Ask anyone who’s tried a standing desk and they’ll all say the same thing: it makes your feet hurt. It makes sense since you aren’t used to it yet, especially if you’ve been sitting all day every day for years. It takes more effort to stand than sit, and you have to develop your tissues to withstand the constant pressure of being on your feet. But that pain may not go away on its own. Standing for hours at a time can cause muscle strains and aches and pains that only seem to get worse with time. I struggled with horrendous foot pain during my first few weeks with a standing desk, and it eventually evolved into plantar fasciitis. Fortunately, that wasn’t the end of the story. I’m happy to report that it’s been a few years since my first foray into standing desks and now I can stand all day without any pain—plus the benefits to my back and posture have been enormous. I’m glad I stuck with it. I just had to learn how to take care of my feet while using my standing desk. Here are my three favorite solutions that actually worked. Solution #1: Anti-fatigue mat The most important and most effective recommendation I can make for anyone who’s a long-term standing desk user is to get a proper anti-fatigue standing mat. The keyword there is “proper.” Not all anti-fatigue mats are equal, and getting the wrong one is just a waste of your money. Truth is, there are so many standing mat designs out there, ranging from simple and compact options to expansive mats with all sorts of ridges and bumps. I’ve tried my fair share over the years and I’ve developed my own preferences—but even then, some are objectively better. The Topo Comfort Mat by ErgodrivenJoel Lee / Foundry For starters, simple memory foam is a no-go. While this material is fantastic for your bedtime pillow, it’s next to useless when it comes to standing on it all day long. You exert too much force on it and it will very quickly lose its supportive and cushioning capabilities. If you see an anti-fatigue mat meant for kitchens, skip it. They’re usually made of memory foam and won’t provide the all-day relief you need at a standing desk. I’d also avoid any standing mat that’s totally flat and uninteresting in its design. Not because they’re dull to look at, but because variety in texture and shape can make a real difference to your standing comfort. Again, anti-fatigue mats for kitchens are usually like this, so skip them. Instead, look for contours, bumps, ridges—features that not only encourage different stances but also let you relieve pressure points. The Active Anti-Fatigue Mat E7 by UpliftJon Martindale / Foundry The design I’ve personally settled on is the Uplift Active Anti-Fatigue Mat E7. It’s huge and takes up far too much floor space for something so simple, but it’s really comfortable and effective. The polyurethane is tough but flexible so it contours when I stand on it, but not so much as to provide no resistance. When my feet start to tire or ache, I can use the mat itself to massage them—especially the half-spheres on the sides, which are great for digging into the arches. The prickly section offers points of micro pressure, which feel really nice on tired feet. To be fair, the Uplift E7 mat isn’t the only one that offers these features, and it’s expensive for what it is, but I think it’s worth the money. It works well with bare feet and with shoes, it’s durable and holds its properties, and it comes with a 15-year warranty. Uplift is confident you won’t wear this thing out. (I consider that a challenge!) Solution #2: Balance board Maybe you already have an anti-fatigue standing mat, or maybe you just want more variety to your standing movements. In that case, a balance board can be a great alternative to a static mat. There are several different designs out there, but they mostly boil down to one core idea: a flat board on a half-sphere that forces you to maintain your balance on it. As you shift your weight around, it rocks from side to side with you, engaging a bunch of balance-related muscles, encouraging physical effort, and ensuring your feet are never still for too long. The Yo-Yo Board 360Jon Martindale / Foundry Standing on a balance board burns calories, but that’s not its main purpose. The most important benefit is that it keeps blood pumping freely in your legs, helping to thwart deep vein thrombosis (one of the most common issues that comes with all-day standing). I’ve tried a few different designs over the years, but I really like the Yo-Yo Board 360. It’s short enough that it can be easily rotated in any direction, yet tall enough to allow some deep dips to the side, front, or back depending on how I’m using it. It also has a thick foam pad for extra cushioning for my feet. Other boards with thinner foam seem to wear out over time as the foam compresses, providing less support for my feet even as it retains its cool rocking function. Unfortunately, the Yo-Yo Board 360 is hard to get in the US. If you want something similar, you can find some solid alternatives on Amazon, including the Fezibo Anti-Fatigue Balance Board. The Fezibo Anti-Fatigue Balance BoardFezibo Beyond just helping my feet, though, I’ve found balance boards to be a fun way to fidget while standing to work. I can rock the board onto its side, drop it back down again, do 360-degree spins, and a bunch of flamingo legging to help ease any stress on one leg or the other. All-day static standing isn’t much better than all-day static sitting, so using something like this to increase the variety of your movements can be really useful for managing foot pain and aches. Solution #3: Under-desk treadmill Want to really burn calories while you work and alleviate a lot of your standing desk foot pain? Try an under-desk treadmill! Okay, so this one isn’t something you can use all day long, and it’s definitely something you want to build up to over time. (If you thought standing while working was tricky, walking is a whole other kettle of fish.) But this one is the ultimate in multipurpose productivity. I did a quick 40 minutes on my WalkingPad Z1 foldable treadmill this morning, burning a swift 86 calories, and I barely noticed it. My legs were a bit tired afterwards and I sweated a bit more than I normally do while writing an article, but now that I’m used to walking while writing, I can do it quite easily. Not for long periods of time—so I still need the anti-fatigue mat, balance board, and an ergonomic office chair for breaks—but it’s an excellent addition to my collection of foot-saving accessories. The WalkingPad Z1 Foldable Under-Desk TreadmillJon Martindale / Foundry Since using an under-desk treadmill, I’ve burned a lot of calories—and it’s surprisingly straightforward to type while walking once you’ve gotten over the initial learning curve. The first few days saw me hitting the wrong keys and misclicking a lot, but it didn’t take long before those issues were behind me. My brain soon recalibrated to glide mode. There are some downsides to such extreme movement encouragement, though. It’s undeniably large and takes up a lot of space in my tiny home office—and that’s with the slim-line model that folds up for storage, which is the only reason I could make it work. (My dog complains that it takes up valuable under-desk space where his bed could be.) Treadmills are also noisy, though not obnoxiously so. It’s easy enough to ignore with headphones on, but I probably wouldn’t recommend this if you live in an apartment and have a downstairs neighbor. But if you have a spacious office and you’re on the ground floor or in the basement, I’d say that an under-desk treadmill is a seriously useful bit of kit. Mine will certainly remain in my arsenal of standing-desk-foot-pain-alleviating accessories that I can’t do without. Honorable mention: Comfortable shoes If you can’t get any of the above solutions—or if you just don’t like any of them—then can I at least suggest a decent pair of shoes? Nothing exacerbates my standing desk foot pain more than standing barefoot or in socks. Conventional flooring isn’t padded well enough to be comfortable for unprotected feet for hours every day. But no slippers, no heels, no work boots, and probably not orthotics, either. And instead of wearing just any pair of comfortable sneakers, my recommendation goes one step further—to something more padded and more protective. I have something specific in mind. The Vibram FiveFingers Barefoot Toe ShoeJon Martindale / Foundry I’m talking about minimalist shoes like the Vibram FiveFingers. I know I’m in the minority in thinking these shoes are amazing, but I wear them all day while walking on the treadmill or rocking on the balance board. No foot pain. These shoes have helped strengthen my feet, and my toes have the freedom to spread out comfortably. You don’t need to wear such a fashion-pariah of a shoe, but I’ve found them to be great for standing and they work really well for me. Your opinions may differ. But whatever you do, get a good pair of shoes for your standing desk and make sure it’s comfortable, supportive, and not too restrictive. Your feet will thank you for it. Further reading: Life-changing desk accessories for PC users Read...

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and Windows 11 Pro together for just $44.97 (MSRP: $418.99) through Sept. 14. If you’ve been putting off upgrading your PC, this bundle makes the decision easier than ever. For just $44.97, you can lock in a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and Microsoft Windows 11 Pro — two tools that can completely change how your computer performs. Office Pro 2021 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access, all redesigned with modern features to help you create documents, crunch data, or put together presentations more efficiently. No subscription fees, no renewals. Pair that with Windows 11 Pro, Microsoft’s sleek, secure, and productivity-focused operating system. With features like snap layouts, enhanced security tools, and Copilot — the built-in AI assistant that helps draft emails, summarize content, or even generate quick code suggestions — it’s a serious upgrade for entrepreneurs, remote workers, and anyone trying to extend the life of their current machine. Pick up this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and Microsoft Windows 11 Pro bundle while it’s just $44.97 (MSRP: $418.99) through Sept. 14. The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro BundleSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

Workiva launches new agentic AI features to automate finance and governance tasks, helping CFOs improve efficiency amid regulatory and economic challenges. Read...

With any luck, Arm’s new Lumex CPU platform may give us a hint at what to expect for upcoming Windows on Arm PCs: four tiers of CPU power, plus an improved ray-tracing engine and graphics upscaling. Arm says that its new Lumex C1-series chips will deliver 25 percent more performance than the Cortex X925 series of processors it launched in May 2024. Like the X925, the latest Lumex C1 cores are being optimized with 3nm process technologies in mind, with physical implementations and foundry collaborations to speed customers to market. (While Arm has hinted at building its own physical cores for years, however, company representatives would say only that it includes “near production-ready physical implementations for partners” and is “not a chip.”) The Lumex platform is Arm’s brand for smartphones. PC-specific Arm chips will be branded as “Niva” under Arm’s new naming scheme, though they will share some common features with the Lumex cores. Qualcomm, which actually makes the Arm processors, uses the “Snapdragon” brand, which will almost certainly continue. Arm chips power the vast majority of the world’s smartphones, as Arm licenses its designs to customers who can choose to bring the Arm cores to market or take an architectural license and design compatible but otherwise brand new designs of their own making. That’s the approach Apple and Qualcomm have taken — who, in addition to designing smartphones, have brought Arm into the Mac OS space as well as Windows on Arm PCs. Though Qualcomm and Arm have had their legal differences over licensing Arm’s cores — which have since been settled — an Arm representative declined to comment when asked if any ongoing legal issues would prevent Qualcomm from taking a license. Arm’s new Lumex CPU cores continue delivering doble-digit performance gains, the company said.Arm And you will, apparently, see the Lumex in more than just PCs. “So the Lumex platform is going to power flagship smartphones through to PCs and tablets,” said James McNiven, the vice president of product management for Arm, in a press briefing. Smartphones, though, have their own demands: low power, which Arm’s RISC architecture was designed for; and maximizing local AI. The Cortex C1 series includes what Arm calls Scalable Matrix Extension 2 (SME2), using the Arm v9.3 instruction set. Arm doesn’t use a dedicated NPU. Instead, it uses a technology called KleidiAI that essentially uses software libraries to address AI-specific functions inside the CPU, no matter which version of the Arm architecture is present. In the C1 CPU cluster, Arm says, you’ll see a 5X uplift in AI performance. Arm says that will increase performance on apps that always have some form of AI technology running, such as audio generation, camera inferencing, or computer vision. Specifically, Arm is claiming over 4.7 times improvement in latency, speech recognition, and classical large language model tasks, and about 2.8 times faster audio generation. The other thing Arm has been known for is that it basically pioneered the concept of performance and efficiency cores, a strategy known as “Big-Little.” But with the Lumex, that’s been taken to a new level with the addition of a new “premium” core. Now, there are four different tiers of CPU cores: the C1-Ultra, the C1-Premium, the C1-Pro, and the C1-Nano. Arm now has four CPU cores, not just two.Arm Nothing’s really changed all that much: The Ultra and Premium cores are simply two tiers of “performance” cores, while the Pro and Nano deliver different levels of efficiency. Arm executives said that the Premium core could stand in for the Ultra cores on non-flagship, cheaper devices, as it offers similar performance to the Ultra, but in a 35 percent smaller area. The C1 Pro “improves” upon the Cortex A75 in terms of performance and efficiency, McNiven said, while the Nano has the “smallest footprint” and will play a role in both flagship and entry-level devices, he said. Overall, Arm executives said that the on-device AI is three times more power efficient than the previous implementations, and the Pro is 12 percent more power efficient at the same frequency. Arm is also introducing a new GPU, the Mali G1-Ultra, which will promise 20 percent better graphics performance, twice the ray-tracing performance, and 20 percent faster inferencing for AI processing than the earlier Immortalis-G925. The Mali G1-Ultra will also consume less power, as the block is on its own power island with less leakage when idle. Specifically, Arm is claiming that frame rates on ray-traced games will be 40 percent higher than its predecessor, part of moving to a “single-ray” model for improved efficiency and more realistic lighting,” McNiven said. The new Mali core also includes upscaling — quickly rendering at a lower resolution for improved frame rate, then upscaling it for better visual quality — but it does not use the AI-generated frames of some desktop GPUs. Arm’s new Mali core should be the foundation of GPUs on smartphones and Windows on Arm PCs alike.Arm “One of the examples that we have been seeing recently was some of the new ray tracing benchmarks like [UL’s 3DMark] Solar Bay Extreme, and I think that we see there up to a doubling in performance, because it is so ray tracing heavy. So it really does depend on just the amount of ray-tracing content,” McNiven said. One idea behind the Lumex platform, executives said, was to move certain cloud-based AI functions on to the device. Specifically, a large language model in the world of Krafton’s Inzoi (a spiritual successor to The Sims) was run on-device at the GDC conference, they said, as well as a “coach” that watched you play in Tencent’s Honor of Kings and offered advice. A major online payment provider is also working to put agentic AI on device to handle payment processing during peak times, instead of committing to expensive, back-end cloud servers, said Chris Bergey, the senior vice president of the client line of business at Arm. “If your device is capable of running a large language model, you have an extra means of interacting with the game that augments your experience,” McNiven said. “But if you don’t have it, the game is still playable.” Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Handsome heatsink design Priced attractively Decent write performance for its class Cons Slower in many ways than the plain Play 2280 Marketed at Playstations that may not support HMB Our Verdict The attractively heatsinked QLC Lexar Play 2280 — a Costco exclusive — trails its TLC Play 2280 (non-SE) HMB PCIe 4.0 cousin in performance. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Lexar Play 2280 SE Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices There’s no doubt that the currently Costco-exclusive Lexar Play 2280 SE, which I assume stands for “Special Edition,” is a looker. The included stylized heatsink definitely renders it a cut above the norm in appearance. However, while it’s a good real-world performer for host memory buffer (HMB) PCIe 4.0, it’s slower with random operations than the older (and pricier) Lexar Play 2280 that’s available elsewhere. And that’s in a PC. The Play 2280 SE will work in the PlayStation 5 that it’s marketed for, but that gaming console doesn’t support host memory buffer, which means you’re operating off of secondary cache all the time. In other words, it won’t perform as well as a DRAM design in Sony’s hardware. The same is true for all HMB designs, but Lexar is one of the only companies I know of that markets its HMB as if it’s specially suited for the PlayStation. Come on now… Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best PCIe 4.0 SSDs for comparison. What are the Lexar Play 2280 SE’s features? Created in the common 2280 (22mm wide, 80mm long) form factor, the Play 2280 SE is a PCIe 4.0 x4, M.2, NVMe SSD sporting an Innogrit IG5236 controller, and layered QLC (Quad-Level Cell/4-Bit) NAND. The older Play 2280 uses a Maxio MAP1602A controller and TLC (Triple-Level Cell/3-bit) NAND — it’s not the same drive. Like the Play 2280, the Play 2280 SE is a host memory buffer design, i.e. it uses your device’s memory for primary caching duties, as opposed to dedicated memory on the SSD itself. HMB designs generally perform on par or better than DRAM designs in Windows Explorer large file transfers, or sustained throughput, but lag in small file, random operations. The latter was especially true in the Play 2280 SE’s case. The warranty for the Play 2280 SE is five years. How much is the Lexar Play 2280 SE? At the time of this writing, the Play 2280 SE was only available in a 4TB capacity, only at Costco, and priced at $225, including the heatsink. On Amazon, the older 4TB Play 2280 is just over $250 at the time of this writing, and also available in 2TB capacity for $188. The SE’s $225 is a good price, but I’ve seen WD’s excellent SN7100 on sale for less than either the Play 2280 SE or Play 2280, albeit with no heatsink. A heatsink is generally a $10 to $15 add on. Again, the Play 2280 SE is currently a Costco exclusive product so you likely won’t find it on sale for a while. Lexar did intimate that the drive might eventually be available from other vendors. How does the Lexar Play 2280 SE perform? While not the fastest PCIe 4.0 host memory buffer design I’ve tested, the 4TB Lexar Play 2280 SE is not far off overall. That said, it was mysteriously slow at single-queue reads in CrystalDiskMark 8 — even compared to the older Play 2280. AS SSD and ATTO did not agree, though the latter had the 2280 SE pegged as a slower writer with its 2MB and 48MB data sets than any of the other size data sets. You can see the story in the charts below. The Play 2280 SE is currently a Costco exclusive product so you likely won’t find it on sale for a while On the pace in most of the tests, the disappointing single-queue read is a bit of a mystery. Longer bars are better. There was also a curious and distinct drop-off in random performance with multiple queues compared to the older 2280 Play. The Play 2280 SE isn’t bad, it’s just not as good with random ops as the older plain Play 2280. Longer bars are better. The 48GB transfer times were essentially a draw, though the WD Black SN7100 just edged out the Play 2280 SE overall. Our real-world 48GB transfers showed not a lot of difference in sustained throughput. Shorter bars are better. Again, there’s not much to distinguish one of these PCIe 4.0 HMB SSDs from the other in the 450GB write test. But again, this is in a Windows PC with support for host memory buffer. The Playstation 5 does not have that support. In the 450GB write the Play 2280 SE was every bit as fast as the older version. Shorter bars are better. Despite the difference in NAND types (QLC vs. TLC) the Play 2280 SE didn’t slump horribly compared to the Play 2280 when secondary cache was exhausted during a 950GB write. The SE dropped at around the 650GB mark to the 300MBps to 500MBps range — roughly SATA SSD speeds. The plain Play 2280 averages about 200MBps faster. Regardless, 500MBps isn’t tragic and a testament to just how far QLC has come in the last couple years. Once upon a time we saw 50- to 75MBps native writing. Yuck. Note that you will see this drop-off sooner with lower-capacity Play 2280 SEs as they have less NAND to treat as secondary cache (writing the NAND as single bit SLC). Another caveat: The Play 2280 SE didn’t like our Highpoint 7604A PCIe 5.0 card at all, turning in a rather haphazard performance in CrystalDiskMark 8. Make sure it’s happy in your system within the item return period. CrystalDiskMark 8, AS SSD 2, ATTO 4 are all good measuring sticks. As to the Playstation. Yes, the 2280 SE will work in that system, and you’ll likely be happy with it. NVMe is extremely fast, even when it’s relying on secondary cache. But DRAM designs will work better in a Playstation, albeit for more money. Should you buy the Lexar Play 2280 SE? Though not the best performer in its class, the Play 2280 SE is good in real-world sustained throughput — and I like the looks. It’s also competitive price-wise. What I don’t like is it being marketed for a system that it’s not ideally suited for. For your PC — 4 stars. For the PlayStation — 3.5 stars. How we test Drive tests currently utilize Windows 11 24H2, 64-bit running off of a PCIe 4.0 Samsung 990 Pro in an Asus Z890-Creator WiFi (PCIe 4.0/5.0) motherboard. The CPU is a Core Ultra i5 225 feeding/fed by two Kingston Fury 32GB DDR5 4800MHz modules (64GB of memory total). Both 20Gbps USB and Thunderbolt 5 are integrated and Intel CPU/GPU graphics are used. PCIe 5.0 SSDs involved in testing are mounted in a Asus ROG PCIe 5.0 M.2 adapter card and a HighPoint 7604A 16x PCIe 5.0 4-port M.2 adapter card. We run the CrystalDiskMark 8 (and 9), AS SSD 2, and ATTO 4 synthetic benchmarks (to keep article length down, we only report one) to find the storage device’s potential performance, then a series of 48GB and 450GB transfers tests using Windows Explorer drag and drop to show what you’ll see under Window, as well as the far faster Xcopy and FastCopy to show what’s possible. A 25GBps two-SSD RAID 0 array on the aforementioned Highpoint 7604A is used as the second drive in our transfer tests. Formerly the 48GB tests were done with a RAM disk. Each test is performed on a NTFS-formatted and newly TRIM’d drive so the results are optimal. Note that in normal use, as a drive fills up, performance may decrease due to less NAND for secondary caching, as well as other factors. This issue has abated somewher with the current crop of SSDs with more mature controllers and far faster late-generation NAND. Caveat: The performance numbers shown apply only to the drive we were shipped and to the capacity tested. SSD performance can and will vary by capacity due to more or fewer chips to shotgun reads/writes across and the amount of NAND available for secondary caching. Vendors also occasionally swap components. If you ever notice a large discrepancy between the performance you experience and that which we report, by all means, let us know. Read...

We always knew that consumers preferred Windows PCs over Macs, but the numbers now back it up. HP topped Apple as the most preferred PC maker in the 2025 iteration of the American Customer Satisfaction Survey — though general consumer satisfaction with PCs fell slightly compared with 2024 sentiments. Big names, like Microsoft, suffered in the eyes of their consumer critics. Customers polled by the survey, however, said that the overall design of computers has improved, and that they marked that aspect as the best of the computing experience. The worst? The agony of calling and then navigating through a call center to receive customer support. ACSI, which runs the study, said that it sent out thousands of email surveys to random customers, and the 16,205 completed surveys it received were used as the foundation for its 2025 report. Customers were asked about their experiences with the largest customers as well as an “all other” category. The ACSI received customer inputs on expectations, quality perceptions, and perceptions of value and used them as inputs to generate a score. The biggest slips in perceived quality were Apple, Microsoft, and Acer, all of which lost three points in the ACSI rankings. Last year, Apple topped the charts with a score of 85. Yet its score of 82 placed Apple second; Dell’s ACSI score also decreased by a point compared to 2024. However, ACSI assigned Dell a score of 83, making it the most popular computer company for 2025. ACSI Household Appliance and Electronics Study 2025 / American Customer Satisfaction Index LLC. The ACSI also included tablets in this category, and added Amazon to its list of manufacturers. Tablet satisfaction scores plunged, from 81 in 2024 to 77 in 2025. In general, computer satisfaction declined across every PC maker save Dell, which saw an increase in the satisfaction score from 2024’s 80 score to its 2025 score of 82. ACSI measured several aspects of the computing experience — design, availability of software, ease of operation, graphics and sound quality, and more — and generally found that customers ranked them essentially the same as in 2024. Customers expressed the least satisfaction with a computer’s ability to prevent crashing, the general state of “features” like the OS or preloaded software, and call-center satisfaction. (They apparently hadn’t moved past our first review of Windows 11.) ACSI Household Appliance and Electronics Study 2025 / American Customer Satisfaction Index LLC. “The service experience may be a factor in the deviating levels of satisfaction between desktops and tablets,” the ACSI found. “Manufacturers continue to expand their repair networks to connect users with convenient outlets for service, but high repair costs and inconsistent parts availability continue to hinder the service experience for some.” Interestingly, customers ranked the desktop experience higher than that using a laptop, though aspects like “website satisfaction” should have been mostly thee same for both. ACSI Household Appliance and Electronics Study 2025 / American Customer Satisfaction Index LLC. Still, the category with the most need for improvement isn’t PCs, but tablets. Amazon clearly has its work cut out for it. Read...

TL;DR: Windows 11 Pro is just $12.97 through October 5 — a lifetime license with Copilot AI, upgraded security, and smarter multitasking features. Windows 11 Pro retails for $199, but through October 5, you can lock in a lifetime license for just $12.97. That’s one of the lowest prices we’ve seen for Microsoft’s latest operating system, making it an easy upgrade if your PC meets the requirements. Windows 11 Pro isn’t just a fresh coat of paint — it’s meant to be a productivity powerhouse. Features like Snap Layouts and multiple desktops make multitasking a breeze, while upgraded security tools like BitLocker and Smart App Control keep your data safe. Gamers benefit from DirectX 12 Ultimate, and professionals get access to advanced tools like Hyper-V virtualization and Azure AD integration. But the real star here is Copilot, Microsoft’s built-in AI assistant. Copilot can summarize web pages, help with email drafts, suggest code, and even change your system settings just by asking. It’s like having an extra set of hands that never gets tired. At this price, upgrading to Windows 11 Pro is a no-brainer — especially since this deal disappears after October 5. Get Windows 11 Pro for $12.97 (MSRP: $199) while you can. Microsoft Windows 11 ProSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros 2.4GHz Wi-Fi adapter onboard—no hub or bridge needed Triple-A BHMA and ANSI Grade 1 certifications Buttons provide tactile feedback Supports up to 250 PINs Cons No support for Apple Home or Matter No door open/close sensor Wi-Fi connectivity decreases battery life Our Verdict The Schlage Arrive Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock is a well-made smart lock that concentrates on the most important tasks, but some will find its price tag a bit high for its limited feature set. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Schlage Arrive Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock Retailer Price $199 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Schlage has manufactured premium locks for more than a century, and the company successfully transitioned to the smart home era more than a decade ago. The Schlage Arrive Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt Lock is a lower-cost alternative to the company’s earlier Wi-Fi deadbolts, the Encode and Encode Plus, but the entry-level Arrive still commands a premium price. You’ll get an incredibly well-made unit for your money, one with physical buttons, stellar triple-A BMHA certification (as well as ANSI Grade 1 commercial certification), direct connection to your Wi-Fi network (no hub or bridge required), and a satisfying clunk when the deadbolt engages. If you’re looking for a smart deadbolt that offers outstanding security but don’t need a lot of advanced features, the Schlage Arrive is an outstanding choice. That’s assuming you’re shopping for a replacement lock versus a retrofit model for an existing lock. Our guide to retrofit vs. replacement smart lock will help you make that decision. Hardware You won’t encounter any surprises when you unbox the Schlage Arrive Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock (well, apart from getting just a single key).James Barber/Foundry The Arrive Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt Lock comes in either matte black or satin nickel finishes, with a choice of three trim designs: Century is a straight-line rectangle, Remsen (reviewed here) features rounded corners, and Camelot is a more traditional, medallion-like design. Schlage uses raised, rubberized, and backit buttons for the keypad. While I imagine this material costs less than the glass capacitive touchscreen the company uses on its more expensive locks, I prefer the feel of it. The lock also has a conventional key cylinder, but Schlage provides only one key. The AAA BHMA certification means that after 15 separate standardized tests, it has earned a top grade in all three of the trade group’s categories: Security, durability, and finish. So, it should hold up against heavy residential use. Its ANSI Grade 1 certification, meanwhile, indicates that it’s also certified for use in commercial buildings. For those tests, the lock must survive a minimum of 250,000 open/close cycles and 10 blows with a hammer delivering 75 foot-pounds of force. Here’s even more information on BHMA and ANSI certifications as they apply to deadbolt locks. Installation Since I was replacing a previously installed deadbolt, I didn’t need to replace the strike plate on my door jamb. That made for quick 10-minute install requiring only a Phillips-head screwdriver. I had one small issue. The inside of the door had been stained around a previous deadbolt and the Remsen was narrow enough that a sliver of the unstained door underneath is now visible. That’s an issue caused by the original door installation, but it’s worth noting. After installing the Schlage app on my phone and inserting four AA batteries (included) into the interior escutcheon, I was able to use the app to connect the lock to my 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network. There is no requirement for a bridge or smart home hub, so the process could not have been easier. The Schlage app The Schlage Arrive app supports all the features you’d expect, and it lets you assign as many as 200 user PINs.James Barber/Foundry The Schlage Home app has been redesigned for 2025, and it feels cleaner and more unified than in years past. The new Home View shows all your Schlage locks at once, with quick buttons for locking and unlocking, plus lock history and battery status. The app makes it easy to create and manage access codes, track usage, and configure push notifications. Here’s where the Arrive stands out the Schlage lineup: it supports up to 250 access codes, compared to 100 on the Encode and Encode Plus. That’s overkill for most households, but it’s a huge convenience if you’re managing short-term rentals (here’s where that ANSI Grade 1 certification comes in) or giving regular access to service providers. Codes can be time-limited or revoked remotely, and notifications can be tuned to alert you only when certain codes are used. Smart home integration One of the features that makes the Arrive an entry-level smart deadbolt is its limited support for smart home ecosystems. The Arrive works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Ring Alarm systems through cloud integration, but that’s where the list ends. If you want Apple and NFC tap-to-unlock via an iPhone or Apple Watch, you’ll need to step up to Schlage’s $329 Encode Plus. The upcoming Schlage Sense Pro (available this fall, price TBA) goes further with Matter-over-Thread and ultra-wideband hands-free unlocking. If you live in Apple’s ecosystem, the Arrive won’t check all your boxes, but it’s perfectly adequate for anyone who just wants reliable Wi-Fi control. The Schlage Arrive is available in three trims, (from L to R: Remsen, Camelot, and Century) and two finishes (satin nickel and matte black).Schlage Everyday use The Schlage Arrive Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt Lock has proven to be a “set it and forget it” lock. The unit works exactly as you’d hope after you use the app to set up a four- or eight-digit security code and define how long you want the unit to wait before automatically relocking. Unlocking is instantaneous when you punch in the key and there’s only a slight lag when using the app. As with all Wi-Fi locks, you’ll be without remote access if your Wi-Fi network goes down. The battery-powered lock will still accept a punch-in code and there’s that single key if your batteries die (you can have more made at your local hardware store). Where the Arrive fits into Schlage’s lineup Higher-end locks tend to feature touchscreens, but I prefer the tactile feedback that rubber buttons provide.James Barber/Foundry Schlage positions the Arrive as its entry-level smart lock, but I prefer its physical buttons to the touchscreen that’s the primary upgrade included in the $225 Encode. The Arrive also offers support for more than twice as many distinct codes as the Encode. Arrive: Push-button keypad, Wi-Fi, 250 codes, Alexa/Google, no Apple HomeKit, no Matter support Encode: Capacitive touchscreen keypad, Wi-Fi, 100 codes, Alexa/Google, no Matter support Encode Plus: Touchscreen keypad, Wi-Fi, 100 codes, Alexa/Google, Apple Home, NFC tap-to-unlock, no Matter support Sense Pro (coming later in 2025): Matter-over-Thread, ultra-wideband intent-based unlocking, NFC, hands-free entry The Arrive doubles down on the basics: code capacity, tactile usability, and simplified setup. It’s the smart lock you’d put on a garage door, rental property, or side entry; any place where reliability matters more than advanced ecosystem support. Should you buy the Schlage Arrive Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock? The Schlage Arrive Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt Lock doesn’t push boundaries, and that’s exactly the point. It’s Schlage’s most approachable smart lock yet: easy to install, easy to use, and robust enough to handle daily life without calling attention to itself. If you want a Schlage lock that supports Apple Home, go for the Schlage Encode Plus. If you’re looking for hands-free entry and Matter support, the Sense Pro might be worth the wait. But if all you want is a dependable, tactile, Wi-Fi smart lock you can manage from your phone, the Schlage Arrive is an excellent choice. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks. Read...

ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Grok… that’s just scratching the tip of the iceberg. There are now so many AI chatbot services out there, most of them run by American tech giants, and most of them are monitoring our conversations, collecting our inputs, and possibly even sharing that data with others. Is there an alternative for the small remnant of society that still cares about privacy and personal data? Yes! That alternative is called Proton Lumo, which we first learned about back in July. Proton is a Swiss company that’s best known for Proton Mail, the encrypted email service that started back in 2014. Since then, Proton has expanded its portfolio with all kinds of other privacy-focused alternatives to mainstream apps, including Proton VPN, Proton Drive, Proton Calendar, and Proton Wallet. Proton Lumo is the latest addition to the company’s arsenal, an AI that runs on servers in Europe and incorporates models from companies such as Mistral and Nvidia. Joel Lee / Foundry Like its competitors, Lumo can answer questions, summarize documents, and generate text. But the difference is that everything you do is private and no one else can access your history. The drawback to Lumo is that it’s more limited than its competitors, which comes with the no-tracking and privacy-centric territory. It also can’t create images or videos. You can try Lumo for free without registering, but you can unlock additional features by logging in. You can also lift the usage limits with a Lumo Plus subscription for $12.99/month. Read...

Pardon the pun, but oh my, has the landscape shifted in terms of robot lawn mowers. Five years ago, when I first started covering this smart home category, there were just two brands to choose from: Husqvarna and Worx. Today, there are dozen or so manufacturers vying for the mantle of best robot mower, albeit with varying success. Prices have come down dramatically, too. In the early days, you’d need to spend at least several thousand dollars for the most basic machine. These days, you can find models for smaller yards that cost $1,000 or less. And like robot vacuums, robot lawn mowers have become more sophisticated, with features such as onboard positioning to know where they are in your yard, cameras to spot obstacles, and even AI to remember the tricky parts of your yard and how to navigate them. Our top picks in robot lawn mowers Segway Navimow i110N – Best budget-priced mower for very small lawns Pros Best navigation technology in its price class No line-of-sight requirement from the mower to the GPS antenna Outstanding cutting performance Handles common yard types and terrain without issues Cons Front-wheel drive has trouble with steep slopes Inadequate cliff detection Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $1,299 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Segway Navimow i110? First, let us explain what we mean by “very small lawns.” In this case, we’re talking a quarter-acre or less. If you have a postage stamp-sized lawn, you probably don’t need a robot lawn mower. In any event, the $1,300 Navimow i110n is the best option in its price class. That said, this is a rear-wheel drive model that doesn’t pack enough power to handle steep slopes, so keep that in mind if your yard has steep grades. Segway Navimow i110: Further considerations While the lack of all-wheel drive held the Navimow i110n back in our tests, we were very impressed with how the Navimow navigated our yard and alternated its cutting patterns with each mowing session. It also does it quickly; we could mow nearly all of our quarter-acre lot in about 30 minutes. While we had problems keeping the Navimow from falling off our parking-strip curb, this is more of a detection issue with the vision and AI versus a fatal flaw. Since our initial review, several firmware updates have been released, including a new firmware update (version 2.2) that the company says is a fairly significant release. So those problems might be getting addressed. Read our full Segway Navimow i110N review Eufy Lawnbot E18 – Best robot mower for smaller lawns Pros Straightforward setup and mapping Delivered an even, thorough cut from the first mow Obstacle detection is promising (although it still needs work) Cons Somewhat underpowered for its size Rear-wheel drive only Underwhelming performance on slopes Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Eufy Lawnbot E18? This is a great, moderately priced robot lawn mower for smaller, flatter yards up to 0.3 acres, with slopes of no more than 18 degrees. If you have a smaller yard, consider its stablemate, the Eufy Lawnbot E15, which can handle up to up to 0.2 acres of lawn (battery size is the only difference between the two models). Both machines are smallish, rear-wheel drive mowers, but don’t let their size fool you: They’re packed with smarts. The Lawnbot E18 uses computer vision to map your yard after you direct it to the areas of your yard you want it to go, which is a much simpler task than deploying a GPS antenna. I have a complex yard, and this mower completed its initial mapping quickly, even in areas with obstructed views and other obstacles. Once that was done, it delivered an even, thorough cut from the very first mow. Eufy Lawnbot E18: Further considerations The Eufy Lawnbot E15 and E18 are both rebranded TerraMow models that have been available in Europe since mid-2024, so they’ve been thoroughly tested by consumers on the other side of the Atlantic. Both Lawnbot E-series mowers might seem small compared to much of the competition—suburban and rural American yards tend to be very large—but you don’t need to own an acre or more of turf to appreciate a quality robot lawn mower. The Lawnbot E18 and E15 are both rear-wheel drive mowers, however, which explains their modest climbing performance. Read our full Eufy Lawnbot E18 review Sunseeker Orion X7 AWD – Best robot mower for mid-sized lawns Pros Best nighttime mowing experience of any mower we’ve tested Quality, even cut Handles narrow passages with ease Cons Frustrating mapping and app experience Too low profile for sharp slope transitions Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $2,299.99 View Deal Sunseeker $2399.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Sunseeker Orion X7 AWD? If you are taken aback by the high price of all-wheel drive robot mowers (typically several thousand of dollars), the Orion X7 comes in at the lower end of that range: $2,400. But the cut quality and capability of this mower is as good as other mowers that we’ve tested that are double the price. It’s AI works great. Sunseeker Orion X7 AWD: Further considerations While the mapping setup of the Orion X7 was suboptimal, we were really surprised by its vision and AI capabilities once the mower was running; they worked as advertised—even at night. The Orion X7’s obstacle-avoidance performance was the best of any robot mower we’ve tested to date. Better yet, it seemed to remember where these obstacles were during a session, unlike other mowers we’ve tested that would return to the same spot and make the same mistakes. The dual floating cutting plates give you a smooth level yard even if it’s not perfectly flat. If Sunseeker can fix the usability issues in its app, we’ll rank the Orion X7 higher. Read our full Sunseeker Orion X7 AWD review Segway Navimow X350 – Best robot mower for larger lawns Pros Excellent navigation and obstacle avoidance, day or night Automatically alternates its cutting direction Capable of handling very large yards Cons Exhibits a tendency for unpredictable behavior on slopes No onboard rain sensor Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Segway Navimow X350? The Segway Navimow X350’s speed, combined with its 10-inch cutting radius, will make quick work of lawns up to 1.5 acres, and it will optimize the map it makes of your property so that it becomes more efficient over time. It’s also one of the quietest mowers I’ve tested, which could allow it to operate at night if you so choose. I will mention two drawbacks I encountered in my review: First, the mower doesn’t have an onboard rain sensor, so you’ll need to keep an eye on the weather. Second, this is a large mower and it sometimes had difficulty navigating tight spots in my yard. Segway Navimow X350: Further considerations The Segway Navimow X350 boasts a 10-inch wheelbase and a proprietary traction control system and onboard AI that helps it climb up to 27-degree slopes, even though it uses rear-wheel drive. It navigates using GPS tracking, which can also help you recover the mower should it ever be stolen. This mower will leave your lawn looking professionally groomed, thanks to its ability to automatically alternate its cutting direction. Read our full Segway Navimow X350 review Mowrator S1 AWD – Best non-autonomous robot lawn mower Pros 21-inch cutting radius Highly maneuverable Outstanding remote control Riding-mower build and cut quality Cons Very heavy (120 pounds) Disappointing autonomous obstacle avoidance Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $3,599.10 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Mowrator S1? We see the Mowrator as perfect for those who enjoy mowing their grass, but don’t care for the physical exertion—especially in the summer heat. We tested the Mowrator during a record-breaking heat wave here in the eastern U.S. and appreciated the fact we didn’t have to sweat it out to get our yard done. We couldn’t say the same about our neighbors. Mowrator S1: Further considerations The Mowrator S1 robot mower is in a class of its own, as it’s not entirely autonomous. Instead, you control it with a remote—much like one you’d use with an aerial drone or an RC car. The extent of its automation is cruise control, which only allows the mower to move in a straight line, and rudimentary obstacle avoidance. We included it on this list because everything else about this mower is top-notch. A 21-inch cutting radius is a half-foot larger than most robot mowers, and a traditional mower blade versus the razor blades on most other models provides a riding mower quality cut that has so far not been matched by any other mower we tested. And the maneuverability and all-wheel drive combined with an excellent remote control make mowing the grass fun. Read our full Mowrator S1 AWD review Other notable robot lawn mowers we’ve tested The Husqvarna Automower 435X ($1,799 street) is one of the few robot lawn mowers we’ve tested that depends on a boundary wire to keep from moving off your lawn and into your flowerbeds, the driveway, or other places you don’t want it to go. On the upside, it’s a beefy machine with all-wheel drive that can handle lawns up to 0.9 acres. The Mammotion Yuka 1500 robot mower had plenty of innovative features when we reviewed it, but that innovation came with some rough edges that dampened our enthusiasm for the machine. Likewise with the Dreame Roboticmower A1, which exhibited poor obstacle avoidance in our real-world testing. How we test robot lawn mowers We test robot mowers in as close to real-world situations as possible: this includes operating them during the day and at night and in varying weather conditions. We’ll typically cut a lawn an inch or two higher than normal before a test to help judge the cut quality and the mower’s ability to operate in taller-than-average grass. We’ll also put temporary obstacles in the yard to judge the mower’s collision-avoidance capabilities. If the mower has AI onboard, we’ll observe whether it remembers permanent obstacles. Why you should trust TechHive for robot lawn mower reviews and buying advice TechHive is part of PCWorld, a trusted authority on modern technology since 1983. TechHive itself has been covering technology for the home since 2012, and it’s a topic we’re truly passionate about. Each of the robot lawn mowers recommended here have been thoroughly tested in real-world conditions in our own yards. Who curated this article? Hi, I’m Michael Brown, TechHive’s Executive Editor, and I oversee all robot lawn mower coverage on PCWorld. I earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism in 1994, but I worked as a freelance tech reporter and author starting in the mid-1980s. I’ve specialized in smart home technology since 2012. To date, I’ve assigned all of TechHive’s robot lawn mower to veteran journalist and TechHive contributor Ed Oswald, who runs the Robomower Revolution YouTube channel. Ed has been testing and writing about robot lawn mowers since 2020. What to look for when shopping for a robot lawn mower While there are many features to look for in a robot mower, some of which will be based on your personal preference, these five factors are the most important to consider to ensure trouble- and frustration-free operations. Run time and maximum yard size This one seems obvious, but many will look to the cheapest mower that can handle the size of their yard. That’s not the right approach. What you should do instead is opt for a model with a maximum yard size of at least 1.5 to 2 times the acreage of your yard. Our reasons for this are twofold: First, the maximum yard size is the amount your robot mower can handle in a single day, including time for charging. If you select a model with a maximum yard size close to the size of your yard, the mower will need to run 24/7 to keep up. Secondly, buying a larger-capacity mower prevents buyer’s remorse later, should you move to a larger home. There is no such thing as a robot mower that’s too big for a property, but you can end up with a robot mower that’s too small for your yard. Another benefit is total run time, as a larger mower won’t need to return to its base station and charger as frequently. Cut quality Cut quality has much to do with how the cutting plate is set up, and the methods used for cutting. Some models use a blade that’s shaped bread tag. We’ve found this style typically doesn’t cut well—or last very long. Rectangular blades are better, since the entire side cuts your grass no matter which way it’s oriented on the plate. This style of blade also lasts longer, which means you’ll need to change it out less during each mowing season. The cutting method is also important. We prefer robot mowers that follow straight lines and paths and alternate cutting directions during each mowing session. Some cheaper boundary-wire mowers mow in a random pattern within the boundary, which early in the season can leave your yard looking like you’ve forgotten how to mow. App functionality Most robot mowers have a lot of extra functionality to help you customize how your lawn is maintained. This means you’ll spend a lot of time in their apps. While some robot mower apps attempt to squeeze every possible feature into the app, we have found in most cases it is unnecessary and cluttering. The best mower apps have clean interfaces, along with clear instructions (and sometimes videos) to get you up to speed on important functionality. Collision and obstacle avoidance Early robot mowers used bumper sensors to detect obstacles. That’s no longer the case, and the best robot mowers use technologies like cameras, LiDAR, and onboard AI to detect obstacles. Opt for one of these models and you’ll spend a lot less time getting your mower out of places it shouldn’t have gone into. Artificial intelligence (AI) Artificial intelligence is a recent addition to robot mowers, and it makes boundary wire-free models much more reliable. With AI, your mower “learns” the quirks of your particular yard over time, optimizing its mowing session accordingly. One word of caution, however: not all robot mower AI is created equal. Some mowers seemed to not remember obstacles or places where they’ve frequently gotten stuck. AI is a relatively new addition to robot mowing, and some manufacturers’ claims don’t match reality. Fortunately, this is an upgradeable element—it resides in firmware—so this class of mower will improve with time. FAQ Frequently asked questions about robot lawn mowers 1. How do robot mowers work? Robot mowers come in one of two flavors, some a boundary wire to keep the mower in check, while others rely on GPS satellites and onboard vision capabilities leveraging AI to help the mower make both a visual and location-based map of your yard. If you would like to read more about this topic, read our in-depth guide. 2. Which type of robot mower should I get? Boundary wire robot mowers are far less expensive, as the mower needs fewer sensors and less brain power to ensure proper operation. But if you go that route, we strongly recommend hiring a professional to bury the boundary wire, so you’re not constantly tripping over it. That will increase the final price of your mower—by as much as several hundred dollars if it’s not already factored into the mower’s price—but it’s worth it. You should also be aware that boundary wires have finite lengths, maxing out at 1,000 to 2,500 feet, depending on the model and the quality of the wire. This won’t be an issue for most suburban and urban properties, but you might need more than one mower for a large property. For this and other reasons, we typically recommend boundary wire-free mowers, as they’re much easier to set up and don’t require a professional; it’s why all our best top picks—save one—are boundary wire-free models. 3. Why are robot lawn mowers so expensive? It depends on how you look at it. If you compare a robot mower to a traditional push mower, even a self-propelled one, robot mowers are considerably more expensive. Many robot mowers, however, are competitively priced in comparison to riding mowers, which offer much less in the way of labor savings. 4. Is the cut quality of a robot mower as good that of a traditional mower? You use a robot mower the way it’s designed to be used and its cut quality will be every bit as good as a conventional mower’s. Unlike a push or riding mower, a robot mower is designed to run multiple times a week, cutting a small portion of your grass each time. Some even alternate the direction of cut with each successive mowing session, which will prevent it from leaving lines in your grass from the mower’s wheels from passing over the same patch of grass each time. 5. What maintenance is required of a robot mower? Maintaining your robot mower is not difficult, and it’s not all that different from traditional mowers—except you won’t need to monitor and periodically engine oil; robot mowers use electric motors. You’ll want to regularly clean accumulated grass clippings and other debris from the underside of the mower. You’ll also want to keep it out of the elements as much as possible when it’s not in use. The plastic bodies of these mowers will slowly fade over time as the sun’s ultraviolet rays cause plastic to degrade and discolor. The most important difference has to do with cutting blades. Where conventional motors have thick blades that need sharpening at least once a season, most robot mowers use what look like razor blades to cut your grass. As you might expect, you’ll probably need to replace them at least twice every mowing season. Fortunately, the blades aren’t expensive, and you might find that third-party blades are even cheaper, although they might not last as long the OEM versions. Read...