microsoft isn’t fessing up to. The disclosure page spells it out, saying that the data is based on a snapshot of data from February 2025:

Based on snapshot of aggregated, non-gaming app usage data as of February 2025 for iGPU-based laptops and 2-in-1 devices running Windows 10 and Windows 11 in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia, Germany, and Japan, with MSRP $800+.

Whoa whoa whoa, buddy! Not only is there a rather arbitrary selection of countries there, the floor for MSRP on devices seems very strange. But it’s the “non-gaming app usage” that really sticks in my craw. Gaming is, rather infamously, the Achilles heel of these Arm-based Windows devices. Which isn’t really a problem from my perspective since I game on other devices, and I still bought an Arm-based laptop (at well below $800) for its light weight and battery life. And I like it a lot!

But simply brushing aside gaming for this claim is mighty disingenuous. PCWorld still tests for gaming benchmarks on Qualcomm-based laptops because it’s information that people want. I still run Hearthstone on my laptop when I use it because it doesn’t need a ton of power, and I’m sure plenty of people do the same with similar games. Microsoft ignoring that time because it’s inconvenient really rubs me the wrong way.

The rest of Microsoft’s promo post (spotted by Windows Central) raises some good points in favor of Windows Arm machines, including lots of industrial and commercial tools and increasingly necessary VPN support. But gaming is almost entirely disregarded, despite Microsoft itself pushing hard to integrate its Xbox and Windows platforms right now.

It would be pithy of me to end this post with the old quote about “lies, damned lies, and statistics.” Well anyway, bye.

Researchers from Spain have discovered a kind of second moon orbiting around Earth. Known as Apollo asteroid 2025 PN7, it was detected by the Pan-STARRS observatory in Hawaii on August 2nd, 2025. According to current calculations, it has been accompanying the Earth since the 1960s—and it’s expected to stay that way for the next 60 years.

However, it must be said that 2025 PN7 is not a real moon but rather something called a quasi-moon. A quasi-moon is an asteroid that orbits around the sun but in such a way that it looks like it’s orbiting around a planet from the perspective of that planet. In this case, 2025 PN7 looks like it’s orbiting Earth but isn’t bound by Earth’s gravitational pull.

2025 PN7’s behavior is consistent with those in the Arjuna asteroid belt, which are a group of near-Earth asteroids with Earth-like orbits, making it an Arjuna asteroid. (Arjuna asteroids are a subgroup of Apollo asteroids.) The first such asteroid was discovered as early as December 1991 by the Spacewatch Project, which was initially thought to be an interstellar space probe. Scientists are now aware of over 100 such asteroids.

2025 PN7 is very small with a diameter around 15 to 30 meters and a distance to Earth of around 384,000 kilometers (sometimes even as close as 300,000 kilometers depending on the orbit). This corresponds roughly to the distance of our own moon, except much smaller in size.

In addition, the asteroid is faint and can only be detected with current telescopes when it comes close to the Earth. (Funnily enough, the researchers have also spotted 2025 PN7 in previously archived images going back to 2014.) 2025 PN7 poses no danger to Earth.

When Microsoft’s Copilot key first poofed into existence, I tilted my head and thought… Wait, another shortcut key? I’ve definitely been here before. Does anyone remember the Cortana key? The Office key? The F-Lock key? I hear nothing but the sound of crickets from the peanut gallery, and that’s because none of them stood the test of time. 

So, why do new shortcut keys (like Microsoft Copilot) fail to launch? Or maybe launch in the way companies want them to?

Well, the answer is embarrassingly simple. Those keys were just plain unnecessary or confusing. Sure, they helped a tiny slice of people, but they weren’t really built for the rest of us. If it doesn’t save you time or actually make life easier, then why bother? Were those keys even made for real people?

Let’s pour one out for the keys that never made their mark in history. The Cortana key, for instance, summoned Microsoft’s voice assistant. The key was supposed to save you the time it’d take to enter the Windows key + C combination, which activated Cortana’s listening mode. But in practice, it was actually quicker to just use that combo, and people prefer to stick with something they’re already familiar with. Many folks didn’t like the idea of Cortana “actively listening,” either–it rightfully raised some privacy concerns.

The Office key is another one, which is similar to today’s Copilot key. It promised quick access to Word and Excel, but what it really did was relentlessly pester you into opening Word and Excel. It wasn’t all that helpful for most people, in fact it was mostly chaos.  

The F-Lock key was an oddball, that’s for sure. It toggled between standard function and special function, and nobody knew what the heck that meant or if it was on or off. Set it off and suddenly your F5 key is trying to open the calculator instead of refreshing the web page. 

These keys, as you might’ve guessed, quietly faded out with time. But that raises a real big question, that question being…

Why don’t these shortcuts ever stick?

IDG / Mark Knapp

Muscle memory is such a deeply ingrained thing, isn’t it? It’s in everything, especially in how we type and interact with our computers and other tech. Throw in or take out a random key and boom! Everything’s all topsy-turvey. For the majority of folks, daily habits are difficult to break and re-wire. But what about accessibility users? Abrupt, unwelcome changes to their keyboard may very well be catastrophic to their daily flow.

Unless people are taught to use these keys, they just go, well, unused, taking up valuable real estate on the keyboard — and crucially changing the standard placement of keys, just shifting everything a wee bit off. There’s nothing more panic-inducing than accidentally pressing the wrong key, especially if you’re in the middle of a work presentation–it just disrupts your whole flow and throws you off.

OpenAI

AI’s the new “it” girl at the party and everyone’s chasing her (a little creepy, if you ask me). And Microsoft is jumping on this trend like a lion on a gazelle by hardwiring AI directly into the hardware. It’s probably the fastest way to get to Microsoft’s AI assistant. Press the key down and up pops Copilot, and it’s ready to draft your e-mails or conjure up images.

On paper, that sounds cool. But AI hit like a crashing wave and before we knew it, we were entirely submerged. For me, I’d rather be the one to decide when and if I jump in. I don’t want anyone to make that choice (looking at you, Microsoft) for me.

So, what do these shortcut keys (now ancient relics) tell us about Copilot’s chances?

The hype builds and builds, then there’s the heavy marketing push, and then… cue the tumbleweeds. Companies often roll out shiny new things, it’s kind of par for the course. But at the same time, it’s important to acknowledge the weird disconnect between what users actually want and what Microsoft keeps trying to spoonfeed them with these dedicated keys. 

I think it’s still too soon to know if the Copilot key will join the graveyard of forgotten keys. If it fits naturally into one’s workflow and day-to-day life, then sure. But if Reddit is anything to go by, the response is very mixed. It seems to help as much as it hinders. 

I really get why Microsoft’s pushing with the Copilot key, I really do. It could help people, especially if it genuinely boosts productivity. But shortcuts work only if they serve us and not the other way around. Given Microsoft’s disastrous history with dedicated keys, and people generally shrugging at Copilot, I worry this will wind up being just another victim buried deep in Microsoft’s keyboard graveyard.

ExpressVPN just announced a brand new free VPN service called EventVPN. This new service was created as a direct response to the flooding of the VPN market with low-quality free VPNs that harvest user data. It’s designed to be a safe and private alternative to these shady VPN services that put users at risk.

In a press release following the announcement, Shay Peretz, Chief Operating Officer at ExpressVPN stated, “The nature of privacy is changing materially across the world. Social media bans, censorship, and restrictions of digital accessibility are on the rise and, in many ways, have become expected. Each and every time online privacy is threatened, downloads of unsafe VPNs peak. Privacy should be a human right, not just limited to those who can pay for it with money.”

While built by ExpressVPN, using its industry-leading infrastructure, EventVPN is a fully standalone free VPN for Apple devices.

Not only does EventVPN not impose usage limits or data caps, but it also allows users to connect with one device at a time with access to over 35-plus locations. The country server selection is impressive too, with places like the U.S., Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Japan, Brazil, and more.

The app even comes with many of the same advanced protections offered by ExpressVPN. These include access to its post-quantum encrypted WireGuard protocol, a kill switch feature, and an independently verified no-logs audit—a rarity among free VPNs.

The EventVPN app also includes a built-in speed test tool and in-app private browsing for nearly every major search engine.

Along with the free version, EventVPN offers a premium paid subscription plan that provides eight simultaneous device connections and access to over 125 server locations for either $10 per month or $70 for a one year term. It’s worth noting that the premium version of EventVPN and ExpressVPN are not the same and lack cross-platform compatibility. Users of EventVPN’s premium service also won’t gain access to advanced features such as Threat Manager and split-tunneling—you’ll still need to subscribe to ExpressVPN instead if you want these.

EventVPN’s free version does serve ads, although the system is built to keep user data separate from advertising services.

EventVPN

The free version of EventVPN does come with one big caveat: ads. And from what it looks like there are a lot of them. Every time you connect or disconnect from a server or run a speed test you’ll be served with a 30-second ad in the app. 

While annoying, ads are standard fare for practically every free VPN. Only our top ranked free VPNs ProtonVPN and PrivadoVPN offer free versions without ads.

For its part, ExpressVPN has developed a system in which user data will be kept completely separate from the advertising process. In a blog post, the company explains it as such, “EventVPN uses Apple account validation and subscription receipts to check whether you’re on the free or premium plan. Once verified, you’re issued an anonymous connection token that lets you connect securely, without any personal data being stored or managed… Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT) asks for permission so you can choose whether or not to receive personalized ads, and its Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA) system ties ads to a unique, random device identifier, keeping your personal information private.”

I typically don’t recommend free VPNs, but there are still some that are worth your while. It remains to be seen if EventVPN will rank among the best free VPNs, but it looks promising. ExpressVPN is an outstanding service with a sterling privacy record and it is consistently one of the very best VPNs on the market. If EventVPN can provide users with a similar experience at no cost, while maintaining user privacy, then it stands to be a worthy contender.

Just a few years ago, home security cameras involved lots of wiring and extra costs if you weren’t up for a DIY job. Nowadays, all you need is a drill, a ladder, and a few minutes to mount the thing to the side of your house—and it won’t even cost you much. Take this Eufy SoloCam S220 that’s on sale for just $64.98 right now (was $99.99) on Amazon!

The most impressive thing about the SoloCam S220 is that it’s both wireless and solar-powered. You can put it anywhere because you don’t need to wire it up, and it runs on continuous power thanks to the built-in solar panel on top. All it needs is an average of 3 hours of sunlight every day to stay topped up with a full battery.

It’s also wireless in the sense that it connects to your home Wi-Fi network (only the 2.4GHz band is supported). Use Eufy’s companion app to check in on the live feed and get AI-powered notifications when it detects motion. It’s even able to distinguish between friends, family, delivery people, and strangers (but you’ll need a HomeBase 3 for that).

The SoloCam S220 captures video in crisp 2560×1440 resolution, and it has an IP67 rating so it’s protected against dust, rain, snow, and other weather as it sits outside. It supports two-way audio so you can chat with whoever’s in the feed, maybe to give directions to the courier who’s dropping off your package. And the best part about Eufy’s devices? No subscription plans or monthly fees!

This is a great opportunity to get the SoloCam S220 for the lowest price it’s ever been, so don’t miss it. Snag it for just $64.98 while you still can because who knows when this limited-time deal will expire?

Nostalgia is a word derived from the Greek terms for “homecoming” and “pain,” and it was originally coined as a debilitating medical condition for homesick soldiers. Today, it’s a marketing gimmick. But I get the feeling that many PC gamers will like Silverstone’s upcoming FLP02 case anyway because it’s shaping up to be an absolute unit of an enclosure.

We spotted this follow-up to Silverstone’s retro beige FLP01 earlier this year, swapping the horizontal design of the way, way back for the vertical “CPU towers” of the late 80s and 90s. The case now has a landing page on Silverstone’s US site and a spec sheet to go along with it—and oh boy, is it turning some heads.

The front of the case obviously has a lot going on with those triple faux floppy drives. But if you want to put real stuff in there, you can take out the blanks and you’ve got three 5.25-inch external bays ready to take disc drives, giant banks of USB ports, or anything else you can fit in.

Silverstone

The bottom panel with its giant power button and retro “turbo” button is actually an integrated fan controller, complete with two-digit LED readout and a functional lock with a key. But if you need a little extra connection without tracking down a 5.25-inch adapter, don’t worry, there are two USB-A, one USB-C, and a headphone jack hiding underneath a subtle magnetic latch just above the external drive bays. Easy removable mesh dust catchers are installed at the top, bottom, and front.

But what about the inside, where all your modern ATX gear is supposed to go? Well, fear not! It’s got more living space than the average Manhattan studio. Mounting is available for six fans, mixing 120mm and 140mm, with the top spaced for a triple-fan AIO cooler with a 360mm radiator. The oh-so-modern dedicated power supply area at the bottom can handle up to 250mm of chunky goodness, and you’ve got space for three 3.5-inch hard drives and two 2.5-inch SSDs mounted to the back. (Again, adapters for those triple 5.25-inch external bays should shore up any shortcomings.) The case can handle massive graphics cards up to 386mm long, and there’s a support arm in the box.

Silverstone

How much is all this going to cost you? Well, that might be the painful part. According to Tom’s Hardware, Silverstone is eyeing up a $220 price in the US. That’s enough to get you a very high-end modern case with every feature I listed above and then some… albeit without those lovely 5.25-inch bays or a physical lock.

It should be here in the last quarter of the year, just in time to build a retro PC gaming tower for your parents that can run Doom at half a million frames per second.

If you have a Copilot+ PC, you can look forward to free AI features coming to the Notepad app in the near future. These features include AI-generated text (Write), revisions (Rewrite), and summaries (Summarize).

“Notepad now supports AI features like Summarize, Write, and Rewrite on Copilot+ PCs, with no subscription required. If you have a subscription, you can seamlessly switch between local and cloud models based on your needs,” said Dave Grochocki, Principal Group Product Manager for Windows Inbox Apps, in a Windows Insider blog post.

“If you’re not signed in or don’t have a subscription, you can use the local model to accomplish your tasks. For now, these features support English only, making premium AI more accessible and flexible for everyone.”

To clarify, these AI-driven features were previously only offered to customers who pay for Microsoft 365 or Copilot Pro, but now they’re being rolled out to more users for free.

Microsoft’s support for Windows 10 officially ends on October 14th, 2025, although there are ways to use Windows 10 a little while longer. With extended security updates (ESU), you can receive a year of extra updates that’ll keep you protected while you weigh your options.

There are risks to continuing use of your Windows 10 PC after end of support without getting extended updates. For some, the only real option is to upgrade to a newer PC with Windows 11—but that would mean tossing their Windows 10 PC, which isn’t ideal for the environment due to all the e-waste it would create.

Fortunately, that seems to be on Microsoft’s mind too. Apparently, some users are receiving offers from Microsoft to trade in their old Windows 10 computers. Windows Latest has reportedly discovered evidence of this trade-in program, but there’s been no official announcement of it.

In the ESU Assistant, which currently isn’t available in all countries, there’s a new path for trading in old Windows 10 PCs:

Windows Latest

The offer apparently exists for both consumer and business devices, and it leads to the Microsoft Store where you can choose whether you want to exchange your computer for money or “recycle for good.” The latter is possible if your PC isn’t accepted for trade-in.

Whether your PC is accepted and how much you can get for trade-in value will depend on several factors, presumably including the age of your device and the hardware components in it. Microsoft obviously wants that money to be invested in new Windows 11 PCs.

As a busy mom, one of the bigger inconveniences in my life is when I’m in my car and my phone is on the verge of dying. I can always plug it into one of my car’s USB ports to charge, but rooting around for the cable in my center console is a pain, and I hate how messy it feels with that long cable flopping about while I drive.

If you’re like me, you’re going to love getting this retractable USB-C charging cable for car aux power outlets (also known as cigarette lighter ports). Normally $29.99, it’s now just $19.99 with this timely discount.

It’s so easy to use: just plug it into your car’s 12V outlet, usually located in the center stack next to the navigation, radio, AC controls, etc. Pull on the retractable cable, which extends up to 31.5 inches in length, and plug that into your phone. Boom! Now it’s charging. You can also leave it plugged in when not in use and it won’t take up any space because the cable retracts back into its “ultra mini” form factor.

I love that this charger also has an additional USB-C port where you can plug in another cable to charge a second device. With a cable that’s 6 or 10 feet long, it can even reach the back seats for your passengers! The charger provides a max output of 30W to each—the built-in retractable cable and the separate USB-C port—for fast charging on both.

If you’re on the road a lot, this is a serious game-changer—and it’s a phenomenal get for just $19.99. Snag it on sale while you can because this limited-time deal won’t last forever!

The Basilisk V3 is easily one of our favorite Razer gaming mice, and right now it’s on sale with an impressive 43 percent discount. Act fast to get the Basilisk V3 for $39.98 (was $69.99) on Amazon!

When we reviewed this Razer mouse, we called it a “full-function gaming mouse with lots of class,” giving it a stellar 4.5-star rating and our Editors’ Choice award. Apart from some very minor flaws, we loved it even at full price—and it’s a downright incredible value with this price drop.

In our review, we were particularly impressed by the 26K DPI optical sensor and the faultless performance it delivers, as well as by how easy it is to scroll using the HyperScroll Tilt Wheel. It’s also impossible to ignore the beautiful Chroma RGB lighting built into this mouse, something we know many gamers love. With 11 programmable buttons, you can set up custom actions to boost work productivity and gaming efficiency.

Note that this is a wired-only mouse, so if you absolutely can’t live without wireless, check out our picks for the best wireless mice. The other downside is that it’s on the bigger and bulkier side, so fans of tiny mice and claw grips may want to check out our roundups of the best budget gaming mice and best overall gaming mice instead.

Otherwise, the Razer Basilisk V3 remains one of the greatest wired gaming mice to deliver excellent performance at a budget-friendly price. Get it now for just $39.98 on Amazon!

If you told me 25 years ago that Intel would end up in decline, that Nvidia would buy a chunk of the ailing company, and that the two would partner to build chips that integrate Intel x86 CPU cores with Nvidia’s RTX GPU cores, I would’ve called you crazy. But here we are.

Nvidia has acquired a $5 billion stake in Intel—roughly 5 percent of the company. “For personal computing, we’re going to create new Intel x86 SoCs that integrate Nvidia GPU chiplets, fusing the world’s best CPU and GPU, to redefine the PC experience,” Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said on an investor call following the announcement. 

The announcement made headlines and for good reason. This alliance will create a monster that Intel and Nvidia’s competitors—namely, AMD and Qualcomm—will struggle to defeat.

The development of a chip that fuses Intel x86 cores with Nvidia RTX graphics will be a huge deal for all the obvious reasons.

Nvidia rules PC graphics with an iron fist, but currently lacks an integrated graphics play. That’s created a few safe spaces—like portable gaming laptops and gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck—where Nvidia’s advantages are irrelevant.

It also provides an even playing field between Intel and AMD CPUs in high-end laptops, where said CPUs are paired with Nvidia’s discrete graphics. A laptop maker’s choice between an Intel and AMD CPU is mostly about the performance and power draw of each, not how tightly the CPU integrates with Nvidia’s GPU.

An Intel-Nvidia chip obliterates that balance.

Nvidia, AMD, Intel

Suddenly, Nvidia integrated graphics in portable PCs looks entirely plausible. A tight integration between Intel x86 cores and Nvidia RTX graphics will provide efficiencies in SoC design, power draw, and feature set that AMD and Qualcomm simply can’t match.

And it’s no better in high-end laptops. An Intel-Nvidia alliance will make it easy for Intel to convince laptop makers they should pick Intel. They’re all going to use Nvidia GPUs anyway, so why choose to build a laptop around an AMD SoC with Nvidia discrete graphics if they could instead build around a complete Intel-Nvidia SoC?

Qualcomm is even worse off. The company doesn’t offer discrete graphics support at this time, and its integrated graphics solutions are far behind the curve. The company was already playing catch-up in the graphics race, and an Intel-Nvidia chip alliance now moves the finish line several miles further away.

The threat of an Intel-Nvidia alliance is so severe that it raises questions about how regulators will view them if they’re successful at market.

As the latest Steam Hardware Survey shows, Nvidia’s dominance in both laptop and desktop graphics is close to absolute. (I personally find this a bit odd, as I’ve put my money on AMD the last few times I needed a new GPU. But apparently I’m in the minority.) As it stands, Nvidia’s PC video card market share sits at a massive 74.88 percent.

And Nvidia’s lead is arguably even greater than that figure suggests because most of the non-Nvidia market share stems from Intel and AMD integrated graphics. AMD’s most popular discrete graphics product—the RX 6600—is the 30th most common GPU in the survey. That puts it behind ancient Nvidia GPUs like the GTX 1050 Ti and RTX 2060.

Joel Lee / Foundry

Intel’s command of the CPU market is less absolute, with a roughly 60-40 split in favor of Intel over AMD. The data also shows that AMD’s CPU share leans towards high-end parts with a clock speed of 3GHz or better, while Intel’s CPUs appear to be a mix of low, mid, and high-end options.

But Steam actually skews the results in AMD’s favor, as the company’s consumer CPUs are particularly excellent for gaming. Other non-gaming data sources show that AMD’s consumer CPU market share is still under 25 percent. That’s largely due to laptops and low-end desktops, where Intel CPUs remain the most common choice.

These figures paint a grim picture for competition in the consumer PC arena. An Intel-Nvidia alliance pairs the consumer CPU market leader with the consumer GPU market leader—and the result is a monster that eats up whatever gains we’ve seen in hardware competition recently.

Further reading: Intel Arc graphics face a murky future after Nvidia’s $5B RTX mashup

I suspect this alliance could herald long-anticipated changes in the PC hardware world, and one of the biggest changes wrought by Intel-Nvidia GPUs will be the death of discrete graphics as we know it.

Here’s the issue: discrete graphics kinda suck. They duplicate silicon, including memory, that could be more tightly integrated. They make it difficult—even impossible—to pass workloads from CPU to GPU, forcing these powerful components to function in silos. They’re inefficient.

An integrated approach—with all memory shared across the CPU, GPU, and NPU—is superior. It cuts down on duplication of memory resources, as well as the shared silicon on each chip, and significantly reduces latency when moving tasks across each. This is exactly the advantage of Apple’s in-house silicon and AMD’s Ryzen AI Max.

Alex Esteves / Foundry

The efficiencies provided by an integrated GPU were traditionally most important in mobile, where space and power are at a premium. But recent GPUs have shown these issues are relevant to desktops, too. Desktop GPUs are physically massive and draw so much power that they can melt power connectors. Yet they also, due to cost constraints, have relatively slim pools of memory, with even top consumer models limited to a measly 32GB of VRAM and most stuck at 16GB or less.

While I expect that Intel and Nvidia will focus first on laptop chips, which represent the bulk of the PC market, the same advantages also apply to the desktop. I think the future of the desktop PC will look a lot like the Framework Desktop, which is built around AMD’s Ryzen AI Max—but instead of that, we’re looking at Intel-Nvidia SoCs. That means you could kiss upgradeable discrete desktop graphics goodbye.

I don’t think it’s possible to overstate the potential upheaval that will come from this Intel-Nvidia alliance, and it might sound like bad news for competition in the PC market. Still, there are a few reasons to hope that it will work out for the better.

Maybe Nvidia will drag its feet and the number of Intel-Nvidia chips that come to market will be few. I don’t think this will happen, as Huang says Nvidia will “be quite a large supplier of GPU chiplets into Intel x86 SoCs.” And ailing Intel has plenty of incentive to turn those chiplets into products quickly. But company politics, like all politics, are messy… so there’s always the possibility that one or both partners will falter in their alliance.

Gordon Mah Ung / Foundry

Any delay could give AMD the chance to strike back. I’m sure AMD will respond to the Intel-Nvidia alliance by reminding everyone that AMD’s Ryzen AI Max has similar advantages as a potential Intel-Nvidia SoC, and it’s available right now. However, Ryzen AI Max’s availability is currently limited to just a handful of end-user PCs. The threat of an Intel-Nvidia SoC could force AMD to accelerate its plans to broaden its reach.

I also think that, in the short term, this is an obvious win for PC buyers and enthusiasts. Intel-Nvidia SoCs are likely to be hits in both performance and battery life, and they’ll probably be competitive on price without the need to replicate costly memory across CPU and GPU. The resulting laptops and desktops could deliver better bang for your buck than any PC SoC to date. Dominant Intel-Nvidia SoCs might cause problems if they crowd out competition, but that’s years down the road.

No matter how you slice it, it’s clear that this announcement is a big deal for consumer PCs. It’s also clear that when the planned Intel-Nvidia SoCs come to market, the PC is likely to be forever changed.

Further reading: Intel’s deal with Nvidia could utterly rewrite the future of laptops

Few things are more impressive in a home PC setup than a monstrous monitor, and the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is up there as one of the most enormous ones you could have. If you’ve been holding off on one because of price concerns, now might be the chance you’ve been waiting for—because it’s now on sale for $420 off at B&H.

I repeat, this gigantic 49-inch beast of an OLED gaming display has been slashed down from its original $1,299.99 to just $879.99, making it way more affordable and much easier to justify. It’s close to the best price we’ve ever seen for this model, and boy is it a doozy.

Samsung’s G91SD isn’t just massive at 49 inches, but provides an ultrawide 5120×1440 screen that stretches out and gently wraps around your vision for maximum immersion while gaming and maximum eye comfort while working on spreadsheets, reading documents, and browsing the web. The 144Hz refresh rate is suitable for gamers too, assuming your machine is powerful enough to push such frame rates.

Not to mention the OLED panel, which produces vibrant colors and deep blacks that’ll truly elevate your streaming and gaming experiences. Connection options include HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and Micro HDMI 2.1, plus three high-speed USB-C ports and a 3.5mm audio jack. Other niceties include Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support, height and tilt adjustments, and VESA mounting.

Level up your gaming battlestation with the 49-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 for $879.99 while you still can! B&H has this deal marked as time-limited with a deadline of midnight EDT on Sunday, September 21st. If it’s still too pricey, check out our picks for the best gaming monitors.