In just the last few years, there’s been an explosion of new laptops featuring OLED displays. Just like the phone market saw them become nearly ubiquitous, the laptop market is finding more and more models offering up OLED displays at nearly every price bracket save for some of the cheapest systems. And that highlights a crucial detail: OLEDs cost a premium over traditional LCD displays. So the big question, then, is whether an OLED display is worth the extra cash you’ll have to spend to have it on your laptop. Like most tech questions, the answer will come down to what you want to do with your laptop and what you’re hoping to get out of it. So we’ll need to dive into the perks of OLED and the drawbacks so you can properly weigh the value for your own circumstances. Further reading: The best laptops: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1s, and more The advantages of OLED Mattias Inghe Mattias Inghe Mattias Inghe There’s a reason people are crazy for OLED. The image quality they can offer is simply remarkable. The star of the show is the contrast. Since OLEDs have the ability to adjust brightness on a per-pixel level, allowing one fully illuminated pixel to sit right next to a pitch black pixel, they offer effectively infinite contrast that makes for truly impactful imagery. This is a big bonus for visuals in games, TV, and movies, though has limited utility in office use and casual web browsing. The contrast often pairs with a much wider color gamut than the typical laptop screen. Many OLED displays offer nearly full coverage of the DCI-P3 color space — I’ve tested a handful and can’t recall a single one that was more than a few percentage points away. I’ve seen plenty of LCD displays that also achieve high DCI-P3 coverage, but many only cover the smaller sRGB color space, and side-by-side with a display offering DCI-P3 color, the difference is obvious. Many LCD displays don’t even go that far, covering instead a small percentage of the sRGB color space, sometimes less than 70 percent (you’ll often see this listed as 45 percent NTSC on the laptop’s spec sheet), and the difference between that display and an OLED with 100 percent DCI-P3 coverage is night and day. IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp In plenty of cases, that color gamut has also come with stellar color accuracy. It’s not a given and always worth checking reviews to make sure, but if you’re looking to do creative work where getting the colors right is crucial, then color accuracy is a serious matter. And having a display that not only lets you work with a wider palette but also ensures accuracy could make or break your experience with the machine. Best OLED laptop for content creation Samsung Galaxy Book4 Ultra Read our review Best Prices Today: $2999.99 at Best Buy OLED displays are still lagging behind LCDs in terms of the refresh rates offered, but plenty of them have fast refresh rates, with 90Hz and 120Hz laptop panels fairly common. And on top of that benefit for gamers is the nearly instant pixel response time. Where LCD panels often exhibit ghosting — especially on laptop displays which typically lack the response times of desktop monitors — OLEDs keep each frame impressively sharp, providing excellent motion clarity in games. One less-considered bonus of OLED laptops is that the display panel can be extra thin. But this consideration hardly matters. The needs for structural integrity in the laptop all but ensure that the display lid won’t go as thin as possible. I’ve seen the Acer Swift Edge show how thin an OLED laptop can go, and the display was worryingly flimsy as a result. The downsides of OLED Is that glare I see? Is that glare I see?IDG / Mark Knapp Is that glare I see?IDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp With all their positive attributes, OLED displays might sound like an obvious choice, but they do come with their share of downsides. Obviously the increased price is a key one, but this can vary a lot. Plenty of OLED laptops are available at reasonable prices, and plenty of OLED laptops have more expensive competition that wield LCD panels. Best OlED portable gaming laptop HP Omen Transcend 14 Read our review The upgrade to an OLED display isn’t always one-to-one either, so while it may appear like an expensive option when configuring a laptop, you have to also consider whether an upgrade is just the change to display technology or whether it includes a few other upgrades, like a boost to color gamut, resolution, refresh rate, or touchscreen capabilities. All of these upgrades would also cost more even with an LCD panel. Perhaps the biggest downside to OLED displays on laptops is their visibility in different conditions. Many OLED laptops have glossy screens, and though the displays may offer high brightness, glare can be a major struggle. Reflections appearing on the display also eliminate OLED’s contrast advantage as fast as Thanos eliminated half the universe. This puppy maxed out at 284 nits and was still easy to see This puppy maxed out at 284 nits and was still easy to seeIDG / Mark Knapp This puppy maxed out at 284 nits and was still easy to seeIDG / Mark Knapp IDG / Mark Knapp If you’re someone who expects to be using your laptop all over the place, indoors and outdoors, in dark rooms and bright sunlit spaces, know that reflectivity could hamper the experience of an OLED display. It’s given me plenty of grief using my own OLED laptops, and even drove me to apply an anti-glare cover to one despite the reduction to my perceived contrast. I’d wholeheartedly recommend a solid anti-glare LCD display in this case. Though OLEDs’ per-pixel dimming can offer battery savings in some unique circumstances, those are rare. More often, OLED laptops appear to have worse battery life than their LCD counterparts. That can further compound with the need to bump the brightness to compensate for the glare issues. That said, plenty of OLED laptops still offer stellar battery life, like the 2024 Acer Swift Go 14 and 2024 Asus Zenbook 14 OLED, and you should consult reviews in making your decision. Best overall OlEd laptop Asus Zenbook 14 OLED Read our review You may have also heard of OLED displays having color fringing and text-clarity issues, and while this has been true for desktop OLED monitors, I have not encountered this on laptops. Laptop displays aren’t using the same panels as TVs and monitors, and even if they were, their pixel density is high enough that these issues would effectively be shrunken to the point of being out of sight. While there are other concerns, this isn’t really one of them for OLED laptops. Burn-in is also a concern for any OLED display, and the many static elements on a laptop display can pose some risk of this. Having used an OLED laptop extensively for work, I did not notice any of this, but I relied on some dimming features and a system-wide dark mode to protect the display. My sample size is also limited, and some OLED panels could fare worse. OLED laptops: Yay or nay? OLED displays on laptops have some fantastic qualities that can make them a true delight for entertainment and media. Gamers also get major benefits from them. If these are your primary uses for a laptop, then by all means, go for the OLED laptop. It will almost certainly look gorgeous in ideal conditions. But if you do a lot of work on your laptop, all the downsides of OLED laptops are liable to rear up. While an OLED laptop can make a Word document look good thanks to those inky black pixels composing the text, it’ll hardly be a noticeable improvement, and the glare and battery-life issues you’re likely to face will neutralize any perceived benefit. And if you ever want to work near a bright window or outdoors in the daytime, even a dim LCD panel with a good anti-glare finish can prove substantially easier to see than even a quality OLED display. Laptops Read...

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VPNs aren’t just useful for keeping your online activities private and safe, they’re also a great way to bypass restrictions on streaming content in different countries. The top VPN providers are winning out in the cat-and-mouse game with streaming services to make sure you always have access to your favorite content no matter where you are. Given the restrictions that services such as Netflix put in place against VPNs, you need to choose a service that has active compatibility with that streaming site. It’s also a good idea to choose a VPN with generous overall server spread so that if one server is down in the country you are trying to access, there are other options available. The PCWorld staff have thoroughly tested the top VPNs on the market to see how they fare at unblocking the top streaming sites and we’ve curated our favorites in the list below. Why you should trust us: Here at PCWorld we’ve been testing computer hardware, software, and services since the 1980s. We’re continually testing all of the major VPNs on the market and many lesser-known services in order to curate a list of the very best VPNs across a variety of categories. For a more in-depth guide, you can check out our article on how we test VPN services at PCWorld. Below you’ll find our favorite VPNs, and below those, helpful advice about what to look for when choosing a VPN on your own. We highly recommend that you use a VPN not only to access location-restricted content, but also to provide one of the best possible upgrades to your online security. So, if you’re looking to use your VPN for more than streaming, be sure to check out our comprehensive roundup of the best VPNs in all categories. Updated May 10, 2024: Check out our latest review of ProtonVPN. From the makers of ProtonMail, ProtonVPN is a great choice due to its privacy, speeds, and streaming specific servers, which still keeps it as our top pick for Mac users. NordVPN – Best overall for Netflix Pros Great feature set Excellent speeds No-logs policy Attractive and intuitive interface Cons Expensive Why we like NordVPN For our money, the best option for streaming Netflix is NordVPN. From the start, it has been challenging the Netflix VPN ban. It’s also had a goal of making all of its servers work with the streaming service. As of our latest review, Netflix works without a hitch on all servers tested. No matter which Netflix catalog you want, NordVPN promises to deliver it. NordVPN has more than 5,000 servers and offers locations in 60 countries around the world. It also allows you to choose your specific server so that you can switch around if you need to if Netflix’s ban hammer ever comes down. In addition to top-notch speeds, and Netflix compatibility, NordVPN offers double-hop connections and Meshnet. NordVPN also uses the WireGuard protocol by default, though it has made some modifications to make WireGuard friendlier and more private for commercial VPN services and thus calls its protocol NordLynx. For both download and upload speeds, NordVPN is inside our top 5 for best speeds overall, and with the company’s success rate of averting bans, it should have no trouble streaming Netflix anywhere in the world. Who should buy NordVPN Simply put, everyone looking to use a VPN with streaming services such as Netflix can, and probably should, use NordVPN — it’s really that good for streaming. Between its consistently good speeds and history of successfully unblocking, we think NordVPN can’t be beat. Read our full NordVPN review ExpressVPN – Best runner-up for Netflix Pros Excellent speeds Easy-to-use interface Unblocks all streaming services Great security and privacy practices Cons More expensive than many competitors Light on some features for a top VPN Why we like ExpressVPN If NordVPN isn’t your style, our top VPN overall, ExpressVPN, is also an excellent choice. ExpressVPN offers more than 3,000 servers in 105 countries. It also promises that Netflix will work with every server it has, and ExpressVPN offers good speeds. Express is on the pricier side at nearly $100 per year, compared to $60 for Nord. But the app is easy to use, the speeds are excellent, and it offers some nice extras such as a private DNS service that lets you set up an Apple TV or console for watching U.S. streaming services overseas. Who should buy ExpressVPN ExpressVPN is right up there with NordVPN as our recommendation for most people. Its great server spread means you’ll likely find a country to connect to no matter where you want to spoof your location. Also, as our top VPN overall, ExpressVPN will serve you just as well with non-streaming activities as it will unblocking Netflix. Read our full ExpressVPN review CyberGhost VPN – Best for server locations Pros Consistently good speeds Easy-to-use desktop program Broad device support Cons Logs data transfer amounts More expensive than many competitors Why we like CyberGhost VPN When using a VPN to stream Netflix or another service, having a large pool of servers to choose from is a huge benefit. This is because streaming services and VPN providers are in a constant cat-and-mouse game to try and restrict or maintain access. And if you want variety and options in the server locations from your VPN, then CyberGhost VPN has them in droves. It offers a staggering 9,000+ servers for users to connect to — more than twice as many as ExpressVPN. These servers aren’t all concentrated in the U.S. or Europe either. They boast a server spread with 110 countries across all parts of the world. It even recommends optimized servers to users for various needs such as gaming, streaming, and torrenting. We did find that some of the servers were faster than others, with servers located in Europe having excellent speeds while servers in Asia not so much. But all-in-all, in our testing we found that the speeds were good enough to stream on any and all of their servers. Additionally, CyberGhost is an intuitive and easy-to-use Windows app with good functionality. It lacks some of the power user features that other VPNs on this list provide, but that shouldn’t be a deal breaker if you’re just looking to use the service to stream. Ultimately, CyberGhost is a straightforward and easy-to-use VPN service with an impressive number of server locations. Who should buy CyberGhost VPN If you’re looking for the greatest server spread with the most server locations to choose from then CyberGhost VPN is the ticket. For those who travel a lot or just need access to a wide-ranging server spread, CyberGhost is worth consideration. Read our full CyberGhost review Surfshark – Best for access with multiple devices Pros Unlimited simultaneous device connections Works well with Netflix Built-in extras such as ad tracker and malware blocking Low price on long-term plans Cons Indicators for ping or server load are not readily available Based in the Netherlands and subject to government data sharing requests Why we like Surfshark VPN Surfshark is another VPN that hits our top 10 for speeds, reaching 61 percent of the base speed in our latest tests. This makes Surfshark plenty fast enough for Netflix streaming. Our testing also showed that Surfshark was able to not only unblock Netflix, but also any other major streaming service we tried—including Amazon Prime, Max, Hulu, and more. It also comes with ad- and malware-blocking features, double-hop connections, and, surprisingly, it offers unlimited simultaneous device connections as opposed to the usual five-device limit with most VPNs. The Surfshark app for Windows is also easy to use and if you opt for a two-year subscription, the price is incredibly affordable as well. Who should buy Surfshark VPN Since Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous device connections, it is ideal for users who want to securely access streaming platforms from multiple devices at the same time. This makes it a great option for families who frequently have all of their members watching shows on their own devices, or individuals who don’t mind sharing their VPN with friends or colleagues. Read our full Surfshark review ProtonVPN – Best for watching Netflix on a Mac Pros Excellent free plan Great privacy tools Reliable and transparent no-logs policy Cons Expensive Best Prices Today: $9.99 at ProtonVPN Why we like ProtonVPN Another good recommendation is ProtonVPN, which is available at a similar price to ExpressVPN. Unlike NordVPN, however, Netflix doesn’t work on every single Netflix server. It works on a lot of the more than 4,800 servers, but not every single one. The one issue with Proton is that it can have trouble from time to time, where a stream will suddenly stop, especially if you’re watching while you work on the same PC. While these issues popped up on our Windows machine, we did not have the same issue on a Mac, where it ran smoothly the entire time. Who should buy ProtonVPN While we at PCWorld typically use Windows PCs, we understand that Mac users need VPN love as well. So if you’re rocking a macOS machine we think that Proton VPN is a great option. The VPN has one of the better macOS apps we’ve encountered and combined with its strong unblocking ability, this makes ProtonVPN a solid pick for Apple users looking to access streaming services. Read our full ProtonVPN review Why does Netflix block VPNs? Netflix’s big expansion into pretty much every country on earth back in 2016 meant it had to get tough on VPNs. While Netflix produces a lot of its own content that it can make available worldwide, the company also licenses a ton of content from traditional entertainment studios. These third parties are still working on a system of global territory licensing. Under this system, Netflix gets a package of movies and TV shows from these companies that it can show in the U.S., but that aren’t licensed to be shown by Netflix in, say, Europe. To keep those companies and their other international licensees happy, Netflix must enforce a block on VPNs to prevent people from getting content made available to Netflix subscribers in the UK, but not the U.S. “We are making progress in licensing content across the world,” Netflix said in a 2016 blog post. “But we have a ways to go before we can offer people the same films and TV series everywhere.” Netflix isn’t the only company that has to enforce these restrictions. Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and others do it too. However, Netflix along with Hulu are easily the most active and effective at it. What to look for in a VPN to access Netflix streaming First, most people should not make speed the top consideration. The minimum recommended bandwidth for a 1080p Netflix stream is 5 megabits per second (Mbps). If you’re streaming in 4K it’s 15Mbps. Depending on your home internet speed, that should be doable with nearly all the top VPNs. Instead, the first consideration should be the basic promise of Netflix compatibility from a reputable company. That’s the rub. Any old VPN can promise Netflix compatibility, but if there aren’t a lot of reviews about the service it may not be the real deal. Stick to well-known VPN services if you can. Next, you need to consider how many servers are available for the service — especially the number in your target country. If you want Netflix Australia and the VPN only has two Australian servers, that could be a problem. Most of the popular VPN services list their server networks online so you can see how many servers are in each country. Finally, make sure the VPN’s desktop app (and don’t forget about mobile) allows you to choose specific servers. Since this is a cat-and-mouse game with the streamers, you need a VPN with a number of servers in your desired Netflix country. That way if one server has been discovered by Netflix, it’s possible the others are still working. The fix for this then is easy — just switch servers. How we tested We judge VPNs on a variety of criteria including server network, connection speeds, privacy protections, ease-of-use, additional features, and cost. For a more detailed guide on how we test, check out our comprehensive guide on how we test VPN services. Speed tests are kept as simple as possible. We average the connections between different global locations for any given VPN and then compare them to our baseline internet speed to get a good picture of the overall connection speeds. We thoroughly research and analyze the privacy policies and histories of each VPN and note any outstanding discrepancies or data collection issues. In regards to unblocking capabilities, we connect to multiple servers around the world with each VPN and try to access content on all major streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney Plus, and more. FAQ 1. What is a VPN? A VPN (Virtual private network) encrypts your internet traffic and disguises your identity while browsing the internet. When used for streaming Netflix, a VPN will reroute your traffic from your location outside the U.S. to their own server within the country masking your true location and allowing you to bypass Netflix’s region locks. Additionally, VPNs anonymize your internet traffic and keep your ISP from potentially snooping on your browsing. 2. Are VPNs legal? Yes! In most countries, including the United States, using a VPN is legal. Some websites such as Netflix might try to block VPN connections due to their own personal restrictions, but they are still perfectly fine to use. Please note, while using a VPN is legal, some of the activities done while using a VPN might be illegal. Activities such as downloading pirated copyrighted content or accessing dark web markets are both illegal with and without a VPN. 3. Will a VPN affect my internet speeds? In short, yes, a VPN can have an effect on your internet speeds. But nowadays it’s the exception rather than the norm. While connected to a VPN, your traffic is rerouted through the VPN provider’s own servers. Depending on where these servers are located, it can add extra distance for your traffic to travel to and from, slowing your speeds down a bit. Also, VPNs encrypt your data which can lead to slower download and upload speeds due to the time it takes to encrypt and decrypt your data. This can have a more significant impact on speeds and it can affect everything from page load times to video buffering speeds. Thankfully, modern VPN providers have taken advantage of advances in encryption technology and server optimization to drastically reduce these impacts. Check out our article on how to test your VPN speed for more info on how you can personally determine any potential slowdown on your home internet. 4. Do VPNs track my browsing or store my data? This is entirely up to the VPN provider you choose to use. There have been instances in the past of VPN providers collecting data on their users. However, these were mainly free VPN services with no explicit “no-logging” policies.  When searching for a VPN, be careful to check the company’s website for a “no-logging” policy, third-party trust verification, and trustworthy user reviews. Thankfully, most of the major paid VPNs have clearly stated “no-logging” policies, so it’s typically best to stick with one of them if you have concerns. Personal Software, Streaming Media, VPN Read...

USB-C is the one connection to rule them all—literally, in many cases, thanks to a recent law passed by the European Parliament. Its popularity has made USB-C a common sight on new monitors. A USB-C monitor can act as USB hub, giving you additional ports for connecting various USB devices, but the monitor’s USB-C port can also serve as a video-input alternative to HDMI or DisplayPort; and some USB-C monitors can even charge a connected device while in use. The details of USB-C can be confusing, however, and pricing for USB-C monitors is often higher than that for monitors that lack the interface. See our buyers’ guide below our recommendations to better understand the nuances. For even more monitor recommendations, check out our roundups of the best monitors and the best monitors for a home office. And while you’re at it, check out our list of best monitor arms so you can optimize the ergonomics and comfort of your desk setup while viewing that brand new monitor. Updated May 14, 2024: Check out our review of the BenQ PD3225U, which offers the complete package: an impressive 4K IPS Black panel, great brightness, impressive color gamut and color accuracy, loads of image quality customizations, and USB-C support as well as a full complement of ports, mitigating the need for an expansion hub or dongle. Of course, with all this goodness, it’s no surprise that it also comes at a premium price. Dell Ultrasharp U2724DE – Best USB-C monitor overall Pros Attractive and functional design Class-leading Thunderbolt and USB connectivity IPS Black improves contrast 120Hz refresh rate Cons Most competitors offer 4K resolution No HDR support Adaptive Sync has some caveats The Dell U2724DE Ultrasharp has exceptional connectivity that caters to a mix of office productivity, gaming, and multimedia use. It supports Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet, and video-out. It also provides up to 90 watts of Power Delivery over USB-C for charging a connected laptop or tablet. Dell employs a new type of display panel called IPS Black, which achieves a better contrast than past IPS panels. It enhances the monitor’s depth and immersion which, though not able to conquer OLED or Mini-LED, is better than average for its category. The monitor scores high marks in color accuracy and offers a wide, vibrant color gamut. The most surprising feature is the monitor’s 120Hz refresh rate. Boosting the refresh rate improves motion clarity and fluidity in 3D games. It also makes the Windows desktop feel more responsive. Very few competing USB-C monitors have a 120Hz (or better) refresh rate, and those that do lack the U2724DE’s range of connectivity. Dell makes a couple sacrifices to achieve a refresh rate of 120Hz. It sticks to a modest display resolution of 2560×1440 instead of 4K (3840×2160). HDR is missing, too. Those willing to sacrifice the 120Hz refresh rate for 4K resolution and HDR should consider the U2724DE’s predecessor, the U2723QE.  Dell’s U2724DE carries a reasonable MSRP of $649.99 which, though not inexpensive, is good value for the monitor’s many features. It’s a great USB-C monitor for work and play. Read our full Dell U2724DE review BenQ GW2790QT – Best budget USB-C monitor Pros Attractive and ergonomic design Sharp, bright image Includes USB-C and DisplayPort-out Acceptable built-in speakers and microphone Cons Mediocre image quality No HDR No Adaptive Sync Best Prices Today: $279.99 at AmazonNot Available at Adorama The BenQ GW2790QT is an inexpensive monitor that doesn’t skimp on USB-C. Though priced at just $300 (with occasional drops to $280 on Amazon), it features a USB-C port with 65 watts of Power Delivery and DisplayPort Alternate Mode, which makes it possible to connect and charge a laptop or tablet. It also has HDMI, DisplayPort, three USB-A 3.2 downstream ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack. It even includes DisplayPort-out, a rare feature that simplifies cable management by enabling daisy-chaining to a second monitor. That’s not all. The GW2790T has built-in speakers and a microphone, which makes it an all-in-one video conferencing display. The microphone admittedly isn’t the best, but it’s fine for video conferencing.BenQ throws in an ergonomic stand with adjustments for height, tilt, swivel, and pivot. The stand’s sturdy base ensures the monitor remains securely in place on your desk. It also has a unique cut-out that can be used as a smartphone or tablet stand. The GW2790T’s many strengths are offset by a couple downsides. It lacks gaming-oriented features like AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync, and it doesn’t support HDR. These missing features make the GW2790T less useful for entertainment, but it’s a go-to pick if you want an affordable USB-C monitor for your office. Read our full BenQ GW2790QT review Viewsonic ColorPro VP16 OLED – Best portable USB-C monitor Pros Versatile, useful stands Good connectivity, cables included Numerous image quality customization options Top-tier image quality even at default settings Cons Speakers are included, but weak Pricey for a portable monitor No HDR Best Prices Today: $399.99 at Amazon The Viewsonic VP16-OLED is a remarkable portable OLED monitor that brings together top-notch image quality, USB-C connectivity, and an innovative stand design.  The monitor’s 15.6-inch 1080p OLED panel delivers exceptional color accuracy, gamut, and contrast. It surpasses many full-sized OLED monitors and nearly all portable monitors. This makes it a great choice for productivity, though it also looks excellent when viewing movies or playing games.  The VP16-OLED’s stand can be used as a kickstand or expanded to hold the monitor upright, making it ideal for professionals who want to maximize their workspace or need improved ergonomics. The stand includes two USB-C ports, both of which can provide power and video input to the monitor, and a micro-HDMI port for compatibility with non-USB-C devices. The monitor includes all the necessary cables as well as a USB-C power brick. There is a drawback: the cost. The Viewsonic VP16-OLED’s MSRP of $399.99 is expensive for a portable monitor. However, if you place a high value on image quality and want the best monitor for your portable office, the Viewsonic VP16-OLED is an excellent choice. Read our full Viewsonic ColorPro VP16-OLED review Asus ProArt PA348CGV – Best ultrawide USB-C monitor Pros Excellent SDR image quality  Sturdy, hefty design  Wide range of customization 120Hz refresh rate Cons USB-C hub lacks video-out or ethernet HDR is merely passable Best Prices Today: $899.99 at Amazon The Asus ProArt PA348CGV is a spectacular ultrawide USB-C monitor. It manages to serve a huge range of people, from gamers to prosumers and professionals, without letting anyone down. This monitor has a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and up to 90 watts of Power Delivery, so it can charge a connected laptop or table. The USB-C port can drive up to four additional USB-A ports, offering a wide range of physical connections. It doesn’t support ethernet or video-out, however, so some owners will still need an additional adapter.  Image quality is superb. Color accuracy is excellent, the color gamut is wide, and maximum brightness is high. The monitor’s 34-inch panel has a resolution of 3440×1440, which is roughly equivalent to a 27-inch 1440p monitor and looks sharp in everyday use. The monitor has a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz and supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, which is good news for gamers. The ProArt PA348CGV is reasonably priced, as well, at $729.99—not a bargain, but lower than most ultrawide monitors with similar features. Its price, wide range of features, and excellent image quality make the ProArt PA348CGV a great USB-C monitor for gamers and content creators. Read our full Asus ProArt PA348CGV review Dell Ultrasharp U4924DW – Best super-ultrawide USB-C monitor Pros Excellent build quality and stand Lots of connectivity including USB-C Easy-to-use menu with numerous options IPS Black improves contrast ratio Cons Image quality is mediocre overall No HDR or Adaptive Sync Expensive for its feature set Best Prices Today: $1,296.91 at Amazon1359.99 at Dell$1359.99 at Dell Home The Dell Ultrasharp U4924DW is the best super-ultrawide monitor with USB-C. It offers outstanding USB connectivity, functioning as a USB-C hub with a total of six downstream USB ports (four USB-A, two USB-C) plus Ethernet and audio-out. The USB-C port also supports DisplayPort Alternate Mode and provides 90 watts Power Delivery, letting users connect and charge a laptop or tablet over a single USB-C cable. This eliminates the need for a separate USB-C hub or dock which, in turn, reduces cord clutter behind your desk. Dell’s U4924DW is a curved ultrawide but has a less aggressive curve than alternatives focused on gaming, which in turn makes it more suitable for work tasks. It also benefits from a sturdy, elegant design, a small yet effective stand, and VESA mount compatibility for both 200x100mm and 100x100mm mounts. The monitor also supports picture-by-picture and picture-in-picture modes that let users view two input devices at once. It’s perfect for use in either a home or corporate office. Image quality is solid, but the monitor has a mediocre 60Hz refresh rate and lacks support for HDR. The lack of these features is surprising given its $1,999 price point. Still, the U4924DW is a wise investment if you care more about productivity than gaming and entertainment. Read our full Dell Ultrasharp U4924DW review LG DualUp 28MQ780-B – Best USB-C monitor for productivity Pros Unique aspect ratio is useful for photo, video editing Makes an awesome second monitor  Highly adjustable stand  Vivid, accurate color Cons Difficult to fit in a small home office  USB-C port offers limited downstream connectivity  Can lack immersion in some content Best Prices Today: $629 at Amazon$699.99 at LG The LG DualUp 28MQ780-B is a USB-C monitor with a unique 16:18 aspect ratio that’s almost exactly square. It can rotate into a 18:16 aspect ratio if you’d prefer. The monitor is much taller than most monitors and, as a result, has an adjustable stand that clamps to the rear of your desk instead of a normal desktop stand. The monitor’s odd form factor is ideal for viewing large, complex documents and can be useful for editing portrait or square photos. It’s also well suited for use as a second monitor alongside a large 32-inch display. The DualUp 28MQ780-B has a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 90 watts of Power Delivery, so it can charge a connected laptop or tablet. The USB-C port can extend connectivity to two additional USB-A ports. Unfortunately, the monitor lacks ethernet or video-out, so some owners may need an additional adapter. What about image quality? It’s great. The monitor has great color accuracy, a wide color gamut, and respectable sharpness thanks to its resolution of 2560×2880. Just be warned: The odd aspect ratio makes it a strange fit for gaming and movies. This is a monitor built for work, not play. Read our full LG DualUp 28MQ780-B review What to look for in a USB-C monitor Many features desirable in a USB-C monitor are the same as on any other display. A sharp, vivid, bright, and contrast-rich screen is best. However, shoppers who want to buy a USB-C monitor should keep an eye on details only relevant to USB-C. Remember, too, that a USB-C display can be used in two contexts. First, you can connect your USB-C monitor to a desktop PC or laptop via a USB-C cable, and use it like a traditional USB-C hub via the USB-C cable’s 20Gbps interface. That’s pretty straightforward. Second, you can also use the USB-C cable as a replacement for a display cable like HDMI or DisplayPort, especially for newer laptops that might eliminate an HDMI or DisplayPort port. It’s here that USB-C monitors can get tricky. The traditional rule of thumb is that a USB-C port can support a 4K display at 30Hz resolution. DisplayPort Alternate Mode (see below) increases that to 4K60, which is much easier on the eyes. Newer laptops use DisplayPort 1.4, which combines a high-bit-rate mode (HBR3) with a DSC compression mode that should allow for 4K60 video alongside the ability to use USB 3.1 storage devices. Be aware, however, that the USB-C cable’s 20Gbps throughput may not allow for video to be passed to premium displays like the NZXT Canvas S27Q at its full 1440p, 165Hz refresh rate. Those specifications probably assume that you’re using a dedicated video port like DisplayPort, instead, as well as its separate video cable. You can certainly connect the display to your laptop using both a video cable and the USB-C cable simultaneously, however. If your laptop uses either Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 — all of which use a 40Gbps data connection and a USB-C port on your laptop — you should probably have no issues connecting your laptop to the monitor at the full refresh rate using a Thunderbolt cable. Just consult your laptop’s specifications and/or manual to make sure. Power Delivery USB-C Power Delivery provides power over a USB-C cable. It’s not part of the core USB-C specification, so devices with USB-C (including monitors) don’t always support it. Power Delivery can pack up to 240 watts, but most USB-C monitors provide just 65 to 90 watts. It’s a perfect fit for those who own a thin-and-light laptop, 2-in-1, or tablet. Power Delivery is inadequate for some devices, such as gaming laptops, which consume more power than current USB-C monitors can provide. These laptops may still charge when left at idle but will charge slowly (or even discharge the battery) when in use. Ethernet Wired ethernet is a desirable feature in a USB-C monitor. Many modern laptops lack a physical Ethernet port, so its inclusion on a monitor is convenient. It can improve the speed and reliability of a connected device’s internet connection. While useful, this is an expensive feature available only on premium models. The Dell U3223QE is the only USB-C monitor on this list with ethernet support. DisplayPort Alternate Mode DisplayPort Alternate Mode is a feature available to USB-C that handles video as if the USB-C cable was a DisplayPort cable. It supports all the features you’d expect from DisplayPort including high refresh rates and adaptive sync. A monitor without this feature won’t accept video over USB-C, meaning you’ll have to connect both USB-C and a separate video input. All the monitors on this list support DisplayPort Alternate Mode. How we test monitors PC World’s monitor guides are the result of independent tests by PC World staff members and freelance technology journalists.  We test each monitor with a Datacolor Spyder X2 Ultra color calibration tool. This tool can measure a monitor’s brightness, contrast, color gamut, color accuracy, uniformity, gamma, color temperature, and other important aspects of display quality. Using a tool that measures objective quality helps us objectively compare dozens of monitors. Our tests of USB-C monitors also consider the range of USB-C connectivity and features available. We prefer to see a USB-C monitor with a complete range of physical connectivity including ethernet and at least 90 watts of Power Delivery, but these desirable features are balanced against the monitor’s price. FAQ 1. Do I really need a USB-C monitor? A USB-C monitor is a great way to expand your computer’s connectivity without the added clutter of a USB-C hub or dock. It reduces the wires present on your desk, freeing up space for other uses. PC World’s guide to USB-C hub monitors has the full story. USB-C monitors are excellent when used with a USB-C laptop that consumes less than 90 watts of power at load. Docking a laptop at a desk can be annoying if you use a wired keyboard, wired mouse, and external monitor. A USB-C monitor can consolidate all your wired devices to a single USB-C cable.  If these benefits sound good, then a USB-C monitor could be for you. If not, you may get more value from a conventional monitor. 2. Are USB-C monitors expensive? Yes, USB-C monitors are more expensive. Basic monitors without USB-C retail for as little as $100, while similar monitors with USB-C start around $150.  That price premium persists through all price categories. You can expect to pay around $50 to $100 more for a USB-C monitor than you would for a similar monitor without it. Premium productivity and professional monitors are an exception. Nearly all monitors in these categories offer some form of USB-C support. They remain expensive, though, and are often priced between $500 to $1,000 (and sometimes more). 3. Are USB-C monitors good for gaming? Technically speaking, USB-C monitors can be great for gaming. USB-C video is handled over DisplayPort Alternate Mode, which preserves all the usual benefits of DisplayPort. This includes great support for high refresh rates, high resolutions, and adaptive sync. But there’s a catch: Many monitors that have a USB-C port don’t support important gaming features like an enhanced refresh rate, low pixel response times, or adaptive sync. The Asus ProArt PG348CGV, our pick for best ultrawide with USB-C, and the NZXT Canvas 27Q, our best budget pick, are two notable exceptions. Just make sure that you’re connecting to them with a dedicated DisplayPort or HDMI video cable, and not using the USB-C cable as the video cable, too. Monitors Read...

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At a glanceExpert`s Rating ProsHigh gaming performanceSuperb OLED screenPowerful soundConsCooling is a little noisyMediocre webcamExpensiveOur VerdictThe Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 is a solidly built laptop that offers blazing fast gaming performance, a stunning OLED display, and a comfortable keyboard. While it’s on the more expensive end, we feel it’s worth every penny. Best Prices Today: Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 Oled GU605M Retailer Price $1999.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket About two months ago, we tested the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, a compact 14-inch laptop that packs a serious punch in the performance department, making it a suitable machine for either gaming or content creation. It wasn’t cheap, but it was very good. Now it’s time to check out its big sibling, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16. The concept is the same, but in a larger format. It’s a solidly built laptop that offers blazing fast gaming performance and a premium OLED display behind a glossy glass surface. You also get a sober, low-profile keyboard that’s comfortable to type on for hours at a time and a touchpad designed for creative work with a large surface area, fine precision, and multi-touch gestures. While it’s on the more expensive end, we feel it’s well worth the cost. Looking for more options? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best gaming laptops available right now. Asus ROG Zephyrus G16: Performance, keyboard If you like the look of a traditional gaming laptop, you’re in luck. You’re getting RGB backlighting in the keyboard as well as a diode strip in the screen that, although it only glows white, can be set to cycle light shows or sync with the computer’s audio. You’re getting really good gaming features from both hardware and software. Performance is quite good thanks to the efficient cooling system inside the big chassis. The cooling pumps more air and is a bit noisy as a result, but it delivers high and stable frame rates even in demanding games. You can also get the ROG Zephyrus G16 with either 4080 or 4090 graphics, if you really want to break all the graphics barriers, run dual monitors, or plug in a 4k monitor. But 4070 is good enough for this monitor and for someone like me, who isn’t a notorious fps maxer. Hitting 60 fps in most games is good enough. In Armoury Crate you get a lot of extra control over everything from performance to diode effects and screen. In Armoury Crate you get a lot of extra control over everything from performance to diode effects and screen.Mattias Inghe In Armoury Crate you get a lot of extra control over everything from performance to diode effects and screen.Mattias Inghe Mattias Inghe Asus ROG Zephyrus G16: Display The ROG Zephyrus G16 has a fast, colorful 16-inch OLED display. It doesn’t have a touchscreen (not unusual for gaming laptops) and the 2560×1600 resolution is more than enough. It does have a whopping 240Hz frame rate, a lightning fast response time, and support for Nvidia G-Sync for optimized fluidity in games. It is, after all, a Republic Of Gamers computer and it definitely lives up to that name. The screen is also great for productivity and creative work, with a wide panel color gamut and preset color profiles for SRGB, DCI-P3, and display P3. It’s certified for Vesa Display HDR 500 True Black as well, which means you can rely on great dynamics with lots of nuance in light and dark areas. This is great if you’re editing video or photos, for example, and a Delta E value for color accuracy of less than one means you can trust the tones in images. As an entertainment machine, the Asus ROG will deliver thanks to the display’s good HDR capabilities. But if you’re going to stream a film or just surf a little between sessions, you may want to set the computer to “Silent” mode, which reduces the worst fan cooling speeds. You do this either in the Armoury Crate control program or with the hotkey on the keyboard. The underside is fully perforated for efficient airflow. The underside is fully perforated for efficient airflow.Mattias Inghe The underside is fully perforated for efficient airflow.Mattias Inghe Mattias Inghe Asus ROG Zephyrus G16: Audio, webcam The speakers produce rich sounds with the Dolby Audio support and high volume. There’s a surprising amount of bass, but there’s a lack of intensity in the treble, so it may not be suitable for all types of media. Large upward-facing speaker grilles on either side of the keyboard mean Asus has opted out of a numeric keypad, which didn’t fit. On the sides is a respectable set of external ports, two USB-C, one of which is Thunderbolt 4 with support for most things, and the other is USB 3 with DisplayPort support. You also get two fast USB-A, an HDMI port, and an analogue headset port. Here you’ll also find an SD card reader. The 1080p webcam feels surprisingly cheap in an otherwise top-tier computer. It produces a low-contrast image with a 30Hz lag. It’s fine for a video meeting, but not for professional streaming. At least you’ll get support for AI-powered Windows Studio effects for automatic framing, background blurring, and eye contact correction. You’re also getting good microphones, for which you can set up audio pickup and noise reduction in detail in the Armoury Crate feature. Proprietary port for the included power adapter. It can also feed a USB-C port (the one on the other side) with up to 100 W. But that’s not enough to both charge the battery and play games. Proprietary port for the included power adapter. It can also feed a USB-C port (the one on the other side) with up to 100 W. But that’s not enough to both charge the battery and play games.Mattias Inghe Proprietary port for the included power adapter. It can also feed a USB-C port (the one on the other side) with up to 100 W. But that’s not enough to both charge the battery and play games.Mattias Inghe Mattias Inghe Asus ROG Zephyrus G16: Specifications Product name: ROG Zephyrus G16 GU605MI-QR044WTested: April 2024Manufacturer: Asus Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, 6 P-core up to 5.1 GHz, 8 E-core up to 3.8 GHz, 2 LPE-core up to 2.5 GHzGraphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, 8GBMemory: 32GB lpddr5xStorage: 1TB SSD, SD slotDisplays: 16-inch glossy OLED, 2560×1600 pixels, 240 HzWebcam: 1080p with IRConnections: Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 3 gen 2 with DisplayPort, 2 pcs USB-A 3 gen 2, HDMI 2.1, headsetWireless: Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3Operating system: Windows 11 HomeOther: RGB keyboard, G-sync supportNoise level: 0-41 dBaBattery: 90 Wh, 1 hr 20 min (high load, full brightness) to 7 hr 10 min (low load, low brightness)Size: 35.4 x 24.6 x 1.75 cmWeight: 4.29 poundsPrice: Asus ROG Zephyrus G16: Rating Asus ROG Zephyrus G16: Performance Cinebench 2024, multi-core CPU: 1,080 pointsCinebench 2024, single-core CPU: 114 pointsCinebench 2024, GPU: 11,513 pointsCinebench R23, multi-core CPU: 19,661 pointsCinebench R23, single-core CPU: 2,008 pointsGeekbench 6, multi-core CPU: 14,429 pointsGeekbench 6, single-core CPU: 2,576 points Geekbench 6, GPU: 114,126 points3DMark Fire Strike (DirectX 11): 25,890 points3DMark Time Spy (DirectX 12): 12,002 points3dmark Port Royal (Ray Tracing): 7,261 pointsDisk, read: up to 4,977.02 MB/sDisk, write: up to 3,493.27 MB/s This review was translated from Swedish to English and originally appeared on pcforalla.se. 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