At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Respectable 1080p performance Excellent OLED display Fans aren’t very loud Not wildly heavy Cons Lenovo’s pricing is all over the place Short battery life Our Verdict The Lenovo Legion 5i 15IRX10 pairs an excellent display with solid internals for a great gaming experience. With a $1,199 price tag on a configuration close to our test unit, the value looks good. Just avoid Lenovo’s unnavigable first-party pricing. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Lenovo Legion 5i Retailer Price $1,599.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Lenovo has a new generation of gaming laptops out, and Legion 5i 15IRX10 sits at the affordable end of the stack without cutting down too much. It features powerful processor options and a few RTX 50-series GPUs to power your games. Though Lenovo makes finding a good value hard with a chaotic pricing system, this Walmart configuration comes closest to our test unit and pegs the system at a solid bargain of $1,199. At that price, things look real peachy for the potent Legion 5i 15IRX10. Lenovo Legion 5i: Specs and features Model number: 15IRX10 CPU: Intel Core i7-14700HX Memory: 32GB DDR5 Graphics/GPU: Nvidia RTX 5060 (40-watt TGP) Display: 15.1-inch 1600p OLED,165Hz, Dolby Vision, VESA Trueblack 600 Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD Webcam: 5MP Connectivity: 1x USB-C 10Gbps with Power Delivery and DisplayPort 2.1, 1x USB-C 10Gbps with DisplayPort 1.4, 3x USB-A 5Gbps, 1x RJ45, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm combo audio Networking: WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Biometrics: Windows facial recognition Battery capacity: 80 watt-hours Dimensions: 13.58 x 10.05 x 0.85 inches Weight: 4.3 pounds MSRP: Approximately $1,199 as-tested ($1,299 base) Though our test unit has the above configuration, Lenovo does not appear to offer this exact setup to consumers. There is plenty of customization available though. The Legion 5i 15IRX10 can come with 13th or 14th Gen Intel Core processors in this configurator, or even bump up to 2nd Gen Intel Core Ultra processors in a separate configurator. At the low end, you can get an Intel Core i7-13650HX with 16GB of memory, 512GB of storage, and an RTX 5050 for an “Est Value” of $1,634 (but an actual price of $1,299 at the time of writing) using the custom configuration tool. Bumping up to a Core i7-14700HX or Core i9-14900HX is also possible, but entails a swap to the RTX 5070 as well. Arrow Lake configurations have the same memory and storage options, but they start out with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX and RTX 5060 for an “Est Value” of $1,704 and actual pricing at $1,309. This can be upgraded to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, which also comes with an RTX 5070 instead, and brings the price to $1,559 (though the “Est Value” shows as $1,954). One notable difference of the Core Ultra models is that they upgrade one of the USB-C ports to Thunderbolt 4.  Using Lenovo’s custom configurations, there’s not a huge delta between the Raptor Lake and Arrow Lake options, and the Core Ultra models are likely to have superior single-core performance and battery life. That said, the configurator tends to have significantly higher prices than pre-configured models and therefore doesn’t offer a great value.  For those seeking the best price, Walmart offers the closest configuration to what we’re testing here. It’s available for $1,199 at the time of writing, and includes all of the above specifications except only 16GB of memory. Thankfully, that DDR5 is user-upgradeable, so you can cheaply bump it up to this system’s 32GB if needed. The Lenovo Legion 5i has an excellent display for gaming and entertainment, a sturdy build, solid performance, and surprisingly quiet fans. Lenovo Legion 5i: Design and build quality IDG / Mark Knapp The Legion 5i 15IRX10 isn’t remarkable in its design, but it’s not disappointing either. The system is completely blacked out aside from its Legion logo power button, the white keyboard legend and their RGB lighting, and a little gray Lenovo branding on the rear thermal shelf. All that black looks fine briefly, but it starts to show finger oils quickly.  The looks are largely clean with rounded corners and chamfered edges around the base that may not be super ergonomic but are at least more comfortable than sharp 90-degree angles. The base is all plastic with a smooth polycarbonate upper and rougher ABS plastic bottom. The base is fairly sturdy, not exhibiting much flex. The display is surrounded by modest plastic bezels. The back of the display gets the one premium aspect: an aluminum lid with Lenovo’s Legion branding embossed with a smoky mirror finish. The construction is similar to many of Lenovo’s other Legion laptops. The top of the display has an extra-large section to both house the camera and provide a lip for opening the lid easily. The display attaches to the base with two hinges slightly shifted forward from the back edge of the laptop. This creates a little butt (thermal shelf) at the back with extra room for heat sinks. That back edge is largely occupied by exhaust vents. No exhaust goes out the sides.  Underneath, the Legion 5i 15IRX10 sits on three large rubber feet that hold it firmly in place and lift it up a good ways to provide airflow into the two bottom fans. There’s a large grille underneath, though only a small percentage of this is actually grille — mostly right under the fans. In this case, this at least allows sufficient air intake and doesn’t provide any extra opportunity for dust to get in.  All told, the Legion 5i 15IRX10 isn’t particularly inspired or exciting, but it feels decent and is a sturdily built laptop. The choice of a 15.1-inch display provides decent screen space while keeping the laptop small enough to fit into even some tight laptop sleeves. It’s not so heavy either at just 4.3 pounds. And thanks to the very thin display and modest base, the build isn’t very thick for a gaming laptop.  Lenovo Legion 5i: Keyboard, trackpad IDG / Mark Knapp My experience with the Legion 5i 15IRX10’s keyboard has been somewhat mixed. On one hand, the keys are surprisingly well stabilized, and they have a decent dish to help feel out the center and edges. But their travel is kind of rubbery, giving them a somewhat odd feel, like they also push my fingers back when resetting. With some adjustment, I could see this actually turning into a positive, as a quick-resetting key is ready to press that much sooner, but as it stands, it sort of throws my fingers into a funk. I was ultimately able to get up to a typing speed of 114 words-per-minute with a decent 97 percent accuracy, but this still isn’t quite exceptional.  I still love that Lenovo accommodates a full-size set of arrow keys on many of its gaming laptops. This makes navigation so much easier. There’s also a full number pad on the right side of the keyboard, though this has slim keys that end up feeling a little cramped.  Lenovo packed in 24 RGB lighting zones, which ultimately kind of feels like overkill for any system that’s not just going to buckle down and give you per-key lighting. The 24 zones do allow for a slightly smoother wave or lighting that responds to audio playing from the computer. But the zones are all vertical columns, not functionally useful zones. Customization options are rather limited. And the edges of zones blend together when displaying different colors, so you won’t get an impactful and precise customization no matter how you shake it. The keyboard will let you cycle through backlighting presets by pressing Fn+Space, but there’s no key for adjusting backlighting brightness. That must be done through Lenovo’s Legion Space software. On the bright side, the lighting effectively illuminates the key legends.  The trackpad is nothing special. It’s fairly small for a laptop this size, but still spacious enough for four-finger gestures and general navigation. It’s far over to the left side of the computer, though, which can make it awkward to use for right-handed users. It’s mylar surface is also not as smooth as it could be. Lenovo Legion 5i: Display, audio IDG / Mark Knapp The Legion 5i 15IRX10 offers an excellent display. Just about every aspect of it delivers quality, and that’s great to see from a gaming laptop that skews toward the budget side of things. The 2560×1600 panel is plenty sharp at the size. It has the perfect contrast of OLED, not to mention the ultra-fast pixel response times. And with a 165Hz refresh rate, you’ll get smooth visuals both in and out of games. OLEDs weren’t always very bright, but this panel happily hits 523 nits. And to top it off, the panel is accurate. I measured its color accuracy at an average dE1976 of 0.51 with a max dE1976 of just 1.33. If you’ve got to do serious color work or just want to see your games the way they’re meant to look, this screen is up to the task. The audio isn’t quite as impressive, but it’s not bad. The speakers rely on the Nahimic app to provide sufficient sound, and it thankfully helps deliver on that. Playing games and watching movies, it provides plenty of audio generally, though I did find some spoken videos surprisingly quiet while listening with the app set to its default Music mode. There’s not much stereo separation from the little bottom-firing speakers even though they sit at the outer edges of the laptop, so they don’t make for the most engrossing game audio.  Lenovo Legion 5i: Webcam, microphone, biometrics IDG / Mark Knapp You’ll get a decent camera from the Legion 5i 15IRX10. Even though it’s sharp, it will appear a bit soft in modestly lit spaces. Even with several lights on in my small office, footage appeared soft and grainy. That said, it managed a very natural exposure. Though the camera offers a high resolution, it doesn’t have the infrared tech to enable facial recognition. The laptop also lacks a fingerprint scanner, so you’re out of luck for biometrics. The mic array on the Legion 5i 15IRX10 fails to impress. In a busy environment, it struggles thoroughly to capture my voice clearly. It does successfully eliminate background noise to a degree, but fully at the expense of its ability to pick me up. As soon as I talk in that loud environment, the background noise merges with my voice and makes anything I say unintelligible. Even in a quiet environment, my voice sounds rather distant with some room echo noticeable.  Lenovo Legion 5i: Connectivity IDG / Mark Knapp There’s little to get excited about from the Legion 5i 15IRX10’s various connections. It’s not making the most of its size, offering just two USB-C ports on the left side along with a USB-A port and Ethernet. The right side includes two USB-A ports, a 3.5mm jack, and a camera kill switch. The laptop’s charging port is located on the rear along with an HDMI port. The ports on the sides are rather awkwardly spaced with gaps of varying sizes between them. For instance, the USB-A ports on the right have the entire height of the keyboard dividing them. None of the ports are terribly fast either, with the USB-A ports topping out at 5Gbps and the USB-C ports hitting just 10Gbps — no 20 or 40Gbps ports. At least the HDMI port is up to the 2.1 spec. Both USB-C ports can also handle video output with one offering DisplayPort 2.1 and the other DisplayPort 1.4. The wireless connections are managed by a MediaTek card that offers Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. It’s been fast and reliable in my testing, though as with many MediaTek cards I’ve used over the years, there is often a small delay when waking up the laptop from sleep before it will reconnect to known networks.  Lenovo Legion 5i: Performance The Legion 5i 15IRX10 is built with high-performance in mind, even if it isn’t aiming for the highest levels possible on modern hardware. This kind of horsepower generally makes everyday operation and even light creative workloads a breeze. We can see that quite clearly in PCMark 10, which measures holistic performance of the system. The Legion 5i 15IRX10 performs wonderfully. It’s not exceptional in this category, though. Most gaming laptops have plenty to offer in this area, and the Legion 5i 15IRX10 actually ends up looking less impressive next to even older machines. The Dell G15 and Gigabyte G6X both ran on a lower-tier CPU and a prior-gen RTX 4060 GPU, and yet they came out ahead in this test. The previous generation Lenovo Legion 5i also came out well ahead thanks in part to a more potent CPU and faster storage.   IDG / Mark Knapp On the bright side, the Legion 5i 15IRX10 lagging behind those systems in PCMark isn’t the biggest deal, since all of the systems are offering smooth and responsive operation. And when it comes to raw horsepower, the Legion 5i 15IRX10 claws back some ground. Its processor offered substantially higher performance in Cinebench’s multi-core testing, dramatically outstripping all but the earlier Legion 5i’s Core i9-14900HX. This also helps us see why Lenovo opted for an older CPU. The newer Intel Core 7 240H falls well shy of the Core i7-14700HX’s performance, even failing to match its single-core speeds. It means little that the Core 7 240H is newer, though, as it’s actually a Raptor Lake CPU in disguise and not one of the newer Lunar Lake or Arrow Lake architectures.  IDG / Mark Knapp The combination of a potent CPU and newer RTX 5060 GPU works in the Legion 5i 15IRX10’s favor when it comes to graphics performance. Where it had fallen behind the prior-gen Legion in some cases, it turned the tides back into its favor in 3DMark’s Port Royal test, where it pulled well ahead of the Legion 5i. It also demonstrates how a strong CPU can avoid bottlenecks by thoroughly outpacing the Alienware 16 Aurora despite this machine running the same GPU. IDG / Mark Knapp Its performance in synthetic benchmarks translated well to actual games, too. It churned out an average of 153 fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Here again, it shows the difference a CPU can make, as the RTX 5060-powered Alienware fell behind all the RTX 4060-powered machines because its CPU was holding the GPU back. The Legion 5i 15IRX10 doesn’t have the same issue, and that lets its RTX 5060 show the generational uptick in performance it’s capable of.  IDG / Mark Knapp This performance checks out in Metro Exodus as well, where the Legion 5i 15IRX10 again leads the pack by a decent margin. The balance of a strong CPU and GPU help it stay ahead of these other systems, which appear largely held back by the limitations of the RTX 4060 (or Intel Core 7 240H in Alienware’s case). Of course, this does also highlight the limitations of the Legion 5i 15IRX10. In very demanding games, like Metro Exodus, it can struggle to meet the 60 fps threshold. That said, the system could hit an 82 fps average in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p Ultra.  IDG / Mark Knapp Performance is consistent, too. Running a string of Steel Nomad benchmarks, the Legion 5i 15IRX10 maintained nearly the same average framerate between runs. CPU and GPU temps also settled in and stopped increasing after just a couple minutes. The fans aren’t even terribly loud to manage the thermals.  Since the Legion 5i 15IRX10 has a 2560×1600 display, you might be tempted to play games at this resolution. In some lighter games, that will be readily doable. The Legion 5i 15IRX10 managed a 98 fps average in Shadow of the Tomb Raider at its native resolution. But in Cyberpunk 2077, it only hit 48 fps. For native resolution gaming, you’ll likely want to tap into DLSS and potentially frame generation technology.  Lenovo Legion 5i: Battery life As we see all too often, performance advantages tend to come at the peril of battery life. And sure enough, the Legion 5i 15IRX10 struggles to offer much longevity where runtime is concerned. In our local video playback test, it fell a little bit shy of four hours. That’s not only a bad result for a gaming PC, but it’s bad among this group, especially compared to the Alienware 16 Aurora’s surprisingly strong 10-hour runtime IDG / Mark Knapp In normal use, the battery life isn’t any better. I was able to stream a two-hour movie with the display at about 50 percent brightness and still have an hour of battery left. Web browsing, research, and writing consumed the battery at a similar rate, with it just scraping by at over three hours. Lenovo Legion 5i: Conclusion The Legion 5i 15IRX10 has plenty going for it as an affordable gaming laptop, assuming you steer clear of Lenovo’s inscrutable pricing and just go with the Walmart model closest to our test configuration. For $1,199, the Legion 5i 15IRX10 is offering a lot. It has an excellent display for gaming and entertainment, a sturdy build, solid performance, and surprisingly quiet fans. Though the design is decently portable, the battery doesn’t last long. So you’ll want to bring the charger if you plan to do much on the go. A lot of the value here hinges on the low price though. With upgraded internals, the price of different configurations can truly soar, and the quality of this laptop doesn’t quite feel like it stacks up against $2,000 systems. But as a low-cost option, it’s great. Read...

Have you heard this one before? A scrappy entertainment company launches a small catalog of ad-free streaming movies and TV shows for cheap. It doesn’t seem like a big deal at first, because the content is mostly B-movies and reruns, but it proves popular with consumers and goes on to change television entertainment as we know it. I could be referring to Netflix, which started down that exact path with its “Watch Now” streaming catalog way back in 2007. But I could also be prognosticating about Howdy, the $3-per-month streaming service that Roku launched just last week. The parallels are obvious. Roku is starting with a small catalog, heavy on filler, and claims it’s not trying to compete with incumbents. But it’s also arriving at a time when consumers are increasingly frustrated with the larger streaming services, which are becoming more like the bloated, expensive cable packages they once aimed to displace. Howdy might seem insignificant now, but like Netflix, it could become the start of something bigger. Howdy vs. Netflix Roku People tend to remember Netflix as offering an endless bounty of content in its early years, but in 2007, its catalog was tiny, with just 1,000 titles at the outset. Roku’s Howdy catalog is similarly small, with “thousands of titles,” according to Roku, and less than 10,000 hours of entertainment in total. This isn’t about quality over quantity, either. While Howdy has a handful of standouts, including Mad Max: Fury Road and Apocalpyse Now, it’s also filled with such forgettable TV shows as Nikita and Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. (The catalog has some overlap with The Roku Channel, Roku’s long-running free ad-supported streaming service, but there are unique titles on each.) That’s how it was with Netflix back in the day as well. “[T]he selection is fairly small, at least once you subtract the mind-boggling gigabytes of B movies — more like C or D movies — like Addicted to Murder III: Bloodlust and Witchcraft XI: Sisters in Blood,” David Pogue wrote of Netflix’s streaming launch. Early users created forum threads for recommending quality content—shows like The Office and films like Groundhog Day—from within the cruft. Of course, Netflix’s streaming catalog got better over time. The service struck a deal with Starz in 2008 to get new-release movies onto the service, and it outbid premium networks (including Starz) for Disney’s movie streaming rights in 2012. A series of deals with AMC brought such prestige TV shows as Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and Mad Men onto the service, where they became more closely associated with Netflix than the cable network that originally aired them. By 2013, it was launching its own buzzy originals with House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. One could imagine Roku scaling up its own service in similar ways. The subscription business requires big hits to encourage sign-ups (something Roku itself has acknowledged in the past), so the company will surely seek flashier content deals for Howdy in the future. Its original programming arm could play a bigger role as well. Not rocking the boat Roku Here’s another parallel to consider: In its early years, Netflix claimed it was not competing with the incumbent cable business. Speaking to Kara Swisher in 2011, Netflix co-founder and (at the time) CEO Reed Hastings noted that cable subscriptions were up even as Netflix grew. “So it appears that to the consumer, Netflix is complementary,” he said. We all know what happened next: While Netflix kept growing, cable began to stagnate. And pretty soon, most major media companies were preparing their own streaming services to take on Netflix directly. Netflix was always going to compete with the incumbents, but it had to insist otherwise because it needed to keep licensing their content. Now, Roku is taking a page from Netflix’s playbook. In a press release, Roku CEO Anthony Wood said Howdy is “designed to complement, not compete with, premium services.” I doubt he actually believes that, but it’s something he’s obligated to say while Roku builds up the Howdy catalog. The next wave Roku I’m drawing these parallels so we can better understand what else is next for streaming, because all we’ve seen from the incumbents looks a lot like cable. Netflix keeps getting more expensive as it pursues more high-dollar sports programming, and services like Peacock and Paramount+ are following suit. The endgame for major streamers now is to push people toward bundles they might not need, with ad-supported tiers that pack in more commercials than were originally promised. I believe a new phase of cord-cutting is inevitable, in which the folks who initially fled cable will start to reevaluate their relationship with major streaming services as well. Free streaming services such as YouTube, Tubi, and even TikTok will play a role in this shift, but there’s also a room for ad-free services that are cheaper than the likes of Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+. That’s a gap that Howdy could fill. Just as Netflix was able to build its streaming business off the success of its DVD rental program, Roku can build up Howdy on the success of its streaming players and smart TV platform. Before long it could become what Netflix once was: a successful, affordable streaming service that disrupts everything that came before. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter to get more streaming TV insights every Friday. Read...

An inquiry was initiated in 2022 amid concerns the Adelaide establishment had been lax in policing anti-money laundering rules. Read...

The entertainer becomes the third American act in three years to headline the grand final pre-game entertainment. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Attractive, classy exterior design Broad suite of smart TV features Excellent contrast and color performance 165Hz refresh rate with FreeSync, G-Sync support Includes 4K webcam and dual-mic array Cons Limited ergonomic stand adjustment Confusing options and menu system Downstream USB connectivity is just two USB-A 2.0 ports HDR brightness fails to impress Our Verdict The Samsung Smart Monitor M9 is basically a 32-inch smart OLED TV, with most of the features you would expect a TV to have. That’s great if you want to stream Netflix or a cloud gaming service, but it leads to confusing menus and design quirks. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Samsung Smart Monitor M9 Retailer Price $1,599.99 View Deal $1599.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Want a 32-inch smart television with good image quality? Or a 32-inch OLED monitor that you can use for Netflix and cloud gaming even when your PC is turned off? The Samsung Smart Monitor M9 might be your solution. This smart monitor has Samsung’s Tizen OS and supports all the features and functionality you’d expect of a Samsung television—for better, and sometimes, for worse. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best monitors for comparison. Samsung Smart Monitor M9 specs and features The Samsung Smart Monitor M9’s basic specifications are typical for a 32-inch OLED, though just a tad underwhelming. It offers 4K resolution, but the maximum resolution is 165Hz (some competitors reach 240Hz). The monitor supports HDR10+, but not Dolby Vision. And while it supports USB-C upstream input with 90 watts of power, it has limited downstream USB connectivity. Display size: 31.5-inch 16:9 aspect ratio Native resolution: 3840×2160 Panel type: QD-OLED (matte) Refresh rate: 165Hz Adaptive sync: Yes, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible HDR: Yes, HDR10+ Ports: 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C with 90 watts of Power Delivery, 2x USB-A 2.0 downstream Audio: 2x 10-watt speakers Additional features: Tizen OS, remote control, 4K webcam and dual-microphone array, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2 Price: $1599.99 MSRP, $1,299.99 typical retail However, the Smart Monitor M9 has what most 32-inch OLED monitors lack—a smart TV operating system. Specifically, it ships with Samsung’s Tizen OS. To support that, it also has a remote control, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. A webcam with microphone is thrown in for good measure. The Smart Monitor M9 has a retail MSRP of $1,599.99, but it doesn’t appear to retail at that price often. It’s frequently discounted to $1,299.99. That’s a bit expensive for a 32-inch OLED monitor, but in line with premium competitors like the HP Omen Transcend 32 and LG Ultragear 32GS95UE-B (neither of which have smart TV features). Samsung Smart Monitor M9 design The Samsung Smart Monitor M9 leans on a conservative, classy design that doesn’t take risks but should look good in any situation. From the front it’s almost all screen, aside from the top bezel, where a webcam lurks. Around back it’s an expanse of gunmetal materials, mostly plastic, which are understated but look expensive. The panel is quite thin, too, and while it does have a bump-out that contains the ports, it’s small and unobtrusive. Matthew Smith / Foundry The monitor ships with an L-shaped stand that has a compact, flat base that won’t take up much space on a desk. Annoyingly, though, the stand requires a screwdriver to assemble (most monitor stands use a thumb screw). While the stand provides ergonomic adjustment, it’s not great. It adjusts 120mm for height and can also pivot 90 degrees. However, it can’t actually be used in portrait mode because the amount of height adjustment available doesn’t hold the display high enough off a desk to support portrait mode. Instead, the edge of the display will run into your desk at around 60 degrees of rotation. The stand allows tilt but doesn’t swivel, which most 32-inch monitor stands support. The monitor is also compatible with 100x100mm VESA mounts for use with third-party monitor arms and stands. Samsung Smart Monitor M9 connectivity The back of the Samsung Smart Monitor M9 provides three video inputs. One HDMI 2.1, one DisplayPort 1.4, and one USB-C with DisplayPort. All three support the monitor’s maximum refresh rate and resolution, though only in Game Mode (the maximum outside Game Mode is 120Hz). Three video inputs are typical for the category, though some, like the HP Omen Transcend 32, provide four. Connecting to the USB-C port also provides 90 watts of USB Power Delivery, which is enough to power many mid-range Windows laptops, and most MacBooks. The USB-C port provides downstream access to a pair of USB-A ports. They’re only USB-A 2.0, though, so they’re mostly there for a wired keyboard and mouse. That makes the Smart Monitor M9’s connectivity a bit of a mix. On the one hand, it provides a good variety of inputs and USB-C with Power Delivery, which is a must-have on a monitor in this price range. But it’s outclassed by monitors like the HP Omen Transcend 32, which not only has more video inputs, but also has USB-C with 140 watts of power. The LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B also has a slight advantage, as its USB-A ports are at least USB 3.0, and it has a 3.5mm audio-out, which the Smart Monitor M9 lacks. Samsung Smart Monitor M9 Smart TV features The “Smart” in the Samsung Smart Monitor M9’s name means it ships with Samsung’s Tizen OS, the same operating system found on the company’s smart televisions. And much like on smart televisions, Tizen provides access to a huge range of apps and services. You can watch Netflix or play cloud gaming services like Amazon Luna, among other things. Put simply: The Smart Monitor M9 is a smart TV. In fact, it’s arguably more than that. It can even access some productivity apps, like Microsoft 365, so you can sorta-kinda use the monitor like a computer. You can use the Smart Monitor M9 to control Samsung SmartThings devices, too. Remember, though, that because it lacks a TV tuner, the Smart Monitor M9 can’t natively handle an over-the-air or coaxial cable TV signal. I go back and forth on how Samsung’s Tizen OS compares to LG’s WebOS, found on monitors like the LG MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U, and Google TV OS, found on monitors like the MSI Modern MD272UPSW. Tizen OS is certainly the busiest of the three, in no small part due to the range of Samsung features that are integrated (you can use some Samsung phones to calibrate the monitor, for example, though you can also use some iPhones). That’s handy if you’re all-in on the Samsung ecosystem. If not, it can prove distracting. Matthew Smith / Foundry Unfortunately, the smart monitor features mean that setup is much more complicated than most monitors. It’s a multi-step process that involves Wi-Fi, Samsung accounts, terms of service, and more. I finished setup in about 5 minutes, but it’s sure to annoy those who just want a monitor to be plug-and-play. Oh—and what about the 4K webcam? It’s an odd inclusion but also a nice bonus. The webcam is available as a plug-and-play camera for any PC connected to the monitor’s USB-C port. That’s handy and, better still, both the camera and microphone array provide better quality than a run-of-the-mill webcam. It’s not perfect; the webcam lacks a physical privacy shutter, and the default field-of-view is strangely wide. Still, it’s nice to have if you regularly use a webcam to take video calls at your desk. Samsung Smart Monitor M9 menus and settings Smart TV features aside, the Samsung Smart Monitor M9 provides a decent range of image quality adjustment. There are options for gamma, color temperature, color calibration, and several preset modes that target specific color space. The menu system is confusing, however. Samsung inexplicably constrains the menu to a small portion of the display, so there’s not enough space to list the full text of some menu items (they instead scroll). I also noticed that many menu options, like fine-grain color temperature adjustments, are locked behind specific modes, while others are listed yet didn’t seem accessible. The monitor’s manual wasn’t helpful, either. Samsung, like LG, also makes the strange decision to summon an alternative menu when Game Mode is turned on. The menu is arranged differently and highlights different options, adding to the confusion. Game Mode is also required to access the 165Hz refresh rate. In summary: The menu system is a bit of a mess. The same is also true of LG webOS smart monitors, but I think Samsung’s menu system might be even worse. Both Samsung and LG would do well to re-think their menu systems. At the very least, can we get a menu large enough to list the full text of the options on-screen and ditch the weird alternate menu system for Game Mode? The Samsung Smart Monitor M9 isn’t a gaming monitor, but it still provides a respectable maximum refresh rate of 165Hz. Samsung Smart Monitor M9 audio The Samsung Smart Monitor M9 ships with 10-watt speakers that provide adequate audio. They are clear, crisp, and enjoyable at lower levels of volume, but quickly become muddy and harsh as volume levels ramp up. I’m honestly a bit perplexed as to why Samsung even allows the speakers to become as loud as they can, as they’re obviously not up to the task of delivering quality audio at anything above roughly half the speaker’s maximum volume. Despite that, it’s worth mention that many competitors don’t even have built-in speakers, and those that do have them are often worse. The HP Omen Transcend 32 has a pair of 3-watt speakers and the Alienware AW3225QF doesn’t have speakers at all. The Smart Monitor M9’s audio is fine for less demanding situations. For example, they were enjoyable when playing Rimworld and listening to podcasts on YouTube. LG’s Ultragear 32GS95UE-B, which has an innovative “Pixel Sound” system, is the one competitor that puts the Smart Monitor M9’s audio to shame. The LG 32GS95UE-B is not a smart monitor, though, and it’s usually $100 more expensive than the Samsung.   Samsung Smart Monitor M9 SDR image quality The Samsung Smart Monitor M9 of course has a Samsung QD-OLED panel. QD-OLED is a known quantity at this point. It consistently provides great performance, so much so that I’ve argued it doesn’t really matter which OLED monitor you buy—at least, not when it comes to SDR image quality. The Smart Monitor M9 does little to disprove that point, but it looks great. It also has a matte display finish, which is unusual for an OLED and will make or break the display for some. Matthew Smith / Foundry The Samsung Smart Monitor M9 produced a sustained SDR brightness of 252 nits. As the graph shows, that’s typical and mid-pack for an OLED monitor, with most falling between 240 and 260 nits. That level of brightness is fine for indoor use in a room with light control, but it might seem dim in a very brightly lit room, or opposite a sunlit window. With that said, the Smart Monitor M9 has a matte coat, which is unusual. The coat effectively diffuses reflections, which makes it easier to see the monitor in bright rooms, or when a bright light source is opposite the display. On the downside, though, it will make the monitor seem a bit less contrast-rich than a glossy alternative. I prefer a matte coat over glossy, but your opinion may vary, and it’s a key point. The matte display finish might be the reason you choose the Smart Monitor M9, or avoid it, depending on your preference. Matthew Smith / Foundry While the matte coat can reduce apparent contrast due to how it diffuses light across the display, the Smart Monitor M9 still provides the same infinite contrast ratio as other OLED displays. That’s true because it reached a perfect minimum luminance of zero nits. As a result, it provides a rich and immersive image with a good sense of dimensionality. The same is true of all modern OLED monitors, however. The contrast ratio, though obviously excellent, doesn’t set the Smart Monitor M9 apart from the pack. Matthew Smith / Foundry QD-OLED monitors are excellent in color gamut, providing a wide color gamut that displays many colors. As a result, the Smart Monitor M9 can display 100 percent of the sRGB color gamut, 98 percent of DCI-P3, and 94 percent of AdobeRGB. The monitor looks vivid and saturated. However, once again, the Smart Monitor M9’s excellent performance doesn’t separate it from the pack. All QD-OLED monitors have similar color gamut. Monitors with an LG WOLED panel fall a bit behind QD-OLED, though their color gamut is still solid overall. Matthew Smith / Foundry The Smart Monitor M9 also has excellent color accuracy straight out of the box. While keen users with specific needs may want to calibrate it to reach certain standards, the default image is exceptionally accurate for general use. The monitor’s color error is more prominent in grayscale than it is in color, which contributes to a default gamma curve value of 2.3. That means the image is a bit darker than intended. It’s a small difference but might result in some slight loss of shadow detail in uniformly dark scenes. Color temperature, on the other hand, was spot on the target value of 6500K. That means the image doesn’t look too warm or too cool. Sharpness is a perk. The native resolution of 3840×2160 works out to about 140 pixels per inch across the 31.5-inch OLED panel. Though obviously not as sharp as a 27-inch 4K display, it’s still an excellent pixel density that looks sharp in everything from games to Microsoft Word. In summary, the Samsung Smart Monitor M9’s SDR image is exactly as excellent as expected. It performs identically to other QD-OLED monitors. The only major difference is subjective: the matte display finish. Whether you like that, or not, will depend on your own preference. Samsung Smart Monitor M9 HDR image quality The Samsung Smart Monitor M9 is VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certified. That’s typical for a QD-OLED monitor. However, it turns out that HDR brightness is a downside for the Smart Monitor M9. Matthew Smith / Foundry I tried the Smart Monitor M9 in all available HDR modes, but it never crept much higher than 450 nits even in peak highlights. Lighting a larger area of the display led to even lower HDR brightness, which is typical for an OLED monitor. That’s not to say the Smart Monitor M9 looks bad in HDR. It still has the contrast and color performance needed to deliver a vibrant, saturated, accurate image. However, the lack of brightness will be noticeable in bright HDR highlights. In the Gargantua scene from Interstellar, for example, I noticed less detail in the bright swirling gasses closest to the black hole. Subtle variations in brightness that are visible on some other OLED monitors weren’t visible on the Smart Monitor M9. On one final note, the Samsung Smart Monitor M9 does allow brightness adjustment in HDR mode. While increasingly common, not all monitors allow this, as HDR typically controls brightness based on content. For a monitor, however, full brightness control is preferable, and I am glad to see the Smart Monitor M9 provides it. Samsung Smart Monitor M9 motion performance The Samsung Smart Monitor M9 isn’t a gaming monitor, but it still provides a respectable maximum refresh rate of 165Hz. That’s not as good as 32-inch OLED gaming monitors, which tend to hit 240Hz, but it still provides a major boost in motion clarity over a 60Hz display. Fast-moving objects look crisp and fast camera pans in 3D games provide respectable detail. The difference between the Smart Monitor M9’s 165Hz refresh rate and a superior 240Hz monitor is most noticeable when viewing small text or UI elements. If you’re trying to track the HP bar or status icons above an enemy, for example, it can be a bit more difficult on the Smart Monitor M9 than on a 240Hz alternative, like the HP Omen Transcend 32 or Alienware AW3225QF. Of course, those alternatives aren’t smart monitors, so you’ll have to make a choice between motion clarity and smart features. Adaptive Sync is supported on the Smart Monitor M9, and it even lists official support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible. That’s great to see in a monitor that doesn’t bill itself as a gaming display. Should you buy the Samsung Smart Monitor M9? Samsung’s Smart Monitor M9 is a bundle of perks and downsides that make for a confusing recommendation. The monitor has a confusing menu system, limited downstream connectivity, and mediocre HDR brightness. However, it also packs useful smart TV features, complete with remote control, and has a rare (for OLED) matte display finish that reduces glare and makes the monitor more viewable in brighter room. Deciding whether the Smart Monitor M9 works for you requires careful consideration of these perks and problems. It can work as a TV alternative in small spaces, has the color performance for creative work, and a matte coat that looks great when writing in Word or browsing the web. But if you want an OLED monitor largely for PC gaming, or HDR entertainment, you’ll find better performance elsewhere. Read...

The best thing about being adults? Adult money! And the beautiful freedom to spend it on whatever we want. Right? Right. Like these absolutely amazing LEGO sets, they’re just calling out to be built and proudly displayed on a shelf somewhere. Got kids? Great. You can even use them as an excuse to grab that set you’ve been dreaming of. Just saying… Anyway, we went down the LEGO rabbit hole to find some of the coolest sets out there. Because honestly? The world is chaotic enough, and we all deserve a little joy. LEGO Super Mario Game Boy LEGO We’re putting this one right at the top because it’s brand new. Well, technically, it launches October 1st, 2025, but it’s already available for pre-order. It’s $60 at Amazon and it’s going to bring back that excitement you felt as a kid getting a Game Boy for the first time. The button layout is there, the retro feel is there, and you can even change the Game Pak and lenticular screens. The LEGO Super Mario Game Boy 72046 is a 421-piece model. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com LEGO Icons PAC-Man Arcade LEGO Oh man, the memories! This 2,651-piece LEGO set brings the 1980s Pac-Man arcade to your home office. There’s a four-way joystick, an illuminating coin slot, and even an adjustable game score display. When you turn the handle on the side, you’ll get to recreate the classic maze chase we all loved thanks to a super smart chain system. It’s such a stunning set that costs $269.95. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com LEGO Super Mario Nintendo Entertainment System LEGO This one is made for nostalgia lovers. It features the NES console, a controller, and a vintage TV with a scrolling Mario level. Crank the handle and watch Mario jump over obstacles and avoid enemies. The LEGO Super Mario Nintendo Entertainment System 71374 is $389.45 and features 2,646 pieces. Buy now at Amazon LEGO Icons Atari 2600 LEGO Old-school gaming fans will love this one. This 2,532-piece build features the classic Atari 2600, complete with a working joystick and three swappable game cartridges. For $229.57, it’s a time capsule in LEGO form. Buy now at Amazon LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon LEGO Can we have a nerdy LEGO list without the Millennium Falcon? Probably not. Because this is easily one of the most amazing sets you can get. It’s pricey, yes, but it’s so cool! Just make sure you have the space to display this thing because it’s absolutely massive, measuring over eight inches high, 33 inches long, and 22 inches wide. It’s not just the ship you’re getting, but also your favorite characters, including Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Princess Leia. The LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon 75192 features 7,541 pieces and costs $849.95. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com LEGO Icons The Lord of The Rings: Rivendell  LEGO The Lord of the Rings has a special place in many of our hearts and Rivendell is certainly one of those locations that feels extra magical. It’s not just the beauty of the setting, it’s the characters, too. This set includes Frodo’s bedroom and Elrond’s study, as well as a ton of minifigures of our favorites, including Gimli, Aragorn, and Gandalf (and yes, Legolas). This is a large set measuring 28.5 inches wide, 19.5 inches deep, and 15 inches tall, so make sure you’ve got plenty of space to display it. It costs a hefty $499.95 and features a staggering 6,167 pieces. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com LEGO Icons Lord of The Rings Barad-dûr  LEGO If you want more from The Lord of the Rings universe, the Barad-dûr building set makes a great addition, especially with the blazing Eye of Sauron looking straight at you. How awesome is this thing? The Eye lights up, there are multiple rooms to explore inside, and the iconic black gate is automated. This thing is 33 inches tall and costs $459.99, featuring 5,471 pieces. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Express LEGO The world of Harry Potter will always have a place in our hearts, and the Hogwarts Express might be one of the best sets you can get. It’s absolutely massive at a 1:32 scale, beautifully detailed, and it includes 20 minifigures from the books. This set costs $658.24 (though it often goes on sale) and it features a whopping 5,129 pieces. Buy now at Amazon LEGO Icons Back to the Future Time Machine 10300 LEGO The grip this car had on us when Back to the Future came out! Now, you can have the famous DeLorean displayed in your own home. You can build one of three versions, depending on which movie you loved the most. There’s even a lightning rod and a plutonium chamber, along with Doc and Marty McFly. Right now, it’s $170.99 at the time of writing (usually $200) and it features 1,856 pieces. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com LEGO Technic Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 F1 Race Car Model Kit LEGO Formula 1 cars are absolutely stunning, and this one’s no different. Just make sure you have enough space because it measures 25 inches long! The LEGO Technic Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 F1 Race Car Model Kit 42206 costs $229.95 and includes 1,639 pieces. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com LEGO Technic Ferrari Daytona SP3 LEGO Can we talk about how stunning the Ferrari Daytona SP3 is? Because just look at it! It’s one of the most luxurious cars and it comes packed with details you’ll love. This 1:8 scale LEGO Technic Ferrari Daytona SP3 42143 is priced at $435, but it’s made up of an impressive 3,778 pieces. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com LEGO 76252 Batcave – Shadow Box LEGO Okay, this one’s absolutely incredible. It’s not just a Batman set — it’s the Batcave Shadow Box. You get the Batmobile, a full command center, a bunch of minifigures, and more. Whether you keep it closed or opened, it’s going to look amazing. The LEGO DC Batman Batcave – Shadow Box (76252) is going to cost you $950 and includes 3,981 pieces, so be ready to invest in some build time. Buy now at Amazon LEGO Icons Transformers Bumblebee  LEGO If you grew up with Transformers, then you’ll absolutely love having Bumblebee on your shelf. The coolest part? This build actually transforms into a vehicle, a dream come true for many of us, and seriously impressive for a LEGO set. The LEGO Icons Transformers Bumblebee 10338 costs $85.99 and contains 950 pieces. Buy now at Amazon Buy now at LEGO.com Read...

With vacation season upon us, it’s time to figure out what to pack for your trip. Limited tech time is great in theory, but you still need a few things to make your life easier, whether it’s gear for the car, accessories that help you connect to your entertainment, or gadgets for backing up all your pics. Here at PCWorld we’re always testing the latest gadgets to sort the good from the don’t-bother. In the process, we’ve come across a lot of tech gear that’s built for travel. Here we’ve curated a list of the gear that we believe is worthy of any packing list and sure to help prepare you for anything you may encounter on the road—or in the sky. Happy travels! Manage electrical needs with a voltage converter BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter 220V to 110V Bestek, Mapambo When you’re traveling from the U.S. to Europe, for instance, you don’t just need a different type of plug for your chargers and gadgets, but also a voltage converter because Europe runs on different settings. The Bestek Universal Travel Adapter will convert 220V outlets to U.S.-standard 110V, thus ensuring that your devices don’t burn out. It’s not only affordable, but it has three AC outlets and four USB ports. Plus, the product comes with a couple of extra plug adapters. If a more compact version is all you need, then the Mapambo converter will work just fine with one AC plug, two type-C, and two type-A ports. The Baseus Enercore CG11 is also a fantastic pick, as it’s suitable for use anywhere in the world, with slide-out plugs for the USA, EU, and UK. There are also two ports — one USB-C and one USB-A — as well as a USB-C retractable cable. Buy the BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter at Amazon Buy the Mapambo 220V to 110V Voltage Converter at Amazon Buy the Baseus Enercore CG11 Take control of tangled cords Rolling Square inCharge 6 Portable Keychain Charger Cable Rolling Square If you’re like most travelers, you bring multiple electronics to make the most of your experience—we’re talking camera, phone, laptop, headphones, etc. But along with all of these items, you’ll need to carry all of their charging cables. That can take up space and lead to a tangled web of cords in your bag if you’re not careful. With the Rolling Square inCharge 6 Portable Charger Cable on Amazon, you have the option of USB-C or USB-A inputs and Micro USB or USB-C outputs all in a cable that is small enough for your keychain. Buy the Rolling Square Portable Charger Cable at Amazon Or get a retractable cable Baseus USB-C Retractable Cable Baseus If you’d rather have a simpler cable, then this one from Baseus will do the trick. The retractable design ensures it’s going to be safe in your luggage, preventing any type of tangling issues and considerably lowering the chances of your cable breaking. You can get this one in two length versions—3.3ft and 6.6ft— and you can pay as little as $10 on the shorter one if it’s on sale. Buy the Baseus retractable USB-C cable at Amazon Keep your devices charged with a portable power bank Anker GaN Prime Power Bank 2-in-1 10,000mAh portable power bank with wall charger Anker Traveling is always fun, but ending up with a depleted phone battery in an unknown place can be terrifying. This Anker Prime power bank takes up two roles in one. On one hand, it can plug into a wall outlet and give you the recharge you need while you’re at your hotel, for instance, but it can also act as a power bank when you’re out and about exploring. 10,000mAh is enough to charge your phone twice over (or close to that). There are three ports on this Anker hybrid charger, two of which are type-C that can reach 65W charging. It’s available for $110, but you can often find it closer to $70 when on sale. Buy the Anker GaN Prime Power Bank 2-in-1 Charger at Amazon Make that hotel outlet actually useful Anker Prime 6-in-1 charging station Anker One of the main issues we all have when traveling is that it’s tough to find multiple outlets in your hotel room. You’ll get one by the bedside table and another that’s taken up by the TV. Well, this compact power strip from Anker makes good use of that outlet and turns it into six. You get two AC outlets, two USB-A and two USB-C ports and a maximum output of 140W via those type-C ports. That’s just about perfect for laptops, smartphones and whatever else you have on you. The cool part is that the power strip is flat and the power cord detaches, so it’s ideal for your tight-packed luggage. Buy the Anker Prime 6-in-1 power strip at Amazon Never lose your valuables again Apple AirTag, Tile Pro, Samsung SmartThings, Tile Slim Apple, Tile, Samsung We’ve all been there. You arrive at your destination and you’re waiting for your checked bag to show up on the carousel, but it never does. Baggage handling is at it again. With a Bluetooth tracker you can easily keep tabs on where your bag is and maybe even help TSA locate it, should it be lost. There are quite a few Bluetooth trackers on the market that you can get. Apple users should look into the AirTag, while Android users can choose Samsung’s SmartTag2. Anyone can go for the Tile Pro. If you’re more worried about your wallet, Tile’s Slim tracker will fit inside it neatly. These are all around $30 a piece, but you can quite often get them for less or in bundles, thus lowering the price even more. If you want an AirTag alternative, the Ugreen FineTrack is a fraction of the price and often on sale. Buy the Apple AirTag at Amazon Buy the Ugreen FineTrack Buy the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 at Amazon Buy the Tile Pro at Amazon Buy the TIle Slim at Amazon Enjoy an in-flight movie without annoying headphone cables Twelve South AirFly Pro or Ugreen Airplane Bluetooth Transmitter Receiver Ugreen, Twelve South Twelve South’s AirFly Pro Bluetooth wireless audio transmitter for $54.99 on Amazon (although it’s frequently on sale) allows you to turn any audio jack into a wireless Bluetooth transmitter. Simply plug in the device to the headphone jack on the back of the airplane seat and connect your wireless headphones. Then sit back and relax while you enjoy the in-flight entertainment on your sweet noise-canceling headphones. Alternatively, you can also go for the more affordable Ugreen Airplane Bluetooth Transmitter Receiver, which is $36.99 but often drops below $30. Either will allow you to connect up to two earbuds or headphones. Buy the Twelve South AirFly Pro at Amazon Buy the Ugreen Airplane Bluetooth Transmitter Receiver at Amazon Drown out noise with noise-canceling earbuds AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) or Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 Apple, Bose Flying on an airplane is loud. Engines roar, babies cry, passengers snore. That’s why you need noise-canceling headphones, which have become essential tools in making your flight as easy as possible. And because you’re traveling and bag space is a premium, your headphones need to be small. Not just for iPhone users, but for anyone who needs good headphones, the AirPods Pro 2 for $225.00 on Amazon continue to be the best choice due to their convenient size and noise-canceling capability. If you’re an Android user, you may want to look into the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2, which deliver something our buddies at TechAdvisor have called “astonishing noise cancellation” on top of superb sound quality and a secure fit. Get the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) at Amazon Buy the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 at Amazon Or get some noise-canceling headphones Sony WH-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Max Apple, Sony If earbuds aren’t for you, then perhaps a pair of proper headphones will do the trick. The Sony WH-1000XM5 are easily some of the best noise-canceling headphones out there (as our friends at TechAdvisor attested with a 5-star review), delivering phenomenal audio and a comfortable build. Apple fans may want to look into the AirPods Max that are also known for what our friends at MacWorld call “industry leading active noise canceling”. Buy the Sony WH-1000XM5 at Amazon Buy the Apple AirPods Max at Amazon Capture and print your favorite memories Fuji Instax Mini 12 instant camera Fujifilm Sure, you could bring a giant SLR camera with multiple lenses and an extra special carry-on bag to store everything. Or for those who aren’t professionals, you can opt for a small, retro instant camera such as the Fuji Instax Mini 12 for $143.95 on Amazon. Just like an old-school Polaroid, you can take a picture and instantly print it out to capture the moment. Just be aware that you’ll need to purchase and carry the film separately. Buy the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 at Amazon Keep your wires from getting crossed Bellroy Tech Kit Bellroy Bellroy is known for making great tech cases and kits, and the Bellroy Tech Kit for $59 on Amazon is our favorite. This well-designed, travel-friendly bag allows you to keep all of your cables and small peripherals stored and organized with ease. The folio style means that you can open the entire kit out flat for easy access to everything stored inside. Plus, the fabric is waterproof so you shouldn’t have to worry about a little liquid spilling on your precious gear. Buy the Bellroy Tech Kit at Amazon Game in-route to your destination Steam Deck, Switch OLED, or Backbone One Backbone, Nintendo, Valve The Steam Deck for $399 on the Steam store is a great handheld gaming system that allows you to play your favorite PC games on the go. It wasn’t so long ago that the Steam Deck was sold out everywhere and people were clamoring to get one. Thankfully, Valve has increased its supply and it’s easier than ever to get your hands on this excellent gaming portable. Play games from your Steam library on the go or load up on new titles for your next vacation. Gaming makes those long-haul flights a breeze. If you’d rather go for a different platform, the Switch OLED is an absolutely fantastic gaming console. And yes, we know the Switch 2 is en route, but good luck getting your hands on one of those anytime soon. If you’d rather just play on your phone, but have an upgraded experience, the Backbone One will mold to your phone, whether that’s an Android or iPhone model, and will help you play anything you want, including titles in your Xbox, PlayStation, or Steam libraries. Buy the Steam Deck at Steam Store Buy the Nintedo Switch OLED at Amazon Buy the Backbone One at Amazon Keep your hands and wrists happy while typing Logitech MX Keys Mini Logitech Laptop keyboards are cramped and can lead to some serious wrist pain if you type on them for long enough. Save yourself the carpal tunnel and grab a wireless keyboard like the Logitech MX Keys Mini. This compact keyboard is not only easy to travel with, but offers convenient features such as a semi-customizable layout, multi-device switching, and more. And the most important part is that it offers a great typing experience with comfortable and quiet keys that won’t bother your fellow travelers. The MX Keys Mini is currently $99.99 on Amazon. Buy the Logitech MX Keys Mini at Amazon Carry a library everywhere you go Kindle Paperwhite Amazon Books are a great thing to have around on vacation, but they’re heavy and they take up precious space in your luggage. Instead opt for an e-reader like the Kindle Paperwhite for $159.99 on Amazon and bring an entire library worth of books in this lightweight tablet. Plus the Paperwhite version comes with an anti-glare screen and adjustable brightness settings, making it perfect for a bright beach or dark airplane. Not sure which Kindle to buy? Check out our handy Kindle buying guide to help you make the right choice. Buy the Kindle Paperwhite at Amazon Grab a mobile hotspot to stay in range of Wi-Fi range Solis Lite 4G LTE WiFi Mobile Hotspot Solis Those who travel a lot know that Wi-Fi is essential. From being able to work online while on the road or just looking up restaurant recommendations in another country, it’s an invaluable tool to get the most out of your travel experience. There are quite a few services nowadays offering pocket Wi-Fi for travelers, but Solis is one of the best with reliable global coverage across 135 countries. Plus, it has flexible plans depending upon your needs. You’ll need to purchase the Solis Lite Mobile Hotspot for $159.99 on Amazon before registering for a Wi-Fi plan, but it’s only a one-time fee and you can then use it on all of your future trips. Buy the Solis Lite Mobile Hotspot at Amazon Safe surfing NordVPN  Pexels: Stefan Coders If you’re going to travel anywhere, connecting to shady Wi-Fi networks, you absolutely need to have a VPN on your device. We’ve tested what feels like a million of them and recommend you go for NordVPN, which we found to be the best overall. There are tons of configuration options if you want to deep-dive, but you can also just take the easy route and press a single button every time. It even comes with a built-in antivirus and password manager, so you have a three 3-in-1 solution. Get NordVPN Never worry about safe tap water again Philips Water GoZero self-cleaning water bottle Philips No matter if you’re traveling to a new city or going camping, making sure that you have access to clean and potable water is a necessity. The Philips Water GoZero bottles bring in some smart technology to ensure the water is safe to drink. Available for $73.89 at Amazon (or lower when on sale), the bottle uses UV technology to eliminate up to 99.999 percent of bacteria and 99.9 percent of viruses in just a few minutes. Even when empty, the cap can disinfect your bottle and remove odors. Made out of stainless steel and double-walled, the bottle won’t just purify your water, it will also keep your drinks hot for up to 12 hours or cold for 24 hours. Buy the Philips Water GoZero water bottle at Amazon Mount your smartphone on anything Universal in-flight airplane phone holder mount Perilogics This Universal in-flight airplane phone holder mount for $13.97 on Amazon allows you to easily clip your phone onto an airplane seat for hands-free convenience. Maybe you loaded up that latest season of your favorite show or have a game to occupy that long-haul flight. Either way, holding your phone with a craned neck for hours and hours is bound to give you a strain. Just hook this bad boy up to the back of the seat in front of you on the airplane then sit back, relax, and enjoy. Buy the Universal in flight phone holder at Amazon Travel with an ultraportable laptop Asus ZenBook S 14 Thomas Rau If you’re going to get a super-light laptop, the Zenbook S 14 is a fantastic pick because it weighs just 2.65 pounds, which makes sit lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Air. We gave this one a 4.5-star rating and our Editors’ Choice award, appreciating the fantastic battery life and lovely large OLED screen. Plus, the laptop has an Ultra 7 processor, 32GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD. You can also check out our other best ultraportables or our best laptop roundup for even more options. Buy the Asus ZenBook S 14 at Best Buy Or opt for a 2-in-1 for even more versatility HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 IDG / Josh Hendrickson If you want a more versatile laptop, then a 2-in-1 model will do, like our very favorite HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14. The 360-degree hinge will make it easy for you to turn this laptop into a tablet and into a Netflix-watching tent in a blink. The 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED touch display is absolutely gorgeous and the 500 nits make it perfect to use everywhere you go. Buy the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 at Amazon Increase your screen real-estate with a travel monitor Azorpa A1 Gamut Matt Smith Sometimes you just need a second monitor, even when you’re traveling. The extra screen really helps productivity for business travelers and it makes for a great way to play your portable games on a larger screen while on the road. We really like the Azorpa A1 Gamut which delivers good image quality for an extremely budget friendly price—the A1 Gamut is usually about $70 on Amazon. It also comes with useful connectivity options and a solid build quality that will stand up to the rigors of travel.  Buy the Arzopa A1 at Amazon Grab some extra storage Crucial X9 Pro IDG If you plan on taking about a million pictures and videos and you want to have a safe way to back them up without relying on random hotel Wi-Fi, then you can also grab a portable SSD. The Crucial X9 Pro is the best external SSD for most folks because it’s not only affordable but also super fast. We gave the X9 Pro a near-perfect score and our Editors’ Choice award, utterly impressed with the 10Gbps performance and the small form factor. Buy the Crucial X9 Pro at Amazon Back up your pics Ugreen USB-C Ugreen This absolutely tiny USB-C card reader is the perfect way to back up some of those pics you took on vacation without relying on hotel Wi-Fi or your limited data. If your phone doesn’t have a microSD card, a card combined with this tiny reader makes a great external storage option. Or, if you’re using a camera with a microSD card, you can back up the pics to your laptop to free up space. It doesn’t hurt that it’s super affordable. Buy the Ugreen USB-C microSD at Amazon Stream content in your hotel room Amazon Fire TV Stick HD Amazon If you’re going to travel, you may as well keep up with your shows. The Amazon Fire TV Stick HD makes it super easy to bring all your favorite shows with you anywhere you go. You’ll just need to pop this thing in the TV, connect it to the hotel’s Wi-Fi (or the hotspot you set up), and just have fun. It’s also super affordable, available for $35 (although it’s frequently on sale for $20 or less). Buy now at Amazon Upgrade your car’s entertainment system Carlinkit 5.0 Carlinkit If your car’s entertainment system still requires you plug in your phone, then we have a nifty solution for you. This Carlinkit 5.0 dongle plugs into your car and allows you to wirelessly connect to it whenever you get in your car. In this way, you’re saving time and it’s so much more convenient. The Carlinkit 5.0 works with both CarPlay and Android Auto, so it doesn’t matter what type of phone you use. Buy the Carlinkit Android Auto & Carplay adapter at Amazon Read...

Cord cutters have long wished for a way to stream local broadcast channels for less than the price of a full-pay TV package. Now it’s finally happening. DirecTV, which has leaned more into streaming than satellite TV of late, now offers a $40-a-month bundle with all four major broadcast networks—ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC—in five U.S. markets. It offers three of the big four networks in more than a dozen additional U.S. markets. The local channels are part of DirecTV’s “MyNews” genre pack, which it launched in February. Despite the focus on news in DirecTV’s marketing, MyNews is now the cheapest option for streaming local channels—including all their sports and entertainment programming—in certain markets. DirecTV’s sneaky local channel bundle When DirecTV launched MyNews in February, it was a pretty unusual offering. Local channel coverage was limited to Fox and NBC stations, and its cable news lineup—which includes CNN, NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, and Fox Business—didn’t really justify the $40 per month asking price. In fact, DirecTV’s own MyEntertainment package was a much better value for news hounds. For $35 per month, it includes those same five cable news channels, plus a bunch of entertainment channels and complimentary subscriptions to Disney+, Hulu, and Max. A couple things changed since then: In June, DirecTV made a deal to bring Paramount-owned stations into its genre packs. That includes CBS in DirecTV’s MyNews and MySports bundles. In mid-July, DirecTV quietly started adding ABC stations to the MyNews bundle in select markets. (This was first pointed out by folks on Reddit.) Having access to at least three of the big four broadcast networks changes the calculation, because no other live TV streaming service offers local channels for this low of a price. (PBS isn’t included, but you can stream it for free through PBS’s apps.) The closest alternative is Sling TV Blue, which costs $46 per month and only includes Fox and/or NBC in a small number of markets. ABC is available in additional markets, but that raises the price to $51 per month. The other options for full local channel coverage are to pay $70 per month for DirecTV’s MySports pack or at least $83 per month for a full-pay TV package such as YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. MyNews local channel availability DirecTV My News’ local channel lookup.Jared Newman / Foundry Full local channel coverage in DirecTV MyNews is not yet available nationwide. Jon Greer, a DirecTV spokesman, says it’s been bringing more CBS and ABC affiliates online now, with the goal of having broader availability for football season. In the meantime, here’s the easiest way to see which local channels DirecTV’s MyNews carries in your area: Head to DirecTV’s Genre Packs page. Under the MyNews section, click the “See all 10+ channels” link. Enter your zip code at the top of the pop-up. (You may need to hit “Change” first.) Look for the stations marked as “Local” in the channel list. I’ve also compiled a list of major cities with at least three of the big four local channels: CityABCCBSFoxNBCBaltimore, MD???Boston, MA???Chicago, IL????Dallas-Fort Worth, TX???Denver, CO???Detroit, MI???Fresno, CA???Ft. Lauderdale, FL???Houston, TX???Los Angeles, CA????Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN???New York, NY????Philadelphia, PA????Pittsburgh, PA???Raleigh-Durham, NC???Sacramento, CA???San Francisco, CA????Seattle-Tacoma, WA??? This is not a complete list, as DirecTV is adding stations in more markets over time. Should you get DirecTV MyNews for local channels? If you can pick up local ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC stations with an antenna, DirecTV MyNews is not for you, as you’ll get the same local station coverage over-the-air for free. (If you want MyNews’ actual news channels, DirecTV’s MyEntertainment package gets you nearly all of them for less.) Those who want national sports channels such as ESPN and Fox Sports should also look elsewhere. DirecTV’s $70 per month MySports package has comparable local and cable news coverage, while also including sports channels. Bigger bundles such as YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV are worth a look as well, at least until the unbundled versions of ESPN and Fox’s sports channels arrive. DirecTV’s MyNews is more narrowly focused on folks who want local channels for NFL games and other primetime programming, but can do without cable’s sports and entertainment channels. Folks who can’t receive those channels with an antenna finally have a cheaper way to stream them—with a little bit of news on the side. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more money-saving streaming advice. Read...

`I’ve seen the trend towards more popularity around the sport... more golf entertainment.` Read...

Windows 10, 10 years past. Looking back, I think that the one thing Windows 10 offered more than anything else was: optimism. Ten years ago today, Windows 10 launched. My review of Windows 10 still feels familiar, just like the operating system. And if you rank all of Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, I still say that Windows 10 comes out on top. Why? Because Windows 10 retained a sense of warmth while simultaneously ushering in the future. Microsoft could have added a feature called Windows Biometric Identification 1.0 to Windows. Instead, it added Windows Hello, a feature where your PC recognizes you, like an old friend. The Start menu was bold, bright, and informative. Cortana may have startled you out of your chair while setting up your PC, but SHE WAS HERE TO HELP — and could author a quick email or set a task while you were busy working on other things. Continuum shared a workspace with your phone. So much of today’s entertainment media focuses on the past, precisely because the good old days feel behind us. The whole retrofuturist aesthetic in the Fantastic Four movie reminds of when humanity felt, collectively, that we could accomplish anything. That collective enthusiasm was also the foundation of the Windows Insider program. For a time, especially before Windows 10 launched a decade ago, Microsoft and its community worked hand in hand to try and make Windows 10 as good is it could be. Users would submit feedback. Microsoft would read it. Small groups of Windows engineers would show off preview builds of Windows 10, and it felt — at least from my perspective — that both the community and Microsoft were eager to talk about what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve it. And it paid off. Windows 10’s launch in Redmond, Washington. Mark Hachman / Foundry Today? Today sucks. We’re all worried about keeping our jobs, while dealing with the looming effects of tariffs. Our government is being slowly dismantled. AI, which was once the future, now feels like Damocles’ sword: Do we use it to preserve our own livelihoods, or discard it in what could be an ultimately futile bid to protect human creativity? And if we do use it, do we try to make a free version work or submit to another subscription service that could siphon hundreds of dollars out of our monthly paychecks? Windows 10 certainly wasn’t perfect. Windows 10 ushered in Microsoft’s mixed-reality debacle, and I dedicated an entire article to what Microsoft promised us in its numerous updates, and yet failed to deliver. Windows Phone, RIP. But those were the days when Microsoft invited everyone to launches with names like the Windows 10 Creators Update, showed us its vision of the future, and asked us to join in. Now, Windows 11 increasingly feels like a software shell surrounding Copilot. Maybe that is the future, where the “operating system” fades away behind some sort of assistant that simply does things for you. Science fiction has certainly trod that path several times, going back to the “Computer” in Star Trek and elsewhere. Today, we’re all concerned about Windows 10’s end of life this October: What will happen if you don’t upgrade? Tips, tricks, and hacks to prolong the inevitable. I’m not here to bury Windows 11; I’ve moved on and embraced it, and I think you should, too. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t look back, even through the gauzy filter of nostalgia. Those were better times, and Windows 10 powered our lives. Read...