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

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

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

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

One of the hottest apps for Windows users right now is Flyoobe, a free tool that can be used—among other things—to install Windows 11 on computers that don’t meet Microsoft’s official requirements. As of today, version 1.10 of Flyoobe is now available, just four days after the previous 1.7 release from last Thursday. Version 1.7 brought improvements to the OOBE (Out-of-Box Experience) page that now lets you disable AI features in Windows upon installation. With it, you can disable Copilot and other AI features from the get-go. Version 1.10 is a major update, bringing a much improved navigation flow to the OOBE, an improved interface that’s more familiar for Windows users, improved AI detection, fixes to bugs and edge cases, plus new extensions that let you customize the OOBE (such as Windows 11 Honest Mode that reveals what the OS is running in the background). You can start using Flyoobe for free right now. All you have to do is grab the latest version from its GitHub releases page. Read...

The new Outlook app for Windows has been the target of all kinds of criticism over the last year, not least because it lacks many of the features that were already mainstays in the older classic Outlook app. However, a number of long-awaited features are now being rolled out in the new Outlook app, which may be worth paying attention to. These features include accessing emails and attachments while disconnected from the internet, as well as the ability to add more recipients to email replies. In addition, there should now be clearer indications for shared inboxes. If all goes well, users should gain access to all these new features in the coming weeks, reports Windows Latest. Further reading: Helpful tips when using the new Outlook app Read...

I think even non-techy people can tell the difference between Microsoft’s Surface line and the omnipresent iPad at this point, even as both product lines get more features that cross the line between consumption tablet and laptop alternative. Maybe that’s why a Microsoft promo showed a Surface device running Apple’s software. Whoops. Over the weekend, a post on the official Surface brand Twitter/X account proclaimed: “Read, highlight, summarize, repeat… all on Surface Pro, the ultimate research buddy.” And the photo does indeed show someone using a Surface Pro… with what’s clearly the iPadOS version of Microsoft Word on screen. Presumably it was done with the help of Photoshop. If the general interface of the app isn’t a dead giveaway, clock the wide swipe-up gesture bar on the bottom that iPads use instead of a home button. On Windows 11, that would be either a full taskbar or a hidden one. As someone who’s been begging for a top-aligned taskbar ever since Windows 11 arrived, this hurts. Perhaps rubbing it in a bit, Twitter users employed the platform to “add context” to the post, a tool normally used to combat deliberate misinformation. “This is an iPad screenshot on a Surface,” says the additional info, with a link to Apple’s iPad promo page. The tweet has since been deleted, but the screenshots will live in infamy. Hey, at least it’s not quite as bad as CNN presenters using your branded product placement Surface tablets as iPad stands. Read...

Scoring a high-end gaming laptop at a price that won’t burn through your bank account can feel like a challenge, but deals like that can be found if you’re patient! And I’ve found one for you. Right now, you can get a fantastic Gigabyte Aero X16 for only $1,100 at Best Buy if you’re quick. That’s a whopping $400 off its original $1,500 price, and that’s an amazing deal once you see what this laptop is packing. The highlight here is the cutting-edge Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card with 8GB GDDR7 VRAM, unlocking the newest Nvidia tech to boost your graphics and frame rates. Expect an excellent experience on this laptop’s 16-inch IPS screen with its crisp 2560×1600 resolution at 165Hz of refresh for smooth visual clarity—beautiful whether you’re playing the latest 3D games or classic 2D hits. The rest of this machine ain’t too bad either, with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU that qualifies this as a Copilot+ PC. (That means access to all the latest AI features in Windows 11!) And along with 32GB of fast DDR5 RAM plus a spacious 1TB SSD, this is a configuration that’s perfect for non-gaming tasks like work, browsing, streaming, and more. Connectivity is impressive for a laptop, complete with a USB4 port, two fast USB-A, a slower USB-A for peripherals, as well as HDMI and DisplayPort options for external monitors. You also get a 3.5mm audio jack and an Ethernet port for wired connections. It isn’t ultra-thin or ultra-light—it weighs 4.2 pounds and measures 0.65 inches thick—but it’s portable enough that it won’t break your back. You simply can’t find laptops like this at this price, so don’t let this chance pass you by. Get the Gigabyte Aero X16 for $1,100 while this deal is still around because it’s going to go fast! But if you still want to shop around, you can also check out our picks for the best overall gaming laptops. Save $400 on this AI-ready laptop with RTX 5060 GPUBuy now from Best Buy Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Big touchpad Large, clear 16-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate Lots of connectivity including USB4, Wi-Fi 7 Good CPU performance for the price Cons Keyboard with numpad can feel a bit cramped Modest integrated graphics performance Battery life is good, but some Snapdragon alternatives last longer Our Verdict The Acer Aspire 16 AI delivers solid CPU performance, a big screen, and a long list of features at a low price. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Acer Aspire 16 AI Retailer Price $799.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips are often a solid choice for a budget laptop, as they deliver good-enough performance and solid battery life at a low price. Most systems, though, have smaller displays. The Acer Aspire 16 AI adds an appealing big-screen option that is packed with features including USB4, Windows Hello facial recognition, and a plus-sized touchpad, among other things. Acer Aspire 16 AI: Specs and features The Acer Aspire 16 AI has Qualcomm’s entry-level Snapdragon X chip with eight cores and a maximum multi-core speed of 3GHz. It also ships with 16GB of memory and a 512GB solid-state drive. These are typical specifications for an entry-level Snapdragon X laptop. Model number: A16-11MT-X669 CPU: Snapdragon X1P-26-100 Memory: 16GB LPDDR5X-8448 Graphics/GPU: Qualcomm Adreno NPU: Qualcomm NPU up to 45 TOPs Display: 16-inch 1920×1200 120Hz IPS-LCD Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD Webcam: 1080p 30fps Connectivity: 2x USB-C 4 up to 40Gbps with Power Delivery and DisplayPort, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 (one with charging), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm combo audio. MicroSD card reader Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 Biometrics: Facial recognition Battery capacity: 65 watt-hours Dimensions: 14 x 9.85 x 0.63 inches Weight: 3.42 pounds Operating System: Windows 11 Home Price: $729.99 MSRP The Acer Aspire 16 currently comes in just one configuration and is listed at an MSRP of $729.99. Some retailers actually list it higher at $799.99. The lack of configuration options makes shopping for the laptop simple—just buy from the retailer with the lowest price you can find. The Acer Aspire 16 AI is a solid choice for shoppers looking to buy an inexpensive Windows laptop with a 16-inch display. Acer Aspire 16 AI: Design and build quality IDG / Matthew Smith Acer’s Aspire is among the more affordable Windows laptops, and while that’s obvious in the laptop’s design, it’s less obvious in the build quality. First up, design. There’s not much to remark on. The Aspire 16 AI is a simple silver-gray plastic slab with a low-key Acer badge. It’s thin at just 0.63 inches in profile (though note that number doesn’t appear to include the rubber feet on the bottom). It’s also light at 3.42 pounds, which isn’t much for a laptop with a 16-inch display. What about build quality? The Aspire 16 AI isn’t luxurious, as the laptop uses plastic for both the interior and exterior. However, the materials offered look and feel fine for a budget machine. It’s rigid, too, as the display lid and lower chassis allow only a hint of flex in use. I also noticed the display hinge can rotate up to 180 degrees, meaning it’s possible to open the laptop such that the screen lies entirely flat on a table. That provides some extra possibilities in your setup if you plan to use the laptop as a second screen with an external keyboard and mouse. Acer Aspire 16 AI: Keyboard, trackpad, mouse IDG / Matthew Smith The Acer Aspire 16 AI squeezes in both a keyboard and numpad. That, of course. means you have a numpad, which even many 16-inch laptops lack. However, it also means the keyboard layout isn’t as spacious as most 16-inch laptops and shifted towards the left (to make room for the numpad). The touchpad also moves left to keep it centered under the spacebar, which makes the left palm rest area tight. Key feel is fine. There’s fair key travel and each key activates with a defined bottoming action, but it’s not as crisp as I would like. This, however, is definitely a nitpick, and I had no problem typing several thousand words on the laptop. The touchpad is large at roughly six inches wide and 3.5 inches deep. While there are some more expensive laptops with bigger touchpads, like the MacBook Pro 16 and Razer Blade 18, this is an above-average size for a laptop in this price bracket, and the extra space is appreciated. Multi-touch gestures felt responsive and more comfortable than on competitors with smaller touchpad surfaces. Acer Aspire 16 AI: Display, audio IDG / Matthew Smith Acer ships the Aspire 16 AI with a 16-inch 1920×1200 IPS-LCD display. That’s standard for a budget laptop, but the Aspire goes the extra mile and delivers a 120Hz refresh rate. The Aspire isn’t a gaming laptop, so that’s of limited use in entertainment, but it does help Windows feel smoother and snappier than on the typical budget machine. The display is bright and has a semi-gloss finish. Reflections are still noticeable in a very bright room, but the display remains usable. Outdoors use is dicey, though. On the other hand, the display’s contrast and color performance are mediocre. It’s not terrible, but with OLED laptops now often available for well under $1,000, IPS-LCD displays are becoming less attractive even in budget machines. Audio performance is decent. The dual-speaker system is downward firing, so audio presentation will vary depending on where the laptop is placed. Still, it provides respectable volume and decent clarity. I wouldn’t recommend the laptop for movies or for listening to your favorite album, but it’s fine if you want to throw on some chill beats while you study or work. Acer Aspire 16 AI: Webcam, microphone, biometrics IDG / Matthew Smith The Acer Aspire 16 AI has a 1080p webcam that includes a physical privacy shutter. The camera’s sharpness and color reproduction are respectable. It’s a similar story for the dual-array microphone, which picked up my voice with decent volume and clarity. The webcam and microphone are average for the category, but they do the job. Windows Hello facial recognition is supported for logging in to the laptop. It’s generally reliable and provides a quick, easy way to log into the laptop. While this feature has come down in price lately, most budget laptops still don’t include it—so it’s great to see it here. Acer Aspire 16 AI: Connectivity IDG / Matthew Smith Connectivity is definitely a strength for the Acer Aspire 16 AI. It has two USB-C 4 ports, both of which support DisplayPort and Power Delivery, as well as two USB-A ports, a microSD card reader, a full-sized HDMI port, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. This is a wide range of connectivity for any Windows laptop sold in 2025, so it’s great to see all these ports included in a laptop that costs just $700. The USB-C 4 ports are a particular advantage as budget laptops sometimes stick to USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 speeds. Acer also delivers on wireless connectivity as the Aspire 16 AI supports Wi-Fi 7, the latest version of the standard. It pairs that with Bluetooth 5.3, which is a step behind the latest 5.4 standard. While many Windows laptops now support Wi-Fi 7, it’s still not included with some budget machines (like the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 and HP OmniBook 5 14), so this is another feature win for the Aspire 16 AI. Acer Aspire 16 AI: Performance The Snapdragon X X1P-26-100 is Qualcomm’s entry-level chip with eight cores and a maximum multi-core speed of 3GHz. It also has a stripped-down version of Qualcomm Adreno. The NPU is the same, however, as it quotes performance at 45 TOPS across all Snapdragon X chips. IDG / Matthew Smith Despite its entry-level Snapdragon X chip, the Acer Aspire 16 AI did well in Cinebench 2024, a heavily multi-threaded CPU test. The laptop did better than several other Qualcomm-powered systems and also beat the Intel-powered Dell 16 Plus. It’s interesting to note, too, that the Snapdragon X doesn’t seem to give up much when compared to the Snapdragon X Plus, which sits a notch above in the product stack. While the latter has a higher maximum clock speed, they have the same core count. Because of that, the two chips trade blows depending on the laptop. IDG / Matthew Smith As mentioned, all Snapdragon X chips have Qualcomm Adreno graphics, but they’re not all created equal. The best Snapdragon X Elite chip quotes IGP performance up to 4.6 TFLOPS, but the version in the Acer Aspire 16 AI only quotes performance up to 1.7 TFLOPS. That leads to barebones performance in graphics tests. With that said—and as the graph shows—this isn’t unexpected for a budget laptop. Most Intel and AMD chips in this price bracket also lack the best versions of each company’s integrated graphics and suffer similarly modest performance. This is also an area where spending a little bit more can snag you a huge gain. The Dell 16 Plus, for example, can be purchased for as little as $750 when on sale. The Dell is a bit heavier and doesn’t last quite as long on a charge, but it’s a superior choice if you need passable 3D graphics performance. Acer Aspire 16 AI: Battery life and portability The Acer Aspire 16 AI ships with a 65 watt-hour battery. It powered the laptop to roughly 15 hours and 30 minutes of battery life in our standard battery test, which loops a 4K trailer of the short film Tears of Steel with the laptop’s display brightness set to roughly 200 nits. IDG / Matthew Smith This is a good result, or a mediocre result, depending on your perspective. Many laptops can achieve similar battery life, and the Snapdragon laptops with the longest battery life leave the Aspire 16 AI in the dust. On the other hand, the Aspire 16 AI is a large laptop, and most large Windows laptops lag a bit in battery life. This is often because they pair the larger display with better performance, but the Aspire 16 AI’s miserly Snapdragon chip isn’t too demanding. Personally, I think 15 hours is a good result for a laptop of this size, and it’s likely to be more than enough for most people who use it. Just be aware that you can have even better battery life if you opt for a smaller, optimized alternative like the HP OmniBook 5 14. The Acer Aspire 16 AI ships with a USB-C charger that provides 65 watts of power. It’s towards the larger side for a 65-watt adapter. Aspire 16 AI owners may want to look into a 65-watt GaN charger to improve portability. The laptop doesn’t have a fast charging mode. Acer Aspire 16 AI: Conclusion The Acer Aspire 16 AI is a solid choice for shoppers looking to buy an inexpensive Windows laptop with a 16-inch display. While it lacks a headline feature that would make it stand out, it has an edge in several areas. It has USB4, Wi-Fi 7, a display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Windows Hello facial recognition, and a large touchpad. Many budget laptops can check off a few of these boxes, but the Aspire 16 AI checks them all. Read...

One of the strengths of local AI is its ability to filter out unwanted noise, and a couple of new Windows features Microsoft is testing take advantage of that. One of them will be rolled out to Copilot+ PCs that use Intel processors first, breaking Microsoft’s streak of tying new features to Windows on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. Microsoft’s Windows 11 Build 26120.5790 for the Beta Channel adds “fluid dictation” for Copilot+ PCs, which certainly perks up my ears as a journalist. The feature promises to correct grammar and punctuation, as well as to get rid of what’s known as “filler words:” the “you know,” “um,” and “well,” words that many people add as they internally parse their thoughts into a coherent sentence. The other new feature is a key addition for webcams, as well. If you own a Copilot+ PC, you may have noticed Windows Studio Effects kick in while using the webcam: the webcam automatically crops in on your face, “zooming” to frame it in the picture. It can also blur the background and apply other effects. Use an external webcam, however, and those effects usually disappear. What Microsoft’s saying is that you’ll be able to apply Windows Studio Effects to external webcams, adding to their appeal. “To get started, navigate to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Cameras and select your preferred camera from the connected cameras list,” Microsoft says. “Then, open the advanced camera options menu to find the new “Use Windows Studio Effects” toggle.” Microsoft For Windows nerds, the interesting feature isn’t just the additional capabilities being added to your webcam. Microsoft typically rolls out new features on top of Windows on Snapdragon, the Qualcomm Arm processors, and has typically done so since the launch. Now, it’s rolling those out on Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs first, and on AMD and Snapdragon PCs “in a few weeks.” Does that mark a new trend? We’ll see. Microsoft is also testing additional hover actions in File Explorer. Hovering over a file with your mouse in File Explorer Home will display commands like Open file location and Ask Copilot about this file, Microsoft says. Microsoft is also releasing these new features in a new test build for Windows 11 25H2, though Microsoft indicated recently that 25H2 and 24H2 would share the same feature set. Read...