PC World

You probably haven’t seen HP’s Z series of computers unless you’re working in an office with some “big iron,” packed with high-end hardware and specialized designs. But HP’s new Z2 Mini G1a, shown off at a pre-CES presentation, caught my attention in a big way. It’s a mini desktop PC with some of the most powerful parts available. First, the chassis. ...

AMD launched the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D mobile processor for gaming laptops at CES 2025, staking its own, bold claim as the world’s best mobile processor for gaming and content creation. AMD separately added a pair of new processors, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the Ryzen 9 9900X3D, to its desktop product lineup during a press conference at the CES show in Las Vegas. ...

AMD has typically pushed the envelope in performance, but at CES 2025, the company is also expanding in another direction, with cheaper, lower-performance Ryzen AI 300 and even a Ryzen 200 family that the company is encouraging both consumers and commercial customers to buy. ...

AMD has launched what one executive called “the most advanced mobile X86 processor ever created” at CES 2025: The Ryzen AI Max and AI Max+, with absolutely massive capabilities to run graphics and AI workloads. ...

The rumors were true! AMD unveiled the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT during the company’s CES 2025 keynote on Monday, powered by the next-generation RDNA 4 architecture with a new AI-focused version of FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) in tow. Gamers hoping for deep details were left wanting, however, as AMD classified this as a “preview” without much hard information. ...

Today at CES 2025, Acer announced their newest Nitro V AI lineup of gaming laptops infused with artificial intelligence. Not only are they designed to consume less power (and extend battery life), but they also feature AI-powered graphics thanks to Nvidia’s DLSS 3.5 technology. AI really is an all-consuming thing, huh? Let’s jump into the details. ...

At CES 2025, Intel said it plans to ship additional Arrow Lake desktop chips this month, alongside two new desktop chips that have already begun to surface in motherboards for desktop PCs. Intel introduced the world to the desktop version of Arrow Lake in October 2024, with five Core Ultra 200S chips, many featuring the “K” suffix that signals that they can be overclocked. ...

Intel is already sampling its next-generation core, Panther Lake, Intel’s new co-chief executive told reporters at CES 2025 on Monday morning. It will ship in the second half of 2025. Intel is already sampling Panther Lake to customers, Michelle Johnston Holthaus, Intel’s head of Intel Products and its newly appointed co-chief executive, said during her CES keynote. ...

Today at CES, Qualcomm announced its new Snapdragon X processor. The company aims to bring fast performance as well as efficient battery life to a wider market by designing the chip with mainstream and budget laptops in mind, which could make $600 Snapdragon PCs a thing. This is exciting news, as we’ve seen first-hand how battery efficient Snapdragon laptops are. ...

Microsoft will bring Phi Silica to the Windows runtime this quarter as part of Copilot, according to Microsoft’s head of Windows devices, who presented on Monday at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. Microsoft debuted Phi Silica at its Build conference in Seattle last May, showing off the Small Language Model (SLM) that’s meant to complement its Large Language Model (LLM) that runs in the cloud. ...

Have you ever let out an audible groan when an app on your TV asks you to type something? It’s never fun having to navigate an on-screen keyboard using only the directional pad on a remote control, but Direction9 has a plan to make it more tolerable. At CES 2025, the company was demonstrating a software keyboard that resembles the T9 format on old cellphones with physical numeric keys. ...

Feit Electic-owned LIFX impressed us last year with a smart ceiling light that glowed in multiple colors and worked with Matter. Now, the brand is using the same multi-zone color concept for its first smart lamp, unveiled Monday at CES. ...

Jasco, the maker of some of our favorite smart lights, is at CES this week to show off its latest smart plugs and wall switches, all of which come with a key feature: Matter support.  Jasco is also debuting a new set of indoor accent wall lights that can be controlled via the brand’s Enbrighten app or an RF remote; plus, a new entry in its Eternity outdoor light series. ...

Deep within your computer is a blueprint that specifies a certain “language” of machine instructions it can understand and execute. This blueprint (called the “instruction set architecture”) sits between your computer’s software and hardware. ...

Google is bringing its Gemini AI assistant to smart TVs in a bigger way this year, with the ultimate goal of getting people to pay for it in some way. Several television makers plan to announce new Google TV sets with Gemini built in at CES this week. ...

As we head into 2025, now’s a good time to upgrade those old power strips that are hanging on by a thread. And if you’re going to upgrade, make sure you step up to one that has ample surge protection and ample room to connect all the devices you’d ever need plugged in. ...

At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Big, beefy battery No subscription required—or even needed Sturdy, if industrial, Construction Cons Some physical installation problems Rough around the edges, with numerous features either missing or not working well Camera is of middling quality, and it doesn’t record much anyway Tuya Smart Life app needs a forklift upgrade Our Verdict Too pricy ...

Microsoft would really, really, really like you to use Bing, its self-branded search engine that competes against Google’s monopoly. Not only is it hardwired into much of Windows and other Microsoft products like the Edge browser, it also employs a lot of sneaky visual tricks to steer you away from Google itself. ...

About seven years after the HDMI 2.1 specification was introduced, the HDMI Forum has announced the next generation: HDMI 2.2, which will require new cables to take advantage of its most high-performance features. It will not require a new connector, though, thankfully. Though the HDMI Forum is officially calling the new specification HDMI 2. ...

The HyperSpace TrackPad Pro is one of a handful of technology devices that I like, but it might not be quite ready for prime time. The concept is simple enough: It’s a mammoth haptic trackpad that’s primarily designed for people who don’t already own one. The external trackpad connects via USB-C and measures 3.85 inches x 6.29 inches (98mm x 160 mm) and maybe half an inch thick. ...

Getting out of bed to turn off the lights is as annoying as it gets, but this smart button pusher from SwitchBot can help solve that problem in a blink. Even better, the SwitchBot Smart Switch is now just $20 on Amazon, down 30 percent from its usual price. The SwitchBot Smart Switch is a tiny gadget that’s easy to install and control. ...

Schlage, a leading home security brand, announced two new smart locks at CES today: the Schlage Sense Pro smart deadbolt and the Schlage Arrive smart Wi-Fi deadbolt. Both locks are designed to simplify home access and improve integration with smart home systems. ...

The smart home security specialists at Ring have partnered with Kidde, a leader in the fire protection business since 1917, to develop a pair of new home safety devices that operate in the Ring ecosystem. Bearing both the Kidde and Ring brands, the new Smoke Alarm ($54.97) and Combination Alarm (smoke plus carbon monoxide detection, $74. ...

The Kindle Scribe is an e-reader like no other. Not only does it deliver Amazon’s signature Kindle E Ink reading experience, but it also lets you write directly onto the digital pages of your ebooks, which is surprisingly useful for taking notes, doodling diagrams, and more. ...

Athom unveiled its newest smart home hub at CES 2025 Monday morning. Like its full-sized sibling, the Homey Pro Mini doesn’t rely on the cloud for operation, a feature that allows homeowners a truly local and private experience. With a price tag of $199, this compact yet powerful hub promises to bring privacy-first, highly compatible smart home management to a broader audience. ...

CES 2025 officially begins on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, and we’re excited to see all the newfangled consumer tech products that are slated to be announced. But we already have a good idea of what the show has in store when it comes to computer monitors. ...

Aiper is demonstrating the all-new Scuba X1 Pro Max robotic pool cleaner at CES. It’s the top dog in the company’s Scuba X series that promises to deliver performance a notch above the Scuba S1 Pro we reviewed—and very much liked—in July 2024. ...