Millions of laptops get tossed in the U.S. every year. Most still work, but they end up in landfills or collecting dust in drawers. Only about one in five gets properly recycled, according to Lifewire. That’s a problem, but also a chance to do better. You can make a real difference through the choices you make when buying, using, and disposing of your laptop. That’s where we come in (hi there!). We’ll show you how to make a smarter, greener choice next time you upgrade. What makes a laptop sustainable? A sustainable laptop is designed with longevity, reparability, and energy efficiency in mind. Some companies are already deep in the game. For example, Framework makes laptops with modular parts, so you can replace or upgrade just about anything without tossing the whole thing. It’s honestly just fun to jump in and start messing around. If you’re up for a little challenge, they’ve got a DIY version where you build the whole thing yourself. IDG / Mark Knapp And then there’s the materials. Dell uses ocean-bound plastics in some laptops and packaging to keep waste out of the oceans. Apple’s newer MacBooks are made from recycled aluminum, cutting down on mining. Acer and Lenovo also sneak recycled plastics into their devices, helping reduce the need for new raw materials. HP is also stepping up by offering programs that take back old devices to recycle them responsibly. All these efforts might seem small on their own, but together they really add up. Further reading: How 6 top laptop manufacturers are lowering their carbon footprints Okay, but does this stuff really matter? It sure does! If you end up springing for a laptop made from recycled aluminum (like a newer MacBook, for instance), you’re already one step ahead of the game. Great job lowering your carbon footprint! Plus, fixing or reusing old parts helps reduce digging up new materials from the earth. And there’s the energy side of things, too. A traditional laptop eats up about 25 kilowatt-hours of electricity every year. That’s like a keeping a light bulb on for two whole weeks. Over a four year period, you’re looking at around 100 kWh. But ENERGY STAR laptops? They use way less energy — 30 to 40 percent less. Are sustainable laptops more expensive? Some are, but it pays off over time. Lots of laptops let you upgrade stuff like RAM and SSD, not just the Framework ones. Plenty of mainstream models (especially in the business lines from brands like Dell, HP, and Lenovo) still give you access to those parts. That means you can start with a more affordable configuration and upgrade later if you need more storage. Just a heads up, though! Some super-thin models don’t let you upgrade because the parts are usually soldered in. So check reviews before you buy if upgrades matter to you and look for mentions of upgradeability in product listings, it can save you money and frustration down the road. Refurbished laptops are also a solid way to go because they’re cheaper and better for the planet, since you’re reusing something that’s already been created. Sustainability doesn’t have to mean dropping big bucks or only choosing niche models. Even small choices help like picking a model with longer battery life or better repairability. And even simple stuff like clearing out dust or replacing an old battery can keep your laptop going way longer than you’d expect. Taking a little extra time to look after your laptop can save you from having to drop cash on a new one any time soon. It’s a lot less waste, too. Check out pcworld`s top pick for best upgradeable laptop Framework Laptop 13 (2025) Read our review What should you look for in a sustainable laptop? If you’re ready to pick up a sustainable laptop, here are some key features to keep an eye out for. If you want even deeper info, check out PCWorld’s 5 factors to consider when shopping for an eco-friendly laptop. EPEAT Gold Rating EPEAT works like a medal system for how eco-friendly a product is. There’s Bronze, Silver, or Gold. Gold is the highest medal and it means the device is ultra-efficient and made with fewer toxic materials. ENERGY STAR certification ENERGY STAR certification means the device is energy-efficient and better for the environment. Modular or tool-less design This means you can swap parts like the battery or storage without tools or tech skills. Companies like Framework make laptops easy to upgrade or fix, so you don’t have to toss the whole thing if something breaks. Long software support (5+ years) Long software support mostly matters for Chromebooks. Some cheap models only get updates for a couple more years and then they’re basically useless. Fortunately, Google now offers up to 10 years of support on some models. This PCWorld article explains what to look for. Manufacturer take-back program Got an old laptop? Some companies will take it back and recycle it properly. It’s very easy and many companies even give you a free shipping label or drop-off spot. Brands like Apple, Dell, and HP do this to keep old tech out of landfills. Small habits, big difference Buying a sustainable laptop won’t save the planet overnight, but it’s a solid place to start. These little choices add up, especially when more of us start making them. And honestly, just keeping your laptop around a little longer makes a bigger difference than you might think. Just hanging onto your laptop a little longer makes a real difference. Less waste. Fewer new materials needed. Your wallet’s probably happier, too. So, next time you’re thinking about upgrading, hit the pause button for a second and ask yourself: Will I still be happy with this in three or four years? Can I fix it if something breaks? Will the company help me recycle it when I’m done? Saying yes to any one of those questions means you’re making a smarter, more sustainable choice. You’re already one step ahead of the game, kid. Further reading: 4 eco-friendly ways to get rid of a laptop Read...

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Finding good noise canceling headphones for little money is often a game of chance because you almost always pay for it somewhere–be it in terms of sound, wearing comfort, or durability. But after many disappointments, I finally discovered two models (one wireless, one wired) that really convinced me. My perfect companion for travel and workouts: TOZO T10 Bluetooth headphones I’ve already tried a few cheap Bluetooth headphones–many of them were ruined after a few months. Not so with the TOZO T10. I’ve been using them almost every day for over a year now, mostly in the gym, on walks, or when I’m travelling. And they still hold up. The headphones connect quickly, sit comfortably and deliver a pleasantly balanced sound. The bass is solid (up to 16 Hertz) for the price. They usually cost about $25, but they’re on sale right now for $20. The noise cancelation is excellent for this price range. I can train in the gym with them without any problems, even with loud music playing in the background. They only reach their limits when there’s a good amount of ambient noise. Speaking of the environment, the TOZO T10 are waterproof (IPX8), so they’re suitable for all kinds of outdoor activities. TOZO T10 headphones: my choice when it has to be wireless I find the long battery life especially practical. With the charging case, I can easily manage 40 to 45 hours. Charging usually takes around 60 to 90 minutes, although I never let them run completely empty. The touch control works reliably (most of the time at least), even if I found it took a bit of getting used to at first, as it could be a bit more sensitive for my taste. In short, the TOZO T10 are the ideal low-budget all-rounders for me when I’m travelling and don’t want to spend too much. Get the TOZO T10 for $19.99 at Amazon My go-to for recording and calls: OneOdio Pro-10 with cable When I’m sitting at my computer, recording audio or making video calls, I almost always reach for the OneOdio Pro-10. For just $39.09, these wired over-ear headphones deliver a really rich sound, especially in the bass. Podcasts, Zoom meetings, or music productions sound clear and powerful. Thanks to the closed design, ambient noise is reliably muffled without me having to turn up the volume at all. This allows me to concentrate fully on my work or music, even with background noise. OneOdio over-ear headphones: maximum noise cancelling with rich bassPC-Welt The wearing comfort is good, even if I have to take them off after two to three hours because the contact pressure becomes a little uncomfortable. The supplied detachable cables with two different connections are a real plus point: A 3.5 mm jack cable with microphone for a laptop, smartphone or PS4/PS5, for example. It also works with older iPads or MP3 players without any problems. A 3 meter cable with a 6.35 mm jack (standard for hi-fi and music equipment), which can be used to connect the headphones to an audio interface, keyboard, or amplifier. The integrated share port even makes it easy to connect a second pair of headphones to listen to music with someone. Get the OneOdio for $39.09 at Amazon Read...

Microsoft is currently in the process of rolling out update KB5060533, a new patch for Windows 10 that includes the latest security fixes—as well as a small tweak that was snuck in with everything else. It turns out that Microsoft has added links to the Windows 10 Calendar to recognize special themed days, such as World Environment Day (June 5, 2025), World Oceans Day (June 8), Juneteenth National Freedom Day (June 19) and American Eagle Day (June 20). When you click on one of those themed days, Windows launches the Edge browser and performs a Bing search of the event—and Bing is used even if your default search engine is something else. According to Windows Latest, there’s no setting to turn off this feature, nor is it possible to change which search engine is used. The purpose of the feature, according to Microsoft, is to offer a new “rich experience.” Further reading: Upgrading Windows 10 to 11: What you need to know Read...

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One of the best things about search engines is the fact you can increasingly search for a term without needing specific keywords. Microsoft is applying the same concept to the history function within the Edge browser built into Windows. Microsoft’s notes on the current release beta for Edge, as noticed by The Verge, indicate that the company is using what it calls an “AI-powered History search.” If you turn this feature on, you’ll be able to search your history of sites stored in Edge without ensuring that your search query is typed just so: Edge will accommodate “synonyms, phrases, or typos,” Microsoft says. Interestingly, this improved search is one of the functions that Microsoft is using local AI for. “An on-device model is trained using your data, which never leaves your device and is never sent to Microsoft,” Microsoft notes. Microsoft isn’t saying what local model will be used, but it seems fairly likely that it will be the Phi Silica model Microsoft began talking about last year. Whether this means that you’ll need a Copilot+ PC to enable this isn’t clear, either. You do need Copilot+ hardware to take advantage of Recall, the tool that snapshots your PC periodically to improve search. (Recall is protected via encryption and Windows Hello, though I still think Recall is too risky in the current political environment.) Microsoft also says that it will be adding a media control center to Edge, though I think that feature is already here as part of the stable version. Loading our post-show Computex coverage, for example, brings up a small “music note” icon next to the URL bar inside Edge. Clicking it brings up media controls (though a volume control or mute button would be nice, too.) This is what the media controls within Edge look like on my PC. Edge is also adding a Copilot chat summarization option to the context menu which will allow users to ask questions of the current page. If Edge slows down unexpectedly — say, with dozens of open tabs — you may see a notification in the Edge settings, too. These are what Microsoft calls “controlled feature” rollouts, so they may not be available to everyone. Note that you may not see these features if you’re not part of the Microsoft Edge beta program. Chances are, however, that they’ll be pushed to the stable version of Edge before long. Read...

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