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Ubisoft is pushing the boundaries of what a Star Wars game can be, blending storytelling and exploration in an unprecedented way. 9News.com.au caught up with Massive Entertainment`s Julian Gerighty and Lucasfilm`s Steve Blank to talk all about Outlaws. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating ProsSturdy professional design16:10 aspect ratio, 1600p resolutionExcellent color performanceWide range of connectivityCons$480 for 24-inch monitorLow contrast ratioDisappointing motion clarity, no adaptive syncOur VerdictThe BenQ SW242Q’s 16:10 aspect ratio and 2560×1600 resolution help it stand out from the crowd, though unique features translate to a high price. Best Prices Today: BenQ SW242Q Retailer Price B & H Photo $479.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket If you’re looking at a 24-inch monitor, odds are it has a 16:9 aspect ratio, 1080p resolution, and a refresh rate between 120Hz and 240Hz. The BenQ SW242Q defies all of these trends with a laser-like focus on satisfying the needs of photographers, artists, and other creative professionals. It succeeds, but its price will turn some away. BenQ SW242Q specifications The BenQ SW242Q’s specifications stand apart from its competitors. Although it has a 24-inch display, it offers the rare 16:10 aspect ratio, which is a bit taller than the common 16:9 aspect ratio. It also ups the resolution to 2560×1600 and has a wide range of ports including USB-C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery. Display size: 24.1-inch 16:10 aspect ratio Native resolution: 2560×1600 Panel type: IPS with “fine-coated panel” Refresh rate: 60Hz Adaptive sync: None Ports: 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C upstream with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 90 watts Power Delivery, 2x USB-A 3.1 downstream, 1x USB-B upstream, 1x 3.5mm audio-out, 1x SDcard reader VESA mount: 100x100mm Speakers: None Price: $479.99 MSRP These unusual features come at an unusually high MSRP of $479.99. That’s much more expensive than a typical 24-inch monitor and, for most people, the added cost will be impossible to justify. The BenQ SW242Q targets a specific audience with specific needs. Further reading: See our roundup of the best monitors to learn about competing products. BenQ SW242Q design One thing leapt out at me the moment I unboxed the BenQ SW242Q. This monitor has a 16:10 aspect ratio! The 16:10 aspect ratio, which is closer to square than the more common 16:9 popularized by HDTVs and adopted by most monitors, is extraordinarily rare for a standalone monitor sold in 2024. And it makes a difference. Because 16:10 is closer to square, it provides more vertical display space within the SW242Q’s 24-inch display. It means the SW242Q is nearly as tall as most 27-inch monitors. That’s useful for writers, editors, photographers, and anyone else who often works with content that’s taller than it is wide. Aspect ratio aside, the BenQ SW242Q looks like other monitors in BenQ’s “Photographer Monitor” line. The display panel is framed by a chunky, sturdy charcoal black frame attached to a large, flat stand base. The stand can adjust for height, tilt, swivel, and pivot: It also has a 100x100mm VESA mount for third-party stands and arms. The stand is both deep and wide, which might be an issue on small desks. BenQ compensates for that by making the base extremely flat and covering it in a luxurious, leather-like material with a slightly grippy surface. It’s not a bad place to perch a camera, external drive, or USB dock. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry BenQ SW242Q connectivity and features The BenQ SW242Q’s video connectivity includes one HDMI, one DisplayPort, and one USB-C upstream port. The USB-C connection includes DisplayPort Alternate Mode (for video input) and up to 90 watts of Power Delivery (for charging a laptop, tablet, or other connected device). This is a good range of connectivity, though expected for a monitor priced above $400. Additional connectivity includes two USB-A ports and, because this is a photography monitor, an SDcard reader that supports a broad range of formats (SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC). There’s also a 3.5mm audio-out for connecting headphones and a USB-B upstream port, which can be used to drive the USB-A ports if your computer doesn’t have USB-C. The SW242Q is missing a favorite feature found on many other BenQ monitors: a remote-control puck to navigate the monitor’s on-screen menus. The monitor instead relies on a joystick control, and several buttons, hidden on the lower right bezel. They work well, but the control puck is better. The monitor also ships without a hood (though one is available as an option). A hood is standard on some other BenQ photography monitors. BenQ’s on-screen menus are easy to navigate and offer a long list of image quality adjustments. This includes gamma, color temperature, and color calibration controls, all of which target specific numerical values rather than vague presets. Speaking of presets, the monitor has several that target specific color spaces, and they’re useful for photographers and artists that work in different color spaces for various clients or projects. My one complaint about the menus? The menu text is a bit too small. The monitor also supports a range of BenQ software utilities, which includes Palette Master Ultimate and Paper Sync. These help photographers and artists ensure the colors viewed on the monitor look very similar, if not identical, to how they’ll appear in print. Built-in speakers aren’t included, which is a minor disappointment. I expect people using the monitor might benefit from built-in audio, even if only to hear Windows systems sounds or listen to a podcast. BenQ’s fine-coated panel is the monitor’s secret sauce….the panel is remarkably good at mimicking the look and feel of a satin paper finish. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry BenQ SW242Q SDR image quality The BenQ SW242Q is designed to handle photography, digital art, and documents. Because of that, BenQ opts for a 24.1-inch 16:10 IPS panel with a unique “fine-coated panel” that is meant to minimize reflections and simulate the look and feel of printed material. It’s successful, but it comes with a few trade-offs. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry First up is brightness, where the BenQ SW242Q delivers an outstanding maximum of 410 nits. It’s important to note this is only available when the “uniformity” mode, which is meant to maintain brightness uniformity across the display’s surface, is turned off. With uniformity on, the display hits a maximum of 198 nits. Still, the SW242Q’s brightness is more than enough to handle most situations. It should appear bright in all but the most intense lighting conditions. Its brightness is less impressive with uniformity turned on, but people who care about uniformity are likely to be using the monitor in a room with good light control (and possibly with a display hood, too), which makes the reduced brightness in that mode less of an issue. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Contrast is where the BenQ SW242Q makes its most significant compromise, as it achieved a maximum contrast ratio of only 980:1. That’s low for a modern monitor, and the monitor’s contrast looks even worse than the figures suggest. It struggles to achieve anything close to a deep, inky, and convincing black level. The same is true for other 24-inch IPS monitors, like the Pixio PX248 Wave, but that monitor is $150. “IPS glow,” an issue which causes a gray-silver sheen to appear across the display when viewing dark content, saps the drama and depth from dark images, videos, and games. It’s not a problem on the Windows desktop and in most productivity situations, but it becomes one if you want to watch a movie or play a game on the monitor. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry The BenQ SW242Q struck back in color gamut, where it achieved excellent results out of the box. The monitor’s color gamut spans most of the DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB color gamut, which means it can display most colors that exist in each color space. That’s critical for accurate photo and image editing, and to ensure the image on the SW242Q looks much like what it will in print or on other displays. Set against the alternatives, it’s clear the SW242Q is ahead of the pack, especially in its coverage of the AdobeRGB color gamut. In fact, even OLED monitors fall short of the color gamut coverage found here. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Color accuracy was excellent, too. The monitor’s low color error reinforces the accuracy of its image, and will help photographers and artists create and edit work with confidence that the image they view is accurate to the end result. The monitor’s good color accuracy was reinforced by a default color temperature of 6400K and gamma curve of 2.2. The color temperature is just a tad warmer than our target of 6500K, but not enough to be readily noticeable, and the gamma curve was spot-on to our preference. Both can be adjusted in the monitor’s on-screen menus to calibrate the image to your preference or need. Sharpness is a perk. The monitor’s 16:10 aspect ratio leads to a resolution of 2560×1600, which, when spread across a 24.1-inch display, works out to about 125 pixels per inch. That’s much better than a 24-inch 1080p display, which has about 92 pixels per inch. Most 24-inch displays stick to 1080p, so the BenQ SW242Q has an advantage here. BenQ’s fine-coated panel is the monitor’s secret sauce. Designed to mimic the look of paper, it has a matte finish that greatly reduces glare and reflection, though it does so at the cost of contrast. With the monitor’s uniformity mode turned on, the panel is remarkably good at mimicking the look and feel of a satin paper finish; it’s as if you’re looking at a magazine, or perhaps a coffee-table book, rather than a display. The look is desirable not only for photographers, but also when reading documents and PDFs. The BenQ SW242Q’s image quality has perks and flaws, and the verdict depends on how you intend to use the display. Its contrast ratio is a long way from ideal for movies, games, and other entertainment, but the monitor’s excellent color accuracy and wide color gamut makes it a great fit for many creative tasks. BenQ SW242Q HDR image quality The BenQ SW242Q technically supports HDR10, but it’s not VESA DisplayHDR certified and doesn’t deliver an acceptable HDR experience. The monitor is too dim, and its contrast ratio is too low, to do HDR content justice. You might want to flip to the HDR mode for a quick preview of an HDR image or video, but it’s otherwise best to leave the monitor in SDR. While the monitor’s sub-par HDR is unfortunate, it fits with the monitor’s purpose. Most photos don’t use HDR, and creative work that will be going to print isn’t compatible with HDR. BenQ SW242Q motion performance BenQ’s focus on creative work at the expense of entertainment continues with the monitor’s motion clarity and performance. The SW242Q is a 60Hz monitor and lacks any form of Adaptive Sync. That means it lacks the motion clarity available with other displays. This is most noticeable in PC games. I picked up on the SW242Q’s lack of clarity and fluidity right away. Compared to other monitors with high refresh rates, the SW242Q felt clunky, and I often had difficulty picking out the details of objects that move quickly across the screen. Gaming is not the SW242Q’ focus, of course, but I do hope that BenQ can find some way to address this in the future. An enhanced refresh rate is useful not only in games, where the added clarity and fluidity can make a night-and-day difference, but also on the Windows desktop. Windows feels a bit more responsive on a 120Hz display than on a 60Hz display. That’s something I think photographers and artists would appreciate. Should you buy the BenQ SW242Q? The BenQ SW242Q is a display that’s likely to be polarizing. It has several features that are unique to BenQ rarely found elsewhere; a paper-like fine-coated panel, a 16:10 aspect ratio, and a resolution of 2560×1600 in a 24-inch display. These advantages are balanced by the monitor’s low contrast ratio and meager 60Hz refresh rate, flaws that are difficult to excuse given its $480 MSRP. However, the SW242Q’s price is in some ways easier to justify than other BenQ photography monitors, like the SW272U. The company’s larger 27-inch and 32-inch photography monitors face a wide range of competitors that, though they lack the fine-coated panel, achieve similar color performance and sharpness. The SW242Q is more unique: I don’t know of a single 24-inch monitor that matches or beats the BenQ SW242Q on sharpness and color performance. That provides a solid, though niche, reason to buy the SW242Q over less expensive peers. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating ProsExcellent SDR image qualitySuperb motion clarityFour video inputs including one USB-CGood range of image-quality controlsConsSeveral small design problemsMediocre HDR performanceSome OLED competitors are less expensiveOur VerdictThe Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 has a gorgeous QD-OLED panel and plenty of connectivity, though tight competition makes it hard for the monitor to stand out. Best Prices Today: Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 Retailer Price B & H Photo $799.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket It’s another week and another new monitor, this time from Gigabyte. The Aorus FO27Q3 is a 27-inch QD-OLED monitor that targets gamers but might have broader appeal to content creators and for general use. It is not the least expensive monitor in its category, but also not the most, and offers solid connectivity alongside good picture quality. Gamers who want USB-C should pay particular attention. Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 specifications The Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3’s panel is similar to most of its competitors. It’s a QD-OLED panel from Samsung with a display size of 26.5 inches, a native resolution of 2560×1440 pixels, and a maximum refresh rate of up to 360Hz. Display size: 26.5-inch 16:9 widescreen Native resolution: 2560×1440 Panel type: QD-OLED Refresh rate: Up to 360Hz Adaptive sync: Adaptive Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C upstream with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 18 watts of Power Delivery, 1x USB-B upstream, 2x USB-A 3.2, 1x headphone jack, 1x microphone jack VESA mount: 100x100mm Speakers: 2x 5-watt speakers Price: $799.99 MSRP The monitor includes a lot of connectivity with a total of four video inputs, one of which is a USB-C port. The monitor also has a pair of 5W speakers, which is a feature some gaming monitors omit. Further reading: See our roundup of the best gaming monitors to learn about competing products. Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 design The Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 looks good out of the box, but some details hold up better than others. The monitor uses glossy accents to provide a touch of class and luxury to the display, and they do the job. The monitor clearly looks like a gaming monitor, but it’s not garish or gaudy. However, some of the plastic, especially on the stand base and around the edges of the rear panel, looks a bit cheaper than I would like. It has RGB-LED ambient lighting on the rear of the display panel, but it’s extremely dim and allows only limited customization, which might disappoint gamers wanting their monitor to add flair in the dark. Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 backside. Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 backside.Matthew Smith / Foundry Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 backside.Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry I also noticed two design oddities. First, the display panel’s viewable area wasn’t centered in the monitor’s viewable area. Instead it’s slightly up and to the right, with a visible gap between the true bezel and where the viewable area begins. I didn’t even notice it for several days, but once I did, it was hard not to see it. Also, the cable routing hole in the stand is too small to accommodate the power cord, so you’ll have to settle for the power cord dangling across your desk. The monitor ships with an ergonomic stand that provides adjustment for height, tilt, swivel, and pivots 90 degrees for use in landscape orientation. The stand is sturdy but has a wide base that takes up a little more room than some competing monitors. With that said, the base isn’t overly thick or tall, so the space it consumes on your desk is mostly usable. A 100x100mm VESA mount is included on the back of the display panel, making it easy to attach a third-party monitor arm or stand. Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 connectivity and menus Gigabyte packs a lot of connectivity into the FO27Q3. The monitor has two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4 port, which can handle the monitor’s maximum refresh rate and resolution. It also has a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode. The USB-C port includes power delivery but only provides up to 18 watts, so it’s not useful for charging a connected laptop. The monitor also has two USB-A 3.2 downstream ports for connecting wired peripherals. These can be driven by the USB-C port or a USB-B port also found on the back of the monitor, which makes the monitor a USB hub, although two ports are nothing to get excited about. It includes two audio jacks, one for headphones and one for a microphone, which could be useful if you have a dedicated microphone. You’ll access the on-screen menus through a joystick that is centered on the back of the lower display bezel. It is responsive and easy to use, as is true of most such controls found on monitors, and Gigabyte’s monitor options are sensibly laid out. The font size for some options is a bit small, and can be more difficult to read than is ideal. Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 on-screen menu. Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 on-screen menu. Matthew Smith / Foundry Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 on-screen menu. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Many image quality options are available, including six-axis color customization, a number of gamma presets that target precise gamma values, and several color temperature presets. The color temperature presets are vague, however, labeled as “warm” or “cool” rather than a specific color temperature value. Still, this is a good range of quality customization for a monitor and will help people dial in the image to their preference. The monitor includes a typical suite of gaming-centric features like a timer, crosshairs, and picture-in-picture/picture-by-picture modes. There’s a black equalizer to elevate the brightness of games and a night vision mode meant to reveal detail specifically in dark scenes. The monitor can also restrict the visible area to 24 inches at a resolution of 1080p, which might be helpful if you want to squeeze out maximum frames per second in a highly competitive game. These features are useful, but also found in Gigabyte’s competitors. A pair of 5-watt speakers round out the monitor’s features. They provide okay volume but otherwise are nothing special. They’re usable if you just want to listen to a podcast or have a bit of music at low volume in the background, but they’re not going to be adequate for enjoying PC games. The Gigabyte has an especially saturated and colorful image that looks great in movies and games. Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 SDR image quality Spoiler alert: The QD-OLED panel in the Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 looks very similar to QD-OLED panels in other 27-inch OLED monitors released in 2024. With that said, the FO27Q3 performs well against its peers. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry The Gigabyte delivered a maximum SDR brightness of 263 nits, which is typical for an OLED monitor of any size and with any panel type. This is fine for most situations, but it could look a bit dim if you intend to use the monitor in a room with many bright sunlit windows or with a lot of overhead lighting. Of course, since other OLED monitors don’t get much brighter in SDR, this is a common limitation. It’s a glossy panel, too, so reflections can be an issue. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Contrast is a strength of all OLED monitors, and the Gigabyte is no different. It is capable of achieving a minimum luminance of zero nits, which is perfect, and because of that, it has an effectively infinite contrast ratio. This leads to an immersive image with an excellent sense of depth and realism. It performs especially well in darker scenes or when viewing the display in a dark room, as the OLED display can reveal significant shadow detail that an IPS or VA panel display with an LED backlight would miss. However, this is true of all similar OLED monitors, so Gigabyte has no advantage or disadvantage here. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Color gamut is where we start to see separation between OLED monitors. The Gigabyte has a Samsung QD-OLED panel, as is also true of the Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDM and Alienware AW2725DF. These monitors offer an extremely wide color gamut that covers up to 98 percent of DCI-P3 and 95 percent of Adobe RGB. Monitors using an LG WOLED panel, like the ViewSonic Elite XG272-2K-OLED and Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG, are at a slight disadvantage with color gamuts that tend to reach 95 percent of DCI-P3. The Gigabyte has an especially saturated and colorful image that looks great in movies and games. It can also be useful for photographers, videographers, and digital artists who want to ensure they can view close to the full range of color present in their content. Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry Matthew Smith / Foundry It’s a similar story in color accuracy. Here again, the QD-OLED monitors, including the Gigabyte, outperform the WOLED monitors. All the monitors listed here have good color accuracy on the whole and will look realistic out of the box, but it is clear that QD-OLED has the edge. The Gigabyte does perform worse than the other QD-OLED monitors we have tested, though. Gigabyte posts respectable gamma and color temperature results. The default gamma curve came in at 2.3, which is slightly off the target of 2.2 and means that the image looks a bit dimmer and darker than ideal out of the box. The default color temperature, meanwhile, came in at 6300K, which is a bit warmer than our target of 6500K. These variances are tight enough that I doubt most people would immediately notice them, and other OLED monitors are similarly off-target at their default settings (though some, like the Viewsonic XG272-2K-OLED, are instead too bright and cool). Sharpness can be an issue for QD-OLED monitors due to the specifics of the subpixel structure, which can cause small fonts and high-contrast edges to look more pixelated than you would expect for a 1440p monitor. This issue is visible on the Gigabyte, but it is usually not overly distracting. It tends to show up far more often in Microsoft Excel than in PC games, so it’s more of a concern for productivity than entertainment. With that said, gamers who want excellent sharpness in an OLED should consider a 32-inch 4K panel (unfortunately, 27-inch 4K OLED panels are not yet available). The Gigabyte’s overall SDR image quality is strong. Like other QD-OLED monitors, the Gigabyte scored well in contrast and color gamut tests. Maximum SDR Brightness is a bit lower than I would like to see, but the same is true for other OLEDs, and it’s still bright enough for most rooms. It’s a great display for SDR gaming that can handle dark, gritty games and cheerful, colorful games with equal ease. Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 HDR image quality The Gigabyte FO27Q3 is VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certified. That same level of certification is provided to most of the 27-inch monitors on the market today, indicating passable HDR performance, but the monitor’s brightness is usually not high enough to deliver the ideal experience. The default HDR mode measured a maximum brightness of 362 nits in a 10 percent window, meaning that 10 percent of the screen was lit. Sustained full-screen brightness was no different than in SDR. These are not impressive results but fairly typical for a 27-inch QD-OLED monitor. Monitors with LG’s newest WOLED panel, like the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG, tend to be brighter in highlights and a better choice for HDR content. I tried other HDR modes and found that HDR Vivid mode could hit a sustained HDR brightness of 805 nits in a 10 percent window, which is extremely high for an OLED monitor. However, while it was bright, it didn’t necessarily show more detail in bright areas of the screen, and the mode had serious color accuracy issues. I wouldn’t recommend it for games or movies. Gigabyte unlocks image quality controls in several HDR modes. That’s not true of many monitors that support HDR, although some OLED alternatives offer the same functionality. Messing with the image quality settings can lead to a technically less accurate presentation, but it’s often helpful on a monitor where you may need to tailor the brightness or contrast settings to fit the specific situation in which you’re using it and the content that you’re viewing. Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 motion performance Motion clarity is a strength for the Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3. It has a maximum refresh rate of 360Hz along with a pixel response time of 0.03 milliseconds. Together, these numbers mean that the display shows very little ghosting behind fast-moving objects and feels responsive when playing fast-paced games at high frame rates. Motion clarity is better than an IPS or VA panel monitor with a 360Hz refresh rate because OLED has faster pixel response times than those alternatives. Games also look fluid and stable thanks to the inclusion of AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and support for Adaptive Sync. Nvidia G-Sync compatibility is not part of the monitor’s feature set, but it should work since G-Sync is compatible with Adaptive Sync. It would’ve been nice to see Gigabyte obtain official G-Sync certification, though, as competitors like Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG take that extra step. On the other hand, the Asus monitor has a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz. That’s enough for most games, but highly competitive players will prefer the Gigabyte’s higher refresh rate. Should you buy the Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3? The Gigabyte Aorus FO27Q3 is yet another strong OLED monitor with a vibrant and colorful QD-OLED panel. The monitor has an infinite contrast ratio, good color accuracy, and excellent motion clarity thanks to a 360Hz refresh rate. All this adds up to a monitor that looks good straight out of the box and is well-suited for playing PC games. Pricing and availability are obstacles. QD-OLED monitors seem to be having stock issues this summer, and the Gigabyte is out of stock at many retailers and has yet to receive significant price cuts. That makes it hard to recommend over a competitor like the Asus ROG Strix XG27AQDMG, which is currently more widely available at lower prices. 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Amazon Prime Day 2024 is finally here and so is the deluge of laptop deals. Whether you need a lightweight notebook for school or a lightning-fast rig for marathon gaming sessions, these discounted laptops are primed (ha!) and ready to meet every need. You will need a Prime subscription, so if you’ve never subscribed before, sign up for a 30-day trial for free. So, why should you listen to my recommendations? I oversee PCWorld’s laptop review program, from assignment to publication, and I also carefully maintain our daily laptop deals roundup, as well as our best laptops of 2024 roundup. Every day, I spend a good amount of time searching the web for the best laptop deals. To assemble the list below, I looked at everything from graphics and storage space to design and form factor. I also checked out Amazon pricing history with Camel Camel Camel. Since I’m so tapped into the laptop scene, I’ve also included deals from Dell, Acer, Best Buy, and Newegg—though the focus for Prime Day deals is clearly on Amazon. Read on to check out the best laptop deals. And don’t forget to tune into our Prime Day 2024 deals hub for delicious discounts in other tech categories. First published on July 12, 2024. Last updated on July 16, 2024. Prime Day 2024 deals on budget and mid-range laptops Acer Aspire 3, includes 8GB of RAM and a 1080p display, $299.99 ($22 off at Amazon) HP Stream 14, includes 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage and a lightweight form factor, $299 ($100 off at Amazon) Asus VivoBook 16, includes an AMD Ryzen 7 7730U CPU and 1TB of SSD storage, $499.99 ($100 off at Amazon) Acer Swift Go, includes an Intel Core i7-1355U CPU and a 1200p touchscreen display, $507 ($72.99 off at Amazon) Lenovo ThinkBook 15, includes an AMD Ryzen 7 5825U CPU and a 1080p display, $568.26 ($81.34 off at Amazon) Acer Aspire 5, includes Thunderbolt 4 support and an Intel Core i7-1355U CPU, $633.33 ($166.66 off at Amazon) HP Envy x360, includes an Intel Core Ultra 5 125U CPU and a 2-in-1 form factor, $799.99 ($200 off at Amazon) Dell Inspiron 15, includes an Intel Core i7-1255U CPU and 1TB of SSD storage, $499.99 ($200 off at Dell) The HP Envy x360 is a great laptop with a powerful Intel Core Ultra 5 125U processor and a versatile convertible form factor. It’s zippy enough for general browsing and productivity tasks, and the convertible form factor means you can fold the screen all the way back. Being able to use a laptop in different positions is useful if you’re a frequent traveler, especially when using the device in a cramped space like an airplane seat. The 15.6-inch 1080p is also nice, as it has touch capability. This is good news if you’re a regular doodler or note taker. Prime Day 2024 deals on premium laptops Acer TravelMate Spin P4, includes a 1200p touchscreen display and a convertible form factor, $939.99 ($210 off at Amazon) Asus VivoBook S 16 OLED, includes an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU and a 3200×2000 OLED display, $949.99 ($150 off at Amazon) LG Gram 16, includes an Intel Core i7-1360P CPU and weighs just under three pounds, $999.99 ($300 off at Best Buy) Dell XPS 13, includes an Ultra 7 Processor 155H CPU and a 1200p 120Hz display, $1,149 ($250 off at Dell) Dell Inspiron 16, includes an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU and 2TB of storage, $1,299.99 ($400 off at Dell) Dell XPS 14, includes an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU and 14.5-inch 3200×2000 OLED touch display, $2,099.99 ($400 off at Dell) The above laptop deals are all fantastic, but there’s one that really stands out from the rest. For under a grand, you can pick up the Asus VivoBook S 16 OLED, which boasts a powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU as well as a stunning 3200×2000 OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The CPU has 16 cores, 22 threads, and can run up to 5.1 GHz. That means it should blitz right through day-to-day tasks and office work. The OLED display is ideal for entertainment or graphic design work, as this type of panel is capable of producing inky blacks and rich colors. The laptop itself also weighs just 3.31 pounds, which is perfect if you travel often. Prime Day 2024 deals on high-end gaming laptops Asus TUF Gaming A15, includes an AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, $1,049 ($350.99 off at Amazon) Asus ROG Strix G16, incldues an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU and a 165Hz refresh rate display, $1,289.54 ($110.45 off at Amazon) Acer Nitro 16, includes an AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, $1,499.99 ($300 off at Acer) Asus TUF Gaming A16, includes an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU and 1TB of storage, $1,670.94 ($129.05 off at Amazon) Razer Blade 16, includes an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU and 2TB of SSD storage, $3,499.99 ($800 off at Amazon) If you’re looking for a great gaming experience at a reasonable price point, the Asus TUF Gaming A15 is definitely worth looking into, as it’s a very well-rounded machine. Between the AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS CPU and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, this laptop should fly through most games on the higher graphics settings. The 1080p display is also quite spacious at 15.6-inches and the 144Hz refresh rate should keep things looking nice and smooth in the heat of battle. It also comes with 1TB of SSD storage, which is a good amount of space if you’ve got a massive games library. Prime Day 2024 deals on gaming laptops under $1,000 HP Victus, includes an Intel Core i5-12450H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2050 GPU, $599.99 ($100 off at Amazon) Asus TUF Gaming F15, includes an Intel Core i5-12500H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, $699.99 ($200 off at Amazon) Gigabyte Aorus 15, includes an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU and a 360Hz refresh rate display, $939 ($160 off at Amazon) MSI Bravo 15, includes an AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, $879.99 ($120 off at Best Buy) MSI Bravo 15, includes a 144Hz IPS display and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, $979.99 ($320 off at Newegg) The Gigabyte Aorus 15 deserves a call-out because of its wickedly fast 360Hz refresh rate display. That’s an incredibly high number, so this display should churn out silky smooth visuals, which is important during faster-paced games like Fornite or Doom. It also comes with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU and an Intel Core i5-12500H CPU, meaning it has enough juice to run most games on the Medium or High graphics settings, but you may want to dial those settings back on more modern titles. The display, measuring a roomy 15.6-inches, is pretty spacious with a resolution of 1920×1080. It’s not the highest resolution we’ve ever seen, but it’s perfectly fine for most games. More awesome Prime Day tech deals Our PCWorld editors have curated best deal roundups across all the major tech categories: Best Amazon tech deals across PCWorld’s top categories PC computer deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Monitor deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 SSD and storage deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 USB flash drive deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Thunderbolt dock and USB-C hub deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Office chairs and standing desks: Best of Prime Day 2024 PC keyboard deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Battery charger deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Laptop bag and backpack deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Chromebook deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 iPad, Galaxy Tab and Kindle deals: Best of Prime Day 2024 Laptop deals FAQ 1. How do I pick a laptop for Prime Day 2024? Well, it depends on your needs and lifestyle. A 2-in-1, for example, is a good fit for someone who travels often. You can swing the screen back 360 degrees and use it in tablet mode for taking notes or you can prop it up like a tent for watching movies with others. If gaming is a top priority, then you’ll want to look into a laptop with powerful internal hardware and a display with a high refresh rate. For those of us who need a basic laptop for general web browsing, a low-powered Windows laptop should do you just fine. 2. How can I tell whether a laptop is a good Prime Day deal? I always use Camel Camel Camel, which is a pricing history platform. You can make a free account and the interface is pretty easy to navigate. Let’s use the Asus VivoBook 16 as an example. Plug the ASIN, which is the part of the URL that starts with the letter B (B0BT6NKLQR in this case), into the search bar and hit search. Once the result generates, scroll down and you’ll see a graph of its price history. You’ll see a big dip in the price this month, the lowest price it has ever been in fact. That’s a big drop from the end of March when it was as high as $741.16. 3. Do laptop brands matter? Not particularly when you’re hunting for deals, as long as you stick to household names. All of the big manufacturers like HP and Acer make perfectly capable machines and they all offer pretty steep discounts on their online retail storefronts. You may have a personal preference, though. Dell, for example, has great customer service and their website is easy to navigate. As for HP, their back-to-school guide is laid out in a really straightforward way. 4. How much memory do I need in a laptop? I always tell my friends and family to shoot for at least 8GB of RAM. Anything less than that and you may very well notice a slowdown. If you can go higher than 8GB, that’s great! The more RAM you have, the zipper your laptop will be, especially when it comes to general browsing or making spreadsheets. 16GB of RAM is better for productivity tasks and gaming, and 32GB of RAM is perfect for photo editors. Laptops Read...

Should I buy a Chromebook or a Windows laptop? It’s a common question: Both devices can surf the web, access apps, and so on, at home, work, or school. But there are clear differences between their respective platforms, with advantages to each. We’ve addressed the question from several perspectives, beginning with the basics and then diving deeper. In some ways, the two categories have grown closer together over time: With much of our life spent on the web, a web-based device (a Chromebook) has become increasingly similar in purpose to a laptop. We’ll define the differences and then advise you on which device to purchase. We’ve reworked this article as a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) guide. You’ll find links to our respective laptop and Chromebook recommendations embedded in the answers, as well as links to recent developments that impact both platforms. Here’s what you need to know when buying a laptop or Chromebook. 1. Who should buy a Windows laptop? If you want the most power and flexibility available, buy a modern Windows laptop. See our roundup of the best laptops for a wide range of buying recommendations, and our daily laptop deals (updated almost every day) for the latest sales on top laptops. A laptop PC powered by Microsoft Windows offers several advantages. Windows laptops can run just about any app, your choice of any browser, and options that include native games, utilities, apps, and antivirus programs. You can tweak and configure your PC as you choose. The convenience of Windows demands more computing horsepower and often a higher price compared to most Chromebooks. On the other hand, if you need a powerful PC for gaming or video editing, Chromebooks can’t compete—though, granted, they don’t try to. 2. Who should buy a Chromebook? If you want to save money, and you work (and play) frequently on the web, buy a Chromebook. See our roundup of the best Chromebooks for buying recommendations, and our best Chromebook deals for the best Chromebooks sales of the day. A Chromebook powered by Google’s ChromeOS is a simpler, cheaper, more optimized device. Essentially, it’s useful to think of a Chromebook as a dedicated Chrome browser running on top of secure hardware. It can also be hundreds of dollars cheaper than a comparable Windows PC, even with the same processor inside! Numerous American classrooms have settled on Chromebooks for in-person and distance learning, and often make them available for loaning to students. Essentially, Chromebooks are best for web work: browsing the web, working online on documents, and using web streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime inside a web browser. You can also download and use Android apps for gaming and entertainment, though they may not run entirely like on your phone. You’ll still see quite inexpensive ($100 to $300) Chromebooks dominate Amazon’s list of “best-selling laptops,” but there’s even a specialized class of “gaming Chromebooks” now, too. (Those are quite new, and it’s not clear whether they’re worth buying.) Pay attention during the holidays or peak sales periods like Prime Day, when prices can drop really low—down by around $100 or more. Just make sure you’re not buying a Chromebook that’s fallen out of the support window. (We’ll talk more about that, below.) The efficiency of Chromebooks can work against them in certain situations, though. Does your printer use a specialized app? Chances are that your Chromebook will print to your printer, but an older printer might not work all that well with a Chromebook. Ditto for a specialized mouse app. It’s sometimes hard to know what will work, and what won’t. ChromeOS or Windows? The choice is up to you. ChromeOS or Windows? The choice is up to you. Shutterstock / Lazy Bear ChromeOS or Windows? The choice is up to you. Shutterstock / Lazy Bear Shutterstock / Lazy Bear 3. What’s it like using a Chromebook compared to a laptop? While it’s easy to focus on what you’re going to do with either a Chromebook or a Windows PC—web browsing! games!—it’s easy to lose sight of the little things. One of the best features of a Chromebook that’s easily overlooked is Google’s approach to updates and security. Everything takes place behind the scenes. Windows downloads updates for antivirus and other programs in the background, but others require a reboot. If you don’t have Windows properly configured, those reboots can even occur while you’re using the PC, which can be hugely annoying. While Chromebooks occasionally need to be rebooted to apply updates, the process is quicker and less intrusive, as Google reloads the pages you were on quite quickly.  In fact, “quick” is one of the best features of a Chromebook. While they’re less full-featured than a Windows PC, booting and resuming them just generally feels more efficient than it does on Windows. Part of that is the simplicity: Google takes care of most of the mundane tasks of powering a PC, like security and driver updates. “Blue screens of death” occur on Windows; Chromebooks rarely crash—a fact Google emphasizes in commercials. Still, some of those more mundane tasks can be irritating to Chromebook users, too: such as printing, file management, and utilities: This is where the differences between the two platforms can become abrasive, especially if you’re used to doing things in a certain way. For example, Google is trying to add diagnostics to the ChromeOS platform, but it’s still doing it its own way.  Take printing, for example. The world’s printers were designed from the ground up for Windows and Macs, and can print either over a wireless network or from a USB cable. Chromebooks, on the other hand, have struggled with direct printing or using the more advanced features of certain printers. Google Cloud Print was the company’s workaround, requiring a Wi-Fi enabled printer; however, this feature was phased out by the end of 2020.  Certain tasks also require a different way of doing things on a Chromebook versus a Windows PC. Sure, there are the ChromeOS keyboard shortcuts, where taking a screenshot or a portion of one requires knowing to press the Ctrl + “switcher” key. When you take that screenshot, you’ll see it saved inside a folder—but you won’t be able to rename that file without opening it. Windows allows you to right-click a file and perform any number of operations on it; ChromeOS does not. Even accessing those files on ChromeOS requires clicking the “home” circle in the lower-left corner, then either swiping or clicking the exposed up arrow to access the ChromeOS apps, some of which can be stored in the taskbar dock for easy access. The same goes for alternative input modalities. While Chromebooks allow for inking—you’ll generally need to supply your own stylus or use your finger—and can record audio, don’t expect a Chromebook to include pen input that’s translatable into text. Windows exclusively provides this. However, Chromebook pens will soon support NFC wireless charging, rather than forcing you to search out a AAAA battery or charge them with a cable. To be fair, Windows 11 looks a lot more like a Chromebook than it did before. The Windows 11 Taskbar (for now) can only be oriented at the bottom of the screen, where apps pop up from a Start menu that looks somewhat like the ChromeOS launcher. Our colleagues over at Computerworld include a Chromebook cheat sheet that you may find useful with more details on the ins and outs of Chromebooks. While you can connect a webcam to both a laptop and Chromebook, certain functions, like Windows Hello, are exclusive to Windows. While you can connect a webcam to both a laptop and Chromebook, certain functions, like Windows Hello, are exclusive to Windows.Shutterstock / Lazy Bear While you can connect a webcam to both a laptop and Chromebook, certain functions, like Windows Hello, are exclusive to Windows.Shutterstock / Lazy Bear Shutterstock / Lazy Bear 4. What’s the difference between a Windows laptop and a Chromebook, in terms of operating system and software? Windows PCs run Microsoft Windows 10 (and now Windows 11), the dominant operating system for traditional PCs for more than 25 years. Google Chromebooks run ChromeOS, optimized for both Google Chrome and Android apps. ChromeOS can’t run Windows or Mac apps, natively. Windows laptops can run Windows apps, naturally, as well as web apps (web pages) stored to the PC. Windows 11 PCs can now run a limited subset of Android apps, provided by Amazon. ChromeOS can run web apps and browse web pages. It can also run Google’s much more comprehensive library of Android apps, found on the Google Play Store. Microsoft seems to be phasing out efforts to compete directly with Chromebooks through specialized versions of the Windows OS. For the last few years, Microsoft has marketed Windows 10 S and Windows 11 S (or Windows 10/11 Home in S Mode) as its operating system for schools and a direct competitor to Chromebooks. As our linked review shows, it was essentially a locked-down version of Windows 10, preventing the ability to run third-party apps. You’ll find it on less-expensive PCs like the Surface Laptop Go, as well as some third-party laptops. Windows 11 SE, which we’ll discuss further a few sections below, is the sequel to Microsoft’s ChromeOS killer. Windows 11 SE will only be available to PCs designed for education, which is the target market for Chromebooks. Much of this is moot to most shoppers. All new Windows laptops are currently sold with Windows 11, of which the Windows 11 2022 Update is the latest version. It provides a visual refresh of Windows…that looks rather like a Chromebook, actually. You can read our Windows 11 superguide for more. Microsoft has dropped its historical timetable for new feature updates; its latest October update added new features like a tabbed version of File Explorer. At press time, Google’s ChromeOS is at version 108. Recent tweaks to the OS bring Chromebooks closer to Windows PCs: Photos taken by an Android phone show up in a ChromeOS Phone Hub; there are proper dark themes, improved Notifications, and a more compact Launcher. The latest version ChromeOS 108 adds a recycle bin/trash can, just like Windows. Google updates ChromeOS about every four weeks. In one of the weirder twists, Google has announced ChromeOS Flex, which can essentially turn an old PC laptop into a Chromebook. Microsoft won’t support Windows PCs forever, but the company has typically provided free upgrades from one OS to the next. (Windows 11 broke that cycle, by enforcing certain hardware requirements.) ChromeOS, for its part, has a support lifecycle of about eight years on new Chromebooks. Once that support window expires, that’s it: Google will not provide new features or offer security patches. You’ll need to read reviews or consult your Chromebook documentation to find out when support expires, though Google’s trying to make that easier. 5. Which can be personalized more, a Chromebook or a PC? Typically, Windows PCs have offered an enormous variety of options to allow you to tweak things as you like, which we’ve covered in our feature on how to personalize your PC. Most of this is already built into Windows, though there are wallpaper theme packs and even a Bing Wallpaper app to allow further customization. Chromebooks have generally not offered these capabilities, though there’s now an option to personalize your lock screen with either one of your own photos or an image preselected by Google. Music controls are available, too. The Windows 11 Start menu looks somewhat like a Chromebook. The Windows 11 Start menu looks somewhat like a Chromebook.Mark Hachman / IDG The Windows 11 Start menu looks somewhat like a Chromebook.Mark Hachman / IDG Mark Hachman / IDG 6. Can I run Windows apps on Chromebooks? Yes and no. Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise is a new feature that Google just introduced on Chromebooks, but not all of them. Parallels provides quick access to legacy and full-featured applications, like Microsoft Office, locally on ChromeOS—which means that they’ll even work offline. However, Parallels is a managed solution for enterprises with IT managers, meaning you won’t be able to take advantage of this with a cheap Chromebook that you’ll buy from Amazon.  Instead, only very specific enterprise Chromebooks will be able to access Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise: the HP Pro c640 Chromebook Enterprise, the HP Elite c1030 Chromebook Enterprise and the upcoming HP Chromebox Enterprise G3, all powered by Intel Core i5 and i7 processors. (It’s probable that these enterprise Chromebooks need the virtualization capabilities available in the Core i5 and Core i7 processors.) Could this ability to run Windows apps be extended to consumer Chromebooks in the future? Possibly. But right now it’s out of reach for most users. A better solution may be Windows 365, Microsoft’s program for running Windows via the cloud. Windows 365 is essentially the Windows equivalent of cloud gaming—Windows lives in the cloud, and is “streamed” down to the local PC. However, Microsoft designed Windows 365 for business users, so consumers won’t have access to this for now. 7. Do laptops and Chromebooks look different? Physically, a Chromebook looks much like a Windows-powered notebook, with a keyboard, a display, a front-facing camera for videoconferencing, and so on. But there are a few key differences: Chromebooks typically include a dedicated search keyboard key, while Windows emphasizes the Windows key.  With Windows, you’ll have many hardware choices, including a typical clamshell notebook, convertibles with 360-degree hinges, 2-in-1 Windows tablets with detachable keyboards, or pure Windows tablets. Most Chromebooks are clamshells, but we’re seeing a lot more convertibles now that Android apps are supported. Because ChromeOS and Android are now conjoined, a key reason to choose a ChromeOS tablet instead of a clamshell hinges on how often you’ll use Android apps. Android apps run acceptably in a laptop form factor, but they’re arguably more convenient when used on a tablet, and held in your hand. Remember, most 360-degree convertibles/2-in-1s flip the keyboard out of the way, essentially transforming the Chromebook into a big, bulky tablet. We prefer this approach. Physically, Chromebooks look much like laptops, with mostly similar ports, screens, and keyboards. Physically, Chromebooks look much like laptops, with mostly similar ports, screens, and keyboards.Acer Physically, Chromebooks look much like laptops, with mostly similar ports, screens, and keyboards.Acer Acer 8. How are the specifications of a laptop and Chromebook different? Inside, the only real differences are the processor. Windows PCs have a wide range of microprocessors powering them, usually chips from AMD and Intel, or more recently, a Qualcomm Snapdragon. Chromebooks generally favor lower-performance Intel Atom chips (branded as Pentium or Celeron), Snapdragons, or lesser-known processors from the likes of Mediatek or Rockchip, that are suited to the lighter demands of ChromeOS. But AMD has made aggressive, recent moves to bring its powerful Ryzen chips into Chromebooks, and Intel’s Core chips (typically a Core i3) can appear in Chromebooks, too. More recently we’ve seen pricier corporate and luxury Chromebooks include Intel Core CPUs, including the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook—but the jury’s still out on who will pay upwards of $1,000 for a Chromebook. In October 2022, Google unveiled a line of gaming Chromebooks with high-end displays and processors designed for cloud gaming. We haven’t tested these yet, however, and they’re significantly more expensive. Though you’ll find that many Chromebooks and inexpensive laptops feature a similar HD (1366×768) or Full HD (1920×1080) display, Windows usually requires more robust memory and storage. Both a Chromebook and a laptop can run acceptably on 4GB of memory, but 8GB is preferred where Windows notebooks are concerned. Windows notebooks, too, typically include more local storage for the Windows OS and associated apps: 128GB or 256GB is acceptable, though there’s really no upper limit. Chromebooks, meanwhile, don’t need much more than 32GB or so, assuming Google-oriented users are taking advantage of the Google Drive online storage, or stashing Android apps on an SD card. Less storage means less cost; many Chromebooks also use inexpensive eMMC flash storage to save even further. Both Chromebooks and Windows tablets allow external storage.  Laptops and Chromebooks are typically made by the same companies, so the internals typically look similar. Laptops and Chromebooks are typically made by the same companies, so the internals typically look similar.Kingston Laptops and Chromebooks are typically made by the same companies, so the internals typically look similar.Kingston Kingston 9. How are the digital assistants in Chromebooks and laptops different? One of the few Chromebooks with Google Assistant support so far is the Google Pixelbook. Instead, Google’s built-in intelligence is primarily put to use in the ChromeOS “Launcher.” Like the Chrome browser, you type a search question into the Launcher and Google will return answers. The feature was originally rolled out on ChromeOS 90. Microsoft’s own digital assistant, Cortana, is supported on all Windows PCs that include a mic—which is virtually all of them. But while Cortana was deeply integrated into Windows 10 when it launched, it’s now an app on Windows PCs and doesn’t play as much of a role as it used to. In fact, on Windows 11 you’ll need to add the Cortana app manually. 10. Is a Chromebook or laptop better for office work? Productivity apps—word processing, spreadsheets, and the like—represent the majority of the working day. Here, both Windows and Chromebook users have several choices, and both are honestly about equal. Chromebooks can run Microsoft’s Office apps as web apps or Android applications, while Windows PCs can run Google Workspace apps on the web. (Google Workspace was formerly named G Suite, and before that Google Apps.) You might think that Office would be restricted to Windows, but that’s not true either: Office.com, also known as Office Online, runs in a web browser, and—assuming you have a subscription to Office 365 (now called Microsoft 365)—offers nearly all the functionality that the Office 365 suite does. (Microsoft Office apps are also available as Android apps, but it’s sometimes simpler to run them within the browser.) In fact, given that it’s powered by the cloud, you’ll find that Office Online sometimes gets updated with new features before they arrive on Microsoft 365. Office is typically used by most enterprises, and if your company administrator allows it, even shared corporate resources may be accessible via a Chromebook.  There’s one tweak: As of August 2021, Microsoft won’t support the Android version of Office apps on a Chromebook. That doesn’t mean you can’t run Office on a Chromebook; you’ll just need to use Office.com (aka Office Online) instead. The Google Workspace suite also runs online, though it’s focused on the essentials, with fewer features than Office but a renewed focus on collaboration. I spent over a year exclusively working on a Chromebox (the nearly defunct desktop version of a Chromebook) and found Google’s simple interface and instantaneous autosaves superior to the Windows version of Office at the time. (Office apps like Word now autosave, too.) For our purposes, both Google Workspace and Office Online will run on either a plain Chromebook or Windows PC; however, if you need access to a local copy of Office, only a PC will suffice.  As of September 2021, Google has begun rolling out Cursive, a Progressive Web App (though they’re powered by the web, PWAs can be saved locally as apps) that is designed for detachable Chromebooks like the HP Chromebook X2 11. As the name suggests, Cursive allows you to jot notes in cursive, a bit like Microsoft OneNote. While it’s technically downloadable for the Chrome browser, many features reportedly won’t work on anything but a Chromebook. Other Chromebooks will receive the Cursive app a bit later on.  The gist is that productivity is possible on either a Chromebook or Windows PC with a minimal amount of effort, though you may want to pay for a subscription for either Office or Google’s suite of apps to get maximum benefit and storage space. You may also find Windows PCs a bit more easy to configure for printing. From a hardware perspective, a traditional laptop form factor is more convenient than a detachable keyboard such as on the Lenovo Chromebook Duet, for example. While tablets make Android apps more convenient, the tradeoff is less productivity when in laptop mode. If you buy a Chromebook that supports Android in tablet mode, then presto! Your Chromebook is now a large tablet. If you buy a Chromebook that supports Android in tablet mode, then presto! Your Chromebook is now a large tablet. Shutterstock / Lazy Bear If you buy a Chromebook that supports Android in tablet mode, then presto! Your Chromebook is now a large tablet. Shutterstock / Lazy Bear Shutterstock / Lazy Bear 11. Can a Chromebook play games as well as a Windows PC? With the vast history of classic PC games available to Windows machines, the PC is clearly dominant where gaming is concerned. However, there are also games that are “exclusive” to Chromebooks, thanks to 2016’s ChromeOS 53, and its ability to run Android apps and games. All Chromebooks made since 2019 (and some earlier models) have this capability. But the distinction is not quite as profound as it once was. While you won’t be playing the latest Battlefield game on a Chromebook as a native app, Google has ported Steam over to certain Chromebooks as of March 2022, allowing you to play dozens of Steam games on a supported Chromebook, in an alpha state. This is an extremely early implementation, with just a few supported Chromebooks and the very real possibility of significant bugs. Our tutorial on how to play Steam games on a Chromebook has more. We’re also seeing support for RGB keyboards in ChromeOS, implying that gaming Chromebooks could arrive sometime soon. Google also said in September 2022 that it’s rolling out keyboard support for touchscreen games, allowing you to play “touch” games on a Chromebook that lacks a touchscreen. This feature will debut in an alpha state in ChromeOS 105. If your Chromebook is one of the cheaper, less powerful variety, don’t despair. Cloud gaming services can come to your rescue—and running them is the next best thing to loading and playing them on the Chromebook itself. In addition to the older Parsec cloud gaming service, you now have Nvidia GeForce Now, the Blade Shadow service (hailing from Europe), and even Xbox games. We explain how Xbox cloud gaming runs on a Chromebook. Just make sure that you either have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription in place, or own an Xbox outright. Google believes strongly in cloud gaming, and launched a wave of cloud gaming Chromebooks to take advantage of the trend. We’re a little skeptical of whether these devices will be worth the extra money until we’ve tested them ourselves. Windows PCs can now run Android games, too, believe it or not. As part of the “spring 2022 update” for Windows 11, Microsoft added support for a limited number of Android apps. They’re not downloadable via the Google Play Store, however. You’ll need to download them from Amazon instead. (Here’s how to install Android apps on your PC.) It’s possible you will be able to download Android apps from Google in the future, though. Google has also begun trialing Google Play games on Windows 11 PCs in Asia. 12. Which offers more apps, Chromebooks or Windows PCs? Games certainly fall into the category of local apps, but so do the numerous apps and utilities that can make everyday tasks a little easier. Here, it’s also a mixed bag. This is sort of a lopsided comparison, since Microsoft doesn’t reveal the number of apps inside the Microsoft Store. Even if it did, that number wouldn’t reveal anything about the quality of apps found within it. App stores are notorious for including “knockoff” apps or crapware, and Microsoft has been particularly vulnerable. ChromeOS doesn’t include the type of crapware Windows PCs also sometimes ship with, requiring apps like CCleaner to tidy up. One of the strengths of Windows, though, is its historical archive of bits of code, utilities, and other apps that have collected in dusty old hard-drive folders, FTP sites, and elsewhere. Batch resizing apps for images, custom calendar apps, macro managers—everyone has their favorites, and ChromeOS simply can’t compete. Windows PCs are the platform to run virtually everything: traditional Win32 apps, web apps, Linux apps, and Android apps via Windows 11 as well. The only exception are PCs running Windows 10 S or Windows 11 S, which won’t run anything but apps found in the Microsoft Store. Chromebooks can run native “apps” for Chrome, including plugins. Plus, there are the additional Android apps that can run under ChromeOS: There were almost 3 million total in the Google Play app store as of June 2020. Not every Android app will run on a Chromebook. Chromebooks don’t include GPS chips, so location-specific apps won’t work. Ditto for those who rely on rear cameras that the Chromebook may or may not have—Pokemon Go, for instance. Although we certainly don’t think this is for everyone, some Chromebooks can run Linux, but it will take some fiddling. Our friends over at Computerworld have an up-to-date guide on how to run Linux on a Chromebook. Chrome apps can be found within the Chrome Web Store, where there are utilities, educational tools, and more. Chrome apps can be found within the Chrome Web Store, where there are utilities, educational tools, and more. Shutterstock / Lazy Bear Chrome apps can be found within the Chrome Web Store, where there are utilities, educational tools, and more. Shutterstock / Lazy Bear Shutterstock / Lazy Bear 13. Which lasts longer, a Chromebook or a PC? The longevity of a PC is basically determined by how demanding Windows is, compared to the hardware powering it. The willingness of the PC maker and component makers to provide drivers also plays a role. Hardware failures will eventually occur. Every processor that Intel launches is accompanied by statements comparing the new chip to a 5-year-old PC, with performance improvements in the 30 to 40 percent range. Otherwise, a PC’s lifespan could go on for years, even decades, as long as the operating system is kept up to date. Or we thought so, anyway. As the previous section noted, Windows 11 suddenly cut off millions of PCs from an upgrade to Windows 11, because of new hardware restrictions. Older PCs, even Surface devices made by Microsoft, are being cut off. Could Microsoft do this again in the future? We don’t know. A Chromebook lasts as long as Google is willing to support it, and that’s much easier to determine: Google tells you. In the beginning, it was just five years after the original production date for any Chromebook (keep this in mind if you’re buying an older Chromebook, or a used one). More recently, Google’s begun extending the time it supports Chromebooks by about six months to a year, and even up to a total of eight years in some cases. Beginning with ChromeOS 80, in February 2020, it appears you can dive into the Settings menu and discover exactly when your device will lose support.  Just to be clear: A Windows PC or Chromebook that has exited its support window means that it won’t receive feature and security patches. That can leave either platform vulnerable to previously undiscovered malware or other attacks, with a variety of consequences. Google also said recently that it’s working to separate the security aspects of ChromeOS from new features. Right now, when a Chromebook exits the support window, that’s it: no new features, no new security updates. In the future, though, Google’s support window may put a hard stop on new ChromeOS features, but may keep adding security patches for longer. Ashley Biancuzzo Ashley Biancuzzo Ashley Biancuzzo 14. Which is more secure, a Chromebook or a Windows PC? Security isn’t a question that can be answered absolutely, but Chromebooks and Windows PCs differ fundamentally here. The relative simplicity of a Chromebook offers a far smaller “attack surface” than a Windows PC does. The complexity of Windows PCs, including the software Windows supports, provides hackers many more opportunities to attack.  Google developed Chromebooks with security as a priority, using everything from isolated, “sandboxed” processes to verified boot to help protect your system. (Our sister site, TechAdvisor, has a more detailed explanation.) For people who worry about websites that hijack your browser or download malware, a Chromebook’s defenses protect you without making you think about it much.  Keeping a Windows PC safe can be a much more complicated business. Security starts as soon as you begin setting up a new PC. Regular maintenance is required for both your antivirus software and the Windows operating system, though most happens automatically. Still, holes are constantly being discovered, such as the Meltdown/Spectre vulnerabilities, as well as the more recent Foreshadow/L1TF exploit. You have to be vigilant, or at least not too lazy, to protect your Windows PC. Fortunately, Windows’ built-in Windows Defender software is far better than it used to be, enough that Windows can basically take care of itself.  Login security works about the same on both platforms. Logging into a Chromebook requires a Google account and its password. While U2F hardware keys for logging in can be used, a typical home user probably wouldn’t. Windows PCs also prefer a Microsoft account and password (though you can log into the PC locally without one). Authentication options include Windows Hello (either via a fingerprint reader or depth camera, or else with a short PIN), which provides a casual level of security that also lets you resume work quickly and easily. It’s a cross between ease-of-access and security that Microsoft has invested in heavily, and it’s a convenience that most Windows users appreciate. Don’t forget that Microsoft hates passwords and a Windows 11 passwordless option is available, with your phone’s authentication features doing much of the work. Still, Chromebooks have improved here as well. ChromeOS 88, which rolled out in January 2021, supports WebAuthn, a feature that allows you to log into a website using your fingerprint or PIN. (Your Chromebook needs to have a fingerprint reader for this to work.) In this case, your phone replaces your PIN as a means of two-factor authentication.  Windows 11, though, introduces a huge wrinkle: Some PCs simply can’t be upgradable to Windows 11, because they lack the required hardware, including what’s known as a Trusted Platform Module, or TPM. But that TPM was specifically architected to provide more security to Windows platforms, too. Amazon Amazon Amazon 15. What Chromebook should I buy? When buying a Chromebook, the main things to consider are the memory size—believe it or not, that’s more important than the processor. More RAM means more open, available tabs, and surfing the web is the most important job of the Chromebook. Screen size and resolution are the next priority: Cheap Chromebooks can have 11-inch, 768p screens. Buy a 13-inch or 14-inch Chromebook with a 1080p (1920×1080) screen if you can—your eyes will thank you for it. Chromebooks can have a variety of low-end microprocessors to choose from, some of which you may have never heard of. PCWorld’s Alaina Yee recommends buying a Chromebook with a Pentium or Celeron processor—and that’s a good place to start if you don’t feel comfortable parsing Chromebook specifications. Anything more powerful than that, like an Intel Core chip, is just fine too. Of the Chromebooks we’ve reviewed, we are particularly fond of the Chromebook Spin 713 and HP Chromebook X2 11. Our older picks include the Lenovo Chromebook Duet and Google’s own, luxurious, aging Pixelbook Go. 16. What laptop should I buy? When buying a laptop, consider buying one of PCWorld’s recommended laptops. Buying a laptop is relatively easy: simply look for an up-to-date AMD or Intel processor, and look for the lowest price. Laptops with an Intel Core i3 or an AMD Ryzen 3 should be considered the minimum specification, with a Core i5 or Ryzen 5 preferred. Buy a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM inside and 256GB of storage. More RAM means more available tabs and a larger variety of applications; documents, video, and apps may require more storage space. Buy a laptop with at least a 1080p screen, and a comfortable size. Remember, a larger laptop is typically heavier, too. Gaming laptops should be avoided unless you intend to play games! Gaming laptops use a discrete GPU, and tend to be more expensive. But they’re fun! If you’re in the market for a gaming laptop, select from one of our top picks in gaming laptops. Dominic Bayley / IDG Dominic Bayley / IDG Dominic Bayley / IDG 17. Which is better, a Chromebook or laptop? While we can’t say for certain which platform you’ll prefer, here’s a suggestion: If you think that a Chromebook could be right for you, take a Windows PC, download the Google Chrome browser, and then work exclusively within it for a day. While both platforms now offer Android apps, ChromeOS still offers a broader, more popular range from the Google Play Store. It’s fair to say that Windows offers a more comprehensive experience, but ChromeOS is usually a significantly simpler, cheaper alternative. The buying decision usually works out to something like: “I can do almost everything in Windows with a Chromebook, but…” It’s that last little bit—printing, file management, etc.— that will guide your decision. Good luck!  ChromebookLaptopAffordableHigher price tagLong battery lifeBetter storage optionsEasy setupSnappier performance, can be used to play games or run video editing softwareAndroid and Linux compatabilityRuns more apps and browsersLess vulnerable to attacksLightweight form factors FAQ 1. Can I use Word on a Chromebook? Yes, but there are a few ways to go about it. You can download Microsoft 365 app by navigating to www.office.com and sign in to your Microsoft Account or an account that has access to a Microsoft 365 subscription. You can also install the Microsoft Word app on the Google Play Store. Once you’ve installed it, use the launcher to open the Word app and start typing away. You’ll need sign in using a Microsoft account or a Microsoft Office Subscription account. 2. How do I know if I should get a Chromebook or a laptop? It really boils down to the operating system at the end of the day. Do you like using Chrome OS or does it inspire intense feelings of rage? I’m something of a minimalist, so I prefer the straightforwardness of Chrome OS. But with Chromebooks, you’re stuck with Chrome OS and that’s that. If you’d rather have different browser options, then go for a Windows laptop. 3. What are the disadvantages of buying a Chromebook? While Chromebooks have a lot to offer the average user, there are a number of disadvantages to be aware of. It’s limited when it comes to resource-heavy tasks like multimedia editing and you can’t do much with it if you haven’t got a stable online connection. Chromebooks also don’t come with the latest and greatest CPU or ample RAM. The hardware is fine for general browsing, but not much else. 4. What can’t a Chromebook do that a laptop can? A Chromebook can’t run anything but Chrome OS. You get a lot more variety with Windows laptops. You can run a lot more apps, browsers, and so on. 5. Why get a Chromebook instead of a laptop? Chromebooks are just simple and easy to use. All you need is a Gmail account and you’re in. You don’t have to worry about updating the operating system because it does it automatically. If you can live without Windows or macOS programs and your usage is relatively light, then a Chromebook is the way to go. 6. Can you use a Chromebook without Internet? Yes, but you’re limited with what you can do. You can access Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Google Play Movies, and Google Keep. Just make sure you flip Google Docs to offline mode, which you can read more about here. The updates should happen automatically when you go back online. 7. Why is a Chromebook better than a laptop? Chromebooks are easier and don’t require as much maintenance as a Windows laptop. Updated on July 8, 2024, with more buying decisions, updates, and further details. Business, Chromebooks, Consumer Electronics, Desktop PCs, Laptops, Technology Industry Read...

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