Apple : CES 2019: here's what you can expect from the annual tech-stravaganza |
- CES 2019: here's what you can expect from the annual tech-stravaganza
- Best RAM 2018: the top memory for your PC
- Best processors 2018: top CPUs for your PC
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- The best PC gaming headsets 2018
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| CES 2019: here's what you can expect from the annual tech-stravaganza Posted: 21 Dec 2018 12:45 PM PST CES 2019 is nearly upon us and announcements from LG, Samsung and others have already been pouring in. We've been keeping up with all the updates as they happen and our team has been hard at work prepping coverage for this year's event. What we're expecting is an absolute deluge of news on January 8, followed by a non-stop scavenger hunt trying to find the best products of the show. It's exhausting work, but there's no place like Vegas during CES. Every year, Sin City plays host to the gadget extravanganza that is the Consumer Electronics Show, now officially shortened to its acronym, CES. It's the time of year where tech innovators from all over the world gather together to announce the latest and greatest in smartphones, wearables, TV and audio tech, with new laptops, tablets and smart cars filling row after row of booths at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Last January we saw innovation in droves at CES 2018, from Samsung's 146-inch modular MicroLED TV, The Wall, and the incredible HTC Vive Pro to LG's rollable 65-inch OLED TV and the Huawei Mate 10 Pro. It's the world's biggest tech show, and it's poised to become even bigger in 2019. Can't wait until opening day on January 8? Read on! We've got all the details, predictions and postulations for what you can expect to see at CES 2019. [Update: CES will continue its streak of producing TV consortiums this year, as the newly formed 8K Association will take the stage for its first keynote address on January 9, 2019. Details are still vague on who's in the 8K Association, though it seems likely that Samsung has something to do with it. In the world of projectors, LG has announced a sequel to its 2018 Cinebeam line-up, the Cinebeam 4K, while over in TV land Samsung announced the arrival of a QLED-equipped The Frame TV in 2019. We've heard tantalizing rumors about a number of 8K TVs from various TV makers in 2019, and are likely to see LG's rollable OLED on the show floor.] What and when is CES 2019?The 2019 International CES will begin on Tuesday, 8 January and end on Friday, 11 January. It's been taking place since 1967 and is staged by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), a trade organization that represents over 2,000 consumer tech companies in the U.S. Though it gets a lot of attention from the world’s media, this is not an event where the public can go see the latest tech. Unlike the IFA exhibition in Berlin each August, the CES is open only to the electronics trade, as well as journalists, bloggers and plenty of blaggers. (You know who you are...) How big exactly is CES? It's huge. If you're going for the first time, go on a few five-mile walks in the preceding weeks. Seriously, it's hiking boots-big. There are 2.75 million net square feet of exhibit space. Eleven venues. 24 product categories. Some company's booths are vast and complex, while other, smaller firms grab a table in one of the 25 marketplaces. In terms of footfall, the CES attracts about 180,000 people from 155 countries, as well as 6,500 media, who visit 4,500 exhibiting companies. All the biggest tech companies in the world gather ... well, except for Apple. Where will CES 2019 take place?Since 1978 the CES has been staged in Las Vegas. Why? Hotel rooms, all 150,000 of them, and counting. The main venue is the Las Vegas Convention and World Trade Center (LVCC), which is a short (and very busy) monorail ride from The Strip, where most of the hotels are. Along with the nearby Westgate Las Vegas and Renaissance Las Vegas, this is referred to as Tech East. This is where most of the major booths are. Tech West (comprising the Sands Expo, The Venetian, The Palazzo, Wynn Las Vegas, and Encore) is where you'll find hi-fi and audio. At Tech South (ARIA, Park MGM/Park Theater and Vdara) you'll see VR, AR, and gaming. There are shuttle buses between the venues, but it's best to stay put for the day at one of the three areas to avoid the traffic. When do all the announcements happen?Although the weeks before the CES are packed with rumors and reports of what may or may not be launched or announced at the CES, it's not until Sunday, January 6 and Monday, January 7 – the two days before the show opens – that there will be any concrete news. These are the two media days, and they're when the all-important press conferences are held, and consequently when a lot of the headlines are written. Sunday is typically light on news, and in 2019 it's Monday that will see the big companies' press conferences at the Mandalay Bay Hotel at the south end of The Strip. In 2019, confirmed press conferences include Hisense, Hyundai, Intel, LG, Panasonic, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony, TCL, and Toyota. As for whom is actually giving these nail-biting presentations, the first will come from LG on Monday, 7 January; its President and Chief Technology Officer Dr. I.P. Park will discuss AI and 'self-evolving' products … and a foldable phone? January 8 will see keynotes from IBM Chairman, President and CEO Ginni Rometty (trust, AI and quantum) and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg (5G), while January 9 has AMD's president and CEO Dr. Lisa Su discuss next-gen computing. CES 2019 predictions: What's going to be announcedJust give the attendance list a cursory glance and you'll see that a lot of bases are covered at CES - you'll find AR and VR, voice control, connected cars, robotics, smart home, smart cities, health, wellness, sleep, sports, accessories companies, and everything in between. However, in 2019 there are some trends that are likely to dominate. The most obvious will be voice control. "Well definitely see more smart speakers with screens," says Jack Wetherill, Principal Consultant: Home Electronics at Futuresource, who also thinks CES will see voice creep into more and more product categories, such as soundbars possibly from Samsung, Sony and LG. The TV remote control could finally begin its death throes. "There has already been one TV with far-field microphones in the set itself," says Wetherill, referring to Toshiba's upcoming OLED, 4K HDR, and Full HD smart ranges with Alexa built in. CES could also see the spread of Netflix Calibrated Mode beyond some Sony TVs. Headphones will also get chatty. "A new Alexa development kit from Qualcomm means we'll see more integration of voice into headphones," says Wetherill. "We're waiting for headphones that respond to a wake-word, and while that probably won't emerge at CES 2019, we will see true wireless earphones with longer battery life – it would be logical if Sony brought more ‘true wireless’ products at CES." Another trend will be foldable displays, with the Samsung Galaxy X likely to feature alongside LG’s foldable. However, foldables could go much deeper than mere phones. "Where we’re expecting real change is laptops and tablets," says Tom Morrod, Senior Research Director, IHS Markit. "We are expecting to see foldable laptops with OLED screens that extend across the entire keyboard area – this means you could open them up to monitor size, or to book format, or use them as a normal laptop format with the keyboard as half of the touch panel." But how, exactly, Android and Windows adapt their OS for foldable devices will be interesting. Last but not least, connected cars at CES 2019 could also see integrated OLEDs to replace wing mirrors. Want specific predictions for each company? We've got those, too! Aircharge at CES 2019Wireless charging is on the up, and the CES will definitely see three new products from Aircharge: a Fast Wireless Charger 10W, Fast Dual Charger 10W, and a PS4 DualShock 4 Wireless Adapter. Both chargers will deliver 10W fast wireless charging, including both Apple and Samsung fast wireless charging. AMD at CES 2019Semiconductor company AMD has already said that it intends to show-off its 3rd-gen Ryzen processors and new graphics products at CES 2019. According to a recent leak, that will include three new entry-level Ryzen 3 processors (3300, 3300X, 3300G), three mid-range Ryzen 5 processors (3600, 3600X, 3600G) and two Ryzen 7 processors (3700, 3700X). On top of the mainline processors, AMD might also surprise us with a few new mobile processors in the form of the 2.6GHz AMD Ryzen 3 3200U, 2.1GHz AMD Ryzen 3 3300U CPU and 2.1GHz AMD Ryzen 5 3500U. Beyond processors, CES 2019 might be the place that we see the company's next AMD Navi GPUs - though, that seems a little less likely than the 3rd-gen processors. All the latest AMD CES 2019 news:
Asus at CES 2019How about a high-end 10-inch Chrome OS tablet? That's what AndroidHeadlines.com reports that ASUS will be using CES 2019 to announce. Canon at CES 2019CanonRumors.co reports that CES 2019 could see the unveiling of a Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III – complete with a new image sensor and a longer zoom range – and possibly a G9 X Mark III. That rumor seems to be even more likely than ever now that Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III product images surfaced online. All the latest Canon CES 2019 news: Intel at CES 2019Is Nvidia about to get a serious challenge in the high-end graphics card market? If reports from Anthony Garreffa at TweakTown are anything to go by, a discrete graphics card could be coming from Intel. In the world of processors, rumor has it that Intel is developing a new 10-core, 20-thread CPU codenamed Comet Lake that will be based on yet another iteration of Intel’s 14nm process. If the rumors are true, this will be the first time Intel has outpaced AMD in the CPU core war in a very long time. All the latest Intel CES 2019 news: LG at CES 2019It's confirmed, LG will definitely have TVs at CES 2019. We can safely say that because the Korean-based electronics manufacturer already announced the Alpha 9 (Gen. 2) TV processor that will power its 2019 OLED TVs. Details were sparse on how it would significantly improve this year's Alpha 9, but it could be saving that for CES. We've also heard a lot of buzz about LG's rollable OLED that was available to see behind closed doors at last year's CES. It's not confirmed yet, but there's a good chance it will be available to see on the show floor in 2019. (Actually, that's almost a given considering that it could be on sale in 2019.) We also know LG will be showcasing two new 'ultra' monitors for the worker bees and committed gamers out there: one being a super-sized 49-inch UltraWide monitor, the other a new 144 Hz UltraGear gaming monitor. Will LG bring more 'ThinQ' branded smart home products? Probably. However, there are also rumors that LG's CES 2019 keynote will see the unveiling of a foldable phone - though, it might not be available to check out at the show. We may instead have to wait until MWC 2019 to hear about that. Either way, look out for pre-Christmas, pre-CES announcements of B-lister products – it's an annual tradition from LG's predictable Comms team. All the latest LG CES 2019 news:
Nvidia at CES 2019According to a fresh rumor, Nvidia will reveal its GeForce RTX Mobility graphics cards at CES 2019, supposedly on January 6, which would be in the pre-show run-up to the official start of the event (on January 8). If the rumor from Wccftech turns out to be true, we'll see the RTX 2070 and the 2070 Max-Q parts along with the 2060, 2050 Ti and 2050 in Vegas early next month. Moreover, Nvidia may be preparing more than just RTX graphics for laptops at CES 2019, with a reference to MX250 graphics just appearing in an HP laptop listing. The supposed HP Zahn 66 Pro 14 G2 Notebook PC was reportedly listed somewhere by HP with an Nvidia GeForce MX250 with 2GB of GDDR5 memory, first shared by Twitter user Momomo. All the latest Nvidia CES 2019 news:
Royole at CES 2019The world's first foldable phone? That could well come at CES from Royole, which recently teased the FlexPai, the 7.8-inch AMOLED screen that folds in half. Samsung at CES 2019A CES launch for the previously announced Samsung Galaxy Home smart speaker – compete with Bixby – seems a shoo-in, but will Samsung launch its Galaxy X foldable phone? "While the full Samsung launch might be at Mobile World Congress we could instead see the Samsung Galaxy S10 launched at CES, which won’t be foldable but will have 5G and triple camera, plus a new notch design on the front panel," says Tom Morrod, Senior Research Director, IHS Markit. Looking to get ahead of the deluge of news, Samsung has announced two new versions of its Samsung Notebook 9 Pen 2-in-1 laptop. Scheduled for a vague ‘2019’ release and with no pricing to speak of, the laptops are both a rehash (13.3-inch) and an expansion (15-inch) of the late 2017 debut model. We will also almost certainly see Samsung refresh its TV line-up, which will mean more advanced QLED TVs (though probably not a new version of the recent 85-inch Q900R 8K QLED TV). However, if a recent patent filing is anything to go by, we could see a transparent TV. Since Samsung is often launching design-led screens, that wouldn't be a surprise. What we do know for sure at this point is that Samsung will enhance its Serif TV and The Frame designer screens with QLED tech. The new screens will make their debut at the show and, according to Samsung, will reside in the large lifestyle TV exhibition zone of Samsung’s booth. The last rumor we've heard concerning Samsung 2019 TVs is that they might include both Bixby and Google Assistant - giving users the choice over which assistant they'd like to use. All the latest Samsung CES 2019 news:
Sony at CES 2019There's likely to be an almighty rush to launch the first 5G-ready phones in 2019, and Sony’s desire to be first-to-market could mean that the CES 2019 sees the appearance of a 5G Xperia phone. It's also possible that Sony will use CES 2019 to launch its 5.9-inch XA3 and 5.7-inch Xperia L3 budget phones, according to KnowYourMobile.com. Sony may also launch a smart speaker-with-a-screen, following in LG's footsteps. Spotify at CES 2019The streaming service doesn't normally deal in hardware, but could Spotify use CES 2019 to launch its own voice search interface to compete with Amazon Echo and Google Home? Spotify has suites reserved at the Wynn Encore … One thing’s for sure, after CES 2019 the world of tech won’t ever be the same.
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| Best RAM 2018: the top memory for your PC Posted: 21 Dec 2018 12:35 PM PST Even the best PCs will eventually experience some kind of slow down over time, especially as operating systems like Windows 10 and macOS Mojave become more and more demanding. If your computer is starting to drag its feet and show its age, you might want to go out and pick up the best RAM to give your PC a healthy speed boost. One of the first things you’ll notice when you out looking for the top-rated RAM is just how varied the memory market is. Anyone that new to the PC hardware scene will have a hard time finding the best RAM for them. We went ahead and picked all the best RAM that we’ve tested ourselves, so you can be sure you’re only getting the best memory – no matter what your needs are. So, whether you’re looking for a quick and easy upgrade that’ll let you open more Chrome tabs, or if you’re trying to run the best PC games better, you’re going to find the best RAM right here on this list. Let’s dive in. Best RAM: Corsair Vengeance LEDCorsair is responsible for some of the best RAM on the market. Its Vengeance series, especially, has something for everyone with its LED DDR4 offerings. On top of giving PC builders that extra touch of vibrant lighting, the Corsair Vengeance LED series’ built-in heat spreaders maximize cooling for higher overclocking and maximum performance. Corsair’s Vengeance LED DDR4 series features CL16 latency and 3,466 MHz speeds. Best DDR4 RAM: G.Skill Trident Z RGBAt this point, everyone kind of knows about G. Skill and its Trident Z RGB series of RAM. This is some of the best RAM not just because it’s fast, but the top of every DIMM features a full-spectrum rainbow wave light bar that you can use to match your RGB lighting across your entire system. Trident Z RGB DDR4 RAM features CAS latencies between 14 and 19 which is awesome enough, but with speeds up to 4,266, it’s almost perfect. No matter your aesthetic, it’s hard to argue with the G. Skill TridentZ RGB as the best RGB RAM. Best DDR3 RAM: Kingston HyperX PredatorKingston’s high-performance HyperX has some of the best DDR3 RAM on the market and the Predator models is particularly tuned for and extreme-performance that’s further expandable with XMP profiles. The Predator DDR3 series achieves CL9 to CL11 latencies and speeds between 1866MHz to 2666MHz. Best Budget RAM: Kingston HyperX FuryThis Kingston HyperX Fury is auto overclocked memory that won’t empty your wallet. This smart DDR3 or DDR4 RAM auto-detects system components to overclock to the highest speeds possible, optimizing performance for all of Intel’s latest chipsets. It comes with latencies between CL14 and CL16, and has speeds between 2,133 and 2,666MHz. While it’s inexpensive, it really can have a huge impact on the performance of your rig. Best High-end RAM: Corsair Dominator PlatinumIf you need to perform a lot of high-intensity tasks, the Corsair Dominator Platinum is the best RAM for you. The chrome heat spreaders not only allow for premium performance, but they also allow for maximum bling. The massive heatsinks might get in the way of more low-profile builds, but if you’re running your RAM at 4,000MHz, things can get pretty toasty. On the low end, Corsair also offers a low-latency C14 version of the Dominator Platinum at 2,400MHz. Best double capacity memory: G.Skill Trident Z RGB DCSometimes, especially when you’re looking for the best gaming components, ‘go big or go home’ is the best advice. And, when you want more RAM than you’ll know what to do with, you’re going to want to go with the G.Skill Trident Z RGB DC memory. The DC stands for double capacity, as in, 32GB per stick. Now, this is definitely not the fastest memory in the world, right now it’s only available in up to 3,200 MHz, but if you need a lot of RAM without taking up too many DIMM slots (like if you have a big CPU cooler or a Mini-ITX board), you can’t go wrong with the G.Skill TridentZ RGB DC. Best gaming RAM: ADATA Spectrix D80If you’re going for an all-out no-holds-barred build, and you want the flashiest hardware so that your desktop can illuminate your office, you’re going to want the ADATA Spectrix D80. Not only is it available in frequencies up to 5,000MHz, but it’s liquid-cooled, which means you shouldn’t ever have to worry about it overheating on you. The ADATA Spectrix D80 is going to be the best RAM for gaming in an RGB-lit cavern. Best RGB RAM: HyperX Predator DDR4 RGBHyperX has always been a huge name in desktop memory, and it’s not hard to see why. The DIMMs they release always feature the latest technologies without pushing the price higher than it really needs to be – and the HyperX Predator DDR4 RGB is yet another example. Not only is this ram fast, but it looks good, too – with Infrared Sync tech that promises to actually synchronize the lighting between DIMMs. And, with its stylish black heat spreaders, this is the best RAM if you want your gaming PC to reach max aesthetic. Best Low-Profile RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPXCorsair’s Vengeance LPX RAM is made for users who want the maximum performance with minimum footprint. This low-profile RAM is essential for PC builds with massive CPU coolers. Despite being so low-profile, they still feature an eight-layer heat spreader to cool while overclocking. While its thin design doesn’t allow for LEDs, but you can get it in three colors: black, red or blue. Best Mac RAM: G.Skill Mac RAMJust like their dedication to laptop and desktop RAM, G.Skill has RAM upgrades for Macs, too. Adding more memory on the Apple Store is needlessly expensive, so going with a third-party kit can help you save a ton of money – assuming that your machine is one the last remaining MacBooks or iMacs that are still upgradable. These SO-DIMM have a CAS latency between 9 and 11 and have between 1,333MHz and 1,600MHz. The best bang for the buck seems to be the G.Skill DDR3-1333 for Mac. Best Laptop RAM: Crucial Ballistix SportCrucial is by far the best RAM for laptop systems. This manufacturer has designed its Crucial Ballistix Sport SODIMMs for efficient battery life while still delivering fast speeds for multi-tasking. It’s ideal for anyone wanting to speed up the best laptops, and this memory likely offers higher memory speed than anything coming stock in your laptop. Just make sure your laptop actually lets you upgrade the RAM – repairability is falling out of fashion these days. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Best processors 2018: top CPUs for your PC Posted: 21 Dec 2018 12:35 PM PST AMD and Intel are at each other’s throats once more, bringing the spirit of competition the processor market once again. This is thanks in no small part to AMD’s Ryzen 2nd Generation absolutely dominating the market. Intel has responded to this with 9th-Generation Coffee Lake Refresh processors like the Intel Core i9-9900K. As the eternal battle of Intel vs AMD rages on, there’s never been a better time to go out and buy one of the best processors. In 2018, the best processors are extremely varied – both in power and budget. If you’re trying to save some money, AMD processors like the Ryzen 3 2200G are going to be a godsend. And, if you’re trying to squeeze as much performance as you can out of your machine, you might want to take a look at AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2nd Generation and Intel Basin Falls Refresh processors. The best processors are everywhere right now, so finding the right one can be hard. Luckily, even if you can’t get your hands on the latest and greatest CPUs, there are still plenty of great Kaby Lake and first generation Ryzen processors out there. So, get ready to experience PC performance like you’ve never seen, as we’ll show you all the top processors we’ve used over the last year or so. For the longest time, AMD has fell behind Intel. Luckily, those days are over with the Ryzen 2700X. This time around AMD brings the first 12nm processors and the performance to back it up, demolishing Intel when it comes to price-to-performance. If you’re looking for one of the best processors that’ll give you great performance without costing an arm and a leg, you can’t do much better than the Ryzen 7 2700X. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 7 2700X The perennial war of AMD vs Intel has been heating up like crazy over the last few years, and Intel has come back with a mighty Coffee Lake Refresh swing, in the Intel Core i9-9900K. Packing eight cores and 16 threads, it has more cores than any mainstream processor that Intel has ever released. And, the performance shows that it’s worth it – it can go head to head with some of AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper chips. If you’re looking for raw performance, the Intel Core i9-9900K is easily one of the best processors you can go for. Read the full review: Intel Core i9-9900K If you’re looking for one of the best processors for content creation, but are on a budget, look no further than the AMD Ryzen 5 2600X. With 6 cores and 12 threads and a base clock of 3.6GHz, you’re getting way better performance than the pricier Intel Core i5-8600K – with a gorgeous RGB CPU cooler included. Sure, the gaming performance over the blue team is marginal at best, but when you start multi-tasking – and who doesn’t always have 100 chrome tabs open – the value starts to show itself. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 5 2600X If you’re looking to put together a gaming PC on the tightest budget, the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G can take you a long way. While it doesn’t feature the hyperthreading capability of its predecessor, the Ryzen 3 1200, the introduction of integrated graphics makes this APU one of the cheapest ways to experience casual PC gaming. We were even able to play Overwatch at 4K Ultra-HD resolution at ‘Epic’ settings. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 3 2200G If you’re building one of the best gaming PCs, and you don’t really care about creating content or streaming, the processor you’re going to want to pay attention to is the Intel Core i5-8600K. It might not have as many cores as its AMD Ryzen counterparts, but that doesn’t matter, gaming is mostly about that single-threaded performance. With this processor, you’ll be able to run all the latest games without having to worry about bottlenecking your GPU – just don’t be surprised when rendering and encoding video takes longer. Initially the primary competition for the Intel Core i7-7700K, the AMD Ryzen 7 1800X still stands up today, even though it’s been succeeded by the Ryzen 7 2800X. Its high core count, when compared to the intel Core i7 7700K means that it's much better suited to VR workloads, and now that it’s dropped significantly in price, it’s more affordable than ever before. If you’re building a VR rig, do yourself a favor: save some cash without giving up on too much performance with the Ryzen 7 1800X. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 7 1800X The naming convention is confusing, given that the Intel Core i7-7820X is part of Intel’s “Skylake-X” series rather than the X-class chips built on the 14nm Kaby Lake node, but semantics matter very little when you get to go hands-on with an Intel CPU boasting this many cores. Although the fact that you’ll need a new motherboard to use this octa-core monster might be enough to scare some users off to Ryzen, Intel loyalists shan’t mind the upgrade. If you’re the kind of user that demands world-class performance, and you couldn’t care less about cost, the Intel Core i9-9980XE is the best processor for you. With 18-cores and 36-threads, it absolutely destroys everything else on the market right now, if only just barely. Multi-threaded applications and workstation-class projects are going to breeze by with this chip. However, if you need to ask how much it costs more than once, it might not be for you. Read the full review: Intel Core i9-9980XE If you opt for the Intel Pentium G4560 over a Core i3 chip, you won’t even notice the slight loss of performance – you’ll be too busy counting all the money you saved. As the first Pentium processor in a long time to feature hyper-threading, the G4560 shows us what low-end CPUs have been missing for so long. And, in benchmarks it proves that it’s easily adjacent to the more expensive Intel Core i3-7100. One of the only things that we were left wanting when AMD’s Ryzen processors blew up is that they didn’t support integrated graphics. However, the Ryzen 5 2400G changes everything for mainstream PC users. With impressive AMD Vega graphics, it’s a fantastic APU that will be perfect for anyone looking to build a home theater PC. And, now that AMD has slashed the price you can get your 4K action on cheaper than ever. Read the full review: AMD Ryzen 5 2400G
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| Last day for Christmas delivery: Amazon and Walmart deadlines and deals Posted: 21 Dec 2018 12:35 PM PST Last day for Christmas delivery is today or this week, depending on where you shop online, according to our Christmas shipping deadlines explainer below. Christmas is just five days away, and if you're scrambling to find those last-minute online gifts, we've gone through top retailers such as Amazon and Walmart to find the best-selling gifts that will ship for free in time for Christmas day. Here's Amazon and Walmart's shipping schedule for Christmas: Last-minute gifts that ship for free:You're still in time for the last day for Christmas delivery, and the deals above are solid. We'll be keeping this page updated to reflect current Christmas shipping deadlines as they come to pass. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best PC gaming headsets 2018 Posted: 21 Dec 2018 12:35 PM PST It’s more affordable than ever to get into the best gaming PCs, so today is the perfect time to head out and buy one of the best PC gaming headsets. When you’re playing games, having high sound quality is extremely important – you’ve already perfected your visual experience, so the next step is getting awesome sound. Not everything is about having pretty, ray traced graphics. The best gaming monitors don’t always have speakers, and the ones that do don’t have the best sound. If you’re looking for a great audio quality while playing the best PC games like Battlefield V, you’ll need either the best computer speakers or one of the best PC gaming headsets. You'll want to hear background noises, sound effects, dialog and music in all their high-fidelity glory. The highest-rated PC gaming headsets will have all the bells and whistles that supreme computer speakers offer, but with a big advantage – privacy. For anyone who wants to avoid keeping their roommates awake all night, here are the best PC gaming headsets on the market right now. HyperX Cloud Revolver S When we first sat down to review the HyperX Cloud Revolver S, we were a bit divided. On one hand, it features fantastic 7.1-channel surround sound, delivered through Dolby's trademark digital signal processor. On the other, it's extremely pricey when compared to other similar headsets. Luckily, as one of Kingston's most subdued pair of cans we've ever seen (or heard), the pristine comfort and top-notch sound more than make up for its high price and oddly placed detachable mic. Read the full review: HyperX Cloud Revolver S SteelSeries Arctis Pro If there's anything you can count on SteelSeries for, it's pristine audio – and the SteelSeries Arctis Pro is proof perfect of that. Not only will this headset provide immersive surround sound for all the explosive action of your favorite games, but, thanks to its included DAC (digital to audio converter), the Arctis Pro will also serve you well while listening to music. It may be a little expensive, but when you consider just how comfortable and bombastic this headset is, well, it's not hard to see why it's one of the best gaming headsets you can buy today. Read the full review: SteelSeries Arctis Pro Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset Valuing raw performance over the traditional ‘gamer aesthetic,’ the Logitech G Pro headset offers fantastic sound quality over long periods of time and little else – but that’s not a bad thing. You’re getting fantastic sound quality and comfort, while keeping to a budget, so you’re not paying for anything you don’t need. If you’re looking for something a bit more subtle, but can perform with the best PC gaming headsets, the Logitech G Pro is a great headset. Read the full review: Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset Anyone can simply listen to their games, but what if we told you that you could feel them? With the Razer Nari Ultimate, that can finally be a reality, this gaming headset has haptic motors in the ear cups that makes your ears vibrate. This would be enough to make this at least an interesting headset, but when paired with the long battery life, amazing sound quality and comfortable build, it’s easily one of the best gaming headsets out there. Just, do yourself a favor and turn off the haptic feedback when you’re listening to music. Read the full review: Razer Nari Ultimate Astro A20 If you're looking for one of the best gaming headsets, but those high-end $300 headsets make your stomach turn and you don't want something cheap, you should take a look at the Astro A20s. Featuring solid stereo sound performance in a wireless headset, not to mention the stunning 15-hour battery life, this headset has all the necessary features that you might want in its price range. Sure, it doesn't have surround sound, but it more than makes up for it with its economy and battery life. Read the full review: Astro A20 Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition Creative has created a name for itself over the ears for crafting sublime audio products – and the Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition further cements that legacy. Instead of just sitting and iterating on the winning formula of its previous products, Creative completely revamped the Sound BlasterX H7, resulting in a PC gaming headset that looks just as good as it sounds. If you’re looking for a comfortable, sturdy and meaty-sounding headset, the Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition is one of the best PC gaming headsets today. Read the full review: Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless Compromises are a part of everyday life, but nobody actually likes making them. Luckily, with the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless you don't have to make any compromises, because you can get high quality lossless audio playback with a wireless headset. And, when you add in the unique and ultra-convenient dual-battery charging system that lets you wear this headset in perpetuity, you have a recipe for one of the best gaming headsets we've ever gotten our hands on. If you have the cash, and you absolutely need the best wireless headphones money can buy, you can't go wrong here. Read the full review: SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless HyperX Cloud Flight The HyperX Cloud Flight is a long-lasting wireless gaming headset featuring up to 30 hours of battery life. This means you can likely get two full days of gaming in between charges. However, there’s a catch – unlike the Cloud Flight’s competition, namely the Astro A20, this gaming headset only offers stereo sound, abandoning any surround sound implementation. You can thankfully get around it by playing around with the Dolby Access app, though, and the sound profile is balanced enough to make this a non-issue. Read the full review: HyperX Cloud Flight
Corsair released one of the best gaming headsets late last year with the Corsair HS50, and now, it has made it even better by making it wireless and giving it virtual surround sound capabilities. These features on their own would make a great gaming headset, but when you add in the fantastic Corsair CUE software on top of it, it makes a complete package that would make a great addition to your gaming setup. Read the full review: Corsair HS70 Wireless Gaming Headset Corsair Void Pro RGB Wireless It wasn't that long ago that Corsair was solely known for PC components but, over the last five years or so, its arguably become better known for its gaming peripherals. With products like the Corsair Void RGB Wireless, it's not hard to see why. Now, while at first glance, some may scoff at the asking price, the Void Pro RGB Wireless delivers on that price point with great build quality, fantastic sound fidelity and – perhaps most importantly – RGB lighting. Plus, if you've already got a full arsenal of Corsair peripherals, the Void Pro RGB Wireless fits in nicely, and can even synchronize lighting effects with other peripherals through the Corsair Utility Engine. Read the full review: Corsair Void RGB Wireless Corsair HS50 Stereo Gaming Headset As a general rule when you're buying anything, including gaming peripherals, you get what you pay for. You don't go into Walmart, pick up a $50/£50 gaming headset and expect to be blown away, but Corsair takes this rule and turns it on its head. The Corsair HS50 is, for the budget gamer, the best gaming headset you can buy today. Retailing at $50 in the US, the HS50 has sound quality and mic quality that rivals headsets that are twice as expensive. Everything, even down to the build materials radiates quality. If you're looking for a cheap gaming headset, and you don't mind giving up some extra bells and whistles, like 7.1 surround and Bluetooth connectivity, you need to take a look at the Corsair HS50. Read the full review: Corsair HS50 Stereo Gaming Headset Beyerdynamic Custom Game While it’s more expensive than we’d like, the Beyerdynamic CUSTOM Game is one of the best gaming headsets we’ve used in a while. It doesn’t feature flashy surround sound or wireless functionality, but this headset excels in two of the most important categories: sound and comfort. Seriously, once you put it on and experience your games in headphones this good, there’s no going back. Read the full review: Beyerdynamic Custom Game Turtle Beach XO Three If you're the type of gamer that isn't afraid to let the world know you're playing games, the Turtle Beach Elite Pro Tournament might just be the best gaming headset for you. Not only is it supremely comfortable to wear, but its 50mm drivers mean that sound quality is always top notch – even if it could use a bit more bass in the mix. You really do have to be into the 'gamer aesthetic' though, as its plastic build and orange highlights personify the style. But, if you can get past the looks and the price tag, there's a lot to love about the Turtle Beach Elite Pro Tournament. Read the full review: Turtle Beach Elite Pro Tournament Astro A50 Wireless Back when the original Astro A50 launched, we called it a ‘game-changing, experience-enhancing headset,’ and, thankfully, its wireless successor follows in its footsteps – while adding in wireless functionality. Not only is it ready to rock with your PC, but with PS4, Xbox One and legacy consoles as well – a headset that’s robust and versatile. Asus ROG Centurion 7.1 Abandoning all traditional aesthetics, the ROG Centurion 7.1 is a gorgeous piece of kit anyways. Even if it's a genuine pain to set up, this is one of the best PC gaming headsets both for its unique style and category-defying sound. The Asus ROG Centurion 7.1's onboard amp controls give you complete control over this bombastic sound, and this beast can even bolster its already great sound to an external set of speakers. Read the full review: Asus ROG Centurion 7.1 headset Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article
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| Best gaming mouse 2018: the best gaming mice we've tested Posted: 21 Dec 2018 12:35 PM PST When you go out and drop your savings on the best gaming PC you can build, it can be hard to avoid just jumping on a cheap mouse to get your game on. However, we wouldn’t advise doing this, instead, you should buy the best gaming mouse you can afford – everything attached to your rig should be of comparable quality. While you’re at it, you can pick up one of the best mouse pads, too. If you’re looking for one of the best gaming mice, you should look for a mouse that can balance price and performance in a compelling way. Don’t fall for the age-old trap that the best mouse is the most expensive one on the shelf. Note the SteelSeries Rival 600 – at the price of a new AAA game, it has plenty of high-end features and awesome performance. So, we gathered together the best gaming mice we’ve used – all of which have been reviewed and tested by us. No matter what kind of games you're into, you'll find the best gaming mouse for your needs right here on this list. SteelSeries Rival 600 SteelSeries is experiencing a sort of renaissance in 2018, and there is no greater evidence of that than the SteelSeries Rival 600. Featuring customizable weight, the perfect amount of side buttons, and true RGB spectrum lighting the Rival 600 will be the centerpiece of your desk. But, even beyond the aesthetics, the Rival 600 performs far better than a mouse in its price range has any right to. Not only does it feature a 12,000 DPI sensor and satisfying mechanical switches, but the Rival 600 goes above and beyond and features a depth sensor that will all but eliminate cursor sway when you lift your mouse off of the mouse pad. This is truly the best gaming mouse you can buy today. Read the full review: SteelSeries Rival 600 SteelSeries Sensei 310 The SteelSeries Sensei 310 is a gaming mouse like no other, both in terms of price and performance. The low cost of admission keeps it on the same level that you’d expect to pay for a new game, while its out-of-this-world TrueMove 3 optical sensor makes it almost impossible to compete with. This mouse, with no preference when it comes to dexterity, is unparalleled when it comes to real-world sensitivity. You can even pick up the SteelSeries Rival 310 if you want similar performance, but a more right-handed approach to dexterity. Read the full review: SteelSeries Sensei 310 Corsair Dark Core RGB SE Wireless gaming mice don’t have the best reputation, due to their losses in latency and reliability – but the Corsair Dark Core RGB SE changes everything. With 1ms latency and a maximum DPI of 16,000, the Dark Core exemplifies what the best gaming mice should strive for in 2018 – delivering performance that’s on par with its wired brethren. It even supports Qi wireless charging, which means if you pick up the Corsair MM1000 Qi mouse pad, you can charge your phone while playing, then charge your mouse when you’re ready to call it a night. Read the full review: Corsair Dark Core RGB SE Logitech G903 Undeterred by years of ridicule for their comparatively higher latency, the Logitech G900 of yesteryear proved once and for all that wireless gaming mice don’t have to suck. Though it’s merely a slight upgrade to that model, the Logitech G903 only reassures us of that conviction. Gracing a slightly altered G900 design with Logitech’s on PowerPlay mouse pad that doubles as a wireless charger, the Logitech G903 is a pricey, yet rewarding investment. Read the full review: Logitech G903 Roccat Kone Aimo At first glance, you’d be forgiven for assuming the Roccat Kone Aimo would be an unwieldy hardcore-only gaming mouse. You’d be wrong. Even with the plethora of buttons and mouse furniture sticking out, the Roccat Kone Aimo is a surprisingly ergonomic peripheral, which means more comfort shouldn’t be an issue for even the longest gaming sessions. Packed with one of the most in-your-face RGB lighting setups we’ve ever seen in a pointing device, along with 10-programmable buttons, this is one of the best gaming mice on the market right now. Read the full review: Roccat Kone Aimo Cooler Master MasterMouse MM520 If you need one of the best gaming mice, but are looking to save some cash at the same time – the Cooler Master MasterMouse MM520 might be what you’re looking for. It won’t win any beauty contests, but packing quality Omron switches and a reasonably sensitive sensor capable of up to 12,000 DPI, it’s easy to look past the unappealing design – especially if you use a claw grip. Read the full review: Cooler Master MasterMouse MM520 Razer Naga Trinity If you’re gearing up to represent either the Alliance or the Horde in World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth, you’re going to want to take a look at the Razer Naga Trinity. Razer’s Naga mice have always been aimed at MMO gamers, but the company wasn’t content to just appeal to that one niche. With the Naga Trinity, you’ll get 3 easily swappable side plates so that you can change your mouse to fit the game you’re playing. Aadd in the insane 16,000 DPI 5G Sensor and Razer Chroma RGB lighting, and you’ll top the DPS meters, and your gaming setup will look nice while you do it. Read the full review: Razer Naga Trinity HyperX Pulsefire Surge If you find yourself snickering at some of the ridiculous gaming mice available in 2018, you should take a look at the HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB. Featuring extremely reliable Omron switches and gorgeous RGB lighting – not to mention its unbelievable 16,000 DPI sensor – you’re getting one of the best gaming mice for a great price. Plus, it’ll fit into any office, at least once you turn down the lighting effects. Read the full review: HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB Corsair Glaive RGB From the moment you look at the price tag, it’ll be obvious that the Corsair Glaive RGB was meant to compete with the Razer DeathAdder Elite. And, while Corsair has had a ton of success with its PC cases, keyboards, RAM, power supplies and cooling systems, Corsairs mice have less of a history behind them. Luckily, the company’s latest gaming mouse effort is built for comfort, featuring a a coating of soft-touch paint and interchangeable thumb grips that enhance ergonomics even further. Additionally, the nearly perfect three-zone RGB lighting system and high-DPI Pixart sensor are just extra gravy. Read the full review: Corsair Glaive RGB Creative Sound BlasterX Siege M04 You don’t see sound card manufacturers trying their hands at making the best gaming mouse every day – but that’s exactly what Creative did. The Creative Sound BlasterX M04 is actually one of the best gaming mice you can buy in 2018 – the 12,000 DPI rating means it’s quick and responsive. The RGB lighting scheme is great, too, controlled by Creative’s own Sound Blaster Connect software. The Creative Sound BlasterX Siege M04 is a winner in form and function. Read the full review: Creative Sound BlasterX Siege M04 How to choose the best gaming mouseEven though you’ll definitely find the best gaming mouse here, doing so will take some effort. There’s a ton of complicated technical jargon that goes into the best gaming mice – terms like polling rates and DPI ratings. You’ll want a higher number of both, but these two terms mean drastically different things. For newcomers to the world of PC gaming, that DPI is shorthand for ‘dots per inch.’ The higher the number, the wider the range wherein you can specify your how sensitive your mouse is. If you don’t have a lot of desk space available and you want accuracy and precision, then opt for a gaming mouse featuring a higher DPI rating. Of course, you can always toggle a lower DPI too. Meanwhile, a high polling rate gives you faster response times. The polling rate is measured in hertz, so it usually ranges from around 125 to 1,000Hz. The latter means that your mouse’s position is reported to your computer 1,000 times per second. Other key gaming mouse factors you’ll want to consider are ergonomics – particularly if you’re left-handed – and RGB lighting.
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| The best gaming monitor 2018: the 10 best gaming screens of the year Posted: 21 Dec 2018 12:30 PM PST These days, the best PC games can take you to places and let you do things that you never thought possible, which is why you should think about picking up one of the best gaming monitors to bring your experience to the next level. But, what separates the best gaming monitors from the rest of the pack? Well, it mostly boils down to function and preferences. There’s a wide range of different technologies and features that the best gaming monitors offer, and what you need varies greatly on what games you like to play. If you want to sit back and relax, playing your favorite open world games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey or Red Dead Redemption 2, you may be interested in a 4K Ultra HD gaming monitor with HDR. However, if going head-to-head with strangers on the internet in eSports titles like Overwatch or CS:GO is more your speed, you’ll want one of the best gaming monitors with high refresh rate and response times. This is a lot to take in, but we have you covered. We've gathered up all the best gaming monitors we’ve used over the last year. So, no matter what kind of games you’re into, we’ll help you find the best monitor for gaming. HDR has been a major selling point for the best TVs for a little while now, but it has been suspiciously absent form the best gaming monitors. Until now. The BenQ EX3501R takes HDR and runs with it, crafting a curved ultra-wide that is not only what we would deem ‘attainable’, but beautiful as well. BenQ bills this monitor as a ‘video enjoyment monitor’, but from the moment you launch your favorite HDR-enabled games, you’ll see straight away why it tops our list of the best gaming monitors. Read the full review: BenQ EX3501R The Alienware AW3418DW is one of the few ultra-wide monitors that could offer the level of immersion that only a 21:9 display can provide while still featuring a high refresh rate that’s competitive with the best gaming monitors.. With a beautiful and colorful 3,440 x 1,440 display, lightning fast 4ms response times and a stunning 120Hz refresh rate, the AW3418DW is the best of both worlds. However, all these features come with a high price, so it may not be the best choice if you’re looking for a bargain. Still, it’s not hard to see why it’s one of the best gaming monitors available right now. Read the full review: Alienware AW3418DW The AOC Agon AG352UCG was already one of the best gaming monitors, so when we heard that AOC was putting out a revision on it, with a higher refresh rate and better contrast, we were overjoyed. The AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition takes everything the original did and turns it up to 11, making it one of the best ways to experience ultra-wide gaming. It’s expensive, sure, but if you have the hardware to power a 3,440 x 1,440 monitor at 120Hz, you’re doing yourself a disservice by not buying it. Read the full review: AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition The Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ may just be the most advanced and best gaming monitor out there – as long as you have the cash. Not only does it feature a gorgeous 4K Ultra-HD resolution and HDR, but it also features G-Sync and a 144Hz refresh rate. These specs make for one of the most impressive gaming monitors that’s ever existed – and when you see it in action, your mind will be blown. The only thing that holds this thing back from true greatness is the insane price tag. But, then again, if you have this kind of cash lying around, you should be able to afford a PC powerful enough to drive it. Read the full review: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ The BenQ PD3200U is primarily targeted at CAD professionals, but it’s still one of the best gaming monitors out there. This is because it has a rock-solid focus on graphic design, so it’s able to offer fantastic viewing angles – meaning your friends can watch you play in comfort. Plus, unlike a lot of 4K monitors on the market, you don’t need to mess around with the settings in order to get the best picture – every unit is individually calibrated by BenQ before it’s shipped. This is one of the best gaming monitors out there, even if it’s not actually a gaming monitor. Read the full review: BenQ PD3200U There’s a certain subset of PC gamers out there that need the absolute best hardware money can buy, and the Acer Predator X27 may be the best gaming monitor for them. The list of high-end features packed into the panel is almost as long as our arm – 4K resolution, HDR-10, G-Sync, 144Hz refresh rate – you’d be hard pressed to find a more advanced monitor. And, once you get a look at this monitor in person, you’ll be sold. That is, until you see the price tag – at two grand, only recent lottery winners need apply. Still, there’s nothing wrong with dreaming. Read the full review: Acer Predator X27 You might not believe it at first glance, but the BenQ Zowie XL2540 is every bit the gaming monitor that the other monitors on this list are. And though it may not seem it from the outside looking in, it does its job remarkably well too, sacrificing dazzling lighting effects for a zippy 240Hz refresh rate and nigh-instantaneous 1ms response time. There’s no G-Sync or FreeSync, as this monitor assumes you already have a rig that’s plenty capable of eliminating screen tears on its own. Instead, this monitor keeps it simple by supplying you with lots of visual presets, an “S Switch” control pod for managing those presets and even a pair of adjustable light screens. If you're a professional gamer, then this is the best gaming monitor for you. Read the full review: BenQ Zowie XL2540 With this display, Samsung not only brings QLED to gaming monitors in a big way, but they also offer the widest ultra-wide monitor on the market today. Coming in at 49.5 inches, this behemoth will take up a lot of space, likely peeping over the sides of your desk, but with its impressive 3,840 x 1080 resolution and HDR, you’ll at least be blown away by the image. Even if you decide not to play in this resolution (it will require a beefy rig), you can still use all of the extra screen real estate to have a browser or a movie playing on the same screen. The only real drawback is the monstrous price tag. But for a display this premium, it may very well be worth it. Read the full review: Samsung CHG90 QLED If you have a powerful graphics card that you want to take full advantage of, and you don’t mind missing out on 4K Ultra HD, Samsung’s got something just for you. The Samsung CHG70 is a curved 1440p monitor with a blazing fast 1ms response time and 144hz refresh rate, which makes this one of the best gaming monitors you can buy in 2018. And, considering it’s regularly going on sale, this screen is a bargain as well. Check it out. Read the full review: Samsung CHG70 QLED When you’re playing competitive shooters like Overwatch or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, you’re going to need speed more than anything to stay on top of the leaderboards. That’s where monitors like the MSI Optix MAG271CR come in. With a 1080p resolution, 144 Hz refresh rate and 1ms of latency, you’re going to have fast, smooth gameplay as long as you have the hardware to drive it. After all, 60 Hz panels are so 2014 – the best gaming monitors embrace high refresh rates. Read the full review: MSI Optix MAG271CR How to buy the best gaming monitor in 2018When you are shopping for the best gaming monitor 2018 has to offer, there are a few things that you should consider before you decide on what display should grace your desk. By studying the following terms and specifications, you can make sure you pick the best gaming monitor for your needs – which also means you're not paying extra for additional features that you don’t need. Screen size: When shopping for the best gaming monitor, one of the most crucial things to think about is screen size. Larger display sizes can contribute to more immersive gaming experiences, as the game fills more of your field of vision, but you'll need to make sure you have the room to feature a large monitor. It also goes without saying that larger monitors will usually mean a higher price. Aspect ratio: The aspect ratio of a gaming monitor determines the width and height of the screen. Most widescreen monitors have an aspect ratio of 16:9, while older monitors had a more square 4:3, which will likely look pretty outdated in 2018. Ultra-wide monitors with aspect ratios of 21:9 are quickly gaining prevalence – they offer a wide view of your games, and many ultra wides have made our list of the best gaming monitor 2018. Resolution: Another important factor when looking for the best gaming monitor for your needs is resolution. Here, the higher the numbers, the sharper the picture.. You will, however, need a more powerful graphics card for anything over full HD (1,920 x 1,080), even if many gaming monitors feature resolutions as high as 2,560 x 1,400 (WQHD) and 3,840 x 2,160 (4K). Refresh rate: When you’re looking to primarily play Counter-Strike, or shooters like it, refresh rate is especially important. The higher the refresh rate, the more frames per second (fps) it can support, which lends to a smoother experience on high-refresh-rate displays. A 60Hz refresh rate is most common, with refresh rates rising to 144Hz and even 200Hz. Response time: The best gaming monitors have low response times, which means the action remains fast and fluid, with little to no input lag. The lowest response time for TN monitors (we explain this in the next section) is 1 millisecond, whereas the newer IPS monitors usually have more delayed, 4ms response times. When you’re playing games competitively, it’s crucial to keep this number as low as possible in order to combat lag. Panel type: This is where things get a little technical. The type of panel the gaming monitor uses will largely contribute to its response time and image clarity. TN panels (twisted nematic) have the lowest response times, and they are usually cheaper as well, but they generally don’t have great viewing angles. IPS panels (in-plane switching) have fantastic viewing angles and color reproduction, but usually higher response times. Meanwhile VA panels (vertical alignment) sit between the two, though the slow response times makes these panels rare amid the best gaming monitors. Viewing Angle: Most people play games while positioned in front of their gaming monitor, but this may not always be the case, particularly when you’re among spectators. A monitor’s viewing angles tell you what angle you can look at the monitor from and still clearly make out the image. The closer these numbers are are to 180, the better your viewing experience will be when standing further to either side of the monitor or looking at it from above or below. G-Sync and FreeSync: You'll likely notice that many of the best gaming monitors in 2018 come with either G-Sync or FreeSync technology – sometimes both. This helps keep frames per second (fps) smooth, combats screen tearing and diminishes input lag. G-Sync is developed by Nvidia, so you'll need an Nvidia GPU, and the tech is built into the monitor, which can bump up their price tag. Meanwhile FreeSync was developed by AMD but, as it is free to use by manufacturers, the monitors usually cost less. Check out our HDR Explained video below. Gabe Carey and Bill Thomas have also contributed to this article
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| The best monitor 2018: the top 10 monitors and displays we’ve reviewed Posted: 21 Dec 2018 12:30 PM PST While they’re not going to make your PC faster, the best monitors improve your computing experience by making everything look a lot better – and can even boost your productivity. The best monitors are also cost-effective, and anyone can get in on the action these days. With high resolutions and speedy refresh rates, you can make your work smoother and less of a strain on your eyes. With the holidays approaching, there's never been a better time to pick up one of the best monitors. So, whether you want a gaming monitor to keep up with the gaming PCs, or if you just bought a MacBook Air and you need one of the best USB-C monitors, you’ve come to the right place. And, you can trust our picks – we’ve tested and reviewed them all ourselves. Now that computers are equipped with better graphics tech than ever before, 4K monitors are in increasingly high demand. This explains why BenQ has added the PD3200U, a massive 32-inch Ultra HD display, to its Designer Monitor range. Intended for creatives and professionals, BenQ has crafted, seemingly by mistake, a panel that gamers can enjoy as well, so long as they can fit it on their desks. Then again, given the comparatively sluggish 4ms response time, the PD3200U is best suited for artist. For example, 3D designers will love the inclusion of a CAD/CAM mode, while everyone else revels in the factory-calibrated color accuracy and Rec. 709 adherence. Read the full review: BenQ PD3200U The AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition is marketed as a gaming monitor, but if you need an ultra-wide monitor, you really can’t do much better. With its sublime color support, strong contrast ratio and lightning-fast 120Hz refresh rate – everything you do on your PC is going to feel quick, snappy and it’ll look good while doing it. It’s kind of expensive, but this ultra-wide monitor can significantly boost productivity, so it’s totally worth it – it’s one of the best monitors you can buy today, as long as you have the hardware to drive it. Read the full review: AOC Agon AG352UCG6 Black Edition When it comes to the best monitors, sometimes we’ll come across something that manages to combine so many high-end features that it seems almost alien – the Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ is one such display. Not only does this gorgeous display feature an Ultra-HD 4K display, but it tops that off with HDR and Nvidia G-Sync tech – a trifecta of high-end features that makes this the best monitor you can buy today, if you have the cash. If you’re doing any kind of photo or video editing work, you really can’t go wrong with this display. Read the full review: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ When you start to grow weary of the same old 16:9 aspect ratio, nothing hits the spot like a cinematic 21:9 display. It’s probably not the best for watching Netflix or YouTube, but the Acer Predator X34 is a great example of what an ultra-wide monitor can do. Boasting an attractive aluminum bezel and polygonal stand that resembles a bird’s foot, this massive 34-inch monitor is a wonder to look at. More importantly, armed with Nvidia’s G-Sync tech, you won’t need V-Sync stressing out your graphics card. The Acer Predator X34 does all the heavy lifting for you. This is about as immersive as a gaming monitor gets. Read the full review: Acer Predator X34 We don’t often run into technology that’s so far ahead of the curve that we’re left dumbfounded. The Dell UltraSharp UP3218K is the most recent example. Finding a monitor that can reach the raw beauty this one does should be impossible. It’s not just the resolution, either – Dell went a long way to make sure that the build quality and color reproduction are the best in the business, and well, it is. The Dell UltraSharp UP3218K is aimed at professionals, obviously, so if that sounds like it’s up your alley, it’s probably the best monitor for you. Read the full review: Dell UltraSharp UP3218K
If you’re looking for a great 1440p monitor with HDR for multimedia and gaming, the BenQ EX3203R might be the best monitor for you. This monitor is notable because it manages to bring in a ton of high-end features into a monitor that is extremely affordable. And, while 32 inches might sound like a bit much for a monitor, the 1800R curvature on this BenQ panel means that it’s easy to use, both for productivity and for immersion in your games and media. Read the full review: BenQ EX203R
Depending on your budget, it might break the bank in classic Alienware style, but Dell’s 25-inch gaming monitor won’t let your screen tear. Whether you’re siding with Team Red or Team Green for your graphics needs, there’s a configuration designed with specifically you in mind. Taking away some of the heavy lifting away from the GPU that would otherwise be spent on VSync, the Alienware 25’s 120Hz refresh rate might actually be viable. So, as long as your graphics card can handle it, you can expect to reach 120 frames per second. The 1ms response time is just gravy. Read the full review: Alienware 25 You might not believe it at first glance, but the BenQ Zowie XL2540 is every bit the gaming monitor that the Asus Predator X34 is. And though it may not seem it from the outside looking in, it does its job remarkably well too, sacrificing dazzling lighting effects for a zippy 240Hz refresh rate and nigh-instantaneous 1ms response time. There’s no G-Sync or FreeSync, as this monitor assumes you already have a rig that’s plenty capable of eliminating screen tears on its own. Instead, this monitor keeps it simple by supplying you with lots of visual presets, an “S Switch” control pod for managing those presets and even a pair of adjustable light screens. Read the full review: BenQ Zowie XL2540 If you’re running games using a weaker GPU and you’re looking to get into ultra-wide displays without spending a fortune, you might want to check the LG 34UC79G-B out. This monitor, measuring in at 34-inches diagonally, is equipped with AMD FreeSync for screen tear elimination and a 21:9 aspect ratio best suited for games and cinema. Despite its resolution being lower than other ultrawide displays out there, this LG monitor pulls off a crisp image nonetheless – and with stunning color accuracy at that. Plus, you can change the height, which is more than can be said for even some of the more expensive 4K monitors out there. Read the full review: LG 34UC79G-B If you’re planning on picking up a new Nvidia Turing graphics card on launch (we can’t blame you), you’re going to want a monitor that can take advantage of that powerful graphics card. The HP Omen X 35, then, might just be the best gaming monitor for you. Rocking a WQHD panel with 98.7% sRGB coverage, the best PC games are going to just pop on this display. And, it’s G-sync enabled, so you don’t even need to worry about screen tearing or artifacting. Read the full review: HP Omen X 35 Gabe Carey and Bill Thomas have also contributed to this article
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| The best graphics cards 2018: all the top GPUs for gaming Posted: 21 Dec 2018 11:05 AM PST The RTX 2080 Ti and RTX 2080 are finally here and the Nvidia Turing revolution has begun in earnest. So, do you splurge on an expensive flagship graphics card? Or, do you go back in time a bit, pick up a Pascal card and save a couple bucks? No matter what you do, you’ll be able to use the best graphics cards to play the best PC games from Hitman 2 to Battlefield 5. Remember that the best graphics cards can vary wildly depending on the kind of build you’re pursuing, so it can be hard to find the best graphics card for your needs – it’s not always the most expensive one. That’s why we decided to compile a guide of the best graphics cards you can buy today, all of which have been tested and reviewed here at TechRadar. So, before you go out to pick up one of the best graphics cards, we’ll list out the best graphics cards you can buy today. Nvidia Turing is out and full force, and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 is the new best graphics card out there. While it’s more expensive than past xx80 releases, it’s also much more powerful – showing up even the four-figure price Titan Xp. With the RTX 2080, there should be nothing stopping you from achieving high resolution gaming, though you’ll have to turn down some settings if you’re trying to play at 4K, 60 fps. Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 If you’re on the market for one of the best graphics cards, and you’ve got some cash to burn, you might want to consider the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. Without a doubt, it’s the most powerful graphics cards on the market, as long as the price doesn’t scare you away. And, the first actual game with Ray Tracing is finally available, Battlefield V. While you can turn RTX On, just keep in mind that it’ll hamper performance a bit. Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti If you want to stick to QHD, with some brief forays into 4K, you might want to check out the RTX 2070. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 brings the new Turing architecture to the mid range with performance that dwarfs the GTX 1070 that came before. Not only will you be able to play everything at 1440p, but you’re going to get insane performance – up to 120fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. However, you should consider that the RTX 2070 is significantly more expensive than its predecessor, so that trade off in price-to-performance may not be worth it – especially if you’re coming from a Pascal card. Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is the best graphics card for Full HD gaming you can buy today – your benchmarks put it above the GTX 1070. And, now that it’s fallen in price to what we would call an ‘acceptable’ level, there’s never been a better time to pick one up. While it’s arguably a bit overkill for Full HD gaming, the RX Vega 56 will come in handy for 144 to 240hz monitors and future-proofing against increasingly demanding games. You can also expect a fantastic 1440p experience with this card. Especially now that it’s fallen in price from the heyday of cryptocurrency miners, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 is the best graphics card for VR gaming. Boasting 4,096 stream processors, 256 texture units and 8GB of HBM2 memory, it’s every bit as competent as the Nvidia GTX 1080 – at a lower price. This truly is the AMD card to rule them all. Read the full review: AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 If you’re setting out to build a microATX or a mini-ITX gaming PC, you shouldn’t have to settle for a low-end GPU. You can find mini graphics cards like the Zotac GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Mini. And, sure it’s not the latest and greatest GPU out there anymore, but the 1080 Ti has a lot of life left in it. Plus, when you can get that power in a card that’s just 211 x 125 x 41mm, the loss in performance is totally worth the beautiful mini PC you’ll get. The Nvidia GTX 1050 might not look like much on paper, what with only 2GB of video memory onboard, but this affordable GPU plays games better than you would think. If you’re willing to drop settings to medium, you can play Overwatch, CS:GO and other popular competitive shooters well above the silky smooth 60fps mark. Thanks to its compact size, it’s also perfect for small builds and entertainment center-bound streaming PCs. Any eSports player will tell you that high frame rates are far more important than beautifully rendered graphical details – and that’s where the Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti shines. In a time where graphics cards cost as much as rent, it’s an affordable, but potent GPU that can play most eSports games well above 60fps. It’s a bit pricier than the lower-end Nvidia GTX 1050, but you’ll appreciate the extra power behind this card to play future eSports titles, as well as the odd AAA title. Read the full review: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
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| The best gaming PC 2018: 10 of the top gaming desktops you can buy Posted: 21 Dec 2018 11:00 AM PST 2018 was absolutely packed to the brim with the best PC games, and it looks like 2019 is going to follow suit, so you might want to go out and pick up one of the best gaming PCs today, so you can enjoy all that the medium has to offer. From best-in-class stealth-em-ups like Hitman 2 to intense first person shooters like Battlefield V, having the best gaming PC for your budget can make a ton of difference. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer Intel, AMD or Nvidia – most PC makers will let you choose the best processors and best graphics card for your needs anyway. And, now that Nvidia Turing graphics cards are finally out in the wild, the best gaming PCs are about to get way better. We went ahead and collected our top-rated gaming PCs, both from popular companies like Alienware and Dell to those you might not know, like Zotac. We put these PCs through rigorous testing to find out which ones will provide the best bang for your buck. These are currently the 10 best gaming PCs you can buy today, so you can start playing your favorite PC games. This isn’t your everyday pre-built gaming PC. The Alienware Aurora R7 feat of engineering in that it packs full-sized PC parts into chassis much smaller than your traditional mid-tower rig. At the same time it’s easily upgradeable and attractive to look at. All of which we would expect considering its extremely high price tag. Luckily, the Alienware Aurora R7 is both of these things and will impress those not ready or willing to build their own gaming PC. Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R7
It’s not uncommon anymore for PC makers to brandish their pre-built desktop rigs as VR-ready. What is unusual is to do so with a computer that’s also ready to conquer any game you throw at it at well over 60 frames per second and for under two grand. That’s exactly what MSI has accomplished with the Infinite A, a tower whose graphical efforts aren’t thwarted by its preparedness for VR, nor is it so expensive that it would see your head turn the other way. Read the full review: MSI Infinite A
If you’re looking for a gaming PC that doesn’t take up a lot of space, you’ll love the Intel Hades Canyon Nuc. This is one of the best gaming PCs, and it’s a lot smaller than other entries on this list – in fact, it looks more like a set-top box than a high-end gaming. Don’t think this is a weak PC, though – it packs all the power that the best gaming laptops do with an 8th-generation Core i7 processor and discrete Radeon graphics. Just consider that you’ll have to supply your own RAM, storage and OS. Read the full review: Intel Hades Canyon NUC Positioned as a ’console killer,’ the MSI Trident 3 looks a lot like an Xbox One S and is more powerful than a PS4 Pro, but at the end of the day, it’s a PC that feels just right in your living room. Complete with all the ports you could ever dream of, the MSI Trident 3’s advantages are clear. Still, in trying to be as thin and light as possible, the MSI Trident 3 comes equipped with a 330W external power supply brick, resembling some of the most less attractive console designs. Read the full review: MSI Trident 3 If you’re buying a pre-built PC, upgrades should be simple, right? That’s the philosophy behind the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900. Embellished with red lights all over, the front of its chassis is bespeckled with textured patterns that’ll no doubt make your friends jealous. On top of offering support for a VR-ready GTX 1080, the Lenovo IdeaCentre boasts SLI support and room for up to 64GB of RAM, which are thankfully complemented by a convenient tool-less design. Read the full review: Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900
Much like the sublime Dell XPS 13, the Dell XPS Tower is a lesson in packing beefy specs into a svelte chassis. This inconspicuous gaming machine looks a lot like the computer that’s been collecting dust in your dad’s office, rather than something powering the latest PC games. But, beneath that quiet exterior, the Dell XPS Tower is one of the best gaming PCs on the market, with 8th-generation Intel Coffee Lake processors and Nvidia GTX 10-series graphics cards. With the Dell XPS Tower Special Edition,you’re getting one of the best gaming PCs money can buy, without any of the off-putting ‘gamer aesthetic’. Read the full review: Dell XPS Tower Special Edition
When you buy a computer from Origin, it’s almost like you’re building it on your own. You have to be familiar enough with PC components to decide for yourself what goes into the rig and how much money you’re going to spend on it. So, of course, our only real criticism of the Origin Millennium is that you can build a similar model for cheaper. However, because of its subtle design and flexible specs, we’re willing to bet you won’t want to. Read the full review: Origin Millennium
In classic Alienware fashion, the Area 51 Threadripper Edition pushes the limits of both technology and your wallet. It’s wildly powerful, markedly featuring the latest AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X across all of its configurations. The Area 51’s triad-design hasn’t changed much since its introduction back in 2014, but on the inside this machine is essentially tool-less to upgrade, not that you would even need to. Read the full review: Alienware Area 51 Threadripper Edition
We knew that it was only a matter of time before the best gaming PCs started rolling out with the latest Coffee Lake Refresh and Nvidia Turing parts, and the MSI Trident X is here to lead the charge. This small-form factor PC pulls no punches, and will absolutely demolish any game you throw at it, at any resolution. Just keep in mind that the thin metal build might be a bit flimsy for travel, and its price tag is kind of steep. But, if you’re looking for no-holds-barred power that won’t look out of place in your living room, you can’t do much better. Read the full review: MSI Trident X Corsair has made a name for itself in pretty much every category of PC components, so it’s only natural that it would eventually create one of the best gaming PCs you can buy today. Enter the Corsair One Elite, a high-spec PC in a compact and quiet case that, while expensive, blows the competition out of the water. The Elite is a huge improvement over the original Corsair One, packed with an 8th-generation Core i7 processor, a Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti and more water cooling than you can shake a stick at. If you can afford its high price tag, the Corsair One Elite is one of the best gaming PCs you can buy today. Read the full review: Corsair One Elite Joe Osborne and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article Check out our Linux vs Windows vs Mac - OS comparison video below. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best mouse of 2018: 10 top computer mice compared Posted: 21 Dec 2018 11:00 AM PST While some tablet and laptop makers might make you think that the best mouse is just a finger tap or a stylus, we’d have to respectfully disagree. There’s nothing quite like using a mouse to navigate your PC. No matter whether you’re a Mac or PC user, a trackpad or a touchscreen just isn’t as good. The best mice aren’t limited to a tiny space on your laptop chassis, so they can be as precise or unwieldy as you could want. Even if you’ve already got a mouse, our picks here will make everything else seem inferior. Before you pick out the best mouse for your needs, you should think about what you actually need your mouse for. Is your current pointing device bugging out? Are you thinking about springing for a wireless mouse? Or, are you just looking for the best gaming mice? No matter what you’re looking for, the best mice can make your desktop experience more reliable. All of the best mice on this list are packed with unique features that can only be found in high-end peripherals. So, let’s dive into the list of the best mice 2018 has to offer. Yeah, we know, you saw how much the Logitech MX Master 2S costs and just scoffed – just bear with us a second. The Logitech MX Master 2S is the best mouse 2018 has to offer, especially if you have work to do. While most mice in this price range appeal to gamers with ridiculous button setups and edgy designs, this mouse is created for productivity alone. Trust us, you might not think you need a high-end wireless mouse for your day to day office work, but once you get your hands on this one – you’ll never go back. Read the full review: Logitech MX Master 2S Smaller than Logitech’s flagship, the MX Master, the Logitech MX Anywhere 2 is the ideal travel mouse. It can connect with up to three distinct devices with 2.4GHZ wireless technology or with Bluetooth, making it obvious why this mouse is renowned for having quick setup and surprisingly long battery life. Capable of extremely quick charging, in just 4 minutes the MX Anywhere 2 charges enough for an entire day.
In an age when all of our peripherals are either being shoved full of extraneous lighting or morphed into odd shapes, the Microsoft Classic Intellimouse modernizes the classic design with an appealing white lighting effect. It also beefs up the sensor, allowing users to ramp up the DPI to 3,200. It’s not wireless, and it’s hardly made for gaming, but if you’re in the market for a mouse that will help you get all your work done, the Microsoft Classic Intellimouse might be the best mouse for you. Read the full review: Microsoft Classic IntelliMouse Yeah, this mouse looks weird and its name kind of looks like some annoying tongue twister, but the Anker Vertical Ergonomic Optical mouse is only off putting until you get your hands on it. From the moment you start using this mouse, you’ll know it’s the one of the best mice around. While it’s built a little more cheaply than other ergonomic mice, it’s an affordable way to prevent RSI. When Apple isn’t occupying itself by building luxury smartphones that you can unlock with your face, it was hard at work crafting one of the strangest mice we’ve ever used. If you found yourself doing a double take when reading the specs, you saw right – the Magic Mouse 2 lacks buttons completely. However, it makes up for this apparent oversight with sheer aesthetic appeal. This mouse is completely controlled by gestures, giving it all the benefits of a trackpad as well as a mouse. If you’re looking for an extremely comfortable mouse that will make your day at work a little less rigorous on your hands and wrists, you’ll need an ergonomic-focused mouse. Luckily, the Logitech MX Vertical is a great example of what these mice are capable of. As the name suggests, it’s a vertical mouse, but it feels a lot more natural in your hand and helps reduce the amount of stress you have to exert on your wrist and hand muscles in order to get things done. And, as an added bonus, there’s a handy little button at the top that lets you seamlessly swap between different computers – even further reducing the amount of movement you have to perform. Read the full review: Logitech MX Vertical The third trackball mouse Logitech has put out since 2008, the MX Ergo Wireless is an anomaly in an industry that is otherwise crowded with optical laser mice. As such, it’s certain to charm those who haven’t quite moved on to the gesture-based desktop trackpads of the present. With the option to lay it flat or use it at a 20-degree angle, this mouse is uniquely satisfying. Read the full review: Logitech MX Ergo Wireless This is one of the best mice if you’re looking for something that’s seen and not heard. Because the Logitech M330 Silent Plus is so compact and silent, it’s the perfect mouse for using on an airplane tray next to a sleeping neighbor. Just slip it into your laptop bag when the flight touches down, and weighing less than a quarter of a pound, you won’t even notice the added bulk. Sure, the Microsoft Surface Precision Mouse that came out late last year is tempting, but sometimes you just need a cheap, reliable mouse that you can throw in your laptop bag without a care in the world. That’s where the Bluetooth Mobile Mouse 3600 comes in. This may be the best mouse for anyone looking for an inexpensive pointing device that won’t let them down – it’s one of the most reliable wireless mice you can buy today, and it’s from a brand you can trust. Razer products aren’t for everyone. Specifically, they appeal to an audience that enjoys the svelte industrial design of an Apple gadget, but with a gamer-centric slant. That’s especially the case with the DeathAdder Chroma, a mouse that comes with 16.8 million LED-backlit color options out of the box, along with a hyper-accurate 10,000 DPI sensor. Read the full review: Razer DeathAdder Chroma Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| The best power banks of 2018: portable chargers to keep your gadgets going Posted: 21 Dec 2018 10:25 AM PST Whether you want a pocket-size battery to top off your devices or a large power bank to juice up your laptop, portable chargers are very useful additions to your kit. We've added new entries to our best portable charger list in 2018 including the latest Mophie that packs a lightning cable to link up to your iPhone XS and XS Max, iPhone X and iPhone 8 smartphones. All of the power banks below can charge a plethora of devices, but we all know their primary function: to be ready when your smartphone battery dies at the end of the day. It's a lifesaver for your 21st-century routine. As portable chargers have become commonplace, of course, they run into the opposite problem: there are a lot to choose from. We base our recommendations on a balance of battery capacity, safety and a svelte size with ample power reserves. We've got a list of the top portable chargers that include compact, high-capacity, and even laptop-compatible portable chargers. Never fall to 0% battery life again.
Best power banks for capacityYou've likely heard of Anker, and this is one of the company's best portable chargers. It comes with a huge 20,100mAh battery inside, meaning this will be able to charge up your phone or tablet multiple times before it needs a recharge. It also comes with high-speed charging for your devices if they use PowerIQ or VoltageBoost. It won't be able to use Qualcomm's QuickCharge technology, but it'll still boost your device when you're on the go. The Mophie Powerstation XL is the best power bank designed for the iPhone and iPad (aside from the new iPad Pro 2018 with its USB-C port), and we say that for several reasons: it contains an embedded Lightning cable you can’t lose, it charges via a Lightning cable and you can charge it wirelessly with any Qi charger, so you may already have everything you need. This 10,000mAh power bank has a soft fabric finish and can charge two devices at once, one via the 10W USB-A port and another via the integrated Lightning charger. You won't find as much use from this portable charger if you're on Android, though it's still possible to use that USB-A port to top off a friend. If the Anker isn't right for you, our next choice is the Aukey 20,000mAh battery pack. It features two ports so you can charge both your phone and your tablet at the same time and also has a light to show you how much battery charge is leftover. The blocky design may not be for everyone, but this portable charger should be able to charge your phone and other gadgets a few times over with such a high capacity cell inside. If you're looking for an even larger capacity charger than the option above you may want to go for the iMuto Ultra High Capacity portable charger. It offers a 30,000mAh capacity that will be able to charge your average smartphone over six times and still have some charger left. It can also charge some MacBooks and laptops too, but you may want to make sure it will be compatible with your computing option before you buy it. Considering the price though, you'll struggle to find a 30,000mAh charger for this little. Another high capacity portable charger here for you and this time it's from RAVPower with a 22,000mAh option. The design is similar to the Anker and Aukey made options above, and while it doesn't include as much capacity as the iMuto one it does have a much slimmer design. You have three ports here so you can charge multiple gadgets at the same time and it'll have enough capacity to be able to charge both a mobile and an iPad or tablet from 0% too. Best slim power banksXiaomi has a hand in some unexpected sectors of technology, including audio and portable chargers. But don't sleep on either, as it's onto something worth checking out. During our testing, its 10,000mAh Power Bank provided good results, both in terms of its portability and charging potential. While not the fastest charger out there, it was able to charge our Google Pixel 2 in a little over two hours. Thankfully, it's discreet enough that you can bring it with you just about everywhere to plug in when necessary. It's not rare for a power bank to come with a charging cable, but we appreciate that this one has been built with care to suit both micro USB and USB-C users with the same cable, as seen in the above gallery. With 10,400mAh inside, two USB outputs and fast charging technology the Pebble P1 Pro may be one of the best all-round power banks you can buy right now. This doesn't have anything to do with the defunct watch brand, but instead it's called the Pebble for its curved edges design. This should be able to recharge most phones at least two and a half times from a single charge, plus this power bank can be charged up by either microUSB or USB-C so you won't need to have a specific cable with you to pump it up again when it's out of juice. Ainope isn't as recognizable a brand as Anker or the others on this list, but the Ainope 10,000mAh portable charger seems like a winner at first glance. It's not the smallest charger on our list, but its tiny form factor relative to its capacity – which should recharge your iPhone X or Galaxy S9 twice over, with room to spare – makes it an appealing choice. The Ainope has two USB-A ports: one that charges at 2A and the other at 1A, though they aren't marked. The real appeal is the battery window, so if you're sold on that, pick up the Ainope 10,000mAh battery for $26 (£20, AU$37) on Amazon here. Poweradd also offers a great slim portable charger, and it's one of the cheapest options on this list yet boasts a substantial 10,000mAh cell inside. It may be quite heavy, but this is only 1.3cm thick, making it a great device to slip into your back pocket when you're out and about. You'll want to grab a cable to go with it though as unlike the Iceworks choice above it doesn't come with one built in. We love this little guy. The Anker PowerCore II 10,000 power bank is perhaps the most portable option on this list and allows you to have at least two full charges for your phone in your back pocket ready to go. At only 209g and 1.5cm thick, you'll be able to take this around with you and not feel weighed down while still having 10,000mAh of extra power for any of your devices. Plus it comes with Anker's own fast-charging tech that should mean you won't be plugged into it for too long. Like a lot of the chargers on this list, it doesn't come with a cable attached so you'll need to take your own out and about with you. This is the cheapest option for a portable charger we have on the list, but this option from RAVPower should suit you for recharging your mobile phone while on the go. It has a capacity of 6,700mAh, which should recharge your average smartphone at least once and maybe even twice. There are three color options here with the choices of either pink, bright blue or silver. The LEDs on the side of the device also show you how much charge is left and there's fast-charging tech built-in too. Don't you hate it when you have to pull a charging cord out alongside your pocket battery? The Jackery Bolt has both Lightning and MicroUSB cables built-in, so you won't have to juggle cords. Unfortunately, that means the latest Android phones that recharge via USB-C won't get any use out of the Bolt. But it has a decent 6,000mAh of battery, which is good for between one and two full smartphone recharges depending on your device. Best power banks with lots of portsThis may not be the most portable charger on our list, but it features a lot of ports, so you can charge multiple devices at the same time. It'll even charge laptops as well as your phone and tablet. You can charge six devices at once, and with a 50,000mAh capacity it has the juice to do that, so if you're usually surrounded by a lot of tech this is possibly one of the best chargers to buy. Looking for a another option with lots of ports on it? This may be a good choice for you, as there are four ports and you can charge up your MacBook as well as USB devices such as your phone. There's a quick charge port too, which will fast charge compatible devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S7. Best power banks for both laptops and phonesRAVPower's portable charger is a great choice if you need a device that can charge both your laptop and your phone. It features USB-C and normal USB outputs as well as an AC output, so you can plug your laptop charger directly in. There's also a 20,100mAh capacity battery inside, so this will be able to juice up your phone or tablet multiple times before you need to put it back on charge. The picture above may be deceptive, as this isn't a small charger and is capable of charging up your laptop or tablet as well as your phone simultaneously. You can charge up to three devices at the same time and it comes with a 23,000mAh capacity, so it should last long enough between recharges.
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| Corel acquires desktop virtualisation company Parallels Posted: 21 Dec 2018 10:24 AM PST Canada-based Corel has announced that it has acquired the virtualisation software company Parallels best known for its virtual desktop software. The company now offers the complete Parallels product line including Parallels Desktop for Mac, Parallels Toolbox for Windows and Mac, Parallels Access, Parallels Mac Management for Microsoft SCCM and Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS). While financial details of the deal were not revealed, Corel plans to make a significant investment into the Parallels business and the company sees exception opportunities for both businesses by leveraging their combined strengths, customer bases, partner networks and global brands. Corel and Parallels will deliver applications and services intended to empower users across a wide variety of platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile and the cloud. Complementary product portfoliosCorel's CEO Patrick Nichols praised the deal in a statement announcing the acquisition, saying: “We’re excited to welcome our new Parallels employees to Corel’s global organization. From our highly complementary product portfolios to our shared business models and strategies, Corel and Parallels are a great fit. Thanks to the combined power of our technologies and teams, we see tremendous opportunities to drive continued growth and success for our businesses and most importantly, our customers.” Parallels' CEO Jack Zubarev expressed his excitement at joining Corel, saying: “Parallels and Corel share a common vision, market leadership, and passion for innovation. We look to forward to continuing to serve our customers and partners with best-in-class software as part of Corel.”
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| US set to take quantum computing lead Posted: 21 Dec 2018 09:20 AM PST The US Congress is expected to give final approval to a bill that would further the development of quantum computing technology which would be used to improve the country's cybersecurity. The bill was approved by the Senate last week and once it is signed by the House, it is expected to be signed by President Trump whose administration has made the emerging technology a top priority. The US is currently trying to keep up with China in the race to develop quantum computing technology which could have huge implications for both national security and the cybersecurity community. Senator John Thune, who is the chariman of the Commerce Committee, stressed the importance of developing quantum computing technology after the bill was passed in the Senate, saying: “Establishing a national quantum program is essential to maintaining our position as global leaders in science and technology.” National Quantum Initiative ProgramQuantum computing's potential for cracking current encryption methods and developing more powerful ways of encrypting data in the future, have made it a priority not just for the US but for other countries as well. If the bill passes, it will establish a National Quantum Initiative Program that will aid in accelerating research and development over the next 10 years. The program would coordinate efforts by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to support and promote quantum computing while establishing Energy Department national research centers which would receive $25m in funding per year. Both Congress and President Trump's administration have already invested a great deal into quantum computing research and the Energy Department's Office of Science's funding in the field has almost doubled to $120m allocated for the fiscal year of 2019.
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| Whyte vs Chisora 2 live stream: how to watch the boxing online from anywhere Posted: 21 Dec 2018 08:45 AM PST Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora go head-to-head this Saturday night for their much anticipated rematch in the ring. For once, the animosity between the two British boxers feels genuine rather than theatrical, which means it should be one hell of a fight. And we've lined up your Whyte vs Chisora live stream options - and you can watch it from wherever you are on Earth with our help. Rewind back two years to Manchester and the first encounter between these two immense heavyweights and Dillian Whyte was declared the victor after 12 rounds and a controversial split decision. The protests from Chisora have finally born fruit and his chance for vengeance has finally been arranged. After Chisora's stunning knock-out of Carlos Takam as the undercard fight at the Joshua vs Povetkin match in September, Whyte vs Chisora 2 was officially announced. While Whyte has been making waves since their original fight, too, not least with his impressive points victory over Joseph Parker in July. With The WBA International heavyweight title on the line as well as pride, possibly the biggest prize on the line is a potential meet-up with Anthony Joshua next spring. If you're not able to access the fight by traditional means, you could use a VPN to stream Whyte vs Chisora 2 live so that you don't have to rely on some dodgy Reddit stream. We've got more about that down below, together with your viewing options in several countries. Live stream Whyte vs Chisora 2 from anywhere with a VPNHow watch the Whyte vs Chisora fight in the UKLive stream Whyte vs Chisora 2 in the USHow to watch Whyte vs Chisora: Australia streamThis posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Get a cheap Google Pixel 3 with these new cashback deals from Mobiles.co.uk and e2save Posted: 21 Dec 2018 08:34 AM PST The Google Pixel 3 was undoubtedly one of the best phones of 2018 with its incredible camera and high-definition OLED screen - the one downside, the price. Well Mobiles.co.uk and e2save have both helped out with that by offering massive cashback by redemption offers on a number of Google Pixel 3 deals. These deals offer up to £168 in cashback which means you can get a Google Pixel 3 for an effective monthly cost of as low as £26 and they all come with big data plans, that's a seriously good deal on a device that is still so new. And the even better news? If you order by 4pm on December 22 it will arrive in time for Christmas. What's the catch? Well, with cashback by redemption you do have to be slightly persistent. This involves sending in copies of your monthly bills a few times throughout your contract. But if you're happy to do that then you can save some major amounts of money on your contract - both e2save and Mobiles.co.uk have guides on how to do this. You can see all of these cashback by redemption deals below or if you would rather go for a Google Pixel 3 on a non-cashback basis then check out our Google Pixel 3 deals page for all of your other options. Or if you like the idea of the Pixel, but don't want to commit to a two year contract, John Lewis just dropped the price of the SIM-free handset to £589 - pretty much the cheapest we've seen it. Mobiles.co.uk cashback Google Pixel 3 dealse2save cashback Google Pixel 3 deals
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| US Army used Android apps with security flaws Posted: 21 Dec 2018 08:33 AM PST A new report from the Navy Inspector General has revealed that Android apps used by US military personnel in live combat situations contained severe security vulnerabilities that could have been exploited by hackers to steal information on the troops. The two apps provided real-time messaging capabilities to coordinate with other branches of the military, displayed mission objectives and goals, showed satellite images of mission areas and highlighted both the locations of enemy combatants as well as those of friendly forces. The report, which was first published back in March and made public by ZDNet today, identified the vulnerable apps as KILSWITCH (Kinetic Integrated Low-Cost Software Integrated Tactical Combat Handheld) and APASS (Android Precision Assault Strike Suite). Both apps were made available to members of the military through an app store controlled by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. For training exercises onlyDue to the fact that the apps were designed solely for training purposes, the developers cut corners when it came to their security. However, the apps' sleek interface and useful features led them to become popular with US troops who then used them in live combat situations despite the security risks. In its report, the Office of the Naval Inspector General determined that most branches of the military failed to properly inform troops about the apps' shortcomings. To make matters worse, a civilian whistle-blower had been warning the US military about the apps for over a year. Civilian program analyst for the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), Anthony Kim raised his concerns about the apps back in March of 2017. Unfortunately he was ignored by his superiors and punished for repeatedly raising the alarm which led to his pay being reduced, him being placed on leave and eventually his security clearance was revoked. Via Engadget
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| O2 confirms 5G tests will use Huawei kit Posted: 21 Dec 2018 08:16 AM PST O2 has revealed that it will go ahead with using Huawei equipment in its 5G testing in spite of ongoing security concerns surrounding the Chinese firm. The UK operator has confirmed that trials of its next-generation networks, set to take place in January, will utilise Huawei hardware at over 200 sites across London. O2 says that the company is going ahead with its 5G trials in the capital, including efforts to make sure its networks are "5G ready" in preparation for a public launch. "We are testing Huawei radio equipment before we deploy it on some of our cell sites in London. We do this with all vendors in order to drive optimum network for our customers," an O2 spokesman told the FT. O2 5G testsSeveral other UK operators, including EE and Vodafone, have already said they will also be carrying out 5G test using Huawei equipment. Three has also confirmed a £2bn deal with the firm to build its 5G network across the UK in preparation for a launch next year. But O2's confirmation is the first since several high-profile rejections of the Chinese firm's equipment in recent weeks, including BT saying it would strip all Huawei hardware from its EE network earlier this month. Huawei kit in the UK is subject to monitoring by a dedicated GCHQ unit, but the head of MI6 has recently suggested operators should consider the role of Chinese manufacturers in digital infrastructure due to concerns about state-sponsored surveillance. The company has already been frozen out of the US market, although it does provide equipment to a number of smaller players in the country, while Australia has banned its operators from using Huawei equipment in their 5G rollouts on national security grounds. Huawei has repeatedly denied such accusations, pointing out that it works with security agencies around the world and that it sells products to more than 500 operators in 170 countries without issue.
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| Where can you legally fly your drone? Posted: 21 Dec 2018 08:15 AM PST Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's probably a drone. Quadcopters, multirotors, and other forms of unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) have taken off in a big way. We're not talking about a novelty gift that self-destructs on impact with a lamp by the end of Christmas day, or serious hobbyist tech that costs thousands to put together. Those are toys for serious, long-standing enthusiasts. We're here to chat about affordable drones, equipped with cameras and capable of flying anywhere. These have been around for some time now, and the rise of consumer drones has been rapid. Prices have fallen, built-in GPS and stabilization systems have made them easier to pilot, and you can use them to capture stunning video footage. These compact aircraft have also been hitting the headlines more often, with the likes of concerns being aired by the FBI over in the US – more on that later – and of course most recently, the rogue drone that brought Gatwick airport to a grinding halt for a day and a half. Unsurprisingly, regulators have been left frantically writing a new rulebook on-the-fly (so to speak) to police the skies. So, what exactly are the rules so far? What kinds of drones are there?Before we get to the rules, it's worth pointing out what a drone actually is. 'Drone' has become a bit of a blanket term that covers a lot of different aircraft types, but what they have in common is that they are unmanned. In the consumer market, they're typically remote-controlled by someone nearby, though they may have the ability to fly autonomously. They fly using rotor blades, like a helicopter, and the majority of the civilian drones out there are quadcopters with four sets of blades, which aids stability. They also come in a wide range of different sizes. Many of them have cameras built-in to record the flight, some have the ability to accommodate action cameras, like the GoPro. Prices start around $50/£40/AU$70, and you can get something really sophisticated for well under $1,200/£1,000/AU$1,700. As your budget goes up, so do the capabilities of the drones. Some can navigate themselves, using GPS. Many drones have clever safety features; for example, if they lose contact with the remote control they may return to the last spot where they were in contact or find a safe spot to land. You can also get drones that route a live feed from their camera to your smartphone in real-time. So what are the actual rules?The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) makes the rules in the UK, and the first thing to note is that you need permission from the CAA to fly a drone that weighs more than 20kg, or to fly a drone for "commercial use". As long as you aren't being paid, and your drone, with any equipment it may be carrying, weighs less than 20kg, you won't need to obtain a license. However, one caveat to note is that if your drone is under 20kg, but has a weight of more than 7kg, some rules apply when flying in certain types of airspace (Class A, C, D or E airspace, unless you have appropriate permission from air traffic control as detailed in article 94, clause 4 here). Before you take to the skies, there are some other rules to bear in mind. You must fly the drone "within sight", with a limit of 400 feet in altitude and 500 metres horizontally. You also have to stay at least 150 metres away from congested areas or large gatherings of people, and at least 50 metres away from people, vehicles, and structures that are not under your control. Finally, an update to the laws which came into effect at the end of July 2018 stipulates that it's illegal not just to fly a drone above 400 feet, but also to fly one within 1km of an airfield or airport boundary. Breaking these laws could leave you open to prosecution, and in the case of those who are causing a potential hazard to an aircraft by flying a drone irresponsibly, they could face a sentence of up to five years in jail. Furthermore, you should keep privacy laws in mind when operating a drone. Filming people without permission when they have a reasonable expectation of privacy is a crime. In practice, what you get away with depends largely on who sees you and whether they complain. You might reasonably expect to be able to fly a drone in your back garden, but fly it in a busy local park, and you could be breaking the law. Even stricter regulation is expected to be introduced to the UK come November 2019, when anyone operating a consumer drone weighing more than 250g will be required to register it with the CAA (as is already the case in the US). Furthermore, drone owners will have to undergo mandatory online safety tests. In the US, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has made similar rules. You can't fly above 400 feet, the drone should be within line of sight, and you shouldn't be within five miles of an airport, or near controlled airspace, such as over a stadium. You shouldn't fly over groups of people, or near emergency response efforts, either. Flying a drone for commercial purposes without permission is illegal. Any drone weighing more than 250g must be registered with the FAA, even if you’re only flying it around your back garden. Registering costs $5 and lasts for three years before you have to renew. You need to be at least 13-years-old to register a drone, otherwise a responsible adult must do it for you. If you fly a drone unregistered, and get caught, the authorities could theoretically exact civil penalties in the form of a fine of up to $27,500, or potentially criminal penalties of up to $250,000 and/or going to prison for a maximum of three years. When you register a drone, you get a unique FAA registration number, and there has been talk that it could become mandatory to display that number visibly on your craft – effectively making it a license plate. Generally speaking, when flying your drone it's best to exercise a little caution and common sense. Any high security area should obviously be avoided. The first drone-related conviction in the UK came after a man flew his drone over the busy Jubilee Bridge and a nuclear installation. Another man was fined after he shot close-up video of Big Ben, HMS Belfast, the Shard, and flew over football matches at Anfield and other stadiums. He also had his equipment confiscated, and was banned from buying or borrowing drones in future. And when it comes to malicious activity, you only have to look at the incident which has just occurred at Gatwick airport at the time of writing. This involved a rogue drone (or drones) flying near the airport, effectively shutting it down for a day and a half. Currently, police aren’t sure of the perpetrator(s) or motive, but the end result is clear enough – a massive headache for the authorities, airport and airlines, not to mention the poor punters who couldn’t get away on holiday. There have been incidents Stateside too. Flying a drone into the White House gardens is a really bad idea, if you don't want to end up with a prison sentence. National parks are out of bounds, and it's probably best to avoid Washington D.C. completely (it's illegal to fly a drone within the city's 15-mile radius "inner ring" airspace, for starters). We've also heard concerns from the FBI about drones being used by criminals for all manner of nefarious purposes, including surveillance for robberies, helping drug smugglers to avoid Border Patrol agents, and spying on police stations to try and determine the identity of visiting informants. All this has led to talk in the US of potential countermeasures such as the government employing drone-jamming equipment in sensitive airspaces (although that could have side-effects with other aircraft or signals). And of course the UK authorities are currently mulling what to do about the threat of drones effectively shutting down an airport as large as Gatwick. In both countries, then, with serious (and possibly terrorist-related) threats on the horizon, we could potentially be looking at much tighter regulation in the future. Manage your expectations, play safe, and enjoyThere's still plenty of fun to be had with drones, racing with other enthusiasts, or shooting dramatic videos. They are very manoeuvrable, much easier to pilot than the radio-controlled aircraft of yesteryear, and they offer the ability to capture shots that would have been out of reach for all but the most well-equipped and bankrolled professionals in the past. As more drones take to the skies, as we've already mentioned, we're likely to see more regulation and licensing, especially if there are more incidents like Gatwick. If you're going to buy a drone, make sure that you learn to use it properly, and read up on the rules before you take it out. Don't fly near people or vehicles where you could cause distress, or worse, and stay well away from airports, flight paths, and sensitive security areas. The KnowBeforeYouFly website is a good resource for more advice and the latest legal guidelines in the United States. British drone owners should keep an eye on the CAA website. This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Save 69% on the price of this IPVanish deal - a great price on a brilliant VPN Posted: 21 Dec 2018 08:14 AM PST Who says Christmas presents have to be about big gestures and flat screen TVs, you know what is the absolute best way to show someone you care in the holiday season? A cheap VPN deal. Well okay, maybe not the best way and maybe a VPN under the Christmas tree won't win you many brownie points, but this seasonal discount is still well worth knowing about. For just $89.99 (around £71) or the equivalent of $3.74 a month you can get a two year subscription of IPVanish. That's two years of ultimate protection online and restriction-free exploration of the internet. Go straight to IPVanish to get your hands on this great deal IPVanish is a world leader in the VPN game and one we rank highly (taking our #2 spot in our best VPN service guide). You're getting a fast performance, connection of up to 10 devices, unlimited usage, access to over 1000 servers and most importantly, the ability to unblock Netflix in restricted countries. If all of this sounds like your ideal package then scroll down to see all of the details in full or check out our best VPN deals guide for all of the very best offers on cyber privacy. VPN deal: 69% discount on IPVanishWhat can you do with a VPNThere are traditionally two main reasons you might want to get a VPN - protecting yourself online and avoiding internet restrictions. In terms of online safety, a VPN uses encryption technologies to mask your IP address so you can't be tracked. Simply, it makes it a lot harder for you to be traced on the internet. Their other use is a bit wider in its functionality and realistically more popular. VPNs can allow you to work around restrictions online which means watching your favourite channels in other countries, getting cheaper deals on flights and trains and watch any country's Netflix no matter where you are. See also:
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