At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Lightweight and sturdy magnesium casing Attractive 2.5K display with 120 Hz and high colour fidelity Future-proof thanks to Intel Ultra 9 with dedicated NPU Generous memory configuration with 32 GB RAM and 2 TB SSD Extensive connectivity options including USB4 and microSD Cons Cooling is clearly audible under full load The webcam only offers standard quality Our Verdict While many laptops with comparable CPU specifications are either significantly heavier or have plastic cases, the Geekbook offers a balanced combination of performance, mobility, and workmanship. Price when reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Geekom Geekbook X16 Pro Retailer Price $1,099 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Until now, Geekom was primarily known for its mini PCs. With the Geekbook X16 Pro, the company is now expanding its portfolio to include a notebook. The laptop market is highly competitive and dominated by numerous established manufacturers. Our testing will show how the X16 Pro compares to popular alternatives in terms of workmanship, features, and performance. Geekom Geekbook X16 Pro: Design The Geekom Geekbook X16 Pro immediately makes a lasting impression on me when lifting it out of the packaging. Geekom uses a CNC-milled unibody made of a magnesium alloy, and the workmanship is precise, with virtually no gaps. The size-to-weight ratio is particularly impressive. Despite its 16-inch format, the device weighs only 2.86 pounds. Combined with its low height of 17 millimeters (even less at its thinnest point), it stands out positively from bulky office laptops. Christoph Hoffmann The case is torsion-resistant in our grip and open test. Even when pressure is applied to specific points on the keyboard or case, the material hardly gives way. The matte finish is resistant to fingerprints, and the hinges hold the display securely in place and allow it to be opened with one hand. While many laptops with comparable CPU specifications are either significantly heavier or have plastic cases, the Geekbook offers a balanced combination of performance, mobility, and workmanship. Geekom Geekbook X16 Pro: Features The heart of the laptop is the Intel Core Ultra 9-185H. This mobile high-end processor from the first Core Ultra generation (“Meteor Lake”) was introduced at the end of 2023 and is currently used in many laptops. It will be replaced by Intel’s new Core Ultra Series 3 generation (“Panther Lake”), which was unveiled at CES 2026. The special feature of the Intel Core Ultra 9-185H is the integrated NPU (Neural Processing Unit). It’s specially designed for AI calculations. In everyday use, it relieves the CPU and GPU of tasks such as background blurring in video calls or local image processing. Christoph Hoffmann Geekom pairs the processor with 32 GB of fast LPDDR5x RAM. According to HWInfo, eight 4 GB modules from manufacturer Rayson Hi-Tech are soldered onto the motherboard. Soldered RAM does not require sockets. This allows for more compact case designs, while shorter signal paths improve integrity at high clock speeds as well as reducing latency and power consumption. However, this means that the RAM cannot be upgraded. Christoph Hoffmann The Crucial P310 (model CT2000P310SSSD8) installed in the test device is a fast M.2 NVMe SSD with a PCIe 4.0 interface and a capacity of 2 TB. More on transfer rates later. Christoph Hoffmann Overall, I am impressed with the Geekbook X16 Pro’s keyboard. It is equipped with white LED lighting, which makes it easier to work in poor lighting conditions, allowing for better visibility of the keys. The key travel is pleasant, the pressure points are clearly defined, and the layout appears tidy. The keys are printed with large font. Even during longer typing sessions, typing is comfortable and fast. Only the position of individual keys requires a short period of adjustment, but this is hardly noticeable in everyday use. The keyboard is well suited for office work, texting, and productive work. Christoph Hoffmann The Geekbook’s touchpad is a comfortable size. In my tests, it responded precisely to inputs and gestures, enabling smooth and reliable operation overall. The fingerprint sensor in the upper right corner also serves as an on/off switch. It enables biometric access protection when logging in via Windows Hello. Christoph Hoffmann The Geekom GeekBook X16 Pro is equipped with a 2-megapixel front camera that allows recording in Full HD (1080p). This gives it better image quality than many standard laptops. Other features include two microphones and a light sensor for automatic brightness adjustment. What I miss is a physical privacy shutter that would allow the camera to be mechanically covered to protect privacy. When it comes to ports, Geekom shows that mobility does not have to mean sacrificing connectivity. On the right side of the case are two USB-A ports (5GB/s) for external drives, USB sticks, or classic accessories such as a mouse and keyboard. There’s also a 3.5 mm combo jack for headset/audio and a microSD card reader. There are two USB-C ports on the left side of the notebook. One of them is USB4-compatible and supports data transfer rates of up to 40 GB/s – ideal for fast external SSDs, docking stations, or external displays. This port can also be used to power the notebook. The other USB-C port operates at USB 3.2 speed (10 GB/s). External monitors can be connected without an adapter via the HDMI 2.0 output. Christoph Hoffmann The device is also equipped with the latest wireless connectivity. It supports Wi-Fi 6E, which enables higher transfer rates, a more stable connection and lower latency, especially in networks with many simultaneously connected devices. This noticeably benefits video calls, cloud services, and large downloads. Bluetooth 5.4 is available for wireless input devices, headphones, and speakers. High performance in a small space requires intelligent cooling. The “IceBlade 2.0” system built into the Geekom masters this challenge in testing: the fans remain pleasantly quiet in everyday use, but kick in audibly during demanding rendering processes and then quickly regulate themselves back down again. Geekom Geekbook X16 Pro: Display The display is one of the device’s great strengths. The 16:10 aspect ratio offers noticeably more vertical workspace than the classic 16:9 format, which is particularly advantageous when working with documents, spreadsheets, or source code. Christoph Hoffmann The 2560×1600 resolution ensures a high pixel density, so text, icons, and graphics look nice and sharp. With a refresh rate of 120 Hz, scrolling content, animations, and mouse pointer movements feel more smooth than a conventional 60 Hz display. With a maximum brightness of 400 nits, the display is also easy to read indoors and is also suitable for outdoor use in indirect sunlight. Colors appear balanced overall. Geekom Geekbook X16 Pro: Audio The audio setup of the GeekBook X16 Pro also scores highly in our test, even though the speakers are not top-of-the-line. The notebook has two integrated stereo speakers (2 × 4 ohms × 2 watts) with DTS:X Ultra support. The speakers are located at the front of the case and emit sound downwards. This is then reflected off the table surface. Christoph Hoffmann The wide sound image and spatiality are satisfactory. The volume is sufficient for films and video conferences. Voices are reproduced clearly, although the bass cannot compete with external speakers. Geekom Geekbook X16 Pro: Battery life A common weak point in lightweight notebooks is battery capacity. Geekom specifies a runtime of up to 17 hours based on its own measurements. This puts it among the leaders in its class, at least on paper. In fact, the lithium-ion battery manufactured by GFL in the X16 Pro, with a nominal capacity of 74,924 mWh, is one of the larger energy storage devices in the 16-inch class. We were curious to see if it would deliver respectable runtimes. The test scenario is a real working day with mixed office use, browsing, and light image editing. According to our measurements, the battery lasted just under 13 hours before the device had to be plugged back in. This is a very good result for such a mobile 16-inch device, surpassing the runtime of many competitors in this category. Christoph Hoffmann Another positive feature is that the handy 65 W GaN power supply is barely larger than a smartphone charger. It charges the battery quickly and is easy to store thanks to its compact dimensions. In our testing, it took about 60 minutes to charge the X16 Pro from 10 to 80 percent. Geekom Geekbook X16 Pro: Windows 11 Pro The Geekbook X16 Pro comes with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed. The operating system is factory-set to 24H2 Build 26100 with a release date of October 1st, 2024 and is quick to activate and set up. We updated the system to the latest version using the update function. We then installed the Intel drivers for the NPU and Arc graphics. Geekom Geekbook X16 Pro: Computing power Geekom wants to set a new benchmark for mobile AI and productivity applications with the Intel Core Ultra 9-185H and 32 GB of LPDDR5x memory. Our benchmark results show whether the concept works. The results in PCMark 10 underline the potential of this overall package: with a score of 8,256 points, the laptop secures a top position in the comparison field. The Lenovo Yoga 9i scores 7,719 points, while the Asus Zenbook S 14 scores 6,598 points. Both laptops use the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V. Christoph Hoffmann The Geekbook’s productivity score of over 15,000 points is particularly impressive. It stands for first-class performance in complex office workflows and spreadsheets. The system also delivers solid results in content creation, although specialized workstations with dedicated graphics naturally remain at an advantage when it comes to rendering tasks. Analysis of the 3DMark CPU profile illustrates the efficient scalability of the architecture. With 973 points in the single-thread test, the processor provides a solid basis for everyday applications. As the number of threads increases, the system unleashes its potential and achieves 6,741 points at maximum utilization. This value elevates the device into the upper class segment. The comparison between eight and 16 threads is revealing: here, the good resource utilization becomes clear, although the flat housing sets thermal limits that prevent full performance. Christoph Hoffmann The graphics performance in the Time Spy test totals 4,073 points. The integrated Intel Arc graphics achieve 3,732 graphics points. This performance is sufficient to display current games smoothly in reduced resolution. However, the hardware is less suitable for demanding titles in native resolution. This is also confirmed by the results in Steel Nomad. With only about seven frames per second, the graphics unit reaches its limits with modern 4K loads. One bright spot is the Intel XeSS function test, which uses AI algorithms. Without upscaling, the system only achieves low frame rates in our test. Activating XeSS technology increases performance by 167 percent. This enables a smoother gaming experience in supported titles. Christoph Hoffmann The results from Geekbench-AI Pro reinforce the focus on artificial intelligence. With a score of 6,137 points, the notebook is well prepared for applications with local AI computing. In this area, the architecture significantly outperforms many older processor generations. Christoph Hoffmann The SSD data throughput in Crystal Disk Mark is impressive across the board. The built-in 2 TB SSD achieves read speeds of 7,000 MB/s. Write operations are performed at over 6,100 MB/s. Such transfer rates significantly minimize loading times for large files or video editing. Christoph Hoffmann The high memory bandwidth effectively compensates for peak loads. The results in Solar Bay, with over 55 frames per second, show that even ray tracing effects are possible to a certain extent. Nevertheless, the device remains primarily a tool for productive minds and creative users. Christoph Hoffmann Geekom Geekbook X16 Pro: Conclusion The Geekbook X16 Pro combines a lightweight, high-quality case with high computing power for this class of device. While many laptops with comparable CPU specifications are either significantly heavier or have plastic cases, the Geekbook offers a balanced combination of performance, mobility, and workmanship. Modern wireless standards such as Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4 also enable fast and stable connections to networks and peripheral devices. With the Geekbook X16 Pro, Geekom is transferring its experience in building compact and efficient mini PCs to the laptop sector. The notebook offers consistent performance with controlled heat generation and remains pleasantly quiet. The long battery life further supports mobile use. The result is a functional and balanced overall package that is suitable for productive everyday use. Geekom Geekbook X16 Pro: Specifications Dimensions: 356 × 248.5 × 17 mm (W × D × H) Weight: 2.86 pounds Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9-185H (up to 5.1 GHz, 16 cores, 22 threads) Graphics: Intel Arc Graphics (integrated) Memory: 32 GB LPDDR5x (dual channel) Hard drive: 2 TB M.2 PCIe Gen 4 x4 SSD (Crucial P310 CT2000P310SSSD8) Display: 16-inch IPS, 2.5K (2,560 × 1,600 pixels), 16:10, 120 Hz, 100% sRGB, 400 nits Housing: Magnesium alloy (CNC unibody) Battery: 75 Wh, up to 17 hours of battery life, 65-watt GaN power adapter Connections: 1 × USB4 (full function), 1 × USB-C, 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI 2.0, microSD slot, 3.5 mm jack Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4 Security: Fingerprint sensor Operating System: Windows 11 Pro Warranty: 2 years and 24/7 support Read...

There’s a lot that separates a good display from a bad one, and plenty more to separate a good one from an exceptional one. Color gamut, brightness, contrast, pixel density, pixel response time, and refresh rate all play big roles, but ultimately the most important factor is how well the screen can display images and how easy it is for you to see it. After testing the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI, which is the first laptop to incorporate Corning’s Gorilla Matte Pro display treatment, I’ve seen the light. I now want every laptop to have this tech and I dread testing any laptop that doesn’t have this tech. It nails the “easy to see” equation and allows the best qualities of a display to shine—literally. Matte versus glossy screens There’s a lot of debate about what’s best for display quality. Some say that a glossy screen allows the purest transmission of light from the display to your eyeballs. I can’t argue with that. But enjoying that pure transmission requires an ideal environment setup to minimize the glare and reflections that end up on such glossy displays.  Anti-glare finishes on screens can make reflections darker, and matte finishes can diffuse light that’s hitting the screen, so reflected light sources are less distracting. Traditionally, though, these anti-glare and matte options have reduced contrast (undesirable on high-quality OLED displays) and introduced sparkle to the light emitting from the display. Chris Hoffman / Foundry Corning describes this sparkle as a “grainy or even greasy” appearance to the screen. And having put matte screen protectors on a host of devices from my phone to my laptop, I can see exactly that sort of graininess and greasiness sometimes. But the trade-off is that I don’t see my mirror image or bright lights reflected on my displays. For some of us, that trade-off is worth it. It’s why my colleague Chris Hoffman now prefers matte over OLED in his laptop screens. The Gorilla Matte Pro difference Here’s the thing about the Gorilla Matte Pro display treatment on the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI I reviewed: it had all the glare-busting benefits without any of that sparkly grain or grease. In other words, it offered the best of both worlds. A true win-win for laptop screens. I love taking advantage of high-resolution laptop displays to make the most of smaller screens, by shrinking everything down as much as possible. This makes for very fine text and icons just about everywhere—yet that ultra-fineness looks crisp behind Gorilla Matte Pro. To compare, I have two additional laptops, each with a 14-inch 2880×1800 OLED display that’s almost identical to the one Acer’s Swift Edge 14 AI. One is a Lenovo laptop to which I’ve applied a matte screen protector (completed with almost zero bubbles or trapped dust, much to my satisfaction). The other is an Asus laptop with a glossy display. These are all high-quality and worthwhile laptops, by the way. The Asus laptop’s display shows fine superbly, but the second I turn my back to a bright window or light source, I’m squinting to make out what I’m looking at most of the time. Meanwhile, the Lenovo laptop avoids the glare issue most of the time with modest brightness levels thanks to the matte film I put on it, but fine details are awash in the grainy sparkle caused by the matte screen protector itself. Asus (glossy OLED) versus Acer (Gorilla Matte Pro), displays off.Mark Knapp / Foundry The Gorilla Matte Pro screen avoids both issues. Fine text is wonderfully clear without any noticeable sparkle at normal viewing distances, and the text remains clear even if I turn my back to a bright window or light source. Sure, there’s still a bright spot on the display if it’s hit by something really bright, but it’s still a night-and-day difference. With that bright window behind me, I have to turn the glossy display up to 100% brightness (about a 400-nit whitepoint) before I can comfortably focus on the screen and not the reflection. On the Gorilla Matte Pro screen, I can readily focus on content with the brightness at its lowest level (a 23-nit whitepoint) and the font displaying at a smaller size. And when it comes to performance in the dark, all I can say is that the black pixels look as pitch as they do on the glossy screen. Asus (glossy OLED) versus Acer (Gorilla Matte Pro), displays on.Mark Knapp / Foundry Just to put some numbers to it, I grabbed a light meter that I use for projector testing and a small LED fill light. I placed the light meter between the two laptops with both screens facing the sensor at an equal distance. I then shined the LED onto each display from alternating sides of the meter, this way it would pick up reflections from one display and then the other. In this test, the Gorilla Matte Pro display reflected 20 lux from the LED while the glossy display reflected 60 lux. Why it matters I love OLED displays on my laptops. Between their color and contrast, they look phenomenal—in the right conditions. But I take laptops all over the place, and unless I’m at home, I usually don’t have control over ambient lighting, overhead lights, environmental brightness, etc. When it’s too bright or there’s a strong light hitting my screen, I have to crank the brightness of that glossy OLED display to continue using it comfortably. It’s a similar issue if I want to sit in front of a window and have a decent view while I work. The light pouring in through the window will light me up and then all I see is my reflection on the screen, unless I crank up the display’s brightness in turn. Chris Hoffman / Foundry That increased brightness comes with a huge tax on the laptop’s power usage and battery life. A laptop that might’ve run all day could last just a few hours with its display brightness amped up. Good luck doing work on a lovely patio in the middle of summer. This Gorilla Matte Pro finish sidesteps those issues. I can work in front of windows. I can go outside (though I’d still avoid angling it up towards the sky for the best experience). And even in challenging conditions, I can keep the brightness level low while still clearly seeing what’s on screen, which helps extend battery life much farther. That’s huge. It’s little surprise that more high-end devices—for example, Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra, Apple’s iPhone 17, and the MacBook Pro—are offering similar glare-fighting features and that Corning’s Gorilla Matte Pro won a CES innovation award this year. This tech simply lets wonderful displays look their best more of the time in wider circumstances. As someone who loves a great-looking screen, I now want Gorilla Matte Pro on all of them. Further reading: The good, bad, and ugly of OLED laptops Read...

BBC series Small Prophets, which also features Sir Michael Palin, was shot in Urmston and Stockport. Read...

TL;DR: A small but powerful HP mini EliteDesk 800 G6 comes with a keyboard and mouse for just $349.99 (MSRP $639.99). Anyone whose desk doesn’t have room for a bulky tower, but still wants real desktop performance, the HP EliteDesk 800 G6 (2020) is an easy win. This compact mini PC is built for professionals who want speed, reliability, and flexibility without sacrificing space. Inside, you’ll find a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10500T processor paired with 16GB of RAM and a fast 512GB NVMe SSD. That combination means quick boot times, smooth multitasking, and zero frustration when juggling spreadsheets, browser tabs, video calls, and business apps simultaneously. Despite its small footprint, connectivity is anything but limited. With USB-C, multiple USB-A ports, HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, and Gigabit Ethernet, it’s easy to plug in monitors, peripherals, and accessories. Dual-display support makes it especially handy for productivity-focused setups. The system runs Windows 11 Pro, giving you added security features, professional management tools, and a modern interface. It even comes with a wired keyboard and mouse, so you’re ready to work right out of the box. Because this unit carries a Grade A+ refurbished rating, it arrives in excellent condition with little to no cosmetic wear. Don’t miss this near-mint HP mini EliteDesk 800 G6 with keyboard and mouse for $349.99 (MSRP $639.99). HP EliteDesk 800 G6 (2020) DM i5-10500T 16GB RAM 512GB SSD Win 11 Pro with Keyboard & Mouse (Refurbished)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

TL;DR: Windows 11 Pro delivers a smoother interface, smarter multitasking, stronger security, and AI assistance—and it’s just $12.97 (MSRP $199) for a little while longer. An operating system upgrade doesn’t always feel exciting until you actually use it. Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is one of those upgrades that improves everything you do on your PC, from daily multitasking to long-term security. The first thing you’ll notice is the interface. Windows 11 Pro looks cleaner, feels faster, and makes multitasking easier with Snap Layouts, virtual desktops, and smoother window management. Security also gets a nice boost. Features like TPM 2.0 support, BitLocker device encryption, Smart App Control, and biometric sign-in help protect your system and data, which is especially useful if you work remotely or store sensitive files. Productivity gets a modern upgrade, too, thanks to Copilot, Windows 11’s built-in AI assistant. It can help summarize content, adjust settings, generate ideas, kickstart writing, or even assist with code right from your desktop. Windows 11 Pro adds tools like Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, Azure AD support, and advanced management features that go beyond the Home edition. Best of all, this is a lifetime license—a one-time upgrade that keeps your PC current, secure, and capable for years to come. Get Windows 11 Pro while it’s on sale for just $12.97 (MSRP $199) right now. Microsoft Windows 11 ProSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

If you’ve been waiting for a chance to get a massive OLED monitor for your PC gaming setup, then wait no more. Today Amazon is selling Samsung’s 49-inch, dual-QHD Odyssey monitor for $799.99. That’s a cool $500 off the original retail price, and about as good as you’re going to find a deal on a monitor this size outside of a major sale event. The Samsung Odyssey G91SD, specifically the LS49DG910SNXZA, is a little long in the tooth compared to newer designs. It’s still an absolutely huge panel with 5120×11440 resolution — basically two 27-inch OLED monitors smashed together with a big curve. But at 144Hz, it’s slower than some newer designs. That said, if you intend to use this thing’s full display area on, say, Fortnite, you’re going to need a pretty beefy gaming PC just to hit 144 frames per second. This monitor is also missing a few creature comforts. It features HDMI and DisplayPort, uh, ports, and it technically has USB-C ports, but they don’t handle video or extended power output for laptops. So this one is a good pairing for a desktop… as if you couldn’t tell that from the size alone. It can handle multiple inputs with picture-in-picture, and it has speakers. Don’t use those speakers, I beg you. This is a great upgrade if you’re looking to build a premium setup on at least some sort of budget. I’d add in a VESA monitor arm, though note that you’ll need a reinforced one for a monitor this big. If Amazon runs out of stock, Samsung is selling it directly as well. And if you’re looking for something different, be sure to check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best monitors. Get a 49-inch Samsung OLED ultrawide gaming monitor for $800View Deal Read...

You know what gives peace of mind these days? Being able to keep an eye on your home even when you’re out and about. Imagine being able to check in on your door step, front yard, or back patio with an app on your phone that streams a live video feed. Awesome, right? That’s really easy to do with the Ring Outdoor Cam, especially if you get this “Stick Up Cam” version that can even be placed on any flat surface using adhesive. (But I do recommend using screws with the included mount for extra stability. It’s going to have to weather the outdoors, after all.) And right now, it’s 31% off on Amazon: get it for $54.99. The Ring Outdoor Cam normally goes for $79.99, so this price drop is a good one worth jumping on. It’s a weather-resistant security camera that captures video in high-def 1080p resolution for clear details. It also has infrared night vision for high-quality black-and-white footage at night, and you can also use the 4x Enhanced Zoom to inspect certain areas more closely. Great for when you spot suspicious activity. This security camera has a few other features, too, like Two-Way Talk so you can converse with whoever’s on cam through your phone, plus compatibility with Alexa so you can get custom notifications on devices like your Echo Dot, Echo Show, and more. And did I mention it’s battery-powered? It typically lasts 2-3 months on a full charge, though your mileage may vary depending on your climate. Get the Ring Outdoor Cam for $55 (31% off) while you canBuy now via Amazon Read...

Many Windows 10 users are still struggling to take that leap of faith and switch over to Windows 11. The move has long seemed to be one that’s inevitable even if postponed for as long as possible, but data protection experts are now advising that it’s the smart move: don’t switch to Windows 11 and stay with Windows 10 if you care about privacy. The reason for this warning is that Microsoft is jeopardizing the security and privacy of its users with AI features like Recall (which we ourselves have tested and discouraged using). Furthermore, some agencies like the Centre for Digital Rights and Democracy allege that the permanent recording of screen content violates GDPR. Sensitive data—such as passwords, bank details, and medical information—can be recorded, which poses a threat to data privacy. The kicker? Experts believe that simply disabling Recall in Windows 11 is not enough. Microsoft states, for example, that Recall is limited to Copilot+ PCs. However, there’s evidence that Recall is present on every PC that’s running Windows 11 24H2. As long as the feature remains native to the operating system, it’s potentially activatable and thus “a massive risk.” Here are your options Data protection experts suggest various courses of action and explain how they would classify the resulting risk for Windows 11 users: Stay with Windows 10 as long as security updates are provided: This option is super effective, but only available until October 2026 when the Extended Security Updates program ends. Switch to Windows 11 and disable Recall: This option has limited effectiveness since the feature remains part of the operating system and can be reactivated through updates. Switch to Windows 11 and trust Microsoft’s default settings and assurances: Ha. This option isn’t effective at all and poses a potential risk as Microsoft can change course at any time. In fact, given that Windows 10 has a definite end date at which point it will no longer receive security updates and become a liability to use, data protection experts recommend switching to another secure operating system as soon as you can. If you want to switch to Linux, we’ve explained how to do that in this guide. Can Microsoft be trusted? The key question here is whether users can still trust Microsoft. In truth, Microsoft has bled trustworthiness with its lack of transparency and mishandling of issues over the past many years. As a private user, trusting Microsoft is ultimately a personal decision. However, in the case of public institutions and other administrative bodies, the Centre for Digital Rights and Democracy strongly discourages using Windows 11 for anything involving sensitive data. It’s also a matter of breaking Microsoft’s monopoly: “Beyond enforcing the GDPR, it is crucial to break Microsoft’s market monopoly and thus the indirect pressure to use the Windows operating system. Instead of spending millions of euros on licenses that violate the GDPR, the government should develop European data protection-compliant solutions. This would not only protect citizens’ data but also shift public investment, digital infrastructure, and the resulting value chain to Europe.” Further reading: Bye, Windows! Which Linux OS is right for you? Read...

If you spend most of your free time gaming, you need a proper computer to enjoy it to the fullest. If you’re still on a ratty gaming machine, or God forbid one that isn’t gaming-capable at all, then you owe it to yourself to level up to something like the Lenovo Legion 5. Best Buy is currently selling this gaming monster for $1,399, which is an enormous discount of $599.57 off its original price. What a deal! This gaming laptop features a 15.1-inch 2560×1600 (16:10) OLED screen with a speedy 165Hz refresh rate, which means you’ll not only have stunning visual clarity but also smooth visuals when watching shows and movies and while gaming. That OLED panel is gorgeous on the eyes, and that resolution is super spacious for productivity. As for performance, this laptop packs an AMD Ryzen 7 260 processor and 16GB of RAM as well as a speedy 512GB SSD that offers quick boot times and plenty of storage space. The best part about this setup, however, is the Blackwell RTX 5070 with 8GB of GDDR7 memory. This combination will easily handle any modern triple-A game you throw at it for years to come, as long as you play on reasonable settings. If you want a powerful gaming laptop at a steep discount, this is one to jump on. Get the Lenovo Legion 5 for $1,399 at Best Buy while this crazy deal is still around. Otherwise, if you want something notably more affordable, see our picks for the best gaming laptops under $1,000. Save $599.57 on Lenovo`s RTX 5070 laptop with 16GB RAMBuy now via Best Buy Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Functional design with a small stand base and tripod mounting Many image-quality features and adjustments 27-inch 5K panel looks extremely sharp Combo of high refresh rate, ELMB Sync, and ELMB 2 deliver on motion clarity Cons Odd VESA mount design USB-C port only provides 15 watts of power delivery Mid-tier contrast and color performance Our Verdict The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG delivers incredible sharpness both at rest and in motion thanks to the one-two punch of improved refresh rates and ELMB. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG Retailer Price $849 View Deal Asus $849 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices 5K monitors aren’t as exotic as they used to be. Once a rare option sold at prices several times higher than their 4K equivalents, 5K monitors are now available for well below $1,000. They’re also available with features that were once unthinkable, and the Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG is an example of that trend. It has a 5K IPS panel but also provides a refresh rate up to 180Hz at 5K, or 330Hz at 1440p. That’s a big leap over the 60Hz refresh rate 5K monitors have historically stuck with, but does it really make the XG27JCG a good pick for gaming? Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best monitors for comparison. Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG specs and features The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG’s key feature is of course the Fast IPS LCD panel. It has a maximum resolution of 5120×2880 and a maximum refresh rate of 180Hz when overclocked.And if that refresh isn’t enough, or if your GPU can’t handle gaming at 5K resolution, you can lower the resolution to 2560×1440 and enjoy a refresh rate up to 330Hz. Display size: 27-inch 16:9 aspect ratio Native resolution: 5120×2880 Panel type: Fast IPS LCD Refresh rate: 165Hz/180Hz(OC) at 5K, or 330Hz at 1440p Adaptive sync: AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible HDR: Yes, VESA DisplayHDR 600 Certified Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and up to 15 watts Power Delivery, 1x USB-B 3.2 Gen 1 upstream, 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 downstream, 3.5mm audio pass-through Audio: No Extra Features: Tripod screw mount Software support: Windows 11, MacOS 12 or later Price: $849 MSRP 5K monitors with high refresh rates are new, so you might expect to pay a premium. Yet that’s not the case. The XG27JCG has a retail MSRP of $849, and while that’s not inexpensive, it’s actually towards the low end of 5K monitor pricing. Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG design The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG embraces the company’s current tried-and-true design language. That means you’ll see a lot of matte-black plastic both front and back, as well as a prominent ROG logo with RGB-LED backlighting. The logo is compatible with Asus’ Aura Sync, so you can coordinate it with other devices.It’s a design that screams “I’m a gaming monitor!” at the top of its lungs, but it’s not as impressive as Asus’ ROG OLED monitors, which tend to use materials that look more impressive on the rear panel. Matthew Smith / Foundry An ergonomic stand is included with the monitor, as is typical for monitors in this price range. It has a compact, flat stand base that minimizes the monitor’s footprint on your desk. The stand adjusts for height, tilt, swivel, and can pivot (rotate) 90 degrees for use in portrait orientation. A 100x100mm VESA mount is available for use with third-party monitor arms and stands. However, the monitor stand’s neck is affixed from the factory. You can remove it by prying off two plastic pieces and then unscrewing four screws. This reveals a 100x100mm VESA mount, but is a bit recessed, which may not work with some third-party monitor stands and arms. Asus sells an adapter for wall mounts that can resolve this issue. It’s a bit of an unusual design, and I don’t see the logic in it, because it doesn’t seem to provide a functional benefit or look remarkably more attractive than other monitors. Like many Asus ROG monitors, the XG27JCG has a nice extra: a 1/4-inch tripod screw mount. This mount is on top of the stand neck and can be used to attach a variety of handy peripherals, like an adjustable webcam arm or a ring light. Competitors rarely offer this feature, so if you want to mount some extra gear on your monitor, the XG27JCG is a great choice. Matthew Smith / Foundry Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG connectivity Connectivity can be a sore point for Asus ROG monitors, and while the ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG manages to offer some perks, it’s not quite where I would like it to be. The issue is the USB-C port. The monitor does have one, which is good, as it’s still not a guaranteed feature on a monitor marketed to gamers. However, the USB-C power only provides 15 watts of Power Delivery, which is generally not enough to charge a connected laptop at acceptable speeds. You’ll need another power source for the laptop, which increases cable clutter. I do understand why Asus would make this choice. Most Windows gaming laptops require 100 to 240 watts of power, which would require a more expensive USB-C power delivery implementation. Asus instead keeps USB-C power delivery simple, presumably to keep the price low. However, this is a 5K monitor, so it will appeal to not only gamers but also prosumers and professionals. The latter two demographics will be disappointed by the USB-C port. It’s not all bad news, though. The monitor has two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4, plus DisplayPort over USB-C, for a total of four video inputs. Most competitors have three inputs, though four is not uncommon. The XG27JCG also has a USB-A hub with three downstream USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. That’s a good range of USB-A connectivity for a monitor marketed as a gaming display. These can be driven by the USB-C port or a USB-B port, and a KVM switch function is included. Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG menus and features Though it’s sold as a gaming display, the Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG doesn’t skimp on the menu system or image quality adjustments. It includes specific sRGB and DCI-P3 color modes (in addition to the unspecified “wide gamut” which is the default), plus precisely targeted color temperature and gamma modes and six-axis color saturation adjustment. These features are handy if you’re trying to tune the monitor’s image for a specific look or standard. Matthew Smith / Foundry But the XG27JCG has a phalanx of gaming features, too. These include an FPS counter, a timer and stopwatch, on-screen cross hair and sniper modes, and shadow boost modes including a dynamic shadow boost that’s meant to engage automatically when needed (though I’m honestly not good enough at competitive shooters to say just how well this mode works). There’s also a lot of options for controlling refresh rate and an Extreme Low Motion Blur mode, which I’ll explain more in the motion performance section of this review. The cherry on top is Asus’ DisplayWidget. It’s a software utility that lets you adjust most display features from inside Windows or MacOS. While some competitors (like Dell, BenQ, and Acer) have similar software, some brands (like Samsung and LG) are notably behind in this area. Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG audio The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG does not have built-in speakers. This is typical for a gaming monitor. A 3.5mm audio jack is available for audio pass-through. Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG SDR image quality The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG has both advantages and disadvantages compared to the average $800 monitor. On the plus side, it provides super-sharp 5K resolution and many image quality adjustments. But on the downside, it uses a Fast IPS LCD panel, a typical display panel that can tend to have downsides in contrast and color gamut. So how does the monitor stack up in SDR? Matthew Smith / Foundry First up is SDR brightness, where the XG27JCG hits a maximum of 354 nits. As the graph shows, that’s okay but not towards the high end of SDR brightness. As you’ll see in the HDR section, the monitor does have the potential to get much brighter, and I would have liked to see that available as an option in SDR, too. However, 354 nits is still just fine for most situations, and in fact I generally used it around 20 to 40 percent of its maximum brightness. You only need to consider a brighter SDR monitor if you’re in an unusually bright setting, like an office where you can’t control the lighting, or a room with large sunlit windows. Matthew Smith / Foundry As mentioned, the XG27JCG has a Fast IPS LCD panel. IPS panels tend to have a limited contrast ratio, and the XG27JCG is not an exception. I measured a maximum contrast ratio of 1230:1 at 50 percent of maximum brightness, and that value didn’t change much at other brightness settings. The issue here is the monitor’s backlight, which must shine through the LCD panel to make the display useful. The backlight often bleeds through noticeably in dark scenes, an issue known as “IPS glow.” This can make the image seem washed out in dark scenes. Matthew Smith / Foundry Color gamut performance is better, though still only respectable. I measured a color gamut that spans 100 percent of sRGB, 94 percent of DCI-P3, and 87 percent of AdobeRGB. These figures are high enough to indicate a vivid image, but they’re a few steps behind leading competitors. It’s interesting to note that the Asus ProArt Display 5K PA27JCV has a much better color gamut. So, while the XG27JCG also provides 5K resolution, the ProArt is better if creative work is your primary goal. Matthew Smith / Foundry Having said that, the XG27JCG actually did rather well in terms of color accuracy. It achieved a color error that’s highly competitive with alternatives, and which should provide realistic color in most situations. But that doesn’t mean the image is actually superior to the ProArt, or to most alternatives, because I noticed small issues in gamma and color temperature performance. At default settings, the monitor posted a gamma curve of 2.4 (off the target of 2.2) and a color temperature of 7000K (off the target of 6500K). As a result, the image looked a bit darker and cooler than it should have. I found the color temperature value was easily adjusted in the User Mode color settings, which instantly snapped it to 6500K. But the gamma value was always high. I had to lower it to a menu setting of gamma 2.0 to achieve gamma 2.2. That’s definitely not a deal breaker, but it’s something to keep in mind if you are considering this monitor for creative work.Sharpness, of course, is a strength. The 27-inch 5K panel delivers a resolution of 218 pixels per inch. That’s close to the highest pixel density available (a 6K 32-inch monitor has similar pixel density). Only 8K monitors are significantly more pixel-dense, but they’re uncommon and expensive. 5K resolution is great if you work with high-resolution images or videos, of course, but it noticeably improves the readability of small fonts and is generally great if you read a lot of documents in your day-to-day workflow. Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG HDR image quality The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG is capable of HDR and is VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified. I found that it achieved the promised level of brightness with a measured maximum of 608 nits. Unlike an OLED display, which is dimmer when large portions of the display are lit in HDR, the XG27JCG produced a maximum of 608 nits in all scenarios.It’s not all good news, however. While the XG27JCG has a high HDR brightness, it lacks the dynamic contrast required to make HDR look its best. Because of how backlit LCD displays work, a bright HDR scene will generally lead to increased brightness in both dark and bright areas of the scene. That flattens contrast and also makes it hard for the XG27JCG to deliver the luminance detail expected.The XG27JCG includes a dynamic backlight feature that is better than average. Now, let’s be clear: This is not a Mini-LED display. A Mini-LED display will place lighting elements directly behind the LCD panel. The XG27JCG is edge-lit, meaning the lights are placed around the edges. As a result, the dynamic backlight feature will cause distracting light uniformity issues in any scene with a mix of bright and dark content. To give credit where it’s due, though, the XG27JCG’s dynamic backlight is better than average. It reacts with relative speed and appears to have more dimming zones than usual (though the exact number is not quoted, as is typical for edge-lit displays). I still don’t think it’s good enough to be of practical use, but it’s better than the norm for a dynamic backlight on an edge-lit LCD display. In addition, the XG27JCG allows HDR brightness adjustment. This is not the norm, as HDR typically locks brightness to that set by the content shown on-screen. That’s okay for a television, but annoying on a computer monitor. Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG motion performance The Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG’s resolution is the headline feature. However, the monitor’s motion clarity is worth just as much attention, for several reasons. First, the obvious one: refresh rate. The XG27JCG can do up to 165Hz at 5K resolution, or up to 180Hz when overclocked. That’s a big deal! 5K monitors have generally had much lower refresh rates (usually 60Hz). Increasing the refresh rate to 165Hz/180Hz provides a huge leap in smoothness and responsiveness. It’s not just for games, either. The lower latency that a high-refresh display provides can also be felt on the Windows and MacOS desktop. The monitor can also deliver 1440p resolution at up to 330Hz (this mode does not have an overclock available). Personally, I tend to play strategy titles most of all, and I really like the sharpness of 5K in those games. Plus, many can hit high frame rates alongside the resolution. Still, the 1440p/330Hz mode is a nice option if you want to play a more competitive game. Asus also provides adaptive refresh rate support through AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync. That is typical for a high-end gaming monitor, of course. But Asus’ Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) mode is where things get interesting.ELMB is a backlight strobing mode. It strobes the backlight at high frequencies such that a blank, black frame is shown between standard frames. Due to a quirk of human persistence of vision, this has the effect of reducing motion blur. ELMB is not new, and it’s not unique. Many brands offer similar features under different names. However, Asus is a leader in this technique, and proves that leadership with features not easy to find elsewhere. The first is ELMB Sync. A standard backlight strobing is not compatible with adaptive sync. That’s because the frequency of the strobing can be at odds with the dynamic refresh rate. ELMB Sync can get them back in sync, however, so you can use variable refresh rates with ELMB turned on. That’s a big win. The second is ELMB2. This version of ELMB takes advantage of the XG27JCG’s dynamic backlight to refine how the strobing works. Instead of turning the entire backlight on and off quickly, the edge-lit zones move down the display from top to bottom. It’s a bit like the scan line on an old CRT display. And, wow, is it effective. I’ve recently reviewed a number of 500Hz OLED monitors with absolutely astounding image quality. The XG27JCG isn’t quite at that level, but it’s much closer than it has any right to be. ELMB2 delivers incredibly crisp motion with a ton of detail. Even small text is readable as it zooms across the display. While ELMB Sync and ELMB2 are extremely useful, these modes come with some caveats. ELMB Sync is not compatible with dynamic dimming, aspect ratio control, and the blue light filter. ELMB2 additionally is not compatible with variable refresh rates and does not allow brightness control.Still, the XG27JCG’s overall motion performance is outstanding for a 5K monitor. Should you buy the Asus ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG? The ROG Strix 5K XG27JCG is yet another terrific monitor from Asus, though one with niche appeal. Most gamers will be better served by a 4K OLED monitor, and most creative professionals will prefer a 5K display built specifically for work, which is likely to have a wider color gamut and more features to control monitor image quality. But if you want a monitor that’s great for both work and play, or you have a particular craving to play games at extremely high resolution (which can be quite possible if you enjoy older or less demanding games), the 5K XG27JCG is outstanding. It delivers incredible sharpness and clarity, and it does so at a competitive price. Read...