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Latest by Luke Larsen

Surface Laptop 2 Review

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 review

People don’t usually buy laptops right when they come out, which begs the question: How does a popular machine like the Surface Laptop 2 hold up six months later? Our retrospective review considers how small design mishaps can turn into large mistakes down the road.
Stock photo of Intel 9th gen core processor.

Zombieload forces a choice between performance and security. What will you do?

Intel has handled the recent discovery of a new security vulnerability in its processors with confidence, a stark contrast to its reaction to Spectre and Meltdown from 2018. But with ZombieLoad, the newest iteration of this nasty flaw, we're left with a choice between performance and security.
lenovo announces oled thinkpad

The new ThinkPad X1 Extreme has a 4K OLED screen and a Core i9 processor

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme is one powerful laptop, and now Lenovo has announced its second generation. The new version comes with a vibrant 4K OLED display and the latest 9th-gen Core i9 processor. Lenovo also announced a pair of affordable business laptops under the sub-brand of "ThinkBook."
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Surface, Windows, and everything else Microsoft skipped at Build 2019

Microsoft's annual developers conference had plenty of updates on what the company is doing in the cloud computing space. But what about Surface? Or how about Windows? Microsoft was silent on both of these fronts, and here's why that was a missed opportunity for the company at large.
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Best 17-inch laptops

For gaming and productivity professionals, some people want a laptop with a huge display. More screen real estate can mean more work done. But that doesn't mean you want to compromise in terms of power and portability. These are the best 17-inch laptops you can buy that don't ask you to give up the farm.
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Nvidia’s new GTX 1660 Ti and 1650 graphics cards for laptops start at $799

Nvidia announced the GTX 1660 Ti and GTX 1650, two new mobile graphics cards to flesh out the Turing lineup for laptops. These GPUs don't have the ray tracing capabilities of the RTX 20-series, but still provide the advances of the Turing architecture for more affordable prices.
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Asus launches a fleet of ROG gaming laptops with 240Hz screens and 9th-gen CPUs

Today, Asus launched updates to just about every gaming laptop line they have, ranging from the high-end Zephyrus to the budget-level TUF Gaming. Across the board, these new laptops have 9th-gen Intel processors, up to 240Hz refresh rate screens, and solid performance value at every level.
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Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX502 hands-on review

Asus has revamped its lineup of gaming laptops, ranging from budget-friendly options to high-powered behemoths. Near the top of the range is the ROG Zephyrus S GX502, sporting a 240Hz refresh rate display, a new chassis, and a 9th-gen Core i7 Intel processor.
intel ice lake wont rid spectre insecure chip

Intel’s new Core i9 processors bring 8-core power to laptops

Intel announced a new line of ninth-gen mobile processors that bring eight-core Core i9 processors to gaming laptops and high-powered "musclebooks" for content creators. In addition, the company has announced a fleshed out slate of new desktops CPUs that bring the rest of the lineup up to date.
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The Razer Blade’s new 4K OLED gaming laptop starts at a whopping $3,299

Razer has announced a bevy of new gaming laptops, including two with advanced display technologies. One has an OLED 4K screen, the other offers a 240Hz refresh rate for a fast, smooth gaming experience. Razer has rearranged its Base Model configurations, now offering a cheaper way to get a 144Hz display.
huawei matebook x pro 2019 review huawe feat

Huawei MateBook X Pro (2019) review

There's a new Huawei MateBook X Pro in 2019, building off the success of last year's iteration. What’s new? Well, the graphics card, the processor, and the pricing. And not all of these work out in its favor, despite how well the original design holds up.
An Apple iMac from 2019 placed on a desk. The macOS Mojave operating system is on its display.

iMac 5K 27-inch (2019) review

Apple now has four types of iPads -- the budget iPad, the iPad Mini, the iPad Air, and the iPad Pro. The iPad Air is almost the same as the new iPad Mini, save for screen size. While people looking for a small tablet should go for the Mini, professionals that are reluctant about the price of the highest-tier iPad Pro should consider the iPad Air as the tablet to buy.
MSI GS75 Stealth

MSI GS75 Stealth review

The MSI GS65 made a big splash at its release. It was impossibly thin yet impressively powerful. MSI followed it up in 2019 with a 17-inch version, but the larger size isn’t the only thing that’s changed. Can the GS75 Stealth stand out in a sea of thin-and-light gaming laptops?
An Apple iMac running business software.

Yes, Apple’s new iMacs look great, but they do have one glaring problem

Apple unexpectedly launched a long-awaited update to the iMac lineup on Tuesday morning. With processors ranging up to the eight-core Core i9, it's a pretty solid update to Apple's classic all-in-one. But hidden in the details of the product page, there's one outdated component Apple is holding onto.
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Acer Predator XB3 review

The $1,300 Predator XB3 isn’t for the faint of heart. But if you have a system that can push over 100 frames per second at 4K screen resolution, this monster of a monitor might be the perfect match for your overpowered gaming rig. More than that, it’s an investment in the future of PC gaming power.
An Apple iMac running business software.

Which iMac should you buy? Here’s our guide to picking a new Apple all-in-one

Apple powered up its new iMacs with an update to internal specs and components. With new processors and graphics cards for both the 4K and 5K models, the iMac feels like a good option for creatives again. But which should you buy? Here's our guide to choosing the right Apple all-in-one for your needs.
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At $99, Nvidia’s Jetson Nano minicomputer seeks to bring robotics to the masses

At GTC, Nvidia announced a new AI computer, the Jetson Nano. This tiny computer comes with a 128-core GPU that Nvidia claims can handle pretty much any A.I. framework you could imagine. At $99, it makes for an affordable way for A.I. newbies to get in the game, including in fields outside the conventional data sciences.
HP Omen X Emperium 65 review

HP Omen X Emperium 65 review

Gaming monitors keep getting bigger, but the 65-inch Omen X Emperium takes it to another level. In fact, this $5,000 display is as close to a gaming television as we’ve ever seen. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the picture quality chops to compete with the Samsungs and LGs of the world.
Dell XPS 13 9370 review | Ports on the left side of the laptops

USB4 is coming, and it’ll have data transfer speeds as fast as Thunderbolt 3

USB 3.2 is still in the process of being rolled out, but its successor has already been announced. USB4 is the next generation of USB technology, now with data transfer speeds double its predecessor. The new standard comes with support from Intel's Thunderbolt protocol.
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Razer’s awesomely outrageous pink laptop gives subtle the middle finger

Many laptop makers have flirted with a pink laptop, but none have done it right. Now, Razer has launched its Blade Stealth in a "Quartz Pink" variation. Not only does it look great, it feels like an important moment for inclusivity in the PC audience at large.
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Metro Exodus isn’t the ray tracing showcase Nvidia needs

The arrival of Nvidia's long-awaited DLSS feature has finally come, and it's for the post-apocalyptic action game, Metro Exodus. We took the implementation of both ray tracing and DLSS to the test to see how it affects both the overall visual appeal and performance of the game experience.
Asus ROG Zephyrus S (GX701) review

Asus ROG Zephyrus S (GX701) review

RTX graphics have finally made it to gaming laptops, and the first we've tested is the new Zephyrus S. Now with a 17-inch display and those powerful graphics inside, the Zephyrus' unique design has some additional power for smooth gaming. The downsides of the keyboard design, however, remain.
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The web has grown up, but browsers haven’t. It’s time for a reboot

The web has changed a lot over the years, and so has the way we use it. The thing that hasn’t changed? The web browser, the tool every one of us depends on. It's well past time for new ideas. I talked to some of the browser futurists making that future a reality.

Huawei MateBook 13 review

Huawei’s MateBook 13 is a MacBook Air competitor, through and through. But with an attractive price point, a beautiful 3:2 display, and the option for discrete graphics, can the MateBook 13 rise above the similarities to Apple’s laptops? In some ways, yes. In others, it has a long way to go.
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Nvidia’s new RTX graphics make for the fastest gaming laptops ever made

The arrival of RTX graphics for laptops will bring changes to gaming hardware. Most notably, higher framerates in your favorite games, and advanced features like ray tracing and DLSS. Best of all, these new graphics cards will result in thinner, lighter laptops that sacrifice less for portability. Our Nvidia RTX graphics for laptops review dives deep on the new hardware.
Dell XPS 13 2019

It took Dell years to fix 1 problem on its best laptop. Here’s how it did it

The new Dell XPS 13 moves the webcam from the below the screen to the top, finally vanquishing the one obstacle facing thin, sleek laptop displays. Why’s that such a big deal? We have the exclusive story on how it was done -- and the alternative methods that never saw the light of day.
Alienware Area-51m review

The biggest laptop trends from CES 2019

Bringing a preview of all the trends expected across all tech industries throughout the year, CES 2019 offered surprises and news from some of the biggest names in laptop makers. Here are the major themes in laptops at this year's show, from OLED screens to Nvidia power.
HP Spectre x360 15 review

It took three years, but OLED laptops are having another moment at CES

To our surprise, OLED laptops made a strong showing at CES 2019. With options in the works from most of the major PC manufacturers, it seems that OLED is making its comeback, and it could turn out to be one of the most important laptop trends of 2019.
Alienware 55 review

Alienware 55 OLED monitor hands-on review

OLED has long alluded gaming monitors. But no longer. The Alienware 55 OLED Monitor matches the incredible visuals of OLED with variable refresh rates up to 120Hz. The best part? It’s not just a concept -- it’s a real product coming to a living room near you.
Lenovo Yoga S940 review

Lenovo Yoga S940 hands-on review

Lenovo’s Yoga S940, which debuted at CES 2019, has a few tricks up its sleeve. By using an inverted notch above the screen and curved glass along the edges of the display, the Yoga S940 creates subtle fair and sets a new standard for laptop elegance. Can those design tweaks make Lenovo’s latest a winner?
Samsung Notebook 9 Pro

Samsung Notebook 9 Pro hands-on review

Samsung’s laptops tend to feel a bit flimsy, without the reduction in price. The company’s latest 2-in-1, the Notebook 9 Pro, is an attempt to correct that. The redesign brings a full-aluminum chassis to the lineup, adding some much-needed rigidity. Can that make the Notebook 9 Pro a serious MacBook Air alternative?
nvidia rtx 2060 ces 2019 geforce

Nvidia launches the RTX 2060, lowering the price of ray tracing to $349

Amid intense speculation, Nvidia announced the RTX 2060, the cheapest and least powerful of the company's new line of RTX graphics cards. Still boasting performance improvements and real-time ray tracing, the $349 card will probably be the one most gamers buy.
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Razer Raptor 27 hands-on review

Razer’s showed its gaming monitor, the Raptor 27, at CES 2019. It’s at tried-and-true Razer product. Made of aluminum and lit with Chroma RGB LEDs, it’s everything a Razer fan would want. Beyond that, the Raptor 27 has a couple of interesting tricks up its sleeve, including a unique cable management system.
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The RGB-laden Raptor 27 is Razer’s debut gaming monitor

This year at CES, Razer announced its entrance into a new product category: Gaming monitors. The Raptor 27 is the company's first true attempt at a gaming monitor, designed and manufactured from the ground-up by Razer. The 27-inch screen is squeezed into an "edge-to-edge" frame with 2.3mm bezels on each side.