At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Powerful performance Large and tall display Great I/O selection Cons Keys are a bit soft The display’s color could be richer It could be slightly lighter weight Our Verdict The HP Zbook Ultra G1a is a classy mobile workstation, featuring a large display, a robust design, and plenty of graphics power. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: HP Zbook Ultra G1a Retailer Price $2229 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices HP’s Zbook Ultra G1a is an all-round performer. It benefits from a powerful Ryzen AI Max Pro 390 chip that made all my computing needs so easy. From mucking around in office apps to browsing the web, the G1a did it all. This laptop could even play a few triple-A games thanks to the integrated Radeon 8050S chip. On top of all that, it just oozes luxury. From the spacious keyboard to the large display, this is a mobile workstation that feels very smooth to use. The HP Zbook Ultra G1a is an ideal mobile workstation. With a generously sized display and keyboard, it provides the kind of luxurious computing that office workers seek. HP ZBook Ultra G1a: Specifications HP’s website shows the HP Zbook Ultra G1a in configurations up to AMD Ryzen AI Max Pro 395 and AMD Radeon 8060S graphics with a top-of-the-line model costing $3,699. My laptop had the step-down build with an AMD Ryzen AI Max Pro 390 processor with an integrated Radeon 8050S chip, which, at the time of writing, cost $2,229. The full specifications are as follows: Model number: B90JJUA#ABA CPU: AMD Ryzen AI Max Pro 390 RAM: 64GB LPDDR5x 8533 MT/s Graphics: Integrated Radeon 8050S Display: 14-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) UWVA, anti-glare, 400nits, 100 percent sRGB color gamut. Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe Connectivity: 2 x Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm combo jack, Kensington lock. Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Battery capacity: 74.5 Wh Li-ion polymer Dimensions:  12.29 x 8.45 x 0.71 inches Weight: 3.31 lbs (1.50kg) Cost: $2,229 (this configuration) Compared to competitors, Dell offers the Dell 14 Premium, which features a Core 7 255H CPU with Intel Arc 140T graphics, and an MSRP of $1,899.99. At 3.79 pounds, it’s the slightly heavier of the two options and its NPU features only 13 TOPS of neural processing power. HP Zbook Ultra G1a: Design and build The HP Zbook Ultra G1a looks a lot like the laptops in HP’s EliteBook series. The design is very compact measuring just 12.29 x 8.45 inches, but the design is pretty luxurious. The laptop is comprised of an aluminum body that feels strong and very robust. There’s a scarcity of plastic here and more metal than you’ll find in a heap of cheaper laptops, However, the metal material means it’ll last a good while. At 0.71 inches thick, the Zbook Ultra G1a is also very slender. It’s relatively light too at 3.33 pounds. It’s even lighter than the HP Pavilion Laptop 16. it was easy to pick up with one hand and carry around the office. When I slipped it into my work bag, it nestled right up against my work laptop without any fuss. Dominic Bayley / Foundry HP did such a great job balancing the main components that the whole design feels effortless. 14-inch The 1920×1200 display is generous and frames up to a tall 16:10 aspect ratio. The keyboard is large and the keys spacious. The hinges are strong and hold the lid at any angle you want it to. I couldn’t get any flex out of the lid despite using a lot of weight on it. The 140W charger is also small and compact and suitable for carrying. HP Zbook Ultra G1a: Keyboard and trackpad HP has provided a well-balanced keyboard with left and right Shift keys and right arrow keys, but it doesn’t have a numpad. Although only a 14-inch laptop keyboard, HP has managed to fit in the Page Up and Page Down keys above the arrow keys, the placement of which I really liked after a while. Dominic Bayley / Foundry For typing, the large low set keys are a little on the soft side, but the rebound isn’t completely mushy, so they don’t feel fatiguing. On the plus side, the keys are very stable. They don’t wobble or skew sideways on the down press, which makes for very accurate typing. The backlighting illuminates the top of each key well so that they are bright and easily visible at night. The touchpad is located in a very central position. Its moderate size means there’s plenty of room either side to rest your wrists. HP Zbook Ultra G1a: Connectivity The laptop has three USB-C ports and one USB-A port, which accommodated my external mouse and keyboard and my external SSD with no fuss. Two of the USB-C ports are Thunderbolt 4 ports, which means they provide a maximum file transfer speed of up to 40Gbps and you can also output to two displays at 4K resolution at 60Hz. The Ultra G1a also has an HDMI 2.1 port, a 3.5 mm audio jack, and a Kensington lock. Wi-Fi 7 functionality provided me with a snappy enough connection to download the programs I needed to benchmark the laptop. My review model also had Bluetooth 5.4, which was handy for streaming music through my laptop speaker. The connectivity was quick enough to render images via the laptop’s 5MP IR camera in fine detail. The AI enhanced camera produced very natural-looking images and the dual array microphones did a decent job making my voice sound clear. HP Zbook Ultra G1a: Display, audio My review model shipped with a 14-inch 1920x1200p LCD IPS-grade display. I had the base version, but some configurations come with an upgraded 2880×1800 resolution OLED touchscreen. Overall, the display itself is quite decent. The panel delivers 100 percent sRGB color and 400 nits of peak brightness, which together make for a sharp image. I’ve seen much richer color saturation and contrast in other OLED panels, though. Still, I was never unhappy with the visuals. There was no lag or delay playing media, and videos were fluid and flicker free. The anti-glare functionality also kept reflection down to a minimum. The laptop’s upward firing speakers also produced quite a detailed sound for a laptop so thin. HP Zbook Ultra G1a: Performance My review model’s AMD Ryzen AI Max Pro 390 chip is a powerful mobile processor launched in January 2025 and based on AMD’s Zen 5 architecture. It has 12 cores and supports 24 threads, and reaches a maximum boost clock speed of up to 5.0GHz. The Ryzen AI Max Pro 390 includes the Radeon 8050S integrated graphics chip and a 50 TOPs XDNA 2 neural engine. The first benchmark I tested it on was Maxon’s Cinebench Multi-Threaded benchmark. This test fired all the processor’s 12 cores to simulate how it could handle a similar all-hands on-deck computing task. Dominic Bayley / Foundry As you can see, the Ultra G1a topped the field in this test. That’s not surprising considering the power of the AMD Ryzen AI Max Pro 390 chip compared to the power-conserving ultralight laptop chips in the field. The Ultra G1a proved it can keep thermals in check to finish heavy tasks quickly, which even gaming laptops with high-performance processors sometimes struggle with. I figured that from the fast time it took to finish our standard PCWorld encoding test in the Handbrake utility. This is a better result than most light and thin laptops will achieve. Dominic Bayley / Foundry The PCMark benchmark provided an indication of how the Ultra G1a might handle a range of different office tasks from spreadsheeting to web browsing. Dominic Bayley / Foundry To be sure, the Ultra G1a performed very well in this task, almost topping the field again. In fact, a score of 6,083 means it will comfortably run office apps and programs. HP Zbook Ultra G1a: Graphics performance The Radeon 8050S features 32 compute units and is based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture. It’s similar in performance to the Nvidia RTX 4060 laptop GPU, so I was expecting better performance than many of the ultralight laptops in the lineup. In the 3DMark Time Spy 1.2 benchmark, the HP Zbook Ultra G1a performed well. It achieved an overall score of 4,343. This indicates it does have a slightly better graphics performance than a lot of productivity laptops. Dominic Bayley / Foundry You can even do some gaming on the HP Zbook Ultra G1a as was confirmed by the Rise of the Tomb Raider benchmark. In this test, the Ultra G1a averaged 59 FPS, which beat out some lower-tier gaming laptops in performance. Dominic Bayley / Foundry These results point to the laptop being a strong graphics performer for one with an integrated GPU. Performance is still far below many top-tier gaming laptops, but it’s strong enough for undertaking tasks like 3D editing that would make full use of the laptop’s Radeon 8050S. HP Zbook Ultra G1a: Battery life To test the laptop’s battery life, I set a 30GB 4K video on repeat in the Windows Films and TV app. But first I charged it up full, changed the volume to 50 percent, activated airplane mode, and adjusted the brightness. I also switched the keyboard backlighting off and plugged in a cheap pair of headphones to keep the noise down. Just before pressing play, I unplugged the laptop from the power outlet and timed how long it took to run out of juice. Dominic Bayley / Foundry The HP Zbook Ultra G1a managed just over 14 hours before running out of juice. That result is better than expected. That said, our battery test is a lightweight one (it’s not too demanding). You can expect the laptop to last approximately half that time running more demanding applications. HP Zbook Ultra G1a: Conclusion The HP Zbook Ultra G1a is an ideal mobile workstation. With a generously sized display and keyboard, it provides the kind of luxurious computing that office workers seek. It also features powerful performance that beats out most ultrabooks. It even holds its own against some gaming laptops. While it may be more powerful than most ultrabooks, it’s just as portable, being a slim and relatively lightweight 14-inch laptop, perfect for the daily commute. Read...

People who rely on Alexa to use basic home features like lights and other appliances experienced issues during the widespread internet outage on Monday night. Read...

If you’re in the market for a Thunderbolt docking station and you’re biding your time until Black Friday, know this: smart shoppers can save by buying a slightly older Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 dock instead. Buying tech always comes with a choice, as prices of new technology climb higher. You can either buy the latest and greatest and insulate yourself from change for a few years or buy used and save a few bucks. For 2025 and 2026 docking stations, the latter choice appears to be the right one. Docking stations have been in a transitional period for the last few years. Thunderbolt 3 / USB3 and Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 are almost identical in terms of their bandwidth, which is still one of the defining features of a docking station. In the real world, the 40Gbps bandwidth both standards offer are enough to connect 4K displays running 60Hz. Thunderbolt 5 was the next big thing, with 80Gbps (and in certain scenarios, 120Gbps) available for those 4K displays to run at 144Hz, which is good enough for gaming. Here’s the key point that you need to know: Intel’s current laptop platform, the Core Ultra Series 2 (Lunar Lake) as well as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chips, only support USB4 and Thunderbolt 4. (Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 are also functionally identical; in this case, Intel won’t certify a non-Intel chip as a “Thunderbolt” product, so USB4 is the generic equivalent.) And, somewhat shockingly, the next-generation of 2026 laptop platforms, the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake) and the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite, don’t include integrated Thunderbolt 5 support, either. No integrated Thunderbolt 5 chip support means very little Thunderbolt 5 laptop support, which means very little reason to buy a Thunderbolt 5 docking station. Sound familiar? It should. I was expecting Thunderbolt 5 to make a decent showing at CES 2025. Nope. Intel Intel does sell a discrete Thunderbolt 5 chip that costs extra, and because of this you’ll see Thunderbolt 5 ports appear on expensive gaming laptops like the Razer Blade 18. But they’re not really necessary. The Blade 18 includes a stellar 4K+ display that actually exceeds Thunderbolt 5’s capabilities (3840×2400, 240Hz). Why would you want to use an external display when the laptop’s built-in display is even better? Not all gaming laptops include the same quality of display, but the argument generally holds true: gaming laptops with Thunderbolt 5 ports generally offer superior hardware right now. A Thunderbolt 5 dock isn’t cheap, either. Thunderbolt 5 docking station manufacturers tend to charge roughly $100 more for one. Plugable’s TBT-UDT3 Thunderbolt 5 dock is reasonably priced at $300 — it is! — but our top pick for the best Thunderbolt docking station, the Kensington Thunderbolt 4 Dual 4K Dock (SD5780T, is $185 at press time. Yes, there are some things to consider. One, AMD hasn’t announced its next-gen laptop platform for 2026, and the 120Gbps version of USB (USB4 V2) could certainly make an appearance. Two, docks like the Sonnetech Echo 13, a Thunderbolt 5 dock with an integrated SSD, provide almost-but-not-quite internal-SSD speeds for external storage. An issue with any gaming PC is simply the available storage, and being able to connect an external SSD with gaming-capable speeds is an enormous plus. Thunderbolt 5 docks like Sonnet’s deliver. Three, Thunderbolt 5 supports external GPUs, and we might see a forthcoming notebook designed with a Thunderbolt 5 port to connect to an external GPU dock like the Razer Core X V2. Business during the day, gaming after hours: that’s part of the promise of Thunderbolt 5. But times are not easy, and the ongoing economy and tariff wars mean people are going to want to save money during Black Friday and other holiday sales. If you agree, don’t plan on spending big on a Thunderbolt 5 dock. PCWorld plans to monitor e-tailers for any ongoing sales of Thunderbolt and USB4 docks for laptops, and we’ll be prioritizing Thunderbolt 4 and its cost-effective competition, DisplayLink. You should, too. Read...

TechHive Editors Choice At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Extremely maneuverable Great features Cool modular concept Stable and easy to use app Cons The price tag Our Verdict The Yarbo Core is not a cheap appliance, but it is a very capable and powerful garden robot you can use for several outdoor tasks. Its snow blower attachment works great, and both Yarbo’s hardware and its software are very impressive. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Yarbo core med snöslunga Retailer Price $4,999 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Yarbo’s modular yard robot was a hit at the CES show in Las Vegas in January 2025, but I must say I was skeptical of the concept. Once I had the opportunity to test the new machine with its snow blower attachment, one of the many accessories you can attach to this track-propelled robot, I changed my tune. The Yarbo kit arrived in three large boxes and installing the machine is a project. It is absolutely not difficult thanks to the clear instruction manual. You get all the tools you need and each them, including the Allen wrenches, are labeled. Great! It’s a bit of work before you’re ready to start using the Yarbo.Mikael Lindkvist Specifications Manufacturer: Yarbo Equipment: Yarbo Core, snow blower module, battery, docking station, accessories) Weight: 134 pounds (61kg) (Yarbo Core, less snow blower) Battery: 36V, 38.4 mAh Working temperature range: -11.2 degrees Fahrenheit to 113 F (-24 to 45 C) Weatherization: IPX4 (i.e., not tested for dust ingress, protected from water sprayed from any direction) Towing capacity: Control it with a smartphone or Yarbo’s handheld remote After a couple of hours, the RTK antenna is in place on the facade of the house, the base station is nailed down and the machine is ready to start testing. On my first trip to Västerbotten, a province in northeastern Sweden, I didn’t have time to do much more than assemble the kit and manually drive the snow blower around. You can choose to control it with your mobile phone or with an included handheld remote that looks like it belongs to a game console. The idea is, of course, that you schedule the snow removal to save time, in addition to saving your back. Mikael Lindkvist Controlling it via your mobile phone is really easy, as Yarbo’s app is exemplary. But there is a lot to keep track of besides navigating the machine. You can set the power level of the snow blower motor itself in several steps as well as how deep it should dig and the angle at which it should eject the removed snow. That’s not so good if you’re throwing ice and maybe some gravel at your car or the front of your house. The snow blower is powerful, right up there with the better battery-powered snow blowers I’ve tried, so it has no problem tossing snow (and ice chunks) 7- to 8 meters (7.6- to 8.7 yards). Mikael Lindkvist I had more time to really test what the Yarbo was capable of on my second trip. Now, the best thing would of course have been to set up the machine at the beginning of the winter, not when half a meter (1.6 feet) of snow had thawed and then froze again. In terms of the snow on the ground, conditions were simply not optimal. Studded tracks are a must in winter The first thing I did, which I didn’t manage to do in the first part of the test, was to switch to studded tracks. Without them, the Yarbo Core just slides over icy surfaces. This is a fairly simple project, however, and the robot got around much better with them on. It was incredible to see how it maneuvered icy high edges. Mikael Lindkvist The Yarbo Core charges either while standing on its charging pad, or via an included AC charger. The included 36V battery charges fully in about 3 hours, but when its cold outside, it needs to warm up for 20- to 30 minutes before you can start charging its battery. A full charge lasts up to 4 hours according to the specifications. The robot cleared large areas in that amount of time, so the operating time with the snow blower should not be a problem unless you have huge areas to handle. On paper, Yarbo should be able to handle up to 125,000 square meters (149,499 square yards); but of course, it depends on the job. The area I worked was only 700- to 800 square meters (837- to 957 square yards) in the form of a large driveway and a stretch of road. During the two test periods, the robot had no problems with navigation, needing a little help to get onto its charging pad only once . The app is user-friendly and clear.Mikael Lindkvist It’s very easy to plan your automated snow removal using the Yarbo app. If you’ve ever set up a boundary wire-free robot lawn mower, you’ll be familiar with the concept. You drive the machine around the edges of the area you’re mapping, during which you can mark no-go zones. It’s also important that you indicate indicate which direction the snow should be pushed. This is easiest to do after you’ve created your initial map. You can then schedule when you want the snow blower to run. You can also customize it to clear snow only after snow events. Mikael Lindkvist There are also some other smart features, including Smart Vision, which lets you look out through the robot’s onboard cameras while the robot is working. Another important feature is that the machine will recognize obstacles, including people. As soon as I walked near the snow blower, it would say “human detected” and pause until I was at a safe distance–around 4- to 5 meters (13- to 16 feet)–from the robot. This robot can pull a trailer, too It is of course difficult to judge the reliability of a machine like this in a few days of testing, but my first impression is that this is a really high-quality machine with stable software. You probably wouldn’t buy a Yarbo Core just for its winter utility (Yarbo offers a scraper bar ($59) and a snow plow blade ($159) as optional add-ons). Once you have the Core, you can choose between two sizes of lawn mower modules and a string-trimmer module for cutting grass in the spring and summer, and there’s a leaf blower module for clearing leaves in the fall. The contents of the test package.DataNova I imagine this robot will do a great job of mowing lawns, at least it won’t have any problems getting around. You can also tow up to 500 pounds with its trailer hitch installed, and opting for Yarbo’s $149 Back Brace Mount boosts that capacity to 3,500 pounds (with a 200-pound tongue weight). Finally, if you live on a large parcel of land, you can program it to patrol as a robotic security guard. The Yarbo Core and its snow blower attachment are crazy expensive, but this is definitely one of the coolest products I’ve tried. This article originally appeared on our sister publication M3 and was translated and localized from Swedish. Don’t miss TechHive’s top picks in robot lawn mowers. Read...

Well, well, well… if it isn’t the best gaming laptop deal we’ve seen in a while. The Asus TUF Gaming F16 is a powerhouse 16-inch machine that’s normally $1,539.99, but Best Buy currently has it for just $1,249.99. That’s a smooth $290 discount that puts it on par (price-wise) with far lesser laptops, except you’ll love the specs in this one. First off, the Asus TUF Gaming F16 has a gorgeous 16-inch IPS display with accurate colors that look great whether you’re gaming or streaming Netflix. The 1920×1200 resolution is crisp and roomy while the speedy 165Hz refresh rate is smooth for high-frame-rate games. It isn’t the brightest with 300 nits, but that’s more than enough indoors. The crowning glory of this machine is the Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU, which is worth every penny as a budget-friendly access point for Nvidia’s DLSS 4 features including multi-frame generation. Combined with the powerful Intel Core i7-14650HX processor and the chunky 32GB of fast DDR5 RAM, you’ll be gaming like a king and handling everything else (e.g., Windows 11, Chrome, YouTube, Office) without choking. Cap it off with a PCIe Gen 4 SSD with 1TB of capacity plus a surprising number of ports (1x HDMI 2.1, 2x USB-C, 3x USB-A 3.2, Ethernet, and 3.5mm audio) and you have a versatile device that’s able to do anything and everything you need of it. It’ll last you years, for sure. Snatch this Asus TUF Gaming F16 laptop for $1,249.99 at Best Buy before this deal runs out—it’s absolutely worth jumping on. Get this stellar Asus RTX 5060 gaming laptop for $290 offBuy now from Best Buy Read...

Your IP address is a lot like your home address on the internet. A lot of information can be gleaned from it. Information like your location, your ISP, and even what you like to do online. It’s no wonder you might like to keep that address secret at times, just as you protect your home address and don’t advertise it to everyone you know. The internet is more regulated now You might think you have total freedom on the internet, but that’s not the case. Even in the USA, there are restrictions that come into play. The classic example is how some states have started to restrict access to adult websites. Arizona, for example, is just the latest state to implement age verification laws on sites such as Pornhub. Then there are some countries where censorship by the governments is the norm, where personal freedoms aren’t as readily available. While travelling you could unwittingly break those laws by logging into websites that are banned, and all with your identifying IP address being recorded. It’s a worrying thought. How changing your IP address can help When you change your IP address, you’re telling websites that you’re visiting from another place. If the websites you’re visiting are censored in the location you’re logging on from, a different IP address can fool those sites into thinking you’re in a different location and therefore can bypass the geographical censorship. The second benefit is that changing your IP address helps conceal your identity. It masks your identity from advertisers, tracking companies, and anyone else trying to create a profile on you. That can stop you from being data mined. Third, changing your IP address protects you from targeted attacks. Without your real IP address, hackers cannot target their attacks specifically at your connection. You’re a lot safer than if you were using your real IP address. Pexels: Stefan Coders VPNs are the answer The easiest way to change your IP address is with a VPN, or virtual private network. A VPN not only changes your IP address, but it does so safely while encrypting your internet traffic. Once you’ve subscribed to a VPN your internet traffic is sent to the websites you visit via a secure server in a location of your choice. You take the IP address of that server instead of your own. VPNs also protect you when you’re connected to public Wi-Fi, stop your ISP from throttling your internet speed, and enable you to stream content outside of your region or country of origin — all via the same mechanism, by giving you a new IP address. So, there’s a real practical benefit. The thing is, though, not all VPNs are made equal. VPNs have different features, operate at different speeds, and have different policies regarding the data they keep track of. On that last note, the thing to look out for is a no-logs policy. This outlines a VPN’s agreement not to keep a record of your online activities, your browsing history, or your connection logs. To find a good VPN that has a no-logs policy it’s best to read reviews online. PCWorld’s own recommendations of the best VPNs are based on comprehensive reviews, so be sure to check them out and compare features if you’re in the market for a VPN. Related content Why you need to pack a VPN for your next vacation Best VPN services: 8 top picks for every VPN need 14 VPN terms and features everyone should know 6 common VPN myths everyone falls for—and why they’re wrong Read...

Microsoft has introduced a new device category with Copilot+. Only laptops with a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU), at least 16 GB of RAM and a fast NVMe SSD fulfil the minimum requirements. Intel is addressing these requirements with the Core Ultra series, which combines classic CPU cores with GPU acceleration and a hardwired NPU. This unit alone achieves 40 to 47 trillion computing operations per second – a device is only officially certified as a Copilot+ PC once it reaches this performance level. Put simply, if you want to use AI functions locally, you need a very fast computer with a chip specially optimized for AI. Core Ultra processors with local AI acceleration For modern AI applications, it is no longer just the clock rate that is decisive, but the internal distribution of tasks between the computing units. The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V has eight CPU cores and an integrated Intel Arc GPU. The set-up is complemented by the NPU, which is specially designed for inference-based AI tasks. This allows text analyses, translations, video filters, image generation or language modelling to be carried out directly on the chip – without any detours via the cloud. The Intel NPU cannot be configured separately; its activity is controlled via Windows components. Functions such as Recall, Cocreator or Windows Studio Effects access it automatically; there is no provision for manual assignment. Intel Copilot functions between benefit and control The central innovation in Copilot is not the graphical user interface, but the shifting of AI processing to the device. The Recall feature continuously creates screenshots of all activities. These can be searched through later using a text search. The feature works locally, stores content in encrypted form and can be deactivated for specific applications. However, users have no insight into the data model used. Chris Hoffman / Foundry The Live Captions function covers a special use case. It transcribes any audio signals in real time, regardless of whether they originate from a video, a video call or a locally played file. The Intel NPU takes over the continuous speech-to-text mapping at system level. The output takes place as an overlay directly above the respective window or as a separate bar at the bottom of the screen. Unlike conventional subtitles, Live Captions is speech-agnostic, automatically recognizing speech input and converting it into readable text on-the-fly. No internet connection is required. Translations can also be activated so that English-language content, for example, is automatically subtitled in German. If the NPU performance is sufficient, the delay remains minimal. The function can be used system-wide, which creates real added value, especially for people with impaired hearing or in noisy environments. Program-specific activation is not necessary. As soon as Live Captions are activated, the system analyses all sound sources. However, use is limited to the visible transcript. There is no storage or analysis beyond the current session. Chris Hoffman / IDG Local image synthesis with Paint Cocreator The Cocreator function integrated in Paint makes it possible to create images from simple text input within a few seconds. This requires a Copilot-certified device with an active NPU. The underlying diffusion model runs locally and utilizes both the main memory and the dedicated NPU for image generation. In contrast to cloud services, the entire process remains on the device. A short text-based prompt is sufficient to receive several image suggestions in low to medium resolution, which can then be edited directly in Paint. Users can influence the style, color scheme and complexity of the motif – but only within the specified limits. The model itself remains a black box; external models cannot be integrated. Without an NPU, Cocreator is hidden or refuses to start due to insufficient system resources. Mark Hachman / IDG In addition to pure computing power, Intel Core Ultra notebooks have specialized technologies to optimize the use of AI in mobile operation. The so-called Dynamic Tuning Technology analyses temperature, usage behavior and energy profile in real time and automatically adjusts the distribution of loads to the CPU, GPU and NPU. This is complemented by the Intelligent Display, which controls screen brightness, contrast and refresh rate in a context-sensitive manner, an aspect that can bring tangible benefits in terms of battery life in battery mode. This technology also proves useful for longer video conferences or remote working scenarios, as it relieves the thermal management and optimizes visibility at the same time. The NPU also benefits from the fact that the reduced GPU load creates more thermal headroom for inference tasks. Inference-based processes refer to tasks in which an AI makes decisions or delivers results based on an already trained model. In other words, the actual learning, i.e. the training, has already been completed. During inference, this knowledge is used to process new input. One example would be the automatic subtitling of videos using live captions. The AI has previously been trained with huge language data sets. During inference, it recognizes what someone is saying in real time, converts speech into text and displays it directly on the screen. To do this, it does not reuse the entire training material, but instead uses compact, optimized models. Crucially, inference processes can be executed locally on the device, provided a dedicated accelerator such as an NPU is available. This means that data remains on the notebook and AI reactions are almost instantaneous. Energy efficiency and system behavior under load One advantage of the Intel architecture is the thermal separation of the computing units. CPU, GPU and NPU do not compete directly for power reserves. The NPU only handles inference-based processes. This significantly reduces power consumption when AI features are active. Tests with the Core Ultra 9 285K show up to 25 per cent better efficiency compared to the Core i9 14900K. The battery life benefits noticeably from this shift. Systems such as the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition achieve up to 22 hours of video playback without any loss of performance in AI processes. The decisive factor here is the continuous support by BIOS and Windows. Without the latest UEFI update, the NPU is often underpowered. In addition to the Lenovo Yoga Slim, other manufacturers already offer devices that are explicitly suitable for local AI applications under Windows 11. The Acer Swift Go 14 relies on the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, combined with an NPU that delivers over 40 trillion operations per second. Thomas Joos It is worth taking a look at the specific device basis, as not every laptop advertised as a “Copilot” fulfils the same requirements. Notebooks with Intel Evo certification and Core Ultra 200V processors undergo a validation program that is tailored to real-life usage scenarios. Not only high performance and long battery life are required, but also fast reactivation, smooth multi-monitor connection via Thunderbolt 4 and consistent behavior when using several applications at the same time. For Copilot, this means that functions such as Recall, Live Captions and Cocreator run without any loss of performance, even when switching between mains and battery operation. Evo-certified devices such as the Acer Swift Go or the Surface models from the business segment are thus exemplary for this new class of hybrid AI PCs, which combine everyday usability and technical sophistication. YouTube / Microsoft Intel divides the Core Ultra Series 2 into several model lines that have a direct impact on the field of application of mobile systems. The V models serve as a reference for slim premium devices and impress with their high efficiency and strong NPU performance. H models are aimed at classic high-end notebooks for productive applications with medium mobility requirements. U models are optimized for lightweight, ultra-mobile systems with reduced energy requirements and AI functions. HX models represent the upper performance spectrum with up to 24 physical cores and are primarily intended for workstations, gaming laptops and professional creative environments. V and H models are particularly suitable for everyday use in AI-supported Windows applications, as they offer a good balance between battery life, thermal budget and inference performance of the NPU. What Intel NPUs can do and what is not visible The practical use of the NPU is tied to the respective features in Windows. Independent programming or execution of user-defined models is not possible with on-board resources. Intel does provide developers with APIs, but in everyday life these paths are not accessible to users without programming knowledge. The visibility of NPU utilization is limited to indicators in the task manager or via third-party tools. For power users, it remains unclear which processes are running on which unit and when. Control remains in the hands of the operating system. A separation of CPU and NPU responsibilities can at best be indirectly tracked via utilization profiles. Thomas Joos Intel offers additional functions for corporate use with the vPro platform based on the Core Ultra series. In addition to the integration of security-relevant features such as hardware-based identity verification, the NPU can also be used directly by security software to analyze threats locally and detect behavioral anomalies at an early stage. In addition, vPro Device Discovery supports detailed queries on installed components, energy profiles and configuration states. In combination with Copilot functions, this creates devices that offer a high degree of transparency and control for both IT administrators and users in regulated industries – without direct access to the underlying models. Bottom line With an Intel Core Ultra 200V series device, you gain access to a clearly defined group of AI functions. These run locally, do not require an internet connection and benefit directly from the NPU. However, control over computing execution remains limited: Windows automatically determines which unit becomes active, while the setting options only allow rudimentary intervention. For productive use, this primarily means a gain in efficiency – but not deeper system control. The new device class is therefore more of a platform than a toolbox. Those looking for precise AI customizations will quickly reach their limits. On the other hand, those who rely on stable, locally executed features will find a convincing hardware basis in the Intel-based Copilot devices. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Design looks and feels premium Great performance Beautiful OLED screen Speakers are excellent Cons Keyboard and touchpad abandon tactile feedback Limited ports (no USB Type-A or HDMI) Middle-of-the-road battery life Expensive Our Verdict The Dell 16 Premium is a premium take on a bad idea. The hardware is powerful, the design is beautiful, and it feels excellent. But the keyboard and trackpad are not pleasant to use. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Dell 16 Premium Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices The Dell 16 Premium is both impressive and deeply frustrating. Dell has created a high-quality 16-inch laptop that looks and feels great. It has powerful internals — an Intel Arrow Lake CPU and Nvidia GPU — and an excellent OLED screen. This is a laptop built by people who really cared. But the core design here was a mistake and good craftsmanship can’t save it. For $3,199, you’re getting a keyboard and trackpad experience that looks flashy in photos but feels obnoxious to use. You’re getting high-end internals without common ports (like USB Type-A and HDMI) that people would want in high-end work-focused laptops. And, if minimalism is your priority, the 16-inch size, 4.65-pound weight, and limited battery life here means this machine isn’t ideal for portability. This is one of the strangest laptops I’ve ever reviewed. Dell tried so hard to make something special and different that it made the day-to-day laptop experience worse. The Dell 16 Premium is a beautiful and expensive hybrid that doesn’t serve any audience particularly well. But it’s so incredibly polished. This is the highest-quality misfire I’ve ever reviewed. This is the highest-quality misfire I’ve ever reviewed. Dell 16 Premium: Specs The Dell 16 Premium is available in a few different configurations starting at $1,999. These configurations all have Intel Arrow Lake CPUs with discrete Nvidia graphics. We reviewed the $3,199 model, which came with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics, and 32GB of RAM. This high-end model packs a beautiful 4K OLED display with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz and a touch screen. Because this is an Intel Arrow Lake CPU, it doesn’t have an NPU fast enough to run Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC features. Dell says this machine has an “AI-enabled Intel processor” on its web page, but the “premium” experience here doesn’t get you access to Windows 11’s latest AI features. Intel’s “Series 2” CPU naming remains baffling to me. Model: Dell 16 Premium (DA16250) CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 255H Memory: 32GB LPDDR5X 8400MT/s RAM Graphics/GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, Intel Arc 140T NPU: Intel AI Boost Display: 16.3-inch 3840×2400 OLED touchscreen with variable refresh rate up to 120Hz Storage: 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD Webcam: 1080p webcam Connectivity: 3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C), 1x combo audio jack, 1x microSDXC card reader Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Biometrics: IR camera and fingerprint reader for Windows Hello Battery capacity: 99.5 Watt-hours Dimensions: 14.10 x 9.40 x 0.75 inches Weight: 4.65 pounds MSRP: $3,199 as tested Dell 16 Premium: Design and build quality Foundry / Chris Hoffman The Dell 16 Premium looks beautiful. Our review model’s “Platinum” color scheme is the spitting image of a high-quality silver laptop. It’s a little large and heavy (this is a 4.65-pound 16-inch laptop) so this isn’t a thin-and-light style machine. The chassis is made of aluminum, and the metal and weight gives it a nice heft. The hinge action feels great, too. When you open it and turn it on for the first time, there’s a bit of a “wow” moment — at least there was for me. I review a lot of laptops, and this machine looks distinct. It’s a clean, minimalist design: a membrane keyboard framed by speakers on each side, and that’s it. (Aside from the obligatory sticker Intel forces PC manufacturers to stick onto their laptops.) When you turn it on, the function keys light up and it looks premium. The palm rest is one piece of gorilla glass, and it feels smooth to touch and to drag your finger over the trackpad. On this OLED model, the display looks especially vivid and beautiful. This is a laptop designed to look distinctly good in photos and to feel premium when you touch it in a store. And it delivers. Dell 16 Premium: Keyboard and trackpad Foundry / Chris Hoffman Once you start using the laptop, things go downhill fast. The keyboard and trackpad are the worst things here. The keyboard is large, has nice backlighting, and has a unique look. It’s also not mushy. That’s about all I can say in its favor. This keyboard only has 1.0mm of key travel, and I feel that low travel with every keypress I make. That’s the kind of extremely low key travel you see on thin-and-light laptops optimized for maximum thinness. It’s not the kind of key travel you see a 4.65-pound machine with a discrete GPU. This means the typing experience just doesn’t feel great. More obviously, the capacitive function row buttons completely lack tactile feedback. They light up and show different functions when you hold down the Fn key on the keyboard, which is a cool-looking trick. But, without any tactile feedback, you have to look down at the key you’re pressing, tap it, and wait to see if the computer noticed your tap. It feels bad. If PC manufacturers want to do this, they should try to integrate some kind of haptic feedback, a confirmation you pressed the button. That would make this feel a bit better. The trackpad is also a surreal experience. There is a trackpad at the center of the palm rest in the usual position you’d find one. However, its edges are completely invisible. Without a visual or tactile outline, you must guess where the edge is. This makes mousing around with your finger annoying, and it also causes problems when using multi-finger gestures. On the plus side, it is a haptic trackpad, so that’s nice. The Dell 16 Premium loses the plot here. It would be better if Dell had used a standard keyboard and trackpad setup. They’ve invested a lot of resources in providing an experience that feels worse to use. And, with the lack of tactile feedback, I don’t think it’s something I would adapt and get used to — even if I bought this machine and used it as my daily driver. Dell 16 Premium: Display and speakers Foundry / Chris Hoffman The Dell 16 Premium model Dell loaned us for this review had a 16.3-inch 4K OLED display with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz. It looked vivid and beautiful — like the rest of this machine, it’s a looker. The main problem with the display is its fairly low brightness for an OLED. It maxes out at 400 nits, and while that’s reasonable enough, many laptops with OLEDs tend to deliver more brightness. I felt like I wanted to keep the brightness cranked up to maximum most of the time, even when using the laptop in a fairly dark room. Combined with the glossy display (a mainstay for OLED panels), this machine isn’t ideal for use outdoors in challenging lighting conditions. However, it did do pretty well on a cloudy New England day in the fall, as you can see in some of my photos. The Dell 16 Premium boasts a quad speaker setup, and it sounds great for a laptop. There’s plenty of volume. To test laptop speakers, I always fire up Spotify and play Steely Dan’s Aja and Daft Punk’s Get Lucky. The speakers did a surprisingly good job with the crisp instrument separation in Aja, and there was enough bass to deliver a fun sound in Get Lucky. These are unusually good laptop speakers. Dell 16 Premium: Webcam, microphone, biometrics Foundry / Chris Hoffman The Dell 16 Premium’s 1080p webcam captures a clear, sharp picture, and it looked better than average, even in challenging and dim lighting conditions. I was impressed with the quality of the image. In keeping with the spirit of minimalism, the Dell 16 Premium doesn’t offer a physical shutter or switch to block the webcam. That’s a shame. The microphone picks up clear audio with good noise cancellation, and I’d be happy to use it in video meetings, although I’ll stick with a studio mic for my podcast appearances. The Dell 16 Premium has both facial recognition hardware and a fingerprint reader. You can sign in with your face or touch your finger to the fingerprint reader built into the power button at the top-right corner of the laptop’s keyboard. Both worked well, giving you multiple ways to sign into your PC with Windows Hello. Dell 16 Premium: Connectivity Foundry / Chris Hoffman The Dell 16 Premium cuts way back on ports compared to the average 16-inch $3,199 laptop with a discrete GPU. It provides three Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) ports — two on the left, and one on the right. It charges via one of these ports, too. Then, you get a combo audio jack and a microSDXC card reader slot on the right. That’s it. Dell has optimized this machine for a svelte, tapered look, as if a premium laptop means one with fewer ports. That may fly when we’re talking about thin-and-light minimalist laptops, but I don’t think this makes sense for a 16-inch laptop that’s over 4.5 pounds with discrete graphics. The audience for this type of laptop will want extra ports — USB Type-A, HDMI, and maybe even Ethernet. You’ll probably want to pair this machine with a dongle or dock. The Dell 16 Premium does have both Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. It’s nice to see support for the latest wireless standards. Dell 16 Premium: Performance The Dell 16 Premium model we reviewed had an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU (Arrow Lake), Nvidia RTX 5070 graphics, 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM running at 8400 MT/s, and a 1 TB PCIe SSD. With specifications like that, it’s no surprise it ran well. These specs are closer to a gaming laptop than the average productivity machine. The fans stay quiet and there isn’t much heat on the keyboard, even when running demanding tasks. Dell says this laptop has a vapor chamber cooling system, and that’s the kind of high-end touch that does make the hardware feel premium. We ran the Dell 16 Premium through our standard benchmarks to see how it performs. Foundry / Chris Hoffman First, we run PCMark 10 to get an idea of overall system performance. With an overall PCMark score of 8,204, the Dell 16 Premium delivered excellent performance. It’s closer to what you’d expect to see from a gaming laptop, and that’s no surprise given the high-end hardware and cooling system in this machine. Foundry / Chris Hoffman Next, we run Cinebench R20. This is a heavily multithreaded benchmark that focuses on overall CPU performance. It’s a quick benchmark, so cooling under extended workloads isn’t a factor. But, since it’s heavily multithreaded, CPUs with more cores have a huge advantage. With an overall Cinebench R20 score of 9,137, the 16-core Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU in the Dell 16 Premium delivered great performance — far exceeding the eight core Intel Lunar Lake CPUs in some other 16-inch laptops. Those slower CPUs are the only Intel CPUs that offer an NPU fast enough for Copilot+ PC AI features. With Intel, you have to compromise one way or another. This machine was neck-and-neck with an AMD-powered system that does deliver an NPU that hits Microsoft’s minimum standards, however. Laptop buyers should seriously consider whether they want to buy $3,199 machines that aren’t compatible with the latest features in Windows. An AMD chip could have delivered the best of both worlds. Foundry / Chris Hoffman We also run an encode with Handbrake. This is another heavily multithreaded benchmark, but it runs over an extended period. This demands the laptop’s cooling kick in, and many laptops will throttle and slow down under load. The Dell 16 Premium completed the encode process in 699 seconds — that’s just over eleven and a half minutes. It’s a great result that shows this machine’s cooling works well. You’d have to go up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU with more cores for noticeably better performance. Foundry / Chris Hoffman Next, we run a graphical benchmark. This isn’t a gaming laptop, but it does have a dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU. We run 3DMark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU performance. With a 3DMark Time Spy score of 11,016, the Dell 16 Premium was a little behind the Alienware 16X Aurora, which coincidentally has the same model of GPU. But the GPU’s name isn’t the only thing that matters. The Alienware 16X Aurora is a gaming laptop that runs the GPU with more power. The Dell 16 Premium runs its RTX 5070 GPU at 65W TGP, while the Alienware 16X Aurora runs its GPU at 115W TGP. So, despite the Nvidia graphics in this PC, you aren’t necessarily getting graphics horsepower on par with a gaming laptop. Overall, the Dell 16 Premium delivered excellent performance. Unless you plan on upgrading to a Core Ultra 9 CPU or switching to a beefier gaming laptop, you’re not going to do noticeably better. Dell 16 Premium: Battery life The Dell 16 Premium has a huge 99.5 Watt-hour battery. That goes right up to the line — the U.S. Transportation Security Administration won’t allow a battery onto an airplane if it’s over 100 Watt hours in size. Foundry / Chris Hoffman To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Steel on repeat on Windows 11 with airplane mode enabled until the laptop suspends itself. We set the screen to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmarks. This is a best-case scenario for any laptop since local video playback is so efficient, and real battery life in day-to-day use is always going to be less than this. The Dell 16 Premium lasted 844 minutes on average, which is about 14 hours. That’s reasonable. But, in the real world, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll make it through an eight hour workday, especially not if you’re running the demanding software this machine feels like it was built for. The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360, with its slower Intel Lunar Lake processor, lasted over 23 hours in our benchmarks. If you’re eyeing this machine for its sleekness and minimalism, a machine like that Galaxy Book may be more up your alley. Dell 16 Premium: Conclusion The Dell 16 Premium is an excellent, well-built machine with serious care and craftsmanship put into it. It’s also a confused hybrid that feels designed by committee. By trying to marry high-end hardware with a svelte laptop experience, Dell has created a compromised experience. But the biggest problem is the keyboard and trackpad. The lack of tactile feedback and the very low 1.0mm of key travel means this laptop isn’t great to type on for long periods of time. At $3,199, that just feels unacceptable. For what it’s worth, a Dell representative noted this particular configuration has already been on sale for as much as $400 off the retail price. The PC market is all about sales, and prices are hard to pin down. Still, I feel a little bad knocking this laptop. The Dell 16 Premium is built on a vision that doesn’t really make sense. But, after the idea stage, everyone involved knocked it out of the park and did an incredible job of bringing that vision to life. Read...

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I don’t know how your tech drawers look, but mine are filled with wires I’ll likely never use again because technology has advanced quite a bit. Thankfully, USB-C seems to be here to stay since there is no wrong way to plug these things in. It’s not just smartphones, tablets, and laptops that use these, however, but also a long list of gadgets. We’ve scoured the market for hidden gems: 13 gadgets that will make you think “Wow, I didn’t know I needed that, but it will make my life so much easier!” Let’s dive in and see what cool devices you’ll be able to use your type-C cables and ports with. Unihand rechargeable hand warmers Unihand As the weather is getting colder, you sometimes wish you could warm up your hands a bit faster. Well, these $18 hand warmers are rechargeable and perfectly ready to keep your fingers toasty for up to 20 hours on a single charge. These gadgets feature a temperature sensor chip that helps you pick one of three temps for precise control. There are plenty of colors to choose from, too. Wowstick 1F+ mini electric screwdriver Wowstick If you often have to fiddle around with your computer or other gadgets, this Wowstick mini electric screwdriver may be just what you need. This pen-shaped screwdriver features three LED lights so it’s easier to see what you’re working on and rotates 200 times per minute so you can finish the job faster. The screwdriver has a stylish base so you can hold it on your desk, and a whole collection of 56 aluminum alloy bits. The screwdriver can be charged via USB-C and it can last for hours. This super fun electric screwdriver usually goes for $41. Anker Nano Power Bank Anker One thing you need to have in you bag/pocket/backpack is a power bank because you never really know when your phone will fail you and cry for a recharge. Well, the Anker Nano power bank is tiny enough to fit just about anywhere. It comes with a foldable USB-C connector and a port on the side so you can charge two devices at once if you need to. The 5,000mAh capacity is just about enough for a full phone recharge, so it will be great in a pinch. It’s also only $30, but we’ve seen it as low as $16. Endoscope camera with light Ennovor Although it’s not something you’ll use every day, this Ennover endoscope camera can definitely come in handy. You just plug it in your phone, install and app, and see everything your camera does. Our team swears by it, using it for finding whatever they dropped behind the desk, while working on the car, or looking for pipe leaks. Since it has an IP67 rating, you can even plop it in your aquarium. The camera comes with a 16.4ft semi-rigid cable and several accessories, including a hook, magnet, and a mirror. You can get this one for $17 right now. Blukar flashlight Blukar I don’t care who you are—you need a flashlight. The smaller, the better, because you get to shove it into any pocket. This model from Blukar comes with a built-in 1800mAh battery that you’ll recharge with one of those many type-C cables you have in that tech drawer we were talking about. It can work for up to 16 hours on a single charge, which is pretty decent. There are four different lightning modes to cycle through, including one that will help you signal for help. Plus, one of these is less than $8, so no excuse to pass on this one. Heat It insect bite healer Anyone plagued by mosquitoes in the summer will be particularly pleased with this ingenious gadget. This tiny device, which can be easily connected to your smartphone via USB-C, can significantly reduce the itching of bites and stings with targeted heat. You simply charge the small Heat It bite healer via the app and then hold it on the bite. The heat then does the rest, breaking down the proteins in the mosquito bite that cause the area to swell, itch, and hurt. A true must-have for summer, and it costs only $20 when on sale. A tiny air pump Also perfect for summer is this small air pump from Cycplus, which fits in any bag while on the go. Not only can it inflate a bicycle tire in two minutes at the touch of a button, but it’s also USB-charged. According to the manufacturer, it’s suitable for mountain bikes, road bikes, motorcycles, and even cars! In addition to being an air pump, this practical gadget can also be used as a flashlight or power bank for on-the-go use — all things that come in very handy on a bike ride. And at just $57 (although we’ve seen it for as low as $35) it’s highly recommended if you need quick help with a flat tire. USB-C mini fan These little fans are also pretty ingenious; you can easily carry them in your pocket in the summer and quickly use them whenever you need them. Anyone who’s ever sat on a crowded subway train in 30-degree heat and wished for at least a little fresh air will love this gadget. The mini fan, which costs just $20, has a USB-C port and can be easily powered by power banks, computers, laptops, or USB chargers. There are even smaller and cheaper fans available that can be connected directly to your phone, costing under $10 each. But these also provide less powerful airflow, so we recommend the standalone version. Reading light with a book clamp Anyone who enjoys reading a lot, sometimes late into the night, will appreciate this little gadget: a reading lamp that you can simply clip onto your book. It may not be groundbreaking, but with a total of three color temperatures and five different light modes, you can individually adjust how much light you need for reading. The Gritin reading lamp costs just $8 on Amazon and features a 1200 mAh battery that lasts up to 80 hours depending on usage. Afterward, you can easily recharge it via USB. You can swivel the neck of the lamp back and forth as desired, and there’s even a small charging indicator. What more could you want? External DVD Drive Amicool If your laptop is like mine and lacks a DVD drive, then this little gadget will come in handy for you. This Amicool external DVD drive uses a USB-C (or USB-A) to connect to your laptop and give yout he optical drive you sometimes need. It can read and burn DVDs and CDs with ease, allowing you to install software, copy files, back up data, play games, and so on. You won’t even need to install drives as this thing is plug and play. While this thing’s usually $29, you can often get it for around $20, which is an absolute bargain. Samsung flash drive Samsung The vast majority of flash drives have a USB-A connector, but this one from Samsung has a Type-C connector. With transfer speeds of up to 400MB/s, you’ll move files around in no time. The beauty of this thumb drive is that you can even pop it in your smartphone to record 4K vids directly on it. The Samsung Type-C flash drive comes in multiple storage options, starting at 64GB and up to 512GB and they start at $14. The 256GB version, for instance, is $27 at the time of writing. Type-C microSD card reader Ugreen Most laptops nowadays don’t come with a card reader anymore (I know mine doesn’t), so finding other ways to get data off those little buggers is a must. Whether you need to pull data off your dashcam’s card or if it’s from your camera, this tiny Ugreen USB-C microSD reader will work just fine. This reader is tiny enough that you should probably put it on a keychain of some kind. If you’d rather a slightly more versatile version, Ugreen has a model that also works with SD cards and features both USB-C and USB-A connectors. Any of these will cost you less than $10, so they’re worthwhile investments. USB-C to HDMI adapter Anker If your laptop has a USB-C port but you haven’t updated your monitor in ages, your display won’t feature a Type-C port. This Anker adapter fixes this problem for you, enabling you to connect the regular HDMI cable you plug in your monitor with this gadget. The adapter supports resolutions of up to 4K at 60Hz, which is pretty awesome. This is also a nifty way to connect your phone or tablet to your monitor or TV. This thing’s $20, but we’ve seen it as low as $12. Editor’s note: This article was originally published on May 16, but was updated to include additional devices. Read...