<![CDATA[ Laptopmag ]]>

<![CDATA[ Laptopmag ]]> https://www.laptopmag.com Thu, 25 Jul 2024 03:32:05 +0000 en <![CDATA[ Drop CSTM80 keyboard review: It finally has one thing the mechanical keyboard world needs most ]]> Drop wants you to take apart the CSTM80, a mechanical keyboard built for DIYers.

As a mechanical keyboard enthusiast, I can often tear apart keyboards to replace the switches and keycaps or install modifications. Despite customization being a core part of the growing mechanical keyboard community, brands don’t always make it easy to modify or customize their keyboards.

Drop is embracing customization with the CSTM80, a mechanical keyboard designed to be taken apart and customized. The design is so user-friendly that even mechanical keyboard newbies will find it easy to pop open the CSTM80 and try some beginner mods.

It’s an approach that seems uniquely aware of what mechanical keyboard fans are looking for today. Mechanical keyboards are no longer just for typing – they’re a hobby and an art, a way to express yourself through artistic keycaps and the perfect sound profile.

Drop may be the first brand to pin down this trend since it was founded in 2012 to help keyboard enthusiasts find unique product "drops" more easily. In 2023, it was acquired by Corsair, known for its PC gaming gear, but it continues to focus on the enthusiast mechanical keyboard community.

The Drop CSTM80 aims to make custom mechanical keyboards accessible through a unique modular design — maybe the one thing the mechanical keyboard world needed most.

But, is it too good to be true? I set out to put the CSTM80 to the test through gaming, typing, and hours of customization.

Drop CSTM80: Price and configurations

Close up of the logo on the bottom of the Drop CSTM80 mechanical keyboard

(Image credit: Stevie Bonifield)

The Drop CSTM80 costs $149 and comes in two starting configurations: one with tactile Gateron Brown Pro 3.0 switches and one with linear Gateron Milky Yellow KS3 switches. Both versions include the same matte black keycaps and top case. There is also a smaller version of the CSTM80, the CSTM65, which features the same configurations but costs $129. Both versions are wired-only, but you can freely disconnect or replace the included braided USB Type-C cable.

In addition to the starting configurations, Drop offers a wide array of modular accessories for the CSTM80, including top cases, base weights, and switch plates. These accessories cost between $25 to $149 and come in a variety of colors and materials.

Our review unit is the CSTM80 with Gateron Milky Yellow KS3 switches.

Drop CSTM80: Design

The Drop CSTM80 mechanical keyboard seen from above on a white table — (Image credit: Stevie Bonifield)

By far the CSTM80's most unique feature is its modular design. Rather than a solid aluminum case or a single slab of plastic, the case has three layers you can easily take apart and swap out: a top case, a structural top case, and a structural bottom case.

The structural top and bottom pieces are screwed together and keep the keyboard in one piece. The top case is mainly decorative. It snaps onto the structural top case with some hidden magnets that are surprisingly strong, shrouding the structural cases so the exterior of the keyboard looks sleek and polished. You can swap out the top case without any tools or disassembly, making it easy to transform the look of your keyboard in seconds with a different colored top case or even an aluminum one.

At the time of writing, Drop offers several modular top cases for the CSTM80, including a handful of solid color cases, two aluminum cases, a pricey carbon fiber case, and a few cases with artistic designs. The basic solid-color top cases cost $25, less than a typical set of high-quality keycaps. The carbon fiber top case is the most expensive accessory for the CSTM80, priced at $149. I wish the starter top case plastic was a bit thicker, but it looks good and seems relatively sturdy.

The top case isn’t the only component you can swap out. You can also replace or remove the base weight on the bottom of the case. This allows you to adjust the weight of the CSTM80 and add a bit of extra detail to the bottom of the case. The base weight in the starter configuration is plain silver, but Drop also offers base weights made of carbon fiber, brass, and three different colors of stainless steel (my personal favorite is the chroma mirror PVD stainless steel).

The Drop CSTM80 mechanical keyboard with the top case removed on a white table — (Image credit: Stevie Bonifield)

Drop knew its audience when it created the CSTM80.

The switch plate inside the CSTM80 is also replaceable. Drop offers several switch plates made of different materials, including FR4, POM, aluminum, carbon fiber, and brass. The switch plate included with the starter configuration is plain black polycarbonate.

It’s also easy to customize the CSTM80’s switches and internal components. I’ve reviewed and tested keyboards I fought to pop open and customize. Some weren’t even hot-swappable (the ability to freely remove and replace the key switches on a mechanical keyboard). The CSTM 80 is the polar opposite of that.

I did a few of my favorite mods on the CSTM80 and found the process quick and easy. The decorative top case slips right off, exposing the structural top case beneath, which has easy-to-access screws you remove to separate it from the bottom case.

From there, you can simply remove the switches and swap out or tweak whatever you like. I removed the screw-in stabilizers for the larger keys to add the “band aid mod” and applied a tape mod underneath the PCB. I also swapped out the included polycarbonate switch plate for a carbon fiber one for added stability. The Gateron Yellow switches were a little tight in the polycarbonate switch plate, but the disassembly and reassembly process was smooth overall.

The Drop CSTM80’s design is straightforward and user-friendly. It welcomes customization and DIY enthusiasts, whether you’re new to mechanical keyboards or a long-time fan. Drop knew its audience when it created the CSTM80.

Drop CSTM80: Switches and keycaps

Close up of one of the Gateron switches in the Drop CSTM80 mechanical keyboard — (Image credit: Stevie Bonifield)

The Drop CSTM80 includes either Gateron Brown Pro 3.0 or Gateron Milky Yellow KS3 switches out of the box with a set of matte black ABS switches with side-printed shine-through lettering.

Our review configuration includes the Gateron Milky Yellow KS3 switches, which are a top choice for fans of linear switches. They have a moderate 50-gram actuation force, 4.0mm of total key travel, and come pre-lubricated. They’re smooth, reliable, and a fantastic all-around switch for typing and gaming.

The CSTM80 is fully hot-swappable and supports three and five-pin switches. So, you can swap out the included Gateron switches if they’re not to your liking or you want to try something new. While the CSTM80 isn’t the best-sounding keyboard I’ve ever tested, the Gateron Milky Yellow switches are tough to go wrong with. They have a smooth, “creamy” sound that isn’t overly loud or metallic.

The Drop CSTM80’s main weakness is its sub-par stabilizers, particularly in the spacebar. I’ve tested far worse stabilizers, but I was hoping for something better considering the CSTM80’s price.

The smaller keys, like backspace and shift, sound fine, but the space bar has a somewhat hollow, slightly rattly sound out of the box. A Band-Aid mod and some lubricant helped smooth out the rattling, but the space bar still sounds somewhat hollow and metallic.

Of course, tuning stabilizers in a custom keyboard can be tricky, and it’s easy enough to swap out the included stabilizers for another set, which only costs about $20 to $30. So, the underwhelming stabilizer sound quality isn’t a critical failure for the CSTM80.

The Drop CSTM80 mechanical keyboard with custom multi-colored keycaps installed — (Image credit: Stevie Bonifield)

It’s also important to note that the switch plate can affect how the CSTM80 sounds. I noticed a difference when I swapped the included polycarbonate plate for a carbon fiber one in my CSTM80.

The carbon fiber plate is stiffer and a bit thicker, which helps solidify the keyboard's sound and feel. The only downside is that its stiffness diminishes the cushioning effect of the CSTM80’s gasket-mounted design. Of course, a few other switch plates are available from Drop if you prefer a different sound or feel for your CSTM80.

The included ABS keycaps have a semi-smooth texture, although they’re not glossy. I would have preferred something with a slightly rougher texture since the ABS can get a “greasy” look if you have sweaty hands. However, these keycaps get the job done and use a clear, minimalistic font for the side-printed lettering.

The matte black is also easy to match with the other decorative top cases. When I was customizing my CSTM80, though, I wanted something a bit more colorful, so I swapped out the keycaps.

Changing your keycaps is super easy, especially since the CSTM80 uses standard key spacing, which means it’s compatible with any standard Cherry-style keycaps set. Drop offers a range of complete keycap sets and artisan keycaps if you want to pick up a second set with the CSTM80. (I added Higround Seafoam OEM-profile keycaps to my CSTM80.)

Drop CSTM80: Performance

The Drop CSTM80 mechanical keyboard on a black desk with rainbow RGB backlighting visible — (Image credit: Stevie Bonifield)

I used the Drop CSTM80 as my primary keyboard for over a week, so I got a good idea of how it performs in gaming and typing. Mechanical keyboard performance can depend heavily on the switches in your keyboard, but layout and connectivity also come into play. The Drop CSTM80 performed great across the board.

I highly recommend the configuration with the Gateron Milky Yellow switches. They are comfortable for long typing sessions but also responsive enough for gaming. I played a few games with the CSTM80, including Immortals: Fenyx Rising, Once Human, and Roboquest. I never found my fingers or wrists cramping up while gaming on the CSTM80. It could even keep up with rapid keystrokes in Roboquest without missing a beat.

The typing experience on the CSTM80 is superb. It broke my mechanical keyboard typing speed record and nearly matched my laptop keyboard record. On the Monkeytype typing test, I scored 105 words per minute with 98 percent accuracy with the CSTM80, the best score I’ve achieved on any mechanical keyboard I’ve tested. That’s also just shy of my overall record of 105 wpm with 100 percent accuracy, achieved on the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x’s laptop keyboard.

Drop CSTM80: Software

The Drop CSTM80’s software could use improvement. You customize the lighting using keyboard shortcuts. It’s a quick way to get the job done, but doesn’t offer per-key control. Re-assigning keys or creating macros requires Drop’s configuration software, which can be difficult to navigate.

After downloading it, you need to flash the firmware on the CSTM80. The app provides instructions for this process, so it’s not overly complicated, but it is a bit inconvenient. You also have to choose which version of the CSTM80’s firmware you want to use. The default one is the best for most people, but VIA is also an option for anyone who likes to use the open-source VIA configuration tool.

After flashing the firmware on the CSTM80, you can “unlock” it in the app to change key binding and create layers and macros. This process is pretty straightforward, particularly for anyone used to making custom macros for their keyboard. However, the interface may be a bit confusing for people who are new to keyboard customization.

Luckily, you can completely ignore the software if you don’t want to use it and simply use the CSTM80 configured as-is out of the box. My only configuration change was setting the F10, F11, and F12 keys as volume controls.

Bottom line

The Drop CSTM80 mechanical keyboard on a white table — (Image credit: Stevie Bonifield)

The Drop CSTM80 is a mechanical keyboard designed for people who love mechanical keyboards. The unique modular design makes it easy to customize the CSTM80, whether you’re a beginner or a long-time fan of hobbyist keyboards. The CSTM80 is also a high-performing, high-quality keyboard in its own right, even if you never dip into its DIY opportunities.

I recommend the CSTM80 (or its little sibling, the CSTM65) for anyone looking for a mechanical keyboard they can personalize, from the keycaps and case to the stabilizers and switch plate. The CSTM80 offers one of the easiest modding experiences on any keyboard I’ve tested. I wish the stock stabilizers sounded better, but they’re quick and easy to replace if they’re not to your liking.

The CSTM80 matches creative design with stellar performance in both typing and gaming for a well-rounded mechanical keyboard that’s welcoming to beginners and veteran DIYers alike. If you’d like to compare it to the competition, you can visit our guide to the best mechanical keyboards to see some alternatives.

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]]> https://www.laptopmag.com/laptops/keyboards-mice/drop-cstm80-review uF47PABvs7ThzNaGXu2opW Wed, 24 Jul 2024 20:39:59 +0000 <![CDATA[ The latest Windows update has some users trapped in BitLocker recovery — here's how to fix it ]]> Unfortunately, 'Windows 11 update breaks computers' has been a headline theme we've seen way too much in recent months. As of Tuesday, Microsoft has officially reported another known issue you can add to that list.

Following the July 2024 Windows security update (KB5040442) released on July 9, 2024 — which was mandatory and would download and install automatically unless you had updates disabled — multiple users became stuck on a BitLocker recovery screen once the computer rebooted.

According to Microsoft, users with Device Encryption enabled are "more likely to face this issue." If you have Windows 11 24H2, the latest version of Windows 11, Device Encryption is on by default, but oddly, this isn't one of the versions affected by the BitLocker issue.

Microsoft lists these client OS versions impacted by the BitLocker issue: Windows 11 23H2, Windows 11 22H2, Windows 11 21H2, Windows 10 22H2, and Windows 10 21H2.

Luckily, if this pesky BitLocker problem plagues you, there's a quick and easy workaround to return your computer to normal.

How to get BitLocker recovery key for Windows

Microsoft says your computer should return to its normal startup practices after you enter the BitLocker recovery key on the screen you're stuck on. But how exactly do you get the BitLocker recovery key you need? It's quite simple.

Step 1. From another computer, log into the Bitlocker recovery screen portal using your Microsoft account username and password.

Step 2. Find your device in the list and locate the 48-number string under the Recovery Key column.

bitlocker recovery key page — (Image credit: Future)

Step 3. Type that Recovery Key into your affected device.

If you don't have access to your Microsoft account, that's a big problem. Microsoft explicitly states that the support team "is unable to provide, or recreate, a lost BitLocker recovery key."

Without access to your Microsoft account, your only option is resetting your computer using a Windows recovery option, which will result in losing files and data stored on the device.

The KB5040442 Windows update has also been causing a Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) loop for some users, though this issue is less common. Microsoft hasn't officially commented on this BSoD issue or paired it with the stuck-on-BitLocker-screen issue, though it is strangely similar to the massive CrowdStrike issue causing a global BSoD panic.

MORE FROM LAPTOP MAG

]]> https://www.laptopmag.com/laptops/windows-laptops/the-latest-windows-update-has-some-users-trapped-in-bitlocker-recovery-heres-how-to-fix-it qyQnu8pRaHEAJq4X8DTvCC Wed, 24 Jul 2024 20:30:54 +0000 <![CDATA[ Back-to-school sales 2024: 33 best deals to shop now ]]>

Best back to school sales 2024

back to school sales clip art against a blue background — (Image credit: Getty Images)

1. Quick links
2. Editor's picks
3. Laptops
4. Tablets
5. Monitors
6. Headphones
7. Wearables
8. Phones
9. PC accessories
10. Backpacks
11. Dorm essentials
12. Student discounts

July's back-to-school sales offer excellent deals and discounts for students, parents, and teachers. So, it's never too early to save if you want to beat the back-to-school rush and prep for the semester with off-to-college essentials.

We're currently seeing discounts on back-to-school MacBooks at Apple, back-to-school supplies at Amazon, study and dorm room essentials at Best Buy, and back-to-school gear for K-12 students at Walmart.

Moreover, students, parents, and teachers net extra savings with exclusive discounts at several retailers. See today's best back-to-school sales and deals below.

Best back to school sales 2024

Editor's picks

MacBook Air M3: from $999 @ Apple Education Store + FREE $150 Apple Gift Card
Get a free $150 Apple gift card from now through Sept. 30, 2024, when you purchase the MacBook Air M3 from the Apple Education Store. Our MacBook Air M3 review gave it a solid rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. It's the Editor's Choice best overall laptop for outstanding battery life and powerful performance. If you're looking for a portable and reliable daily driver, you can't go wrong with the MacBook Air M3.

Features: 13.6-inch (2560 x 1664) 500-nit Liquid Retina display, M3 8-core processor, 8-Core GPU, 16-core neural engine, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 1080p FaceTime HD camera, three-mic array with directional beamforming, Backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, quad-speakers with Spatial Audio support, macOS View Deal

Laptops

Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra: ~~$2,399~~ $1,804 @ Samsung
You can save $500 on the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra with Samsung Education Offer. Plus, get a free T9 portable SSD (valued at $175)

Features: 16-inch 3K (2880 x 1800) AMOLED touch screen, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 16-core CPU (or Intel Core Ultra 9 185H 16-core), 16GB RAM (up to 32GB RAM), Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU (or RTX 4070), 1TB SSD, 1080p webcam, AKG Quad Dolby Atmos speakers, fingerprint reader with Secure Core PC Knox, S Pen included, Windows 11 HomeView Deal

MacBook Air M2: from $899 @ Apple Education Store + FREE $150 Apple Gift Card
Get a free $150 Apple Gift Card when you purchase the MacBook Air M2 at the Apple Education Store. Student pricing starts at $899. Although it's been replaced by the MacBook Air M3, the M2 MacBook Air is still one of the best laptops for students. Starting at just under $900, it's the best value MacBook you can get.

Features: 13.6-inch 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina 500-nit display, M2 8-core CPU, 8-Core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 1080p FaceTime camera, macOSView Deal

MacBook Air M3: from $999 @ Apple Education Store + FREE $150 Apple Gift Card
Get a free $150 Apple gift card from now through Sept. 30, 2024, when you purchase the MacBook Air M3 from the Apple Education Store. Our MacBook Air M3 review gave it a high rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. It's the Editor's Choice best overall laptop for outstanding battery life and powerful performance. If you're looking for a portable and reliable daily driver, you can't go wrong with the MacBook Air M3.

MacBook Pro M3: from $1,499 @ Apple Education Store + FREE $150 Apple Gift Card
Get a free $150 Apple gift card with your MacBook Pro M3 purchase at the Apple Education Store. Students, parents, educators, and faculty save $100 outright, so prices start from $1,499. Apple claims its new M3 processor is 35 percent faster than its first-generation M1 chip. Graphics performance is up 65 percent faster, so you'll notice all the subtle nuances during gameplay, from realistic lighting to shadows and reflections.

Features: 14.2-inch (3024 x 1964) 1,000-nit 120Hz Liquid Retina XDR display, Apple M3 8-core processor, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, backlit Magic Keyboard, Touch ID, MagSafe chargingView Deal

Windows Laptops: Up to $800 off @ Best Buy
Lowest price! Best Buy's back-to-school sale knocks up to $800 off select Windows laptops. Save big on top-rated laptops like the Editor's Choice LG gram 17 which is now on sale for $1,299 ($800 off). Or pick up the versatile Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 Laptop for $699 ($350 off).View Deal

Surface Laptop Studio 2: up to $850 off @ Microsoft
Microsoft's back-to-school sale knocks up to $850 off the Surface Laptop Studio 2. Prices start at under $1,899. In our Surface Laptop Studio 2 hands-on review, we liked its versatile design, powerful performance, and haptic keyboard. We also found the magnetic Surface Pen easy to use and its rated 18-hour battery life impressive.

Features: 14.4-inch, (2400 x 1600) 120Hz touch screen, Intel Evo Core i7-13700H 14-core CPU, 16GB RAM, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 512GB SSD, Windows 11 HomeView Deal

Asus ROG Strix G16 RTX 4060: ~~$1,399~~ $1,164 @ Amazon
Amazon knocks $235 off the 2024 Asus ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop. Reviews agree that Asus ROG Strix laptops tend to focus more on substance over beauty; it's one mighty beast of a gaming rig with customizable RGB lighting and lengthy battery life.

Features: 16-inch (1920 x 1200) 165Hz display with Dolby Vision, Intel Core i7-13650HX 14-core CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD storage, Windows 11 HomeView Deal

Tablets

11" Apple iPad Air 6 (2024): ~~$599~~ $549 @ Apple + FREE $100 Apple Gift Card
Lowest price! Save $50 on the 11-inch iPad Air 6 and get a free $100 Apple gift card with your purchase. The iPad Air 6 is 50% faster than the previous-gen iPad Air 5 and features landscape stereo speakers. The new iPad Air is made of 100% recycled aluminum enclosure and works with the Apple MacBook Keyboard and Apple Pencil.

Features: 11-inch Liquid Retina display with P3 wide color, True Tone, and anti-reflective coating, Apple M2 Chip, 128GB of storage, 12MP wide, wide camera, 12MP Ultra-wide front camera, supports Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil USB-C and Magic KeyboardView Deal

11" Apple iPad Pro M4: ~~$999~~ $899 @ Apple+ FREE $100 Apple Gift Card
Lowest price! Get a free $100 Apple gift card from the Apple Education Store when you buy the iPad Pro. Students and faculty save $100 on the iPad Pro M4, so prices start from $899. The 2024 iPad Pro starts at $999 and has storage capacity options from 256GB up to 2TB. Apple's 2024 iPad Pro is the thinnest ever and, for the first time, features a state-of-the-art display called Tandem OLED, which delivers 1000 nits of full-screen brightness and up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness.

Features: 11-inch Ultra Retina XDR OLED, Apple M4 9-core chip, 256GB of storage.

Price check: Best Buy $949 w/ PlusView Deal

Monitors

32" Samsung Odyssey Neo G7: ~~$1,099~~ $499 @ Samsung
For a limited time, save $600 on the 32-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G7. Plus, score extra savings via the Samsung Education Offers Program. This 32-inch, 4K curved gaming monitor will level up the immersion of your gaming setup without costing you a fortune.

Features: Samsung's Odyssey Neo G7 offers a spacious 32-inch screen real estate rendered in sharp 4K Ultra HD with HDR 2000. It also has a 165Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, making it one of the fastest, clearest gaming displays you can buy. View Deal

27" Samsung ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor: ~~$1,599~~ $899 @ Samsung
Save $800 on the Samsung ViewFinity S9 5K Monitor with SlimFit Camera. Stack your savings with an additional discount via Samsung's student discount offer. This 27-inch 5K (5,120 x 2880) 600-nit matte display provides incredible detail and accurate color representation. With DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, it easily connects to Windows and Mac. When you're finished getting this done, browse your favorite movies and TV shows via Smart TV Apps and the included remote control. View Deal

HP 27h 1080p Monitor: ~~$229~~ $159 @ Amazon
Save $70 on the HP 27h 27-inch FHD monitor. It has a 1920 x 1080-pixel 75Hz IPS panel, built-in dual 2W speakers and AMD FreeSync. This means you can count on smooth, fluid graphics in precise detail whether you're streaming content or gaming. View Deal

Headphones

Apple AirPods Pro 2 w/ USB-C: ~~$249~~ $199 @ Amazon
You can save $80 on the Apple AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C MagSafe Charging Case. These headphones feature adaptive audio, active noise cancellation, 3D sound, conversation awareness, and personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. They are also dust, sweat, and water resistant for worry-free everyday use.View Deal

Apple AirPods Max: ~~$549~~ $429 @ Amazon
Save $120 on the AirPods Max, Apple's chic over-ear wireless headphones. These stylish ear cans feature Apple's powerful H1 chip, nine microphones, and 40mm drivers. With spatial sound, the AirPods Max provides an audio experience like no other.

Price check: Best Buy $529View Deal

Beats Solo 4: ~~$199~~ $129 @ Best Buy
Lowest price! Save $70 on the latest Beats Solo 4 headphones. They pack redesigned custom 40mm drivers into the iconic, stylish design synonymous with Beats. Featuring Personalized Spatial Audio, they deliver immersive, clear, crisp, distortion-free sound.

Features: Up to 50 hours of battery life, Personalized Spatial Audio, Fast Fuel quick-charging, high-resolution lossless audio View Deal

Beats Studio Buds Plus~~$169~~ $129 @ Amazon
For a limited time, save $30 on the Beats Studio Buds Plus. Though we didn't get to test them, the Beats Studio Buds Plus earned a 4 out of 5-star rating from our sister site Tom's Guide. The overall consensus is that the Beats Studio Buds sound as great as they look. They deliver powerful, balanced sound and ANC with transparency mode.

Key features: Bluetooth connectivity, Powerful, balanced sound, active noise Cancelling (ANC), transparency mode,

Price check: Best Buy $129 | Target $129View Deal

Wearables

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: ~~$649~~ $584 @ Samsung
Save $65 on the new Galaxy Watch Ultra with Samsung's Education Offer. Plus, save up to $350 in instant trade-in credit. If you want a powerful smartwatch but don't want to leave your Samsung phone behind, you're in luck. Samsung recently unveiled the new Galaxy Watch Ultra, which packs its most powerful suite of sensor tech into a slick, rugged case.

Features: 1.5-inch (480 x 480) Super AMOLED display, sleep apnea detection, Bluetooth v5.3View Deal

Amazfit Smartwatches: up to $60 off @ Best Buy
Best Buy currently knocks up to $60 off Amazfit smartwatches. These all-around fitness and activity trackers help you stay on top of your health and wellness. With Alexa built-in, you can set reminders, and alarms, get weather updates, and control smart home devices hands-free. View Deal

Apple Watch SE 2: ~~$249~~ $189 @ Amazon
Save $60 on the 40mm 2nd generation Apple Watch SE. It's 20% faster than the 1st generation Apple Watch SE and features fall detection, emergency SOS, and crash detection. Stay on top of your health and fitness with daily activity tracking and an enhanced Workout app. View Deal

Apple Watch Series 9: ~~$399~~ $299 @ Amazon
Save $100 on the Editor's Choice Award-winning Apple Watch Series 9 GPS smartwatch. In our Apple Watch Series 9 review, we gave it 4 out of 5 stars for its gorgeous display and useful double-tap gesture. The Apple Watch Series 9 features a host of new features over the Apple Watch Series 8, including an all-new S9 chip, a brighter 2000-nit display, and a new double-tap gesture.View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: ~~$329~~ $229 @ Amazon
Amazon is offering $100 off the Galaxy Watch 6, which is a great companion to any Galaxy Phone. In our hands-on review, we liked its gorgeous display and sturdy feel. Samsung design engineers did a great job making the Galaxy Watch 6 durable yet lightweight on the wrist.

Features: It has a 40-mm aluminum case, is IP68 water resistant, and is built to military-grade specifications. It packs a 1.4GHz Exynos W930 dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of data storage.View Deal

Google Pixel Watch 2: ~~$349~~ $269 @ Amazon
Amazon knocks $80 off the Google Pixel Watch 2 this week. Google's latest flagship smartwatch features three all-new sensors, 40% more heart rate tracking accuracy, extended 24-hour battery life, and faster charging. It retains the same sleek, comfortable, curved design as the original Pixel Watch.View Deal

Phones

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: ~~$1,419~~ $1,234 @ Samsung
Save $185 on the 512GB model Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra via Samsung's education offer. Plus, save up to $750 when you trade in an edible device. Featuring an embedded S Pen, the Galaxy S4 Ultra makes it easy to jot down notes, create, and mark up docs on the fly. If you want to elevate your mobile productivity, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is a wise choice for a daily driver.

Features: 6.8-inch (3088 x 1440) Dynamic AMOLED 2X 2600-nit 120Hz display, embedded S Pen, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 8-core CPU, 12GB RAM Adreno 750 graphics, 256GB of storage, 5,000mAh battery, Google Android 14 OS, Samsung One UI 6.1View Deal

Google Pixel 8 (Unlocked): ~~$699~~ $549 @ Best Buy ($449 w/ Activation)
Save $150 on an unlocked Google Pixel 8 (save $250 with activation). Featuring powerful new specs and useful Google AI functions, the Pixel 8 Series aims to deliver the best Android experience in a mobile phone. It works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and prepaid carriers.

Features: 6.2-inch (1080 x 2400) 120Hz Actua 1400-nit display (up to 2000 peak), Google Tensor G3 processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, 50MP main camera, 10.5MP front camera, 4,575 mAh battery, Qi fast wireless chargingView Deal

PC accessories

SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 2TB: ~~$224~~ $199 @ Best Buy
Save $25 on the 2TB SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD V2 (SDSSDE61-2T00-G25) with a USB Type-C interface. Built rugged, it's IP55 water-and-dust resistant, which makes it perfect for day-to-day use. Suitable for storing large game files, photos, and video, it provides high read/write speeds of up to 1,050 and 1,000MB/s, respectively, and has 256-bit AES encryption (per SanDisk). For additional peace of mind, it's backed by SanDisk's 5-year warranty. Grab it now for an all-time low price during Best Buy's back-to-school sale. View Deal

Samsung T9 Shield Portable SSD (4TB): ~~$459~~ $314 @ Samsung
Take $235 off the Samsung T9 Shield portable SSD via Samsung's student discount. It works with PC, Mac, Android devices, gaming consoles and more. Transfer big files in seconds with sequential read/write speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s. It ships with USB Type C-to-C and Type C-to-A cables for extra connectivity.

Price check: Best Buy $399View Deal

Samsung Portable SSD T7 2TB: ~~$269~~ $152 @ Samsung
Save $117 on the 2TB Samsung Portable SSD T7 with Samsung's student discount. It delivers read/write speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s and 1,000 MB/s on devices with USB 3.2 support. You also get password protection and AES 256-bit hardware encryption for secure file sharing and storage. Samsung bundles it with USB Type-C to C and USB Type-C to A cables for hassle-free connectivity.View Deal

Plugable USB-C Hub 7-in-1: ~~$39~~ $29 @ Amazon
The 7-in-1 Plugable USB-C Hub is a must-have accessory for your laptop. It instantly adds seven connectivity ports to your notebook. You get 3 x USB 3.0 ports, 1 x 4K HDMI port, 1 x SD card reader, 1 x microSD card slot, and 1 x USB-C Power Delivery charging port. The Plugable USB-C Hub works with USB Type-C compatible MacBooks, Chromebooks, and Windows notebooks. View Deal

Samsung USB Type-C Flash Drive 256GB: ~~$37~~ $28 @ Samsung
Save $9 on the portable 256GB Samsung Type-C Flash via Samsung's Education discount. With transfer speeds up to 400MB/s, this portable NAND drive transfers 4GB worth of files in 11 seconds. Samsung's Type-C Flash Drive is waterproof, shock-proof, magnet-proof, temperature-proof and X-ray-proof. Plus, it's backed by Samsung's 5-year limited warranty for added peace of mind. View Deal

Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield USB 3.2 1TB: ~~$169~~ $79 @ Samsung
Students save $90 on the Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield with USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectivity. Rugged, fast, and compact, it has an IP65 dust and water resistance rating. It works with PC, Mac, Android devices, gaming consoles and more. Transfer massive files in seconds with sequential read/write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s. It's perfect for students who need a reliable, durable companion for school.View Deal

Backpacks

Patagonia Refugio 26L Backpack: ~~$109~~ $87 @ Backcountry Gear
Save $34 on the Patagonia Refugio 26L Backpack with mesh side pockets. This tech-friendly bag's removable padded sleeve holds laptops up to 15 inches and has a zippered pocket for pens, cables, flash drives, and the like. Secure your gear in the pack's roomy main compartment, and use the front-panel pocket to keep frequently used items in close reach. Like all of Patagonia's backpacks, the Refugio is made from recycled polyester and has a water-repellent coating to resist light moisture.

Price check: Patagonia $109 | Dick's Sporting Goods $99 View Deal

Hershel Backpacks: save up to 30% @ Hershel
Save up to 30% on backpacks like the 25L Hershel Little America Backpack. It features Hershel's signature stipe fabric liner, padded, fleece-lined 15-inch laptop sleeve, drawcord closure, contoured shoulder straps, and air mesh back padding. View Deal

Dorm room essentials

Samsung HW-C450 Soundbar: ~~$199~~ $135 @ Samsung w/ Samsung Education Offer
Save $64 on the Samsung HW-C450 Soundbar and make your dorm room the place to be this semester. The soundbar's Bass Boost option lets you enable booming bass with just the tap of a button. Meanwhile, Game Mode and Adaptive Sound Lite optimize your audio for gaming, movies, and TV shows. The soundbar's nifty Night Mode feature lowers the volume and bass, so you can still enjoy the crisp sound without alerting the RA.View Deal

Flexispot EC1 Electric Standing Desk: ~~$299~~ $159 @ Amazon
Amazon takes $140 on the Flexispot EC1 Electric Standing Desk. This computer workstation is adjustable from 28 to 47.6 inches and provides a spacious 48 x 350-inch desktop area. We reviewed a similar Flexispot height adjustable desk and rated it 4 out of 5 stars. It won us over with its customization options and ergonomic design. View Deal

Student discounts

Amazon Prime Eligible College Essentials: Computers and accessories
Amazon's back-to-school sale for Prime Student members offers deals on a range of Prime-eligible college essentials. Save and get free same-day or one-day delivery on select laptops, tablets, and accessories like wifi routers, external storage, USBC hubs, and more. View Deal

Best Buy back-to-school deals: up to $500 off select laptops
Best Buy's dedicated back-to-school hub features laptops, tablets, headphones, storage, and more deals. Browse Best Buy's tech for school checklist with everything you need, from computer desks to protective blue light glasses. Become a My Best Buy Plus member for $49.99/year for exclusive prices and perks all year round.View Deal

Amazon Student Discounts: 6-month free trial
Prime Student is Amazon's affordable membership service for actively enrolled college students. It costs just $7.49 a month, half the price of a standard Prime account. Students get all the perks of Prime, like free same-day delivery, access to exclusive deals, and discounts on Amazon Music and Video streaming services. View Deal

Apple Student Discounts: MacBooks from $899 @ Apple
Apple offers education pricing on MacBooks starting from $899. For a limited time, you'll get a free Apple Gift Card (valued at up to $150) when you purchase a MacBook or iPad for college. College students, parents, faculty members, and homeschool teachers of all grade levels are eligible for Apple's education discounts. View Deal

Dell Student Deals: sitewide discounts @ Dell
Dell's dedicated student deals hub features discounts on laptops, monitors, and accessories at Dell. Plus, shop by major to find the perfect student laptop to suit your needs. Students can use Dell's trade-in program to upgrade to the latest devices. View Deal

Lenovo Student Discounts: extra 5% off @ Lenovo
Students, teachers, and parents can take an extra 10% sitewide on select Lenovo products. Save big on the brand's ThinkPad, Yoga, Legion and IdeaPad. Register now at Lenovo to save on back-to-school laptops, tablets, and peripherals. Once verified, your student discount will automatically appear in your shopping cart.View Deal

Microsoft Student Discounts: up to 10% off for students and parents
Microsoft offers students, parents, and educators a 10% discount on select products. Save on Surface laptops and accessories like the Surface Laptop Go, Surface Pro X, Surface Signature Type Covers, Surface Pen, and more. View Deal

Peacock Student Discount: ~~$5.99/mo.~~ $1.99/mo. for 12 months @ Peacock
Students can get 12 months of Peacock Premium for just $1.99/mo. for 12 months. Stream Peacock from anywhere on your laptop, tablet, or phone. Install the Peacock app on your smart TV to watch on-demand movies, TV shows, live sports, and more.View Deal

Razer Student Discounts: up to 15% off @ Razer
Students who register for Razer's Student Education program receive up to 15% off Razer on peripherals, including Razer mice, keyboards, headsets, and more. Razer gaming chairs are 5% off with the education discount. Keep in mind that these discounts apply to a product's original price. Razer Education Program discount may not be combined with any other discounts. View Deal

Samsung Student Discounts: save up to 30% off Samsung
Samsung's Education Offer Program lets students, parents, and educators save up to an extra 15% on select Samsung products. This can amount to up to 30% off laptops, tablets, smartphones, monitors, and more on already discounted items. View Deal

]]> https://www.laptopmag.com/deals/back-to-school-sales oiXQowvkczr6HWdos4QgSo Wed, 24 Jul 2024 20:23:35 +0000 <![CDATA[ This laptop is magic, so why aren't there more like it? ]]>

Gaming laptops like these are phenomenal to behold, and it’s easy to wonder why there aren’t more of them.

Most gaming laptops I test have something in common: They’re unwieldy. Not all of them are built this way, but there's a good reason for it.

Gaming laptops are enormous, a trend in most of the products we test. Unless you’re sporting one of the latest Windows-based handheld gaming devices, like the Asus ROG Ally X, you’re limited to laptops that don’t feel particularly portable.

The cumbrous quality of gaming laptops is often largely due to their display size. While 14-inch gaming laptops are on the market as an alternative to that especially enormous species, the 18-inch gaming laptop, both have additional factors that make them unwieldy, like weight and thickness.

We've reviewed several recent gaming laptops in each weight bracket, including the 14-inch Razer Blade 14 (4.1 pounds, 0.7-inch thickness), the 16-inch Lenovo Legion Pro 5i (5.4 pounds, 0.9-1.1 inches thick), and the 18-inch Acer Predator Helios 18 (7.2 pounds, 1.1 inches thick).

While it may seem like the weight increase depends on size, the 16-inch Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 shattered my expectations for how thin and lightweight a gaming laptop could be. It weighs four pounds and is only 0.6 inches thick, lighter and thinner than the 14-inch Razer Blade 14, even though it’s in a different size bracket.

Its exceptional thinness isn’t just present on paper. When I pulled it out of the box, I was stunned by how slim it felt in my palm. At first, I couldn’t even believe it was a gaming laptop, as it reminded me more of a productivity laptop than anything.

Sure, it’s not quite light and thin enough to rival productivity laptops like the recently reviewed Dell XPS 13 9345 (2.6 pounds, 0.6 inches thick), which is more than a pound lighter. Still, it’s impressive that a gaming laptop could match it in thinness.

Gaming laptops like these are phenomenal to behold, and it’s easy to wonder why there aren’t more of them.

Size is power… for the most part

While it may seem like the weight increase depends on size, the 16-inch Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 shattered my expectations for how thin and lightweight a gaming laptop could be.

We often hear the term “bigger is better,” but that’s not always true. Portability might be important if you want to take a gaming laptop on the go, and that’s an absolutely valid reason to buy a gaming laptop, especially if you’re frequently traveling.

It's the foundation for why I called the Asus ROG Ally my favorite gaming “laptop” last year. There’s so much power in holding a thin and light device and playing your favorite games in the palm of your hand.

However, in the case of a gaming laptop, portability comes with some serious sacrifices.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 is a perfect example. While it is built with an RTX 4070 graphics card, its performance is underwhelming compared to its competitors.

Comparing the Zephyrus G16 to other gaming laptops with the same GPU reveals that it consistently performed worse than all of its competitors to a significant degree. The Zephyrus G16’s performance on Shadow of the Tomb Raider (94 fps), Grand Theft Auto V (89 fps), Cyberpunk 2077 (30 fps), and Red Dead Redemption 2 (60 fps) is not poor by any metric, but it looks pretty dire compared to gaming laptops.

When compared to three other RTX 4070 laptops, with the same games listed respectively, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i (109 fps, 98 fps, 37 fps, 71 fps), Lenovo Legion 7i (162 fps, 96 fps, 35 fps, 68 fps), and Razer Blade 14 (121 fps, 103 fps, 42 fps, 73 fps) performed substantially better than the Zephyrus G16.

Most people who want to invest in a gaming laptop will not be OK with reducing gaming performance. To most companies, those sacrifices are not worth making for the sake of portability, which is why products of this kind are less common.

It also expects more money from the consumer for less power. You’ll need to dish out top dollar for a more portable gaming laptop when other laptops easily overpower it at a lower price.

For example, the $1,694 features a far stronger Intel Core i9-14900HX processor and 32GB of RAM. The Zephyrus G16 is $1,999, with the weaker Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and only 16GB of RAM.

The presence of an OLED display slightly boosts that $300 difference, but that alone isn’t fueling such a drastic price gap, especially when the Zephyrus G16 has weaker specs. It’s simply the cost of such an incredible feat of thinness and lightness.

Bottom line

More laptops like the Zephyrus G16 don’t exist because they require feats of engineering magic, and engineering magic doesn’t come cheaply.

More laptops like the Zephyrus G16 don’t exist because they require feats of engineering magic, and engineering magic doesn’t come cheaply.

More space allows for larger batteries, higher performance, improved thermals, and more. Many modern gaming laptops, like the six-pound MSI Vector 16 HX A14VHG, feature their own thermal shelves. These shelves help the laptop stay cool and often come with additional ports, which is something the Zephyrus G16 lacks.

Most gaming laptop buyers aren’t willing to sacrifice everything that makes this hardware worthwhile, whether it’s the excellent performance, thermals, battery life, or port selection, just for a thinner build.

If you are the type of gamer who is OK with making that sacrifice, laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 are perfect for you. They are worth recommending for a niche audience, but you should always understand what you’re giving up.

]]> https://www.laptopmag.com/laptops/gaming-laptops-pcs/this-laptop-is-magic-so-why-arent-more-like-it 6QhiyRFATTe2GX6NQfmquZ Wed, 24 Jul 2024 20:14:20 +0000 <![CDATA[ Microsoft back-to-school sale 2024: Save up to $850 on Surface laptops ]]> Microsoft Store's back-to-school sale offers some of the back-to-school laptop deals in town. Student or not — now is one of the best times of the year to score huge savings on Surface devices at Microsoft and other retailers.

For a limited time, save up to $850 off the Surface Laptop Studio 2 at the Microsoft Store. Prices start at $1,899. In our Surface Laptop Studio 2 hands-on review, we liked its versatile design, powerful performance, and haptic keyboard. We also found the magnetic Surface Pen easy to use and its rated 18-hour battery life impressive.

Students and faculty get Microsoft Office 365 (valued at $70/year) for free. This productivity software bundle includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and now Microsoft Teams, as well as other useful tools.

If you're looking for a solid MacBook Pro M3 alternative for heavy productivity, creative tasks, and gaming, the Surface Studio 2 is a wise choice.

See today's best back-to-school Microsoft Surface deals below.

Today's best Microsoft Surface deals

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7: from $999 @ Microsoft
The new Surface Laptop 7 starts from $999 at Microsoft. This innovative Copilot+ PC aims to transform the way you create and communicate. Powering the Surface Laptop 7 is Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus CPU with 45 trillion operations per second of NPU power. In our Surface Laptop 7 review, we gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars for its svelte design, bright display, strong performance, and long battery life.

Features: 13.8-inch (2304 x 1536) PixelSense
touchscreen with 120Hz refresh rate, Snapdragon X Plus 10-core CPU, Qualcomm Adreno GPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Windows 11 Home with Copilot+

Price check: Best Buy from $999View Deal

Microsoft Surface Pro 11: from $999 @ Microsoft
The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 starts from $999 directly at Microsoft. Built for business and productivity, the Surface Pro 11 is powerful enough to replace your laptop. It features Copilot+ AI for faster response time and enhanced security.

Features: 13-inch 2880 x 1920 120Hz PixelSense LED display, Snapdragon X Plus, 16GB RAM, Qualcomm Adreno GPU. 256GB SSD, Windows 11 Home

Price check: Best Buy from $999 View Deal

Surface Laptop 5: ~~$1,299~~ $1,065 @ Best Buy
Best Buy is slashing $234 off the Surface Laptop 5. The Surface Laptop 5 is a premium touchscreen laptop with a great display for school, work, and general use. As we praise in our Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 review, it boasts a slim, premium design, great-sounding speakers, and a tactile, clicky keyboard. While our review unit's performance was underwhelming, software updates appear to have fixed the issue. Surface Laptop 5 reviews average 4.7 out of 5 stars at Best Buy with happy customers citing smooth, fast performance and good battery life.

Features: 15-inch (2496 x 1664) 400-nit touchscreen, Intel Evo Platform Core i7-1255U 10-core, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Windows 11 HomeView Deal

Features: 14.4-inch, (2400 x 1600) 120Hz touch screen, Intel Evo Core i7-13700H 14-core CPU, 16GB RAM, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 512GB SSD, Windows 11 HomeView Deal

]]> https://www.laptopmag.com/deals/microsoft-back-to-school-sale RJdWpak4tEEHBabDEthCDV Wed, 24 Jul 2024 17:54:55 +0000 <![CDATA[ Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop gets massive price cut for Best Buy's huge summer sale ]]> The Great Summer Sale continues at Best Buy this week and features fantaastic deals on select 2-in-1 laptops. Just in time for back-to-school season.

One standout deal frops the latest Lenovo Yoga 7i to just $699. Traditionmally price at $1049, that's a hefty $350 markdown — its biggest discount yet! Not only is this the lowest price ever for this convertiable laptop, it's also one of the best lapop deals of the season.

If you want a versatile 2-in-1 laptop for college or remote work, the Lenovo Yoga 7i is worth considering. In our Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 review, we found its good battery life, roomy touchpad, and loud top-firing speakers impressive.

Our review unit was configured with an Intelc Core Ultra 5 CPU alongside 16GB of RAM. During real-world testing, it easily juggled day-to-day tasks even with 10+ Chrome browser tabs open. We expect the Lenovo Yoga 7i in this deal to pack more punch given its upgraded Intel Core Ultra 7 processor. Expect seamless multitasking whether you're typiing up a term paper, marking up documents or casually gaming in the Cloud.

Boasting a flexible design, powerful hardware, and a fingerprint reader and IR camera for secure logins, the Lenovo Yoga 7i makes is perfect for students and work professionals..

Now just under $700, the Lenovo Yoga 7i is a wise choice if you don't want to spend a fortune on a new laptop.

Today's best Lenovo Yoga 7i deal

Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 2-in-1 Laptop
Was: $1,049
Now: $699 @ Best Buy

Overview: The latest Lenovo Yoga 7i 16-inch 2-in-1 laptop is $350 off for a limited time.

Features: 16-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) 300-nit 60Hz touchscreen, Intel Core Ultra 7 155U 12-core CPU, 16GB RAM, Integrated Intel graphics, 1TB SSD, fingerprint reader, 1080p FHD IR Hybrid with dual microphone and privacy shutter, fingerprint reader, Windows 11 Home

Release Date: April 2024

Price history: This is the lowest price I've seen for this particular Lenovo laptop.

Price comparison: Lenovo $699 via coupon, "BBYBOPUS"

Reviews consensus: We tested the Intel Core Ultra 5-powered Lenovo Yoga 7i Gen 9 for our review. We liked its good battery life, roomy touchpad and loud top-firing speakers. Performance-wise, it easily juggled day-to-day tasks without slowing down, even with 10+ Chrome browser tabs open. The laptop in this deal houses a more powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU, so we expect it to be on par with multitasking.

Laptop Mag: ★★★½

Buy it if: You want a versatile 2-in-1 laptop for multitasking. Featuring Intel's latest Ultra 7 CPU, 16GB RAM, and biometrics security, the Lenovo Yoga 7i is ideal for college students and work professionals alike.

Don't buy it if: You don't want a convertiable laptop or if want a laptop that handles graphics intensive tasks like AAA gaming at high refresh rates and video editing. Browse our best gaming laptops and best laptops recommendations for more options. View Deal

]]> https://www.laptopmag.com/deals/lenovo-yoga-7i-2-in-1-laptop-gets-massive-price-cut-for-best-buys-huge-summer-sale gUAqayyntyNyk3QSs9jcPk Wed, 24 Jul 2024 16:32:33 +0000 <![CDATA[ AMD Strix Halo APU makes a splash with 5.36GHz clock speed in benchmark leak: Does it beat the MacBook? ]]> With all the attention at Santa Clara-based AMD focused on the imminent release of its Strix Point chips — and the oft-repeated claim they can beat Apple in chip performance — it might be easy to overlook what a different, even more powerful chip from AMD could offer.

It'd be easy to overlook — unless a few MacBook-competing performance stats emerged. That's what happened this week. The highly anticipated Strix Halo has reared its head.

AMD Strix Halo APU leaked benchmarks

According to a listing on Geekbench posted by the bot @benchleaks on Monday, two different models of a new AMD chip — apparently the AMD Strix Halo — ran through the Geekbench 5.4.1 overall performance test.

One run featured a multi-core score of 13,993 (single-core score: 2,099), and the run hit a multi-core score of 7,934 (single-core score: 2,099).

As these chips are in development, Laptop Mag has no way to verify these findings. What's more, the Twitter bio for @benchleaks advises, "Expect spam and don't trust any posted values."

CPUID for Strix Halo (full text of tweet: [GB5 CPUT Unknown CPU CPU: AMD Eng Sample: 100-000001422-31_N (8C 16T) Min/Max/Avg: 3407/3450/3433 MHz CPUID: B70F00 (AuthenticAMD) Single: 2099 Multi: 13993) — Laptop Mag has circled in red the portion of an X post that may link the CPUID of the so-called Strix Halo chip, in development by AMD, to Geekbench testing. (Image credit: Future)

X user and data leaker @HXL linked the test results to an upcoming AMD chip, the so-called Strix Halo, by asserting the CPUID associated with Strix Halo (B70F00).

AMD's new APU (accelerated processing units) chipsets target AI performance, but what does their overall performance mean for the average user?

Unlike the typical laptop, which separates its CPU and GPU, the APU combines the two chips into a single chip.

This is similar to what Apple does with its M-series chips, except Apple uses a SoC ("system on a chip"), which combines the CPU and GPU and everything between onto a single chip.

Before we jump into comparisons, it's important to note a few things. First, we do not know which models of the Strix Halo these scores represent. Second, these are not a final representation of the performance of these chips.

We've seen too many times where preproduction units never provide an accurate depiction. Third, Geekbench 5 is an older test that doesn't measure performance as well as Geekbench 6.

On Geekbench 6, the MacBook Air 13 M3 scored 12,087. For additional context, Geekbench 6 tests typically produce higher scores than Geekbench 5. So the Strix Halo beat the M3 even with that disadvantage.

However, jumping to the M3 Pro, it scored 14,357. Again, that's pretty tight, considering the Strix Halo's disadvantage.

But with the M3 Max, the jump to Geekbench 6 isn't going to help AMD's Strix Halo against the M3 Max's incredible performance score of 20,863.

In May, X user @Olrak_29 created a render of what the Strix Halo may look like, which you can view below:

Oh shit it's not actually Vega 64 https://t.co/oYLgOzee3V pic.twitter.com/4E4IU8iGcvMay 17, 2024

Outlook

This isn't the final look at the AMD Strix Halo APU, and take every leak — especially from a bot that scans Geekbench tests — you see with a dose of skepticism.

However, I hope the Strix Halo plans to compete with the Apple M4, especially since the Halo is speculated to launch at CES 2025.

Back in April, there was a claim by a Taiwanese manufacturer that the AMD Strix Halo's GPU is comparable to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU.

That means if the AMD Strix Halo APU is slated to drop into premium laptops similar to the MacBooks, it could mean that regular laptops could be as strong or stronger than some gaming laptops. That's an exciting notion.

And while unlikely, it'd be a gamer's dream to see something like the AMD Strix Halo APU in a handheld gaming PC like an Asus ROG Ally X.

Meanwhile, the AMD Strix Point chips, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Ryzen AI 9 365, will be available in laptops starting Sunday. (The Asus Zenbook S 16, ProArt PX13, and new ROG Zephyrus G16 among them.)

]]> https://www.laptopmag.com/laptops/amd-strix-halo-apu-makes-a-splash-with-536ghz-clock-speed-in-benchmark-leak-does-it-beat-the-macbook 4xzTkcJgYj4cPHpXWJgfod Wed, 24 Jul 2024 15:35:04 +0000 <![CDATA[ This powerful Geekom mini-PC is just $450 with our time-limited coupon code ]]> The Geekom Mini IT12 is a great example of how to pack tons of power and utility into a small space. And now you can save 15% at Amazon with code LAPTOPIT12 bringing it down to $450. This coupon deal ends July 28.

Mini PCs like the Geekom Mini IT12 are an excellent alternative to bulky desktop PCs. You can still bring your keyboard, mouse, and display of choice while using a space-saving computer that measures just 4.6 x 4.4 inches and weighs 1.43 pounds.

The Geekom Mini IT12 has a 12th generation Intel Core i7 CPU, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB M.2 SSD inside, and it uses Intel UHD graphics. This model strikes a balance between price and performance, since units with a 13th generation Intel CPU cost at least a $150 more (before this limited-time discount).

Geekom Mini IT12 Mini PC:
Was: $529
Now: $450 @ Amazon w/coupon

Overview: Use coupon code LAPTOPIT12 to take 15% off and save $79. Code valid through July 28.

Features: This model has a solid complement of components and ports, including a 12th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB M.2 SSD. The back plate has a wide range of ports, including two fast USB 4 ports.

Release date: October 2023

Price Check: $549 @ Geekom

Reviews: Our sister site TechRadar awarded four stars to the Geekom Mini IT12, calling it "an impressive all-arounder." Its specs are beefy enough for productivity tasks and creative tasks, as well as for acting as a media server. It operates on 90 watts of power, and has a wide range of ports, including 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 2 x USB 4 ports, 2 x HDMI 2.0 ports, 1 x 2.5GbE LAN port, and a DC jack. It also has a USB 2.0 port up front and an SD card reader on the side. It connects wirelessly using Intel's Wi-Fi 6E AX211 and Bluetooth 5.2.

Techradar: ★★★★

Buy it if: You need a discreet desktop solution for tackling productivity work, creative projects, or even basic gaming.

Don't buy it if: You need more robust performance than the integrated graphics and Intel 12th-Gen CPU can offer.

View Deal

]]> https://www.laptopmag.com/laptops/laptop-accessories/this-powerful-geekom-mini-pc-is-just-dollar450-with-our-time-limited-coupon-code ggHvPZa65aLwWPSX534Kpn Tue, 23 Jul 2024 22:15:09 +0000 <![CDATA[ Best Buy back-to-school sale 2024: Up to $800 off select Windows laptops and more ]]> The Best Buy back-to-school sale offers solid deals for students, teachers, and anyone else looking for a bargain. The big box retailer continues to roll out back-to-school deals on laptops, tablets, phones, headphones, college essentials, and more.

For a limited time, save up to $800 on select Windows laptops like the LG gram 17, now on sale for $$1,299 ($800 off). We love the LG gram 17 for its extremely lightweight design, great battery life, and excellent surround sound speakers. It's the Editor's Choice lightweight college laptop.

Looking for something else? Shop Best Buy's entire back-to-school sale and see our favorite discounts below.

Best Buy Back to school sale — Quick links

Laptops: save up to $800 on select Intel laptops
PC gaming: save up to $800 on gaming laptops and accessories
Tablets: save up to $230 on iPad, Surface Pro, Galaxy Tab & more
Headphones: save up to 50% on earbuds and headphones
Wearables: save up to $1100 on Galaxy Watch, Garmin
Video games: save up to 71% on PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox games
Smart TVs & projectors: save up to $1,300

Best Buy Back to school sale

Apple MacBooks: Up to $350 @ Best Buy
Save up to $300 on select MacBook Air and Macbook Pro laptops (up to $400 with My Best Buy Plus) The 1TB model 15-inch MacBook M3 gets the biggest discount, now on sale for $1,549 w/ Plus. In our 15-inch MacBook Air M3 review, we were impressed by its strong performance, thin, light form factor, and over 15-hour long battery life. View Deal

10.2" iPad 9 (256GB): ~~$479~~ $379 @ Best Buy
Save $100 on the 9th generation iPad with 256GB of storage. This entry model iPad packs a 10.2-inch Retina display with True Tone, A13 Bionic chip, 64GB of storage, and stereo speakers. It sports an 8MP wide-angle primary camera on the back and a 12MP ultra-wide front camera. Touch ID and Apple Pay offer secure login payment. View Deal

HP Smart Tank 7602 AIO Inkjet Printer: ~~$449~~ $349 @ Best Buy
Save $100 on the HP Smart Tank 7602, our favorite all-in-one inkjet printer. It's easy to set up, produces high, and features user-friendly apps. Thanks to this printer's high volume print capabilities, it's a money saver and a great addition to any home or office. View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: ~~$299~~ $199 @ Best Buy
For a limited time, save up to $100 on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series at Best Buy. The base model Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 features a 40mm aluminum case, IP68 water resistant, and is built to military-grade specifications. It packs a 1.4GHz Exynos W930 dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and holds 16GB of data. View Deal

Galaxy Watch 4: ~~$199~~ $169 @ Best Buy
Save $30 on the 40mm Galaxy Watch 4 smartwatch. Sleek, lightweight, and customizable, the Galaxy Watch 4 is Samsung's best smartwatch yet. It features advanced sleep tracking, auto workout-tracking, advanced run coaching, real-time ECG monitoring and fall detection. View Deal

Beats Studio Buds: ~~$149~~ $99 @ Best Buy
If you're looking for sub-$100 wireless earbuds, the Beats Studio Buds are a wise choice. In our Beats Studio Buds review, we liked their wide, well-balanced sound and striking design. We also thought their active noise-cancelling functionality was fairly decent. We gave the Beats Studio Buds an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Features: Powerful, balanced sound, active noise-canceling (ANC), transparency mode, IPX4-rated sweat and water-resistant, up to 8 hours of battery life on a full charge (up to 24 hours with the charging case).View Deal

Beats Studio Buds Plus ~~$169~~ $129 @ Best Buy
For a limited time, save $30 on the Beats Studio Buds Plus. Though we didn't get to test them, the Beats Studio Buds Plus earned a 4 out of 5-star rating from our sister site Tom's Guide. The overall consensus is that the Beats Studio Buds sound as great as they look. They deliver powerful, balanced sound and ANC with transparency mode.

Key features: Bluetooth connectivity, Powerful, balanced sound, active noise Cancelling (ANC), transparency mode, View Deal

Features: Up to 50 hours of battery life, Personalized Spatial Audio, Fast Fuel quick-charging, high-resolution lossless audio View Deal

Apple AirPods Max: ~~$549~~ $449 @ Best Buy
Save $100 on the AirPods Max, Apple's chic over-ear wireless headphones. These stylish ear cans feature Apple's powerful H1 chip, nine microphones, and 40mm drivers. With spatial sound, the AirPods Max provides an audio experience like no other. View Deal

WD Easystore External 1TB SSD: ~~$119~~ $79 @ Best Buy
Save $40 on the WD Easystore External 1TB SSD. It features an easy-to-use plug and play design, data transfer rates of up to 400 MB/s via USB 3.0. It's also backward-compatible with USB 2.0, compact, super-portable, and drop-resistant up to 6.5 feet. Backed by Western Digital's 3-year warranty, the WD Easystore works with PC and Mac. View Deal

SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 2TB: ~~$224~~ $199 @ Best Buy
Save $25 on the 2TB SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD V2 (SDSSDE61-2T00-G25) with USB Type-C interface. Built rugged, it's IP55 water-and-dust resistant, which makes it perfect for day-to-day use. Suitable for storing large game files, photos, and video, it provides high read/write speeds of up to 1,050 and 1,000MB/s, respectively, and has 256-bit AES encryption (as per SanDisk). For additional peace of mind, it's backed by SanDisk's 5-year warranty. Grab it now for an all-time low price during Best Buy's back to school sale. View Deal

Samsung T7 Shield SSD 1TB: ~~$109~~ $79 @ Best Buy
Save $30 on the Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield. Tough, fast and compact, it has an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance. It works with PC, Mac, Android devices, gaming consoles and more. Transfer massive files in seconds with sequential read/write speeds of up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s. It ships with USB Type C-to-C and Type C-to-A cables for more options. View Deal

Samsung Portable SSD T7 1TB: ~~$89~~ $79 @ Best Buy
Save $10 on the 1TB Samsung Portable SSD T7. It delivers read/write speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s and 1,000 MB/s, respectively on devices with USB 3.2 support. You also get password protection and AES 256-bit hardware encryption for secure file sharing and storage. Samsung bundles it with USB Type-C to C and USB Type-C to A cables for hassle free connectivity.View Deal

WD Black P40 2TB Game Drive SSD: ~~$329~~ $239 @ Best Buy
Save $90 on the Western Digital Black 2TB Game Drive. This high-performance SSD delivers fast transfer speeds at a rate of up to 2000 MB/s. It works with laptops, PS5, PS4, PS4 Pro, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One gaming consoles.View Deal

Insignia 55" F30 Series 4K Fire LED TV: ~~$349~~ $229 @ Best Buy
Save $120 on the Insignia F30 Series 4K Fire TV. This best-selling 4K LED TV has a solid rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars at Best Buy. Great picture quality and sound as well as easy-to-use built-in Fire TV are some of the features owners love about it. All of your favorite streaming apps are preinstalled including Netflix, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, Sling TV, YouTube, HBO Max, Spotify, Peacock, and ESPN+.View Deal

LG C3 65" OLED TV: ~~$1,699~~ $1,599 @ Best Buy
Save $100 on the 2023 LG OLED C3 65-inch 4K OLED TV with Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital sound. LG's sleekest C-Series TV yet, the LG C3 OLED evo C3's 2160p panel is surrounded by a barely visible bezel. Powered by an a9 Gen 6 processor, it delivers enhanced picture and performance over the a9 Gen 5 which powers last year's LG C2 OLED TV. Straight out of the box, you get access to over 300 free channels with LG Channels. One of the best TVs for gaming, the LG C3 brings improved gaming to the series with Nvidia G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium, and Variable Refresh Rate. Four built-in HDMI 2.1 ports make it easy to connect your game console or laptop. It works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit.View Deal

]]> https://www.laptopmag.com/deals/best-buy-back-to-school-sale SLXJaGS6fM9jzBZABHdJUB Tue, 23 Jul 2024 21:59:19 +0000 <![CDATA[ Wow! This Alienware m16 gaming laptop with RTX 4080 GPU just dropped $800 at Best Buy ]]> Best Buy slashes prices on select gaming laptops during its sitewide, "The Great Summer Sale" all week. If you were hoping for a price break on any of Alieware's high-performance gaming rigs, here's your chance to score huge savings.

As part of the sale, you can get the Alienware m16 with RTX 4080 GPU for $1,899. It usually costs $2,699, so that's a massive savings of $800 and one of the best gaming deals I've seen all season.

Though we didn't get our hands on this AMD Ryzen Alienware laptop for testing, we took the latest Alienware m16 R2 for a spin. We found its outstanding gaming power and high productive performance impressive. Although we wish it had a brighter display and longer battery life, we can't deny its powerful gaming prowess.

It's also the lowest price I could find for this specced-out 16-inch Alienware laptop. Best Buy also offers the 18-inch Alienware m18 with RTX 4070 GPU for $1,749 ($800 off).

Today's best Alienware m16 gaming laptop deal

Alienware m16 RTX 4080 Gaming Laptop
Was $2,699
Now: $1,899 @ Best Buy
Overview
Now $800 off, the Alienware m16 is priced to move at Best Buy.

Features: 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) 240Hz display, Nvidia G-Sync +, AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX 12-core CPU, 32GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU with 12GB VRAM, 1TB SSD, Windows 11 Home

Release Date: 2023

Price history: This is the lowest price I could find for this Alienware laptop.

Price comparison: Amazon $2,499

Reviews consensus: Although we didn't test this exact AMD-powered model, we took the latest m16 R2 for a spin. Across our brands, the Alienware m16 is dubbed a portable powerhouse for gaming and productivity.

Laptop Mag: ★★★½ (m16 R2)| Tom's Guide: ★★★½ (m16 R2)

Buy it if: You want a big-screen laptop with top-shelf gaming performance.

Don't buy it if: You want a laptop for solely basic tasks or if it's out of budget. See our best laptops and best cheap gaming laptops buying guides for more options. View Deal

]]> https://www.laptopmag.com/laptops/gaming-laptops-pcs/wow-this-alienware-m16-gaming-laptop-with-rtx-4080-gpu-just-dropped-dollar800-at-best-buy JjDTn8AyPQ6PeYvcgPUPDD Tue, 23 Jul 2024 18:36:05 +0000