More and more of our daily browsing and internet use is done on our mobile devices. So it’s more important than ever to have a great VPN that works well on your phone. While some services work best on Windows, others particularly shine when used on Android devices, and I’ve curated a list of my favorites to help you find the best choice for your needs.

When determining what makes for a good VPN for Android, I consider several criteria on top of standard VPN essentials. It’s crucial that it has full functionality on the Android OS. Also, since Wi-Fi can be inconsistent at times, I test these apps over multiple days to look at speed and consistency of service. I then take into consideration the Android app itself and its ease of use, as well as other things such as pricing and the number of simultaneous devices allowed per account. All of these factors help make the VPNs on this list my top picks.

Why you should trust me: PCWorld has been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. I’m continually testing all of the major VPNs on the market and many lesser-known services in order to curate a list of the very best VPNs across a variety of categories. Below you’ll find my favorite VPNs and additional information about how I test these services as well as helpful advice about what to look for when choosing a VPN for your Android device on your own.

Without further ado, here are my recommendations for the best VPNs for Android.

NordVPN – Best VPN for Android overall

Pros

• Loaded with great features
• Outstanding speeds
• Multiple independent no-logs audits
• Included antivirus and password manager

Cons

• Expensive

Why I like NordVPN

NordVPN is easily one of the most popular VPN services around. The company offers over 118 country locations with 8,000+ servers. It also promises that its service will work with Netflix. While it doesn’t offer dedicated servers for this purpose, instead Netflix is just supposed to work no matter which server you’re on, and in our tests it always did.

Nord’s Android app is similar to the desktop app in that it has the same style of map that you can use to select a location. The rest of the app is very mobile friendly with a movable carousel of popular locations, and a full country list underneath. The Android app also supports Nord’s specialty servers for P2P file sharing, Meshnet, and multi-hop VPNs. NordVPN also offers top-notch security features with ad-blocking, malware protection, plus a password manager and link checker as well.

NordVPN continues its great privacy track record with a fourth successful audit of its no-logs policy completed earlier this year. It’s a higher-priced VPN, but it’s also feature-filled, and fast. In our tests, Nord maintained nearly 75 percent of the base internet speed, which also makes it the fastest VPN on the market.

Who should buy NordVPN

Those who have an Android phone or other device and want a VPN should place NordVPN at the top of their list. Not only will you get the great overall features that come from a top service like NordVPN, but the Android app is also one of the most intuitive and easy-to-use I’ve ever seen.

Read our full NordVPN review

ExpressVPN – Best VPN for Android runner-up

Pros

• Excellent speeds
• Well-designed interface
• Unblocks all streaming services
• Great security and privacy practices

Cons

• More expensive than other VPNs
• A little light on extra security features

Why I like ExpressVPN

Combining ease of use with its excellent speeds, ExpressVPN is a great choice for everyone. In my tests, ExpressVPN maintained 70 percent of the base speed, which is excellent and earned it a spot among our very fastest VPNs. It also comes with a huge server network and switching locations is as easy as simply tapping on the tile underneath the on/off button in the app. The interface is well-designed for Android (just like all of its other platforms) and dead-simple to use.

ExpressVPN for Android also supports split tunneling, auto-connect, and a kill switch to help maintain privacy should the VPN connection drop.

It is bit pricey and doesn’t quite have as many add-on features as NordVPN, which is why it narrowly missed out on the top spot. Regardless it’s still a fantastic option and comes with wide support if you have other non-Android devices as well. Express VPN costs about $80 for the first 12 months.

Who should buy ExpressVPN

As with NordVPN, I think that ExpressVPN is a top pick for just about everyone. And since ExpressVPN supports just about every device you can imagine, it’s a great option for those who rock many different devices with different operating systems and want to be protected on all of them.

Read our full ExpressVPN review

Mullvad – Best Android VPN for privacy

Pros

• Good speeds
• Inexpensive pricing
• Unrivaled user anonymity
• Versatile payment options

Cons

• Struggles with unblocking streaming services
• Smaller server network
• Not as feature-rich as competitors

Why I like Mullvad VPN

It’s no surprise to see Mullvad as our top choice for privacy. It’s simply unbeatable when it comes to staying as anonymous and private online as possible. Unlike most other services, Mullvad doesn’t even ask for your email address. Instead, it generates a random account number and then you use that to log in and pay for the service. The service will also accept cash, as well as Bitcoin, PayPal, and credit card, giving you every chance it can to intentionally know nothing about you.

Mullvad promises it won’t track your browsing habits and backs this claim up with multiple independent audits. Plus, it has good speeds. In our tests, Mullvad for Android maintained around 57 percent of the base speed. That’s not as good as some of the other services, but it’s definitely good enough for most uses. Mullvad charges €5 per month, which at this writing was a little over $5.

Who should buy Mullvad VPN

If privacy is your number-one concern while using a VPN than you can’t go wrong with Mullvad. Your anonymity will remain intact from the time you sign up and pay for the service all the way through your time using the service. It may not have all of the fancy features of our top picks on this list, but you can rest assured your privacy will always be Mullvad’s top priority.

Read our full Mullvad review

Proton VPN – Best VPN for privacy runner-up

Pros

• Unrivaled free plan
• Great privacy tools
• Reliable and transparent no-logs policy
• Good server spread

Cons

• Expensive
• Some minor unblocking issues

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Why I like ProtonVPN

If Mullvad isn’t your cup of tea, then another solid choice for privacy is Proton VPN. This service is just one part of a larger suite of services that includes Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, and Proton Drive. Proton VPN is available as a standalone service if you don’t need any of the other features, though most of them are worth the few extra dollars per month if you upgrade to the premium plan.

In our tests, Proton VPN maintained around 65 percent of the base speed. It has a wide number of country choices, its privacy policy makes all the right promises, and it supports Netflix streaming, TOR over VPN, and P2P on most servers. It also offers multi-hop connections via its Secure Core feature — a welcomed extra layer of obfuscation for the privacy-conscious. Proton VPN’s monthly subscriptions are on the high end at about $10 per month, but long-term subscription plans make it more affordable. It’s more than worth it though if privacy is your concern as the service continues to go through regular independent audits and its homebase in Switzerland has excellent personal privacy laws.

Who should buy ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is another great option for the privacy-conscious. The only real difference between this and Mullvad VPN is that you will need to register with an email address and payments cannot be done in anonymous cash transactions. Apart from that though, ProtonVPN comes from a highly reputable company and does a superb job of protecting your anonymity and privacy.

Read our full ProtonVPN review

CyberGhost – Best Android VPN for rookies

Pros

• Independently verified no-log policy
• Seriously impressive server spread
• Generous 45-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• Server speeds can be hit-or-miss
• Lacks some extra security features offered by competitors

Why I like CyberGhost VPN

Another good choice for newcomers is CyberGhost from Kape Technologies. This VPN’s Android app has a very intuitive and friendly design. It has a simple on/off button at the top of the app, and underneath that is the tile where you can pick the country location. Tapping on the country location option takes you to a list where you can choose a connection based on the country, or you can choose between servers optimized for streaming, gaming, or torrenting. In my tests, CyberGhost maintained decent enough speeds to do most activities you would want with a VPN such as web browsing and streaming.

Recently CyberGhost has added more features such as split-tunneling to the app, but they aren’t necessary to tool around with if you just want the basics. Otherwise, that’s about all there is to this app, which makes it an excellent option for first-timers. CyberGhost offers plans by the month, for one year, or two years, with longer-term plans being much more affordable.

Who should buy CyberGhost VPN

VPN newbies and beginners will love how easy CyberGhost’s Android app is to use. Plus, the price is cheaper than some alternatives, which means you won’t have to worry about paying extra for niche features that you may never use.

Read our full CyberGhost VPN review

Other VPN reviews and features

• Mullvad VPN: The undefeated king of privacy, Mullvad continues to be one of our favorite VPNs thanks to its unique approach to user anonymity and inexpensive pricing.
• ExpressVPN: With a great Android app plus fast speeds, strong privacy, and a large network, it’s hard to beat this premium VPN.
• NordVPN: Our top overall VPN for a reason, Nord comes loaded with strong privacy and security features, plus excellent speeds.
• Can VPNs really save you money on hotels? I tested them to find out
• 9 things you realize when you first start using a VPN
• VPNs and the law: How often does law enforcement actually request VPN logs?

How I tested

I judge VPNs on a variety of criteria including server network, connection speeds, privacy protections, ease-of-use, additional features, and cost. For a more detailed guide on how I test, check out PCWorld’s guide on how we test VPN services. I take the same approach on Android as I do on Windows.

Speed tests are kept as simple as possible. I average the connections between different global locations for any given VPN and then compare them to a baseline internet speed to get a good picture of the overall connection speeds. I thoroughly research and analyze the privacy policies and histories of each VPN and note any outstanding discrepancies or data collection issues.

Experience and ease-of-use are subjective, but I try my best to give an accurate representation of how it feels to work with the VPN. And finally, I determine the value of the service based upon its price and additional features compared to the industry average to help you gain an accurate picture of what you’ll get for your money.

What to look for in a VPN for Android

One of the first things you should look for when shopping around for a VPN is the number of servers and locations. It’s difficult to judge any VPN by just one feature, but a semi-reliable way to tell if a VPN is even worth your time is to look at the server network. Anything with 1,000 or more servers and 30 or more country locations will do.

The next thing to consider is a VPN’s speed. This may be tricky to do since you aren’t likely to be able to test connection speeds without paying to use the service. Reading reviews online will give you a general estimate. Look for reviews, like ours, that give you a relative average of connection speeds rather than direct Mbps speed comparisons.

You’ll also want to read up on a VPN’s privacy protections. Does it have a no-logs policy? Has it undergone any independent audits of its servers? Where is the VPN company located? All of these will give you an idea of whether or not a VPN is transparent with its data collection policies and if it’s subject to government data sharing requirements.

Other factors you’ll want to take into consideration are the overall ease-of-use, user experience, and any additional features. Some of these features, such as split-tunneling and kill switches, can be extremely useful for certain purposes and might sway your subscription decision one way or the other.

Finally, as with all subscription services, you’ll want to review the price of a VPN service. Do you want a monthly or yearly subscription? Some top VPNs might be pricey month-to-month, but actually become quite affordable with long-term plans.

That’s it for this roundup of the top Android VPNs. If you want to take a look at more VPN services check out PCWorld’s best VPN roundup. While the reviews are focused on PC, almost all of the services I’ve covered offer an Android app as well.

Lately, Sonos has been making headlines for what it’s not going to do. It’s not bringing back the old version of its once-beloved app, it’s (reportedly) not going to make a streaming video player, and now it’s not making any more speakers with Ikea. 

Sonos has confirmed to The Verge that it’s winding down its partnership with Ikea, the iconic home furnishings brand that teamed up with the networked home audio manufacturer for some of our favorite wireless speakers. 

Among them were the very first products developed by the duo, the Ikea Symfonisk lamp and bookshelf speakers, which landed in 2019. The speakers, which won our Editors’ Choice award, demonstrated how great-sounding home audio components could also look terrific in the living room while maintaining Ikea-friendly price tags. 

Sonos says it will continue to support existing Symfonisk speakers while also confirming that no more new models will be coming. The speakers will remain on sale while supplies last. 

“Over the past eight years, we’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Idea and are proud of what we’ve achieved,” a Sonos spokesperson told The Verge, adding that “our work together has largely wound down and we won’t be releasing new products as partners.” 

Besides the original Symfonisk lamp and bookshelf speakers, the Sonos/Ikea partnership also yielded the Symfonisk floor lamp speaker (which came with a bamboo light shade—again, very Ikea), an updated Symfonisk Speaker Lamp 2, and a Symfonisk picture-frame speaker. (Tech Advisor, our sibling publication, was only so-so about the latter product, although it’s still a nifty idea.) 

The breakup between Sonos and Ikea is disappointing for a couple of key reasons. For starters, the partnership inspired some of the most cleverly designed speakers we’ve ever tested—a floor lamp that’s also a speaker? Really? Yes, really. 

Also, Ikea’s Symfonisk speakers were surprisingly affordable, with the original Symfonisk speaker retailing for a mere $99, compared to $199 for the cheapest (at the time) Sonos speaker. 

Word that Sonos won’t make any more speakers with Ikea comes roughly two months after we learned that Sonos won’t be going into the streaming-video business—a wise move. 

Meanwhile, Sonos continues to forge ahead with fixes for its much-maligned app. The company remains in a defensive crouch over the poorly received app revamp, which was slammed upon release last year for its spotty performance and array of dropped features. 

Indeed, Sonos’s app update was such a disaster that then-CEO Patrick Spence, who once floated the idea of bringing back the old app before walking back his remarks, stepped down from his position in early 2025. 

TV antennas aren’t just for cord-cutters looking to save money on TV entertainment. A good TV antenna will bring in anywhere from 20 to 100 or more channels, depending on where you live. The stations are free, don’t require a broadband connection (with the exception of some ATSC 3.0 channels using encryption), and boast higher resolution and picture quality than cable or streaming options like Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV.

But not all antennas are created equal, and there are big differences between indoor and outdoor models. Indoor antennas are supremely convenient, if not always aesthetically pleasing, but a rooftop antenna is always better than one in your home’s attic, which is always better than one that’s installed indoors.

Our picks below are based on extensive testing, using each antenna as its intended over an extended period of time. Scroll below our product recommendations to learn more about our testing process and for guidance on choosing an antenna.

Channel Master Flatenna 35 – Best budget-priced indoor TV antenna

Pros

• Very low price
• Well made
• U.S.-based customer support

Cons

• Won’t do much for your living-room décor

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Why we like the Channel Master Flatenna 35

The Channel Master Flatenna 35 TV antenna delivers good performance at a low price, provided you live in an area with good local TV signals. It’s a simple matter to install and connect it, so the only thing you need to do is find a good location for it.

Who should buy the Channel Master Flatenna 35

If you live close to TV broadcast towers, want to watch the major networks, and don’t want to spend a lot of money, the Channel Master Flatenna 35 TV antenna is a good choice.

Read our full Channel Master Flatenna 35 (model No. CM-4001HDBW) review

Winegard FlatWave Amped – Best flexible amplified indoor TV antenna

Pros

• Strong reception, clear picture quality
• Amplifier contributes to good range
• Amplifier can be powered by a wall wart or your TV’s USB port

Cons

• Not the best-looking thing to have on your wall or window
• Excess cable can get messy quick

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Why we like the Winegard FlatWave Amped

Winegard’s FlatWave Amped delivers great performance for an indoor antenna. It’s small, lightweight, and includes an amplifier, so should work well in areas that enjoy good local TV signals.

Who should buy the Winegard FlatWave Amped

If you live in an urban area with TV broadcast towers nearby, the Winegard FlatWave Amped is a good choice for indoor TV reception.

Read our full Winegard FlatWave Amplified (model FL-5500A) review

Televes Bexia – Best rigid amplified indoor TV antenna

Pros

• Internal amplifier boosts signal level
• Stable reception
• Amplifier can be powered from one of your TV’s USB ports

Cons

• Lower performance with VHF frequencies
• Larger design could make it difficult to hide

Why we like the Televes Bexia

The Televes Bexia is one the best indoor TV antennas we’ve tested, capable of pulling in signals from medium-power broadcast towers whether resting on its fold-out stand on a piece of furniture or mounted to a wall. Its onboard antenna can be powered by one of the USB ports on your TV or with a USB wall wart if your TV doesn’t have a free port.

Who should buy the Televes Bexia

If you live in an apartment or just don’t want to install a TV antenna on your roof, the Televes Bexia will do an excellent job of pulling in live TV signals. You won’t even need to aim it as it will automatically adjust its level of amplification for each channel as needed.

Read our full Televes Bexia review

RCA Multi-Directional TV Antenna (model ANTD8E) – Best rigid indoor TV antenna runner-up

Pros

• Good reception of most local channels
• Inline amplifier to boost reception
• Attractive industrial design for indoor use

Cons

• The antenna’s wide base gives it a large footprint (the stand can be removed if you prefer to hang the antenna)
• Poor reception of low-power and distant channels

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Why we like the RCA ANTD8E Multi-Directional TV Antenna

Here’s more proof that indoor TV antennas don’t need to look hideous. The RCA ANTD8E features an inline amplifier that helps it pull in strong broadcast signals, and its cloth-covered form factor will help it blend with your home’s furniture.

Who should buy the RCA ANTD8E Multi-Directional TV Antenna

If you don’t like the plastic design of the Televes Bexia, RCA’ fabric-wrapped device is an excellent alternative. And it can be placed on an entertainment credenza or mounted to a wall.

Read our full RCA Multi-Directional TV Antenna (model ANTD8E) review

Ultra-Vizion Transparent – Least visually intrusive indoor antenna

Pros

• Less-intrusive see-through design
• Reliable reception of local TV channels
• Long antenna cable

Cons

• Not effective for weaker signals, even with its amplifier
• Older design could suffer interference from 5G signals

Why we like the Ultra-Vizion Transparent Indoor Amplified antenna

The Ultra-Vizion Transparent Indoor Amplified antenna works well for local TV reception in areas of strong signals, and its transparent design is much more pleasing to the eye than the competition.

Who should buy the Ultra-Vizion Transparent Indoor Amplified antenna

The Ultra-Vizion Transparent will work well in areas with strong signals, but it’s mostly for people who want to watch over-the-air broadcasts without don’t seeing a TV antenna taped to their wall or window.

Read our full Ultra-Vizion Transparent Indoor Amplified TV Antenna review

Televes Dat Boss Mix LR (model 149884) – Best roof-mount TV antenna

Pros

• Strong, sensitive reception
• Built-in 5G filter
• Built-in amplifier and indoor distribution amp

Cons

• Large physical size
• Assembly can be confusing
• Not designed to tune in low-VHF signals

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Why we like the Televes Dat Boss Mix LR

The Televes Dat Boss Mix LR (model 149884) is the best outdoor TV antenna we’ve tested, and a year after our initial test, it remains on my house thanks to its consistently reliable and strong performance. It delivered an excellent performance, pulling in strong signals from local and distant TV towers where reception ranges from good to poor.

Who should buy the Televes Dat Boss Mix LR

If you’re able to install an antenna on your roof, the Televes Dat Boss Mix LR is an excellent choice. It should provide strong, interference-free reception for years to come.

Read our full Televes Dat Boss Mix LR (model 149884) review

Antennas Direct DB8e – Best roof-mount TV antenna runner-up

Pros

• Good reception of weak signals
• Antennas can be pointed in two different directions
• Easy to assemble

Cons

• Large size requires a strong mount
• Not designed to receive VHF TV stations

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Why we like the Antennas Direct DB8e

The Antennas Direct DB8e’s reception is as impressive as its looks. This is a large, heavy antenna that’s cleverly designed to receive weak signals with two antenna arrays. In areas of better reception, in can point to towers located in different directions.

Who Should Buy the Antennas Direct DB8e

The Antennas Direct DB8e is particularly suited for people in areas where TV stations are available from two locations far apart, as each reception array can be pointed in a different direction.

Read our full Antennas Direct DB8e review

Winegard Elite 7550 – Best attic/outdoor TV antenna

Pros

• Good reception of strong to medium level signals on UHF and VHF-High
• Inline amplifier helps boost signals
• Suitable for attic or outdoor mounting

Cons

• Plastic mounting bracket feels a little cheap

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Why we like the Winegard Elite 7550

Despite its smaller size, the Winegard Elite 7550 immediately impressed with its ability to pick up more broadcast channels than most of the competition at higher signal levels. It has a built-in amplifier and performed well on both VHF-High and UHF broadcast bands.

Who Should Buy the Winegard Elite 7550

The Winegard Elite 7550 is a good choice for anyone who cannot have a rooftop antenna but wants to pull in the maximum number of channels in their area. It will work well mounted on the side of a house, on a balcony, or in an attic.

Read our full Winegard Elite 7550 review

Antennas Direct Clearstream 4 Max – Best attic/outdoor TV antenna runner-up

Pros

• Good reception of strong to medium level signals on UHF and VHF-High
• Multidirectional reception for areas with transmitters in different locations
• Sturdy mount with mounting hardware for attic or outdoor installation

Cons

• No built-in amplifier, so you might need one for weaker channels

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Why We Like the Antennas Direct Clearstream 4 Max

The Clearstream 4 Max is a little larger than our top-ranked choice and wasn’t quite as good at pulling in stations, but it’s still a solid antenna. We liked its distinctive double figure-eight design and that it can receive signals from different directions, which is useful if you live in an area with broadcast towers in multiple locations.

Who Should Buy the Antennas Direct Clearstream 4 Max

The Antennas Direct Clearstream 4 Max will work well in areas where TV signals are strong to moderate and come from more than one direction.

Read our full Antennas Direct Clearstream 4 Max review

Other notable TV antennas we’ve reviewed

• Mohu Curve: This antenna is prettier than many, and it’s very inexpensive; unfortunately, it’s just not very powerful.
• Antennas Direct 91XG: This UHF-only rooftop antenna is great at pulling in weak signals.
• Televes Ellipse Mix: This is a great choice for areas with medium strength signal reception. In our tests it brought in TV stations with a strong, stable signal and is a good choice for anyone looking for a smaller antenna.
• Channel Master Pro-Model CM-1776: Here’s a very well-made device that will look good on any house or apartment and is suitable for use in areas of high to medium signal strength.
• Channel Master Smartenna+: This in-home TV antenna features a built-in tuner that adjusts to pull in the maximum number of channels possible.
• Clearstream Horizon: A good-looking indoor TV antenna with a companion signal amplifier. It performed well in our tests and should work in areas of good to moderate signals.
• GE Enlighten HD Antenna with Bias LED Lighting: This antenna neatly combines an indoor antenna and bias lighting in a single package, but one feature limits the utility of the other.

How to choose an antenna

The following are important things to consider when buying an antenna.

What can you tune in with a TV antenna?

To figure out what TV channels are even available in your area, visit the Rabbit Ears Search Map, which lets you enter your address for a prediction about what channels and estimated signal strength you can expect.

Should you get an indoor or outdoor antenna?

While an outdoor antenna will provide better performance than an indoor antenna, it can be a bigger investment in terms of cost and setup. Installing a large roof-mounted antenna is not for everyone.

Even if you decide to go the indoor route, you can choose among sizes and even opt for an amplified model for stronger reception.

By determining your location’s proximity to stations (see above), you can assess what kind of antenna will suffice.

Take range claims with a grain of salt

Reception depends on a multitude of factors, including the transmitter frequency and power, the location of the transmitter, the immediate environment around your house, and more. This is where hands-on reviews, such as those on PCWorld, come in.

Options for renters

Under the FCC’s “OTARD” regulations, U.S. federal law gives you the right to install a TV antenna for reception of local broadcast signals in an area you rent or have exclusive access to.

Connection to your TV

Most TV antennas will come with the cable/s to connect with your TV, but in some instances you may have to buy your own. The standard for TV antennas is called an RG-6 coaxial cable.

For more guidance, see our article on how to choose the right TV antenna for your needs.

A word about NextGen TV

All the antennas we test are suitable for reception of NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) signals. In fact, the new broadcast standard promises more reliable reception, which should help antenna users. In our Northern Virginia location, there are three NextGen TV transmitters within reach at differing power levels, so these add to the depth of our tests.

The new format also promises some interactive and streaming functionality, and many channels employ digital rights management (DRM) encryption, so you’ll also need an broadband connection if you want to enjoy many of the channels. Most TVs and some set-top boxes support encryption and interactive functions; verify the one you’re considering has that feature before you buy it.

If you ever thought about virtually wandering through Minecraft‘s Overworld in a VR headset, think again. Those days are over, at least from Microsoft’s perspective.

Microsoft’s latest update to Minecraft‘s Bedrock Edition, version 1.21.80, removes support for both virtual reality and Mixed Reality, Microsoft’s own take on AR that it killed off years ago. Now, Minecraft remains as a game that can be played on multiple consoles and platforms — just not VR.

Well, officially, that is. Vivecraft will allow Minecraft to continue, as a way to play the sandbox game on Oculus or Windows MR, according to the website. That version requires the original PC Java version of Minecraft, however.

To be fair, Microsoft signaled its plans in an October update last year. “Our ability to support VR/MR devices has come to an end, and will no longer be supported in updates after March of 2025, when you will receive your final update,” the company said. “After you receive the final update, you will still receive updates on your PC and be able to play without a VR/MR device.

“From this point on you can keep building in your worlds, and your Marketplace purchases (including Minecoins) will continue to be available on a non-VR/MR graphics device such as a computer monitor,” Microsoft said then. “You will no longer be able to use your VR/MR device with Minecraft as it will no longer be supported in the latest updates.”

Since it’s now May, Microsoft tacked on an additional grace period. But now it’s over, and another shovelful of dirt on the metaverse. And goodbye to the best demo I’ve ever witnessed.

It’s been about three weeks since Nvidia announced the RTX 5060 Ti, which also came along with the cheaper RTX 5060, naturally. We didn’t have an official launch date for the 5060, just “May.” Now we know it’ll be here on May 19 — that’s the Monday after next. The price in the U.S. is mercifully unchanged from the $299 announcement MSRP.

The RTX 5060 Ti is a solid 1080p gaming card, at least in its 16GB upgrade version. The 8GB variant of the card has been met far less warmly, which might help explain why Nvidia didn’t send out review units before the launch. That means the 5060, sans Ti and saddled with the same 8GB memory, might be less than impressive, especially for the price.

For the sake of comparison, the 8GB version of the RTX 5060 Ti that’s on store shelves right now for $380 sometimes underperforms Intel’s Arc B580 card…which has a retail price of $250. Yeah, it looks like Nvidia isn’t exactly making a play for the budget space with these entries, perhaps leaning on OEM gaming desktops or those whose brand loyalty outweighs their desire for performance.

Earlier today we saw the latest leaks for AMD’s newest desktop card, the Radeon RX 9060 XT. It’s coming with a 16GB version, presumably competing with the RTX 5060 Ti at the same level, though pricing has yet to be revealed. A 9060 version, which would compete directly with the RTX 5060, is not yet verified.

Best Prices Today: EufyCam S3 Pro 2-camera Kit

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Cloud subscriptions that lock your security camera footage behind a monthly fee are a frustrating reality for homeowners. The EufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit offers a way out. With 4K video resolution, smart AI detection, and solar panels integrated into the two cameras, it delivers top-shelf performance without roping you into a payment plan.

Eufy does offer cloud storage as an option, but the cameras in this offering store their recordings locally on Eufy’s HomeBase 3 hub—a NAS box (network-attached storage), essentially—enhancing your privacy while saving you money on subscription fees.

Design and features

The EufyCam S3 Pro cameras have a bullet-style body with a white finish and a black face. Each camera has a solar panel on top, neatly integrated into the design rather than bolted on as an afterthought. It’s a clean, functional look that fits whether you’re mounting them on brick, siding, wood, or stucco.

The cameras are strongly protected from the elements, boasting a rating of IP67. Our IP code guide tells that means the cameras can not only withstand a blast from a pressure washer (from a reasonable distance), but they can even withstand being submersed in up to three feet of water for up to 30 minutes.

Michael Ansaldo/Foundry

The S3 Pro system is packed with serious hardware. Each camera captures video in 4K Ultra HD resolution (that’s 3840 x 2160 pixels), delivering crisp detail that makes it easy to spot faces, license plates, and other important features. A 135-degree field of view provides wide coverage without the heavy barrel distortion you sometimes get from wide-angle lenses. At night, Eufy’s MaxColor Vision technology kicks in, delivering full-color night vision without needing bright, battery-draining spotlights. Instead, the cameras rely on a larger sensor and wider f/1.0 aperture to pull in enough light naturally.

Powering the system is Eufy’s SolarPlus 2.0 technology. The cameras use a 13,000mAh battery that Eufy says will keep them running for up to a year on a single charge with just an hour of direct sunlight a day. To give homeowners even more flexibility when it comes to mounting the cameras, Eufy offers external solar panels for $29.99 each. You can add one and position it for the best sun exposure even if your ideal camera placement is in permanent shade.

For motion detection, the S3 Pro pairs radar sensing with conventional passive infrared (PIR) to better separate real threats from moving branches or passing cars. AI-powered recognition also sorts motion events into categories—people, vehicles, pets, and faces—so you’re not constantly bombarded with unnecessary notifications. You can also create privacy zones to block out parts of the frame you don’t want recorded, which is handy if your cameras overlook a neighbor’s property.

Michael Ansaldo/Foundry

The audio features are just as strong. Two-way audio lets you hear and speak through the cameras, with built-in AI noise reduction that helps voices come through clearly even from 20 to 25 feet away. If you need to scare someone off, each camera also comes equipped with a 100dB siren and customizable voice warnings.

Footage is stored locally on the included Eufy HomeBase 3, which has 16GB of built-in storage. That’s not a lot, but it can be easily expanded up to 16TB by plugging in an internal 2.5-inch SATA hard drive or SSD. A single HomeBase 3 can host up to 16 Eufy cameras, including most Eufy video doorbells and floodlight cameras. And while Eufy doesn’t yet have a robust home security platform beyond its cameras, its NAS box can also monitor Eufy’s motion and door/window sensors. Local storage means no cloud fees, no mandatory subscriptions, and no dependence on third-party servers for your data.

The HomeBase 3 has dual USB-A ports in back that you can use to charge the cameras and to back up its internal storage. If you want another layer of backup protection, you can sign up for an optional cloud backup service: Eufy’s cloud plans, which start at $0.99 for the first month and $3.99/month after that for a single device. A $13.99/month Plus Plan covers all devices and stores videos for 30 days.

The S3 Pro works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit, including HomeKit Secure Video. There is a small tradeoff to using HomeKit, however; video resolution gets capped at 1080p instead of 4K. It’s a limitation that won’t matter to everyone, but it’s worth knowing up front.

Setup and performance

Getting the EufyCam S3 Pro system up and running is about as easy as it gets. The cameras come with everything you need, including sturdy wall mounts and clear instructions that walk you through each step. Simply plug the HomeBase 3 into your router, scan a QR code on the bottom with the Eufy Security app, and follow the prompts to complete the connection. You then press the sync button on each camera to pair it to the HomeBase. Once paired, the HomeBase manages video storage, powers the AI features, and acts as the brains behind the whole setup.

Michael Brown/Foundry

In daylight, the S3 Pro’s video quality stands out. Footage is sharp and vibrant, with colors that look natural instead of overly boosted. Details like faces, clothing, and license plates stay clear even when you zoom in. Motion detection also works well right out of the box (although you can adjust sensitivity to tailor detection to your liking). The combination of radar and infrared sensing does a good job of catching real activity while ignoring typical false alarms like tree branches or passing shadows.

Image quality holds up impressively after dark. Footage stays in color even when streetlights or porch lights are scarce, making it much easier to pick out details like clothing color, car models, or faces that would blur together in a standard black-and-white feed. You don’t need to squint at muddy images or guess what you’re seeing—what’s recorded at night looks almost as sharp and recognizable as daytime footage.

Michael Brown/Foundry

Using the Eufy Security app is smooth and intuitive. Live feeds, recordings, and settings are easy to find, and you can jump between cameras quickly. Notifications arrive promptly and include short AI-powered summaries, so you can tell at a glance whether it’s a person at your door or just your neighbor’s cat wandering by.

This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras.

Battery life and solar charging are also strong points. Once installed, the cameras hold their charge steadily, with the built-in panels easily topping off the battery. Placement still matters—put the cameras where they’ll get good light exposure—but if you can’t, the external solar panel is worth considering.

Should you buy the EufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit?

At $549.99, the eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit offers a compelling package for those seeking high-quality home security without recurring fees. If you’re looking for a reliable, high-quality home security solution that puts you in control of your data and costs, the EufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit is an easy recommendation. It’s one of the best options out there for buyers who want premium features without getting locked into monthly fees.

External USB/Thunderbolt drives (aka direct-attached storage, or DAS) are a super-convenient way to quickly back up your important files, as well as store any data that you don’t need on your computer’s fast internal storage. They’re also extremely handy for transporting data between locations and devices.

While auxiliary storage and transport are great reasons to buy an external drive, let’s not forget the all-important role an external drive plays for backup — either as the primary backup medium, or the secondary backup to an internal backup drive.

Restoring from local storage is far, far faster than pulling down your data from the web, which is why we are so keen on backing up to an external drive. If your time is important to you, that is.

Why you should trust us: We’re PCWorld. We’ve been putting computer hardware through its paces for decades. We’ve seen it all and we know how to root out a drive’s strengths and weaknesses, using a combination of rigorous benchmark testing and real-world hands-on use. Below we offer our expert recommendations on the best external drives for everything from blazing-fast performance, to budget options, to portability, and more.

Crucial X9 Pro – Best 10Gbps external SSD

Pros

• Super small form factor
• Great 10Gbps performance
• Handsome design

Cons

• Not the least expensive 10Gbps SSD available

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$89.99

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Not everyone wants or needs to spend extra for 20Gbps USB drive performance. The Crucial X9 strikes a compelling balance between 10Gbps performance and affordability that should please the majority of users. In our benchmark tests, it traded top scores with the SK Hynix Beetle (our runner-up choice below), but at a significantly lower cost — making it an indisputable win-win for consumers.

It’s also handsome, described by our reviewer as “a svelte object of desire.” More importantly, it feels well made, and is rated for IP55 dust and spray resistance, so you don’t have to baby this portable drive when you take it into harm’s way.

Alternative option: The Crucial X9 performs neck-and-neck with the SK Hynix Beetle X31 — a handsome little drive in its own right. Previously, this drive was the more pricey of the two, giving the Crucial X9 a slight edge. But it appears the Beetle X31 might be nearing the end of its production life because we are seeing it at a significant savings — as low as $85 for 1TB. This is great news for bargain hunters while supplies last.

Read our full Crucial X9 Pro review

Crucial X6 Portable SSD (2TB) – Best budget 10Gbps external SSD

Pros

• Ergonomic design
• Good everyday performance
• Very affordable for an external SSD

Cons

• Performance tanks when cache runs out

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Price

$79.99

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The Crucial X6 Portable SSD is square to be hip (search Huey Lewis). Or placed in your hip pocket, at any rate. In a sea of portable SSDs whose shape and sometimes sharp edges makes them a literal pain when situated in your shirt or trousers, the thin, rounded-edge X6 is a sigh of relief. It’s not state-of-the-art fast, but it’s fast enough for most users and extremely affordable.

Read our full Crucial X6 Portable SSD review

SK Hynix Tube T31 USB SSD stick – Best thumb drive SSD

Pros

• Fast like an external SSD
• Decently affordable
• Small form factor
• Captive Type-A USB connector

Cons

• Costs more than the common thumb drive

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$77.82

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There’s something to be said for the thumb drive form factor. It’s eminently portable, being both small and eliminating the necessity of a connector cable. It’s also versatile as it can slot into the ubiquitous USB-A port.

The SK Hynix Tube T31 combines all that thumb-drive convenience with SSD performance, for the best of the both worlds.

Utilizing 10Gbps NVMe storage internally, the wee Tube T31 performs like a cable-attached SSD, and definitively outperformed other thumb drives in its class. And while it’s priced relatively high compared to a standard thumb drive, it’s priced competitively for its performance.

There’s no better option if fast and cable-free storage is what you’re after.

Alternative option: The Seagate Ultra Compact SSD isn’t quite as fast as the Tube T31, but it’s close. What’s more, it comes with some handy extras, such as free 6-month plans for Dropbox Backup and Mylio Photos, as well as being eligible for free data recovery, making it a compelling alternative.

Read our full SK Hynix Tube T31 USB SSD stick review

Lexar SL600 – Best 20Gbps external SSD

Pros

• Good 20Gbps performer
• Top bang for the buck
• Five-year warranty

Cons

• 4TB model not yet available

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B & H Photo

$129.99

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$149.99

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The competition is fierce in the top tier of 20Gbps external drives, with name-brand contenders trading wins up and down our benchmark charts. Nevertheless, a winner is a winner, and cumulatively, the Lexar SL600 edged out our previous champ, Crucial’s X10 Pro, by a hair.

On top of that, it comes in a uniquely shaped form factor, complete with an opening to accommodate a lanyard, if that’s how you roll. You can even take the highly portable drive’s design a step further by opting for the SL660 variant that comes with RGB lighting around its miniature handle. The SL600 is backed by a five-year warranty — two years longer than the norm for external drives.

When performance is this closely matched among products, the determining factor is price. In that respect also, the SL600 is neck-and-neck with the Crucial X10 Pro, and as of this writing, priced slightly to significantly cheaper than many of its competitors — particularly at the 2TB level.

Read our full Lexar SL600 20Gbps USB SSD review

Teamgroup M200 – Best budget 20Gbps SSD

Pros

• Fast everyday performance
• Available in up to 8TB (eventually) capacity
• Attractively styled

Cons

• No TBW rating
• Company will change components if shortages demand
• Writes slow to 200MBps off cache

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$69.99

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Rated for 20Gbps and selling for $80 with 1TB of storage, the Teamgroup M200 is an attractive (in a military fashion) external drive for the budget-conscious performance enthusiast.

It might not be as cheap as the Crucial X6, but for the extra outlay you get outstanding everyday performance. In many tests, it’s the fastest 20Gbps drive we’ve ever tested. At just 4.13-inches long and 2.18-inches wide and weighing under 3 ounces, it’s also extremely portable and its slick combat-styling will appeal to gamers.

Read our full Teamgroup T-Force M200 20Gbps USB SSD review

Adata SE920 – Best USB 4 external drive

Pros

• Fastest external storage we’ve tested (at 40Gbps)
• Affordable for the ilk
• Stylish enclosure
• Available up to 4TB
• Also fast on the Mac

Cons

• Pricier than USB 3.2×2 (20Gbps)

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$269.99

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A USB 4 external SSD isn’t for everyone. Not only does your PC need to support the spec in order to take advantage of the 40Gbps transfers, but you pay a premium for the privilege.

If you’re ready to enter the club, the Adata SE920 will reward you with the fastest USB 4 performance we’ve experienced, and at a much more affordable price than our previous pick for USB 4, the OWC Express 1M2 — we’re talking $180 for a 1TB Adata SE920 versus $250 for the OWC drive. And if you want a lot of capacity, the Adata SE920 comes with up to 4TB, for $500.

We were also impressed by the SE920’s nifty built-in fan, which is activated when you slide open the enclosure as shown above. This kept our drive noticeably free of heat during our benchmark tests.

The SE920 is also quite portable at 4.13 inches long by 2.52-inches wide by 0.62-inches thick, and 7 ounces — another advantage it has over the bulkier OWC Express 1M2. A clear choice for our top USB 4 external SSD.

Alternative option: You can get record-breaking performance by rolling your own USB 4 external SSD, using Ugreen’s CM642 enclosure. In our tests, the $110 enclosure combined with an NVMe SSD bested the performance of the two external USB 4 SSDs above.

Read our full Adata SE920 USB4 SSD review

SanDisk Desk Drive 10Gbps – Best external SSD for backups

Pros

• Available in large 4TB and 8TB capacities
• Good 10Gbps performer
• Attractive and unusual, if somewhat large, heat-shedding design

Cons

• Requires AC adapter

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$289.99

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As the name suggests, unlike many of the external drives on this list, the SanDisk Desk Drive isn’t particularly portable. Not only is it too bulky for a pocket or laptop bag, it also requires an AC adapter.

That however, doesn’t detract from its utility, as the Desk Drive is really aimed at users with more sedentary workflows for auxiliary storage and backup. That’s also evident in the fact that it only ships in 4GB and 8GB capacities, priced competitively at $280 and $500, respectively.

Granted, that’s a lot more per-gigabyte than you’d pay for a backup hard drive. But with the Desk Drive you get brisk 10Gbps performance, and the assurance that comes from an SSD’s lack of moving parts, i.e. susceptibility to shocks. In other words, its speed, ruggedness, and reliability make it worth more an HDD.

Read our full SanDisk Desk Drive 10Gbps USB SSD review

WD My Passport, Works with USB C – Best portable hard drive

Pros

• Up to 6TB of capacity
• Super-low price per terabyte
• Good looking and portable

Cons

• Micro-B, not Type-C as intimated
• Hard drive level performance

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$79.01

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We can forgive the cumbersome name, and the fact that this drive, misleadingly, doesn’t actually use a USB-C connector, because there are other more substantial ways that it pleases us.

For starters, the WD My Passport, Works with USB-C offers a ton of capacity — up to 6TB — and at a far more affordable price per terabyte than one can get from an SSD (around $30/TB versus twice that for the latter). This makes the WD My Passport a natural fit for backup needs, particularly since those can be timed during off hours, mitigating the need for an SSDs superior speeds.

As for the misleading moniker, the My Passport does indeed work with USB-C, but it’s by way of the drive’s standard SuperSpeed Micro-B port, using the included Micro-B to Type-A cable and a bundled Type-A to USB-C adapter. Mind you, WD’s My Passport Ultra series, which actually do feature a USB-C port, don’t perform any faster than this drive, and cost a bit more.

In fact, the My Passport performs on par with the best of 2.5-inch hard drives we’ve tested, while being the best deal. If it’s a portable, high-capacity hard drive that you’re after, this is the one to pick.

Read our full WD My Passport, Works with USB C review

Seagate Expansion Desktop – Best desktop hard drive

Pros

• Super-low price per terabyte
• Up to 24TB total capacity
• Good looking
• Twice as fast as 2.5-inch external HDDs

Cons

• Slow compared to SSDs
• Requires AC adapter

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Seagate

$119.99

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$149.99

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SSDs have certainly been a game changer in storage, but there are still times when a hard drive is the right tool for the job — and an unbeatable value. Such as when you need more capacity for your digital stuff than an SSD can provide.

Enter the 3.5-inch Seagate Expansion Desktop, which delivers up to 24TB of capacity — three times the current maximum for SSDs. It also delivers twice the sustained transfer rate of 2.5-inch external hard drives — our 16TB test unit read and wrote at close to 280MBps.

As mentioned, all this storage comes at a very competitive price point, hovering around $20 per terabyte, compared to the $70 per terabyte an SSD costs. Our only caveat is that HDDs are more fragile, and important data on them should be backed up regularly.

As we said in our review of the drive: “If you deal with large amounts of data, you can’t beat a high-capacity hard drive for gathering it into one place.” This is the drive we’d pick.

Read our full Seagate Expansion Desktop review

Our latest external drive reviews

• Sandisk Extreme Pro SSD with USB4: Handsome, rugged, feels great in your mitts, and is decently affordable for USB4 — but connection issues might affect some users.
• PNY Pro Elite V3: This 10Gbps, Type-C USB stick is fast, but what really grabbed our attention is the clever, retracting physical design and svelte form-factor.
• Seagate Ultra Compact SSD: A 10Gbps USB thumb drive that delivers far better performance than generic 5Gbps or 400Mbps types. Plus it comes with some perks, such as free data recovery.
• Lexar Go w/Hub: While far from cheap, this 10Gbps mobile drive is an uber-convenient way to add up to 2TB of storage and extra USB ports to your phone.
• Corsair EX400U: While it’s not the fastest 40Gbps SSD out there, this light and compact drive is very affordable and far more compatible across PCs and Macs than 20Gbps USB 3.2×2 SSDs.
• Ugreen CM642 USB4: This fast, handsome, and rugged SSD enclosure is an easy way to roll your own high-performance external storage. In our tests, it gave the top USB4 SSDs a run for their money.
• Corsair Flash Survivor: Corsair’s Flash Survivor Stealth SSD is a USB stick with 10Gbps/NVMe speed; it’s also weatherproofed and ruggedized — but you’ll pay a premium for that field-sturdiness.
• TerraMaster D8 Hybrid enclosure: Outfitted with four 3.5-inch SATA HDD bays (two in RAID), and four NVMe SSD slots, the D8 Hybrid allows you to configure an array of drives for your system, running over 10Gbps USB.
• Seagate Game Drive SSD: This drive is aimed specifically at PS4/PS5 owners, and features an attractive aesthetic complete with the Playstation logo. The 10Gbps SSD is also very fast for its class, but it’s also relatively pricey.
• Lexar Armor 700: Like the PNY RP60 above, the Lexar Armor 700 is a 20Gbps drive that can withstand some abuse — perfect for the gamer on the go, or the accident-prone. Its IP66 weatherized body is attractive, its performance is competitive. It’s also a bit pricey.
• Teamgroup PD20M: This lightweight drive is a great travel companion, complete with carrying case — but only recommended for light-duty chores, as this 20Gbps drive slows considerably when writing more than 20GB of data.
• Adata SD810: This is a solid 20Gbps drive, as long as you aren’t in the habit of writing very large amounts of data to it on a regular basis, because in our tests, the drive slowed down considerably in that scenario. That being said, the 4TB capacity is a particularly good value at just $300.
• Lexar SL500: A stablemate of the Lexar SL600 — our pick for best 20Gbps external drive — the SL500 stands out for its very slim and attractive form factor. It has almost identical performance to the SL600, with the exception of performing slower than its sibling in our 48GB file writes.
• Corsair EX100U: This handsome drive, which could easily slide into a pocket, isn’t a great all-around performer, but if you’re mostly concerned with light workloads it will handle those tasks capably. On sale, it could easily earn its keep in that regard.

What you need to know before you buy

Capacity versus price

For most consumers, the primary shopping criteria for external storage are capacity and price. However, while you might think that the lowest-cost drives provide the most value — most often, they don’t. In fact, dollar for dollar, cheaper low-capacity drives have always been the worst deal in terms of price per terabyte.

You can see the phenomena in the charts below where we compare the popular WD Elements desktop hard drive’s available capacities and prices. You’re paying more than twice as much per terabyte for the lowest-capacity drive versus the next step up. It’s almost as bad on the WD Elements Portable drive.

IDG

The best “value,” as you can see, typically means the most capacious hard drives. But it also means higher total cost, and not everyone needs maximum capacity.

How much storage capacity do you need?

So how much storage do you actually need? For backup, we recommend a drive that’s at least twice the capacity of the total amount of data residing on your PC’s internal storage.

If you have 1TB of storage in your PC, a 2TB drive allows you to make a full backup while keeping previous versions, as well as additional differential and incremental backups. I.e., the larger the capacity, the more backups over a longer period of time you can keep, or the more PCs you can back up to the same drive.

While a desktop hard drive (read 3.5-inch) provides far more capacity (up to 30TB currently if you’re a data center), it also requires a power cable, weighs more, and generally won’t be as shock resistant as a portable 2.5-inch hard drive. The latter is designed to take bumps, even when powered up. Then again, if you really want rugged — go the SSD route.

Interface

The vast majority of external drives today are USB drives. However, USB comes in many flavors: 5Gbps, 10Gbps, 20GBps, and — eventually with USB 4 — 40Gbps, as with Thunderbolt 3/4. Ignore the version number (3.x) and look for the speed. BTW, add two zeroes to any of those numbers and you have the approximate real-world MBps.

The USB Forum has changed its nomenclature to indicate throughput speed — SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps (formerly USB 3.x gen 1), SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps (formerly USB 3.x gen 2), and SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps (formerly USB 3.2 2×2). For the sake of brevity (and our sanity), we generally shorten those to, for example, USB 10Gbps, 10Gbps USB, 10Gbps etc.

All single USB hard drives use the slower USB 5Gbps standard. No hard drive, unless combined with other drives in RAID 0 or above, can saturate even the 5Gbps interface (roughly 500MBps real-world after overhead).

Where SuperSpeed 10Gbps/20Gbps, USB 4, or Thunderbolt are of value is with the aforementioned RAID hard drive setups, or more likely, an SSD. USB 10Gbps is fast enough for most users, and getting cheaper by the week. A 10Gbps Samsung T7 Shield can be had for $80 in its 1TB capacity.

Faster USB 20Gbps (Gen 2×2) doubles throughput, but moves you into a higher-price bracket, with the Seagate Firecuda Gaming SSD costing $100 for only 500GB of storage. Although far faster than 5/10Gbps, there still aren’t a lot of 20Gbps USB 3.2×2/USB4 ports out there.

Thunderbolt 3, the newer Thunderbolt 4 (almost exactly the same thing with stricter implementation requirements), and the upcoming Thunderbolt 5 are the highest-performing interfaces for external storage. The key negatives are the premium pricing and a general lack of compatibility with the far more popular USB.

Note that Thunderbolt ports generally support everything up to USB 3.2 and even USB 4, but interestingly, not 20Gbps USB 3.2×2, which will perform at 10Gbps. This may change with Thunderbolt 5, but don’t buy a USB 3.2×2 drive unless you have that specific port type.

There are dual Thunderbolt/USB SSDs available such as the Sandisk Pro-G40. The G40 is pricey at $160 for 1TB, but a fantastic drive for those who can afford it. Pure Thunderbolt external SSDs can be even pricier, as they’re almost all sold by Mac-oriented boutique vendors such as OWC and Sabrent.

Connections

The type of port you find on external drives varies (see the image above), though the industry is gradually (and thankfully) consolidating on the orientation-agnostic Type-C connector. Here’s the list of connectors you might find on your drive:

USB 3 Micro-B is the wider, flatter port that’s still very common on many lower-cost portable and desktop external hard drives. It’s actually the same Micro USB port used on your phone, but with more data lines to hit USB 3.0 speeds. It’ll do 5Gbps and is fine for hard drives and SATA (internally) SSDs. Micro-B cables are generally Type-A on the PC end.

USB 3 Type-B is the larger, squarer version of USB 3.0 Micro B. Type B ports are becoming rare, though you might find one on older 5.25-inch enclosures, printers, and scanners. It supports speeds up to 5Gbps and cables are generally Type-A on the PC side. 

USB Type-C or simply Type-C is the latest USB connector and the one the world is standardizing on. It’s small, easy to insert, and you don’t have to worry about which side faces up as with Type-A.

Keep in mind that Type-C refers only to the connector itself. What is carried over the wires varies greatly: USB 2.0 High Speed (480Mbps) to USB 3.2 SuperSpeed 20Gbps, as well as USB 4 and Thunderbolt 3 and any combination of them.

USB Type-A: You won’t find this familiar rectangular port on any drive, but you will still find it on plenty of PCs and laptops as well as the male version on the other end of most Type-B and Type-C adapter cables.

Thunderbolt 2 is dead at this point. It’s found on older Macs, but even Apple put it out to pasture in 2017. There’s no need to invest in a Thunderbolt 2 drive unless it’s for legacy support issues. That said…

…Apple sells a bi-directional Thunderbolt 1/2 to 3 adapter if you need to connect the one generation to the other. The adapter does not, however, carry power, so bus-powered external drives (no power jack) will require a powered dock.

eSATA is another legacy port that’s disappeared from newer devices. Created for attaching external storage to your computer’s SATA bus, eSATA was a cheap way in its day to move beyond the toddling 60MBps performance of USB 2.0.

5Gbps USB 3.0 put the last nail in eSATA’s coffin. As with Thunderbolt 2, the only reason to invest in an eSATA drive is for use with older computers.

Multiple drives for backup?

We discussed the rule of three for backup, but while the cloud is a great offsite option, you can also manage that with multiple external drives — storing them in different locations. Once upon a time, I used to regularly send copies of my recordings to my mom’s for safe-keeping.

If you’re using your external storage as a primary repository for important data, then you should have a second drive as a copy. You might even consider a dual-drive enclosure and run them mirrored, i.e. the same set of data written simultaneously to both. SSDs aren’t nearly as prone to mishap as hard drives, but even then…

Simply put, keep your data backed up!

For more guidance on building out the best backup plan possible, see our roundups of the best cloud backup services and best Windows backup software.

How we test

Drive tests currently utilize Windows 11, 64-bit running on an X790 (PCIe 4.0/5.0) motherboard/i5-12400 CPU combo with two Kingston Fury 32GB DDR5 4800MHz modules (64GB of memory total). Both 20Gbps USB and Thunderbolt 4 are integrated to the back panel and Intel CPU/GPU graphics are used. The 48GB transfer tests utilize an ImDisk RAM disk taking up 58GB of the 64GB of total memory. The 450GB file is transferred from a 2TB Samsung 990 Pro which also runs the OS.

Each test is performed on a newly formatted and TRIM’d drive so the results are optimal. Note that in normal use, as a drive fills up, performance may decrease due to less NAND for secondary caching, as well as other factors. This can be less of a factor with the current crop of SSDs with far faster late-generation NAND.

Caveat: The performance numbers shown apply only to the drive we were shipped and to the capacity tested. SSD performance can and will vary by capacity due to more or fewer chips to shotgun reads/writes across and the amount of NAND available for secondary caching. Vendors also occasionally swap components. If you ever notice a large discrepancy between the performance you experience and that which we report, by all means, let us know.

To learn more about our testing methodology see PCWorld’s article on how we test external SSDs.

I’ve been using Shokz bone conduction, open-ear headphones for years—ever since they were known as Aftershokz. It’s a rare day that I leave the house without them. And today, multiple Shokz models are deeply discounted at a bunch of stores. Check ’em out!

If you aren’t familiar with how these work, they sit outside of your ears just behind your temple, vibrating the bones in your head to deliver music right to your eardrum. This keeps your ear canals open and unobstructed so you can hear everything around you while still listening to music, podcasts, or what have you. It takes a little getting used to, but it’s a transformative way to listen to just about anything. They’re popular for cyclists and runners who need to be aware of their surroundings, but I love Shokz headphones for everything when I’m in public.

Shokz

If you’re looking for the cheapest way to get started, I recommend the Shokz OpenMove. This is the basic no-frills model, very easy to set up, with physical buttons for power, play/pause/tracking, and volume control. And unlike some more recent designs, it charges via a standard USB-C cable. It’ll last you about 8 hours on a charge and has minimal water resistance. Normally $80, you can get it on Amazon for under $55. It’s also available from Best Buy, B&H, and Walmart at that price.

If you want something a bit more premium, go with the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2. I bought these last year to get more battery life, for kayaking trips that go up to 12 hours. They’re also lighter, slimmer, and have better audio, with deeper bass and clearer mids and trebles. I wouldn’t say they’re as good as standard earbuds or cans—no bone conduction design is—but it’s a definite upgrade versus the OpenMove.

The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 also recharges via USB-C (the original OpenRun Pro did not) and has full physical controls. It’s got the same IP55 water resistance as the cheaper OpenMove design, but for what it’s worth, I took an (ahem) unscheduled swim in Lake Wallenpaupack on my last kayak trip and it still works without issue.

The OpenRun Pro 2 is going for $140 on Amazon, a $40 discount on its retail price and well worth it in my opinion. They’re available in “Standard” and “Mini” sizes, with the only difference being a slightly shorter band for smaller heads. Amazon has these available in various colors, but if you want the spiffy orange version (harder to find), head over to Best Buy. If stock runs out, check B&H and Walmart, too.

If you’ve been holding out for more affordable next-gen graphics cards before you upgrade… well, you might still have to wait a long time. “Affordable” is a relative term, after all. But newer and cheaper AMD cards appear to be on the way, after a retailer in Brazil leaked a new Gigabyte model. Say hello to the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT.

Online shop Terabyte showed a Gigabyte version of the as-yet-unannounced card, briefly and with no price attached, before taking the page down. According to VideoCardz.com, this version of the GPU includes 16 gigabytes of GDDR6 memory, a Navi 44 chip, and 2,048 stream processors. That would give it the same memory as the (presumably) more expensive RX 9070, with a less powerful processor and only about 60 percent of the shaders. A big question mark in the spec sheet would be the memory bus, with previous speculation pinning it at 128-bit, half the width of the 9070.

We saw both 8GB and 16GB versions of the 9060 XT back in March, with that more narrow memory bus on the spec sheet, but some outlets have reported that the 8GB version of the card has been scrapped. Considering the big focus on expanded memory requirements in PC gaming, especially in the mid-range of graphics cards, that makes sense. But we’re also seeing a lot of PC gamers just priced out of upgrades between rising prices, low supply, and various economic factors.

Retail listings tend to indicate an announcement is coming soon, but with so many variables in play, it’s also possible that launches are getting pushed back. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Since last year, Microsoft has been pushing users to move from classic Outlook to new Outlook, and has even gone on record with an official “death date” for classic Outlook. But users aren’t as enthusiastic about the new Outlook, resulting in slow adoption and migration. To Microsoft’s chagrin, many are still sticking with the classic Outlook app.

And it appears Microsoft has listened and is willing to meet users halfway by making it easier to not only switch back from new Outlook to classic Outlook, but also seamlessly use both apps at the same time.

According to a Microsoft 365 Admin Center message (spotted by Windows Latest), the company will be updating the new-and-classic Outlook switching behavior in two phases.

Up until now, when you switch from classic to new Outlook, the only way to use classic Outlook again is to completely switch back. Starting mid-May 2025, when you “switch back” to classic Outlook, new Outlook will simply minimize to the taskbar with suppressed notifications and reminders while launching a separate instance of classic Outlook. Starting early-June 2025, you won’t have to “switch back” at all—you can simply open classic Outlook alongside new Outlook.

These changes will automatically roll out over the next few weeks without needing any action on your part. The entire worldwide rollout is expected to be completed by late-July 2025.

Further reading: Best tips for using the new Outlook app

In 2022-2023, AI-powered PCs made quite a splash with their automatic generation and built-in virtual assistants. Those features are cool, sure, but they’re a little gimmicky at first blush. That said, amid the hype, the real standout feature emerged: battery life. Thanks to smarter resource management and power-efficient chip architecture, AI PCs became long-lasting devices that didn’t need to be plugged in all the time.

Let’s take flying cross-country with a traditional laptop, for instance. You’d probably be anxiously keeping an eye on your battery icon throughout the flight, but with an AI PC you wouldn’t have to think twice about it. The longest-lasting laptop we’ve tested, Lenovo’s ThinkPad T14s Gen 6, delivers nearly 24 hours on a single charge in our testing — and it’s no longer an outlier. Let’s dig into why.

Further reading: The best laptops we’ve tested

The heart of efficiency: A smarter, specialized chip

The new Neural Processing Units (aka the NPU) inside of Copilot+ PCs is where some of the magic happens, as it’s more energy-efficient than a traditional processor with the x86 architecture. CPUs and GPUs can be a massive drain on a laptop’s battery, especially if both are active at the same time. They also aren’t optimized for AI tasks.

The NPU is different from a traditional processor in that it’s a specialized hardware chip that runs AI workloads like image recognition and real-time language translation. Offloading these intensive jobs allows the CPU and GPU to idle more often, effectively cutting down on power consumption.

The NPU also gets a nice boost from its architecture, which uses parallel processing and lower clock speeds. Parallel processing allows the NPU handle multiple tasks simultaneously instead of completing them one at a time. By breaking these tasks into smaller chunks and then executing them at the same time, the laptop can return to idle mode more quickly, thus conserving energy. As for the clock speed, a lower one consumes less power than a higher one. The less power the NPU uses, the longer the battery lasts.

Snapdragon X and the rise of CPU efficiency

Another game-changer is Arm-based Snapdragon processor, which uses high-performance cores built using decades of mobile-focused energy enhancements–this is what makes them so efficient and consume less power. In fact, they’re so efficient we’ve seen one AI PC last up to 24 hours on a single charge. That sort of longevity means that the laptop should last an entire work or school day, with extra juice to spare.

this snapdragon laptop can last 24 hours

Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6

Read our review

These processors know how to handle idle time, too. So, when a laptop isn’t being used, the processor enters an ultra-low power mode, so it shouldn’t waste much, if any, energy.

Intel’s rival “Lunar Lake” laptops, which arrived hot on the heels of Snapdragon X with its own NPU in tow, also deliver delightfully long battery life.

The key with Lunar Lake is how the chip uses its “Performance” cores for demanding jobs (3D design or video rendering) and “Efficient” cores for lighter tasks (checking e-mail or playing music). The switching between these cores depends on the type of workload. This allows the system to deliver just the right amount of processing power when needed, so it shouldn’t waste power on simpler tasks, resulting in a smooth multitasking experience as well as improved energy conservation.

Meanwhile, while AMD’s latest chips focus more on driving performance, Ryzen laptops have increased their endurance significantly over the last year. Sure, the parallel-processing NPU might pick up slack, but a large part of this exciting leap-forward in laptop battery life is being driven by improvements to overall CPU efficiency.

AI-driven software optimization

It’s not just the hardware that’s impressive–AI-driven software optimization plays a big part as well. At the crux, it intelligently manages how the system uses resources.

For example, instead of constantly syncing files to the cloud like with OneDrive or Google Drive, an AI PC can reduce the syncing frequency when it’s on battery power or schedules it for moments when the laptop isn’t in use. The software also suppresses unnecessary notifications from social apps and shuts down background processes that haven’t been used in a while. It’s basically designed to adapt to your unique usage patterns and learning your daily habits.

AI can even protect your battery’s health with something called “Intelligent Charging.” It does this by learning your routine; it’ll slow down charging overnight or stop the battery from charging at the 80-85 mark (if you keep your laptop plugged in overnight). The reason for this cap is because lithium-ion batteries degrade faster when they’re constantly charged to 100 percent. Plus, AI can even monitor the internal temperature of your machine, slowing down the charge if things get too hot. Heat can increase energy consumption and shorten a battery’s lifespan.

Looking ahead: A more power-efficient future

With NPUs, CPUs, and machine learning constantly evolving, we’re heading towards a future where bad battery life is a thing of the past. The combination of smarter hardware and software will only improve with time–I’m confident in this. If you’re tired of constantly monitoring your battery, it might be time to welcome this new wave of AI-powered PCs with open arms.

Any sufficient accumulation of wealth can make someone a target for crime, and cryptocurrency has been a popular tool for scammers thanks to its “anonymous” possibilities. Those two factors appear to be combining in disturbing ways in a wave of kidnappings and ransoms in western Europe. Wealthy crypto investors are now being singled out for kidnappings, according to police.

A report from The Guardian (via PCGamer) says that a man was abducted on the streets of Paris last Thursday, with masked attackers forcing him into a van and then holding him captive until police rescued him on Saturday. Five men were arrested at the house after a raid, but unfortunately the unnamed victim had a finger cut off in a rather cliché ransom attempt. The kidnappers were apparently trying to extort his son—a “crypto-millionaire”—before the scheme fell apart.

Two other crypto-driven kidnappings have occurred in France, one in January and one in December, both times with the victim recovered by police after raids and with some significant distress. Similar stories have occurred in Spain and Belgium, again, with the victims recovered by police and at least some kidnappers arrested.

Cryptocurrency is a unique variable in this pattern of wealthy kidnappings and ransoms. Though cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are easily trackable via public blockchain ledgers, the holders of the currency themselves can be anonymous, leading to its popularity as a method for fraud, money laundering, and other crime. It’s possible—though by no means easy or straightforward—to move cryptocurrency into conventional wealth and evade law enforcement, especially over international borders.

The cryptocurrency boom seems to be over now that “mining” crypto, which is essentially the process of turning electricity into digital wealth, is no longer as profitable as it once was. But the accumulations of wealth via cryptocurrency are still very much in the spotlight, attracting criminals to take advantage of less-informed investors via old-fashioned “pump-and-dump” schemes with a fresh coat of paint.

Cryptocurrency is also a favorite tool of romance scams, with victims lured into putting real money into fake coins via the promise of investment gains in a system called “pig butchering.” These organized crime setups are doubly disturbing, as they require huge operations that often use kidnapping and forced labor in developing countries.

Looking for new ways to turn free video streamers into paid ones, YouTube is kicking the tires on a subscription option that will ring a bell for Spotify users. 

A trial for a two-person YouTube Premium tier is now underway in India, France, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, and the option is striking similar to Spotify’s Duo tier, which allows for two members of the same household to share a single subscription, according to Money Control. 

YouTube confirmed the pilot program to TechCrunch, with a spokesperson adding that the streamer is “experimenting with new ways to provide greater flexibility and value to our YouTube Premium subscribers, including offering a two-person Premium plan option in some countries.” 

The new two-person YouTube Premium plan offers the same benefits as existing YouTube Premium tiers, including ad-free streaming, downloads for offline viewing, and the ability to stream videos in the background. 

Like Spotify’s Duo tier, the two-person YouTube plan is especially enticing for couples and roommates, who can share a single subscription at a discount while still maintaining their own profiles. 

Spotify Duo, for example, costs $16.99 a month for two people under the same roof, versus $11.99 a month for just a single user. That means a pair of roomies could pay roughly $8.50 each per month by going Dutch on a Duo subscription, a nice 29 percent savings compared to separate Individual plans. 

It’s not clear what YouTube might charge for a two-person Premium plan in the U.S., but it’s reasonable to assume a similar discount would be on offer. 

The two-person YouTube Premium trial comes roughly two months after the rollout of YouTube Premium Lite, a new YouTube tier that serves up a cheaper paid YouTube plan with some significant tradeoffs. 

YouTube Premium Lite costs just $7.99 a month, significantly less than the standard $13.99/month Premium Individual plan. In exchange, you get an ad-free streaming experience for “most” (but not all) YouTube videos, but you also miss out on key Premium Individual features, including ad-free YouTube Music, video downloads, and background video playback. 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found myself with my phone battery in the red while out and about, nowhere near home—and at those times, my trusty power bank has saved me. I always carry mine with me, and so should you. Don’t have one? Maybe get one now before you need it.

Anker’s portable 10,000mAh power bank is compact, lightweight, cute, and has a built-in USB-C cable. That built-in cable is what makes this one of the best pocket power bank designs, something you can carry around without the hassle of needing a separate cable. And right now, it’s on sale for just $13 on Amazon. That’s a whopping 50% discount!

The power bank may be tiny but it delivers a respectable 30 watts of charging power, which is fast enough to recharge an iPhone 16 Pro Max about halfway in 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the 10,000mAh capacity is enough to charge most phones two times. There’s also a second USB-C port you can use to charge a second device at once, although the total charging output will be split between them if you do.

Now that it’s on sale for half off, there’s never been a better time to snag this Anker power bank. The current $13 sale price matches the all-time lowest price, so grab one before this deal ends!

If you need a portable SSD with ample capacity that you can take with you anywhere without worrying that it’ll get damaged, you don’t have too many options—and of those limited options, the Samsung T7 Shield will always be one of the most reliable. Fortunately, it’s on sale!

Right now, you can get the 1TB version for $100, which is a whopping 41% off its $170 MSRP. If you need even more storage space, you can instead get the 2TB version for $160, which is an even better 44% off, down from its $285 original price. Sadly, there’s no discount for the 4TB capacity model right now.

Either way, the Samsung T7 Shield is a rugged portable SSD that doesn’t just look sleek and gorgeous but performs well and withstands physical damage. It can hit read speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s and write speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s, which means you’ll be moving large files around in no time at all—excellent performance for the price.

In fact, we loved the Samsung T7 Shield when we reviewed it, giving it a 4.5-star rating and our Editors’ Choice award, as we found it to be speedy and reliable, and we appreciated how it offers a well-rounded 10Gbps experience. Our only knock against it was the price, but that’s not an issue when it’s as steeply discounted as it is right now.

We love finding awesome laptops with powerful configurations on sale at fantastic prices, and this Dell Inspiron 16 Plus is one of the best examples of that. Thanks to the current 27% discount over at Dell.com, you can get this productivity laptop for just $800 (was $1,100).

The on-sale Inspiron 16 Plus model comes with an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, a wonderfully performant combo for running Windows 11 and powering through just about any task you have to complete, whether it’s for work or fun or hobbies.

You’ll love using this laptop with its 16-inch IPS display that delivers great color accuracy at a spacious resolution of 2560×1600 and a 120Hz refresh rate, topped with an anti-glare coating. It can push those pixels thanks to the integrated Intel Arc graphics, which can handle some light gaming on lesser settings. No touchscreen, by the way.

Despite being a larger laptop, it weighs only 4.19 pounds and measures 0.78 inches at its thickest, which is pretty portable for the size. And while we wish it came with a larger storage drive, the included 512GB SSD is still adequate for most users and fast enough to provide quick system bootups and file transfers.

We reviewed the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus laptop some time back and liked it enough to give it a 4-star rating. That one had a different config, with a less powerful CPU but a dedicated graphics card, which was reflected in the price. Still, we found its performance to be excellent and loved the long battery life, and you can expect much of the same with this one.

If you’ve been waiting to jump on a decently powerful productivity laptop, this is a pretty good opportunity outside of waiting for Black Friday and the holiday season. Get the Dell Inspiron 16 Plus for just $800 at Dell.com before this sale ends!

Smaller Surfaces have finally arrived. Microsoft is announcing smaller, less powerful revisions of the Microsoft Surface Pro tablet and Surface Laptop, all built around a more conservative version of Qualcomm’s battery-sipping Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip.

Smaller doesn’t necessarily mean cheaper, however. And while earlier reports said Microsoft would ship both devices with 12-inch screens, that’s not quite what we’re getting.

The new $899 13-inch Surface Laptop is very similar to the existing 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7, which actually ships for as low as $799.99 with a Snapdragon X Plus chip inside. Meanwhile, the smaller 12-inch Surface Pro will cost as little as $799.99, the same price Microsoft charges for its existing 13-inch Surface Pro 11 with a Snapdragon X Plus inside. As you’ll see below, you’re getting a lot less.

What’s new? The smaller sizes, of course, plus new colorways like Ocean and Violet, and a special Slate color for the Surface Pro. The Pro features yet another redesigned keyboard, while the Laptop’s chief selling point is a 16-hour battery life (23 hours for video playback) that Microsoft says is its longest yet. Microsoft is also using these Copilot+ PCs and the X Plus chip’s 45 TOPS as showcases for AI technologies like Recall, Click to Do, and its improved semantic search capabilities, while promising even new AI-powered features for the future.

Microsoft is also waving goodbye to the Surface Connect port, the iconic magnetic power connector that defined Surfaces for a decade. Now, Surface is using USB-C ports only for charging and expansion, though there’s an extra USB-A port on the Laptop for legacy connections.

It’s hard to look at those prices and not think “tariffs,” though that’s not the word Microsoft executives are focusing upon. “We think that these new Surface Pro and Surface Laptops are for a set of customers for whom affordability is going to be important,” Pavan Davuluri, the corporate vice president for Windows and Devices, told reporters.

“Tariffs are a moving target for us,” Davuluri said. “We don’t have good information yet to share about where we’re going to land” on the topic of tariffs, he added.

Keep in mind, too, that these new devices straddle the commercial and consumer markets. Microsoft executives said that these devices will eventually be offered to businesses, but appear to be sold to just consumers for now. (Only Windows 10 Home is offered, and not Windows 10 Pro.) A Surface Laptop in Violet is probably more suited to a classroom rather than a boardroom, anyway.

Surface Laptop 13-inch: cutting corners

At 0.61 inches thick and 2.7 pounds, the 13-inch Surface Laptop is the thinnest and lightest Surface Laptop Microsoft has ever created, executives said, with the longest battery life. The existing 13.8-inch Surface Laptop, also with an Snapdragon X Plus chip inside it, weighs 2.96 pounds, while the 15-inch Surface Laptop weighs 3.67 pounds. But Microsoft cut some corners to achieve the low price and smaller display size.

First, there’s the processor. Both X Plus chips are not the same: The existing 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7 includes a 10-core X Plus chip; the new 13-inch Surface Laptop offers an 8-core X Plus chip instead.

Microsoft

Microsoft appears to be offering a single processor option with 16GB of LPDDR5X memory, but the choice of either 256GB or 512GB of removeable storage. Only the 256GB SSD is removeable; the 512GB model uses what’s known as Universal Flash Storage, a lower-power option that in this case appears to be soldered on to the motherboard.

It’s easy to wonder where the new 13-inch Surface Laptop will fit into Microsoft’s existing Surface clamshell laptop lineup, too. The Surface Laptop Go 3 fizzled out in 2023, though the $799 ($999 as tested) clamshell with a 12.4-inch display certainly lives on in spirit inside the new 13-inch Surface Laptop. Physically, too! The new Surface Laptop carries over the fingerprint sensor that was embedded in the Surface Laptop Go’s power button.

The Surface Laptop Go 3 was known for its sub-1080p display. The 13-inch Surface Laptop doesn’t go that far, but it offers a 1920 x 1280 display. That’s fine or even better than what you might expect on some cheaper laptops, given the small screen size, but the 178 PPI it offers pales in comparison to the 2304 x 1536 (201 PPI) the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop delivers. The larger Surface Laptop’s display also puts out 600 nits of rated brightness with a refresh rate up to 120Hz; on the 13-inch, expect 400 nits of brightness with a basic 60Hz-refresh rate instead on the newest 13-inch model.

Microsoft

Microsoft refers to the two external USB-C ports as capable of DisplayPort 1.4a with support for up to two 4K displays at 60Hz, but stops short of calling them USB4 or Thunderbolt ports. There’s also a USB-A (USB 3.1) legacy port, too. As noted above, the Surface Connector is gone, which means that you won’t be able to use Surface chargers from earlier laptops any more. Inside the laptop is Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth Core 5.4, however.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch: specifications

• Display: 13-inch PixelSense (1920 x 1280 (178 PPI), “strengthened glass” ) up to 60Hz and 10-point multitouch
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core
• Graphics: Qualcomm Adreno
• NPU: Qualcomm Hexgaon (45 TOPS)
• Memory: 16, 32GB LPDDR5X
• Storage: 256GB SSD, 512GB UFS
• Ports: 2 USB-C (USB 3.2 w/DisplayPort 1.4a), USB-A 3.1
• Security: Camera (Windows Hello), Fingerprint reader, TPM 2.0 chip
• Camera: 1080p (user-facing) with Windows Studio Effects and Windows Hello
• Battery: 23 hours video playback; 16 hours Web browsing
• Wireless: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth Core 5.4
• Operating system: Windows 11 Home
• Dimensions: 11.25 x 8.43 x 0.61 in.
• Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Color: Platinum, Ocean, Violet
• Price: $899 and up

Surface Pro 12-inch: a new keyboard complements a cheaper look

Microsoft’s revamped 12-inch Surface Pro is interesting, in part because Microsoft sells the 13-inch Surface Pro with an LCD display, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD for $799.99 — or did, as Microsoft’s site currently lists it as being sold out. Now, Microsoft is offering the 12-inch Surface Pro at the same minimum price.

Again, it’s not the same Surface as its predecessors. It too uses the downgraded processor, and the 2196 x 1464 offers a lower pixel density (220 PPI vs 267 PPI) than the existing Surface Pro. It’s protected by “strengthened glass,” without any mention of Gorilla Glass. As you might expect, the former OLED option has gone missing. However, the refresh rate isn’t 60Hz, but 90Hz, which is a cut above what you might expect at the low end.

Microsoft

Microsoft is offering a configuration with just 16GB of LPDDR5X memory, like the Surface Pro, and the a removeable 256GB of storage or 512GB of UFS storage soldered down. Microsoft’s port choice mimics the Surface Laptop, too, as do the wireless options.

The Surface Pro’s camera quality decreases, too. Unfortunately, the user-facing camera is now just a generic 1080p option with Windows Hello, instead of the 1440p option Microsoft offered before. Support for AI-powered Windows Studio Effects is still offered, however.

Microsoft also adjusted the keyboard yet again. A 13-inch Surface Pro would demand its own keyboard, but Microsoft hasn’t chosen to follow the almost ludicrous connectivity of the Surface Pro Flex Keyboard. Instead, Microsoft describes the 13-inch Surface Pro keyboard as one that folds completely flat with the Surface Pro for easier inking and typing, and that features a “customizable precision touchpad with adaptive touch mode.”

The new Surface Pro can be used with the Surface Slim Pen 2, which now charges when clipped to the back of the tablet.

Microsoft

The Surface Pro contains 82.9-percent recycled content in the enclosure and is the first Pro to contain 100-percent recycled cobalt in the battery cell, Microsoft added.

Microsoft Surface Pro 12-inch: specifications

• Display: 12-inch PixelSense (2196 x 1464, 220 PPI, “strengthened glass” ) up to 90Hz with dynamic refresh rate and 10-point multitouch
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core
• Graphics: Qualcomm Adreno
• NPU: Qualcomm Hexgaon (45 TOPS)
• Memory: 16, 32GB LPDDR5X
• Storage: 256GB SSD, 512GB UFS
• Ports: 2 USB-C (USB 3.2 w/DisplayPort 1.4a), 1 Surface Keyboard Port
• Security: Camera (Windows Hello), NFC/smartcard reader; TPM 2.0 chip
• Camera: 1080p (user-facing) with Windows Studio Effects and Windows Hello, 10MP rear-facing
• Battery: 16 hours video playback; 12 hours Web browsing
• Wireless: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth Core 5.4
• Operating system: Windows 11 Home
• Dimensions: 10.8 x 7.47 x 0.30 in.
• Weight: 1.5 pounds without accessories
• Color: Platinum, Ocean, Violet
• Price: $799 and up
• Optional accessories: Surface Slim Pen 2, $90 on sale at Amazon

Is it way too nerdy to feel nostalgia for a laptop charger? Not for me.

Microsoft latest Surface 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12-inch Surface Pro have finally done away with the iconic Surface Connect connector in favor of USB-C. If you’ve never used a Surface, that means little; if you have, it’s a big part of what made a Surface a Surface.

The Surface Connect debuted about a decade ago, with the Surface Pro 3 — which, in keeping with Microsoft’s rule of threes, was the first Microsoft Surface tablet that really nailed what a Windows tablet could do. I wrote then that the new charger broke compatibility with previous chargers, and that’s true. But it did two things: offered a convenient, safe way to charge your Microsoft laptop or tablet, and kicked off an 11-year run where one Surface charger ruled them all.

There’s a lot made about Apple’s MagSafe charger, and rightly so. MagSafe debuted with the MacBook Pro, and its magnetic connector meant that if you kicked the power cable by mistake, you wouldn’t yank the laptop off its desk. Surface Connect offered the same advantage, though a few years later.

Mark Hachman / Foundry

Even better, it meant that consumers didn’t have to worry about losing a Surface charger. For years, charger compatibility was one of the best attributes of the IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad ecosystem: if you had one charger, chances are you’d be able to use it again and again on successive purchases. Over time, loyal customers amassed multiple chargers, one for home and on the road.

I only ever had one Surface charger wear out, and only the Surface Book 2’s infamous power problem made me question Microsoft’s decision. In recent years Microsoft moved to lower-power 45W and 65W chargers, which meant that older, more powerful chargers tended to work just fine as backups.

Microsoft plans to add agentic AI to upcoming devices. Read this story for more.

The one feature that Microsoft never really updated was the hidden USB-A port inside the Surface’s power brick, which served as a simplistic way to power early smartphones but later became outdated. Microsoft could have updated it with a more sophisticated USB-C connection, but probably wanted to sell more Surface Docks instead.

Ironically, the 2023 Surface Thunderbolt Dock was the first time Microsoft ditched the Surface Connect port. The world was moving to Thunderbolt, and regulatory bodies like the European Union were demanding a move away from proprietary standards and to universal ones like USB-C. Thunderbolt, which uses the USB-C connector, became the chosen standard instead.

In the intervening years, you could charge a Surface either with its own charger or over USB-C or Thunderbolt, which meant that it offered flexibility many other laptops couldn’t.

Mark Hachman / Foundry

But there’s another thing that brings it a touch of ennui: like Thunderbolt — and before Thunderbolt became popular — Surface Connect was specifically designed to move both power and data. We live in a world where Microsoft never introduced an Xbox gaming PC, and where it never launched a Surface laptop with an external Xbox-branded eGPU that could have turned the business day’s business PC into that evening’s gaming PC. If only. Microsoft never even bothered to let a third-party company accomplish what it was itself unwilling to do.

Now, the only reason I’ll keep old Surface chargers around will be to power the old Surface devices that still hang around my office. Over time, however, more and more USB-C chargers will replace them, especially as gaming-optimized USB-C chargers emerge.

I don’t know if the Surface Connect charger deserves to be buried in the graveyard of dead Microsoft hardware, but I’ll miss it anyway. Farewell, old friend.

“Computer, do this.” It’s been one future that sci-fi has promised since Star Trek. Microsoft now says that that future is arriving, at least within a small corner of Windows 11.

Microsoft is promising that you’ll be able to use natural language to change aspects of your Windows 11 Settings menu, and Windows will go out and make those changes for you using “agents,” or small bits of AI that will work on your behalf — at least if you own a Copilot+ PC with an AI-accelerating NPU onboard.

Microsoft has begun to use its Surface devices as a showcase for its latest software, and the new 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12-inch Surface Pro are no exception. They’ll serve as launch vehicles for Windows Recall, semantic search, and Click-to-Do, but also brand new features like agentic AI and relighting features for Photos, object editing and sticker generation for Paint, and more.

Microsoft announced these changes alongside a smaller Surface Laptop and Surface Pro…which unfortunately break a decade’s worth of charger compatibility by moving wholesale to USB-C.

Agentic AI comes to Windows

The unexpected addition to Microsoft’s AI stable is an AI “agent” that will manage individual settings within Windows, Microsoft said. This is something Microsoft originally promised Copilot would offer, but the technology never progressed past simple tasks like turning on dark mode. Microsoft then pulled the feature back, with the feature providing guides in how to do what you wanted, rather than actually performing the task for you.

The agentic search capability feels more what people may have hoped for when they heard of the concept of AI within Windows. Now, you’ll be able to tell Windows 11’s Settings what to do with natural language, according to Microsoft, and Settings will either tell you what to do — or, with your permission — actually perform the action for you. In the examples Microsoft is showing, “fixing it” might require one or more actions.

Microsoft

It won’t just be a few things, either. Microsoft is promising that you’ll be able to manage “thousands” of individual settings using this agentic AI.

“Today marks the next chapter in our AI journey, unlocking even more experiences that take your productivity, creativity and connection to the next level,” said Navjot Virk, corporate vice president of Windows Experiences. “We believe that technology should work alongside you, enabling you to do more.”

Microsoft

AI upgrades to Paint, Photos, and Snipping Tool

The new Relight AI feature within Photos is a bit on the subtle side. If you’re an average photographer, you know that lighting can make or break a photo; a backlit shot, for example, may cast the subject into shadow. Now, Photos will allow you to create multiple AI-generated lighting sources, and place them in your photo, controlling their brightness and color. Don’t think of these as floating spheres of light. Instead, this feature will simulate what would happen if you used various types of actual lights, placing them around the room (and out of frame) to light your photo’s subject.

I still don’t know why Microsoft continues to divide specific functions inside Paint and Photos into separate tools, but it is. In Paint, Microsoft is adding Object Select.

This feels a bit more like the Magic Eraser object editing features that Google has added, or that you can specify within Photoshop. In any case, Object Select promises to allow you to add generative add, erase, and fill capabilities to a specific object, rather than part of the scene. It’s the difference between trying to manually “brush out” a tractor from a countryside scene, and allowing AI to identify and then remove the tractor in one fell swoop.

Microsoft

It feels like that same technology is being adapted to the Windows Snipping Tool, too. Microsoft is saying that this updated Snipping Tool can “interpret the intent of what you’re trying to capture,” possibly minimizing the time it might take for you to grab the perfect snip.

Microsoft is also adding a sticker generator to Paint, which feels a lot like the memoji found within iOS, but without the ability to animate. You’ll be able to cut and paste these new stickers into various chats and other apps, Microsoft promises. (That almost certainly implies that a dedicated sticker creator is coming to Teams, eventually.)

Microsoft

Microsoft also appears to be committing to the upgraded Start menu that includes the Phone Link sidebar. Microsoft first previewed this feature last June, but began showing it off in the context of both Android and iPhones this January. Essentially, this “sidebar” serves as a dashboard for the phone you have in your pocket: how many messages and unanswered calls you have waiting, and (in the case of Android) a quick shortcut to photos you may have snapped with your phone, too.

Microsoft executives also alluded to new features which are coming, too, which will include updates to the Microsoft Store, “AI actions within File Explorer,” and Microsoft Edge Game Assist, which can serve as a help guide while you game.

Microsoft

How real is all this?

At this point it’s hard to say how near these features are to becoming reality. Microsoft tends to test new features slowly, and tends to roll them out first for Copilot+ PCs running on Qualcomm’s Arm processor. That’s a thin slice of the available PC market.

Microsoft has steadily announced the progression of Recall, the improved search, and Click-to-Do, from their announcement a year ago to trials on Copilot+ PCs powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chip, to an expansion to Copilot+ PCs with AMD and Intel chips inside. Microsoft hasn’t said anything about how the additional, brand-new features will deploy, but they’ll probably be on a conservative timeline, too.

It’s also worth noting that Microsoft announced another intriguing AI feature, Copilot Vision, about a month ago. I have yet to be able to make it work in a usable form. Any new AI features should probably move forward at a similarly slow pace.

Smaller features, though, like Relight, tend to deploy more quickly. It’s important to note that Microsoft hasn’t announced any timelines for these features, but I’d expect Microsoft to deploy its smaller tweaks to Paint and Photos before the more significant updates to Settings debut.

This story was updated at 7:33 AM PT with additional details.

If you’re hunting for the best laptop deals this April, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re looking for a high-speed gaming laptop, a cheap laptop under $500, or a premium ultrabook, we’ve carefully curated the best deals available right now. With our expert knowledge and hands-on testing, we’ve rounded up the top deals from Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and Adorama.

Want even more choices? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now.

Best budget laptop deals under $500

Lenovo

Our top pick: Lenovo IdeaPad 1, $279.99 ($120 off at Best Buy)

The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 is an affordable machine designed for everyday tasks and is a great option for budget-conscious buyers. It has a 15.6 inch 1080p display and an AMD Ryzen 3 7320U processor that should help with fast boot and load times. It’s also lightweight and portable (weighing about 3.47 pounds), and, according to Best Buy reviews, runs pretty quiet. The hardware and lightweight form factor make this quite the value.

Amazon

• Acer Aspire 3, AMD Ryzen 3 7320U processor/15.6-inch 1080p display/8GB RAM/128GB SSD, $299.99 ($26.99 off of Amazon)
• HP Stream 14, Intel Celeron N4120 processor/14-inch 1366×768 display/16GB RAM/128GB of eMMC, $309 ($90 off at Amazon)
• HP 255 G10, AMD Ryzen 3 7330U processor/15.6-inch 1080p display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $374.72 ($225.27 off at Amazon with on-site coupon)

Best Buy

• Asus FHD Laptop, Intel Celeron N4500 processor/14-inch 1080p display/4GB RAM/64GB eMMC, $119.99 ($60 off at Best Buy)
• Asus Vivobook 17, Intel Core i3-1215U processor/17.3-inch 1080p display/8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $379.99 ($150 off at Best Buy)
• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim, AMD Ryzen 7 5825U processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $499.99 ($250 off at Best Buy)

Adorama

• HP Chromebook x360, Intel Celeron N5100 processor/11.6-inch 1366×768 touchscreen display/8GB RAM/64GB eMMC, $304.99 ($95 off at Adorama)
• Asus Chromebook CM30, MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor/10.5-inch 1920×1200 display/8GB RAM/128GB eMMC, $419.99 ($29.01 off at Adorama)

Newegg

• Acer Aspire 15, AMD Ryzen 5 8640HS processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $399.99 ($150 off at Newegg)
• HP Envy 2-in-1, AMD Ryzen 5 processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 IPS touchscreen display/8GB RAM/256GB SSD, $498 ($101 off at Newegg)

Best mid-range laptop deals ($500-$900)

Samsung

Our top pick: Samsung Galaxy Book4, $699.99 ($300 off at Adorama)

The Samsung Galaxy Book4 is a sleek and lightweight machine with decent hardware. It weighs just 3.42 pounds, which is impressive for a laptop with a 15.6-inch display. Underneath the hood, you’ll find an Intel Core i7-1355U processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage–so it should have no problem zipping through web browsing, document editing, and media consumption. The 15.6-inch display also has a 1920×1080 resolution, which is great for working with documents or watching streaming content.

Amazon

• Dell Inspiron 5441, Snapdragon X Plus processor/14-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $685.70 ($114.29 off at Amazon)
• Dell Inspiron 16 Plus, Intel Core i7-13620H processor/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $814.72 ($135.27 off at Amazon)

Best Buy

• Microsoft Surface Laptop Copilot+ PC, Snapdragon X Plus processor/13.8-inch 2304×1536 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $799.99 ($200 off at Best Buy)
• Apple MacBook Air, M4 processor/13.6-inch 2560×1664 display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $849 ($150 off at Best Buy)

Adorama

• Asus Vivobook 16, AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 processor/16-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $749.99 ($80 off at Adorama)
• Lenovo ThinkPad 14 G7, Intel Core Ultra 5 125U processor/14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $769.99 ($259.01 off at Adorama)

Newegg

• Acer Swift Go, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor/16-inch 1200p touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $749.99 ($250 off at Newegg)
• Asus ZenBook, Intel Core i9-13900H processor/14-inch 2880×1800 OLED touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $759.99 ($140 off at Newegg)
• Acer Aspire, Intel Core i9-13900H processor/15.6-inch 1080p display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $849.99 ($50 off at Newegg)

Best gaming laptop deals

Acer

Our top pick: Acer Nitro V, $703.90 ($45 off at Amazon)

The Acer Nitro V is a fantastic option for gamers on a tight budget. It comes loaded with an Intel Core i5-13420H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU as well as 8GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage. That means you shouldn’t have any problem zipping through most games on the high graphics setting. The 15.6-inch display also has a resolution of 1920×1080 and a refresh rate of 144Hz, which should give you a smoother experience in games.

Amazon

• Acer Predator Triton Neo 16, Intel Core Ultra 7 processor/RTX 4050 graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,089 ($360.99 off at Amazon)
• Asus ROG Strix G16, Intel Core i7-13650HX processor/RTX 4060 graphics/16-inch 1080p display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,244.78 ($155.21 off at Amazon)

Best Buy

• Gigabyte G6 KF, Intel Core i7-13620H processor/RTX 4060 graphics/16-inch 1920×1200 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $999.99 ($200 off at Best Buy)
• Alienware m16, AMD Ryzen 9 7000 Series processor/RTX 4080 graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $2,239.99 ($560 off at Best Buy)

Adorama

• MSI Cyborg 15 AI, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor/RTX 4060 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,265.99 ($383.01 off at Adorama)
• MSI Stealth 14 AI, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor/RTX 4060 graphics/14-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,399.99 ($199.01 off at Adorama)
• HP Omen Transcend, Intel Core i7-13700HX processor/RTX 4070 graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $2,049.99 ($569.44 off at Adorama)

Newegg

• HP Victus, Intel Core i5 processor/RTX 4050 graphics/15.6-inch 1080p display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $849 ($89 off at Newegg)
• Aorus 16X Series, Intel Core i7-13650HX processor/RTX 4060 graphics/16-inch 1600p display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,069.99 ($330 off at Newegg)

Best premium laptop deals ($900+)

Lenovo

Our top pick: Lenovo ThinkPad T14s, $1,320 ($379.99 off at Amazon)

The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s offers jaw-dropping battery life (almost 24 hours on a single charge!), a robust yet portable design, and a responsive keyboard. It features a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. It’ll keep up with light workloads (especially ARM-native applications) and feels, according to our review, “responsive in practice.” While the design may look dated to some, the incredible battery life is just too phenomenal to ignore. If you’re looking for a well-made, long-lasting laptop, we’d definitely recommend the ThinkPadT14.

Amazon

• Lenovo ThinkBook 16 G7, Intel Core Ultra 7 processor/16-inch 1920×1200 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $949 ($1,050 off at Amazon)
• Lenovo ThinkPad E16 G2, AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor/16-inch 1920×1200 display/64GB RAM/1TB SSD, $999.99 ($139.01 off at Amazon)

Best Buy

• Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1, Intel Core Ultra 7 processor/16-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $999.99 ($200 off at Best Buy)

Adorama

• HP EliteBook x360, Intel Core i7-1365U processor/13.3-inch 1200p touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $924.99 ($574.01 off at Adorama)
• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor/14-inch 1920×1200 OLED display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,059.99 ($79.01 off at Adorama)
• LG Gram 15, Intel Core i5-1350P processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $1,499 ($1,626 off at Adorama)

Newegg

• MSI Creator Z16, Intel Core i7-11800H processor/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,960 ($739 off at Newegg)

For more options, check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now.