On Thursday, July 25, Netflix finally rolled out its updated app for Windows on the Microsoft Store, but the new version isn’t likely to get the thumbs up from users. In fact, it’s downright disappointing. The update was first announced back in May, in which Netflix said the native app would be retired by June. After some delay, the update was quickly tested in July before being pushed live. Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro Price When Reviewed: 199.99 Best Prices Today: $59 at PCWorld Store – Win 11 Pro Upgrade Only | $79.99 at PCWorld Software Store What’s changed? The biggest difference is that the Windows app for Netflix is no longer a full-fledged app. Annoyingly, it’s now just a simple Microsoft Edge-based web app that runs netflix.com. Another big change is the removal of downloads, an important feature in the original app that allowed you to save content locally for offline viewing. The removal of this feature—which came in handy while, for example, traveling—is a huge step back for laptop users. Windows Latest describes the new app as awful and pointless, as you can watch Netflix just as easily via any web browser. “The new version will now include access to live events, compatibility with ad-supported plans, and more,” Netflix support reportedly said. “Mostly, it will remains same. As the browser streaming does not support Downloads, same way new Netflix App won’t be supporting downloads. Only streaming online can be done. You can continue to watch TV shows and movies offline on a supported mobile device.” Further reading: The best VPN for streaming Netflix

Most computers and storage drives still use the common SATA or PCIe 3.0 interfaces to sling your bits of data around, but if you’re lucky enough to own a relatively modern PC, you might be able to upgrade to a solid-state drive (SSD) built on the insanely fast PCIe 4.0 protocol. We’ve tested several PCIe 4.0 SSDs and the best one to cross our labs thus far is the Solidgm P44 Pro in a field of tough contenders thanks to ferociously fast speeds only rivaled by next-gen PCIe 5.0 SSDs. Read on to learn more, including what to look for in PCIe 4.0 SSD. Why you should trust us: We’re not called PCWorld for nothing. Our reviewers have been testing PC hardware for decades. Our storage evaluations are exhaustive, testing the limits of every product — from performance benchmarks to the practicalities of regular use. As PC users ourselves, we know what makes a killer product stand out. Only the best SSDs make this list. For more about our testing process, scroll to the bottom of this article. Updated July 26, 2024 to add a new pick for Steam Deck: the 2230 form-factor Crucial P310 — the fasted PCIe 4.0 drive of this size that we’ve tested. We’ve also added a pick for the 2242 form factor — the Corsair MP600 Micro 2242. Read our summaries below to learn more about these two small SSDs. Solidigm P44 Pro SSD – Best PCIe 4.0 SSD Pros Fastest PCIe 4.0 SSD to date DRAM facilitates excellent random performance Synergy low-level Windows driver improves random performance further Cons Inconsistent pricing on web Price When Reviewed: 512GB: $79.99 I 1TB: $129.99 I 2TB: $219..99 Best Prices Today: $117.05 at AmazonNot Available at Adorama The Solidigm P44 Pro is without a doubt the fastest PCIe 4.0 drive we have ever tested. In fact, it finished within the top five fastest drives in our tests, and was only beaten by three next-gen PCIe 5.0 drives. Plus, by installing the Solidigm Windows driver you can further improve random performance in small read/writes making it even faster during everyday use. Not only is the Solidigm P44 Pro performance top-notch, but it also has a very reasonable price so long as you shop at the right place—we found that pricing varies widely online from retailer to retailer. This is not only the best PCIe 4.0 drive on the market, but also one of the best SSDs period. And despite stiff competition from a crowded field of other excellent PCIe 4.0 drives it holds its own at the top. Read our full Solidigm P44 Pro review WD Black SN850X – Best PCIe 4.0 SSD runner-up Pros Excellent performance Decently affordable given its speed Available up to 4TB Optional heatsink for 1/2TB models Cons Pricey per gigabyte Somewhat parsimonious TBW ratings Price When Reviewed: $159 for 1TB I $289 for 2TB I $699 for 4TB Best Prices Today: $64.99 at B&H$64.99 at Best Buy$66.99 at Walmart$84.99 at Amazon The WD Black SN850X is a screaming-fast drive and ranks right up next to the FireCuda 530 near the top in terms of speed. The reason the WD Black SN850X edges out that drive as our pick for best PCIe 4.0 runner-up is that it offers better value for the money—not only does it give you the same great speed as the FireCuda, but it does so at a lower price per GB. Also, in terms of overall performance, the SN850X stands out with its excellent real-world transfer rates and outstanding random write performance. In the crowded field of great PCIe 4.0 SSDs, the WD Black SN850X holds its own despite stiff competition. Read our full WD Black SN850X review WD SN5000 NVMe SSD – Best budget PCIe 4.0 SSD Pros Good everyday performance Very affordable Fastest NVMe SSD of any ilk we’ve tested writing 450GB Cons Top performance requires HMB support Price When Reviewed: 500GB: $80 I 1TB: $90 I 2TB: $150 I 4TB: $290 Best Prices Today: $69.99 at WD With PCIe 5.0 drives coming to market, we’re finally starting to see companies offering budget PCIe 4.0 NVMe drives at compelling prices. Our previous pick, the WD Blue SN580 NVMe SSD, has just been supplanted by WD’s Blue SN5000. At just $75 for a 1TB model at the time of writing, and with speedy transfers, you won’t likely find a better value PCIe 4.0 drive. In our testing, this drive proved to be among the fastest Host Memory Buffer (HMB) SSDs we’ve tested. And unlike the SN580 before it, the SN5000 didn’t falter at the 450GB transfer test, but instead tied the record among all SSDs. Read our full WD SN5000 NVMe SSD review Crucial P310 (2230) – Best PCIe 4.0 SSD for Steam Deck Pros Fastest 2230 SSD we’ve tested Available with up to 2TB of capacity Cons Low TBW endurance rating Price When Reviewed: 1TB: $115 I 2TB: $215 Best Prices Today: $114.99 at Crucial If you need a 2230 NVMe SSD for your Steam Deck or other size-constrained device, look no further than the Crucial P310. This is the fastest 2230 SSD we’ve tested, and by a rather large margin. It bested our previous favorite 2230 drive — the WD Black SN770M — in every benchmark save for the 450GB transfer, where it lost steam at the 85 percent mark after running out of secondary cache. But large transfers are rare for most users. The P310 is a little more pricey than the SN770M, too, but not by much more than $10 for both the 1TB and 2TB offerings. If optimum speed is what you’re after, and you don’t foresee regularly moving large amounts of data, the P310 is the ticket. Read our full Crucial P310 NVMe SSD (2230) review Seagate Game Drive – Best PCIe 4.0 SSD for PS5 Pros Very good overall performance Excellent 4K performance Low-profile heatsink Twice the TBW rating of the competition Cons A bit pricey No 4TB model Price When Reviewed: 1TB: $100 I 2TB: $150 Best Prices Today: $134.99 at Best Buy$149.99 at GameStopNot Available at Amazon The Seagate Game Drive is a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD that was made specifically for next-gen consoles—the PS5 in particular. And it doesn’t disappoint. It features DRAM for primary caching duties, which is a bit unique and almost essential for Sony’s console system. The PS5 doesn’t support HMB, so a drive such as this with DRAM cache is the optimal choice. The drive comes in 1TB and 2TB models, meaning you’ll have plenty of space to store all of your games should you need it. While the Seagate Game Drive is optimized for a PS5, it’s no slouch as a regular SSD either. In our speed tests it did remarkably well, earning the spot as the second-fastest PCIe 4.0 SSD with random ops that we’ve ever tested. Seagate also provides a generous five-year warranty with the drive and it has an astounding 1,275TBW rating—more than double the industry norm. PS5 owners simply can’t go wrong with the Seagate Game Drive. Read our full Seagate Game Drive PS5 NVMe SSD review Corsair MP600 Micro 2242 SSD – Best 2242 form factor SSD Pros Direct fit for Lenovo 2242 M.2 slots Good performance Priced affordably Cons Too long for 2230 slots Price When Reviewed: 1TB: $99.99 Best Prices Today: $94.99 at Corsair The Corsair MP600 Micro fills the niche of devices that can accommodate an SSD that’s larger than the 2230 form factor used by game consoles, but not as large as the standard 2280 modules that are most often found for PCs. We’re talking about the 2242 form factor — meaning 22mm wide by 42mm long. Lenovo set off this trend with its Legion Go and Thinkpad portables. And owners of those devices should be pleased to know there are some respectable options for storage upgrades — the best of which is the Corsair MP600 Micro. This isn’t the fastest PCIe 4.0 drive we’ve tested, but among the class of truncated drives we’ve tested, it turned out very competitive performance. Currently, you’ll only find the MP600 Micro in 1TB capacity. For shoppers who want more space, see the Crucial P310 above, which is a 2230 drive in up to 2TB — which will require an adapter. Read our full Corsair MP600 Micro 2242 SSD review What to look for in an SSD There are a few things to look out for, but most importantly you’ll want to focus on capacity, price, and warranty length. Three-year warranties are standard, but some nicer models are guaranteed for up to five years. And unlike the olden days of SSDs, modern drives won’t wear out with normal consumer usage, as Tech Report tested and proved years ago with a grueling endurance test. Another crucial thing to watch out for is the technology used to connect the SSD to your PC. For more details and buying advice you can read our in-depth guide on which type of SSD you should buy. SATA: This refers to both the connection type and the transfer protocol, which is used to connect most 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch hard drives and SSDs to your PC. SATA III speeds can hit roughly 600MBps, and most—but not all—modern drives max it out. (More on that in the next section.) PCIe: This interface taps into four of your computer’s PCIe lanes to blow away SATA speeds, to the tune of nearly 4GBps over PCIe gen 3. Those sort of face-melting speeds pair nicely with supercharged NVMe drives. Both the PCIe lanes in your motherboard and the M.2 slot in your motherboard can be wired to support the PCIe interface, and you can buy adapters that allow you to slot “gumstick” M.2 drives into a PCIe lane. PCIe 4.0 drives are significantly faster, but require an AMD Ryzen 3000-series or Intel Core 11th-gen (or newer) processor, along with a compatible PCIe 4.0 motherboard. NVMe: Non-Volatile Memory Express technology takes advantage of PCIe’s bountiful bandwidth to create blisteringly fast SSDs that blow SATA-based drives out of the water. Check out PCWorld’s “Everything you need to know about NVMe” for a nitty-gritty deep-dive. M.2: This is where things get tricky. Many people assume M.2 drives all use NVMe technology and PCIe speeds, but that’s not true. M.2 is just a form factor. Sure, most M.2 SSDs use NVMe, but some still stick to SATA. Do your homework. Many modern Ultrabooks rely on M.2 for storage. U.2 and mSATA: You may also stumble across mSATA and U.2 SSDs, but both motherboard support and product availability are rare for those formats. Some older Ultrabooks included mSATA before M.2 became popular, and drives are still available if you need them. Speed matters, of course, but as we said most modern SSDs saturate the SATA III interface. Not all of them, though. How we test SSDs We test SSDs using a variety of synthetic benchmarks (such as CrystalDiskMark 6’s various tests) and real-world tests, including 48GB transfers that showcase how a drive performs during common tasks, and also a demanding 450GB transfer test that pushes an SSD’s cache performance to the limit. The PCIe 4.0 testing was done on an MSI MEG X570 motherboard socketing an AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-core CPU, using the same Kingston DRAM, cards, and software. All testing is performed on an empty, or nearly empty drive. Note: performance will decrease as the drive fills up. To learn more about our testing methodology see PCWorld’s article on how we test internal SSDs.

Antivirus software is a necessary tool in today’s online world. Attacks are only becoming more sophisticated, especially with aid of AI. Even the tech-savvy and cautious can drop their guard at wrong time or get tricked into exposing themselves to malware, spyware, or ransomware. Antivirus protection is an essential backup against such threats.  Most systems come with security software baked into the OS, but for some folks, an upgrade can help demystify and simplify online security. To help you choose a good suite, we’ve identified products that offer excellent protection, worthwhile features, and minimal performance impact on your PC. Why you should trust us: PCWorld has been deep in the trenches of testing computer hardware, software, and services since 1983—including security suites. For antivirus apps, we continually evaluate popular or noteworthy software. We consider the user experience, strength of protection against threats (online and offline), and how well it addresses the ever-expanding types of attacks. Our guide on how we test antivirus software at PCWorld gives the full details of our review process, but for the results of our work, read on. Update July 26, 2024: News broke late this week about a leak of encryption keys used for Secure Boot, a feature that guards your PC’s boot process from malicious attacks. The compromised hardware includes some produced by large corporations such as Dell, Acer, Gigabyte, and Intel—you can read more about the details in our rundown. In the meanwhile, having your antivirus software up to date is your best protection. Best antivirus of 2024 reviewed and ranked Norton 360 Deluxe – Best antivirus for PC overall Pros Strong antivirus protection Wide protection against major online threats Simple, straightforward features Cons Performance impact on some PCs User interface would benefit from consolidation Upselling of additional services Price When Reviewed: $49.99 for the first year First-year rate$49.99PCWorld Software Store $19.99See all plans & pricing at Norton Why we picked Norton 360 Deluxe An ideal antivirus suite packs in a little of everything needed for security without costing a ton—and that’s why our pick for the best antivirus software of 2024 is still Norton 360 Deluxe. Despite its slightly awkward interface, this software’s wide protection and affordable pricing is ideal for most users. This plan has just about everything most PC users need, without extra bloat. For antivirus performance, Norton offers strong online protection, while having minimal impact on system resources if you don’t often download or copy large amounts of files. Additionally, you get malicious link and attachment screening, dark web and privacy monitoring, and webcam safeguards. Norton also tosses in 50GB of storage for cloud backups, access to Norton’s password manager and VPN, parental controls, and PC utilities that include the ability to monitor for outdated software. And those major extras—the password manager, VPN, and parental controls—have easy, simple interfaces, without feeling stripped to the bone. Overall, Norton is an excellent option for those looking to consolidate their online security protections into a single software interface. It has a couple of quirks (namely a dual user interface that can mildly slow navigation), but its strengths far outshine its weaknesses, especially when it packs in so much value. You’ll pay $50 for the first year for 5 devices, and $120 per year thereafter. Who should use Norton 360 Deluxe Norton 360 Deluxe works for everyone—it consolidates all the biggest protections you need online into one package, including parental controls. If you have trouble keeping up with security experts’ recommendations (or haven’t yet gotten around to following all of them), this suite centralizes and simplifies it all. Read our full Norton 360 Deluxe review Avast One – Best overall runner-up Pros Good new design Well priced Excellent performance Cons Smart scan requires too much user intervention Avast asks to install Google Chrome Price When Reviewed: $53.88 / 5 devices I $83.88 / 30 devices First year / 5 devices$53.88First year / 30 devices $83.88See all plans & pricing at Avast Why we picked Avast One Avast not only offers solid protection, but a simple, friendly interface. Combine that together with useful extra features and multi-device coverage, and you have a winning combo in Avast One. In addition to top-ranked antivirus protection, it offers safeguards against remote webcam takeovers, malicious websites, and trackers. The Avast One plan also includes dark web monitoring, a VPN with up to 5GB of bandwidth per week, and protections for saved passwords to a browser. You get utilities to help you keep your PC’s drivers up to date, clean up your PC, and optimize your apps, too. These features may sound standard, and to be fair, many of them can be found in rival software. But Avast makes staying on top of security dead simple, whether you’re a novice or a security veteran. Its default settings require little input to keep your PC protected, and if you want to dig in further or tinker, you still have that option, too. So what keeps Avast out of the top spot, when its software outperforms Norton’s? The amount of features for its price. Norton’s performance isn’t perfect, but it’s about as good for online protection, which is where it counts. And the two software plans cost about the same—Avast One is $51 for 5 devices (or $70 for up to 30 devices) during the first year. The cost rises to $110 and $150, respectively, per year afterward. In the end, the more well-rounded subscription wins out. Who should use Avast One You’re someone who has a password manager already set up, don’t need parental controls, and prioritize the highest marks in threat detection tests. Avast One lacks the first two features, and takes top marks for catching both online and offline risks. Read our full Avast One review AVG Internet Security – Best budget antivirus suite Pros Top-rated antivirus protection Expanded protection against malicious websites and remote attacks Clean, straightforward interface Cons Some PCs may experience a performance hit during heavier workloads Several features are a bit rudimentary Price When Reviewed: $59.99 First-year rate$59.88PCWorld Software Store$10 Why we picked AVG Internet Security AVG is best known for its excellent free antivirus software, but there’s good reason to upgrade. AVG Internet Security not only offers more comprehensive protection, but also easy management of those tools. That can be valuable if you find keeping up with online threats too overwhelming or time consuming. The Internet Security plan builds upon the free version’s top-ranked protection against malware and web, email, and network threats. It also guards the passwords saved to your browsers; webcam takeovers; unknown access to files with sensitive data; malicious redirects for websites you’re trying to visit (aka DNS hijacking); and Windows Remote Desktop attacks. Dark web monitoring is included as well. And the app has minimal impact on system resources when monitoring your system in the background, though full scans can hit budget or older systems harder. Despite its small annoyances (like ads for additional paid features), AVG Internet Security is reliable antivirus software with a user friendly interface—and at just $60 during the first year for 10 devices, it’s affordable, too. In fact, it’s solid enough to earn a recommendation despite how strong the free version is on its own. Who should use AVG Internet Security You need deeper control and more expansive protection from your antivirus software, but you don’t want to pay extra for features you don’t want. AVG Internet Security expands just enough on the company’s free antivirus to make it worthwhile, even though it lacks elements like parental controls, VPN, and a password manager. Read our full AVG Internet Security review Avira Prime – Best antivirus for beginners Pros Strong security with a reasonable subscription price Well designed and user-friendly Offers a host of features in the areas of security, privacy, and performance Cons No subscription option for fewer than five devices Simplicity of app feels slightly at odds with the depth of the PC tools Price When Reviewed: 5 devices: $9.99/mo I $59.99/yr I $189.99/2yrs Monthly rate / 5 devices$9.99First-year rate / 5 devices$59.992-year rate / 5 devices$194.99See all plans & pricing at Avira Why we picked Avira Prime Avira Prime is one of the best choices for those seeking more help with managing their PC, thanks to its simple, clear interface and feature lineup. In addition to to solid antivirus protection, it offers a password manager, unlimited VPN, and a boatload of PC utilities that (among other things) can keep apps up to date, securely delete files, and back up data. The one major feature missing from Avira Prime is a set of parental controls. You can’t use it to filter web content or monitor device usage. It also can hit older and budget PCs hard when full scans are running, if you’ve added or changed large amounts of files. But typically, it only minimally affects system performance when left to run in the background, so most people won’t notice Avira running. For those who want the comprehensive simplicity that this security suite offers, you’ll pay $60 for the first year, and then $105 for every year after. That first-year cost is slightly higher than our overall top pick, but if you prefer more newbie-friendly software, it’s worth the extra ten bucks. Who should use Avira Prime Avira Prime will likely feel best to users who want a simple antivirus suite, broad online protections, and robust PC utilities—and also want to use those latter tools for more confident management of their computer. Not every utility is a winner, but the overall set can help you identify and understand the more technical aspects of Windows and system upkeep. Parents will need to look elsewhere for controls that let them monitor and limit their kids’ PC use, however. Read our full Avira Prime review McAfee Total Protection – Best for privacy Pros Good protection Nice features like file shredder and home network analyzer Cons Mixed impact on performance New app design is a little scattered Price When Reviewed: $79.99/yr First-year rate$79.99 PCWorld Software Store$18.99 Why we picked McAfee Total Protection McAfee has been around a long time—and the company continues to hunt down current threats to PCs, with solid results. These days, dangers extend beyond just malware to identity and privacy issues, and McAfee Total Protection addresses these just as much as it does ransomware and phishing sites. That ID protection makes it stand out against competitors, especially if you pay to scale up the service. The plan we tested included dark web scanning for multiple pieces of personal information (email address, phone number, social security number, passport, driver’s license, date of birth, tax ID, credit card, usernames, and more). The app also offers to help change your password for online accounts, when applicable. VPN access is included as well. Mid-tier and budget machines can see impact on system resources when running McAfee scans. When we ran a full scan during a variety of common tasks (web browsing, document editing, etc), we noticed some dips in performance. You can mitigate this effect by timing scans for off hours, however. Currently, McAfee Total Protection is available through third-party sellers (McAfee has turned its attention to its slightly newer McAfee+ plans on its website). We like this version still because of how deeply affordable it is—for example, a license on PCWorld’s own software site is just $19 per year, which covers up to ten devices for one year. Who should use McAfee Total Protection Your personal information can be used against you online—and with data breaches so painfully common these days, it can be a relief to have help in tracking who has your info. For anyone who doesn’t have as much time to handle that work themselves, or even keep track of a separate service, McAfee can serve as a central spot for managing all your online security concerns. Read our full McAfee Total Protection review Panda Dome Complete – Most feature-rich offering Pros Very easy-to-understand mobile-like interface Contains some basic smart home network monitoring Month-to-month pricing option Cons Good performance results but currently limited in third-party testing Price When Reviewed: 1 device: $64.49 I 3 devices: $71.99 I 5 devices: $78.74 I 10 devices: $121.49 Monthly rate / 1 device$8.99 (first month free)First-year rate / 1 device$58.49See all plans & pricing at Panda Security Why we picked Panda Dome Complete All deluxe antivirus suites offer extra tools as part of their package, but Panda Dome Complete particularly stands out. It also has one of the most striking interfaces we’ve seen. Similar to Microsoft’s Bing homepage, Panda Dome features a beautiful background photo, with the interface elements placed on top of it. A whole raft of utilities come with this suite, including a virtual keyboard, advanced virus removal, an update manager for your Windows apps, a disk defragmenter, hard drive cleaner, and startup apps manager. You also get Wi-Fi protection (which lets you see what devices are connected to your network), a password manager, parental controls, and a VPN that offers 150 megabytes of bandwidth per day. In addition to offering reliable antivirus protection, Panda had the most minimal impact on system performance during our benchmarks. So minor, in fact, that in the real-world it worked out to no difference. As one of the most feature-rich offerings, Panda Dome Complete also one of the most expensive, too. You can purchase a subscription for $64.50 during the first year ($86 per year afterward), but that’s covers just one device. Fortunately, it only costs a little more to upgrade to a three device plan ($72 for the first year, $96 per year afterward) or five device plan ($79 for the first year, $105 per year afterward). Who should use Panda Dome Complete Panda Dome Complete puts a ton of features right at your fingertips—an ideal interface for those who want to dive into everything straight away. If you hate buried or oversimplified menus, you’ll feel right at home with this software. Read our full Panda Dome Complete review Windows Security – Best free antivirus Pros Built into Windows 10 and 11 Settings are easy to review and customize Integrates with other security aspects of Windows Cons Tends toward false positives, especially with SmartScreen Lacks the advanced features found in third-party products Price When Reviewed: Included with Windows 10 and 11 Why we picked Windows Security Windows’ built-in security suite is an excellent free antivirus option—as we discovered in our roundup of the best free antivirus—even if its protection isn’t quite as strong as third-party rivals when your PC is offline. It bundles together Defender, which monitors for viruses and malware; Firewall, which blocks malicious incoming traffic and suspicious outgoing traffic; ransomware protections (including controlled access to folders, as well as data recovery via OneDrive integration); app restrictions; and even basic parental controls. The most important of these protections are automatically enabled in Windows—you don’t have to lift a finger to get real-time antivirus scanning or network protection. You will have to manually switch on some features, though, including ransomware folder controls and file recovery. You can find more features in other antivirus suites, like online privacy tools, a VPN, and encrypted cloud backups. But this free protection comes preinstalled on Windows machines and does a good job of keeping you protected from most threats. Who should use Windows Security You’re looking for lightweight, unobtrusive antivirus protection—and don’t mind configuring it, nor managing separate security tools to make sure you’re properly protected online. To get the most out of it, you must tinker with Windows Security’s settings. (You can learn more in our video on How to use Windows Security.) You also have to figure out your own online privacy tools, VPN, password manager, and encrypted cloud backup. Read our full Windows Security review Intego Mac Internet Security X9 – Best antivirus for Mac Pros Two-way firewall Good performance Cons Mac-specific (no Windows / Android protection) Price When Reviewed: $39.99 First-year rate $24.992-year intro rate$49.99 See all plans & pricing at Intego Why we picked Intego X9 As the headline reveals, the focus of this roundup is the best antivirus for Windows PCs, but many PC enthusiasts are the de facto IT for friends and family. If you want to help an associate or loved one achieve strong antivirus protection for an Apple machine, our colleagues at Macworld recommend Intego’s Mac Internet Security X9. In the suite are two utilities. The better known one is VirusBarrier, which spots and eliminates malware threats, and gets strong ratings for its protective abilities. It comes paired with NetBarrier, a two-way firewall that watches for suspicious traffic going to or from your Mac. For the price of this suite, NetBarrier’s inclusion isn’t common, but definitely welcome. As part of its protection, VirusBarrier X9 scans for threats on your Mac’s internal storage drive (including any downloaded email and compressed archives), as well as connected disks and iOS devices. The app quarantines suspicious files, which you can then mark as trusted, leave in quarantine, or try to have repaired. Overall, Intego’s Mac Internet Security X9 offers good compatibility with macOS while looking like a real Mac program, too. It costs just $25 (or £20.00) for the first year using this special Macworld link. If you need additional tools, like a backup utility, speed optimizer for your Mac, or parental controls, you can upgrade to the Mac Premium Bundle X9 for $40 for the first year (£23.99). Who should use Intego X9 Intego VirusBarrier not only offers good compatibility with macOS, but it also looks like a real Mac program, too—making it an ideal match for anyone looking for an effective app that blends in seamlessly. Recent antivirus reviews Malwarebytes Premium Security: Technology newbies will like this antivirus software’s simplicity, but you can get more bang for your buck elsewhere. Norton Antivirus Plus: Its one-device limitation is tight, but this simplified antivirus suite is affordable and offers more features than similar rivals. If you can work comfortably with its quirks and potentially heavy performance effect, it can be ideal software for digital minimalists. Trend Micro Maximum Security: Even when you can count on Trend Micro Maximum Security to work, this beginner-friendly antivirus suite feels underbaked. You can find much stronger malware protection, along with a more robust set of features, in rival software—and often at a lower price. Avast One: This upgrade on Avast’s free security suite adds protection against identity and privacy threats, along with PC tools, all while still keeping its polished interface. And in AV-Test and AV-Comparatives’ latest benchmark data, it generally led the competition in blocking online and offline threats. AVG Internet Security: This modest suite provides top-notch threat protection in a clean, straightforward interface — all while charging less than rivals. Like Avast (with which it shares an antivirus engine), it generally leads the competition in blocking online and offline threats, as seen in benchmarks performed by AV-Test and AV-Comparatives. Norton 360 Deluxe: Norton 360 Deluxe has a wide array of protections spanning antivirus, password management, VPN access, automated cloud backups, and dark web monitoring. It can hit PC performance a bit harder on older or budget systems, but its overall value and solid results in AV-Test and AV-Comparatives’ benchmarks make it worthwhile. McAfee Total Protection: You can rely on McAfee Total Protection for blocking online threats and its easy-to-use VPN, but not its password manager. The app can also notably affect system performance on mid-range and budget PCs. Currently, the competition outdoes this entry-level offering. How to choose the best antivirus software There are three basic requirements that an antivirus suite should meet: High-detection rate for malware and other threats Low impact on system resources An easy-to-use interface That’s not all to consider, however. A lot has changed since the early days of antivirus software. These days, many security suites come with extras such as a backup service for your most essential files, Android and iOS apps for mobile security, a more advanced firewall, family protection (read: child restriction) features, and the right to use the program on multiple PCs. Access to a VPN and a password manager have become more common, too. Whether you need those extras depends on how much you’re willing to spend and your personal situation. If you’re looking to go beyond the basics, our baseline recommendation is to find a suite that comes with a firewall, supports enough devices to cover what you own, and (if you don’t already have separate services set up) access to a password manager and VPN. Not sure if you need all that? Our guides on security suite features, password managers, and VPNs can help you decide. How we test antivirus software Our approach to testing antivirus software is multi-pronged—we look not just at how well the suite catches malware and other threats (though that’s certainly a top factor), but other elements as well. First, we take a look at the interface to determine how easy or complicated it is. Does the interface make it easy to get at essential tools like PC scans and password managers, for example, or is everything buried under multiple clicks? Are there elements that look like they should be clickable but aren’t? Are alerts interactive or purely informational, and do they make sense in context? We also examine the features on offer. Every good antivirus suite should have the basics like scanning and real-time protection, but many vendors offer elements that go beyond basic security like password managers or firewalls. We try to discern whether any of these extra features are particularly useful, or just frills that look nice but don’t serve a practical purpose. To test the suite’s demand on system resources, we run three benchmarks. The first is PCMark 10’s Extended test, which simulates a variety of workloads including editing spreadsheets, browsing the web, running video chat, and light gaming.  PCWorld PCWorld PCWorld We run the benchmark before the security suite is installed. Then we install the software, have it run a full scan on our Windows 11 test machine, and start a second run of the benchmark at the same time. Then we compare the overall scores to see if the decline between the two benchmark runs is significant. We repeat the same process using UL Procyon, which simulates document editing in Microsoft Office apps—e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Then, as the harshest stress test, we use Handbrake to transcode a video before and after installing the antivirus software. On many home PCs, this encoding task utilizes 100 percent of the CPU. We then compare transcoding times to see if there’s any significant decline. Our test machine is an Acer Aspire 3 15 with an AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 8GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Each security suite is tested on a clean install of Windows 10 Home. As for the antivirus suite’s detection capabilities, we rely on the opinions of security researchers dedicated to this task. We take into consideration reports from outlets such as AV Comparatives and AV Test. We also take pricing into account and what you get for it.  When possible, we review security suites using a free trial to get a sense of what consumers see when they first try out a new product. Still have questions about our review process? You can get even more details (and the philosophy behind why we test as we do) in our full explanation about our antivirus testing practices. FAQ 1. Is antivirus necessary in 2024? Unfortunately, yes. Viruses, malware, and other online threats have only increased and become more sophisticated over time. Spending time on the internet or attaching any external drives to your computer without antivirus software is like going into battle without a stitch of armor. 2. Does Windows 10/11 need antivirus? In the basic sense, absolutely yes—which is why Windows 10 and 11 come with in built-in antivirus protection. But while Windows Security performs well, the best third-party antivirus software have even higher rates of detecting threats. The top antivirus apps also offer more control over settings, detailed logs of your PC’s activity, a more user-friendly interface, and additional features to strengthen your online security beyond just viruses and malware. So strictly speaking, a Windows PC doesn’t need third-party antivirus software, but you can benefit from more comprehensive online protection. 3. Will antivirus software slow down my computer? The short answer is maybe, but probably not. Antivirus software scans files and programs to ensure there is no malware or other harmful threat present. The longer the time frame between each scan, the more files the program will need to check. These intensive scans may have some noticeable effect on your computer speed. It’s therefore recommended that you schedule your scans to run more frequently and/or at night so as to not impact your computer usage. While antivirus software can affect the speed of your computer, it is most likely not the only factor—or even the most prominent. Other factors such as unnecessary startup and background programs, insufficient RAM, or even undiagnosed malware can have more drastic effects on your computer speed than a simple antivirus scan. 4. Should you pay for antivirus? It depends on what antivirus features are most important to you. Do you just need a program that will scan, detect, and remove malware? Then go with a free version. But if you are looking for more advanced features such as the ability to block webcam hacking, run suspicious apps in a sandbox environment, and permanently delete sensitive files, then you should seriously consider upgrading to a paid premium antivirus service.  Overall, premium antivirus software is better suited to more complete coverage against threats—especially for inexperienced users. Children and seniors are particularly vulnerable to modern threats and therefore paid antivirus apps, which allow for multiple-device protection, may be a better option for families. 5. How many antivirus programs are recommended for one computer? These days, most antivirus software are full suites. They take over completely for Windows’ built-in protection, and that single suite is all you need. More than that, and the different apps can start to conflict with one another. So no need to double up! 6. What should I do if my antivirus detects a threat? In a perfect world, your antivirus software will halt and clean the infected files for you. However, this largely depends on which antivirus program you are using. In general, the antivirus will send a warning to you and try to quarantine the infected file in order to keep it from spreading. Once isolated, the software will give you the option to try to remove the infection or delete the file altogether. 7. What is the difference between a full scan and a quick scan? A full scan performs a comprehensive and thorough check of your whole system. It usually checks your system memory, startup programs, system backup, email databases, hard drives, and any removable storage drives. A quick scan only checks a few areas including startup programs, system memory, and boot sectors. It may not detect all malware, but it can usually give you an idea if your computer has a virus. As to when you should do either, we recommend a full scan once per week, during computer usage downtime (such as late at night). A quick scan can be done anytime you like, but it’s usually only necessary if you notice suspicious activity on your PC. 8. Do I need to update my antivirus software? Absolutely! Keeping your antivirus software up-to-date is crucial in helping you to avoid the most recent threats. That being said, most antivirus software today—whether free or paid—will default to automatic updates. This way you don’t need to worry about manually updating your software. It may still be worth checking to confirm that your antivirus is running the most up-to-date version from time to time. 9. What features should my antivirus software have? Great question—especially since antivirus software continues to add more and more components to help keep you safe online. At absolute bare minimum, your app should have a scanner to protect against malware and online threats like phishing sites and a firewall. But other services like remote access protection, individual file encryption, and a password manager can be helpful too. Our breakdown of antivirus software features lays out the details you need to know, so that you can decide what you need.

It’s been a long time coming! Microsoft is finally keen to improve integration between Windows 11 computers and Android phones. If you hate transferring files between the two, there’s good news ahead. Microsoft has started beta testing a new feature that lets you “see your Android phone in File Explorer” and “wirelessly browse through all your folders and files, including media that is on your Android phone.” Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Not only will you be able to view what’s on your phone, but you’ll also be able to move, copy, delete, rename, and even open directly without first bringing files and folders over to your PC. The best part is that you won’t even need a USB cable for this. You can access your Android phone wirelessly, which is fantastic news for anyone who needs to work with their phone via Windows regularly. In order for this to work: Your phone needs to be running Android 11 or later. Your phone needs the beta version of the Link to Windows app that’s available on the Google Play Store. Your PC needs to be running Windows 11. As of right now, this feature is only rolling out to those who are in the Windows Insider Program, but is available to all Insider Channels. Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Once registered for Windows Insider and opted into any Insider Channel, you can enable this feature by going to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mobile Devices and choosing Manage devices, then allowing your PC to access your Android phone. After that, you’ll see a toggle in File Explorer to view your phone. If you don’t see the toggle, the feature hasn’t rolled out to you yet.

Video editing can put quite a heavy burden on any computer. So, when shopping for a laptop for video editing, you’ll want to make sure you’re loading up on enough heavy hardware firepower to get the job done. While you might not need the absolute top-of-the-line gear, simply buying a gaming laptop and calling it a day is probably not going to cut it. Beyond just processor and graphics performance, serious video editors need to take into account a few things such as the quality of the display, port selection, and onboard storage capacity. Why you should trust us: PCWorld has been covering PCs since 1983, and reviews more than 70 notebooks a year in our never-ending quest to find the best laptops. Our expert reviewers evaluate every machine using a combination of performance benchmarks and rigorous usability standards, with an eye toward identifying the best laptops for specific needs and at various price points. We also edit lots of videos ourselves, with the results appearing on PCWorld’s YouTube channel. Take a look at our top picks for video editing below, followed by buying advice and more details about our testing process. If you’re on a budget or just looking to save some money, you may also want to check out our daily roundup of the best laptop deals to scope out any discounts on content creation notebooks. Update July 26, 2024: We added the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus ($1,199.99) and the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i ($1,699.99) as alternative options below. The Yoga Pro 9i has a sharper display than our Best Laptop for Video Editing (if you don’t need 4K) pick and the Inspiron 16 Plus has better battery life than our Best Budget Laptop for Video Editing pick. We’ve also taken the time to update our list of recent laptop reviews, so be sure to check those out near the bottom of the page! The best laptops for video editing Dell XPS 17 (2023) – Best laptop for video editing Pros Expansive 17-inch 16:10 display Thin chassis Incredible battery life Cons Expensive 720p webcam Price When Reviewed: From $2,449 | Model reviewed $3,099 Best Prices Today: $2199 at Dell$2899.99 at Best Buy Why we like the Dell XPS 17 (2023) The Dell XPS 17 (2023) is a fantastic laptop for content creation because it has a gigantic display and a good amount of graphics firepower. The OLED touch display, which measures a massive 17-inches, features a crystal clear resolution of 3840×2400 and a maximum brightness of 550 nits. It’s perfect for media editing, multitasking, and so much more. The machine is also powered by an Intel Core i7-13700H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, which means it’s more than capable of handling any video editing you throw at it. The specific configuration we reviewed will cost you well over $3,000, so it’s likely not a viable option for the budget-conscious, but if your time is money, the Dell XPS 17 is money very well spent. Who should buy the Dell XPS 17 (2023) We feel the Dell XPS 17 is a phenomenal option for serious or professional video editors. The 4K screen is divine and it has the perfect amount of horsepower as far as internal components go. It also includes an SD card reader and multiple Thunderbolt 4 ports for quickly offloading videos or photos. Finally, the Dell XPS 17 can run up to 11 hours on a single charge, eliminating the need to go outlet hunting. Although we would’ve liked to have seen this model with an OLED screen, it’s still a top-notch pick. Alternative option: The Dell XPS 16 is another good option for content creators. In fact, the hardware is almost identical to our top pick. The only real difference is that the Dell XPS 16 has an OLED screen and the Dell XPS 17 9730 does not. That said, the Dell XPS 16 didn’t make the cut because it doesn’t have as many Thunderbolt 4 ports and the keyboard is a real headache to use due to stiff keys. Read our full Dell XPS 17 9730 review Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra – Best laptop for video editing (if you don't need 4K) Pros Fantastic battery life Solid GPU performance Gorgeous OLED screen that can be used outdoors Great audio AI-powered Core Ultra inside Cons Chargers keep getting bigger Still not a great keyboard Price When Reviewed: $2999.99 Best Prices Today: $2399.99 at Best Buy$2399.99 at Samsung Why we like the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra offers powerful performance as well as a gorgeous OLED display. Thanks to the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, it’s well equipped to handle any video editing task you throw at it. Plus, the 16-inch OLED display has a resolution of 2880×1800 and a refresh rate of 120Hz–so you can expect a crisp-looking picture with rich colors. Sure, it’s not 4K, but it’s still a fantastic screen for content creation. Battery life is absolutely absurd, too. This machine lasted a whopping 18 hours and 54 minutes on a single charge. Wall outlet? Who is she? Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra Anyone looking for a powerful, long-lasting laptop and doesn’t need to edit 4K videos. In addition to the stunning OLED display and the long battery life, the audio is also quite punchy, sounding great up and down the audio range. If you switch on the Dolby Atmos feature, you’ll hear even richer sound. Though content creators may not necessarily need good audio (or likely use dedicated headphones), it’s still a nice perk. Alternative option: The Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i ($1,699.99) is another great laptop to consider. It comes decked out with a 16-inch 3200×2000 165Hz refresh rate display, 32GB of RAM, and tons of ports (including an SD card reader). Compared to our current pick, the Yoga Pro 9i has a sharper screen with a faster refresh rate. That said, it only managed nine hours on a single charge. It’s an acceptable result, but it’s nothing like the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra’s 18 hours and 54 minutes. Read our full Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra review Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition – Best budget laptop for video editing Pros All-day battery life Stunning display Durable build Cons 720p webcam Keys feel too soft Price When Reviewed: $1,099.99 Best Prices Today: $949.99 at Best Buy$955 at Amazon Why we like the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition The Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition is a good option for those on a tight budget, as it ticks off all of the right boxes for a sub-$1,000 machine. For one, colors appear rich and varied on the 16-inch 1200p FHD display. Sure, it’s not 4K, but it’s still a good screen–our reviewer was surprised by the “depth of the blacks and greys.” As for internals, the AMD Radeon RX 7600S GPU and the AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS CPU should blitz right through graphically demanding tasks like video editing. It also lasted a whopping 11 hours on a single charge, which is shocking for a gaming laptop. Who should buy the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition Anyone who’s looking to save money on a capable and long-lasting laptop. You don’t have to go outlet hunting because of the long battery life and the 1200p display offers nothing but stunning visuals. While the keys feel a bit mushy and the 720p webcam won’t be doing you any favors on video calls, we feel as though the pros far outweigh the cons, especially given the reasonable price point. Alternative option: If you’re willing to spend a bit more for a shaper display and longer battery life, the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus ($1,199.99) is definitely worth picking up. The 16-inch 260×1600 IPS display has a 120Hz refresh rate and the massive 90 watt-hour battery lasted just over 17 hours on a single charge, which is nothing to sneeze at. However, it does cost more than our current pick, so it may not be the best option for the budget-conscious buyer. Read our full Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition review Apple MacBook Pro (M3, Pro) – Best MacBook for video editing Pros Good performance 18GB of RAM Runs quiet Cons Low performance advantage over M2 Pro Price When Reviewed: $1,999 Best Prices Today: $1,699 at Amazon$1749 at B&H$1999 at Adorama Why we like the Apple MacBook Pro (M3, Pro) The Apple MacBook Pro (M3, Pro) will kick you in the teeth with its power (in the best way possible). Inside, you’ll find a 14-core GPU as well as 18GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. That amount of RAM will keep things running nice and smooth while the beefy GPU will chew right through any intense edits, though intense video editors will want to upgrade to a model with more storage or invest in an external SSD for added capacity. The 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display also has a ridiculously high resolution of 3024×1964, so editing should be a delightful experience. It even comes with three Thunderbolt 4 ports for speedy data transfers. Who should buy the Apple MacBook Pro (M3, Pro) Anyone who prefers Apple’s ecosystem. This configuration shows a 44 percent increase in performance (according to Geekbench’s Compute Metal test) compared to the M3 (sans Pro) model. You’ll also be able to see every detail of your photo or video editing work thanks to the gorgeous Liquid Retina XDR display. Battery life isn’t too shabby, either. The M3 Pro MacBook Pro will last you over ten hours on a single charge, which is more than a full work day. Alternative option: If you’re looking for a bigger screen, then you should check out the MacBook Pro, M2 Pro. The Liquid Retina XDR display measures 16.2-inches and has a resolution of 3456×2234, so visuals should be sharp as knives. The M2 Pro also comes loaded with a powerful 19-core GPU. Read our full Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M3 Pro, 2023) review Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 – Best ultraportable laptop for video editing Pros Very light and compact design Excellent performance for its size Robust build Visually stunning display Cons Keys feel soft and mushy The webcam isn't the best quality The downward facing woofers sometimes sound muddy Price When Reviewed: 1599.99 Best Prices Today: $1599.99 at Asus$1599.99 at Best Buy Why we like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is “exceptionally sleek and compact,” according to our comprehensive review. Not only does it tip the scales at just 3.31 pounds, but you can easily pick it up with an index finger and a thumb. The slim form factor is impressive given the hardware inside, which consists of an AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU. That means it’s powerful enough to handle editing photos in Adobe Photoshop and playing games with the graphics turned up. The connectivity options are also quite good and the OLED screen has a high resolution of 2880×1800. It’s not 4K, but you can still expect a sharp picture. The port selection includes two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, one USB-C 4, one HDMI, one 3.5mm combo jack, and one microSD card reader. Who should buy the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 Anyone that likes to work on-the-go. In addition to its slim form factor, it’s also quite tough with “premium CNC-milled aluminum alloy” throughout the chassis. It even achieved impressive frame rates in a couple of modern games. In fact, it managed 133 frames-per-second during the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark and 101 frames-per-second during Rise of the Tomb Raider benchmark, which is newer and more demanding. If you’re looking for reliable gaming performance in a tiny package, look no further than the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. Read our full Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 review Recent laptop reviews Asus Vivobook S 15: The Asus Vivobook S 15 is a competent entry into the Copilot Plus PC arena, but one that struggles to stand out from the alternatives. Acer Swift Edge 16: Acer’s Swift Edge 16’s low weight and good performance makes it a solid travel companion, though a small battery holds it back. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge: The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge is an excellent Snapdragon X Elite-powered PC with a beautiful display, long battery life, and great build quality. But you’re paying extra for high-end Snapdragon X Elite hardware on the 16-inch model, and it doesn’t deliver the big performance bump you might expect. Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1: The Lenovo ThinkBook 14 2-in-1 Gen 4 offers solid performance and a great value for anyone who needs a laptop to get work done. MSI Raider 18 HX: The MSI Raider 18 HX boasts a humongous screen as well as all the ports you could imagine, but the windy roar of the fans combined with the high price tag may deter some folks. How we tested 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. It wouldn’t be fair or possible to run the same kinds of tests on a Chromebook, as they’re Chrome OS-based machines. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of each test and the reasons why we run them. For a much deeper look at our review methodology, check out how PCWorld tests laptops. Windows laptops PCMark 10: PCMark 10 is how we determine how well the laptop handles lighter tasks like web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets, and so on. HandBrake: HandBrake is more intensive than PCMark 10. It basically measures how long a laptop’s CPU takes to encode a beefy 30GB file. Cinebench: Cinebench is a brief stress test of the CPU cores. It does this by rendering a 2D scene over a short period of time. 3DMark: 3DMark checks if 3D performance remains consistent over time by running graphic-intensive clips. Video rundown test: To gauge battery life, we loop a 4K video using Windows 10’s Movies & TV app until the laptop dies. FAQ 1. What should I look for in a laptop for video editing? The first thing to look for in a laptop for video editing is its CPU and GPU. The faster your hardware, the faster your edits. If your workload is primarily CPU-driven, we’d recommend springing for the Intel Core i7 or the Intel Core i9. HX is designed for raw horsepower, which id deal for gaming and content creation, and the Ultra is built around power efficiency. For a more in-depth look at the difference between the two processors, we’ve done a thorough compare and contrast piece that really lays it all out. For those on a strict budget, you can get by with an Intel Core i5, but it’s going to be slower. You probably won’t need a dedicated graphics card everyday video editing, but if you work on motion graphics, then the extra firepower really comes in handy. For most video editing projects, we’d suggest the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 or higher, though having any RTX GPU onboard can help accelerate some specific workloads. For those who prefer AMD over Nvidia, we’d recommend the AMD Radeon RX 7600S or higher. Unless you’re looking to play AAA games on the side, you don’t really need the best graphics card out there. A mid-range GPU will serve most people. Another thing to consider is storage size. A 4K video, for example, will require more storage space than a 1080p video. In other words, you’re going to need quite a bit of storage, otherwise your laptop might get too bogged down. For those who work with 4K resolution, you should go for at least 1TB of SSD or higher. You could probably get by with just 512GB of SSD storage, but you’ll probably need to keep offloading files onto an external storage device. RAM is important too, as it determines how fast your laptop will generally run. Video editors tend to work with large files, which can cause your laptop to slow down. That’s why we’d recommend at least 16GB of RAM. However, if you’re editing 4K video, you’ll definitely want 32GB of RAM or more. More RAM reduces the likelihood of bottlenecks, which can be a real pain in the neck when you’re in the middle of an important edit. 2. What kind of display should I get? You’re going to want a display that’s both bright and color accurate. For example, a display that’s close to 100 percent of the sRGB spectrum is ideal. While a 4K display isn’t necessary, we’d strongly recommend it for serious video editing. A high resolution display will produce sharper images, which helps reduce eye strain, and allow you to edit 4K video at full resolution. A larger screen like a 15- or 17-inch is preferable as well, as it provides better visibility for editing. 3. What do the experts recommend? PCWorld video director Adam Patrick Murray stresses that an ideal laptop for video editing includes an SD card reader for grabbing video off of a camera. He also recommends opting for a notebook with a 4K, 60Hz panel over the ultra-fast 1080p panels often found on gaming laptops that would otherwise be ideal for video editing. You need a 4K panel to edit 4K videos well and blazing-fast refresh rates don’t mean anything for video editing like they do for gaming. If color accuracy matters to you—it might not if you’re only creating casual videos for your personal YouTube channel, for example—then support for the full DCI-P3 color gamut is also a must along with Delta E < 2 color accuracy. You won’t often find those sorts of specs listed for (or supported by) gaming laptops, but dedicated content creation laptops should include that information. That said, if you want the fastest possible laptop for video editing that can also satisfy your gaming proclivities, you can always pair that burly gaming laptop with a color-accurate external monitor for creation tasks.

As someone who frequently types in lots of numbers for works, using a laptop or keyboard without a numpad is pure torture. But I also don’t want a numpad all the time because it takes up space. Which is why I absolutely love this Bluetooth numpad, which is currently half off and available for just $30 on Amazon. It’s a fantastic deal on a sleek accessory that’s perfect for smaller laptops and compact keyboards that lack numeric keypads. The number pad has an ergonomic tilt to ensure comfortable data entry, and it’s small enough that you can toss it into your laptop bag and forget about it. It doesn’t just feature the number pad, by the way—it also has navigation arrows, page up, page down, and so on. This numpad connects to your computer via Bluetooth for a convenient, cable-free experience. It also has a rechargeable battery that uses a USB-C input and lasts about two weeks with regular activity. And when you aren’t using it, it automatically goes to sleep. The Lekvey Bluetooth Number Pad is compatible with pretty much any device, including Windows, Macs, and Androids. As long as your device has Bluetooth connectivity or a Bluetooth dongle, you should be good. (The only exception is that it does NOT work with Chromebooks!) So, if you need a numpad but only sometimes, you really should consider the Lekvey Bluetooth Numpad for just $30 on Amazon. This awesome deal won’t last forever so make your decision quick! This sleek Bluetooth numpad is 50% off right nowBuy now on Amazon

Elon Musk, the divisive CEO of Tesla and more recently the owner of Twitter (now known as X), is a fierce critic of the AI industry—but now also a deeply invested participant in that very same industry. X’s Grok generative AI product is being integrated into the web and mobile versions of the social network, and training itself on billions of tweets thanks to an automatic opt-in for all users. (All large language model (LLM) AI tools need to be trained on massive amounts of text, which is why ChatGPT periodically releases new versions with an updated core database.) Well, it seems like a constantly refreshed pool of conversations from some of the web’s most active users was simply too much for company xAI to resist, which now automatically scans your “posts as well as your interactions, inputs, and [Grok search] results.” At the moment, X is using Grok as a chatbot for premium users and to replace human-made summaries of late-breaking news stories, with predictable issues resulting. The flippant and “rebellious” tone of the Grok model’s responses has been criticized by initial users, and its reliance on constantly updated data from X seems to make it particularly susceptible to deliberate misinformation campaigns. All X/Twitter users are automatically opted into having their data scanned by Grok, whether they pay for premium features or not. Thankfully, it’s possible to opt out manually… though not particularly straightforward. To keep Grok from scanning your content, go to X’s Settings menu on the web (the option is not available in the official app). Click Privacy & Safety, then Grok, then remove the checkmark from Allow your posts…to be used for training and fine-tuning. At this point, I can’t help but point out that the word “grok” (a verb meaning “to understand deeply”) entered the mid-century lexicon from Robert Heinlein’s 1961 novel Stranger in a Strange Land. Heinlein, who also wrote sci-fi staples like The Moon is a Harsh Mistress and Starship Troopers, is iconic for both his expansive speculative fiction and heavy-handed libertarian themes. He’s a favorite among Silicon Valley tech CEOs like Musk. Heinlein was also famously obsessive about the need for privacy and the dangers of losing it, something that he expressed both in his fiction and his personal life. I wonder how he’d feel about a ubiquitous social network scanning every word you’ve written on it (and beyond) without so much as a “by your leave,” for the purpose of training an AI tool.

If you have any files on your PC worth keeping long-term, then you need some kind of backup system—one that combines local backups (to quickly protect huge amounts of data) with cloud-based uploads (to protect against local data loss). Right now, you can get both solutions wrapped into one with Acronis True Image backup software for $29.99, or 45% off sticker price. Acronis True Image 2025 Advanced includes the core software (which can locally back up selected folders, drives, or entire computer images) plus 50GB of protected online storage. The local system works forever, the cloud system for a year—far cheaper than other major cloud services. After the year ends, you can continue via paid subscription if you like. You can set local backups to run automatically, incrementally saving the changes on your drive so that your recent work is always protected. With scheduling, it’s a complete “set it and forget it” operation. Or you can mirror two PCs to keep the same set of files identical on both of them. Acronis True Image 2025 Advanced works on any Windows machine (from Windows 7 to Windows 11) as well as macOS. The True Image package also includes a protection suite with ransomware protection, real-time process monitoring, and automatic recovery of your backups if something goes wrong. Check out our full review of the Editors’ Choice Award-winning 2024 version here. You can get it on the PCWorld software store for just $29.99, nearly half off the retail price. Be sure to check out the rest of the PCWorld Software Store while you’re there. We’ve got jaw-dropping discounts on a wide range of top-name programs, from 60 percent off legit Windows licenses and Norton 360 Antivirus for $20. Acronis True Image 2025 Advanced is only $30Buy now on PCWorld Software Store

Secure Boot, a tool that’s built into hundreds of millions of PCs to keep them from loading unverified software via UEFI, is a fundamental cornerstone of modern computer security. It uses cryptographic signatures in hardware components to make sure that nothing connected to your PC can load up code that you (or at least the PC) haven’t verified. That’s why cryptographic key leaks are such a big deal. Related: How to improve your Windows 11 security Security research firm Binarly reports that leaked cryptographic keys have compromised hardware from several major vendors in the PC industry, including Dell, Acer, Gigabyte, Supermicro, and even Intel. Eight percent of firmware images released in the last four years are compromised, with 22 untrusted keys discovered immediately. And according to an Ars Technica post, “more than 200 device models” from these vendors are affected by one particular key that was posted to an open GitHub repository in late 2022. Binarly is calling the exploit “PKfail.” The meat and bones of the situation is that a lot of devices in both the consumer and B2B spaces are now vulnerable to attacks on the boot process. This is one of the most dangerous ways in which a computer can be compromised, though attacks do need to be particularly complex to succeed. It’s the kind of exploit that state-sponsored hackers love, because it’s possible to target extremely specific devices and run code that’s almost undetectable once you get into Windows or a similar OS. (Larger-scale attacks on general users are also possible, but less likely.) One of the more upsetting issues highlighted by the report is that several vendors actually shipped devices with firmware labeled “DO NOT TRUST” or “DO NOT SHIP,” indicating that they knew about the compromised state of the keys… and ignored it. It should be easy enough for hardware vendors to update device firmware and remove the compromised binary files, though the breadth of the vulnerability means that some PCs could require multiple firmware updates to cover all affected components. Binarly has created an online tool for PKfail detection that lets you scan firmware files to see if the corresponding devices are using the compromised keys. Ars Technica’s post goes into more depth and has a full list of the affected hardware models. Perhaps the most disturbing revelation in all of this is that a single careless post, which was in no way malicious, can instantly make so many devices from so many manufacturers unsafe. And due to the nature of Secure Boot, there doesn’t seem to be any way to stop it from happening again aside from being extremely careful. Further reading: Warning signs that your PC has been hacked

We’ve all read the reports: Blue light can play a role in sleep issues. It’s also been mentioned as a factor in skin damage, too. Fortunately, not only can you enable a blue-light filter on your smartphone, you can do so in Windows 10 and 11, too. In fact, the process is incredibly easy—setup takes just a few minutes. Here’s how to do it, step-by-step, complete with a video walkthrough towards the end. Step 1 Jumping into the Night Light settings via Windows 10’s robust search feature is easiest, but if you go the manual route, here’s where to find the link to that setting. Jumping into the Night Light settings via Windows 10’s robust search feature is easiest, but if you go the manual route, here’s where to find the link to that setting. Jumping into the Night Light settings via Windows 10’s robust search feature is easiest, but if you go the manual route, here’s where to find the link to that setting. Click on the Start menu (or tap the Windows key on your keyboard). Then type in “Night Light” to bring up a direct link to that setting. Alternatively, you can go to Start > Settings > System > Display, then click on Night light settings under Color (see image above for Windows 10, and image below for Windows 11). If you take this route, you can turn Night Light on and off via a toggle on the Display settings page. The Night Light settings are near the top in Windows 11’s list of Display settings. The Night Light settings are near the top in Windows 11’s list of Display settings.PCWorld The Night Light settings are near the top in Windows 11’s list of Display settings.PCWorld PCWorld Step 2 An example of what Night Light settings look like in Windows 10 when the feature is active and a daily schedule is set. An example of what Night Light settings look like in Windows 10 when the feature is active and a daily schedule is set. An example of what Night Light settings look like in Windows 10 when the feature is active and a daily schedule is set. If you didn’t already flip the toggle, click the Turn on now button to immediately activate blue-light filtering. Move the strength slider to increase or decrease how much blue light Windows will eliminate. get windows 11 pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro Price When Reviewed: 199.99 Best Prices Today: $59 at PCWorld Store – Win 11 Pro Upgrade Only | $79.99 at PCWorld Software Store Never used a blue-light filter before? Before turning on Night Light, you can first play with the strength slider for a preview of what your screen will look like at various intensities—it’ll essentially let you try before you buy. You can also instead click the gray toggle for Schedule night light to restrict the blue-light filtering to specific hours. Customize a time span for when the blue-light filtering is on, and you’re all set to go. Windows can also base the schedule on your location’s periods of actual sunset. You’ll just need to turn on Location Services for that to work—if your system has that setting off, a link to Location settings will automatically appear. That’s it. You’re done! How Windows 11’s Night Light settings look when the feature and its scheduling are both active. How Windows 11’s Night Light settings look when the feature and its scheduling are both active.PCWorld How Windows 11’s Night Light settings look when the feature and its scheduling are both active.PCWorld PCWorld More options For most people, Windows 10 and 11’s built-in blue-light filtering does a good job. But for more control, you can turn to a third-party app. We recommend f.lux, a free program that provides more exact blue-light filtering settings and a rolling schedule for day and night time intensities. Windows’s Night Light only has two options: It’s either on, or it’s off. With f.lux, you can have a less intense amount of blue-light filtering during the day, and then have that transition to a much deeper blockage. The program will even do that for you automatically if you choose, based on your type of in-home lighting and your location. Is blue light bad for your eyes? Prolonged exposure can cause vision issues, according to reports from institutions like UC Davis—think retinal cell damage, macular degeneration, cataracts, and eye cancer. Children have higher risk for such effects compared to adults, due to greater absorption of blue light from tech devices. Less scary but still problematic is eye strain, which can cause to blurry vision, headaches, and even pain in your shoulders and neck. Why is a blue light filter important? In addition to helping reduce negative effects on your eyes, blue light filtering in Windows also helps your PC use from disrupting your body’s sleep cycle. Blue light can keep you up, as it triggers wakefulness in our brains—the biggest natural source of blue light is sunlight, so using digital devices that put out blue light can throw off our natural sense of when it’s time to be awake and when to be asleep. Poor or reduced sleep can lead to other health problems, like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, insomnia, and even cancer. Editor’s note: This article originally published in August 2021 but was updated with Windows 11 information and explanations for how blue light can affect our health and sleep.

Power strips are essential for any workstation because you have so many devices to keep plugged in, from your computer to your monitors to your chargers and everything else. But power strips get in the way. Unless you have this desk-clamping power strip with surge protection, which is down to just $25 right now from its original $59. This versatile power station securely mounts to the side or back of your desk using an edge-mount bracket, freeing your workspace of clutter while keeping all your devices accessible within arm’s reach. It has three power outlets, two 20W USB-C PD ports, and two USB-A ports, so you can fast charge multiple devices at once while also powering your computer, monitors, and accessories. This desk-clamping power strip features a flat plug on a 6-foot power cord, so it’s long enough to reach your wall outlet even if you hook this up to a standing desk. In this way, even when you raise your desk, the power strip has enough slack for any height. Installation is super simple, too. No screws or drill holes needed. The clamp is wide enough that it will fit desks up to 1.6 inches thick. Ready to level up your workstation? Grab yourself this desk-clamping power strip for just $25 on Amazon and simplify your desk setup. This desk-clamping power strip is 58% offBuy now on Amazon

Gaming laptops are a breed of their own, with great specs, sharp displays, and big price tags. So when I found the Asus ROG Strix G16 (2024) on sale for its best price yet, I got rather excited! What stands out to me is that this laptop comes with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, delivering superb graphics and strong gaming performance. Powered by an Intel Core i7 processor, the ROG Strix G16 promises smooth gameplay and multitasking power, especially with its 16GB of DDR5 RAM and spacious 1TB SSD. When we reviewed the Asus ROG Strix G16, we absolutely adored it and gave it 4 out of 5 stars. Our expert appreciated that the laptop makes excellent use of the performance hardware it has under the hood, while the display looks absolutely brilliant. That was the 2023 version; the one on sale today is the improved 2024 version. This laptop has a 16-inch display with a 1920×1200 resolution and 165Hz refresh rate. “The G16’s display is also Pantone Validated for those who might want to use it for design work. […] The laptop is certainly powerful enough for this kind of work,” our expert noted. In our review, we also called the Asus ROG Strix G16 “a great all-round 16-inch gaming laptop, being powerful, exceptionally stylish, and packed with useful features.” So, if you want to get a super solid 16-inch gaming laptop and save a bit of money doing so, the Asus ROG Strix G16 being down to $1,165 is a fantastic opportunity worth cashing in on. Save $235 on the Asus ROG Strix G16 laptopBuy now on Amazon

At a glanceExpert's Rating ProsAmazingly easy customizationStylish lightingSemi-standard layout for keycapsConsExpensive base price and add-onsNo adjustable feetABS keycapsOur VerdictThe CSTM65 lives up to its name, being extremely easy to disassemble and customize. It’s a solid middle ground between a full custom keyboard build and a regular retail design. Price When Reviewed$129.99 Best Prices Today: Drop.com CSTM65 Keyboard Retailer Price Drop.com 129.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket One of the first mechanical keyboards I ever owned was bought from Massdrop. More recently the online store is just going by Drop.com, and even more recently it’s been acquired by an ever-hungry Corsair. I imagine it’s the latter that’s pushed it into making less expensive, more accessible designs like the CSTM65.  This board is all about customization: The switches, the software, and even the case can be upgraded without any special tools or knowledge. It’s a good middle step between a regular mechanical board and building your own…though it doesn’t offer a great value.  Further reading: See our roundup of the best mechanical keyboards to learn about competing products. Unassuming looks If the CSTM65 looks familiar, that might be by design. Its 65 percent layout, lack of branding, and all-black looks seem almost intentionally vague, as if meant to appeal to keyboard users who want to eschew the garish colors and logos of gaming boards. But there are a couple of distinctive touches, including shine-through keycaps with legends on the bottom to take full advantage of south-facing LEDs. It’s a nice, stealthy look, if that’s what you’re into.  This board is all about customization: The switches, the software, and even the case can be upgraded without any special tools or knowledge. In terms of hardware, it’s pretty standard for boards in this market. It’s wired with a braided USB-C cord in the box, hot-swap switch sockets for changing out the key feel (you get either basic Gateron Brown tactile or Yellow linears by default), and some goodies like internal sound-absorbing foam and a gasket-mounted PCB. Again, pretty typical, but there’s nothing to complain about except perhaps a higher-than-average price tag. Crack it open  But there are a few other parts that highlight this board’s customization focus. The 65 percent layout isn’t technically standard, but it’s about as close as it can be at this size. Only the 1.75u right Shift key is off from ANSI, and that’s a common enough inclusion for custom keycap sets (including Drop’s many branded options). A slightly larger version of this board, the CSTM80, comes in a standard tenkeyless (TKL) layout.  The stylish weighted bottom piece is aluminum out of the box, but you can upgrade this with steel or brass (sold separately).  The stylish weighted bottom piece is aluminum out of the box, but you can upgrade this with steel or brass (sold separately). Michael Crider/Foundry The stylish weighted bottom piece is aluminum out of the box, but you can upgrade this with steel or brass (sold separately). Michael Crider/Foundry Michael Crider/Foundry The real wow factor is the case. Unplug the cable, lift up the sides, and the top comes right off, secured with a series of magnets. You can swap it out for other colors and accented designs available from Drop, or even a swanky aluminum replacement. With a few exposed screws removed, you can get to the keyboard’s internal circuit board, foam layers, and the bottom of the case, which also holds a replaceable weighted piece. The one in the box is aluminum, but you can upgrade it with chunky and heavy brass.  The top of the case pulls off easily from its magnetic mount, and the rest is easily accessible with a screwdriver.  The top of the case pulls off easily from its magnetic mount, and the rest is easily accessible with a screwdriver. Michael Crider/Foundry The top of the case pulls off easily from its magnetic mount, and the rest is easily accessible with a screwdriver. Michael Crider/Foundry Michael Crider/Foundry It’s just about as easy as any keyboard can be to work on and upgrade, far more so than any gaming board or even Keychron’s custom-focused Q series. If you’re into more intense customization, you can even remove the plastic plate and the screw-in stabilizers. Like I said, this is a very nice middle ground between building your own keyboard from the ground up and going with a more expensive custom-style or boutique build.  That said, there are a few corners cut. The default plastic case doesn’t feel great — it’s a little flimsy, aside from the brushed aluminum bottom plate. It’s also lacking any adjustable feet, an odd omission on a keyboard otherwise so happy to be tweaked. And the keycaps, while solid, are still ABS plastic instead of a more premium PBT. That’s a let-down coming from Drop, which certainly knows keyboard fans will be looking for the latter.  Michael Crider/Foundry Michael Crider/Foundry Michael Crider/Foundry I get the feeling that CSTM boards are offered more as a starting point for Drop.com customers, hopefully enticed by more elaborate keycaps and other accessories. Which is fine…but I have to evaluate it as a product wholly on its own. And at this price point, I would have preferred to see a little less plastic.  Performance  Without any modifications at all, the CSTM65 is a decent if unspectacular board. Gateron’s linear Yellow switches are pretty good, though a little less stable than I prefer (my favorite switches use a stem with a circle or square outer rim to cut down on wobble). The stabilizers are likewise fine, though there’s definitely a bit of chatter in the space bar despite the generous internal padding. Thanks to the semi-standard layout I was able to use the board immediately for my typing-heavy workload with ease. And as a wired board it works fine for gaming, though it lacks the dedicated features and per-game profiles of dedicated gaming keyboards. Since Drop didn’t advertise it as a gaming board, I won’t penalize the board for lacking them, something I can’t say for other boards with a custom focus.  The south-facing LEDs and bottom-printed shine-through keycaps are striking…even if they are a disappointing PBT plastic.  The south-facing LEDs and bottom-printed shine-through keycaps are striking…even if they are a disappointing PBT plastic. Michael Crider/Foundry The south-facing LEDs and bottom-printed shine-through keycaps are striking…even if they are a disappointing PBT plastic. Michael Crider/Foundry Michael Crider/Foundry Those south-facing LEDs (that means they’re on the bottom of the switch relative to the keyboard, towards the user) are notably bright and vivid, with a bit of extra style thanks to the shine-through keycaps with legends on the bottom. It’s an understated, stylish touch that I appreciate, even without a ton of animation options you’ll find from some Corsair boards. Speaking of which… Software  According to the promotional page, the CSTM65 is compatible with QMK, VIA, and Vial programming tools. I wasn’t able to get the keyboard to show up on the VIA and Vial web-based interfaces, an issue that seems to be repeated with other buyers. But fortunately Drop has its own custom-made programming tool available for Windows.  Michael Crider/Foundry Michael Crider/Foundry Michael Crider/Foundry It’s a good one, offering an easy at-a-glance interface for customizing up to four layers. Lighting is a little more sparse, but there are a handful of built-in animations that should tide you over if you want a light show, and RGB-based options for solid colors and breathing. These can be set and adjusted with key combinations, no software work required. Not showing up in Via (even after I loaded up the custom definition) is annoying. I can only hope that it’s a firmware issue, and can be fixed with an update. But it was easy enough to customize the keyboard layout and lighting as-is, which is more than I can say for some boards in this price range.  Expensive upgrades Drop.com is asking $130 for the CSTM65, which is pretty pricey for a board with a plastic case and no wireless option. You could get our top gaming keyboard pick, Corsair’s own K65 Plus Wireless, for a little more. You could also get something like the Keydous NJ80-AP, which is less easy to customize but comes with far better parts out of the box, plus wireless. But let’s examine some of the customization options, since this is one of the board’s big selling points. With only the tools in the box plus a screwdriver, you can upgrade the case top, the weighted bottom, the keycaps, the switches, and the plate (the part in between the circuit board and the switches). All of these are available on Drop.com’s site.  Drop.com offers a collection of easy-to-swap-out parts for this board, but they don’t come cheap.  Drop.com offers a collection of easy-to-swap-out parts for this board, but they don’t come cheap.  Drop.com Drop.com offers a collection of easy-to-swap-out parts for this board, but they don’t come cheap.  Drop.com Drop.com But they don’t come cheap. A new plastic case top in a handful of colors is $25, $35 for the nice green one with a bit of printed bling, or a hefty $59 for a black or gray aluminum one. Steel or brass weights for the bottom are $49 a piece, and an aluminum, brass, or carbon fiber plate ranges from $25 to $49. For a “fully upgraded” version of this keyboard, you’re looking at an extra $100 or more…and that doesn’t even touch the rather basic keycaps or switches. You can get the CSTM65 or the CSTM80 in barebones packages without the switches, top, or keycaps, but you’ll quickly find the parts adding up anyway, especially if you want some of Drop’s themed keycap sets. Just the 70 switches and a 65 percent keycap set will put you over the pre-assembled retail price, even if you go for the cheapest third-party parts. Michael Crider/Foundry Michael Crider/Foundry Michael Crider/Foundry For that kind of money there are far better options, available in a wide variety of layouts and styles. They’re not as easy to modify, but they’re not that much harder either, and they come with wireless capabilities. Like some of the other branded Drop keyboards I’ve tried, the value proposition is lacking.  Is the Drop CSTM65 worth it? I’m not saying you shouldn’t consider this keyboard. It does make sense if you want to customize a board with incredible ease, and you’re intimidated by more complex builds. And you don’t particularly care about gaming features or wireless…and you’re not on any kind of restricted budget. It wouldn’t hurt if you’re already a fan of Drop.com as a site, since that’s the only place to find some of these parts.  The CSTM65 makes sense if you want to customize a board with incredible ease, and you’re intimidated by more complex builds. But even so, I’d recommend waiting for a sale. I’ve seen the CSTM65 go for $100 even over the course of this review period, and that makes its compromises a lot more palatable. 

If you’re looking to score a fast laptop at a killer price, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re on the hunt for a blazing fast gaming rig, an affordable laptop under $500, or an everyday Chromebook, we’ve assembled a list of the best laptop deals available right now, using our finely honed editorial judgement (and thousands of hours of testing experience) to only recommend truly compelling deals on worthwhile notebooks. We’ve separated the recommendations below by best laptop deals under $500, best home use laptop deals, best gaming laptop deals, and best premium laptop deals, to make it easier to find a notebook that fits your budget and needs. For more options, check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now. Best laptop deals (at a glance) Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, $329 ($200 off at B&H) Lenovo Flex 3, $328.99 ($150.01 off at Best Buy) Dell Inspiron 15, $429.99 ($120 off at Dell) HP Envy x360, $569.99 ($379.01 off at Adorama) HP Victus, $599 ($380 off at Walmart) HP Dragonfly Pro One, $719.99 ($679.01 off at Adorama) Dell G15, $999.99 ($150 off at Best Buy) Lenovo Flex 7, $1,039.99 ($220 off at Adorama) Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro, $1,149.99 ($300 off at Amazon) Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, $2,099 ($750 off at B&H) Dell XPS 14, $2,199.99 ($300 off at Dell) Best laptop deals under $500 Lenovo Lenovo Lenovo Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3: $329 ($200 off at B&H) If you fancy yourself a casual user (aka someone that likes to browse the web or social media), the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is the laptop for you. It comes equipped with an Intel Core i3-1315U CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage–that’s plenty of oomph for everyday tasks. The 15.6-inch 1920×1080 IPS display is nice, too. It should be clear enough for daily activities like spreadsheet work or watching a YouTube video. It also has a decent port selection with one USB-C and two USB-A. Not bad for a sub-$300 laptop! View Deal Lenovo Lenovo Lenovo Lenovo Flex 3: $328.99 ($150.01 off at Best Buy) Sometimes all you need is an affordable laptop for surfing the web and composing e-mail exchanges. If you’re in the market for such a laptop, the Lenovo Flex 3 is definitely worth considering. It’s powered by a Pentium Silver N6000 processor, which is suitable for general browsing and streaming Netflix, but not much else. It’s not the fastest processor we’ve ever seen here at PCWorld, but you’ve also got to temper your expectations, as this laptop is specifically designed with basic tasks in mind. However, according to Best Buy reviews, the 1080p touchscreen display is pretty darn crisp, making this machine an excellent value. View Deal Dell Dell Dell Dell Inspiron 15: $429.99 ($120 off at Dell) Powerful laptops with the latest cutting-edge hardware is great and all, but sometimes you just need a reliable machine to get the job done. The Dell Inspiron 15 is a fantastic choice for work or school and it’s on sale for just $429.99 right now. This laptop is rocking an Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage, and integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics. The 15.6-inch 1080p display also boasts an impressive 120Hz refresh rate, so visuals should appear smooth. It also weighs just 3.65 pounds, making it a suitable travel companion. Get it now before the deal expires! View Deal Best for home use HP HP HP HP Envy x360: $569.99 ($379.01 off at Adorama) The HP Envy x360 is powerful, lightweight, and versatile. The 2-in-1 form factor means you can fold the screen back and use the laptop like a tablet, and it comes equipped with a good amount of RAM (16GB) and storage (512GB SSD). The 1080p display is quite large at 15.6-inches and is touch-enabled, which is perfect for habitual notetakers and doodlers. The keyboard is also full-sized and has backlighting–this is great for when you’re using the laptop in low light environments. View Deal Best gaming laptop deals HP HP HP HP Victus: $599 ($380 off at Walmart) The HP Victus contains powerful hardware for the price. It’s outfitted with an Nvidia GeFOrce RTX 4050 graphics card and an AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, so it should have no problem running most modern games. The 15.6-inch 1080p display also has a 144Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync Premium technology built-in, so gameplay should be fluid. The 8GB of RAM is pretty light for a gaming laptop, but you can always upgrade later on if need be. If you’re looking for more details regarding this laptop, be sure to check out PCWorld’s comprehensive write-up. View Deal Dell Dell Dell Dell G15: $999.99 ($150 off at Best Buy) The Dell G15 is a fantastic entry-level gaming laptop with RTX 4050 graphics and 1TB of SSD storage. It should run most games with zero lagging and the 15.6-inch 1080p display should produce smooth visuals thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate. This machine also has a good port selection including one HDMI 2.1, three USB-A 3.2, and one USB-C 3.2. While this laptop has a lot to offer the casual gamer, it does tip the scales at over six pounds, which isn’t all that surprising or even a deal-breaker for some. Gaming laptops are usually heavy due to the hardware and complex cooling system inside. View Deal Lenovo Lenovo Lenovo Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: $2,099 ($750 off at B&H) If your budget knows no bounds and you’re looking for the ultimate gaming experience, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i will surely deliver. Not only is it packing RTX 4080 graphics, but it also has 32GB of RAM and an Intel Core i9-13900HX processor. In other words, given the hardware inside, performance should be blazing fast. The 16-inch display also has a resolution of 2560×1600 and a refresh rate of 240Hz, so images should appear sharp and gameplay smooth. The connectivity options are quite good as well. You’re getting two USB-C, four USB-A, and one HDMI. View Deal Best premium laptop deals HP HP HP HP Dragonfly Pro One: $719.99 ($679.01 off at Adorama) The HP Dragonfly Pro One is a good laptop if you’re a serial multitasker. This baby is packing an AMD Ryzen 7 7736U CPU as well as 16GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage, so it should be capable of handling a bunch of open tabs and more demanding applications. The 14-inch touch display has a resolution of 1920×1200 and a maximum brightness of 400 nits, which means the picture should be sharp and vibrant. The Ceramic White colorway is also just plain gorgeous and a welcome departure from the grey rectangles we’ve grown accustomed to seeing. View Deal Lenovo Lenovo Lenovo Lenovo Flex 7: $1,039.99 ($220 off at Adorama) The Lenovo Flex 7 is a great laptop for those who want an affordable 2-in-1. You’re getting a lightweight design as well as a decent amount of power for just over $1,000. It has an Intel Core i7-1355U CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. Zipping through spreadsheet work, light use tasks, and so on should be no problem for this machine. In addition to the 2-in-1 form factor, in which the screen swings back 360 degrees, it also weighs just 3.53 pounds. That means you can easily slip it in a backpack or messenger back and take it with you anywhere. View Deal Samsung Samsung Samsung Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro: $1,149.99 ($300 off at Amazon) The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro is a great laptop, full stop. Whether you’re working in a spreadsheet or browsing the web, performance is fast and reliable. The 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED display is simply gorgeous and is capable of producing deep blacks and vibrant colors. It’s a touchscreen as well, which is perfect if you like to doodle or take copious notes. It also weighs just 2.71 pounds, which is ridiculously lightweight. You can easily throw this laptop into a bag and be on your merry way without concern. In PCWorld’s review of the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro, we awarded it 4.5 out of 5 stars and an Editors’ Choice award. We loved the sturdy aluminum casing as well as the OLED screen, in which we said the “color reproduction is outstanding.” Talk about high praise! View Deal Dell Dell Dell Dell XPS 14: $2,199.99 ($300 off at Dell) If you’re in the market for an ultra-luxurious laptop with a stunning OLED display, the Dell XPS 14 is a fantastic option. Inside you’ll find an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. Given the specs, this laptop should deliver snappy performance. The 14.5-inch 3200×2000 OLED display should also produce rich colors and inky blacks. It’s a great screen for entertainment or graphic design. Other features include a backlit keyboard with a fingerprint reader, a 69.5 watt-hour battery, and a 1080p webcam. View Deal FAQ 1. How much RAM will I need in my laptop? You’ll want at least 8GB, though 16GB is preferable, especially if you play games. Don’t buy laptops with under 4GB of RAM or 128GB of SSD storage—though on a Chromebook or a budget Windows machine, this configuration is acceptable. Check out our article on how much RAM does a laptop need for more in-depth info. 2. What’s the difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop? The one big difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop is the operating system. Chromebooks run ChromeOS and Windows run, well, Microsoft Windows. Chromebooks make good everyday machines because they’re designed for browsing the web, checking e-mail, and so on. They use less resources and are generally more affordable than the Windows variety. They also don’t need antivirus protection. A Windows laptop is a lot more versatile in what it can do, and not just in terms of running local programs. You can really pump a Windows laptop up with a ton of RAM, storage, and so on. 3. When should I look for a laptop deal? You’ll likely find the best laptop deals during Prime Day (mid-July), Black Friday (November 29th), and back-to-school season (June-August). Sure, you’ll find good laptop deals throughout the year, but if you really want to save big, we’d recommend scoping out your favorite online retailers during those times. 4. Which retailers offer the best deals? You can find all kinds of deals across a wide range of online retailers such as Newegg, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, and so on. However, we’d recommend checking out deals from laptop manufacturers like Lenovo, HP, and Dell. You’ll usually find many different configurations on sale and the discounts can be pretty darn steep. For more options, check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now.

Once upon a time, Windows was notorious for its poor security, with frequent reports of major attacks by viruses and hackers. With the release of Windows 7, Microsoft started to get its security act together and nowadays Windows 11 is the most secure system to date. While Windows 11 offers a great deal of security, it also includes many features that monitor your computer usage in order to expose you to personalized advertising. Fortunately, this can be adjusted using various settings and in this guide we’ll show you how to increase both the security and privacy of your computer. Further reading: 20 smart tweaks that make Windows 11 more productive Login and accounts get windows 11 pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro Price When Reviewed: 199.99 Best Prices Today: $59 at PCWorld Store – Win 11 Pro Upgrade Only | $79.99 at PCWorld Software Store A screen lock is a must-have for laptops. Some models support fingerprint and facial recognition, but all can choose a password or PIN. Here’s how to set it up. Open the Settings > Accounts > Login options. Select the one you want to use and follow the instructions. Make it even more secure You can make your login more secure by using only a high-security login method. Open Login Options and switch on the following: For improved security, you should only allow Windows Hello sign-in for Microsoft accounts on this device. Automatically lock your computer When you walk away from your computer, you can lock it using the keyboard shortcut Windows + L. You can also let it lock automatically. Open the Login options, go to When should Windows require you to log in again if you have been away from your computer?, and select Time from the menu on the right. You can also enable Dynamic lock. This means that if you have paired your computer with a pair of headphones or another Bluetooth device, you can lock your computer when the pairing is broken, i.e. when you walk away from your computer. Integrity Skip the login Windows 11 works best if you’re logged in with your Microsoft account, but to reduce monitoring you can skip the login and use a so-called local account. Open the Settings menu >Accounts >Your information. Under the heading Account Settings, select Log in with a local account instead to launch a settings wizard. Switch off Windows Ad ID Microsoft “monitors” your usage to customize advertising to your interests, but this can be turned off. Go to Settings menu>Privacy and Security>Windows permissions>General information. Here you should disable the feature Allow apps to show customized ads using my advertising ID. You can also control other things that affect Windows privacy from here. Share less information You can choose what information Windows can access. By limiting it, you protect your privacy, but lose some functionality. Open the Settings menu>Privacy and Security>Windows permissions. Here you can stop sharing information related to speech recognition and handwriting features. You can also remove your feedback to Microsoft and the monitoring of your own history. In addition, you can customize your searches. Control the apps Foundry Foundry Foundry Even individual apps have access to things like the camera, microphone, and your exact location. You can control these things through App Authorization. Open the Settings>Privacy and Security>App permissions. Click on the function you want to control, for example Positioning or Camera. You can now switch sharing on or off and choose which individual apps get which permissions. If you’re curious about what private information an app has used, scroll down to Recent activities to see the week’s history. Stop apps from sharing By default, apps can share information with each other – but this can be restricted or turned off completely. Go to Settings menu>Apps>Advanced settings for apps>Share between devices. Click on the arrow and choose how to share. Stop telling us about yourself Through the Device Usage feature, Microsoft customises the system (and advertising) to your habits, but you can opt out. Open Settings>Customization>Device usage. Open it and trigger the Off position on everything there. Skip the “tips” Some Microsoft ‘tips’ are perceived by many as advertising, but you can switch them off for good. Go to Preferences>System>Notifications. Scroll down to Additional settings and remove the functions you do not want to use. Malware programs Scan for viruses Windows 11 has a built-in security programme called Windows Defender. It is automatically activated if you are not running any other security package and it takes care of itself. However, if you want, you can start a virus check yourself. Open the Settings menu>Privacy and security>Windows security>Protection against viruses and threats. Now a new program will open that is focused on security and here you can dodge Quick scan to start a virus scan. It’s also possible to select Options for searching to perform a full virus scan or one that takes place in offline mode. Under Windows Security there are also other important features. If all icons are green, no action is required, but you can tweak the settings by clicking on the respective feature. Protect yourself against Trojans An extortion trojan is a malware that locks your private files and demands payment to unlock them. Windows 11 can protect you against this in advance. Open Protection against viruses and threats and scroll down to Manage ransomware protection. Switch on the feature Regulated folder access. By default, the standard Windows folders are protected, but you control this yourself by selecting Protected folders. Avoid false positives Controlled folder access only allows programs/apps that Microsoft has approved. If it blocks an application that you know is trustworthy, you can “whitelist” the app. Go to Controlled folder access and select Allow an app in Controlled Folder Access. Click on the Add an allowed app and select Recently blocked apps or Browse blocked apps. Theft Find a missing computer Windows 11 has a feature to help you find a device that has gone missing. With internet and location enabled, you can see where it is and you can have it ring loudly, allowing you to find it with ease. You can also send messages to the finder and, in the worst case, delete sensitive information. Switch on the feature via Settings>Privacy and Security>Find my device. If your device has disappeared, go to account.microsoft.com/devices on any device and sign in with your Microsoft account. Locate the correct device in the list and tap Find my device.

You only have to read a few PC gaming hardware posts on Reddit to see how many gamers there are out there unsure if their low-spec potato of a gaming PC will run the latest AAA games. I know the feeling. In fact, I too find myself in the precarious position of having a low-spec potato PC after many years of thinking about upgrading but not pulling the trigger on it — I tend to spend any extra cash I have on holidays, and yes, even the odd Funko Pop for my car’s dashboard. But because I’m in this position I’ve worked a few things out. And, let me tell you, you really don’t want to be wasting time waiting for replies on forums to serious hardware questions like, “Can my PC run this game?” Forums are great for a lot of things, but PC specs tend to be so specific that getting anyone with a remotely similar setup to your own can be like locating a lost sock in the Bermuda Triangle. And the advice when it finally does come? A scattershot answer is usually the best you can expect. You also don’t want to be wasting your time trying to match the minimum spec requirements for games to your own PC’s hardware just by looking. Personally, I’d never base a purchasing decision on a list of specs the devs have most likely pulled out of hat and not tested their games on themselves. One thing’s for sure, the devs certainly aren’t developing their games with programs like Unreal Engine on PCs powered by Intel Celeron N4100 CPUs. I’m almost certain that minimum specs lists have just been created to torture poor souls like us, to give us a glimpse of the fun times we could be having if only we had an AMD Threadripper CPU, when the actual gameplay we will get is so poor it will be as much fun as nailing Jell-O to the wall. Benchmarks in websites like Technical City can be helpful in giving you a rough indication of what games you can at least get operational. But let me be clear: Running a game is an entirely different kettle of fish from getting an acceptable level of performance in it — and that’s something apps and websites can’t tell you. Personally, I’d never base a purchasing decision on a list of specs the devs have most likely pulled out of hat… You can find AAA games like Final Fantasy XIV Online among Steam’s free demos.  You can find AAA games like Final Fantasy XIV Online among Steam’s free demos.  Square Enix You can find AAA games like Final Fantasy XIV Online among Steam’s free demos.  Square Enix Square Enix No, to truly see if your PC has the muscle to run a game there’s really nothing like a real-life playtest, an experiential trial; getting your hands dirty, your frame rates cranking, and your CPU’s core temperature rising. Thankfully you don’t have to go out and buy a heap of games and test them out one by one, draining your bank account in the process. Steam’s free demo section is a goldmine of titles just beckoning to be raided for your homestyle performance experiments. You might not find the game you’re looking to buy among the demos, but chances are there’s a game with very similar specs that will act as an excellent performance trial run. The beauty of Steam’s free demo list, too, is you can find games of all kinds: old and new, different genres, different hardware requirements — all of them can form a broad testing base. For instance, you can test out AAA titles like Final Fantasy XIV Online, Call of Duty: Warzone, Lost Ark, CounterStrike 2, and DOTA 2, alongside lower-budget games like Tavern Keeper and Hidden Cats Invade Venice. If you like spreadsheeting, it’s a great idea to record the performance you get in each demo as a way to keep a reference handy. In fact, I’ve created a rough list of my rig’s performance capabilities just by taking notes about my frame rates in each demo. My PC can keep action smooth in CounterStrike 2, from which I’ve extrapolated I should be able to get decent performance in most of Valve’s other games, something I would have only known about by downloading and testing the game. My list is nowhere near as comprehensive as Reddit user mrman1mrman1, though, who has gone through the whole shebang even categorizing the demos into categories. They’ve gleaned some handy nuggets of information to help other gamers too — like after trialing the game Attack on Titan 2 they noted: “Not laptop friendly but I can get 30+ FPS with my Radeon 550.” So, don’t wait for answers on forums. Instead, try taking the proactive approach and get your game compatibility answers in real time. You may have to do a ton of installing, but on the bright side, you’ll know your rig’s capabilities inside out.

Whether you need to store documents and photos for safe keeping or transfer them between devices, a large portable SSD is always good to have on hand—and the Samsung T7 is a solid pick. Right now, the 1TB version of the Samsung T7 is down to just $80, which is half its original MSRP. That’s a fantastic deal! There are many cool things about the Samsung T7 SSD, starting with how compact it is. It’s small enough to fit into any pocket, even the tiny ones on women’s jeans. It’s also shock resistant and protected against falls up to 6 feet, so accidental drops are no concern. The Samsung T7 isn’t just portable but also built for speed, delivering read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s, respectively. You’ll spend less time moving files around, which is always a good thing because time saved is more time for you. And don’t worry about compatibility. The Samsung T7 works seamlessly with both PCs, Macs, and mobile devices. It even works with cameras, so that you can directly record 4K videos at 60 FPS to the drive. If you need a portable SSD, the tiny but sturdy Samsung T7 is a steal for just $80 right now on Amazon. The 1TB Samsung T7 portable SSD is 50% offBuy now on Amazon

In order to train their models, AI generative text tools like ChatGPT scour the internet for text…which is also something that search engines like Google do. So, why not combine them and just give you everything? That seems to be the thinking behind SearchGPT, a new search engine from ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The product was announced as a prototype on OpenAI’s website, inviting users to join a wait list to access the tool. According to the company, it’s designed to “combine the strength of our AI models with information from the web to give you fast and timely answers with clear and relevant resources.” The prototype tool is “temporary,” at least for the moment, but at least some of its features and functionality will be integrated into the wider ChatGPT product and its accompanying apps and APIs. It makes sense. ChatGPT’s language model is a huge and unwieldy collection of data, so users can only access updated versions of it periodically — the current ChatGPT-4 model is trained on data that stopped updating in April of 2023. So adding in indexed search data that’s far more recent could give more accurate and timely information to queries and other tools reliant on ChatGPT’s various features. For an immediately relevant example, ChatGPT-4 can’t accurately tell you who the current nominees for the 2024 US presidential election are, but a search engine can get them right away. OpenAI has been criticized for training its models on copyrighted pages and data without permission, and it’s showing awareness of that criticism in SearchGPT’s announcement. “We’ve partnered with publishers to build this experience and continue to seek their feedback,” says the page, and the search engine will include “a way for publishers to manage how they appear” in it. Animated examples on the promo page show links to the source of generated answers.

Right now, Windows 10 and Windows 11 are duking it out as the main Windows operating system of choice for users. Yet while some of their modern features are great, it’s no secret that many users still long for the days of older Windows versions. Get Windows 11 Pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro Price When Reviewed: 199.99 Best Prices Today: $59 at PCWorld Store – Win 11 Pro Upgrade Only | $79.99 at PCWorld Software Store And Windows 7 remains one of the most popular and most fondly remembered versions of the operating system to this day. Wish you could go back to Windows 7? A user named Come on Windows made a comprehensive YouTube video tutorial that shows how you can convert Windows 10 to Windows 7 in about half an hour. How Windows 10 becomes Windows 7 The transformation from Windows 10 to a version that’s strikingly similar to Windows 7 looks quite easy in the video. That’s because the user is obviously familiar with Windows and modding. On the one hand, he uses special apps like AME Wizard and Revert8Plus to tweak some bits; on the other hand, he dives into the Windows Registry and deletes certain files. The end result is that he successfully makes Windows 10 look and feel like Windows 7. And the resulting Windows 7 modification appears to be fully functional. However, we can’t just from the video alone whether all software on your system will run smoothly afterwards. Should you try this yourself? The modder’s experiment shows that it’s entirely possible to conjure up an older version of Windows from a modern one with relative ease, without installing a different operating system. However, we don’t advise trying this yourself unless you’re willing to accept the very real risk of bricking your computer. There’s a non-zero chance that your computer could experience limited functionality and/or be unable to be reset back to Windows 10 proper. That said, if you want to give this a shot, you could do it safely on a virtual PC, for example by using VMware Workstation Pro (which is now free). Learn more: How to set up virtual PCs with VMware Workstation Pro

The sudo command stands for “superuser do” and is one of the most important commands to know in Unix and Linux-based operating systems. (See the most important Linux commands for beginners.) Sudo allows you to execute programs with the security rights of another user—usually the superuser or administrator/root—without having to acquire administrative rights for the entire system. Get Windows 11 Pro for Cheap Windows 11 Pro Price When Reviewed: 199.99 Best Prices Today: $59 at PCWorld Store – Win 11 Pro Upgrade Only | $79.99 at PCWorld Software Store This is particularly useful for administrative tasks that require elevated privileges without you needing to constantly log on and off as an administrator or root user. Now, this nifty command is also being introduced in Windows. Thomas Joos Thomas Joos Thomas Joos The use of sudo increases overall system security in two ways: first, by reducing the need for you to log in with a full administrator account with unchecked privileges, and second, by creating detailed logs of all the commands used with sudo. Typical examples of sudo usage involve the installation of software packages and the adjustment of security authorizations. Thanks to its fine-grained control and logging, sudo ensures that administrative tasks are carried out securely and traceably. Sudo complements RunAs Microsoft has recognized the advantages of sudo and is now bringing the command to Windows 11 systems with the Windows 11 version 24H2 update. It’s not yet clear whether Windows Server 2022/2025 will also receive sudo, but it’s unlikely. Dubbed Sudo for Windows, the source code is available on Github. If you’re on an administrator account, you already have administrative rights anyway so sudo is of little use. Plus, in Windows, there’s already the RunAs command, which lets you start a command in the command line using another user account. However, RunAs is cumbersome and not as effective as sudo. Thomas Joos Thomas Joos Thomas Joos The RunAs command is used in the format runas /user program, where the password of the specified user must be entered. For example, runas /user cmd starts the Command Prompt with administrator rights. RunAs allows you (User A) to start a program in the user context of User B. In other words, User A can launch an application as if they were User B, and the respective application then runs completely in the context of User B, NOT in the context of User A with elevated rights. In comparison, the sudo command offers similar functionality but with some differences in application and administration. For now, it isn’t possible with sudo to start a program as if you were someone else; sudo allows you to execute commands as superuser/administrator/root. (However, Microsoft is planning to add this functionality.) While RunAs allows temporary elevation of permissions for a specific program or script, sudo provides more comprehensive and flexible control over permissions and logging. The sudo command also supports the delegation of specific commands without full administrator rights, allowing finer control of system administration. Ultimately, sudo offers more options than RunAs. However, Microsoft has so far implemented very few of the functions available in the original sudo command in Windows, so Sudo for Windows currently has little in common with sudo in Linux. Enabling sudo in Windows 11 version 24H2 Sudo isn’t enabled by default on all systems, which may or may not change in the future. While Sudo for Windows is pre-installed starting with Windows version 24H2, you’ll have to enable it yourself. When you enter the sudo command on the command line, in the terminal, or in PowerShell, Windows 11 version 24H2 says that the command must first be activated: Thomas Joos Thomas Joos Thomas Joos In the Windows 11 settings, the corresponding option can be found under System > For developers at Enable Sudo. Before final activation, you must confirm via the User Account Control message. Thomas Joos Thomas Joos Thomas Joos You can also activate Sudo for Windows using the sudo command itself, where various options are available to you: In a new window (forceNewWindow) In the same window (normal) Disable input (disableInput) Deactivate sudo (disable) Enable sudo (enable) When starting sudo, you can already specify the configuration in which you want to use the tool, for example with: sudo config --enable forceNewWindow (note the two dashes) The option forceNewWindow is useful as it allows you to quickly recognize when a command with sudo runs with elevated rights. You must run the activation once with administrator rights in Windows and confirm the User Account Control. Thomas Joos Thomas Joos Thomas Joos After activation, you can start programs with Sudo, for example with: sudo netstat -ab This command will open in a new window (if you used the forceNewWindow option during activation).