At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Enjoyable keyboard Lots of wired, wireless connectivity Well-rounded CPU and integrated GPU performance Lengthy battery life Cons Boring design  Touchpad could be bigger IPS display can’t match OLED competition Multi-core CPU performance can lag competitors Our Verdict The Acer Swift 14 AI isn’t exciting, but it packs well-rounded performance, good battery life, and a nice buffet of connectivity at a reasonable price. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today The Acer Swift 14 gets a slight rebrand for the fall of 2024—it’s now the Acer Swift 14 AI. Like its predecessor, the new model is a thin-and-light Windows laptop that tries to deliver good performance at a mid-range price. Though it suffers a few flaws, like a mediocre display, it delivers on that promise.  Further reading: Best laptops 2024: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1s, and more Acer Swift 14 AI: Specs and features The star of the Swift 14 AI’s spec sheet is undoubtedly Intel’s Core Ultra 7 258V, which is part of Intel’s new Core Series 2 lineup. It sits high in the product stacks and, in this incarnation, comes paired with 32GB of LPDDR5x. Model number: SF14-51T-75AF CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Memory: 32GB LPDDR5x Graphics/GPU: Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics NPU: Intel AI Boost (47 TOPs) Display: 14-inch 16:10 1,920 x 1,200 IPS touchscreen Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 solid state storage Webcam: 1440p 30fps camera with physical privacy shutter and IR camera for Windows Hello login Connectivity: 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C, 2x USB-A, 1x HDMI-out, 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Biometrics: Fingerprint reader, facial recognition  Battery capacity: 63 watt-hours Dimensions: 12.3 x 8.71 x 0.63 inches Weight: 2.95 pounds MSRP: $1,299.99 MSRP  However, a few other specifications leap out. The laptop has an IPS touchscreen instead of an OLED display. Though obviously helpful for touch input, this decision hints that display quality will be a weakness. As an apology, the laptop packs a ton of future-proof connectivity including two Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports and Wi-Fi 7.  The Acer Swift 14 AI is a competent laptop that makes good use of Intel’s Core Ultra 7 258V to deliver strong performance and battery life at a mid-range price. Acer Swift 14 AI: Design and build quality IDG / Matthew Smith Acer’s Swift laptops tend to strike an unassuming profile on a desk, and the Swift 14 AI is no exception. When closed, the laptop is marked only by a small holographic Acer logo and an odd symbol in the upper-left corner, which appears to be part of Acer’s new AI branding. Otherwise, the Acer Swift 14 AI could easily be mistaken for any number of mid-range Windows laptops released in the past few years. What the laptop lacks in flair, it makes up for in rigidity. Opening the laptop causes minimal flex in the display lid, and the lower chassis feels solid when picked up from a corner. This laptop doesn’t have a unibody design, and some flex can be found if you press firmly in the center of the keyboard. However, the same is true of many competing Windows laptops. The Swift 14 AI is rather thin and light, as it measures roughly 0.6 inches thick and weighs just under 3 pounds. While neither number is record-setting, the Acer Swift 14 AI feels noticeably lighter than competitors like the Dell Inspiron 14 and HP Omnibook Ultra 14. The Asus Zenbook S 14 has Acer beat, however; the Asus is under 0.5 inches thick and weighs less than 2.5 pounds. Acer Swift 14 AI: Keyboard, trackpad IDG / Matthew Smith The Acer Swift 14 AI’s keyboard, like the rest of the laptop’s design, doesn’t make much of an impression. It has a conventional layout with color-coordinated, island-style keys. As is usually true of laptops that take this approach, the color of the keys doesn’t precisely match the surrounding laptop, which cheapens the look. But when it comes time to bang out an e-mail (or novel), the keyboard proves up to the task. Key travel is acceptable, and each key activates with a definitive snap. It’s not a leader, but it does the job. Keyboard backlighting is standard, as well, which is typical at this price point. The touchpad is less impressive. Though responsive, it only measures about five inches wide and three inches deep. That’s (at best) mediocre for a laptop in 2024, and the smaller touchpad’s modest size is noticeable when the Swift 14 AI is compared to alternatives like the Asus Zenbook S 14 or Apple’s MacBooks.  Acer Swift 14 AI: Display, audio IDG / Matthew Smith Display quality is a weakness of the Acer Swift 14 AI. It has a 14-inch screen with a modest resolution of 1920 x 1200, using an IPS panel instead of a newer, more impressive OLED or mini-LED option. The absence of these higher-end technologies is somewhat surprising, as Acer often includes them in other models, and it’s not great news for image quality. The display looks fine in productivity apps like Word and Excel. However, when it comes to gaming or watching movies, the lack of contrast and color vibrancy is noticeable compared to an OLED display. Acer doesn’t market this laptop as an entertainment machine, but shoppers should be aware that if you want the best visual experience for games or movies, this might not be the right choice. On the plus side, the display is a touchscreen, which can be handy if you’d rather not use the touchpad. The display hinge also rotates 180 degrees, allowing the screen to lie flat on a surface. Together, these features make the laptop easier to use in cramped spaces or in unusual positions, like when reclined on a couch or crammed into an airplane’s economy class. The Acer’s modest display performance is echoed in its audio quality. The built-in speakers sound clear at lower volumes but become muddied and harsh as the volume increases. They’re adequate for listening to a podcast or attending a video call, but they’re not ideal for music, movies, or games. Acer Swift 14 AI: Webcam, microphone, biometrics The Acer Swift 14 AI has a decent webcam with a maximum resolution of 1440p (though, by default, the camera app still records at 1080p). The image is sharp for a webcam but can’t avoid classic webcam issues, like difficulty dealing with low-light situations that can lead to a grainy or over-exposed look. Still, it’s perfectly fine for Zoom calls. The same can be said of the microphone array, which picks up clear audio at acceptable volume. Acer ships the Swift 14 AI with a software utility to control features like portrait blur and microphone noise cancellation. It feels a bit redundant, though, since Windows already provides controls for these features. A physical privacy shutter is included to block the webcam when it’s not in use. The laptop has both a fingerprint reader and an IR camera and allows biometric login via Windows Hello with either (or both). That’s notable. While many laptops have one or the other, it’s less common to see both. Personally, I prefer Windows Hello facial recognition, but the fingerprint reader can be the better choice if you like to keep the webcam’s privacy shutter active.  Acer Swift 14 AI: Connectivity IDG / Matthew Smith Acer provides a good range of connectivity with the Swift 14 AI. It includes two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, both of which support DisplayPort video output and power delivery for charging the laptop. These are joined by two USB-A ports, an HDMI output, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. This selection makes it easy to connect both modern USB-C devices and older USB-A peripherals. The only physical port that’s missing is Ethernet, but this is typical for most thin and light competitors. Wireless connectivity is also solid, as the laptop supports both Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4—the latest versions of each standard. While most routers and wireless devices have yet to adopt these standards (which limits their immediate impact), they help future-proof the laptop’s wireless connectivity. Acer Swift 14 AI: Performance This review covers the Acer Swift 14 AI with Intel Core Ultra 7 258V. However, Acer also sells the Swift 14 AI with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite. They’re not identical:  the Qualcomm-powered model has a better 1600p 120Hz touchscreen and larger battery, though half as much RAM. Still, they look extremely similar and sell at a similar price (the Intel model has an MSRP of $1,299.99, while the Qualcomm model is $1,199.99).  IDG / Matthew Smith There is just one wrench in the works: Qualcomm’s hardware doesn’t play nice with every benchmark in our test suite, and PCMark 10 is among them. Personally, I’ve found that Qualcomm’s app support—both in terms of new native apps, and those that run through emulation—is excellent. But gaps remain, and the uncertainty that brings can be off-putting. Placing that aside, the Acer Swift 14 AI with Intel’s Core Ultra 7 258V had a good showing. It beat many recently tested laptops with an overall score of 7,173. HP’s OmniBook Ultra 14, an especially strong performer with AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, is the only comparable system that leaves the Swift 14 AI in the dust. IDG / Matthew Smith Cinebench R23 is a heavily multithreaded, short duration CPU benchmark, and it seems to deliver a clear result. AMD rules, and Intel drools. Well…to be fair, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 is an especially strong incarnation of AMD’s new chips, and the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 is about $350 more than the Ace Swift 14 AI. Still, it’s a bit surprising to see the AMD-powered machine leap so far head.  Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite brings up the rear, but it also runs under emulation in this test. In Cinebench 2024, which has an Arm-native version more friendly to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon X Elite is generally at least as quick as Intel’s Core Ultra Series 2 silicon.  IDG / Matthew Smith Handbrake is a longer duration, heavily multithreaded CPU benchmark that involves a real-world transcode of a feature film.  Here, the Acer Swift 14 AI avoids the thermal throttling situation that holds back laptops like the Asus Zenbook S 14 (which, remember, is about a half-inch thick, and has less space to accommodate its cooling system). But the Acer again falls way behind the AMD-powered HP OmniBook Ultra 14. IDG / Matthew Smith The Acer Swift 14 AI has Intel’s Arc 140V graphics. Though it promised gains over the prior incarnation of Intel Arc, the results we’ve recorded so far have told a mixed story: the Intel Zenbook S 14 did post big gains, but the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition did not. Fortunately for Intel, the Acer Swift 14 AI leans towards the “big gains” side of the story. It delivered an impressive 3Dmark Fire Strike result of 4,446, then went on to an even stronger score of 36,591 in 3Dmark’s Night Raid benchmark. The Swift 14 AI defeats all similarly tested laptop, and sometimes by a wide margin. And here’s something else to consider: the Acer Swift 14 AI’s result of 4,446 in Fire Strike defeats the Lenovo Slim 7 Pro X with RTX 3050 that we reviewed in August of 2022. IGP performance is clearly on the rise and can now compete with entry-level discrete GPUs sold a couple years ago.    Overall, the Acer Swift 14 AI with Intel Core Ultra 258V is a well-rounded performer. Multicore performance is its weakest point, and it ends up falling behind competitors in heavily multithreaded CPU tests. However, the Core Ultra 258V packs a rather good integrated GPU and is helped along by 32GB of speedy memory. This leads the laptop to score well in 3DMark and PCMark 10. Acer Swift 14 AI: Battery life The Acer Swift 14 AI ships with a 63 watt-hour battery. That’s reasonably large but not unusual in the category; the Acer Zenbook S 14, Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition, and HP OmniBook Ultra 14 all have larger batteries.  IDG / Matthew Smith Despite that, the Acer Swift 14 AI proved itself an able travel companion. It provided almost 19 hours of battery life in our standard battery test, which loops a 4K file of the short film Tears of Steel.  That’s as good or better than competitors like the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 and Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 Aura Edition. The Asus Zenbook S 14 is the only comparable laptop that lasts much longer, as it tops 20 hours of endurance. Acer Swift 14 AI: Conclusion The Acer Swift 14 AI is a competent laptop that makes good use of Intel’s Core Ultra 7 258V to deliver strong performance and battery life at a mid-range price. It’s not the most attractive laptop, and shoppers who care about entertainment (whether that’s streaming Netflix or playing Fortnite) will be turned off by the mediocre display. Still, the Swift 14 AI is a good choice for home office work, travel, and less demanding content creation workflows. Read...

The titans of the PC industry slugged things out in 2024, jockeying for dominance in the new AI era blossoming before our eyes. It was most evident in laptops: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chips kicked off Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC era with long life and surprisingly competitive performance, only to be rivaled by Intel’s Macbook-killing Lunar Lake chips months later. AMD, meanwhile, focused on bringing high-octane speed to Copilot+ PCs, zigging for oomph while the others zagged to endurance. With competition flourishing, PCWorld expects to review over 120 laptops by the end of the year, by far a new high water mark! But laptops weren’t the only category laser-focused on innovation and performance. This year, cutting-edge monitors became the norm, Thunderbolt docks and SSDs embraced newer, faster standards, Intel and AMD launched overhauled desktop CPUs, gaming handhelds got truly competitive, and the software that runs on all that hardware kept getting better and better, too. You love to see it. With such a gluttony of choice, it became harder than ever for PC hardware and software to impress us. Few products earned our rare Editors’ Choice award. And only the very best of the best grace this list. Without further ado, this is the Best PC Hardware and Software of 2024, as chosen by PCWorld’s editors. Congratulations to the winners – with a field this crowded, they’ve definitely earned it. Best laptop: Dell Inspiron 14 Plus Dell Inspiron 14 Plus Read our review The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is one of the most well-rounded laptops we’ve ever tested here at PCWorld. You’re getting strong performance, phenomenal battery life (17 hours on a single charge!), and a vibrant 14-inch 1400p display to boot. It hits nearly every mark and is clearly the best laptop for most people. The aesthetics are a little bland, sure, but the hardware capabilities and marathon battery life more than make up for it – and a laptop that fits in with the crowd isn’t a bad thing. -Ashley Biancuzzo Best desktop CPU: Ryzen 7 9800X3D Adam Patrick Murray / Foundry It’s been a dour year for CPUs – AMD’s initial Ryzen 9000 lineup offered minimal performance uplift and suffered from (since-fixed) Windows-related performance woes, while Intel’s radical new Core Ultra chips wound up being slower than their predecessors in gaming. But things ended with a bang courtesy of AMD’s jaw-dropping Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Thanks to a second-generation V-Cache that eliminated the caveats required by earlier X3D models – the 9800X3D isn’t a drawback for productivity now! — AMD’s new gaming champion brought the heat against Intel. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D obliterates Intel’s flagship Core Ultra 9 285K by 25 to 30 percent on average, with the whupping hitting an almost unbelieveable 45 percent in Cyberpunk 2077. Madness! I can’t remember the last time I witnessed a hardware beat down this relentlessly violent. If you want the single best gaming chip you can buy, the Ryzen 9 9800X3D is it – by a whole hell of a lot. -Brad Chacos Best password manager: Dashlane Dashlane Read our review Best Prices Today: $4.99 at Dashlane As data breaches increase in number and severity, password managers have become ever more important. A good one makes staying on top of your online security easy—quickly creating strong passwords, alerting when one’s been compromised, and updating compromised or weak credentials. Of the options out there, Dashlane’s consistency and continual feature updates have helped keep it as a long-standing favorite among our staff. Its paid Premium plan includes passkey support, passwordless login, dark web monitoring, VPN access, and even real-time phishing protection. The latter two features are a proactive stance against other dangers to your password health—a welcome touch if your online habits would benefit from extra privacy and online protection, but you haven’t yet looked into a dedicated VPN or antivirus subscription. – Alaina Yee Best monitor: Dell Ultrasharp U2724DE Dell Ultrasharp U2724D Read our review We knew this monitor was special when our veteran monitor reviewer, Matt Smith, described it as “arguably the most versatile monitor ever sold.” Say more! The Dell Ultrasharp U2724DE has what it takes to meet a user’s every display need, whether it’s as the command center of a busy workday, the canvas for content creation, or the means of losing yourself in a movie or game. The IPS Black panel gives the 27-inch screen incredible contrast, while a 120Hz refresh rate makes for great motion clarity. Add to that the oodles of ports, an attractive and functional design, and a reasonable price, and Dell’s stunner is definitely this year’s best monitor! – Katherine Stevenson Best desktop GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super Nvidia It was a slow year for graphics cards, but the GPUs we did get were welcome ones. Nvidia’s RTX 40-series Super refresh, announced at CES, righted the missteps made in the original 40-series lineup, lowering prices and beefing up specs where it made sense. The best of the bunch was Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4070 Super, which offers a super-sized performance boost over its vanilla namesake thanks to 20 percent more CUDA, ray tracing, and DLSS tensor cores, all at the same $599 price point as the original. Yes please! On top of best-in-class ray tracing performance, Nvidia’s also best-in-class software features (such as DLSS 3.5 ray reconstruction, dual AV1 encoders, and Nvidia Reflex, a must-have in competitive shooters) make the RTX 4070 Super shine bright in the most competitive segment of the graphics card market. What, that’s not good enough for you? The Nvidia RTX 4080 Super also earned an Editors’ Choice award for its all-around excellence, buoyed by a $200 price cut versus the original 4080. -Brad Chacos Best Chromebook: Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus Read our review From the versatile 2-in-1 design to the stunning touchscreen, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus has a lot to offer. The Chromebook Plus models have really raised the bar in terms of hardware capabilities and the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus pushes the pedal to the metal even further. Not only is day-to-day performance zippy, but the build feels strong in both tent and tablet modes. The 360-degree hinge is especially unyielding, which is exactly what we like to see. The original $499 MSRP price is a little high for a Chromebook, sure, but the overall fit, finish, and firepower make it worth the extra cash. – Ashley Biancuzzo Best SSD: Crucial T705 Crucial T705 NVMe SSD Read our review Best Prices Today: $174.99 at Amazon The cutting edge in solid state storage is the PCIe 5.0 interface, and the SSD that sets the bar for this echelon is the Crucial T705. If it’s speed you’re after, this bad boy brings it – as in 14.5GBps sequential reading and 12.3GBps writing in our synthetic benchmarks. Real-world performance is also impressive. And the price for the Crucial T705 has come down considerably since we first reviewed it, to sub-$200 for 1TB, making this high-performance drive a no-brainer for speed freaks. – Katherine Stevenson Best VPN: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN Read our review It’s a tough ask to select the best VPN overall. There are so many factors to consider such as privacy, ease of use, server network size, unblocking capabilities, and speed. Everyone’s intended usage may vary and that needs to be taken into account. Will the VPN be used to get around location blocks for streaming, staying incognito online, torrenting, or something else—the list goes on and on. Many VPNs excel at a few of these functions, but seldom manage to shine across the board. Enter ExpressVPN. It’s one of the only services that consistently ranks highly across each category. That’s why, for the third year in a row, it’s my top VPN. Not only does it continue to be one of the fastest VPNs I’ve ever tested, but it has a huge server network, it’s dead simple to use, and comes with a sterling user privacy record. It also never fails to unblock streaming services and fully supports P2P. There might be services with more extra features, but none exemplify all of the elements of a great VPN like ExpressVPN. — Sam Singleton Best gaming monitor: MSI MPG 341CQPX MSI MPG 341CQPX Read our review Best Prices Today: $849.99 at Amazon | $849.99 at MSI If your primary purpose is gaming, the MSI MPG 341CQPX is the monitor you want, hands down. The 34-inch curved display stands out among a sea of other QD-OLED competitors by boasting a higher refresh rate (up to 240Hz), strong HDR performance, and an excellent range of connectivity including the ability to charge a laptop or phone over USB-C. Of course, with QD-OLED, incredible contrast and color performance are a given. With a vibrant and realistic image and smooth-as-butter motion clarity, this display was made for immersive entertainment. – Katherine Stevenson Best Windows backup: R-Drive Image 7.2 R-Drive Image Read our review Best Prices Today: $44.95 at R-tools Technology When it comes to backup, the most important feature is reliability. R-Drive Image, which has been in the backup game for years, boasts an unblemished record in this regard. Now at version 7.2, it’s more full-featured and capable than ever. It offers the range of backup duties: disk and partitions, files and folders, WinPE and Linux boot media creation, the works. You can save your backups locally, to the network, or to your preferred cloud storage. You can even replicate backups across multiple destinations. The interface is straightforward, and performance is speedy. There’s really no need to consider other options. – Katherine Stevenson Best Thunderbolt Dock: Kensington SD5800T Kensington Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 Quad Video Docking Station (SD5800T) Read our review Best Prices Today: $280.40 at Amazon Many laptop docking stations come and go across my desk, enough that I donate the remainder to my coworkers at the end of the year. Kensington’s Thunderbolt 4 dock, the SD5800T, was one I didn’t want to give up. I love docks that don’t sacrifice either flexibility or stability, and the SD5800T offers it all: support for up to four displays, USB-C and USB-A, charging capabilities (7.5W to a phone, just under 100W to a laptop). There really aren’t any compromises, at all. The only concern I had was its price, and that’s fallen to a wholly respectable $250 at press time. Absolutely recommended. – Mark Hachman Best external drive: Adata SE920 Adata SE920 USB 4 SSD Read our review Best Prices Today: $179.99 at Adata | $179.99 at Amazon If you want the very best external drive, look no further than the Adata SE920. It features the latest-gen USB 4 spec, making it capable of 40Gbps transfers. Within that class, it’s the fastest external drive we’ve tested. But that’s not all. The SE920 also looks badass – a welcome perk on a device that will live on your desk or accompany you out in the field. The enclosure consists of a latched, spring-loaded outer shell that can slide open about half an inch to activate an internal fan, which is effective at heat dissipation and quiet. How clever is that? – Katherine Stevenson Best gaming laptop: Alienware m16 R2 Alienware m16 R2 The Alienware m16 R2 has everything you could ever want in a gaming laptop, and unlike most gaming laptops, it can even work as your daily driver, far away from a power outlet. It offers exceptional gaming performance thanks to the RTX 4070 GPU, a wickedly fast display (240Hz!), and an efficient cooling system. It lasted 11 hours on a single charge, which is impressive, as most gaming laptops tend to die at the five or six hour mark. The cherry on top? It’s a great value for a gaming laptop, especially one with RTX 4070 graphics. – Ashley Biancuzzo Best wireless keyboard: Nuphy Air V2 Nuphy Air96 V2 keyboard Read our review Best Prices Today: $159.99 at Amazon | $167.53 at Aliexpress If you don’t need gaming chops, the wireless keyboard you want is the Nuphy Air V2, full stop. It’s low-profile and stylish, but still has great components and excellent typing. And despite being low-profile, it still has hot-swap switches and a surprising variety of options from both Nuphy and Gateron. Combine it with easy VIA programming and a selection of layouts, plus a pretty good price, and it’s easily outpacing the latest slim designs from Logitech and the rest. -Michael Crider Best feature-packed VPN: NordVPN NordVPN Read our review Each year NordVPN seems to find something new and exciting to add to its service. At this point, I find myself asking, what doesn’t NordVPN have? Not only do you get the VPN with an outstanding server network and lightning fast speeds, but you also have access to a whole slew of top-notch privacy and security extras. Its “Threat Protection” service gives you ad- and tracker-blocking, anti-malware download protection, and a malicious URL link-checker. Then there is an active Dark Web monitoring service and built-in file transfer feature called Meshnet. The list goes on and on. No other VPN is as rich in features as NordVPN, making it an easy top pick this year. — Sam Singleton Best PC gaming handheld: Asus ROG Ally X Calling the Asus ROG Ally X “just a refresh” of the original ROG Ally is selling it too short. Yes, the ROG Ally X maintains the same 1080p 120Hz screen and AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor as before, but almost everything else has been redesigned based off community feedback, which has lead to a much better experience. Quieter fans, two USB-C ports (one with USB-4/ThunderBolt support), and refined ergonomics are just a few highlights, but the main one is the upgrade in battery life. Asus summoned dark magic (and excellent engineering) to get battery life that finally rivals Valve’s Steam Deck — all without a major weight increase! Sure, the Steam Deck is the de facto mainstream handheld gaming PC option, but if you are looking for the absolute best of the best out there, it’s the ROG Ally X. Dual-boot Bazzite (a custom image of Steam Deck’s SteamOS) and you can get the best of both worlds! – Adam Patrick Murray Best laptop for battery life: Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 Read our review The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 ran for almost 24 hours on a single charge, a first here at PCWorld. Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off of the floor! In addition to the phenomenal battery life, it also has a diverse array of ports and is powerful enough to handle light to moderate workloads. It measures just 0.67 at its thickest point and yet Lenovo somehow squeezed in two USB4 ports, two USB-A ports, one HDMI 2.1 port, and one 3.5mm combo audio. –Ashley Biancuzzo Best gaming headset: HyperX Cloud Mix 2 Wireless HyperX Cloud Mix 2 Read our review Most gaming headsets that claim to be versatile enough to be used as headphones fall somewhat short. With their large boom mic ports, obtrusive flip mics, or chunky earcups they’re obviously more at home in gaming dens. But not the HyperX Cloud Mix 2. This headset hides its mics stealthily in its earcups. It’s also a champion of portability being very compact and lightweight. The sound too is crisp and clear, with enough detail in the tones to make playing and listening a treat. Barely any clamp pressure in the headband and the headset’s soft leatherette ear coverings make it a comfortable fit that I can wear for hours on end. It also has awesome compatibility, connecting to almost all my gaming devices, plus my mobile devices. Suffice it to say, the Mix 2 is the only audio device I currently need. What’s also brilliant is that it has a 110-hour battery life, which means I can charge and then forget about plugging it in for days at a time. – Dominic Bayley Best gaming mouse: Lemokey G1 Wireless Lemokey G1 Wireless mouse Read our review Unboxing the Lemokey G1 Wireless, I was immediately surprised by its excellent maneuverability, which is smoother and faster than any pro gaming mouse I’ve ever used. If that impressed me right from the get-go – and then its devastatingly quick 8,000Hz wireless polling rate sealed the deal for me, making hitting targets a lot easier. With its lightweight design of just 1.94 ounces and smooth 30,000 DPI sensor with a maximum speed of 750 inches-per-second, this mouse gives me the edge I need to win one-on-one engagements in fast-paced games. It’s also the perfect size for my medium-to-large hand. For what I’m getting here I could have paid upwards of $150, but the Lemokey G1 Wireless is also a smashing bargain at just $69. – Dominic Bayley Best keyboard: Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Corsair K65 Plus Wireless keyboard Read our review It came out all the way back in February, but the best keyboard of the year is Corsair’s K65 Plus Wireless. It’s hitting all the big trends, excluding only a (wholly unnecessary) screen. It packs a 75% layout inspired by custom builds, hot-swap capability, and high-quality switches that are great for both typing and gaming. It’s wireless, obviously, which many of these designs aren’t. And it’s about half the price of Razer’s excellent, but very expensive, BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, and doesn’t try to convince you that a screen belongs on a keyboard. (It doesn’t.) – Michael Crider Best antivirus: Norton 360 Deluxe Norton 360 Deluxe This year proved the necessity of strong online security. Vulnerabilities are getting discovered and exploited faster, and the rise of AI tools is only fueling the onslaught. Solid antivirus software will shield you from the worst of it, whether that’s viruses, malicious websites, hackers on public networks, or use of weak passwords. And it’ll do so with little effort on your part. Sure, you could stitch together different free services, but most people find a comprehensive security suite far easier – and Norton 360 Deluxe is easily the cream of the crop. It simplifies online security at a fair price, with a slew of features that cover you across the board. Beyond stopping malicious software and websites in their tracks, Norton also provides key protections like dark web monitoring, a password manager, VPN service, parental controls, and 50GB of cloud storage for automated backups of important files. General utilities like file cleanup are even included, too. This level of comprehensive defense is rare among rivals—especially for how little Norton charges. – Alaina Yee Best webcam: BenQ IdeaCam S1 Pro BenQ IdeaCam S1 Pro Read our review Best Prices Today: $199.99 at Adorama | $199.99 at Amazon The advent of personal streaming, content creation and work-at-home has meant that webcams have advanced massively from even a few years ago. BenQ’s IdeaCam S1 Pro is a fantastic example of this, with functionality that goes beyond just making you look good. This “4K” webcam has a lot to offer just on that front, with sharp, lovely images and utility software that’s truly a utility. But there’s more! A macro mode seems gimmicky, but it works great. There’s even a “measuring” mode that would work well for detail work. And there’s a big bonus: a remote control “puck” that seems like something BenQ would sell separately, but includes in the box. That’s real value. – Mark Hachman Best USB-C hub: Ugreen 9-in-1 Revodok Pro Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615 Read our review Best Prices Today: $139.99 at Ugreen | $169.99 at Amazon Ugreen’s 9-in-1 Revodok Pro is a simple, straightforward, compact little dock that uses the free, downloadable DisplayLink utility as an intermediary. It’s great for office work, with the flexibility to accommodate a pair of either DisplayLink or HDMI connections. It offers two USB-A ports (for mouse or keyboard, say), Ethernet, as well as a USB-C port for a smartphone or other peripheral. USB-C hardware can be exceedingly simple, like a dongle, or with a much more robust feature offering. The Revodok Pro provides the essentials, trims the fat, and keeps the price affordable. Ugreen’s a not a household name, but the company’s products have been consistently solid. – Mark Hachman Read...

Alongside an afternoon of racing, fashion and entertainment were major features of the day. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Useful “MoonHalo” ambient light, plus ambient light sensor  Lots of USB connectivity  Tack-sharp 32-inch 4K display  Excellent color performance  Cons USB hub lacks features of some competitors, like Thunderbolt or Ethernet  Meager HDR performance  Only a 75Hz refresh rate, no Adaptive Sync  Our Verdict The BenQ RD320U is a great choice for programmers and can also prove itself useful as a do-it-all home office monitor. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: BenQ RD320U Retailer Price $649.99 View Deal BenQ $649.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Do you need a monitor for programming?   Technically, almost any monitor can work and, because of this, monitor makers often fail to market their displays specifically to programmers. However, BenQ is addressing this gap with its latest line of programming monitors. We’ve previously reviewed the BenQ RD280U, which is notable for its distinctive 3:2 aspect ratio. However, the company also offers the more traditional RD320U, a 32-inch 16:9 4K display packed with features tailored to meet the needs of programmers.  BenQ RD320U specs and features  At its core, the BenQ RD320U is a solid 32-inch 4K display. It has an IPS Black panel (which should improve the contrast ratio) and delivers a sharp image at 3840×2160 resolution.  Display size: 32-inch 16:9 widescreen  Native resolution: 3840×2160  Panel type: IPS Black  Refresh rate: Up to 75Hz  Adaptive sync: None  HDR: Yes, VESA DisplayHDR 400 Certified  Ports: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C with 90 watts of Power Delivery and DisplayPort Alternate Mode, 1x USB-B 3.2 Gen 1 upstream, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 downstream, 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 downstream, 3.5mm audio-out  VESA mount: 100x100mm  Speakers: 2x 3-watt speakers  Price: $649.99 MSRP  It’s also jam-packed with ports, including a USB-C port with DisplayPort and USB Power Delivery. Though pitched to programmers, the RD320U’s specifications make it a competitor to high-end home office monitors like the Dell Ultrasharp U3223QE and Philips Creator Series 27E2F7901.  Further reading: Best home office monitors BenQ RD320U design   At a glance, the BenQ RD320U’s design is basic. It’s clad in various shades of charcoal black that don’t immediately catch your eye. Take a second look, though, and you’ll notice the details, like the rippled pattern that cascades down the rear of the monitor and the lower display bezel. These add a subtle bit of flair that makes the monitor distinct from its competition.  The star of the show, however, is in fact a moon — or MoonHalo, as BenQ calls it. The MoonHalo is a ring of LED lights centered on the rear of the monitor. It’s like the RGB-LED lights on gaming monitors, but instead meant to provide soft, consistent ambient light. The MoonHalo is always white, but you can adjust the color temperature to match the display. I enjoyed the MoonHalo; it looks nice and I felt it made the display less tiring to view after dark.  The “MoonHalo” on the back of the BenQ RD320U.Matthew Smith / Foundry The monitor ships with an ergonomic stand that adjusts for height, tilt, pivot, and swivel. The stand is attached to a mid-sized, flat base. It’s a bit wider than it needs to be, but since it’s flat, the desk space it occupies remains usable. I’m not a fan of the stand’s cable management, however. The faux-leather strap BenQ provides for the purpose is attractive but can’t hold many cables.  While the included stand is nice, BenQ also provides a 100x100mm VESA mount for use with third-party monitor arms and stands.  BenQ RD320U connectivity and menus   The BenQ RD320U has four video inputs: two HDMI, one DisplayPort, and one USB-C with DisplayPort. To be honest, I’d rather it had two DisplayPort ports than two HDMI, but that’s a nitpick. This is a solid range of video connectivity.   In addition to DisplayPort, the USB-C port also provides up to 90 watts of USB Power Delivery and supports data for connections to multiple downstream USB-A and USB-C ports. Two USB-A ports, and one USB-C port, are located on the monitor’s chin, which makes them easy to access. A KVM switch function is included, too.  A USB-B upstream port provides an alternative way to connect to the monitor’s USB hub, which is useful if your PC lacks USB-C.   The BenQ RD320U’s USB connectivity isn’t as extensive as the Dell Ultrasharp U3223QE, which has more USB ports and provides Ethernet, so those looking for a USB hub should give Dell’s alternative a look. Still, the BenQ’s connectivity is a hair above average, as it delivers several downstream USB ports and places them in convenient locations.   The BenQ RD320U’s on-screen menu.Matthew Smith / Foundry BenQ’s on-screen menus are accessed with a quick, responsive joystick centered on the monitor’s chin. The menu is large, which makes it easier to see and read (though, unfortunately, the menu’s font is still a bit thin). I also found the menus logically arranged and had no issues finding the settings I want. BenQ, like most of its competitors, also provides a Windows software utility (Display Pilot 2) to access and control monitor settings.  The BenQ RD320U’s image quality options are a bit underwhelming. It uses vague presets for gamma and color temperature instead of providing the proper, numerical labels. An sRGB color gamut preset is available, but no preset is available for DCI-P3 or AdobeRGB. I understand this isn’t a “creator” monitor, but its performance is certainly good enough to make these presets useful.  Programmers won’t mind, however, because the RD320U offers several features that come in handy while coding. This includes two preset “Coding Booster” modes that adjust brightness, contrast, and gamma to make code easy to read.   The monitor also has an ambient light sensor that can automatically adjust the monitor’s brightness throughout the day. The ambient light sensor is pitched to programmers as a way to reduce eye strain, but the feature is just as useful for writers, creators, accountants, and anyone else who spends a lot of time in front of a monitor.  Speakers are included, but they’re not great. The pair of bundled 3-watt speakers produce sound with reasonable clarity at low volumes but quickly become overwhelmed as volume is increased. They’re fine for listening to a podcast or playing soft, ambient tones, but speakers or headphones will be necessary for true audio enjoyment.   The BenQ RD320U includes two preset ‘Coding Booster’ modes that adjust brightness, contrast, and gamma to make code easy to read.   BenQ RD320U SDR image quality  The BenQ RD320U is a great example of a monitor that doesn’t necessarily need great image quality to satisfy its intended user. Programmers are staring at code, right? Fortunately, BenQ doesn’t use that as an excuse to deliver half-baked SDR image quality. On the contrary, the BenQ RD320U looks great.   Matthew Smith / Foundry BenQ gets off to a great start in brightness, as the RD320U delivers an excellent 426 nits of peak SDR luminance. That’s a lot, and certainly far more than most programmers will need.   Still, a high level of SDR brightness means the monitor remains usable in a brightly lit room. That’s good news if your office has sunlit windows or you’re coding in a bullpen that looks straight out of The Wolf of Wall Street.  Matthew Smith / Foundry There’s more good news in contrast, as the BenQ RD320U comes close to delivering a contrast ratio of 2000:1. BenQ doesn’t market the monitor as having an “IPS Black” display panel, but this is a level of contrast I’ve only witnessed in IPS panels of that type. It keeps the RD320U competitive with class leaders like the Dell U3223QE and Philips 27E2F7901.  The comparison with BenQ’s RD280U is notable, as well. BenQ’s smaller programming monitor clearly has a different IPS panel that doesn’t match the RD320U in contrast.  While the BenQ RD320U’s contrast is great for its category, shoppers should remember that OLED displays can achieve an effectively infinite contrast ratio, which makes them a better choice for games, movies, and other entertainment.   Matthew Smith / Foundry I was worried the BenQ RD320U might neglect the color gamut and limit itself to a narrower range, but that’s not the case. It covers up to 95 percent of the DCI-P3 gamut and up to 89 percent of DCI-P3. The RD320U looks vibrant and alluring when displaying photos, videos, and games.  With that said, however, the RD320U falls behind the Dell U3223QE and Philips 27E2F7901 in coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut. So, while the RD320U does well enough, it’s not the best choice for content creators who care about DCI-P3.   Matthew Smith / Foundry I was even more surprised by the BenQ RD320U’s color accuracy, which absolutely bakes. Or cooks? What are the kids saying, these days?  Either way, it’s good. Extremely good. Top-5-PCWorld-has-ever-tested good. It’s a bit of a surprise, and I suspect there’s a little bit of random variance at play here; I likely lucked out with an especially good example of the RD320U. Still, BenQ has a history of good color accuracy, and it’s excellent to see the RD320U score well here. Though meant for programming, the RD320U can serve as an entry-level monitor for digital artists and photographers.  The gamma and color temperature tests reported more good news, as the BenQ RD320U hit our target gamma of 2.2 and color temperature of 6500K. Most monitors come close to these targets, but it’s nice to see the RD320U hit both dead-on. This means the monitor does not look overly bright or dark, nor too cool or warm.   With that said, the ideal gamma and color temperature can vary depending on your needs and personal preference. The monitor has options to adjust both — though, as mentioned previously, they’re not well-labeled.   Sharpness is yet another perk. The 32-inch 3840×2160 panel provides a sharpness of 138 pixels per inch (PPI). It’s not quite as sharp as a 27-inch 4K display, which hits 163 PPI, but it’s noticeably superior to any 1440p monitor. This is helpful for programmers, as it helps the monitor display small fonts with a crisp, tack-sharp look.   The BenQ RD320U scores high marks in SDR image quality. It scores well across every metric and has no significant weakness that might place it behind the competition. Alternatives like the Dell U3223QE can match the RD320U, but older monitors like the ThinkVision P32p-32 can’t keep up.  BenQ RD320U HDR image quality  The BenQ RD320U supports HDR and has VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification, but it’s not a good pick for HDR movies and games.  Contrast and luminance are issues. While the monitor can peak above 400 nits, that’s not enough to deliver the full oomph of HDR, as most HDR content targets a peak brightness of at least 1,000 nits.   The monitor also lacks a dynamic backlight, which means the monitor’s contrast isn’t comparable to Mini-LED or OLED displays. Placed next to such alternatives, the BenQ RD320U’s HDR image will look flat and washed-out.  This, to be fair, is a typical problem for all mid-range IPS monitors. A productivity and programming display like the BenQ RD320U might support HDR, but it’s not the focus, as nearly all productivity software is designed for SDR. Still, buyers should be aware: This is not the monitor for HDR.  BenQ RD320U motion performance  It’s not the monitor for motion clarity, either.  The BenQ RD320U has a maximum refresh rate of up to 75Hz and doesn’t support Adaptive Sync for smooth frame pacing in PC games. Motion clarity is fine for less hectic games, but it’s an obvious step behind a 144Hz monitor.  Of course, programmers spend most of their time looking at relatively static code, so mediocre motion clarity isn’t a huge deal. Still, I suspect many programmers would like to play some PC games in their downtime. The BenQ RD320U isn’t the best choice for that.   Is the BenQ RD320U worth it?  The BenQ RD320U is a solid 32-inch 4K monitor. Though it’s targeted at programmers, and offers several features they’ll appreciate, it has broader appeal as a home office and productivity monitor. It has a bright, crisp image, an ambient sensor to automatically adjust brightness, and packs a useful USB-C hub.   BenQ faces a lot of competition in this space, such as the Dell U3223QE, which has an equally attractive panel and a wider range of connectivity, including Ethernet. I’d still recommend the Dell U3223QE over the RD320U for general productivity, but it’s a close call, and the discounts available at the time you buy could sway the decision either way. If you’re a programmer, though, the RD320U has an advantage. Read...

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Sometimes it’s worth splurging on something like an expensive iPad. Other times you just need a practical and affordable device that gets stuff done and serves you well, one that you don’t have to worry about, one that you can happily pass over to the kids as needed. That’s what the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is all about, and right now it’s on sale for just $55 — that’s a whopping 45 percent off its original price of $100, making it one of the best-value tablet buys this year. This 8-inch tablet is small enough to stash into your bag wherever you go, but still large enough for comfortable video streaming, web browsing, tablet gaming, and setting aside as an always-on display. With up to 13 hours of battery life, it’s great for all-day entertainment. This is the 2024 model, which has 3GB of RAM for much speedier performance compared to the previous release, and 32GB of internal storage for all your photos, ebooks, and more. Need more space? You can always pop in a microSD card for expansion, and it supports microSD cards up to 1TB in capacity. And it’s easy to turn it into a smart screen thanks to built-in Alexa integration. Use it to control other Alexa-compatible smart home devices around the house, make video calls, or even just get answers to quick questions like “How long should I air fry potato wedges?” One caveat is that this is the version that has lockscreen ads, which are basically like sponsored screensavers. That’s partly why it can be bought so cheaply. (The ads-free version is $70 instead.) But if you don’t mind lockscreen ads, this is a fantastic price for a tablet that performs well enough. Grab the 8-inch Amazon Fire HD for just $55 while you can and enjoy an extra screen around your house. A $55 tablet that isn`t absolute trash? Yes, please!Buy now on Amazon Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Attractive, minimalist design  Includes LG webOS, remote control, and webcam  Has USB-C with 90 watts of Power Delivery  Cons LG webOS is sluggish at times  Low contrast ratio  Mediocre color gamut   Unimpressive HDR   Our Verdict The LG MyView 32SR85U is packed with features but fails to deliver on image quality. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: LG MyView Smart Monitor 32R85U Retailer Price LG $449.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The differences between monitors and televisions seem to become slimmer every year. Some people now use a television as their monitor and others use monitors like televisions. The LG MyView 32SR85U is an example of the latter. It’s a 32-inch 4K monitor that uses LG’s webOS to provide access to streaming apps and control smart home devices. It even has a bundled webcam.  LG MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U specs and features  The LG MyView 32SR85U’s basic specifications are typical for a 32-inch 4K monitor that is priced around $500. It has a resolution of 3840×2160 across an IPS panel, with a refresh rate of 60Hz.  Display size: 32-inch 16:9 widescreen  Native resolution: 3840×2160  Panel type: IPS  Refresh rate: 60Hz  Adaptive sync: None  HDR: HDR10  Ports: 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x USB-C upstream with DisplayPort and 90-watts USB-C Power Delivery, 2x USB-C downstream  Wireless: AirPlay, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth  VESA mount: 100x100mm  Speakers: Yes, 2x 5-watt  Price: $599.99 MSRP, $449.99 typical retail  However, several specifications stand out, though none of them have anything to do with the display panel. The monitor has several USB-C ports with up to 90W of USB Power Delivery, which makes them useful for charging a connected tablet or laptop. The monitor also ships with LG’s webOS, which is a smart television operating system that can be used to access streaming apps. And, because it has webOS, the monitor also supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay.  Further reading: See our roundup of the best monitors to learn about competing products. LG MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U design   The LG MyView 32SR85U’s design is simple but effective for a monitor meant for home office use and entertainment. LG goes for a sheer, ultra-white look which is attractive and should match any similarly colored peripherals you might have on your desk.   An L-shaped monitor stand keeps the display stable. The stand has a small base that minimizes the space the monitor takes up, and the base is flat, so you can still place notebooks or knick-knacks on the stand itself. The stand includes ergonomic adjustments for height and tilt, but I was a bit disappointed to find it doesn’t swivel or pivot into portrait orientation.  Matthew Smith / Foundry The stand also omits a thumb screw for securing the base to the stand neck and instead uses two Phillips head screws, which must be installed with a screwdriver. That’s unusual for a monitor in this price range and makes the monitor slightly more difficult to set up. A 100x100mm VESA mount is included for use with third-party monitor stands and arms.  LG MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U connectivity   LG takes a somewhat unconventional approach to video connectivity with the MyView 32SR85U. It has two HDMI ports and one USB-C upstream with DisplayPort for video input and provides up to 90W of power delivery for charging connected devices, which is excellent. DisplayPort, the most common connection for a PC monitor, is not included.   The USB-C upstream port connects to two additional USB-C ports, so the monitor functions as a USB-C hub to connect wired USB-C peripherals. USB-A is not available, however, and the monitor doesn’t include a KVM switch function.  The monitor’s physical connectivity is joined by wireless options, which include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Apple’s AirPlay. Wireless connectivity not only provides access to streaming services available through the LG webOS operating system but also allows wireless connections with other devices, like smartphones or a wireless gamepad.   And, because it has AirPlay, the monitor even supports wireless video streaming from an iOS or MacOS device. This is a small but notable advantage over Samsung’s Odyssey OLED G8, which has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth but lacks AirPlay.   LG MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U features  Technically, the LG MyView 32SR85U is not a television because it lacks a TV tuner and can’t connect to cable or antenna television over coaxial. It does have LG’s webOS smart television operating system, though, so it effectively works as a television in many situations. WebOS provides access to all the usual streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. It also supports cloud gaming services like Nvidia GeForce Now and Amazon Luna.  Because of this, the LG MyView 32SR85U requires a bit of setup before it’s ready to use. When first turned on, the monitor will ask you to connect to Wi-Fi and complete a few setup steps. Setup takes about five minutes and is like setting up the Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED. However, compared to Samsung (which uses Samsung’s Tizen OS), LG’s setup is less visually appealing, and the setup menu feels a bit sluggish.  Matthew Smith / Foundry That sluggishness continues to the general webOS experience. I found the main webOS interface, which displays the available apps and video sources, was responsive. However, it takes a few seconds to load when switching to it from an app or the Windows desktop. The monitor’s on-screen settings menu was also slow. It often took more than a full second to appear (though, again, it was responsive once the menu was visible).   LG includes a remote control to access the MyView 32SR85U’s features, most of which focus on webOS and connectivity instead of image quality adjusts. The monitor’s settings are also accessible through a joystick on the rear of the display, though there’s not much reason to use it when the remote is available.     While I found the MyView 32SR85U’s menus sluggish compared to the Samsung, LG does a slightly better job of arranging the on-screen menus. LG’s menus are arranged in a layout more typical of a monitor (with easy-to-read text labels and nested menus). That contrasts with Samsung’s Odyssey monitors, which place some settings in a confusing “Game Bar” that appears at the bottom of the display.   That makes for a tough comparison with Samsung’s alternatives. I think the LG MyView 32SR85U with LG webOS is easier to use than a Samsung Odyssey with Tizen OS, but the LG was less responsive when navigating the OS. Shoppers must pick their poison.  WebOS provides access to all the usual streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. LG MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U camera and speakers  The LG MyView 32SR85U has a bundled webcam that attaches magnetically to the top of the monitor. It’s unremarkable. The webcam’s image quality is no better than a typical mid-range laptop webcam. While it’s nice that it’s included, that inclusion probably adds to the price—and I’m not sure it’s a worthwhile trade-off.  A pair of 5-watt speakers are bundled into the monitor. They offer passable sound for listening to a podcast but have a harsh, hollow quality that quickly becomes irritating. Most people choosing the MyView 32SR85U will need to budget for external speakers or a soundbar—especially if you plan to use it like a Smart TV.  Matthew Smith / Foundry LG MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U SDR image quality  While the LG MyView 32SR85U and the Samsung Odyssey G8 are similar in terms of display size, resolution, and Smart TV features, the similarities end there. LG’s MyView 32SR85U is roughly half the price of the Samsung. That’s good news for your wallet, but it’s not great news for the monitor’s SDR image quality.   Matthew Smith / Foundry The LG MyView 32SR85U gets off to a modest start in brightness with a maximum sustained SDR brightness of 311 nits. That’s bright enough for most situations, but it’s not as bright as many competitive monitors, and it might look dim if the monitor is used in a room with bright interior lighting or large, sunlit windows.   Matthew Smith / Foundry Contrast, however, is where the LG MyView 32SR85U really runs into problems, as it has a maximum measured contrast ratio of 950:1.   IPS panels are notorious for limited contrast due to their elevated black levels in dark scenes. Still, the LG MyView 32SR85U’s contrast is unimpressive, even by modern IPS display standards.   The low contrast ratio reduces the sense of depth and immersion in the image and introduces a distracting issue known as “IPS glow.” This happens when too much light from the backlight escapes through the display in dark scenes. The problem is obvious, and distracting, on the LG MyView 32SR85U.  Matthew Smith / Foundry The LG MyView 32SR85U delivers similarly mediocre results in color gamut. The monitor’s color gamut covers 90 percent of DCI-P3 and 84 percent of Adobe RGB. These would have been great results a few years ago, but times have changed, and modern monitors tend to offer a slightly wider color gamut. This is especially true for OLED monitors and those with quantum dot technology. OLED monitors are more expensive, but monitors with quantum dots are available around $500 and below.  That’s not to say the MyView 32SR85U’s color performance is bad. On the contrary, it provides a vivid, punchy, and saturated image. Still, a more limited color gamut means the display will seem a bit dull compared to a monitor with a wider gamut. It’s also an obstacle for content creators, who often work in DCI-P3 or AdobeRGB and crave color gamut coverage well above 90 percent.   Matthew Smith / Foundry While the LG MyView 32SR85U has a modest color gamut, the monitor has top-tier color accuracy. The only exception is in blue and cyan hues, which have a color error in a range that would be visible. Still, this level of performance indicates the monitor provides an extremely realistic and lifelike image.   However, the MyView 32SR85U’s color temperature is not ideal. It measured a default color temperature of 7300K, far above the target of 6500K. That means the image looks much cooler than we prefer. Additionally, the monitor’s default gamma was measured at 2.3, which is slightly off the target of 2.2. That means content may appear a bit darker than it should. However, the gamma result is close enough that most viewers won’t be bothered by it.  Sharpness is certainly an advantage for the MyView 32SR85U, as the monitor’s 3840×2160 resolution offers a tack-sharp look. This is close to the sharpest image available in a 32-inch display, beaten only by a rare few 5K and 6K monitors. They’re far more expensive, though, so I doubt shoppers will compare them to the LG.  Unfortunately, the LG MyView 32SR85U’s SDR image quality isn’t impressive for a 32-inch 4K monitor. The main issue is the low contrast ratio, which saps immersion and leads to distracting “IPS glow.” The monitor also delivers mediocre results in brightness and color gamut. These problems are especially disappointing for a display with Smart TV features. You can use the MyView 32SR85U to watch Netflix or stream a movie from Apple TV—but most viewers won’t be happy with the image quality.  LG MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U HDR image quality  The LG MyView 32SR85U’s disappointing SDR image quality spells trouble for its HDR performance.  While the monitor can accept an HDR10 signal, it lacks VESA DisplayHDR certification. In my testing, it hit a maximum sustained brightness of just 372 nits in HDR mode. To be fair, that’s similar to price-competitive monitors that have VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification (like the Asus ProArt PA278CFRV). However, 372 nits isn’t enough to deliver on HDR’s potential. As a result, bright objects and scenes often look blown-out.  The LG’s contrast ratio is another significant issue. Dark scenes appear flat and washed out, with a noticeable grayish haze or “fog” over the image. It’s a serious problem in dark, moody movies like The Batman or Pan’s Labyrinth.  While the monitor’s HDR performance is underwhelming, it’s typical for a 32-inch 4K monitor in this price range. Shoppers looking for great HDR in a 32-inch 4K display must spend more for a Mini-LED monitor (like the Samsung Odyssey Neo G8) or an OLED monitor (like the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 or LG Ultragear 32GS95UE-B).  LG MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U motion performance  The LG MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U isn’t a great monitor for motion clarity. It sticks to a 60Hz refresh rate and doesn’t support Adaptive Sync for smooth frame pacing in 3D games. Motion clarity is fine for a 60Hz monitor, but motion blur is obvious and details become difficult to see when panning the camera quickly in a 3D game.  Should you buy the LG MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U? LG’s MyView Smart Monitor 32SR85U provides a long list of useful extras including Smart TV functionality, a remote control, wireless connectivity, and a bundled webcam. Yet these extras are held back by the monitor’s low contrast ratio, which is limited even for a mid-range 32-inch 4K monitor.   The monitor’s features and quality are at odds, too. It has LG webOS and can be used as a Smart TV, but it lacks the image quality to help shows, movies, and games look great. If you use it for productivity, on the other hand, webOS may feel like an unnecessary distraction. Read...

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PC games started out with humble graphics and simple mechanics. Even if you weren’t born in the era of games with as basic graphics as Doom and Wolfenstein 3D, you’d still be aware of how graphics have evolved to the great heights we see today. It’s why most gamers are wowed when they see games like Forza Horizon 5. The fact that developers can make a game so life-like is quite extraordinary. Hyper realism, then, is a technical achievement that most gamers will deservedly salute. But by no means does it guarantee a game will be fun and engrossing to play. Hyper realism works for some games Don’t get me wrong I’m a big fan of hyper-realistic games. There’s no denying that games like Crysis, Fallout 4, and Kingdom Come Deliverance have stunned and amazed me with their beautiful rendering and life-like mechanics. I can’t go back to the Wild West to live the life of a gunslinger, but through this game I can get darn well close to it… In these games the high level of graphical realism has worked to engross me a little more than some other titles. In Red Dead Redemption 2, looking down the main streets of towns with their old-world buildings is like starring into the past — it conjures the possibility of living out my own Wild West fantasies, of having my own virtual O.K. Corral showdown — a tantalizing prospect for this history buff. The mechanics of some hyper-realistic games like RDR2 align nicely to make the fantasy more tangible too. The fact that I can do things like stable my horse, just like I could in real life (had I actually a horse to stable) lends credence to my experience. Red Dead Redemption 2 combines both stunning hyper realistic graphics and very realistic gameplay mechanics. Dominic Bayley / IDG I can’t go back to the Wild West to live the life of a gunslinger, but through this game I can get darn well close to it. Kingdom Come Deliverance is the same kettle of fish. I can use melee weapons, faint, get dirty, and even visit geographically accurate locations and buildings, which makes the action, when it happens, even more believable. But that believability isn’t necessary in every game I play. Why all games don’t need to be hyper realistic Playing games like WoW, Fortnite, and Half Life has taught me that games don’t need to be realistic to be incredibly fun and engrossing. In these games realism isn’t even a goal of the developers — it’s purely about entertainment. Apart from the fact you don’t need super high specs to play them — there’s no need for a PC with a souped-up Core i9-14900K CPU and RTX 4090 GPU when Fortnite will run well on a modest Core i5-7300U and GeForce GTX 960 — these games can just be really fun and addictive. I think Half Life’s creator Gabe Newell said it best when he noted, “Many people don’t understand the difference between something that’s realistic versus something that’s engaging.” Thinking on that, you could just as easily swap out the word engaging for immersive. Immersion is being completely engrossed in what you’re playing. The state of feeling like you are part of the game, which these games can achieve just as well as any hyper-realistic game can. Blizzard The games I just mentioned have mostly cartoonish graphics and opt for “convenient mechanics.” Their character skins, silly dances and emotes, and their player abilities are far removed from reality but that makes them no less appealing. Rather than impress me with their believability, they tap into my desire to experience the surreal, something wacky and strange. These games take me out of my self and let me experience something that is so different from real life that I’m never going to be able to even get close to it in my waking day. Sure, I can dress up as a cowboy, visit an Old West theme park and pantomime a scene to approximate gameplay in RDR2 if I want to, but I can’t fly on the back of a griffin and conjure up an Arcane Blast spell a la WoW, can I now? Hurry up, already! There are other benefits to non-realistic games too. Speed of play is one biggy. Hyper-realistic games tend to have slower and more repetitive mechanics or cut scenes (like the skinning animation in RDR2) — who would have thought real life could be so monotonous at times? — whereas non hyper-realistic games omit the tedious, so they’re ideal for drop-in and drop-out play. While it might take me half an hour to loot a house in Fallout 4, having to painstakingly open cupboards and pick up each item, I really like how convenient it is to simply walk over items in Fortnite to pick them up, it keeps the game moving at a comfortable pace. Fast travelling in WoW and Skyrim is another great example — it saves me hours of tromping around large open maps. What makes a great game then? First and foremost, it needs to have excellent gameplay. An interesting storyline or some other X factor as its premise doesn’t hurt either. One term that’s used a lot in talking about game appeal is a game’s “stickiness” — aka its replayability. If I had to point to a game with overwhelming stickiness, Minecraft would have to be it. Pexels: Alexander Kovalev This game’s blocky, pixelated graphics are anything but hyper-realistic, yet the game still hits almost universal accord with players thanks to its fun and highly addictive sandbox (LEGO-like) game mechanics in which you can build and craft just about anything you can think of out of blocks. Hyper-realistic games, then, can be fun, but so can non hyper-realistic games too. Indeed, the old saying that goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” could just as easily be applied to PC games as to any book. Read...