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Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. The big picture: This month marks Tim Cook’s 14th year as CEO of Apple. As the company looks toward future software and hardware launches, Cook remains optimistic about the Vision Pro despite its tepid reception. Meanwhile, analysts and insiders struggle to predict who his successor might be. Cook’s comments on the Vision Pro, one of the signature products of his tenure, came during Apple’s earnings call for the quarter ending in June. He discussed the headset’s upcoming OS update and enterprise applications. Cook took over as Apple CEO immediately after co-founder Steve Jobs left the position in August 2011 – two months before he passed away. After being ousted in 1985, Jobs returned as interim CEO in September 1997 before formally resuming the role in January 2000. The era following Jobs’ return marked Apple’s resurgence through iconic consumer electronics, such as the iPod, iPhone, iPad, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro. Cook, meanwhile, oversaw the introduction of wearables like the Apple Watch and AirPods, the company’s turn toward producing streaming content, the Mac line’s adoption of in-house Arm-based processors, and the launch of the Vision Pro. Apple’s take on the emerging virtual and augmented reality headset market, the Vision Pro, launched last year with a $3,500 price tag that clearly placed it outside the mainstream consumer market. Aside from its bulkiness, users regretted buying it due to a lack of useful applications. Still, analysts predict that Apple is pressing forward with a new model that could launch this year, equipped with a new M-series chip and Apple Intelligence capabilities. During the earnings call, Cook expressed excitement over forthcoming updates to visionOS, including customizable widgets and three-dimensional web browser functionality. He also hopes more companies develop unique spatial experiences, like CTE’s professional aircraft simulator. Insiders recently told Bloomberg that the 63-year-old likely plans to remain Apple CEO for at least another three years. If and when he retires, the identity of his successor is unclear, but a few candidates have emerged. Hardware Engineering head John Ternus is the most likely pick. He has recently presented multiple new products from the company, and he’s young enough to begin a tenure of similar length to Cook’s or Jobs’. However, some insiders have also mentioned COO Jeff Williams, retail chief Deirdre O’Brien, and Software Engineering head Craig Federighi. Read More

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. WTF?! A new twist on package-related scams is drawing concern from federal authorities, as the FBI warns Americans to be vigilant when receiving unexpected parcels containing QR codes. According to a recent alert, criminals have begun exploiting the ubiquity of QR codes as a tool for financial fraud and identity theft. The scheme unfolds when an individual receives a package that’s addressed to them, but with no clear sender. The inside may include a note and a QR code, inviting the recipient to scan it for details about the package, instructions on returning it, or even to supposedly claim a prize. While cases of this scam are not yet as widespread as other forms of fraud, the FBI emphasizes the need for public awareness, citing the rapidly evolving tactics of cybercriminals. When scanned, a fraudulent QR code does not automatically infect a device, but the real danger lies in where the code leads. Often, these codes redirect unsuspecting individuals to phishing sites cleverly masked as legitimate companies’ websites. There, visitors may be prompted to enter personal or financial information, such as credit card details, login credentials, or home addresses. The #IC3 is warning the public to beware of unsolicited packages containing a QR code that prompts the recipient to provide personal and financial information or unwittingly download malicious software that steals data from their phone. Learn more here: https://t.co/IICCJ2yo1R pic.twitter.com/N9H6OyeSJa – FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) July 31, 2025 In some reported incidents, scanning the code resulted in malware being downloaded onto the victim’s device, opening the door to data theft and unauthorized access to apps, contacts, and even online bank accounts. This trend takes advantage of consumers’ increasing familiarity with QR codes, whose use accelerated during the pandemic, and are now commonly used for payments, information, and authentication. Many people still underestimate the potential threat posed by scanning codes from unknown origins, according to NordVPN research, 73 percent of Americans scan QR codes without verification, and more than 26 million have already been directed to malicious sites. Authorities have connected this QR code scam to a broader fraudulent practice known as brushing, in which unscrupulous e-commerce vendors boost their ratings and the visibility of their products by sending unsolicited, low-cost goods to random individuals. These illegitimate shipments allow vendors to post fake “verified” reviews in the recipient’s name, inflating sales numbers and enhancing the product’s perceived reliability online. With the addition of QR codes, brushing scams now carry the risk of exposing recipients to phishing or malware attacks, further endangering their privacy and security. Consumer protection agencies are urging vigilance with unexpected deliveries. They recommend not scanning QR codes from unknown senders or in unsolicited packages, and verifying web addresses that appear after scanning a code. Read More

Reviewers Liked Excellent color accuracy and color gamut 240Hz refresh rate with great motion clarity Big price drop from prior 4K OLED monitors Three-year warranty is great Low input lag Reviewers Didn’t Like Expensive Curved panel is an acquired taste HDR brightness is still just okay Thick, plastic back No speakers Competitors and Related Products Our editors hand-pick related products using a variety of criteria: direct competitors targeting the same market segment, or devices that are similar in size, performance, or feature sets. 88 MSI MPG 321URX 32″ 91 Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDP 32″ 92 Alienware AW3423DWF 34″ QD-OLED 91 Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 32″ Curved 83 Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 32″ Curved 93 MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED 34″ Curved 90 Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDM 32″ 86 LG UltraGear OLED 27GR95QE 27″ Expert reviews and ratings 85 The Dell Alienware AW3225QF is another excellent 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor. This doesn’t come as a surprise, given we were also impressed with the MSI and Asus variants, and the Dell model uses the exact same panel technology. But it’s reassuring to see that regardless of which model you choose, you’ll be treated to a premium HDR gaming experience. By TechSpot on March 11, 2024 90 The Alienware AW3225QF is a 32-inch, 4K, 240Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time gaming monitor that’s priced at $1199. It’s a versatile, enthusiast-level gaming monitor that makes any game look incredible. By TweakTown on August 08, 2024 100 It’s hard to imagine anyone complaining about any aspect of the Alienware AW3225QF. It delivers a supremely colorful image with incredible contrast, accuracy and fidelity. Its gaming performance is as good as it gets. Once you see it, you’ll want it. By Tom’s Hardware on May 08, 2024 95 Would I recommend an OLED monitor? Without a doubt. If you have the funds, and are serious about gaming and video consumption, there simply isn’t another monitor technology that can offer what OLED offers. Mini-LED panels are not there, and Micro LEDs are still a few years off. By PCPer on April 10, 2024 90 The Alienware 32 QD-OLED is a great 32-inch 4K curved gaming monitor that’s easy to use, simple to set up and looks good on a desk. When it’s time to game, the 240Hz panel serves up eye-catching visuals at high speeds. By Tom’s Guide on February 14, 2024 90 The Alienware AW3225QF QD-OLED gaming monitor delivers fantastic performance and visuals, offering a unique combination of 4K resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate in a 32-inch panel. By PCMag on January 11, 2024 80 The Alienware AW3225QF is a gorgeous 4K OLED monitor ideal for both PC gaming and game consoles. By PCWorld on January 11, 2024 Read More

(Image credit: New York Times) Looking for a different day? A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Sunday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, August 3 (game #518). Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints. Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc’s Wordle today page for the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers. NYT Strands today (game #519) – hint #1 – today’s theme What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands? • Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Cutting it close NYT Strands today (game #519) – hint #2 – clue words Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system. SLICE SPORT STRIP VEST PRICE FARE NYT Strands today (game #519) – hint #3 – spangram letters How many letters are in today’s spangram? • Spangram has 10 letters NYT Strands today (game #519) – hint #4 – spangram position What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches? First side: top, 4th column Last side: bottom, 4th column Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. NYT Strands today (game #519) – the answers (Image credit: New York Times) The answers to today’s Strands, game #519, are… RAZOR CAPE CLIPPERS COMB TRIMMER AFTERSHAVE SPANGRAM: BARBERSHOP My rating: Easy My score: Perfect The letter Z gave today’s search an obvious starting point, with RAZOR immediately eliminating any mystery about the theme. Unless, like me, you saw the non-game word “slice” first. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. I only learned recently that the origins of the traditional BARBERSHOP pole stem from the days when barbers also performed surgeries alongside their regular activities – a one-stop shop where you could have a leg amputated, your teeth pulled and a quick trim – with the red symbolizing blood and the blue veins. Thankfully, these days barbers have narrowed down their offerings to those that can be performed using SCISSORS, CLIPPERS and a TRIMMER. If you see a saw on the counter I’d suggest you make a swift exit. Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Sunday, August 3, game #518) MUFF WHIFF ERROR FAULT FUMBLE BOBBLE BLOOPER SPANGRAM: SPORTS GOOF What is NYT Strands? Strands is the NYT’s not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile. I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day. Johnny is a freelance pop culture journalist who has been writing about the internet, music, football and famous people since the iPhone was just a twinkle in Steve Jobs’ eye. Previously known by the pseudonym the Pop Detective, his journalistic career began making up stories about Madonna’s addiction to sausage rolls (this is not true by the way). A man of few talents, his career is rich and various and includes the highs of interviewing Elton John and Blur; and the lows of interviewing Right Said Fred, appearing on a Channel 5 documentary about Peter Kay, and fact-checking the instruction manual for a German cooker. Somehow still affording to live in North London he is at his happiest riding his bicycle and shouting at pigeons. Read More

(Image credit: New York Times) Looking for a different day? A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Sunday’s puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, August 3 (game #784). Good morning! Let’s play Connections, the NYT’s clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints. What should you do once you’ve finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I’ve also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc’s Wordle today page covers the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers. NYT Connections today (game #785) – today’s words (Image credit: New York Times) Today’s NYT Connections words are… APHID BEETLE CEDAR DECAY EASY EFFORT GEO TICK BEECH VENDETTA APPLE PINE MITE COOKIE YEW ZITI NYT Connections today (game #785) – hint #1 – group hints What are some clues for today’s NYT Connections groups? YELLOW: Tiny bugs GREEN: Barking up the correct ones  BLUE: Spelling game PURPLE: Say aloud to see the link Need more clues? We’re firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today’s NYT Connections puzzles… Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. NYT Connections today (game #785) – hint #2 – group answers What are the answers for today’s NYT Connections groups? YELLOW: ARTHROPODS  GREEN: TREES  BLUE: [LETTER] (IS) FOR __  PURPLE: WORDS THAT SOUNDS LIKE TWO LETTERS  Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. NYT Connections today (game #785) – the answers (Image credit: New York Times) The answers to today’s Connections, game #785, are… YELLOW: ARTHROPODS APHID, BEETLE, MITE, TICK GREEN: TREES BEECH, CEDAR, PINE, YEW BLUE: [LETTER] (IS) FOR __ APPLE, COOKIE, EFFORT, VENDETTA PURPLE: WORDS THAT SOUNDS LIKE TWO LETTERS DECAY, EASY, GEO, ZITI My rating: Hard My score: 3 mistakes Every day Connections finds a new way to either teach me or confuse me. Today it was… both. I knew that A is for EFFORT and for APPLE, while V is for VENDETTA. But what is COOKIE doing in the [LETTER] (IS) FOR __ group? And what’s with the square bracket rounded bracket? Is this an equation? Realizing that I must be suffering from some terrible pop culture gap, a post-game Google revealed that the answer was related to the Cookie Monster from Sesame Street. I should have known. I made two mistakes trying to get that group together. The other came earlier in the game, when I put APPLE in with the other TREES. A for annoying. Yesterday’s NYT Connections answers (Sunday, August 3, game #784) YELLOW: EMULATE COPY, ECHO, MIRROR, PARROT BLUE: MANIA BUG, CRAZE, FAD, FEVER GREEN: SPORTS CRICKET, GOLF, POLO, SQUASH PURPLE: SINGLE ANIMAL IN A CREATIVELY SPELLED BAND NAMEBEETLE, BIRD, GORILLA, MONKEY What is NYT Connections? NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult. On the plus side, you don’t technically need to solve the final one, as you’ll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What’s more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room. It’s a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers. It’s playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile. Johnny is a freelance pop culture journalist who has been writing about the internet, music, football and famous people since the iPhone was just a twinkle in Steve Jobs’ eye. Previously known by the pseudonym the Pop Detective, his journalistic career began making up stories about Madonna’s addiction to sausage rolls (this is not true by the way). A man of few talents, his career is rich and various and includes the highs of interviewing Elton John and Blur; and the lows of interviewing Right Said Fred, appearing on a Channel 5 documentary about Peter Kay, and fact-checking the instruction manual for a German cooker. Somehow still affording to live in North London he is at his happiest riding his bicycle and shouting at pigeons. Read More

(Image credit: Getty Images) Looking for a different day? A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Sunday’s puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, August 3 (game #1287). Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers. Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc’s Wordle today column covers the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers. Quordle today (game #1288) – hint #1 – Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today? • The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*. * Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Quordle today (game #1288) – hint #2 – repeated letters Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters? • The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2. Quordle today (game #1288) – hint #3 – uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today? • No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today’s Quordle answers. Quordle today (game #1288) – hint #4 – starting letters (1) Do any of today’s Quordle puzzles start with the same letter? • The number of today’s Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2. If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you’re not ready yet then here’s one more clue to make things a lot easier: Quordle today (game #1288) – hint #5 – starting letters (2) What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with? • M • S • C • C Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM. Quordle today (game #1288) – the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster) The answers to today’s Quordle, game #1288, are… Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. MACAW SINCE COLON CHIRP MACAW took me a little while, but the second I speculatively typed MAC I knew that it was going to be the right word. The same with CHIRP. Plus I knew Quordle couldn’t resist putting those two words together. Daily Sequence today (game #1288) – the answers (Image credit: Merriam-Webster) The answers to today’s Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1288, are… REFIT RAPID DRUID TWIST Quordle answers: The past 20 Quordle #1287, Sunday, 3 August: MOTIF, LEERY, LOFTY, BURST Quordle #1286, Saturday, 2 August: WARTY, PUPAL, CLEAR, SLICE Quordle #1285, Friday, 1 August: ACTOR, MEALY, WIDTH, ADOBE Quordle #1284, Thursday, 31 July: STYLE, VALET, AGONY, ALLOY Quordle #1283, Wednesday, 30 July: DEBAR, ADMIN, FOLIO, USAGE Quordle #1282, Tuesday, 29 July: BATCH, TOPIC, MURKY, BUNCH Quordle #1281, Monday, 28 July: CANDY, TRYST, SHIRT, FORGO Quordle #1280, Sunday, 27 July: TRAWL, BALER, PIANO, MINCE Quordle #1279, Saturday, 26 July: MUDDY, SAINT, KINKY, POLAR Quordle #1278, Friday, 25 July: BONUS, RESIN, CEDAR, MADAM Quordle #1277, Thursday, 24 July: AGONY, VERVE, GLEAN, MINUS Quordle #1276, Wednesday, 23 July: OZONE, PENCE, ROOMY, WIDER Quordle #1275, Tuesday, 22 July: OPTIC, GIDDY, VOCAL, ADULT Quordle #1274, Monday, 21 July: KNEED, SNAIL, PINTO, FEAST Quordle #1273, Sunday, 20 July: GRACE, COUNT, EGRET, GIANT Quordle #1272, Saturday, 19 July: EARLY, CLICK, TRITE, SPREE Quordle #1271, Friday, 18 July: CINCH, FOYER, FUDGE, TAFFY Quordle #1270, Thursday, 17 July: CRESS, TABOO, POWER, HATER Quordle #1269, Wednesday, 16 July: UNCLE, NADIR, REMIT, BROOM Johnny is a freelance pop culture journalist who has been writing about the internet, music, football and famous people since the iPhone was just a twinkle in Steve Jobs’ eye. Previously known by the pseudonym the Pop Detective, his journalistic career began making up stories about Madonna’s addiction to sausage rolls (this is not true by the way). A man of few talents, his career is rich and various and includes the highs of interviewing Elton John and Blur; and the lows of interviewing Right Said Fred, appearing on a Channel 5 documentary about Peter Kay, and fact-checking the instruction manual for a German cooker. Somehow still affording to live in North London he is at his happiest riding his bicycle and shouting at pigeons. Read More

(Image credit: Shutterstock) AI chip repair firms in China are thriving due to heavy demand surge Smuggled GPUs fuel a booming underground repair market amid US export restrictions Chinese shops simulate data centers and fix hundreds of chips monthly at scale A quiet but growing business has emerged in China that focuses on repairing Nvidia’s advanced AI chips, despite strict US export controls. Reports from Reuters found around a dozen small firms, mainly based in Shenzhen, claiming they service large numbers of Nvidia’s H100 and A100 GPUs, even though these chips were officially banned from sale to China in 2022. One company told the news agency it repairs up to 500 Nvidia AI chips every month – and with roughly 12 similar firms operating year-round, that could amount to tens of thousands of chips annually. Significant demand Many of these units are worn down from heavy use, especially as some have run around the clock for years in AI training workloads. “There is really significant repair demand,” Reuters was told by the co-owner of a Shenzhen firm that moved into AI hardware in late 2024. That demand led to the creation of a second company purely to handle AI chip repair. Their facility includes a server room that can simulate data center conditions with up to 256 servers. Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Another shop that shifted from GPU rentals to repairs told Reuters it fixes around 200 chips per month, typically charging about 10% of the original purchase price. Repairs can include fan replacement, circuit board fixes, memory diagnostics, and software testing. Nvidia cannot legally support or replace restricted GPUs within China. An Nvidia spokesperson said only the company and approved partners are authorized to offer the necessary service and support, adding that running restricted chips without full infrastructure is not viable long-term. The potentially high failure rate raises concerns about what will happen to tens of thousands of aging A100s and earlier GPUs once they fail. The existence of such a repair sector is down to the widespread smuggling of banned chips into China, something we’ve reported on previously. While Nvidia recently began offering the H20 GPU in China to comply with export restrictions, many customers there still prefer the banned H100 for training LLMs. You might also like Two million people watched this video of a mini PC being built from a slab of aluminum China has spent billions of dollars building far too many data centers for AI Microsoft to stop using China-based engineers for US military tech support Wayne Williams is a freelancer writing news for TechRadar Pro. He has been writing about computers, technology, and the web for 30 years. In that time he wrote for most of the UK’s PC magazines, and launched, edited and published a number of them too. Read More

Specifications Display 14.00 inch 16:10, 2880 x 1800 pixel 243 PPI, OLED, 120 Hz Connections 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, USB-C Power Delivery (PD), 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5mm Networking 10/100/1000 LAN Card (10/100/1000MBit/s), 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5.3 Size height x width x depth (in mm): 21.6 x 315.6 x 235.5 ( = 0.85 x 12.43 x 9.27 in) Operating System Microsoft Windows 11 Home Additional features Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes Weight 1.7 kg ( = 59.97 oz / 3.75 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds) Price comparison Reviews for the MSI Venture 14 AI A1MG Đánh giá laptop AI MSI Venture 14 AI A1M chip Intel® Core™ Ultra 7Source: Phong Vu VN→ENPositive: Powerful processor; bright OLED display; elegant design; high mobility; smooth performance. Negative: Overheats while using; noisy under loads. Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/14/2025 Comment Intel Arc 8-Core: Integrated graphics adapter based on the Xe LPG architecture (similar to the dedicated Arc GPUs, but with a focus on efficiency). Provides all 8 Xe cores (128 Xe vector engines) and 8 ray tracing units. Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards. » Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List. Ultra 7 155H: A high-end Meteor Lake chip that debuted in December 2023. This 1st Gen Core Ultra processor has come to replace 13th generation Core chips; it has 16 cores (6 + 8 + 2) and 22 threads at its disposal. Its Performance cores, of which there are 6, run at up to 4.8 GHz while its Efficient cores, of which there are 10 (8 main cores plus 2 extra ones found in the Low Power Island) run at up to 3.8 GHz. The integrated AI Boost NPU offers two Gen 3 engines for hardware AI workload acceleration. This laptop processor’s Base power consumption is 28 W while its Turbo power consumption is supposed to stay within 115 W. » Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors. 14.00″: There are hardly any tablets in this display size range anymore. For subnotebooks, on the other hand, it is the standard format. The advantage of subnotebooks is that the entire laptop can be small and therefore easily portable. The smaller display also has the advantage of requiring less power, which further improves battery life and thus mobility. The disadvantage is that reading texts is more strenuous on the eyes. High resolutions are more likely to be found in standard laptops. » To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List. MSI: Micro-Star International (MSI) was founded in 1986 in Taiwan. MSI is especially known as a manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards for PCs, but also offers computer accessories, complete systems, motherboards, graphics cards, laptops, desktop PCs, monitors and other components. However, the Microstar brand name in Germany belongs to the Medion company. MSI is known for its gaming products and has developed a wide range of gaming laptops and desktop PCs. The company is also active in workstations, servers and industrial automation. MSI has offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. » Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide. Devices with the same GPU Devices with Same Screen Size and/or Weight Devices from the same Manufacturer Stefan Hinum, 2025-08- 3 (Update: 2025-08- 3) Read More

The electric 2024 Acura ZDX SUV (Image source: Acura USA) The 2024 Acura ZDX is being offered with 0% APR. The electric SUV is available for zero-interest financing till September 2 in the US, making it an attractive buy. Honda-owned luxury car brand Acura is making the 2024 Acura ZDX more affordable to purchase with a time-limited offer. US buyers can take advantage of zero-interest financing until September 2 on the electric SUV. The 2024 Acura ZDX is available with 0% APR for terms ranging from 24 to 72 months for eligible customers. The offer is available through Acura Financial Services and applies to new and unregistered ZDX units. Purchase must be made through participating dealers and from existing stock. Here is how the numbers break down: with a 10 percent down payment, the 72-month financing option means buyers could pay as low as $13.89 per month for every $1,000 borrowed. This is among the best deals for a luxury electric SUV on the US market, making it a compelling proposition for both new and existing EV owners. The 2024 Acura ZDX starts at $64,500, and the $7,500 federal tax credit may apply before it expires in September. It is available in either single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) or dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The SUV can produce up to 499 hp and accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under five seconds. The driving range is up to 313 miles (EPA estimates), and the battery can be extended by up to 81 miles with just 10 minutes of DC fast charging. Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability. Related Articles David Odejide – Tech Writer – 163 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2024 Building on my first degree in Mechanical Engineering and a second degree in Environmental Management (Energy), I have carved a niche as a Content Strategist/Business Developer in the solar industry and writer on electric vehicles and renewables (solar, wind, onshore, offshore, etc.). My articles have appeared in print, on media websites, and corporate blogs. I have produced hundreds of video scripts for popular YouTube channels on EVs and sustainability. I will bring unique insights to trends and news from the EV and renewable energy industries, based on more than a decade of following and writing about them. In my spare time, I manage one of the largest LinkedIn groups for wind energy professionals. I also like to get lost in Scotland’s natural beauty. David Odejide, 2025-08- 3 (Update: 2025-08- 3) Read More

Xbox and PlayStation consoles shown with dollar symbol (Image source: Microsoft Xbox Gaming, Sony PlayStation with edits) Gamers are debating whether the current generation of Xbox consoles is successful. A pair of insiders has offered conflicting sales estimates ranging from less than 30 million to 37 million units. Using an AMD fiscal report, leaker KeplerL2 contradicts more positive projections for Xbox console sales. Recently, insiders have shared differing estimates for lifetime Xbox Series X and S console sales. Analyst Welfare revealed that Microsoft has sold around 37 million gaming systems worldwide. As sales of the consoles have slowed, some gamers doubt the figure. Most notably, the renowned leaker KeplerL2 suggests that a more accurate projection is under 30 million consoles. KeplerL2’s assertion relies on an AMD fiscal report for Q4 2024, which included over 100 million current-gen console sales. The company tracks how many of its chips are sold for use in the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and even the Steam Deck. Earlier in 2025, Sony confirmed that it had sold slightly over 75 million PS5 systems before the end of 2024. Subtracting 75 million from the 100 million, and an estimated 4 million Steam Deck sales, leaves 21 million transactions for Xbox consoles. Much of the confusion stems from conflicting reports distributed by manufacturers and game publishers. In February 2025, Take-Two Interactive reported that at least 94 million current-gen consoles had been sold by the close of November 2024. The PS5 accounted for 65.6 million of those sales through September. Considering additional sales by the end of November, Microsoft may have moved as many as 27 million Xbox Series X|S systems. KeplerL2 concludes that the most optimistic calculation for Xbox console sales is below Welfare’s 37 million projection. Yet, the truth may lie somewhere between the two numbers. VGChartz uses various retail sources to produce its rankings. Its most recent update had tracked more than 32 million Xbox Series X|S sales. Followers watch KeplerL2 because of leaks about consoles in development, including PS6 specs. As a result, some of his critics think that sales analysis is outside his comfort zone. Still, it’s clear that PlayStation’s advantage over the struggling Xbox consoles will only grow in the coming months. Related Articles Adam Corsetti – Tech Writer – 501 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2025 I became interested in technology at a young age and enjoyed discovering the latest innovations. While earning college degrees in publishing, I created several PC hardware and gaming websites. My passion has always been to guide readers on what products can truly improve their lives. After many years as a Tech Writer for Game Rant, I’m anxious to share my knowledge with a new audience at Notebookcheck. Adam Corsetti, 2025-08- 3 (Update: 2025-08- 3) Read More