If you’re looking to get a computer with a great performance without selling a kidney, you should look into mini PCs because these things deliver lots of power at a great price. The Kamrui AM21, for instance, is only going to cost you $360 now that it’s 25% off on Amazon. As tiny as this PC is, it’s packed when it comes to what’s under the hood. An AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX on a device that can fit in the palm of your hand? Yes, it’s true, and it’s what makes it ready to tackle your entire workload or your next passion project. The AM21 also features 16GB of DDR5 RAM and 512GB of SSD storage, which is pretty darn good for the price. But if that’s not enough for you, you can always upgrade it to 64GB of RAM and a 4TB SSD. Now that’s a powerful combo! There’s no dedicated graphics card, but you can get away with light gaming and video editing with the integrated Radeon 680M graphics. It’s powerful enough to connect up to four(!) 4K@60Hz displays via the two HDMI ports plus DisplayPort and USB-C video. Other niceties include four high-speed USB-A ports, double LAN, another USB-C for data, and a 3.5mm headset jack. It’s a multitasker’s dream! A powerful machine like this for just $360? That’s way better than you’d get in a comparable laptop, and good luck finding a full-blown desktop PC at this price. Get the Kamrui AM21 on Amazon before it expires! Get a 25% discount on this Ryzen 9 mini PC with quad 4K supportBuy now at Amazon Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Easy to use Works beyond expectations Very flexible format 300 minutes of free transcription Cons If you lose the charging cable, you’ll have to buy a new one, as it has a non-standard magnetic attachment. Our Verdict Plaud Note is a compact AI-powered voice recorder that automatically transcribes audio into text in 112 languages. It magnetically attaches to your phone, has long battery life, and saves time for both journalists and everyday users. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today The Plaude Note is built for users who want to capture conversations and quickly convert audio into text. If I’d had one of these when I started writing over 30 years ago, I could’ve saved myself weeks of work! But the Plaude Note isn’t just for journalists, it’s equally handy if you need to record a doctor’s advice during an appointment and later share it with the Social Security office, an insurance company, or anyone else who needs the information in writing. Plaud Note: Small but powerful Crafted from aluminum alloy, the Plaud Note takes up as much space as a credit card. In the package, you get a small credit card holder that attaches magnetically to the back of your phone. If you don’t have such a phone, take comfort in knowing it comes with a magnet you can tape to the back of your phone. Plus, at just 30 grams, it’s impressively lightweight. Petter Ahrnstedt The Plaude itself has two buttons: one to switch it on or off and one to start and stop recording. The charging cable is attached to the Plaude via a magnet while the other end plugs into any USB-C port. Plug it into the computer and it pops up as an external disc. I understand that it requires a special kind of cord, but if you lose it, you’ll have to buy a new one. When you want to record, press and hold the appropriate button. After a couple of seconds, Plaude will vibrate and a red light turn on indicating that recording is in progress. Plaud Note: Requires the app Like everything else these days, you need an app. Plaude supports both Android and iOS (I tested it on an iPhone) and it requires you to create an account to gain access to the AI features. Plaude supports transcription in up to 112 languages using AI models like GPT-4 and Claude 3.5 Sonnet. The basic package includes 300 transcription minutes per month. Transcription is done in the cloud, so you’ll need an internet connection to convert audio files into text. And it works better than expected! The different AI models have their own strengths. For example, Claude is better at transcribing text while ChatGPT is better at summarizing and analyzing text. You can choose which AI to use.Petter Ahrnstedt There are also paid subscriptions, though they’re not much cheaper than other online services already out there. Still, 300 minutes (five hours) is a long time and Plaude says the free service tier will be around forever. Plaud Note: Take the shell off The Plaude Note uses a dual recording mode system: an ambient microphone for in-room calls and a vibration sensor (V.C.S.) that records phone calls when the device is magnetically attached to your phone. You can switch between these modes depending on the situation. However, if your phone has a protective case, it won’t work. You’ll only hear your own voice. The battery is 400 mAh and reportedly provide up to 30 hours of active recording and 60 days of standby time. Recordings are stored in the cloud via AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. Plaude Note: Final thoughts The Plaude Note Black is a really nice and useful little gadget, and you can supplement it with an external microphone kit if you want. It’s easy to use, lets you import recordings you’ve already made, and will save you loads of time! Specifications Manufacturer: PlaudeModel: Note BlackDimensions: 8.56 × 5.41 × 0.30 cmWeight: 30 gConnection: USB-C (proprietary cord, included) Battery: 400 mAh, 2 hours charging timeContinuous recording: Up to 30 hoursStandby time: Up to 60 daysRecording quality: 1 536 kbpsEffective recording range: 10 metersStorage space: 64 GB (up to 480 hours of recordings)Price at the time of testing: $159 Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Read...

Summer vacation seems just around the corner and you have to decide what to pack for the trip. While you may want to limit your tech time, you’ll still need a few things, whether you’re heading on hiking trip or a family vacation by the beach. Here at PCWorld we’re continually testing the latest gadgets to sort the good from the bad. This means we’ve had the opportunity to find the best tech gear and accessories built for travel. From voltage converters to noise-canceling headphones, we’ve curated a list of the very best tech gear to optimize your next travel experience. The items below are worthy of any packing list and will help you prepare for anything you may encounter on the road—or in the sky. 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. Buy the BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter at Amazon Buy the Mapambo 220V to 110V Voltage Converter at Amazon 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. Buy the Apple AirTag at Amazon 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 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 Read...

TL;DR: Zario Pro helps reduce your screen time through curated tools like screen time limits, pause prompts, and more for $20. It’s easy to lose track of time when your phone is full of apps designed to keep you scrolling. If you’re looking for a smarter, more mindful way to manage your screen time, Zario Pro might be worth a look. This Android-only app is designed to help you build better digital habits, reduce phone addiction, and reclaim hours of your day. It’s also on sale for $19.99 (reg. $299). How does Zario reduce your screen time? Instead of simply blocking apps, Zario takes a more flexible, user-focused approach. Features like custom screen time limits, mindful pause prompts, and focus timers help you stay in control without cutting off access entirely. You can track your most distracting apps, set personalized limits, and even create focus schedules that make it harder to open non-essential apps when you need to concentrate. If you want a stronger push, Zario also includes a Cold Turkey mode that force-closes selected apps, plus a Dopamine Detox feature that encourages a full reset. Zario Pro is available as a one-time purchase with lifetime access. There are no subscriptions, and it works on up to three Android devices. Get a Zario Lifetime Subscription on sale for $19.99. Zario Screen Time App – Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription (Android)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

Boost multitasking and creative expression like a pro with Intelligent Features on the new Tab S10 FE additions. Read...

Back during Twitter’s golden days, lots of power users relied on the TweetDeck client for how it expanded the social network’s features and customized its user interface. It was known for its multi-column view that let you have several concurrent timelines for different topics, and it eventually got other advanced features like complex searches, new column types, and a full-blown Tweet Composer. No wonder it was the most popular of all the Twitter clients. But in 2023, TweetDeck was rebranded as X Pro and locked behind a paywall, only available to paid X Premium subscribers. Now, one former TweetDeck developer—Gildásio Filho—has been working on deck.blue ever since he was removed from the TweetDeck team, and he’s been working full-time on deck.blue since March 2025. To be clear, deck.blue only works with Bluesky, the open-source X alternative that has carved out a reputation for being independently developed and strongly guarded against extreme ideologies that are slowly taking over much of the web. There are some things you can do to get the most out of Bluesky, but a third-party client for power users could be just the thing if you feel limited by Bluesky’s interface. deck.blue provides a better overview of Bluesky posts, and the configuration of the display is very flexible, even for multiple timelines.IDG With deck.blue, power users can quickly find active topics and trends, with the app automatically updating columns with fresh content. But it’s the multi-column timeline views that change up the game. To get started, simply log in with your Bluesky account. While deck.blue is free to use with up to 4 accounts, there are a few advanced features that are only available with a subscription. Those features include increasing the multi-account limit, inline translations, and scheduling posts (with higher scheduling limits depending on your subscription tier). Further reading: I switched from X to Bluesky. Here’s what I learned Read...

A great pair of headphones is critical for any full-blown PC setup, but you have to put them somewhere when they aren’t on your head. Are you just tossing them on your desk? That might be convenient, but it’s a waste of desk space and leaves them vulnerable to accidental damage. My preferred solution is to use an under-desk headphone hook, and the AnchorPro by Elevation Lab is the best of its kind. It only costs $16 (or $25 for two), it’s easy to mount, it doesn’t involve any drilling, and it just works. I wish I’d made this upgrade way sooner—it’s been that good. Reclaim desk space with one simple hook Chris Hoffman / Foundry Before I got the AnchorPro, my headphones always ended up wherever there was open space on my desk, bouncing around from here to there. The headphones themselves always took up too much space when not in use, and the cable often got in the way. I’ve tried conventional headphone stands, mind you. (Corsair even makes one with RGB lighting and a USB hub! It’s a good product.) But here’s my problem with headphone stands: they still take up desk space. Ideally, I want to reclaim every inch of usable desk space that I can. Plus, they’re more expensive than under-desk hooks, so that’s a double-whammy. Why the AnchorPro is the hook for me Chris Hoffman / Foundry The AnchorPro is incredibly easy to install. It uses a 3M adhesive, so all I have to do is peel off some plastic, press it exactly where I want it, and hold it there for 30 seconds. If you’ve ever stuck a Command Hook onto a wall, you know exactly what to expect. Once it’s stuck on, I’m done. The hook itself is double-sided (so it’s actually two hooks in one), large, solid, and plastic. It also comes with a strap to secure cords, plus a small metal hook for lighter fare. In total, I can hang two pairs of headphones plus a set of keys (or whatever) with one single AnchorPro. If I ever want to move it, I can use a blow dryer to weaken the adhesive, buy a replacement adhesive for $3, and then stick it again wherever I want it moved. The AnchorPro is larger and all-around better than the original Anchor, which is a few bucks cheaper and doesn’t include cable management features. Both cost a few dollars more than the absolute cheapest options on Amazon, but these are higher-quality products with excellent adhesives. Personally, I recommend the AnchorPro 2-pack if you have anyone in your life who could use one. At $25, you’re paying $12.50 each—that’s a seriously good value. If nothing else, it’s a great gift for a PC gamer or desktop user who wears headphones! Buy the AnchorPro on Amazon Read...

When it comes to recording yourself at your computer, a webcam is one of the best and most convenient solutions. But 4K models tend to be pretty pricey for marginal benefit—unless you’re talking about the Emeet Piko+ 4K webcam, one of our favorite webcams. Right now, you can get it for just $72 on Amazon, down from its already-cheap $90 MSRP. The Emeet Piko+ is a fantastic webcam that got a 4-star rating and our Editors’ Choice award when we reviewed it. We appreciated the excellent 4K images and the unique dual-lens design, as well as the privacy element. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s super cute and looks like it features a tiny “face.” The camera gets even more adorable when you slap on the magnetic privacy shield, which makes it look like a panda. While we weren’t necessarily smitten by the fact you can mount this on a tripod, it’s a pretty cool idea if you’re into live streaming or want to record yourself away from your PC. You should probably make sure to have separate microphones, however, because the built-in mics don’t do much to filter background noise. It’s hard to find a high-quality 4K webcam for less than $100, so this is a fantastic opportunity if you’ve been looking. Get the Emeet Piko+ for $72 on Amazon and ensure your videos look their best! The Emeet Piko+ 4K webcam is at its lowest-ever priceBuy now at Amazon Read...

The perfect everyday laptop doesn’t exi—oh wait, yes it does! This snappy Dell XPS 13 with an OLED screen is a bargain for $1,000 at Best Buy, which is a shocking $500 off its original price. I’m not joking around! This productivity machine delivers everything you could ever want in a thin-and-light laptop except for high-end gaming prowess. For starters, it has a travel-friendly 13.4-inch display with a gorgeous OLED touchscreen with a native 2880×1800 resolution. It’s a visual treat whether you’re streaming Netflix or working on your spreadsheets, and you’ll get more done with its touch capabilities. The 400 nits of brightness is sufficient for most users, and the anti-glare coating is easy on the eyes for long sessions staring into the screen. But let’s talk about the real winning spec in this laptop: the Snapdragon X Elite processor that grants access to Microsoft’s Copilot+ AI features while being power-efficient enough to last about 9 to 12 hours on a single charge despite the OLED panel. Complete with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 512GB SSD, this Dell XPS 13 is suitable for running Windows 11, several apps, and dozens of browser tabs without a problem. Our biggest complaint with the OLED version of Dell’s latest XPS 13 was its exorbitantly pricey MSRP. But now that it’s $500 off, it’s a solid option for a daily driver with a touchscreen OLED screen and Copilot+ AI support. Get it now from Best Buy while this deal stands! Save $500 on the AI-ready Dell XPS 13 with OLED touchscreenBuy now from Best Buy Read...

Valve’s beloved Steam Deck is a delightful little device that makes PC gaming possible anywhere, but it suffers from some significant limitations. The Deck’s custom AMD Ryzen “Aerith” processor requires severe graphical sacrifices to hit playable frame rates in intense games — if you can run them at all. When you’re playing, you’ll blow through the battery in just a few hours. And while non-Steam games can be added to the Deck, it requires wonky technical workarounds that normie gamers probably won’t bother to troubleshoot. Enter Nvidia’s new GeForce Now native app for the Steam Deck, announced today and available immediately. If your internet signal is strong, and you pay for a premium GeForce Now subscription with advanced prowess and features, Nvidia’s app transforms the Steam Deck from a delightful device into an utterly magical one. How magical? Consider that Doom: The Dark Ages has been called a “nightmare” on the Steam Deck. Even with every graphics option turned to low, playing through the sparsely populated tutorial section results in frame rates in the low- to mid-20s — it not only looks ugly, it feels atrocious, like the Doom Slayer is a container ship you’re trying to steer while blackout drunk. Hard pass. Then I flipped over to it on GeForce Now’s new Steam Deck app, using an early build (and GFN Ultimate subscription) provided by Nvidia. Oh. My. God. Suddenly, everything was beautiful and smooth, with the Doom Slayer ripping and tearing through demonic hordes like the finely tuned weapon he is. Even with graphics settings set to the strenuous Nightmare level and rays being traced everywhere, performance ran locked at the 60fps maximum that GFN offers on the Deck. Doom: The Dark Ages runs like butt on Steam Deck — but it streams amazingly over GeForce Now, even with Nightmare graphics settings.Brad Chacos/Foundry GeForce Now literally made an unplayable game deliciously perky. But that’s not the only benefit: With my Steam Deck’s battery life lingering around 86 percent, the system’s performance overlay estimated I’d get around an hour and 44 minutes of play time before juice ran out. Streaming the game over GFN doesn’t tap into the Steam Deck’s resources nearly as heavily, and the performance overlay said the exact same scene with the exact same battery level would deliver over 7 hours of playtime. Wowza. Now that’s transformative — though Nvidia only officially claims battery-life improvements of “up to 50 percent” over native Steam Deck performance. GeForce Now on Steam Deck: Amazing performance and battery life And Doom: The Dark Ages isn’t the only example. I also fired up Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, a pair of CD Projekt Red’s heavy hitters that come with native Steam Deck graphics settings. In a bustling Novigrad Square teeming with NPCs, Witcher 3 achieved surprisingly playable frame rates — I was cruising around with Geralt to the tune of 50- to 60fps. Not bad! …though the graphics looked muddier than I’d prefer, and the battery only expected to last around two hours. Witcher 3 runs fine on Steam Deck natively — but look at how low-quality the visuals are in order to achieve playable performance. Brad Chacos/Foundry Then I booted into Witcher 3 via GeForce Now. What a difference. Using the game’s Ultra settings with ray tracing in full bloom, Geralt suddenly looked so much crisper and vivid — and once again, the game played locked at 60fps on GFN Ultimate’s hardware (equivalent to an RTX 4080), with a runtime estimate of over 7 hours. Transformative! The story remained the same in Cyberpunk 2077, which includes a Steam Deck graphics preset that drops visuals low enough to run at a locked 30fps. It’s muddy but playable! Streaming over GeForce Now, however, lets me run the game’s gorgeous RT Ultra mode at a locked 60fps while looking crisp, clean, and even more responsive. (The in-game benchmark said the Steam Deck mode ran at locked 30fps; RT Ultra over GFN ran at 86fps per the benchmark, but Nvidia’s servers delivered it as a locked 60fps. Nvidia says a 90fps mode is “being evaluated for future release.”) Better yet, estimated battery life increased from 1:09 in Steam Deck mode to 4:02 via GeForce Now — all while looking and feeling so much better than native performance. GeForce Now plays Steam Deck games Valve won’t sell you Another feather in the cap for GeForce Now’s new native Steam Deck app? It lets you play games Valve won’t sell you. The Steam Deck is amazing, but it’s obviously built around Valve’s storefront. Installing non-Steam games on the Deck involves heading to the gadget’s desktop mode and tweaking arcane settings, or installing third-party apps that (hopefully) automate the process a bit. It’s clunky. Not with GeForce Now. You’ve got lots of Alan Wake options on GeForce Now’s Steam Deck app — including the Epic-exclusive Alan Wake 2. Brad Chacos/Foundry Nvidia’s service lets you link your GeForce Now account with major PC gaming storefronts — Steam, yes, but also alternatives like Ubisoft, Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass, and the Epic Games Store. Once you’ve done so, any of the 2000-plus games supported by GFN will easily be playable by simply searching for them in Nvidia’s interface and launching the game. Want to play Alan Wake 2 (an Epic exclusive) on your Steam Deck with full fidelity? Yeah, the GeForce Now app can do that. Want to stream Forza Horizon through your Game Pass sub? Yeah, you can do that too. The GeForce Now library isn’t exhaustive, but it is huge, and adds games every week. It’s an instant level-up for your Steam Deck’s capabilities if you have games stashed on other PC storefronts too. Better yet, since GFN is now a native app, it’ll appear in the Recently Played section of your Steam Deck’s homescreen — making it dead simple to leap back into games you’ve streamed via Nvidia’s servers. GeForce Now for Steam Deck: Details you need to know Of course, you need to be a GeForce Now subscriber to take advantage of the new Steam Deck native app. The app supports all tiers, including the ad-supported free tier, but paying for higher tiers unlocks ad-free streaming, RTX capabilities, higher resolutions, ultrawide monitor support, and — if you pay for the Ultimate tier – DLSS Frame Gen, Nvidia’s latency-lowering Reflex tech, and HDR10 support that looks oh so good on the Steam Deck OLED that Nvidia sent me for testing. The paid tiers offer 100 hours of gameplay a month, with 15 rollover hours. Nvidia is currently running a GeForce Now summer sale that knocks 40 percent off a six month “Performance” plan, down to $30 for six months. It lacks some of the features of the Ultimate tier, but should deliver a wondrous experience on your Steam Deck, even if Valve’s handheld can’t take advantage of its 1440p option — GFN streams at 1080p/60 undocked. If you connect a monitor to your Steam Deck, GFN can output at 1440p/120Hz, or 4K/60Hz when connected to a television. As a streaming service, GeForce Now obviously requires a strong internet connection. In tests around my apartment in a small city, it held up well over my Comcast home connection, though performance sometimes suffered playing in the furthest reaches of my home. Your mileage may vary depending on your home network situation and whether you’re tethering off a mobile connection, but in general, Nvidia’s streaming service is fairly rock-solid these days. The error message when you try to use quick resume with a GeForce Now streaming title. Brad Chacos/Foundry One tidbit to be aware off: Since GeForce Now relies on active internet streaming, it’s incompatible with the Steam Deck’s quick resume function. If you power off your Deck mid-GFN stream, it’ll crash when the system wakes back up. I wouldn’t want to rely on GFN for a morning bus commute unless your phone can power a banging Wi-Fi hotspot. Just play it Bottom line, though? Nvidia’s GeForce Now app can transform your Steam Deck from a low-powered, vendor-locked console into a full-blow portable PC gaming experience, complete with no-compromises ray tracing and a sublime uplift in both visuals and feel. Playing Doom: The Dark Ages is a nightmare on the Steam Deck — but it’s heavenly streaming to your Steam Deck via GeForce Now. Expanded game support and drastic battery life enhancements almost feel like cherries on top of the experience, but they’re just as crucial to the GFN app’s Steam Deck success. In an age where graphics card prices are soaring and the PC market shivers around damning tariffs, Nvidia’s GeForce Now app can elevate the Steam Deck from a kick-ass sidekick to your primary gaming PC. That’s especially so if you dock your Deck with a mouse, keyboard, and monitor, but the wildly long battery life makes it true in handheld mode, too. You should absolutely, positively give the GeForce Now app a download on your Steam Deck. It’s damned near a must-have accessory if you want to play more strenuous modern games. Even if you only give the free ad-supported tier a whirl, it should provide enough oomph to get you through the new Doom — something the Deck itself isn’t capable of on its own. Giddy up! Read...