High end builds are great; the high-performance CPUs and GPUs continue to push the boundaries. The performance is at the top of the charts however, most consumers don’t want or can’t afford to drop a ton of cash on their PC. Most settle in for a mid-range product on both the CPU and GPU sides. …
- Post AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU Review appeared first on Modders-Inc. #moddersinc #voidyourwarranty #casemods
Finding cheap MacBook prices can be a tough task, but we've searched through the sales to dig out the best deals on every model.
That's right, we've tracked down the latest offers for every type of Apple laptop out there. We've got you covered for the standard 12-inch MacBooks, the 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pros and if you want something that sits between the two, then you'll want to take a look at our MacBook Air section.
We've pulled the best cheap Macbook prices from the latest sales on a wide range of Apple's lineup via our price comparison technology which searches through the best retailers every day. All the newest MacBook models are covered of course, but we've also compared prices on some of the older MacBooks still readily available as you can save a lot of money by skipping back to an older model while still getting an excellent piece of tech.
All you need to do now is work out whether it’s a MacBook, a MacBook Pro or a MacBook Air that you want. We'll help though by telling you about each one of them.
If you're not quite set on a MacBook (they are rather pricey), then we have some alternative guides for you. Take a look at our selection of best laptops for other top performing machines or our cheap laptop deals for solid buys that won't break the bank as we search for great offers all year round. If the freshest MacBook prices are what you're after though, you'll find them all below.
If you're still not sorted with the deals below, you could always try the upcoming Black Friday shopping season. MacBook prices hold well, so there's no guarantee on a significant discount, but if one does appear we'll be shouting it over on our Black Friday deals guide.
The MacBook Air 2019 is only marginally different from the 2018 version which it looks set to replace. And, sales aside, the 2019 MacBook prices are already a little cheaper at some stores, so it's generally worth trying to pick up this version instead.
The 2019 MacBook Air's main selling points over the 2018 model is the addition of the MacBook Pro's True Tone screen that automatically adjusts color temperatures on the screen depending on the ambient light of the room you're working in. A new third-generation Butterfly keyboard is less likely to see keys sticking or becoming unresponsive too, which has been an issue dogging multiple MacBooks in recent years.
The MacBook Air 2018 includes the excellent Retina screen display from the far more expensive MacBook Pro models, and the bezels are 50% thinner than the previous generation of MacBook Air. The keyboard is four times as stable as before and the Force Touch trackpad is 20% bigger too, which is great for multi-touch interactions. Audio hasn't been overlooked, as the speakers are now 25% louder and a new mic array means asking Siri for assistance is easier. Touch ID has finally come to the Air series too meaning you can log in or verify purchases via a simple touch.
You also get two Thunderbolt ports, but legacy options have been removed, so you may want to consider our guides for the best USB-C adapters or the best USB-C hubs. Inside the gorgeous chassis, you get an upgraded 8th-gen dual-core processor, Intel UHD graphics and the SSDs now run 60% faster and support larger sizes than the 2017 line. We didn't expect the new MacBook Air's form factor to improve given it was already pleasingly discrete but it's now 10% smaller and a quarter of a pound lighter. The 2018 MacBook Air prices start higher than ones for the 2017 edition did, but we'll compare the latest deals for you below thanks to our engaged price comparison technology. Prices for the new MacBook Air 2018 start at $1199 / £1199 / AU$1849 for the entry level versions. So anything under that is a bonus for the newest member of the cheap MacBook Air family.
We have to admit, we thought Apple was done with the MacBook Air line after the Pro lineup became just as compact and almost as light. In 2017, Apple gave the 13-inch MacBook Air its first update since 2015. This meant you could get a much healthier 8GB of RAM instead of 4GB along with a processor upgrade to 1.8GHz (over 1.6GHz) making it much better at multi-tasking. Stock of this older MacBook Air will gradually run out at retailers as the newer model above phases it out, and MacBook prices could fluctuate due to its age. But while new stock is still available, this is your best bet for a cheap MacBook Air.
Apple didn't release a standard MacBook in 2018 or 2019, instead focusing on the Air and Pro lines, so this is the newest regular MacBook you can buy. The screen and compact dimensions on the 2017 MacBook are the same as the 2016 edition. The main improvement with the latest version is the inclusion of the 7th-gen Kaby Lake processors in either m3, i5 or i7 configurations. 2015 MacBook owners are the most likely to notice and appreciate the improvements, but if you're still looking for a cheap MacBook and the Air model doesn't provide the power you need, these MacBook prices could be for you.
The internal specifications on the 2016 12-inch MacBook might be lagging behind the most recent version nowadays, but if you're not planning on pushing the device too hard with demanding tasks then it could be a great money-saving option for you.
While some of the cheapest prices might be reserved for refurbs, the 2016 MacBook is still a fantastic device and it's one of the most portable options in Apple's laptop lineup.
The newest 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro 2019 is strictly-speaking just the 2018 model stuffed with even more powerful spec. Depending on how much cash you're willing to splash, you can get up to 32GB of RAM with 9th-gen i7 6-core or i9 8-core processor options available too.
So yes, this is easily the most powerful MacBook Pro Apple has ever released, but unless you've got some seriously demanding professional-level kit that requires that much grunt, you're probably better off checking out some of the older, cheaper MacBook Pros models below instead and saving yourself some serious cash. There are also rumours of a 16-inch MacBook Pro coming soon, so you might want to hedge your bets until then.
The 2018 version of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro is the best yet, comes with the Touch Bar as standard on most models and features a range of improvements. The screen resolution may be the same with the excellent Retina display, but now there's True Tone technology inside that senses ambient lighting in the room or outdoors to adjust the brightness of the screen for the best possible picture. The keyboard is quieter and less 'clicky' too. You're getting the brand new 8th-gen Coffee Lake core processor and the quad-core CPUs have doubled the performance of the 2017 models. With more options for larger RAM too, options really open up for creatives and professionals with the MacBook Pro 2018. If you're looking for the best MacBook Pro prices for the highest performance, the 13-inch 2018 model may be for you.
The larger 15-inch version of the 2018 MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar is generally going to cost a fair bit more than the 13-inch model, but that's not just because of the larger screen. Apple have also pumped an impressive range of specs inside this bigger model. Increased RAM supports the extra processing power (a six core Coffee Lake processor), and larger SSD storage opens your MacBook Pro to even greater multitasking and more complex workflows.
The True Tone screen technology and quieter keyboard are also added improvements over the 2017 model. This really is a powerhouse laptop for designers and industry creatives. If you don't need all that gear though, we'd consider the cheap MacBook Pro 13-inch model. Or, you could always opt for an older MacBook Pro - prices are likely to be much better.
The older 13-inch MacBook Pros are amongst the cheaper options if you want to go Pro. These versions don't come with a Touch Bar which is something to factor in when comparing how much you'll save versus the added functionality the new tech could add to your work and computing life in general.
These are incredibly light for MacBook Pros, but they still pack an incredible punch with 2.3GHz and dual core processors ranging from i5 to i7. The trackpads are larger than older MacBook Pros too and you're getting fantastic Retina displays which still look stunning today. This is a cheap MacBook Pro price that reflects the age of the laptop but also maintains that Apple power to keep your older model running well.
Why not upgrade your storage with a cheap hard drive or SSD? See the best hard drive and SSD deals.
Intel likes 5.0 GHz processors. The one area where it claims a clear advantage over AMD is in its ability to drive the frequency of its popular 14nm process. Earlier this week, we reviewed the Core i9-9990XE, which is a rare auction only CPU but with 14 cores at 5.0 GHz, built for the high-end desktop and high frequency trading market. Today we are looking at its smaller sibling, the Core i9-9900KS, built in numbers for the consumer market: eight cores at 5.0 GHz. But you’ll have to be quick, as Intel isn’t keeping this one around forever. Read on for the full review.
The cheapest MacBook Pro deals can be tough to track down on Apple's most premium line of laptops, with MacBook Pro prices rarely seeing significant discounts from Apple themselves.
That said, with MacBook Pro prices starting so high, retailers are left with plenty of scope for discounting in sales throughout the year. So check out our guide below where we've listed the cheapest MacBook Pro deals for all the latest models, along with our picks of older Apple laptops still worth checking out.
The MacBook Pro has become the go to laptop range for professionals and enthusiasts alike, absolutely powering through tasks regular laptops fear. Apple's staggering lineup of Retina screens lead the way for crisp visuals and an increasingly excellent physical design of the laptops themselves.
The latest 2019 Macbook Pro price is in keeping with its sheer power. This really is a beast of a laptop and if you want to pump it full of extra high specs you can easily start running up a hefty tab. The base model will still plough through anything you can challenge it with, however, with impressive specs to play with at the price point.
You want the best there is, but there's no reason to pay more than you should for it. If you want to save some money you could check out the other non-Pro MacBook deals or maybe even a standard cheap laptop deal.
If you've got an older MacBook Pro and want to sell it on, first visit our tutorial on how to reset a MacBook Pro.
The Macbook Pro is made for its power users. With a price point that can make everyday laptop users wary, Apple's range of lightweight super computers can seem inaccessible. If you're looking for a laptop that can handle anything, though, and will be able to handle anything for a long time into the future, then this is the laptop for you. While the Macbook Pro might have a heady overhead cost, it's an investment that will last you longer than other only slightly cheaper laptops will. So, if you're a creative or looking to power through high performance apps and complex workflows the Macbook Pro price is absolutely worth it. If you want to check your emails and watch Netflix, you might be better off elsewhere.
Holding out for a great deal on a MacBook Pro on Black Friday might not be the best idea; the laptops famously retain their value incredibly well. That said, if Apple do decide to cut their prices over the year's biggest shopping season, we'll be charting it all through our Black Friday deals guide. Stay in touch for the best MacBook Pro prices over the shopping weekend.
If you were somehow left wanting power with the older MacBook Pro, then the 2019 edition should answer your prayers for technical domination of anything you can throw at it.
If you've got the cash, the new 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro 2019 can be configured with up to 32GB of RAM with a 8-core 9th-gen i9 processor. Even the entry model on the Apple store comes packing a 6-core i7, 256GB SSD and 16GB of RAM.
As you'd expect with such great power comes great responsibility for Apple to charge you huge amounts. But this is the most powerful MacBook Pro ever made and if you're involved in the creative arts, digital design or engineering, then you might find Apple's latest is more than up to the task of the increasingly demanding apps and programs. Still not sure? Well all the rumors point towards a bigger 16-inch MacBook Pro coming later this year, which may feature additional new features.
The 2018 version of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro is the best yet, comes with the Touch Bar as standard and features a range of improvements over the older models. The screen resolution may be the same with the excellent Retina display, but now there's True Tone technology inside that senses ambient lighting in the room or outdoors to adjust the brightness of the screen for the best possible picture.
The keyboard is quieter and less 'clicky' too. You're getting the brand new 8th-gen Coffee Lake core processor and the quad-core CPUs have doubled the performance of the 2017 models. With more options for larger RAM too, options really open up for creatives and professionals with the MacBook Pro 2018. If you're looking for lower MacBook Pro price but a higher performance than most 2018 laptops, this model may be for you.
The larger 2018 15-inch MacBook Pro price reflects the boost you get in performance by choosing the bigger model. This model offers a larger screen but packs a lot more under the hood too, with Apple providing multiple options with increased RAM, extra processing power with a six core Coffee Lake processor and larger SSD storage options.
Naturally, you're getting the same improvements over the 2017 version too like the True Tone screen technology and quieter keyboard. This really is a powerhouse laptop for designers and industry creatives. If you don't need all that power though, we'd consider the cheaper 13-inch 2018 model, or maybe even the older but nicely cheap Macbook Pro 13-inch version found below if the prices are right for you.
Stock of the 2017 versions with a Touch Bar seemed to dry up pretty fast and most remaining stock actually costs more than the new 2018 upgrades, so we can't really recommend them.
This version doesn't come with the Touch Bar though, which helps keeps the cost down as it turned out to be an expensive extra feature. And unlike versions that featured the illuminated touch-keyboard element, 2017 MacBook Pro prices have dropped nicely, meaning you can save some serious cash and still get a powerful laptop.
The screen and overall shape of this cheap MacBook Pro didn't change on the previous year's iteration, but this MacBook Pro was bolstered by the Kaby Lake 7th-gen processor's speed boost. Throw in a gorgeous Retina display and a minimum of 8GB of RAM and you're looking a multitasking device suitable for everything from day-to-day activities, intensive media editing and creative design work.
Intel has quietly added two new inexpensive processors into its Comet Lake-U lineup. The Pentium Gold 6405U and Celeron 5205U CPUs will be used for entry-level thin-and-light laptops that need one of the latest-generation processors, but are not designed for performance-demanding workloads.
Intel’s Pentium Gold 6405U and Celeron 5205U are dual-core processors that run at 2.4 GHz and 1.9 GHz, respectively. Both CPUs have TDPs of 15 Watts – the same as the rest of the Comet Lake-U family – and include 2 MB of L3 cache, Intel UHD Graphics, a dual-channel DDR4/LPDDR3 memory controller, and feature 12 PCIe 2.0 lanes for expansion. Both SKUs are considerably cheaper than the rest models in the Comet Lake series (which start at $281): the Pentium Gold 6405U processor carries a $161 recommended customer price, whereas the Celeron 5205U costs $107 when purchased in 1000-units quantities.
| Intel Comet Lake-U SKUs | |||||||||||
| AnandTech | Cores |
Base GHz | 1C Turbo GHz |
AC Turbo GHz |
L3 Cache |
TDP PL1 |
IGP UHD |
IGP MHz |
DDR4 | LPDDR4X | Cost |
| i7-10710U | 6C/12T | 1.1 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 12 MB | 15W | 620 | 1150 | 2666 | 2933 | $443 |
| i7-10510U | 4C/8T | 1.8 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 8 MB | 15W | 620 | 1150 | 2666 | 2933 | $409 |
| i5-10210U | 4C/8T | 1.6 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 6 MB | 15W | 620 | 1100 | 2666 | 2933 | $297 |
| i3-10110U | 2C/4T | 2.1 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4 MB | 15W | 620 | 1000 | 2666 | 2933 | $281 |
| Pentium 6405U | 2C/4T | 2.4 | - | - | 2 MB | 15W | 610? | 950 | 2400 | ? | $161 |
| Celeron 5205U | 2C/2C | 1.9 | - | - | 2 MB | 15W | 610? | 900 | 2400 | ? | $107 |
Up until now, Intel’s Comet Lake-U family included only four CPUs, three of which were aimed at premium laptops. The addition of considerably cheaper processors allows Intel to address more market segments with its Comet Lake products by equipping its partners to build cheaper systems using the latest motherboard designs.
Otherwise, as is almost always the case for low-end Core SKUs, these are presumably salvage chips from Intel's operations. The new Pentium and Celeron chips are clocked lower than the Core i3-10110U, allowing Intel to put to work silicon that otherwise wouldn't have been usable as a Core i3. Which for Intel is particularly important at a time where demand for inexpensive U-series mobile CPUs is running high, helping the company please its partners who have suffered from tight supply of Intel’s 14 nm processors in the recent quarters.
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Source: Intel ARK (via SH SOTN)
Recently a reputable leaker claimed that Samsung was working on a Galaxy S10 Lite or Galaxy S11 Lite with the model number SM-G770F, and now that model has been benchmarked.
Spotted on Geekbench 5 by SamMobile, the phone has a Snapdragon 855 chipset and 8GB of RAM. The former is the same chipset as the Galaxy S10 range uses in the US, while the latter would mean more RAM than the base version of the Samsung Galaxy S10e.
Additionally, this phone is listed as running Android 10, and achieves a single-core score of 742 and a multi-core one of 2,604. Those results put it in line with the rest of the Galaxy S10 range and even the Galaxy Note 10 range.
There’s enough evidence of this phone to suggest that it’s likely to be a real device, but whether it’s the Galaxy S10 Lite or the Galaxy S11 Lite (or something else entirely) is still a big question.
Our money is on the Samsung Galaxy S11 Lite though. The model number suggests it’s part of the Galaxy S range, but coming this long after the rest of the S10 series, and with the Galaxy S10e already filling a ‘Lite’ roll, it seems unlikely that it would be an S10 Lite.
Then again, it is using a now-slightly-dated chipset, and we’d expect the Samsung Galaxy S11 range to use the Snapdragon 865 in regions where it uses Snapdragon chips, so we can’t be sure either way.
In any case, we should have a better idea soon. If this is the Galaxy S11 Lite then it’s likely to land alongside the rest of that range in early 2020, and if it’s the S10 Lite then it could launch even sooner.
In addition to announcing its Galaxy Book Ion notebooks, Samsung this week also introduced its convertible Galaxy Book Flex laptops. Unlike their classic counterparts, the Galaxy Book Flex PCs use Intel’s 10nm Ice Lake processors, and offer a slightly different feature set to better suited to convertibles.
Set to be available in 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch versions, Samsung’s Galaxy Book Flex convertibles come in an CNC-machined aluminum chassis with a proprietary 360-degree hinge as well as a Royal Blue finish. Typical for 2-in-1 class machines, the Galaxy Book Flex are slightly heavier when compared to conventional laptops of the same size: the 13.3-inch model weighs 1.15 kilograms, whereas the 15.6-inch model weighs starting from 1.52 kilograms. The mobile PCs are equipped with a quantum dot-enhanced QLED touch-enabled LCD featuring 600 nits brightness along with a wider-than-sRGB color gamut. Furthermore, the machines support Samsung’s Wireless PowerShare capability to charge smartphones and other Qi-compatible devices.
As noted above, Samsung’s Galaxy Book Flex notebooks are based on Intel’s 10th Generation Core processors (Ice Lake) with UHD or Iris Plus graphics, and are accompanied by up to 16 GB of LPDDR4X memory, an NVMe/PCIe SSD with capacities up to 1TB, and an optional NVIDIA GeForce MX 250 discrete GPU with 2 GB of memory in case of the 15.6-inch model.
Being a Project Athena convertible PCs, the Galaxy Book Flex support modern connectivity and multimedia technologies, though you won't find older connectors such as GbE, USB Type-A, or DisplayPort/HDMI. On the wireless side of things, the machines offer Wi-Fi 6 as well as Bluetooth. The wired department offers two Thunderbolt 3-enabled USB-C ports, one regular USB 3.0 port, a microSD/UFS card reader, and a 3.5-mm audio jack for headsets. Samsung’s notebook also comes with a fingerprint reader, a 720p webcam, a microphone array, and stereo speakers co-designed with AKG and enhanced with an amplifier.
| General Specifications of Samsung's Galaxy Book Flex | |||
| Galaxy Book Flex 13.3-inch |
Galaxy Book Flex 15.6-inch |
||
| Launch | Q4 2019 | Q4 2019 | |
| Display | Type | 13.3" | 15.6" |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 | ||
| Brightness | 600 nits | 600 nits | |
| CPU | 10th Gen Intel Core (Ice Lake) |
||
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics Intel Iris Plus Graphics |
Intel UHD Graphics Intel Iris Plus Graphics Optional: NVIDIA GeForce MX 250 2 GB |
|
| Memory | up to 16 GB DDR4 | ||
| Storage | SSD primary | up to 1 TB PCIe/NVMe SSD | |
| Card | UFS + microSD card reader | ||
| Wireless Connectivity | 2x2 Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) BT |
||
| Thunderbolt 3 | 2 × Thunderbolt 3 | ||
| USB | 1 × USB 3.0 Type-C | ||
| Display Outputs | - | ||
| Webcam | 720p webcam | ||
| Battery | 69.7 Wh | ||
| Audio | Stereo speakers with Smart Amp 1 × microphone 1× TRRS jack |
||
| Dimensions | Width | 302.6 mm | 11.91" | 355 mm | 13.97" |
| Depth | 202.9 mm | 7.98" | 227.2 mm | 8.94" | |
| Thickness | 12.9 mm | 0.5" | 14.9 mm | 0.58" | |
| Weight | 1.15 kg | 2.53 lbs | 1.52 kg | 3.35 lbs 1.57 kg | 3.46 lbs (w/ dGPU) |
|
Samsung did not touch upon prices of its Project Athena-verified convertibles, but said that the notebooks will be available this December in select countries.
Source: Samsung
Samsung has introduced its new Galaxy Book Ion lineup of laptops that bring together an ultralight weight, an innovative display with quantum dot-enhanced backlighting, and Intel’s 10th Generation Core (Comet Lake) platform. The latest notebooks are the company’s first Project Athena-class PCs, designed to meet the standards of Intel's premium PC program.
To minimize weight, Samsung’s Galaxy Book Ion notebooks come in chassis made of magnesium and are engineered for maximum portability. The machines come in a 13.3-inch and 15.6-inch form-factor, with weights starting at 0.97 kilograms and 1.19 kilograms respectively. Besides portability, the key feature of the Galaxy Book Ion laptops is their QLED Full-HD display that features up to 600 nits brightness, a high contrast ratio, and promises to support a wide color gamut. Another unique feature of the notebooks is Samsung's Wireless PowerShare, which allows the laptop to charge Qi-compatible smartphones and headsets. The Galaxy Book Ion is equipped with a 69.7 Wh battery, so while charging any client devices will deplete the laptop's battery sooner, it has a fairly significant reservoir to start with.
Inside Samsung’s Galaxy Book Ion laptops is Intel’s 10th Generation Core (Comet Lake) processor paired with up to 16 GB of DDR4 memory, as well as an SSD with capacities up to 1TB. The 15.6-inch model sports an additional SO-DIMM slot, can house one more solid-state drive, and optionally includes NVIDIA’s GeForce MX 250 discrete GPU with 2 GB of VRAM for those who need a higher performance graphics.
As we are talking about high-end Project Athena-verified notebooks, the Galaxy Book Ion has plenty of wired and wireless connectivity, including Wi-Fi 6, a Thunderbolt 3 port, two USB 3.0 Type-A port, an HDMI output, a microSD/UFS card reader, and a 3.5-mm audio jack for headsets. Of course, Samsung also equipped its laptop with a fingerprint reader, a 720p webcam, a microphone array, and stereo speakers co-designed with AKG and enhanced with an amplifier.
| General Specifications of Samsung's Galaxy Book Ion | |||
| Galaxy Book Ion 13.3-inch |
Galaxy Book Ion 15.6-inch |
||
| Launch | Q4 2019 | Q4 2019 | |
| Display | Type | 13.3" | 15.6" |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 | ||
| Brightness | 600 nits | 600 nits | |
| CPU | 10th Gen Intel Core (Comet Lake) |
||
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 630 (24 EUs) |
Intel UHD Graphics 630 (24 EUs) Optional: NVIDIA GeForce MX 250 2 GB |
|
| Memory | up to 16 GB DDR4 | up to 16 GB DDR4 + 1 SODIMM |
|
| Storage | SSD primary | up to 1 TB PCIe/NVMe SSD | |
| SSD secondary | - | Additional M.2 slot | |
| Card | UFS + microSD card reader | ||
| Wireless Connectivity | 2x2 Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) BT |
||
| Thunderbolt 3 | 1 × Thunderbolt 3 | ||
| USB | 2 × USB 3.0 Type-A | ||
| Display Outputs | DP 1.2 via TB3 HDMI |
||
| Webcam | 720p webcam | ||
| Battery | 69.7 Wh | ||
| Audio | Stereo speakers with Smart Amp 1 × microphone 1× TRRS jack |
||
| Dimensions | Width | 305.7 mm | 12.03" | 356.1 mm | 14.01" |
| Depth | 199.8 | 7.86" | 228 mm | 8.97" | |
| Thickness | 12.9 mm | 0.5" | 14.9 mm | 0.58" | |
| Weight | 0.97 kg | 2.13 lbs | 1.19 kg | 2.62 lbs 1.26 kg | 2.77 lbs (w/ dGPU) |
|
Samsung will start sales of its Galaxy Book Ion notebooks in December. Actual prices are unknown, but we are clearly talking premium products here.
Related Reading:
Source: Samsung
Dark mode for WhatsApp is expected to appear very soon, and we've managed to glean several hints and previews suggesting what it will look like when it arrives.
Since the launch of Android 10 and iOS 13, both of which feature their own system-wide dark modes, developers have been rushing to create dark versions of their apps. Google Chrome, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter all have smart dark options available, but so far WhatsApp has remained pale and interesting. That all looks likely to change, though.
If you want to be the first to try dark mode for WhatsApp when it arrives, we recommend joining the beta program so you'll be able to test it before it rolls out worldwide. If you use an Android device, you can sign up and download the beta through the Google Play Store.
The beta program for iOS is currently full, but it could re-open at any time. If it does, you'll need to install TestFlight on your device, then sign up to join the program.
According to WABetaInfo, which specializes in dissecting WhatsApp beta releases, the app's developers are currently working on a dark mode for its iOS and Android apps, and optimizing the new design before its release.
Exploring the WhatsApp beta's install files reveals various assets labelled 'night mode', including these new black and dark teal message bubbles
Even if you're a member of the beta program, you won't see an option to activate dark mode, but trawling through the app's APK files reveals various graphic assets that will be used when it's eventually released.
It looks like the new color scheme will be mainly dark blue/green rather than black or gray, and will be activated automatically if you've selected your phone's system-wide dark mode. The app's splash screen is also expected to be darkened, which will avoid the problem some apps have where a person using dark mode is startled by an unexpected burst of white light.
WhatsApp's sticker and emoji menus have been updated with dark backgrounds, and developers have been hard at work adapting the app's signature message bubbles to suit the new look.
This will be the default wallpaper for WhatsApp's new dark mode
We could also see a handful of other new features arriving along with dark mode, including self-destructing messages that are deleted after a certain period of time. Based on leaked screengrabs, it looks as though you'll be able to set messages to be erased after a period between five minutes and an hour.
Rival messaging apps Facebook Messenger, Telegram and Signal already offer a similar feature, so it's an overdue addition to WhatsApp.
Beta releases have also revealed a new option that will allow you to completely hide updates from muted contacts. Currently, if you mute a contact, their updates will appear grayed out, but still visible. When the new update rolls out, you'll be able to hide them fully, and only see them if you choose to.
We don't yet know; WhatsApp's developers don't appear to be in any hurry to complete and release the app's dark mode, and have yet to reveal when the option will become available.
When WhatsApp finally receives its dark makeover, we'll provide full instructions explaining how to activate it and start messaging in style.
One of the main reasons you might want to try dark mode for WhatsApp is to extend battery life, but there are other ways to make the app less power-hungry until the setting becomes available.
Enter the app's settings, select 'Chats' and tap 'Wallpaper', then choose 'Solid color' and select something darker than the standard pale gray background. This won't change the color of the message bubbles, menus and other interface elements, but Google's research has found that black pixels drain substantially less power than other colors.
It's not the same as an actual dark mode, but switching to a black wallpaper can help save a little battery life when you're using WhatsApp
By default, WhatsApp will download a lot of files in the background, which can really drain your phone's battery, so you can also conserve power by opening WhatsApp's settings and selecting 'Data and storage usage'.
Here. you can choose when media should be downloaded (when you're using mobile data, when you're connected to Wi-Fi, and when you're roaming). If you turn these off, videos and images sent in messages will only be downloaded when you tap them.
Activating your phone's own power-saving mode is another way to make it last longer between charges. Depending on which setting you choose, this may turn down the brightness of your screen, stop apps sending and receiving data when they run in the background, and limit CPU speed. It's up to you whether you're willing to take the performance hit in order to extend your battery life.
Intel processors are vulnerable to exploitation if they are running hyper-threading, and if you want full security for your CPU, you should disable that feature (which will obviously come at a considerable performance hit in some cases).
This is according to Greg Kroah-Hartman, a Linux kernel developer who shared his thoughts on security at the Open Source Summit Europe in Lyons (which finishes today), as highlighted by The Register.
The problem as outlined by Kroah-Hartman – and indeed others – is that hyper- threading is dangerous territory because of bugs that can be exploited in MDS or Microarchitectural Data Sampling.
If that sounds familiar, you might have remembered it from the ZombieLoad episode back in May, where it first came to light along with other MDS-based exploits including Fallout and RIDL.
The only way to be truly safe from any potential attack vector along these lines is simply to switch off hyper-threading. Kroah-Hartman said of OpenBSD (an open source security-focused OS): “A year ago they said disable hyper-threading, there’s going to be lots of problems here. They chose security over performance at an earlier stage than anyone else. Disable hyper-threading. That’s the only way you can solve some of these issues. We are slowing down your workloads. Sorry.”
You might further recall that when ZombieLoad stumbled onto the scene, Apple advised that the only way Mac users could be sure of ‘full mitigation’ against attacks was not just to apply the relevant security patches, but also to disable hyper- threading (at an up to 40% performance hit for some users, Apple estimated).
Hyper-threading, for the uninitiated, is where a CPU core is split into two virtual cores (or threads), and it can help considerably with heavier tasks and workloads requiring multiple cores (AMD calls this simultaneous multi-threading or SMT).
But splitting tasks across cores in this manner can lead to potential problems, as Kroah-Hartman explains: “MDS is where one program can read another program’s data. That's a bad thing when you are running in a shared environment such as cloud computing, even between browser tabs.
“You can cross virtual machine boundaries with a lot of this. MDS exploits the fact that CPUs are hyper-threaded, with multiple cores on the same die that share caches. When you share caches, you can detect what the other CPU core was doing.”
In short, exploiting these vulnerabilities can actually let an attacker steal data from an application that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to access.
A further worry is that there are so many of these potential issues and variants of speculative execution attacks therein, that a ton of patching is needed on a pretty constant basis – indeed fixes are still being deployed for the initial Spectre bug from two years ago.
That’s why you need to have all the latest security patches for your OS, and the latest BIOS version, although even then, with hyper-threading running there’s the possibility of vulnerabilities which haven’t been found yet lurking in the background.
Hence all the advice on being truly secure pointing to disabling hyper-threading.
Kroah-Hartman adds: “If you’re not using a supported distro, or a stable long-term kernel, you have an insecure system. It’s that simple. All those embedded devices out there, that are not updated, totally easy to break.”
The Internet of Things, of course, has long been a major concern on the security front.
You may recall that earlier this year, AMD took the time to clarify that its processors are immune to ZombieLoad and these MDS vulnerabilities, and the Linux developer confirmed that using simultaneous multi-threading with AMD chips is indeed a safe option (going by what’s known at the current time, anyway).
However, before all Intel processor owners go running for the hills in a panic about flawed security, bear in mind that the actual odds of being targeted by such an attack are likely to be fairly slim outside of the corporate world.
It’s not clear how many speculative execution vulnerabilities have actually been leveraged by attackers to good (or rather bad) effect to date, simply because it’s very hard to even detect these intrusions.
The average home user probably won’t ever be targeted, but there’s the rub – ‘probably’ is a very different word to ‘definitely’, and it still comes back to the fact that if you want your Intel PC to be truly secure from these kind of attacks, hyper-threading remains a potential hole in your computer’s security.
And of course, it’s also worth noting that all this is happening against a backdrop of Intel allegedly bringing hyper-threading to the entire range of its next-gen Comet Lake processors.
Xiaomi ha un grande evento in programma per il 5 novembre in Cina, dove svelerà il nuovo Mi TV 5 che potrebbe imporsi come uno dei televisori QLED più convenienti sul mercato.
La gamma Mi TV di Xiaomi ha avuto molto successo grazie al prezzo aggressivo dei pannelli grandi e ad alta risoluzione che la concorrenza non poteva eguagliare. Il Mi TV 5 è in procinto di continuare la tendenza passando ai pannelli QLED.
I pannelli QLED hanno il Quantum Dots Filter posto davanti a una retroilluminazione LCD, che porta ad un'eccellente luminosità e resa del bianco rispetto agli OLED. La maggior parte dei televisori di fascia alta di Samsung e OnePlus optano per i pannelli QLED.
Mi TV 5 teaser
Non sorprende che Xiaomi stia prendendo di mira questo segmento con la sua nuova gamma di Quantum Dot Mi TV 5. La società ha anche confermato l’utilizzo dei pannelli QLED 4K di Samsung e vanta una copertura della gamma di colori NTSC del 108%. Si prevede il supporto per un sacco di piattaforme OTT e PatchWall.
Nello stesso evento, la società lancerà lo smartphone Mi CC9 Pro, che sarà la prima configurazione penta-cam da 108 MP al mondo e il Mi Watch, che sarà il primo smartwatch di Xiaomi.
Si prevede che CC9 Pro arriverà sui mercati globali come Mi Note 10, portando una CPU Snapdragon 730G, una grande batteria da 5.000+ mAh con supporto per la ricarica rapida e l'iconica configurazione a 5 obiettivi.
Tra gli obiettivi troveremo una fotocamera principale da 108 MP con un ultra-grandangolo da 117°, un obiettivo macro e un teleobiettivo con zoom ottico 5x, uno zoom ibrido 10x e uno zoom digitale 50x.
In the last few year’s we’ve seen an increasing amount of talk about RISC-V and it becoming real competitor to the Arm in the embedded market. Indeed, we’ve seen a lot of vendors make the switch from licensing Arm’s architecture and IP designs to the open-source RISC-V architecture and either licensed or custom-made IP based on the ISA. While many vendors do choose to design their own microarchitectures to replace Arm-based microcontroller designs in their products, things get a little bit more complicated once you scale up in performance. It’s here where SiFive comes into play as a RISC-V IP vendor offering more complex designs for companies to license – essentially a similar business model to Arm’s – just that it’s based on the new open ISA.
Today’s announcement marks a milestone in SiFive’s IP offering as the company is revealing its first ever out-of-order CPU microarchitecture, promising a significant performance jump over existing RISC-V cores, and offering competitive PPA metrics compared to Arm’s products. We’ll be taking a look at the microarchitecture of the new U8 Series CPU and how it’s built and what it promises to deliver.
We live in a networked world where every computing device can be connected to the internet, whether business computers, laptops, or smartphones, but sometimes Wi-Fi can struggled to keep up.
Wi-Fi 6 is the seamless connectivity we already knew we needed. Five years ago, 11ac Wi-Fi (now rebadged as Wi-Fi 5) entered the scene with drastically improved speeds (2.8× faster) - but it is now facing new challenges.
Thanks to the proliferation of smart home devices and the Internet of Things (IoT), your home network is struggling. To be smart, each of these devices needs access to the internet, and with so many devices fighting connectivity your router will be overwhelmed, bringing your network to a grinding halt.
And there is no end in sight for our appetite for smart devices, take smart speakers, 40% of UK households plan to purchase a voice-controlled digital home assistant device in the next five years.
To meet consumer demand, Wi-Fi is now welcoming its next iteration and bringing with it a new standard—Wi-Fi 6. While Wi-Fi 5 focused on increasing speed, Wi-Fi 6 is designed to do more than simply boost speeds.
It aims to solve congestion, reducing latency and satisfy the growing need for efficient Wi-Fi connections, by supporting more simultaneous device connections without compromising on the experience. But first, we should really answer the basic question.
Wi-Fi 6 is the newest Wi-Fi standard. Obviously, given that it’s Wi-Fi, it wirelessly connects you to the internet. The number 6 indicates that it is the sixth iteration of Wi-Fi standards. Like previous Wi-Fi standards, Wi-Fi 6 was built to facilitate increased network speeds whilst aiming to solve the congestion from having more connected devices than ever before.
Wi-Fi 6 is designed to facilitate today’s gluttonous data consumption. Driven by streaming services like Netflix, YouTube and Twitch every home needs a high speed, stable and secure network, including Wi-Fi extenders. It’s in congested homes that the benefits of Wi-Fi 6 are really felt. With a single connected device Wi-Fi 6 enables data transfer speeds up to 40% faster than capable with Wi-Fi 5. However, it’s under heavy network loads that Wi-Fi 6 truly shines. But why would you want it?
Basically, Wi-Fi 6 enables faster than Gigabit data transfer speeds over wireless. In real world testing, Wi-Fi 6’s single stream speed has been raised to 1.2 Gbps—20% faster than connecting via gigabit Ethernet.
When you look at the theoretical top speed, Wi-Fi 6 reaches 9.6 Gbps (compared to Wi-Fi 5 which clocks in at 6.9 Gbps). Most wireless routers won't currently be able to support this speed—8 antennas and huge amounts of power are required—however wireless speeds higher than 1 Gbps still deliver three core advantages:
The need for a new generation of robust and high performance wireless networks is being amplified by the rapid uptake of connected consumer devices. It’s estimated that by 2030, the average person will own 15 connected devices and networks must be ready and prepared to perform at their best when users are constantly expanding their set of devices and using mesh Wi-Fi routers for connecting large homes, as well as operating across a number of these devices simultaneously.
When devices are added to a network, the performance typically reduces as routers can only communicate with one device at one time (though the multi-user wireless technology, MU-MIMO makes simultaneous communication possible for up to four devices). This causes other devices to wait and inevitably reducing their speeds. Wi-Fi 5 has struggled to tackle these emerging problems. For example, downloading videos might make your game lag or video chatting with a friend may jitter in low-quality when another member of your household streams an HD movie or listens to Spotify on wireless earbuds.
To make Wi-Fi sharing frictionless for every user, Wi-Fi 6 introduces a core technology that drastically improves the connectivity - OFDMA - which calculates the bandwidth needs of each client. This enables sending or receiving data for multiple clients in one broadcast simultaneously possible, so that Wi-Fi performance remains seamless, which you can check with network monitoring tools. To put this into context, imagine a series of delivery trucks delivering data. Under Wi-Fi 5, one truck (one broadcast) only carries data for one person. Yet with the new standard, each truck can now carry data for multiple people, as long as the space is sufficient.
This serves modern applications such as through gaming routers and streaming extremely well, by cutting the latency and improving average speed. OFDMA technology was applied to mobile networks to improve data transfer speeds to phones and successfully resolved the congestion problem. Now, you know why the Wi-Fi network in the airport lags, yet your phone can flawlessly stream videos in the same location by switching to your 4G mobile network.
MU-MIMO also gets a make over in Wi-Fi 6. MU-MIMO was introduced in Wi-Fi 5 as an amendment and allows up to four streams for different devices. Going back to the delivery truck example, think of these streams as the four highways the trucks can run on. However, it only works in the downlink direction and with Wi-Fi 6, the number of streams available has doubled. Now, there are eight “highways” for devices to simultaneously connect through and MU-MIMO works both for uplink and downlink.
With upload speeds traditionally slower than that of downloads, the capacity increase facilitated by the technology allows for the same level of performance in both scenarios - whether this be lag-free video calling, faster file transfer to the cloud as well as streaming on entertainment sites, such as Twitch and YouTube, as well as adding wireless devices to your network, such as wireless chargers and wireless printers.
Wi-Fi has been using WPA2 as its recommended security protocol since 2004. However, WPA2 is crackable—a hacker can capture data from the Wi-Fi streams and try millions of combinations to figure out a password. With the right match, the hacker can use these credentials to connect to the Wi-Fi network, and all things transferred within it become accessible and at high risk of compromise.
In an effort to mitigate this risk, every security agency is inevitably urging people to use passwords consisting of random letters, numbers and symbols to make the security codes harder to crack. However, most people will agree that remembering (or even smoothly typing) a password like this can be extremely difficult.
Within Wi-Fi 6, WPA3 is introduced to resolve this issue, by generating a live password with every data transmission. The password that matches that particular data is no longer valid by the next transmission, forcing hackers to guess the password by interacting with Wi-Fi devices.
This method won’t necessarily work, however, as Wi-Fi devices can block the hacker’s device if it fails too many times. This means that users can keep their networks secure whilst using a password which is much easier to remember. This will result in much more secure routers.
What’s more, new security protocols were announced in 2018 by the Wi-F Alliance, and Wi-Fi 6 will be backing this new protocol to become the new, mandatory Wi-Fi encryption method.
After fixing the safety issues, Wi-Fi 6 keeps on giving. Users will be delighted that two new features within Wi-Fi 6 will extend battery life on smartphones and tablets, so they can go longer between charges.
Firstly, Target Wake Time schedules the transmission cycle for each device, which allows devices to “sleep” more. In other words, mobile devices can keep their antenna deactivated and only turn it on at the times negotiated with the router, resulting in longer battery life.
Wi-Fi 6 also allows a power-saving 20 MHz stream to coexist with the high-speed 160 Mhz. This feature is particularly useful for battery powered IoT devices like wireless cameras and sensors. All devices connecting to a Wi-Fi 5 network are set to 80 MHz, and will maintain the same speed using the same bandwidth.
Given that devices won't be switched over to the new standard overnight, just like its predecessor, Wi-Fi 6 is fully backwards compatible with older Wi-Fi standards—without needing extra settings. Introducing a Wi-Fi 6 router can prepare a home network for the future of Wi-Fi, whilst improving the network experience on existing Wi-Fi devices with next-generation routers, by bringing cutting-edge hardware that outperform models with past iterations of the Wi-Fi standard.
With its huge potential to deliver on the need for seamless connectivity, Wi-Fi 6 devices are starting to make waves across the consumer market —Samsung, Dell, and Razer have all included Wi-Fi 6 support in their latest products. The recently launched iPhone 11 also supports Wi-Fi 6 - a trend which will undoubtedly become standard for all new devices entering the consumer technology market in due course.
What’s more, we’re now also seeing another wave of products - which make existing devices Wi-Fi 6 enabled - emerge and present users with another way to improve their connectivity performance.
While users may not necessarily purchase a laptop simply because it is Wi-Fi 6-enabled, there are various advantages to be had for investing in the future stability and performance of a Wi-Fi network, as both work and life become increasingly connected.
For example, Wi-Fi 6 routers utilise the latest CPU and chipset, which are significantly more powerful than a Wi-Fi 5 router and typically at the same price. When it comes to speed, Wi-Fi 6 devices are more likely to maintain a higher speed when connecting more devices, than a Wi-Fi 5 router with a similar speed. Running memory is also higher than that of Wi-Fi 5 routers, meaning they can bear more data for multiple applications.
Working in conjunction with advances in modern networking hardware, the unique traits of Wi-Fi 6 hold huge potential for a future of frictionless connectivity in both consumer and enterprise settings. With better support for device ecosystems as they continue to grow, utilising this technology will eliminate Wi-Fi challenges set by the pace of modern technology and enable users to take full advantage of tomorrow’s technology, today.
Will Liu is the Managing Director of TP-Link UK.
Today AMD announced their third quarter earnings for the 2019 fiscal year, and AMD has not seen revenue like this for a long time – in fact this is the highest quarterly revenue since 2005 for the company. AMD’s revenue jumped 9% year-over-year to $1.8 billion, and at least as importantly, AMD had gross margins of 43%, which is up 3% over last year, and the highest margins they’ve seen since 2012. Operating income was up 24% to $186 million, and net income was up 18% to $120 million. This resulted in earnings-per-share of $0.11, up 22% from Q3 2018.
| AMD Q3 2019 Financial Results (GAAP) | |||||
| Q3'2019 | Q2'2019 | Q3'2018 | |||
| Revenue | $1801M | $1531M | $1653M | ||
| Gross Margin | 43% | 41% | 40% | ||
| Operating Income | $186M | $59M | $150M | ||
| Net Income | $120M | $35M | $102M | ||
| Earnings Per Share | $0.11 | $0.03 | $0.09 | ||
This is the first full quarter for AMD since the launch of their 7 nm Zen 2 processor, and AMD attributes the revenue growth to the Computing and Graphics, but offset by lower revenue in Enterprise, Embedded, and Semi-Custom. Revenue for the Computing and Graphics segment was up 36% year-over-year to $1.28 billion, thanks to both increased volume and Average Selling Price (ASP) for Ryzen on the desktop. GPU ASP also increased year-over-year thanks to higher channel sales. The Computing and Graphics segment had operating income of $179 million, which is up 79% from a year ago.
| AMD Q3 2019 Computing and Graphics | |||||
| Q3'2019 | Q2'2019 | Q3'2018 | |||
| Revenue | $1276M | $940M | $938M | ||
| Operating Income | $179M | $22M | $100M | ||
Enterprise, Embedded, and Semi-Custom had revenue of $525 million for the quarter, down 27% year-over-year, mostly attributed to semi-custom sales, which makes sense since a large chunk of that is for the AMD APU powering both the Sony PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Xbox One, both of which are scheduled for new models in the next calendar year. Offsetting this was higher EPYC processor sales, although not enough of an offset to cover the semi-custom drop. Operating income for this segment was $61 million, down 29% from a year ago.
| AMD Q3 2019 Enterprise, Embedded and Semi-Custom | |||||
| Q3'2019 | Q2'2019 | Q3'2018 | |||
| Revenue | $525M | $591M | $715M | ||
| Operating Income | $61M | $89M | $86M | ||
Finally, AMD’s All Other category reported an operating loss of $54 million, which is a 50% larger loss than a year ago.
AMD had some big news in Q3, with multiple design wins for both Ryzen and EPYC, including Cray’s Shasta supercomputer leveraging 2nd Generation EPYC, and AMD getting a big design win in the PC space with the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3.
Looking ahead to Q4, AMD is expecting revenue of $2.1 billion, plus or minus $50 million, with a Non-GAAP gross margin of approximately 44%.
Source: AMD Investor Relations
The best PCs pack more power now than ever before. They’ve evolved to the point of packing eight-core processors and super high-end graphics cards, some of which offer real time ray tracing – things that were not possible only a few years back. Staying on the cutting edge in 2019 means getting one of the best PCs included on this list, even if most of what you’ll do is browse Facebook and surf the internet.
The good news is, the best PCs available right now are also more affordable than ever, which means that regardless of what your budget might be, you'll find one that's not ideal for you and your needs, but can also keep you on the cutting edge. You can pick up a solid PC or even an all-in-one desktop for around $500 (about £390, AU$715), for example.
In addition, many of the best PCs will last you a lifetime as they are upgradeable. It’s easy to keep them up to date by fitting in new and improved PC components, like fast SSDs, more RAM and possibly even the best graphics card.
With so many options to choose from, deciding on the best PC for you, your needs and your budget can get confusing. So we gathered all the best computers on the market, paying close attention to those that hit that sweet spot between price and performance.
Here are our top picks for the best PCs 2019 has on offer. Peruse the list and pick out what you like.
One of the best PCs right now, the Dell XPS Tower is packed with high-end components.
The Dell XPS Tower looks unremarkable, like that PC your parents used to have hidden away underneath the desk when you were a kid. However, its no-nonsense chassis hides quite a selection of exciting internals. One of the best PCs right now, the Dell XPS Tower is packed with up to an RTX 2070 graphics card, a 9th-generation Intel Core processor, and a large hard drive and/or SSD. This special edition PC configuration is only available in the US. However, UK and Australian readers can grab the regular Dell XPS Tower and then add similar upgrades, though there are some limitations such as the graphics card options topping out with the GTX 1060.
Read the full review: Dell XPS Tower Special Edition
This device is meant for the digital artist or other visually-focused content creators.
The Surface Studio 2 isn’t going to compare well against most PCs, but that’s only because it was never designed to compete with them in the first place. This device is meant for the digital artist or other visually-focused content creators, and even with aging parts, it’s still the most robust digital drafting table on the market. It boasts a bright, vibrant display, and improved specs next to its predecessor. If you’re a digital artist or a content creator who’s visually-focused, this is the best computer for you.
Read the full review: Surface Studio 2
If don’t have a lot of desk space, then Intel Hades Canyon NUC may just be ideal for you.
If you want an excellent desktop experience, but don’t have a lot of desk space, then Intel Hades Canyon NUC may just be ideal for you. This small bare-bones PC has an absurdly fast 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and discrete-class AMD Radeon graphics. Adding some RAM and storage to the mix, and you will be conquering the best PC games without breaking a sweat. It won’t compete against a full-sized desktop, but when you’re short on space – or you want a PC that looks like a set-top box – this is one of the best PCs to consider.
Read the full review: Intel Hades Canyon NUC
The Alienware Aurora R8 has all the makings of a powerful gaming PC.
While costing a pretty penny when souped up, the Alienware Aurora R8 has all the makings of a powerful gaming PC, including 9th-generation Intel Core chips and some of the best Nvidia GTX and RTX graphics for gaming. This model has been succeeded by the Alienware Aurora R9, which boasts a cool-looking exterior, but their specs are practically comparable. Only, the R8 will set you back a couple of hundred dollars/pounds less, giving you more for your money. Get ready to be impressed by this PCs’ 1440p gaming performance.
Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R8
The Corsair One Pro i180’s breathtaking performance should be enough to convince you to splurge.
If that cool, slimline design and that Corsair One name aren’t enough to convince you to upgrade to this latest offering, then the Corsair One Pro i180’s breathtaking performance should. This is among the most powerful desktop computers we’ve ever had the pleasure of testing, albeit the most expensive as well – so get a hammer and break that piggy bank. This will more than handle your favorite AAA games, as well as see you through your creative workload quietly and without breaking a sweat. And, it’s reasonably upgradeable as well, making it future-proof.
Read the full review: Corsair One Pro i180
Your bank account will be spared if you jump on the Mac mini bandwagon.
It’s easy to think of Apple computers as overpriced, but your bank account will be spared if you jump on the Mac mini bandwagon. The Mac mini 2018 is a small form-factor PC that looks adorable and also packed tight with high-end desktop parts. And, that’s all for a much more accessible price than any other Mac on the market, making it a great buy for anyone who already has a slew of Mac-ready peripherals or for a Mac fan who doesn’t have the budget for a Mac Pro. What’s more, unlike many of Apple’s recent products, the Mac mini is relatively upgradeable – you can boost your memory up to 64GB of RAM.
Read the full review: Apple Mac mini
Looking more like a thumb drive than an actual computer, this tiny renegade can connect to any monitor.
Some people have issues with desktop PCs, as they’re often rather bulky. The Intel Core Compute Stick has made that irrelevant. Looking more like a thumb drive than an actual computer, this tiny renegade can connect to any monitor with an HDMI input. Its base starts with a lowly 1.33GHz Intel Atom processor running Linux, but can be configured up to an Intel Core m5 processor. This is one of the best PCs, but one that you can literally slip in your pocket, whether you need to get some work done during your daily commute or squeeze in some PC time while you’re traveling.
| Product | Dell XPS Tower Special Edition | Microsoft Surface Studio 2 | Intel Hades Canyon NUC | Alienware Aurora R7 | Corsair One i160 | Apple Mac mini (Late 2018) | HP Pavilion Wave | Intel Compute Stick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7-8700 | Intel Core i7-7820HQ | Intel Core i7-8809G | Intel Core i7-8700K | Intel Core i9-9900K | Intel Core i3-8100 | Intel Core i5-7400T | Intel Atom x5-Z8500 |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 | Radeon RX Vega M GH graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | AMD Radeon R9 M470 | N/A |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 | 32GB DDR4 | 16GB DDR4 | 32GB DDR4 | 32GB DDR4 | 8GB DDR4 | 16GB DDR3 | 2GB LPDDR3 |
| Storage | 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD, 1TB HDD (7,200 rpm) | 1TB PCIe SSD | 118GB Intel Optane SSD 800P Series (NVMe), 512GB Intel SSD 545s Series (M.2 SATA) | 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD, 2TB HDD | 480GB M.2 NVMe SSD, 2TB HDD | 128GB PCIe SSD | 1TB HDD | 32GB |
Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article
Image Credits: TechRadar
