Qualcomm declared a “full victory” in its ongoing litigation with Arm, as a judge tossed out the remaining claim outstanding between the two companies in Arm’s suit. Qualcomm, meanwhile, has previously sued Arm for breach of contract and interference with customer relationships. That trial is expected to kick off in March 2026, the company said in a press release. The litigation goes back to Qualcomm’s agreement to purchase Nuvia in 2021, which would give Qualcomm access to a team of engineers that the company hoped would improve its Snapdragon 8-series chips into something more competitive. It did, producing the Snapdragon X Elite design in 2023. Arm didn’t see it that way. It sued Qualcomm in 2022, arguing that the company, via Nuvia, was illegally using Arm’s intellectual property. In October 2024, Arm notified Qualcomm that it would terminate its architectural license. (Although Nuvia’s license was terminated, Qualcomm’s independent license continued in effect.) The matter went to court, where a district judge ruled in favor of Qualcomm on all counts, save one: whether Nuvia had breached the architectural license that Arm had granted it. A judge in a Delaware district court has found in favor of Qualcomm, resolving the case. Ann Chaplin, the general counsel for Qualcomm, called the decision a “full and final judgment.” Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Unique keycaps and body Gorgeous design Luxurious typing Cons No wireless Few customization options Pricey Our Verdict The Keychron Q16 HE is pricey, but not ridiculous Considering its unique ceramic material. But if you want more customization options, you can just buy ceramic keycaps and put them on a standard mechanical board. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Keychron Q16 HE keyboard Retailer Price Keychron $240 View Deal Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices What makes a keyboard “premium”? Is it the feel and experience of typing, its technical or gaming capabilities, the way it looks? Of course it’s all of them, in varying degrees depending on the model and your particular desires. But for Keychron’s latest keyboard, it comes down to just one thing: the material. And that material is ceramic. The Q16 HE is the first mechanical keyboard (at least the first that I’m aware of) that uses shiny, slick ceramic material for both the keycaps and the body of the keyboard itself. That latter point is an important distinction, as ceramic keycaps have been available from other vendors for a couple of years. Underneath that headline feature is Keychron’s typical set of Q series capabilities, including hot-swap switches, a chunky body, plenty of RGB, and lots of easy programming options. It notably omits wireless and some customization, but the “HE” designation means the magnetic switches have adjustable actuation. That’ll be an acceptable trade for at least some gamers. Michael Crider/Foundry “Premium” has another important meaning: pricey. So if money is any concern for you at all, it’s vital to determine whether the premium materials are worth the premium price of $230. Considering that similarly equipped Q-series boards go for almost as much, and a set of ceramic keycaps would cost at least $100 in and of itself, the asking price isn’t unreasonable. I wish the keyboard was a little bigger than this 65% form factor, and had a rotary dial. But for something so specialized, I guess going larger would make the price shoot even higher, and having at least the option of portability isn’t too bad.  Tickling the ivories The custom keycaps of the Q16 HE (which come in white or black, to extend the piano theme) are not as heavy as grand piano keys. They’re smaller, of course, and it’s only the top and sides of the keycaps that are made of ceramic material. Underneath is a base and stem made of plastic, possibly POM to my eyes (though I won’t swear to it). I assume that’s because ceramic material is too brittle to be made into a thin stem without breaking under repeated stress. Michael Crider/Foundry That said, these are very thick, very premium keycaps — the only ones I’ve tried that are heavier are made out of steel. And the slippery glaze on them feels unique and satisfying, “premium” in every sense. Though the ceramic material never comes in contact with the switch or the keyboard’s metal plate, they are extremely “thocky” nonetheless. Normally, I abhor this kind of thing, but I really think a sound test is necessary for the sake of evaluation. So PCWorld readers, I present to you my very first and hopefully last attempt at ASMR: These keycaps are, in a word, fancy. I think just about anyone will enjoy them, unless they’re one of those people who simply doesn’t like the long travel of mechanical keys and prefer a laptop-style keyboard. The only exception is if you’re, well, not very good at typing, and your fingers have a tendency to slip. If that’s the case, the slick ceramic glaze — far more slippery than even the cheapest plastic — might present a problem. This could also be the case for those who have mobility or dexterity issues. Underneath the keycaps are Keychron’s custom-produced (read: Gateron-supplied) magnetic switches, “Lime” designated, though colors have long since ceased to have any relationship to the switch’s function. They’re rather light at 48 grams on the spring, and linear, extremely so, thanks to the nature of hall effect magnetic switches.  Michael Crider/Foundry If that’s not to your taste, you can swap them out…but your options will be very limited. Keychron sells three variants, Gateron many more, but still a tiny fraction of the options available to a standard keyboard. You give up a lot of customization options for that adjustable actuation functionality. And if you want anything except linear switches, you give up all of them.  Customization options are lacking Speaking of customization, there isn’t much to this keyboard’s hardware in that respect. Unlike other Q-series boards you need to remove the screws in the plate itself to open it, presumably because that ceramic body is a single piece and drilling holes into it isn’t easy. Underneath is a single layer of foam, one of thin plastic, and there’s another layer between the plate and the PCB. Not a whole lot to work with, and as is the standard for the series, there are no adjustable feet. Boo.  Michael Crider/Foundry What the Q16 HE lacks in hardware modding options it more than makes up for with Keychron’s software customization tools…if “software” applies to a browser-based interface. The Keychron Launcher can handle everything you need in terms of mapping adjustments, lighting, macros, firmware updating, et cetera. I think Keychron has the best, easiest, most straightforward interface for this stuff, as long as you don’t need any connections to external apps or gaming functions.  But about those gaming functions. They’re pretty limited compared to other adjustable actuation keyboards, though I doubt many people will care. You can set the actuation distance for all keys or individual ones, and activate “rapid trigger” for incredibly fast settings (you might also know this as “snap tap”). And you can bind a single key to an impressive eight commands on the down or up stroke, which is so specialized that I think you might actually need to be superhuman in order to make use of them all. And Keychron includes a “Gamepad Analog” setting that lets you get pretty close to true analog input.  Keychron But the Achilles’ heel of Keychron’s keyboard customization is that it can’t be bound to specific games, like most of the alternatives from Razer, Corsair, et cetera. Granted, that’s a tradeoff for the browser-based interface, and unlike Keychron’s Lemokey sub-brand, this keyboard is not marketed specifically at gamers (even though it has that ridiculous 8,000Hz polling rate). So I’m less put-off by this weakness than I would be in a specific gaming keyboard at this price, though speaking as a mechanical keyboard fan, I’d still prefer standard switches for far more options.  Is the Keychron Q16 HE keyboard worth it? The Q16 HE is a fancy, pricey keyboard for those who want a fancy, pricey keyboard, and it isn’t a ripoff given those qualifications. I’m not going to tell you that putting ceramic on top of plastic keycaps fundamentally changes the nature of mechanical keyboards, and for myself, it’s not something I’d really seek out or pay extra to acquire. But for those who really like the feel and/or sound of those heavy, clacky keys, and want a full board that complements them, it’s a pretty great buy. Michael Crider/Foundry That being said, there isn’t a whole lot that makes this particular keyboard stand out against others in its price range aside from the ceramic body. And since you’re not getting handsy with the body while you’re using it, I’d put some serious thought into just buying ceramic keycaps for the keyboard you already have as an alternative, especially if you want options for switches beyond the extremely limited selection from Gateron.  I can think of an extremely specific situation where this would make a great gift: If you want to give a special keyboard to a piano player. That’s about as perfect as it gets. Read...

There are a lot of underutilized technologies in common PC apps that are really useful once you discover them. One on my list is Object Character Recognition (OCR) technology. You’ll find OCR in Google Docs, for example, which makes the app ideal for converting handwriting to text on your PC. I’ve started using it to create text versions of handwritten notes I’ve just scribbled down on scraps of paper, so that I can share them with family and friends. But any kind of handwritten notes can be converted in Google Docs, whether they be letters, family recipes, or even your weekly shopping list. In this “how to” I’m going to show you how to convert a handwritten note of a list of party supplies to text in just three simple steps. What to do: Scan a handwritten document with your chosen smartphone app. Adobe Scan or Office Lens are two possibilities. Upload the image from your smartphone to Google Drive and open Google Drive on your PC. Then all you have to do is right click on the uploaded image and select Open With > Google Docs. This will automatically open the image and will make a copy of the text in the image beneath it. You can then delete the image if you don’t need it and just use the text. Katherine Stevenson Note: The handwriting usually converts as text with formatting all askew, so you’re going to want to format the text afterwards. Then what you do with your document is up to you; you might like to copy and paste it into Microsoft Word for more editing.    That’s all for this tip. Be sure to sign up to the Try This newsletter to receive more of these tips delivered to your inbox twice per week. PCWorld sends out a bunch of other newsletters too, so be sure to browse the list and opt-in to any that you like. Read...

Insurwave appointed Adrian Morgan as CEO from September 2025 to drive expansion of its AI-powered exposure management platform in specialty insurance. Read...

Kyndryl launches its secure Agentic AI Framework to help businesses scale AI adoption securely and integrate AI into core operations across industries. Read...

It has not said how much the storage plans will cost UK users, only that they were part of a `gradual global rollout`. Read...

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days 2025 lands October 7-8, but why wait? These early laptop deals let you get a jump on the savings before the main event. (Check out all Prime Day deals here.) Just remember, you’ll need a Prime membership to access the deals. Here’s how to get it for free. If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered with a curated list of the best early laptop deals in the leadup to October Prime Day. Why should you care about what I’ve got to say? Fair question. I oversee all laptop and Chromebook review coverage at PCWorld. I also maintain our best laptop deals roundup daily, along with our best laptops of 2025 roundup weekly. That means I’m hunting for the best laptop discounts online every single day, so I’m pretty well-attuned to the landscape, while my hands-on knowledge helps me unearth the true gems. Best early October Prime Day deals on budget laptops HP 14 Laptop, Intel Celeron N4020 processor/14-inch 1366×768 display/4GB RAM/64GB storage, $170 ($59.99 off at Amazon) Acer Aspire 15, Intel Core 3 N355 processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/128GB flash storage, $299.99 ($50 off at Amazon) Acer Aspire 3, AMD Ryzen 3 7320U processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/128GB SSD, $326.33 ($23.66 off at Amazon) Our top pick: The Acer Aspire 3 is the best deal, even though the discount isn’t massive. You’re getting a 15.6-inch 1080p display, 8GB of RAM, and a zippy AMD Ryzen 3 processor, which is a noticeable step up (performance-wise) from both the the HP 14 and the Acer Aspire 15. Best early October Prime Day deals on mid-range laptops Dell Inspiron 5441, Snapdragon X Plus processor/14-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $614 ($185.99 off at Amazon) HP OmniBook X Flip, AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 processor/16-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $799.99 ($200 off at Amazon) Apple 2025 MacBook Air, M4 chip/13.6-inch 2560×1664 display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $899 ($100 off at Amazon) Our top pick: The Dell Inspiron 5441 is a sweet spot pick. For under $650, you’re getting a fast Snapdragon processor, 16GB of RAM, and a roomy 512GB SSD—plenty of firepower for work, streaming, and multitasking without spending a ton. Best early October Prime Day deals on premium laptops Apple MacBook Air, M4 chip/13.6-inch 2560×1664 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,072.19 ($126.81 off at Amazon) Microsoft Surface Laptop (2024), Snapdragon X Plus processor/13.8-inch 2304×1536 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,079 ($120.99 off at Amazon) Dell 14 Plus, Intel Core Ultra 9 288V processor/14-inch 2560×1600 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,155.03 ($244.96 off at Amazon) Our top pick: The Dell 14 Plus is a top pick if you want a premium laptop that actually keeps up with everything. It’s got 32GB of RAM, a speedy Core Ultra 9 processor, and a crisp 2560×1600 display all for just over $1,150, making this one of the smarter buys in the premium category. Best early October Prime Day deals on gaming laptops Lenovo LOQ 15, AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS processor/RTX 4060 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,139 ($60 off at Amazon) Asus ROG Strix G16 (2025), Intel Core i7-14650HX processor/RTX 5060 graphics/16-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,399.99 ($100 off at Amazon) Lenovo Legion 5i, Intel Core i7-14700HX processor/RTX 5060 graphics/15.1-inch 2560×1600 display/32GB RAM/2TB SSD, $1,555.19 ($443.81 off at Amazon) Our top pick: If you’re hunting for serious gaming power without breaking $1,500, the Lenovo LOQ 15 is a total steal. Inside you’ll find 32GB of RAM, a Ryzen 7 CPU, and RTX 4060 graphics, which is perfect for gaming or heavy multitasking. Other great early October Prime Day deals These aren’t the only Prime Day deals being tracked by the PCWorld team. If you’re looking to supercharge your home setup with the juiciest tech sales, hit the links for only the best expert-curated picks we’ve found. Best early Amazon October Prime Day tech deals: Great sales chosen by experts Best early October Prime Day laptop deals: Gaming notebooks, 2-in-1s, and more Best early October Prime Day deals on SSDs and storage Best early USB flash drive deals for October Prime Day Best early monitor deals for October Prime Day: OLED, home office, and more Best early October Prime Day deals on Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs Best early October Prime Day mini PC deals: Big savings on tiny computers Best early October Prime Day deals on battery chargers and power banks Best early October Prime Day deals on Chromebooks Best early October Prime Day deals on office chairs and standing desks Best early October Prime Day PC computer deals FAQ 1. What kind of laptop should I get? Well, it depends on your needs and lifestyle. A 2-in-1, for example, is a good fit for someone who travels often. You can swing the screen back 360 degrees and use it in tablet mode for taking notes or you can prop it up like a tent for watching movies with friends. If gaming is a top priority, then you’ll want to look into a laptop with powerful graphics hardware and a display with a high refresh rate. For those of us who need a basic laptop for general web browsing, a low-powered Windows laptop should do you just fine. 2. How can I tell whether a laptop is a good October Prime Day deal? I always use CamelCamelCamel, a free tool that tracks Amazon price history, to spot early discounts and plan for Prime Day events. Just create an account, enter a product’s ASIN (found in its Amazon URL and starts with the letter B), and you’ll see a graph of its price history over time. It’s an easy way to spot the good stuff and to also know if you’re getting the lowest price. 3. Do laptop brands matter? Not really, as long as you stick to well-known brands. Big manufacturers like Acer and Dell make solid machines and often offer steep discounts on their websites. You might have a personal preference, though, like maybe you’ve historically stuck with HP machines. 4. How much memory do I need in a laptop? I always tell my friends and family to aim for at least 8GB of RAM. Anything less, and you’ll likely notice things starting to slow down. If you can go higher than 8GB, even better. The more RAM you have, the snappier your laptop will feel, especially for everyday tasks like web browsing or working in spreadsheets. For more demanding work, 16GB is a solid choice for productivity and gaming, while 32GB and beyond is ideal for video editing and other intensive tasks. 5. Is now a good time to buy a laptop? Will tariffs affect laptop prices? Yes! Early October Prime Day often offers some of the lowest laptop prices of the year even before the main event begins. Prices on premium and gaming laptops may fluctuate once the main sales launch. As for external factors like tariffs, there are currently no major new tariffs affecting laptops in the U.S., but this can change fast depending on international trade decisions. Manufacturers hike the prices up later in the year, especially if supply chain issues pop up again, so if you’re thinking about pulling the trigger on a new laptop, now’s a good time to do it. Read...

Amazon’s October Prime Big Deal Days 2025 sales event is right around the corner and there are already excellent deals to be found on chargers and power banks. This year’s event runs October 7-8 and whether you’re looking to snag a travel-friendly pocket charger or upgrade to a high-capacity drive, there is no better time to get discounted chargers and power banks. You’ll need to be a Prime member to take advantage of Amazon’s steep discounts. If you aren’t a member already, check out our guide for how to get Amazon Prime for free. As a tech editor, I’ve been following and writing about the latest tech deals professionally for years, and have developed a keen eye for finding the best sales from all over the internet. My picks take into account a combination of online reviews from tech sites like PCWorld (when available), user feedback, and pricing history. Read on for all of the best deals on chargers and power banks, and be sure to check out our Amazon October Prime Day Tech Deals 2025 hub for more great sales across all the tech categories. Best early October Prime Day 2025 deals on chargers & power banks Anker MagGo, 10,000 mAh/1x USB-C/15W Qi wireless charging, $62.69 (22% off on Amazon) Blavor Solar Charger Power Bank, 10,000 mAh/2x USB-C/1x USB-A, $25.49 (36% off on Amazon) Baseus Picogo Power Bank, 10,000 mAh/1 xUSB-A/2x USB-C/PD 45W Fast charging technology, $24.69 (38% off on Amazon) Baseus Laptop Power Bank, 20,000 mAh/1x USB-A/3x USB-C, $69.99 (30% off on Amazon) INIU Ultra Slim Power Bank, 10,000 mAh/1x USB-A/2x USB-C, $18.69 (38% off on Amazon) INIU Portable Charger, 20,000 mAh/1x USB-A/2x USB-C, $23.46 (37% off on Amazon) Ugreen Nexode charger, 65W power/3x USB-C/ 1x USB-A, $23.99 (44% off on Amazon) Anker Nano Power Bank, 5,000 mAh/Qi2 MagSafe/1 xUSB-C, $45.99 (16% off on Amazon) Anker 737 Laptop Power Bank, 24,000 mAh/140W power/2x USB-C/1x USB-A, $87.99 (20% off on Amazon) Anker Nano II charger, 65W power/2x USB-C/1x USB-A, $25.99 (35% off on Amazon) Charmast Portable Charger, 10,000 mAh/2x USB-A/1x USB-C/1x micro-USB/1x Lightning, $20.99 (30% off on Amazon) This Prime Day 2025 deal are hot. The Anker MagGo wireless charger for $18 off on Amazon is a personal favorite thanks to its charging stand as well as its Magsafe charging compatibility for convenient on-the-go charging. If you need something rugged and reliable that you can bring on even the harshest of adventures, then look no further than the Blavor Solar Charger Power Bank on sale for $15 off on Amazon. This absolute tank of a power bank can recharge without the need for an outlet thanks to its built-in solar panel, and its IPX5 waterproof rating. Other great early October Prime Day deals These aren’t the only Prime Day deals being tracked by the PCWorld team. If you’re looking to supercharge your home setup with the juiciest tech sales, hit the links for only the best expert-curated picks we’ve found. Best early Amazon October Prime Day tech deals: Great sales chosen by experts Best early October Prime Day laptop deals: Gaming notebooks, 2-in-1s, and more Best early October Prime Day deals on SSDs and storage Best early USB flash drive deals for October Prime Day Best early monitor deals for October Prime Day: OLED, home office, and more Best early October Prime Day deals on Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs Best early October Prime Day mini PC deals: Big savings on tiny computers Best early October Prime Day deals on battery chargers and power banks Best early October Prime Day deals on Chromebooks Best early October Prime Day deals on office chairs and standing desks Best early October Prime Day PC computer deals FAQ 1. What should I look for in a portable charger and power bank? Quality can differ greatly among power banks, so it’s best to stick to recognizable brands like Anker, Mophie, Belkin, and the like. That said, there are a few things you should always look for when shopping for a power bank. First, make sure the battery pack is Quick Charge 2.0, 3.0, or PD certified. Next, don’t put too much confidence in a company’s claims that it can charge certain devices in a specific amount of time, such as the pack can charge an iPhone 15 in two hours. Focus more on the battery capacity, along with weight and size. Larger capacities in the 20,000 mAh or higher range should be enough for most small devices such as tablets or smartphones. Finally, make sure that the power bank comes with all of the correct connectivity options you need—USB-A or USB-C, etc. 2. What battery capacity should I look for in a charger? For a portable power bank that you can easily travel with, you should look for a minimum of 10,000 mAh. Most models these days even offer 20,000 mAh for reasonable prices. The more mAh, the better. Just be sure to weigh your capacity needs against the physical size of the power bank. Generally, the more mAh a power bank has, the larger its physical size and the heavier it is, as well. Therefore, we recommend when looking at a power bank, you first consider the amount of power you need to charge your devices, and then adjust your expectations according to the size and weight you are willing to carry around with you. 3. What is mAh capacity? The mAh (milliampere per hour) capacity rating refers to the available storage capacity for a battery. A higher number means that the battery can store more energy and has a longer battery life when charging a device. So for example, an iPhone 13 Pro Max’s battery is rated at 4,352 mAh. This means that a power bank with 10,000 mAh can fully recharge that phone a little over twice before running out of power. Read...

Amazon’s October Prime Big Deal Days 2025 sales event is right around the corner and there are already tons of great deals on desktop PCs available. This year’s event runs October 7-8 and will include solid discounts on everything from gaming PCs to all-in-ones to traditional mainstream desktop computers. You’ll need to be a Prime member to take advantage of Amazon’s steep discounts. If you aren’t a member already, check out our guide for how to get Amazon Prime for free. I’ve been tracking and writing about the best computer deals year-round for a long time now, and at PCWorld I’ve used this knowledge to curate a list of the best available computer deals across the internet specifically for this October Prime Day. Other retailers have jumped in on the action, and some of the best desktop PC deals can even be found outside of Amazon, so I’ve included those deals too. Best early October Prime Day deals on gaming desktop computers LXZ Gaming PC, Ryzen 7 8700F/RX 7650 GRE/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $899.99 (10% off on Amazon) Alienware Aurora, Core Ultra 7 265F/RTX 5070/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,549.99 (24% off on Dell) Skytech Azure, Ryzen 7 5700/RTX 5060/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $999.99 (12% off on Amazon) Omen 45L, Core Ultra 7 265K/RTX 5080/32GB RAM/2TB SSD, $2,299.00 (15% off on Amazon) Alienware Aurora, Core Ultra 9 285K/RTX 5080/32GB RAM/2TB SSD, $2,699.99 (16% off on Dell) Acer Nitro 60, Ryzen 9 7900/RTX 5070/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,499.99 (25% off on BestBuy) Omen 35L, Ryzen 5 8500G/RTX 5060/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,064.99 (21% off on HP) My top picks: The LXZ Gaming PC for $100 off on Amazon is the budget deal of the week so far. With a Ryzen 7 8700F CPU and RX 7650 GRE GPU it’ll deliver solid frame rates at 1080p for most games and the inclusion of 1TB of onboard storage means you’ll have plenty of space to load it up with your game library. Another killer deal right now is the Alienware Aurora for $500 off on Dell. Not only does it come with the latest gen Core Ultra 7 265F CPU, but also sports an RTX 5070. For this price it’s hard to go wrong and those in the market for a strong midrange gaming PC should look no further. Best early October Prime Day deals on mini-PCs GMKtec M7, Ryzen 7 6850H/32GB RAM/512GB SSD, $369.99 (24% off on Amazon) Apple Mac Mini 2024, M4/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $499.00 (17% off on Amazon) AceMagician K1 Mini PC, Ryzen 7 5700U/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $279.00 (30% off on Amazon) AceMagic Vista Mini N1, Alder Lake-N N97/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $174.99 (33% off on Amazon) Beelink EQR5, Ryzen 5 5650U/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $279.00 (28% off on Amazon) Beelink SER5 MAX, Ryzen 7 6800H/32GB RAM/500GB SSD, $308.99 (23% off on Amazon) My top picks: Amazon is offering the GMKtec M7 mini-PC for $120 off. This mini-PC not only rocks a Ryzen 7 Pro 6850H CPU and a whopping 32GB of RAM, but comes with excellent connectivity features to boot. It’s a great mini-PC and at this discount the value can’t be beat. If you’re more of a Mac fan, then this rare deal on the latest M4 Mac Mini for $100 off on Amazon is for you. The latest 2024 Mac Mini is a seriously good option for those looking to get great mini-PC performance for the price. The M4 chip has outstanding processing power and this model also comes with a good amount of RAM and onboard storage. Note: If you’re looking for even more great deals on mini-PCs be sure to check out our full roundup spotlighting the very best Prime Day mini-PC deals. Best early October Prime Day deals on all-in-one & mainstream computers All-in-one desktop computers combine a PC’s hardware with a modern display to make a desktop computer that has both form and function. Since everything is built together, you can save precious desktop space with an all-in-one. They make capable work computers and they can also be excellent home computers with the wide range of features appealing to the whole family. Lenovo 24 AiO, Intel N100/32GB RAM/1TB SSD/24-inch 1080p display, $559.98 (30% off on Amazon) HP OmniStudio X AiO, Core Ultra 5 125H/16GB RAM/256GB SSD/32-inch 4K display, $1,329.99 (13% off on HP) Dell 27 AiO, Core 5 120U/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/27-inch 1080p display, $779.99 (16% off on Dell) iMac M4, M4/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/24-inch 5K display, $1,523.86 (10% off on Amazon) My top picks: Amazon is offering a great deal of $240 off on the Lenovo 24 AiO. This budget-friendly all-in-one has way more RAM and onboard storage than most other models at this price. It’s a killer value for a trustworthy and dependable Lenovo PC. Alternatively, the HP OmniStudio X AiO for $200 off on HP’s website is a worthy splurge. Rocking a stunning 4K display and good performance features, this flagship all-in-one from HP will upgrade any desk space—you just might want to invest in some external storage as this only comes with 256GB. Other great October Prime Day deals These aren’t the only Prime Day deals being tracked by the PCWorld team. If you’re looking to supercharge your home setup with more killer tech sales, hit the links below for the more of the best expert-curated picks we’ve found. Best early Amazon October Prime Day tech deals: Great sales chosen by experts Best early October Prime Day laptop deals: Gaming notebooks, 2-in-1s, and more Best early October Prime Day deals on SSDs and storage Best early USB flash drive deals for October Prime Day Best early monitor deals for October Prime Day: OLED, home office, and more Best early October Prime Day deals on Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs Best early October Prime Day mini PC deals: Big savings on tiny computers Best early October Prime Day deals on battery chargers and power banks Best early October Prime Day deals on Chromebooks Best early October Prime Day deals on office chairs and standing desks FAQ 1. What type of desktop computer should I get? You’ll see a ton of options when searching for a desktop computer, but they all mainly fit into four main categories: gaming PCs, mainstream PCs (towers or mini PCs), and all-in-ones (AiO). Which you should end up buying is entirely dependent upon what your needs are and what you want to do with your computer. If you’re looking for something that will work in a home office or family room, then a mainstream PC or AiO with a solid CPU and a decent amount of RAM and storage is probably the way to go. If gaming is your main concern, a gaming desktop PC can offer a lot more bang for your buck than a laptop and you should prioritize getting the best GPU possible. 2. How much processing power will I need in a desktop computer? If you’re after CPU power, look for processors with higher numerical labels. Intel processors are available in the newer Core Ultra 3, 5, 7, or 9, and the older Core i3, i5, i7, and i9. AMD processors are available in the Ryzen 5000, 7000, 8000, and 9000 versions. Generally speaking, the higher the number, the more powerful the CPU for both manufacturers. If you don’t need a ton of power, Intel Core Ultra 5 or Core i5 processors are your best bet, as they offer good performance at a decent price. You can get along just fine with a Core Ultra 3 or Core i3 for basic office and web browsing. A Core Ultra 7 or Core i7 is more suited to gaming and more intense work than everyday tasks. Also, if gaming is your main concern, you may want to consider opting for the older Core i-processors as the newer Core Ultra processors are optimized for AI performance rather than gaming. As for AMD options, the Ryzen 5000 chips rival Intel’s Core i5 as solid all-arounders. If you need more power, the Ryzen 7000 or 8000 chips are well suited for content creation like video editing. Finally, if you’re dealing with 4K video or want peak gaming performance, spring for a Ryzen 9000. 3. What GPU should I get for a desktop computer? If you don’t intend to do any gaming on your computer, then feel free to save some money by going with integrated graphics. However, if you are looking to get your game on, then we recommend at least an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 or RTX 5060 (or the equivalent Radeon RX 9060) as these are the least expensive discrete graphics cards that can handle 1080p gaming on High graphics settings in most games. For 1440p gaming you’ll typically want to aim for an RTX 4070/5070 (or Radeon RX 9070/XT), and for 4K gaming you’ll need to shell out for at least an RTX 4080/5080 or upgrade to the RTX 4090/5090 Thankfully, the latest-gen GPUs have dropped significantly in price in pre-built systems so opt for those if you have the money and want a performance boost. But if you’re on a tight budget, then opting for a rig with a previous-generation card can allow you to save some money while still providing decent graphics quality. 4. How much memory do I need in a desktop computer? As for RAM, nowadays I think it’s best to shoot for 16GB at the minimum for all systems. If you’re on a budget or just need a basic browsing machine then 8GB may suffice but you’ll likely notice a performance drop if you tend to have multiple applications or browser tabs open. Those looking to do heavy content creation such as video editing should aim for at least 32GB or go for 64GB for 4K editing. 5. What is a good amount of storage for a desktop computer? Storage size is dependent upon your personal needs, but it is generally a good idea to opt for an SSD over a standard HDD as they are much faster and don’t significantly affect the price of a desktop. Before deciding, it’s best to consider what your intended use of the computer will be. Are you just storing documents or doing web browsing? Then something like 512GB will be plenty. If you want to load up a lot of large files such as games or content creation projects, then you’ll need at least 1TB to 2TB of storage. However, just remember that even if your computer doesn’t have enough storage built-in you can always upgrade your SSD or go with an external drive to increase your available storage options. 6. Is now a good time to buy a desktop computer? While the prospect of tariff-induced price increases may seem daunting to consumers, right now is actually a pretty good time to buy a new PC. Component prices have generally stabilized in the face of tariffs—with the exception of high-end GPU models—and CPU prices overall generally remain affordable. If you’re waiting for upcoming releases, you shouldn’t hold your breath. Don’t get caught in the cycle of waiting for the next new thing as something new is always around the corner. Waiting for a new product launch is only beneficial if it’s imminent and there are no good deals available right now. Fortunately, events such as Ocotber Prime Day offer buyers an excellent time to buy the latest components and PC builds at a discount. Read...

Another Prime Day is just around the corner, and while the main event runs October 7-8, you can already find some early Chromebook deals ahead of time. Amazon’s Chromebook sales are starting to roll out, giving shoppers a chance to lock in discounts before the official start. Check out all the best early October Prime Day deals on PCWorld’s landing page here. We already test and recommend the best Chromebooks, so we know what makes a great device. Over the past few years, I’ve compiled lists of the top Chromebook deals for Prime Day, Black Friday, and more. While the very best Chromebooks don’t always see big discounts for Prime Day, there are still solid deals to be found, and figuring out which ones are worth it is where PCWorld, and I, come in. To compile PCWorld’s list of Chromebook deals for early October Prime Day deals, I looked at the specifications, the price, the manufacturer, and any reviews we’ve published on a specific Chromebook.  Best early October Prime Day Chromebook deals at Amazon Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook, MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor/14-inch 1920×1080 display/4GB RAM/64GB storage, $178.98 ($41.01 off at Amazon) HP Chromebook, Intel N200 processor/15.6-inch 1366×768 display/8GB RAM/128GB storage, $296.99 ($33 off at Amazon) Acer Chromebook Plus 514, Intel Core i3-N305 processor/14-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/128GB storage, $369.99 ($30 off at Amazon) Asus ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus, Intel Core Ultra 5 processor/14-inch 2560×1600 display/8GB RAM/128GB storage, $599.99 ($100 off at Amazon) The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook is a solid, cheap pick at $178.98. It’s got a 14-inch 1080p screen and it can handle everyday stuff like browsing the web or doing homework without any trouble. Not fancy, but it gets the job done without costing much. Best early October Prime Day Chromebook deals beyond Amazon Asus CX15 Chromebook, Intel Celeron N4500 processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/4GB RAM/128GB eMMC storage, $139 ($80.99 off at Walmart) Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook, MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor/14-inch 1920×1080 display/4GB RAM/64GB eMMC storage plus a 256GB Micro SD card, $255.55 ($44.44 off at Walmart) Lenovo Duet 11 Chromebook, MediaTek Kompanio 838 processor/11-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/4GB RAM/128GB eMMC storage, $349 ($50 off at Best Buy) Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook, Intel Core i3-1315U processor/14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/8GB RAM/128GB storage, $419 ($180 off at Best Buy) The Asus CX15 Chromebook falls in the ultra-cheap category at just $139, but it still delivers a lot for the price. You’re getting a spacious 15.6-inch 1080p display plus 128GB of storage, which is more than enough for day-to-day browsing and streaming. It’s the kind of Chromebook that makes sense if you want a big screen without emptying your wallet, and the deep discount makes it an easy pick. Other great early October Prime Day deals These aren’t the only Prime Day deals being tracked by the PCWorld team. If you’re looking to supercharge your home setup with the juiciest tech sales, hit the links for only the best expert-curated picks we’ve found. Best early Amazon October Prime Day tech deals: Great sales chosen by experts Best early October Prime Day laptop deals: Gaming notebooks, 2-in-1s, and more Best early October Prime Day deals on SSDs and storage Best early USB flash drive deals for October Prime Day Best early monitor deals for October Prime Day: OLED, home office, and more Best early October Prime Day deals on Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs Best early October Prime Day mini PC deals: Big savings on tiny computers Best early October Prime Day deals on battery chargers and power banks Best early October Prime Day deals on Chromebooks Best early October Prime Day deals on office chairs and standing desks Best early October Prime Day PC computer deals FAQ 1. How much should I pay for a Chromebook during October Prime Day? Expect to pay roughly $130 to $250 for most Chromebooks, depending on the configuration. The cheapest options can dip into the $130–$170 range, while more premium models typically cost $250 and up. We’ve used this guidance for the past few years, and even with inflation, it still holds true. 2. What’s a good Chromebook to buy during October Prime Day sales? There are two ways of shopping during Amazon’s October Prime Day. The first is to go down our list of recommended Chromebooks until you find a price you like. Our real-time pricing services should reflect real-time discounts, but occasionally “lightning” or instant sales may slip through. The other way is to shop using our recommended deals above. Typically, I look for at least a large 1080p display unless it’s an absolute budget model. (Anything higher than 1080p is a bonus.) I also really prefer a Chromebook with at least 8GB of RAM, for keeping many tabs open and running programs. The third priority is actually the processor, and it’s a bit of a challenge to explain which is the “right” chip to buy. A recent Intel Celeron, AMD Ryzen, or Arm chip from Qualcomm or Mediatek is a good choice. 3. How does PCWorld decide what a good Chromebook deal is? Generally, Chromebooks tend to fall into three categories: ultracheap models at about $100 to $200, which can offer solid discounts but can hide gotchas like a subpar screen; the typical midrange price of between $250 and $400; and premium Chromebooks at $500 or more.  Those prices can sometimes blur together, of course. I basically compare the price with the specifications. As I said above, I’m looking for a Chromebook with 8GB of RAM and at least a 1080p screen, along with a “good” processor. (I typically make a list of processors, mental or otherwise, with the relative performance of each one and how old they are.) I then start selecting candidates for good deals. Are they one of our recommended Chromebooks? They then go to the top of the list. At this point, I start checking for how long the support window is. Chromebooks are supported for ten years after their ship date, but most of these deals use Chromebooks which have been on the market for at least a few years. No one wants a Chromebook which won’t receive upgrades next year. I also almost always recommend a “new” Chromebook, rather than one which has been refreshed or “renewed” by Amazon. 4. Will tariffs affect October Prime Day Chromebook deals? Yes and no. Remember, tariffs only take effect when the product enters the United States, so it’s very likely that a bargain Chromebook has been available on the market and even sat on a U.S. store shelf for a few years. Chromebooks are very price-dependent. 5. Are the best October Prime Day Chromebook deals only at Amazon? Amazon would like to think so! But we check other sites as well, just to make sure. You’ll find those Chromebook deals from sites other than Amazon listed above, too. 6. Does a Chromebook’s brand matter? Interestingly, Chromebooks are one of the few tech categories whose products are almost all made by big “name” brands. We might prefer a Chromebook made by one company over another, but generally Chromebooks are manufactured by companies like Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo, Samsung and more — all big, reputable brands. Read...