Mini PCs are all the rage these days, and if you’d rather have one neatly tucked under your monitor than deal with a bulky desktop, we’ve found a great deal for you. The Acemagician Kron K1 is down to $236.55 right now, a 26 percent discount off its MSRP. As tiny as this thing is, you’d never guess it can handle your daily workload and connect to three screens. But that’s exactly what it does. Unlike most laptops, which need a hub to connect to extra displays, this mini PC boasts an HDMI, a USB Type-C, and a DisplayPort. That’s perfect for building a multitasking setup. The Acemagician Kron K1 packs an AMD Ryzen 5 7430U CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It’s not a powerhouse, but it’s more than capable of running your browser and streaming apps without issue. Throw in the Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, and connectivity won’t be an issue. At just $236.55, this mini PC is a fantastic Prime Day deal. Be sure to check out other great tech deals we’ve spotted as well. Get a mini PC for 26% offBuy now at Amazon Read...

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GE Lighting, a division of the high-end smart home developer Savant, offers a number of sophisticated smart lighting products, including these terrific under-cabinet lights that banish the shadows from working spaces in the kitchen and elsewhere. During Prime Day, you can pick up the 12-inch-wide set for $30.37, a 25% discount. Not wide enough for you? You can link up to 10 of them together and operate them as a single unit. These are dimmable, full-color lights—including tunable white color temperatures—and they’re Matter certified to boot (which means they also work in the Apple Home ecosystem). Being smart lights, you can control them with any smart speaker or with the GE Lighting app. I reviewed the 18-inch-wide model in May and awarded it a TechHive Editors’ Choice Award (they’re also available in a 24-inch-wide SKU, but only the 12-inch model is on sale). You can either plug them into a regular wall outlet or—if you don’t mind dealing with the wiring in your wall, or if you’re replacing an existing fixture—you can hardwire them. I installed them under an invisible shelf to cast light on my kitchen counters, but you can also mount them to the top of your cabinets to cast light on your ceiling. Installing them is super easy, thanks to captive self-tapping screws that eliminate the need to first drill pilot holes. And as I’ve already mentioned, you can daisy-chain up to 10 lights together and control them as a single unit using either the buttons on any of the light bars, the GE Cync smartphone app, or a smart speaker (once you’ve connected them to your Wi-Fi network). The 12-inch version that’s on sale produces maximum brightness of 750 lumens, or 630 lumens if you use GE Lighting’s Reveal setting. Get a 12-inch GE Cync Reveal under-cabinet light bar for 25% off But it on amazon For great Prime Day discounts on other tech products, check out the best of PCWorld’s Prime Day deals. This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart lighting. Read...

Need a light, portable laptop for everyday use? The Asus Vivobook Go is a standout Prime Day deal at just $329.99–that’s $100 off the original $429.99 price. It’s a great pick for students, remote workers, or anyone who needs a reliable machine for email and browsing. Just a heads-up, you’ll need a Prime membership to grab the deal–here’s how to get it for free.   It’s running AMD’s Ryzen 5 7520U processor, which performs much better than you’d expect at this price point. It also has 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage, which is more than enough for watching videos or knocking out an assignment in the wee hours of the night.  The 15.6-inch 1080p display has slim bezels, so you’re getting plenty of screen to work with–it shouldn’t feel cramped or uncomfortable at all. And, at just 3.59 pounds, it’s light enough to toss in a bag and take pretty much anywhere. Look, this isn’t a gaming powerhouse, but it handles the basics more than fine and doesn’t skimp out on display resolution despite its ultra-low sale price. If that’s what you need, then you better scoop up this deal sooner rather than later. It definitely punches above its weight. Get the Asus Vivobook Go for $329.99 at AmazonView Deal Read...

A complete home security system protects your entry points (doors and windows), detects motion inside your home while you’re away, and includes a keypad for arming and disarming the system. Ring makes some of our favorite systems, and you can pick up one during Amazon’s Prime Day sale for as much as 50% off. The Ring Alarm 5-piece kit is a good place to start, and it might be all you need if you have a small home, condo, or apartment. It includes the central hub with battery backup, a keypad, a single door/window sensor, an indoor motion detector, and one range extender. Amazon has cut the price of this system in half, bringing its price down to $100. Ring’s keypad has large, easy-to-read buttons for arming and disarming the system and–if you’re paying for professional monitoring–for summoning help in an emergency. Wes Davis / IDG If you need to protect more doors and windows, the Ring Alarm 8-piece kit comes with four of them (they cost $20 each if purchased separately), plus the other components listed above.  Amazon has knocked 40% off the price of this system, bringing its price down to $150. For larger homes, consider the Ring Alarm 14-piece kit. It comes with two keypads, so you can mount one at your front door and another at your back, garage, or side door; two motion sensors, and 8 door/window sensors, plus the range extender. This system also gets a 40% discount for Prime Day, for a final price of $199. Ring Alarm Pro is on sale, too The Ring Alarm Pro system, pictured up top, uses all the same components as the Ring Alarm, but with a higher-end hub that includes an integrated Eero Wi-Fi 6 router and a microSD card slot for local storage of video recordings from Ring security cameras. I personally use this system and swear by it. Amazon’s discount isn’t as generous—its 20% off the usual price—but you get a lot for $400: The hub with an integrated mesh Wi-Fi router, an Eero Wi-Fi 6 mesh Wi-Fi node, two motion sensors, eight door/window sensors, and a Z-Wave range extender for the sensors for $400. Ring Alarm systems are (of course) compatible with the rest of the Ring product line, including its video doorbells, indoor and outdoor security cameras, floodlight cameras, smart lighting devices, and Alexa smart speakers and displays. You can also integrate certified third-party devices, including smart locks, smoke detectors, plug-in and in-wall lighting controls, and more (check out the Works With Ring page for the entire list). Monitoring options You can either self-monitor these systems—receiving alerts on your smartphone and triggering a local siren—or pay for 24/7 professional monitoring that will summon first- responders in the event of a police, fire, or medical emergency. You can choose between two Ring Home subscription plans to service a Ring Alarm or Ring Alarm Pro system. The Standard plan costs $10 per month or $100 per year, plus $10 per month for professional monitoring. It provides remote viewing for all your Ring security cameras and video doorbells and cellular backup for the Ring Alarm or Ring Alarm Pro base station. In case your broadband connection fails, the system will automatically switch over to a cellular network. If you opt for the more powerful Ring Alarm Pro system, I’d recommend going with the Premium plan. It costs $20 per month or $200 per year, plus $10 per month for professional monitoring, but in addition to everything you get in the Standard plan, you get 24/7 recording for your Ring security cameras and video doorbells; AI video descriptions for the same; Ring Edge, to take advantage of the microSD storage on the Ring Alarm Pro base station; and—perhaps most importantly—24/7 internet backup for the Eero Wi-Fi router in that base station. Get a Ring Alarm system for up to 50% offBuy it on Amazon For great Prime Day discounts on other tech products, check out the best of PCWorld’s Prime Day deals. Read...

We love a powerful power bank that doesn’t bankrupt us, and this Ugreen Nexode 20,000mAh model checks all the boxes, especially now that it’s 30 percent off for Prime Day. Usually available for $100, this powerful battery is on sale for $70 right now. This power bank’s massive 20K capacity is certainly noteworthy, but it also comes with a built-in retractable USB-C cable, making charging on the go so much easier. Fully extended, that cable is 2.1 feet long, which is more than enough to use your phone while charging if, for instance, you’re keeping it on the desk. The USB-C cable can deliver 100W charging, so your device will be back to full battery in no time. There are also two ports on top of the cable (one USB-C and one USB-A), which allows you to charge multiple devices at once. At only $70, the Ugreen Nexode power bank is truly a great travel companion. Get a 20K power bank for $70Buy now at Amazon Read...

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Modern power banks have long provided enough power to reliably charge not only smartphones but also laptops. But not every model is suitable for laptop charging. To make sure you don’t spend money on the wrong power bank, we’ll show you what really matters when it comes to charging your laptop. We also present the best power banks that will keep your laptop fully charged when you’re on the move. Charging a laptop with a power bank: Important requirements A simple model power bank for smartphones is usually not enough to charge a laptop. This is because while smartphones can typically manage with 5 to 15 watts of charging power, most laptops require significantly more—often at least 45 to 65 watts, and even more for powerful devices. Conventional smartphone power banks simply do not deliver this power, meaning that the charging process either doesn’t even start or is extremely slow and inefficient. Therefore, pay attention to the following points when shopping for the right power bank: USB Power Delivery (USB-PD): Only power banks with USB-PD provide the necessary voltage and power for notebooks. Sufficient capacity: For a full charge or several hours of operation, you should opt for a power bank with at least 20,000 milliampere hours (mAh). Devices with 25,000 mAh or more offer additional buffering. USB-C connection: Modern laptops are best charged via USB-C. Your power bank should therefore offer a corresponding USB-C output. Power stability: A high-quality power bank constantly delivers the required power—this protects both your laptop and the power bank itself. Alternative option: There are also power banks with an integrated AC output (socket). This allows you to connect your regular laptop power supply. However, these devices are significantly larger and heavier. What are the laptop requirements for charging with a power bank? Not every laptop can simply be charged via USB-C. Check the following points: USB-C charging function: Only if your laptop has USB-C with charging function can you connect it directly to a power bank. Many current Ultrabooks and business laptops offer this. Power supply requirements: Look at the specifications of your original power supply unit. Example: 19 volts / 3 amps = 57 watts. Your power bank should deliver at least this much power. Devices without USB-C: If your laptop does not support USB-C, you will need a power bank with AC output or a power bank that offers specific adapters for your laptop connection. Such models are rarer and usually more expensive. The best power banks for charging laptops Anker Laptop Powerbank Amazon The Anker laptop power bank offers three USB-C ports with up to 100 watts of power each. Even power-hungry devices such as a MacBook Pro 16 can be quickly and reliably supplied with energy. The power bank provides a total of 165 watts of maximum total power. A notebook with a charging requirement of 45 to 65 watts can thus be charged several times or supported in operation for hours. The estimated charging time is around two hours when using a 100 watt power supply unit. Two integrated USB-C cables offer great convenience: an extendable model with a length of up to 27-inches and a 12-inch cable that also serves as a carrying strap. In addition to the three USB-C ports, there is also a USB-A port allowing up to four devices can be charged at the same time. A smart display shows the charge status, current power and remaining runtime. The integrated ActiveShield 2.0 technology continuously monitors the temperature and protects connected devices. With a weight of 1.3 lbs, the power bank remains portable despite its high performance and, with 90 watt hours, complies with current hand luggage regulations for air travel. User reviews praise the high charging speed, the well thought-out features and the quality of workmanship. The relatively heavy weight is occasionally criticized though—a consequence of the high-performance technology used. Get the Anker Powerbank for $119.99 on Amazon UGREEN Nexode Laptop Powerbank Amazon The UGREEN Nexode is currently one of the most versatile power banks for laptops and mobile devices. It delivers up to 140 watts via the USB-C port—enough to bring even a MacBook Pro 14? up to 50 per cent in around 30 minutes. With two USB-C and one USB-A ports, up to three devices can be powered simultaneously. Even when used in parallel, the main port retains sufficient power for fast charging. The power bank supports pass-through charging (simultaneous charging of connected devices and the power bank itself) and recharges itself during operation with up to 65 watts which are particularly useful features. According to the manufacturer, the 25,000 mAh capacity is sufficient for around 1.3 full MacBook Pro 14? charges, 3 charges of a Galaxy S23 Ultra or 5.5 iPhone 15 charges. This makes the battery ideal for travelling and intensive working days without access to a power socket. With 90 watt hours, it is also airplane-compatible and can be transported in hand luggage. A digital LED display provides detailed information on the current charge status. The housing has a high-quality finish and, according to customers, is robust enough for mobile use. However, at 1.1 lbs, the power bank is noticeably heavy, which should be kept in mind when travelling frequently. In practice, the performance, charging speed, and flexibility are impressive. The combination of high output power and fast self-charging is particularly beneficial. Get the UGREEN Nexode Powerbank for $99.99 on Amazon INIU Laptop Power Bank Amazon The INIU Laptop Power Bank offers up to 100 watts of output power and is therefore suitable for charging the latest laptops, tablets, smartphones and mobile games consoles such as the Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch 2. The USB-C connection functions as an IN/OUT port. This means that not only can the laptop be charged quickly, but the power bank itself can also be charged efficiently. With a 65-watt charger, it is fully charged in around two hours. Alternatively, charging takes around three hours at 45 watts and around six hours at 18 watts. Two USB-C outputs allow several devices to be charged at the same time. The power bank therefore covers a broad spectrum: from MacBook Pros and tablets to the latest smartphones and gaming devices. Particularly noteworthy is the full-speed support for the Steam Deck, which means that you can enjoy even longer gaming sessions on the go without charging interruptions. With a capacity of 27,000 mAh, multiple device charges are possible. At the same time, the power bank fulfils the flight regulations for hand luggage (maximum 100 watt hours) and can therefore be carried on flights without any problems. The weight of 1.05 lbs ensures a good balance between performance and mobility. Included with the power bank is a USB-C to USB-C cable, a travel case and a user manual. In tests and customer reviews, the power bank is described as reliable, high-quality, and powerful. Charging speed, versatility, and the good price-performance ratio are particularly praised. Although weight is a common issue: Unproblematic for stationary use or in a rucksack, but considered noticeable for daily transport in smaller bags. Get the INIU Laptop Power Bank for $71.99 on Amazon Baseus Laptop Powerbank Amazon The Baseus laptop power bank delivers up to 100 watts of output power via two USB-C ports. A MacBook Pro, Dell XPS, or Microsoft Surface can be charged just as quickly as the latest iPhones or Android models. A 65-watt charger (not included) allows the power bank itself to be fully charged in around one to two hours. During operation, an integrated LED status light provides information about the charging status and the remaining charging time; an orange flash symbol indicates active fast charging. In addition to the two USB-C ports, two USB-A fast charging ports are available, allowing up to four devices to be charged simultaneously. A special low-current mode can be activated for charging small devices with low power consumption (e.g. Bluetooth headphones). The power bank supports common fast charging protocols such as PD 3.0, QC 4.0, SCP and FCP. An internal BPS? chip (Baseus Power Split) intelligently controls the charging power and protects connected devices from overheating, short circuits and deep discharging. With a capacity of 20,000 mAh, the power bank is sufficient to fully charge an iPhone 16 Pro around four times and a MacBook Pro 14-inch almost once, according to the manufacturer. It’s also suitable for air travel as the power bank fulfils the requirements for transport in hand luggage. With a thickness of just 0.6 inches, the housing is comparatively slim and therefore weighs just under a pound. Customer reviews praise the charging speed, reliability, and workmanship. Get the Baseus laptop powerbank for $99.99 on Amazon How to calculate which power bank you need To find out which power bank is suitable for your laptop, you need two values from your original charger: Voltage (volts) Amperage (amps) Example: 19 volts x 3 amps = 57 watts ? You therefore need at least a 60-watt power bank. Tip: If in doubt, choose a power bank with slightly more power. This will ensure that you have enough power even during intensive use (e.g. during video conferences). How long will the laptop last with a power bank? That depends on two factors: Capacity of the power bank (milliamp hours (mAh) / watt hours): The larger the capacity, the longer you can run or charge your laptop. Power consumption of your laptop (watts): A business Ultrabook usually consumes 30 to 50 watts, a gaming laptop 70 watts and more. Example calculation: A power bank with 25,000 mAh provides around 2 hours of additional runtime with a consumption of 45 watts—depending on how efficient the charging process is. When switched off or in standby mode, the laptop naturally charges much faster and more efficiently. Important tips for safe and effective charging Use high-quality USB-C cables that support USB-PD. Monitor the temperature: Neither the power bank nor the laptop should get hot. If possible, charge your laptop with a battery level between 20-80 percent—this protects the battery. Use a power bank with overvoltage and overcurrent protection. Read...