Noctua NH-D15 review: This old classic is still king of air coolers
The undisputed king of air cooling for your CPU.
The Noctua NH-D15 feels like it has been around since the very first PC and we're only just getting around to reviewing the popular CPU cooler. Air coolers such as the NH-D15 are great for PC builds where a liquid all-in-one would either be too expensive, the radiator too large, or it's simply not required for what the system will be used for. Air coolers are usually more affordable yet are still able to tame even the more power-hungry processors from AMD and Intel. Noctua is one of the big brands in the air cooling space and the company's NH-D15 is a serious cooler for expelling heat.
HP Victus 16 (2023) review: A proficient gaming laptop easily overshadowed
Can HP's "budget" Victus brand pull gamers away from the more premium Omen lineup?
HP has three gaming brands that offer tiered performance and features for users with varying budgets and needs. Omen Transcend is the peak of HP's offering, while Omen is the flagship series that no doubt appeals to most people. Victus is the more affordable brand that's great for gamers just getting into the PC world. Victus laptops are slightly more affordable than Omen ones, have many great features, and you can configure them with plenty of options, including Intel and AMD hardware.
TP-Link Deco BE85 Wi-Fi 7 mesh review: Ultra-fast Wi-Fi you can set up with an app
The Deco BE85 is a fast tri-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh kit with more capacity than most families will ever need and support for 10Gbps networks.
Wi-Fi 7 is genuinely incredible with massive speed increases over previous generations with new wider channels and multi-link operation modes. But there’s a problem. Nearly all of your wireless devices will need to be upgraded or replaced to get the full benefits of Wi-Fi 7, right? Actually, one of the best and most immediate uses for all of this extra speed is a mesh system with the extra bandwidth enabling ultra-fast backhaul connections. That means you’ll likely see improvements on your older tech, like a PS5, that can connect to a much closer access point maximizing its 2x2 Wi-Fi 6 connection.
MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless review: A heavyweight gaming mouse
This MSI mouse certainly comes in clutch for PC gaming.
MSI makes some compelling hardware, including PC cases, fully built systems, graphics cards, and motherboards. The company also makes some gaming mice, and today, we're looking at the MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless, an excellent wireless mouse with a fantastic sensor and a fancy charging dock. Building lightweight wireless mice can prove a challenge since the battery pack can weigh a substantial amount, especially with the ever-increasing demand for longer periods of time between charges. MSI, like other manufacturers, has to strike a balance between weight and features.
Cherry MX2A keyboard switch review: Is this the next phase for switches?
An actually (semi) quiet Cherry switch for once!
While Cherry is arguably the most well-known name in mechanical keyboard switches, it often falls by the wayside compared to some of its clones. I’m personally a fan of Gateron switches, which are cheaper, quieter, and less scratchy than Cherry’s, for example. However, Cherry switches are still often built into mass-market mechanical keyboards, so even if they’re not your first choice when building a custom kit, they’re still one of the most widespread options and set the standard for the rest of the industry.
Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock review: A solid docking station for creatives
The Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock offers 16 different ports in total, making it a great companion to any laptop or Mac.
If you have a great Thunderbolt 4 laptop that you typically use at your desk, you should consider a Thunderbolt 4 dock for extra connectivity. There are many you can choose from, but you might've seen Satechi come up in your search. One of its newest docking solutions is the Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock. Though it is "Pro" in name, it's similar to other Thunderbolt 4 docks in its $300 price range. This means it is very well-designed and has a lot of ports onboard, including the card readers that creative types (who this dock targets) might need. Best of all, this dock comes with a stand, so you can use it both vertically and horizontally.
Acer Swift Edge 16 review: A stunning OLED laptop with a crazy-good AMD Ryzen CPU
The Acer Swift Edge 16 is a treat of a laptop thanks to the fantastic OLED display and the Ryzen 7 7840U CPU under the hood
There are two features that I love to see on a laptop. The first is an OLED display, and the second is a CPU that's speedy-fast. The new Acer Swift Edge 16 has both of those, and it is the reason why this became my favorite laptop during the three-week period that I had it.
Windows 11 version 23H2: Everything you can expect from the next big update
Microsoft is preparing the next big update for Windows 11, with features like native RGB controls and Windows Copilot.
Windows 11 is in a constant state of flux, getting new updates on a regular basis to improve the experience. The first big Windows 11 update was version 22H2, which came around last year, and since then, we've been getting smaller Moment updates that add new features and capabilities. The latest of those is the Moment 3 update, which was released in June 2023. But we're already looking at what the future holds, because the next big update, Windows 11 version 23H2, isn't too far off.
OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro review: Fantastic and familiar
Solid, satisfying, and comes with a OnePlus twist.
OnePlus has been around for a decade, and during this time, it's primarily focused on smartphones and smaller accessories like wireless earbuds. But this year, the company made some changes, not only introducing its first Android tablet but also announcing its first keyboard, the Keyboard 81 Pro. While you'd expect a lot of buzz around this product, there really wasn't. It didn't really help that it took close to five months to become available to purchase.
Satechi Dual Dock Stand review: A docking station that can (almost) do it all
The Satechi Dual Dock Stand isn't an ordinary docking station
Whenever I review a new great laptop or Mac, there's one thing I always find myself doing. Because I have a large 32-inch monitor, I close the lid, place the laptop under my monitor, and connect it via DisplayPort. Then, I need to connect my keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals separately with multiple dongles. However, recently I haven't needed to use as many dongles in my setup, and I can still place my laptop under my monitor at an ergonomic angle thanks to the Satechi Dual Dock Stand.
Lenovo Slim Pro 9i (2023) review: A powerful laptop for on-the-go creators
Lenovo's Slim Pro 9i comes with powerful processors and GPUs, plus it has a stunning mini-LED display that's great for creators.
Lenovo makes quite a few laptops for creators, and after I got to review the Slim Pro 7 (and the Slim 7 Pro X before that), I now get to test the top-tier Slim Pro 9i this time around. This takes things a step further in just about every way, making it one of Lenovo's best creator laptops and one of the company's best laptops in general. It comes in two versions, one with a 14-inch screen and one with a 16-inch panel. Both are great, though the larger model is naturally more powerful.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook review: Surprisingly good and affordable
With a great FHD touchscreen and lightweight design, the IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook packs plenty of value for a device under $400.
You don't need a lot of money to get a great Chromebook. ChromeOS is a great, lightweight operating system, and because you don't need powerful specs to accomplish basic tasks like web browsing, you can get a Chromebook for less than $1,000. If you're on an even more limited budget, there are Chromebooks for you too. One of them is the new IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook for a little over $300. Even though it's not the most premium when compared to some other devices and ChromeOS tablets, it still manages to impress.
Sabrent Rocket 2230 SSD review: The fastest drive for the Steam Deck and ROG Ally
Sabrent's Rocket 2230 is the fastest SSD you can get for the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and other tiny computers.
While most of the best SSDs are the standard finger-sized models, small laptops and handheld gaming devices like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally can't use them since they're just too large. After the Steam Deck launched, it spurred SSD companies into action to deliver some new, high-performance 2230-sized SSDs for these tiny devices. Sabrent's Rocket 2230 is positioned as one of the highest-end SSDs in this tiny form factor, and it lives up to the hype. If you have a Steam Deck or especially an ROG Ally, this is the SSD you'll want for the best performance.
HP Omen 16 (2023) review: A great value if you can handle its shortcomings
The Omen 16 gets a makeover for 2023, with better cooling, more powerful hardware, and an FHD webcam.
It's no longer enough for high-end laptops to focus on just one thing, like gaming. Many manufacturers have made changes over the years to ensure their devices appeal to a wider range of users. We can look at the Lenovo Legion gaming laptop lineup as an example, which has long since moved to taller displays with a 16:10 aspect ratio, higher-end webcams, and generous connectivity with a rear port layout for easier cable management.
LG Gram Style review: Beautiful disappointment
The LG Gram Style is the most beautiful laptop the company has ever made, with a stunning display to boot. But performance is a major issue.
I've always been a fan of LG's Gram laptops, largely because of how absolutely light they are (as well as thin, in the case of the Gram SuperSlim). But the Gram Style is a special piece of hardware. It's the first LG Gram laptop that's actually beautiful, and not just that, I'd argue it's the most beautiful laptop on the market.
Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023) review: It still feels like the future
Dell's new XPS 13 Plus is an incremental upgrade to an already modern take on a laptop
Dell's XPS laptops are some of the best on the market. In fact, we've got two of them on our best laptops list at the time of writing this. One of those two is the Dell XPS 13 Plus from 2022, so I think you already know where this review is headed.
Ayaneo 2S review: A surprisingly amazing handheld
I wasn't expecting it, but the Ayaneo 2S is probably my favorite gaming handheld yet.
With gaming handhelds taking off in the last year or so, we've seen devices like the Steam Deck challenged by the Asus ROG Ally. However, one other company that has entered the space and is starting to make waves is Ayaneo. The company has been churning out gaming handhelds for a while, and the Ayaneo 2S is the latest high-powered offering, packing an AMD Ryzen 7840U. It still runs Windows, sadly, but that's about it for the downsides.
Crucial T700 SSD review: The king of PCIe Gen5 SSDs
This is the PCIe 5.0 SSD to buy if you're looking to buy one, but should you?
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PCIe 5.0 SSDs were supposed to be one of the key components in the new generation of computers, but they took longer to arrive than the other next-gen parts like DDR5 RAM. Well, they’re finally here, but is it a good time to upgrade? Of course, you will need the latest generation hardware to use one, including a PCIe 5.0-supported motherboard. But if you’re looking at an upgrade, you should check out the Crucial T700 SSD. It's one of the first 5.0 SSDs on the market and promises all the speed and performance of this new generation of PC storage. It’s available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities, and with or without a fanless heatsink. It’s one of the best PCIe 5.0 SSDs you can buy right now, but it may not quite be a necessary upgrade for many people.
MSI MAG Forge 112R review: Cheap and cheerful
It's possible to save money on a PC case without settling for an ugly option
Designing cases for the sub-$100 segment of the PC case market can prove challenging, even for more established brands such as MSI. It's terribly crowded and involves cutting corners with design to keep costs low while offering more premium features, like tempered glass, to compete.
Obsbot Tiny 2 review: The best webcam I've ever used
The Obsbot Tiny 2 offers some of the best image quality you can get in a webcam, and the tracking capabilities make it versatile, too.
When I reviewed the Obsbot Tiny 4K last year, I was blown away by both the image quality and tracking features it included. Since then, contenders like the Insta360 Link and the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra have given it a run for its money. But with the newly-launched Tiny 2, Obsbot is taking back the crown as the best webcam on the market by improving the package in almost every way.