The 5 coolest laptops of IFA 2018

The 5 coolest laptops of IFA 2018

The massive, annual technology show in Berlin, Germany known as IFA 2018 is drawing to a close for the press, which means it's time to reflect on what we’ve seen. In particular, we’re looking back at the coolest laptops we’ve seen at the show.

Starting in descending order, we’re very excited to try out Asus’s new line of ZenBook laptops. This new flagships are being dubbed ‘the world’s most compact laptops’ by Asus and are aimed at general use.

All three of these laptops use the clever ErgoLift Hinge first found in the Asus ZenBook S launched earlier this year, tout a massive, 95% screen-to-body ratio and feature IR webcams for biometric login via Windows Hello. The 13- and- 14-inch versions of this laptop even feature a touchpad that can double as a numeric keypad. Asus hasn’t yet revealed pricing for these laptops, but stay tuned for when they land later this October.

  • IFA 2018 is Europe's biggest tech show. The TechRadar team is in Berlin to bring you all the breaking news and hands-on first impressions of new phones, watches and other tech as they're announced.

First teased during its annual launch event in New York City, Acer finally showed off a working model of the Acer Swift 5 to the press during IFA 2018. Just like the Acer Swift 7 reigns as the ‘world’s thinnest laptop,’ the Swift 5 takes the title of ‘world’s lightest 15-inch laptop.’

The laptop uses a new magnesium-lithium shell to achieve its trademark lightness, otherwise cramming inside all of the latest technology you’d expect from a 2018 laptop.

Now, we finally know when to expect this beauty on our office’s doorstep, and how much it’ll cost you. Acer Swift 5 will start going on sale in January 2019 starting at $1,099 (around £900, AU$1,500).

The latest take on the mainstream 2-in-1 laptop from Dell doesn’t do a ton of things that are entirely new, but rather introduces features that we can only hope will come to the more premium Dell XPS laptops.

Specifically, Dell has managed to produce a laptop with both its trademark, InfnityEdge thin bezels as well as a webcam that sits above the display. This might not sound like a big deal to you, but when you’ve been following Dell’s love affair with the ‘chin cam’ on XPS laptops for the past few years, you might be as excited as we are.

The Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 will go for starting at $879 (about £682, AU$1,196) when it launches along with the rest of the lineup on October 2.

It’s almost become an annual event for Acer to pull the curtain off of a wild and wacky PC that will release later on in the coming year. This time, Acer showed off the Predator Triton 900, a 2-in-1 gaming laptop.

The laptop’s screen sits within a frame of sorts with a swivel hinge that allows it to orient itself in truly 360-degrees of movement. To make room for the swiveling screen, the touch pad is pushed to the right of the keyboard – just like the Acer Predator 21X.

Unfortunately, there’s not much more we know about the Predator Triton 900, as it was merely behind glass during the show. Regardless, we’re rather hyped for such a device, so stay tuned for a full review as soon as we can muster it.

Image Credit: Tom's Hardware

Lenovo has reinvented its concept for the truly 2-in-1 laptop with the Yoga Book C930. Simply put, this version is better in every way, from bigger, sharper screens to more powerful processors. 

However, those improvements have driven the asking price way up to $999 (about £750, AU$1,300) at the start. So, no longer is this product about democratizing exciting technology so much as it is about delivering that tech in a more powerful, reliable and versatile package.

Price hike or not, we’d be lying if we said we weren’t intrigued by Lenovo’s sequel to one of the most exciting laptop developments of the past five years. The Lenovo Yoga Book C930 hits stores this October.



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Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8180 for Windows 10 on ARM flexes on Geekbench

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8180 for Windows 10 on ARM flexes on Geekbench

While the Snapdragon 850 processor for Windows 10 on ARM devices debuted at IFA 2018 with the Lenovo Yoga C630 WOS, we’re already hearing about a successor from manufacturer Qualcomm in the Snapdragon 8180, previously referred to as Snapdragon 1000.

A processor going by the aforementioned new name has appeared on publicly listed Geekbench 4 test result postings, first caught by WinFuture. The German technology news outlet suspects that the processor is early in development, judging by information on the Geekbench 4 results page.

Specifically, the processor was clearly being tested on a 32-bit version of Windows 10, but will be expected to run on the 64-bit version of the operating system when it launches. Not much more can be confidently sussed out from these benchmarks that wasn’t already known or expected from the processor based on previous leaks, but it does put the possible power profile of the chip into perspective.

Windows 10 on ARM goes bigger

This Snapdragon 8180 processor is widely expected to be based upon processor-maker ARM’s latest Cortex A76 cores, and run on up to 15 watts (W) of power. With 9W more power available to it than the Snapdragon 835 or 850 available now in Windows 10 devices, it’s no surprise that these numbers show a 50% gain in performance over the Snapdragon 835.

This is promising news for Qualcomm’s presence on Windows, because a lack of power for the price was the most common complaint among reviews of the first laptops running on the Snapdragon 835. However, what will this increase in power draw mean for the strongest claim Qualcomm’s laptops hold: incredible battery life?

With Snapdragon 850 not even available in a Windows 10 laptop at the time of writing, we’re likely several months off from a public Snapdragon 8180 release. Judging by these new details, there could be life in Qualcomm’s plans for Windows domination yet.

Via WccfTech



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The Lenovo Yoga C630 WOS lasts over 25 hours on battery, thanks to Snapdragon 850

The Lenovo Yoga C630 WOS lasts over 25 hours on battery, thanks to Snapdragon 850

The first laptop to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 chipset, Lenovo’s Yoga C630 WOS, has made an appearance during IFA 2018, and it looks like it can achieve over a whole day of battery life.

Qualcomm is best known for making processors for smartphones and tablets, but in recent years has been applying its technology to Windows 10 laptops. Because of the power-efficient nature of Qualcomm’s chips, Snapdragon-powered laptops, like the HP Envy x2 which runs on the older Snapdragon 835 platform, are capable of incredibly long battery life.

The Lenovo Yoga C630 WOS looks set to blow past previous records by being able to run for more than 25 hours off a single charge. For people who need to use their laptops throughout the day without easy access to a power source, this will be exciting news.

Improved experience

While Snapdragon-based laptops have plenty of potential, the first wave of devices (like the aforementioned HP Envy x2) disappointed us with high prices and poor performance. However, Qualcomm was keen to highlight how its new Snapdragon 850 platform will address many of those concerns.

According to Qualcomm, Snapdragon 850 brings 30% higher CPU performance and a 30% increase in graphics performance. The new chipset has an X20 LTE modem for cellular data access, which we’ve been promised will allow you to download a 50MB file in just 10 seconds. The Lenovo Yoga C630 WOS is expected to benefit from all of these improvements.

Features

As with other Windows 10 on Snapdragon devices, the Lenovo Yoga C630 WOS has an always-on LTE connection (as long as you have a SIM card and subscription), so you can securely connect to the internet away from Wi-Fi hotspots – and updates, emails and more will always be available.

The Lenovo Yoga C630 will also benefit from extremely fast bootup times – similar to how instantly your smartphone or tablet wakes up.

It also comes with a 13.3-inch 1080p display, and as with other Yoga devices, the screen can be flipped to be used as a tablet-like device.

It comes with two USB-C ports, audio jack and SIM card holder.

The Lenovo Yoga C630 will go on sale in September for €999 ($849, around £900, AU$1,500). So, that means the high price for these Snapdragon laptops remains. We look to get our hands on one soon to see if it offers a drastic improvement over previous generations to justify the high cost.

  • IFA 2018 is Europe's biggest tech show. The TechRadar team is in Berlin to bring you all the breaking news and hands-on first impressions of new phones, watches and other tech as they're announced.


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Lenovo Yoga C930 and Yoga Book C930 redefine Lenovo’s flagship laptops

Lenovo Yoga C930 and Yoga Book C930 redefine Lenovo’s flagship laptops

Lenovo has taken the IFA 2018 stage to reveal radical redesigns for both its flagship Yoga laptop as well as its more experimental Yoga Book. Both have been updated with a new moniker, ‘C930’, suggesting they’re both within the same class of devices.

The ‘C’ stands for convertible, as naturally both laptops use 360-degree displays. The Lenovo Yoga C930 makes massive updates to its design, dropping the watchband hinge in favor of a sound bar hinge, and including a stylus built into the base of the laptop.

Likewise, the Lenovo Yoga Book C930 has been outfitted with a list of luxury-grade updates, including a new E Ink bottom display for its digital keyboard and notepad, as well as more powerful processors. To that end, the device is being re-positioned as a premium purchase, comparable to that of a MacBook or Surface Pro.

Lenovo Yoga Book C930

The speeds and feeds of Lenovo’s new flagship lineup

The Yoga C930 has been equipped with an 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor paired with 8GB of DDR4 memory and a 256GB PCIe SSD behind a 13.9-inch, Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) IPS touchscreen to start. That configuration will cost $1,399 (about £1,000, AU$1,900) when it launches in the US this October. 

From there, you will be able to upgrade the C930 with an Intel Core i7 chip as well as up to 16GB of memory and 2TB of SSD space. There will also be a UHD (3,840 x 2,160) display option available with HDR capability. However, Lenovo hasn’t disclosed upgrade pricing at the time of writing.

All C930 models will come with the stylus inside the laptop’s base as well as a fingerprint reader for biometric login via Windows Hello, which replaces the webcam option for the Lenovo Yoga 920.

Meanwhile, the Yoga Book C930 comes with a 7th-generation Intel m3 processor paired with 4GB of DDR3 memory and a 256GB PCIe SSD and a starting price of $999 (about £750, AU$1,300) when it, too, launches this October. This processor can be upgraded to a 7th-gen Intel Core i5 Y series processor, a step up from the m3 chip for fanless product designs.

All Yoga Book C930 configurations include a 10.8-inch, QHD (2,560 x 1,600) touchscreen as the main display as well as a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) E Ink touch display driving the digital keyboard and notepad experience. Stay tuned for full reviews of both of these laptops in the coming months.

  • IFA 2018 is Europe's biggest tech show. The TechRadar team is in Berlin to bring you all the breaking news and hands-on first impressions of new phones, watches and other tech as they're announced.


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The best Samsung Galaxy Tab deals in August 2018

The best Samsung Galaxy Tab deals in August 2018

Samsung Galaxy Tab deals remain popular with android tablet enthusiasts around the world. If you're not careful when shopping for one, they can be surprisingly expensive. That's where we come in though with our price comparison technology working hard to find you the best prices from the most reliable retailers.

We'll find you the latest offers over the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4, S3, S2, Tab Pro, Tab S, both Tab As and more.

If you're after the super newest Galaxy Tab S4, you're in luck, as we've added the latest deals. We'll walk you through various older models too so you can work out which one is best for you and then we'll help you find the best price. 

If you're looking for a wider variety of manufacturers, make sure you check out our cheap tablets page.

cheap Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 deals and prices

Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 deals

The Samsung Galaxy S4 deals are going to be pricey for a while given it's the newest model in Samsung's lineup. The Tab S4 is a step up from the older tablets as Samsung has attempted to bring an optional desktop experience to the operating system to make it compete with Microsoft's professional-facing Surface devices. Sadly, this also means you'll have to buy the keyboard and mouse separately if you want the full Dex experience. The S Pen Stylus is included at no extra charge though. Truth be told, if you're not too bothered about the new desktop-modes, you could save a lot of money by opting for the older, but still excellent, Tab S3 model.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 deals

Samsung's 2017 tablet has the likes of the iPad Pro and Surface Pro in its sites and could be a contender, especially if you're a fan of the Android ecosystem. With a new glass back, it's clearly been taking style tips from the gorgeous Galaxy S7 lineup and the new Super AMOLED screen supports HDR - a tablet first.

Read our full review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

samsung galaxy tab s2

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7-inch deals

Samsung's latest flagship Android tablet is a real stunner

With a stunning AMOLED screen to match any of Samsung's latest smartphones, this 9.7-inch Android tablet is one of the absolute best out there. It's the thinnest tablet in the world - thinner even than the iPad Air 2 - and is also super lightweight but very powerful.

Read our full review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

Seven inch tablets are the ideal size for most people, offering a screen bigger than smartphones (although some are getting close to this size now!) but still being comfortable to hold in one hand while reading or watching video. The nonslip backing ensures it won't be sliding out of your hand either.

The Galaxy Tab A is also a great size tablet to take with you out of the house on your commute or on your hols. And with a battery that lasts up to 11 hours between charges, you'll be doing just that as much as you want and be able to leave the charger at home if you're only out for a day or two.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1-inch deals

The best value large Galaxy Tab screen

If you're looking for one of the larger Samsung Galaxy Tab screens, but don't want to spend too much money, the Galaxy Tab A 10.1 strikes a fine balance of size, performance and cost.

samsung galaxy tab s2 8-inch deals

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 8-inch deals

The 8-inch and possibly more sensible version of Samsung's best tablet

With the same specs as the 9.7-inch model above, the Tab S2 8-inch is smaller, cheaper and probably the better option. Android works a lot better on this size screen and the low price of this model makes it a really great buy.

Read our full review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

galaxy tab s 8.4 deals

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 deals

The 8.4-inch version of Samsung's best Galaxy Tab

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S is a year older than the S2 and also comes in two sizes - 8.4-inch and then the slightly bigger and more expensive 10.5-inch. If you want one of the best Android tablet on the market, one of these two devices will do you proud because it's not a lot slower than the latest model but does have much better battery life. Whether it be the stunningly good screen or the powerful internals, this is an amazing tablet. Here are the best Galaxy Tab S 8.4 deals currently available...

Read our full review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S

samsung galaxy tab s 10.5 deals

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 deals

The 10.5-inch version of Samsung's most highly specc'd Android tablet

There's a lot to be said for the 8.4-inch version above - it could well be the absolutely perfect size for a touchscreen tablet. But if you want something a little bigger, the Tab S 10.5 is simply superb. It's got all the same features as the tablet above but features a bigger screen. If you want an iPad-beating tablet running Android, this is the one. Here are the best Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 deals...

Read our full review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S

galaxy tab pro 12.2 deals

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 deals

This incredibly big tablet is also incredibly good

If you're looking for a super-sized tablet your options are fairly limited, yet Samsung offers up two with the Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 being joined by the incredibly similar Note Pro 12.2. The battery life on the Galaxy Tab Pro 12.2 is rather impressive. With light to medium use you should be able to get two days usage from one charge, which is a massive plus for those on the move who do not necessarily have access to a power point throughout their working day.

galaxy tab 3 deals

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 deals

It's a few years old now but good at the right price

If you want a budget tablet you could do worse than the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3. It's by no means the most feature packed Galaxy Tab around, and even when it was new it wasn't the best, but prices make everything relative and this is a very cheap option!



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Asus shows off new 'world's most compact' ZenBook laptops

Asus shows off new 'world's most compact' ZenBook laptops

Asus has used the IFA 2018 tech show in Berlin to show off its latest ZenBooks, including what the company calls “the world’s most compact laptops”.

The laptops about which Asus is making that bold claim are the ZenBook 13 (UX333), ZenBook 14 (UX433) and ZenBook 15 (UX533). These premium laptops have been redesigned to be thinner and lighter than ever before, and include an almost frameless NanoEdge display.

This incorporates incredibly thin bezels around the screen on all four sides, offering an up to 95% screen-to-body ratio, which Asus claims gives the laptops the smallest footprint in their class.

The ZenBook 13 and ZenBook 14 can also come with Asus’ exclusive NumberPad, which turns the touchpad into a full-size LED-illuminated numeric keypad.

The tech inside

All models have 3D IR cameras for logging into Windows 10 using facial recognition and the Windows Hello feature, and they boast the attractive premium designs that we’ve come to expect from the ZenBook range.

These new ZenBooks also meet military-grade reliability standards – they're able to withstand extreme altitudes, temperatures and humidity, and have been put through extensive drop, shock and vibration testing.

They're also packed with some of the latest technology, including 8th-generation Intel Core processors, discrete graphics cards up to Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Max-Q, 16GB of RAM and super-fast PCIe SSDs (solid state drives).

Wait… there’s more

Those new ZenBooks are impressive enough, but Asus didn’t stop there. It also showed off the new ZenBook Pro 14, which is a smaller, more portable version of the ZenBook Pro 15, and includes the ScreenPad, Asus’ attempt to revolutionise the touchpad of the laptop by turning it into a touchscreen.

Speaking of the ScreenPad, Asus has also released new apps for it: Adobe Sign, Handwriting and SpeechTyper, and there are a number of improvements and new features included. This update can be downloaded for free from the ScreenPad settings menu.

Asus has also announced new ZenBook Flip 13 and Flip 15 convertible laptops, which are 10% smaller than previous models, which Asus claims makes them the most compact convertible laptops in the world.

These ZenBook Flip laptops include 8th generation Intel Core processors, Nvidia graphics and a Pantone Validated display for brilliant color reproduction.

Asus has not revealed prices for these new laptops just yet, but promises availability of the ZenBook 13, 14 and 15 in North America in the first half of October 2018.

As for the rest of the world, Asus has simply told us to expect them sometime in the fourth quarter of the year, but that specific dates and pricing will be confirmed soon.

  • IFA 2018 is Europe's biggest tech show. The TechRadar team is in Berlin to bring you all the breaking news and hands-on first impressions of new phones, watches and other tech as they're announced. 


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The best business tablets 2018: top picks for productivity tablets

The best business tablets 2018: top picks for productivity tablets

Welcome to our list of the best business tablets of 2018. These mobile wonders are powerful, yet portable, and they can help you keep productive while out on the road, without having to lug around a big laptop.

Android and Apple tablets have a host of apps that allow you to work on them, and of course, with Windows 10-powered business tablets, you can run any app or program you'd usually run on a traditional laptop or desktop PC.

Add a Bluetooth keyboard, and you'll be able to work comfortably on these best business tablets for hours on end.

For the sake of clarity, we will only look at pure tablets, and detachables when it comes to convertibles. 2-in-1 hybrid models are closer to traditional laptops as their keyboard can't be totally detached.

While Microsoft didn't call this year's tablet the Surface Pro 5, in many ways it's a sequel to the Surface Pro 4 (which also features on our list of the best business tablets), with a 32% increase in battery life - according to our benchmarks - as well as a refined design that remains thin and light, while also providing plenty of power. The new and improved Surface Pen and Type Cover makes this a brilliant business tablet that can be used as a laptop replacement, and it comes in a range of specifications, which makes choosing the right model for your business (and personal) needs easy.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro

iPad Pro

Apple took the iPad into uncharted territory here. The iPad Pro's optional accessories add to the cost of the tablet, but the keyboard cover and Apple Pencil stylus make the iPad even more suited for business and creative users. The iPad Pro also debuted Apple's new split-screen multitasking. It is, quite simply, a massively powerful tablet which can certainly turbocharge your productivity away from the desk thanks to a wide array of business apps – although we’d like to see more in the way of battery life.

Read the full review: Apple iPad Pro

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet is probably one of the best designed convertible devices on the market, and one where engineers clearly had a great time building a slate that crams in so many features that it's hard to believe that the X1 is so thin and portable. It bears all the hallmarks of a signature ThinkPad device: the finish, the red colour scheme, the Trackpoint, the shape of the Accutype keys, everything down to the ThinkPad logo at the back. Aficionados will love it while others might balk at the price – this is vintage ThinkPad at its finest.

Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet

Microsoft Surface Pro 4

A higher resolution screen, a thinner design and a move to Intel's more powerful Skylake processors all help to make this portable tablet a capable replacement for your laptop. Sadly, the Type Cover keyboard is still optional, but in reality it's a necessity for this laptop replacement; come on Microsoft, bundle it already. The good news with the Type Cover in this fourth iteration of the Surface Pro is that it’s much improved this time around.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Lenovo shows it is just as good at making 2-in-1 devices that are excellent business tablets with the Lenovo Miix 510, a follow up to the Miix 700 (yes, we know, confusing) with a new latest-gen Kaby Lake version of the Core i5 and a strong central pairing of 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. It comes with a detachable keyboard and costs a lot less than Microsoft's Surface Pro line of business tablets, and for the most part it offers similar functionality. This is definitely a business tablet worth considering if your budget doesn't stretch to a Microsoft (or Apple) device.

Read the full review: Lenovo Miix 510

If you're looking for the best budget business tablet, then the Microsoft Surface Go should definitely be considered. It's thin, light, portable and elegant without sacrificing the ability to get some work done, and Microsoft has packed in everything they could in a device at a low price point. If you're often working while travelling, then it's a brilliant choice, thanks to its slimline design and reliable build quality that we've come to expect from Microsoft's Surface products.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Go 

Samsung Galaxy TabPro S

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is one of the best Android tablets you can buy right now, and it proves that you don't need a tablet that runs Windows to be one of the best business tablets money can buy.

It's stuffed full of power, has an excellent display and features an iPad-Pro rivaling S-Pen stylus and optional keyboard.

The price tag could be a stumbling block, but if you're looking for the best Android has to offer in tablet form the Galaxy Tab S3 is the slate for you.

Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

If you want the versatility that the Surface Pro offers, but don’t want to pay the exorbitant price that a competent model asks, you might want to check out the Acer Switch 5. You’ll lose a bit in screen resolution and sound quality, but you’re saving hundreds of dollars. The Acer Switch 5 is one of the best business tablets for any professional who need to get work done on the go, and save some cash at the same time.

Read the full review: Acer Switch 5 

Asus Transformer 3 Pro

Asus threw down the gauntlet to Microsoft with the launch of the Transformer 3 Pro. The device, which is the only tablet we know of that comes with 16GB of RAM as standard, easily surpasses the Surface Pro 4 in terms of sheer value for money although Microsoft's flagship tablet remains the better known (and probably more trusted) of the two. Other than the standard keyboard, the Transformer also has a docking station, a stylus and even a trusted platform module (TPM) for improved security within an enterprise setting.

Read the full review: Asus Transformer 3 Pro

HP Elite x2 1012 G1

Just like the rest of the competition, HP took inspiration from Microsoft's playbook when building the Elite x2 1012, which clearly targets the business market. Like Fujitsu, HP made sure that its product was designed with enterprise users in mind. It is sturdy, undergoing a 12-point stress test, is very easy to upgrade and comes with a number of security features. There's an active pen and a keyboard, and our reviewer said that typing on the latter was "as comfortable as it is on a real notebook". Not everything about the design is perfect - such as the hinge - but overall this is a tempter with a great keyboard and screen.

Read the full review: HP Elite x2 1012 G1

Chuong Nguyen, John McCann, Matt Hanson and Henry Casey also contributed to this article



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The best mobile workstations 2018: the most powerful laptops for businesses

The best mobile workstations 2018: the most powerful laptops for businesses

If you're looking to buy the best mobile workstation for your needs - both in the office and on the road - then you'll want to make sure you pick the right one before spending a sometimes considerable amount of money on a mobile workstation.

This is where our best mobile workstation list comes in, as our experts have ranks the ultimate mobile workstations, explaining the pros and cons of each entry so you can buy in confidence.

Thanks to our price comparison tool, we can help take the sting out of the price tag by helping you find the very best prices for these excellent mobile workstations. 

Buying the best workstation for your business isn't just about plonking down cash for the most powerful laptop money can buy. Instead, you'll be looking for a versatile device that provides the same level of power you'd expect to find in a desktop PC, but within the mobile laptop form factor that allows you to work on it when out of the office.

However, you will need to pay a bit more for the best mobile workstation, as the parts they use, build quality and the level of after-sales services mean that these are an investment that can be expensive, but choosing the right one means you'll have a solid and dependable performer that will help you with your work for years to come.

If you'd prefer a Best Desktop Workstation roundup or, if you're interested in a business laptop that isn't necessarily a workstation, we've got you covered.

Because mobile workstations are so specialist - and come with such a high price tag - finding one that suits your business needs is important, and we're here to help with this list of the best mobile workstations in 2018.

Apple's most powerful laptop ever is also the best workstation laptop in 2018. It comes with the innovative Touch Bar that makes certain tasks much easier, but it's the powerful innards that really impress us with this mobile workstation. It features up to 32GB of RAM and a super-fast solid state hard drive, and comes with Intel's latest and most powerful processors. You can configure the MacBook Pro 2018 to match your needs and budget, and it all comes in Apple's trademark gorgeous design. If you're looking for the best mobile workstation that combines design and power, then this is a brilliant choice. As long as you have the budget.

 Read the full review: MacBook Pro (15-inch, mid-2018) review

Razer Blade

Not only is the Razer Blade one of the best gaming laptops money can buy, it is also an excellent desktop replacement and mobile workstation for non-gamers, thanks to its excellent array of features and powerful components. It’s thin, powerful and includes some of the latest hardware money can buy.

Read the full review: Razer Blade review

HP ZBook 17 G3

HP's mobile workstation Ultrabook has already reached its third generation but the last one is still very much a best-in-class especially when it comes to sheer value for money. It is one of the cheapest workstations on the market to offer a professional dedicated graphics card, and the most affordable business laptop to come with a whopping half-decade warranty. HP opted for a 14-inch diagonal which may well hit a sweet spot for some.

Read the full review: HP ZBook 14 G2

HP ZBook Studio G3

HP calls it the perfect combination of brains and beauty and it is kind of hard to disagree. The G3 is essentially a mobile workstation that has been squeezed in an Ultrabook form factor. A 4K monitor adorns it and there's plenty of oomph under the hood. It is actually the only device known to us that comes with a Xeon CPU. Add in extensive ISV certification, a super-long warranty and MLD-STD 810G certification and you have a very attractive candidate.

Read the full review: HP ZBook Studio G3

elitebook

Despite being just over 10mm thick and weighing just over 1.16Kg, the HP Spectre Pro 13 G1 manages to pack a proper Core i7 CPU with a full HD 13.3-inch display, a massive 4-cell 38Whr battery and three USB Type C connectors. 

This makes it a formidable mobile workstation that offers plenty of power for even the most demanding of tasks. If you want a laptop that offers similar performance to your work desktop PC, then this brilliant machine is definitely worth considering. Its  3 Year Next Business Day onsite warranty also means if something goes wrong with the device, you can quickly get it fixed without missing out on work.

Lenovo ThinkPad P40 Yoga

Lenovo hails this model as the world's first multi-mode workstation, one that manages to combine power and creativity thanks to a 360-degree hinge that has, to some extent, set the standard when it comes to convertible or 2-in-1 designs. What's more, it is one of the very rare laptops to come with built-in Wacom Active ES pen technology, capable of delivering 2048 levels of pen pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition.

MSI WS60

MSI is not a brand that we usually associate with workstations but the Taiwanese company, unlike its staunchest competitors, Gigabyte and Asus, has made some remarkable inroads in this lucrative niche market. The WS60 is essentially a more expensive version of its gaming laptop with a certified professional GPU. It's worth noting that this laptop is one of the slimmest and lightest of the workstations in this list.

Read the full review: MSI WS60

Lenovo ThinkPad P70

This is the top-of-the-range workstation at Lenovo, the apex predator, the one to beat. Targeting designers, engineers and professionals in the oil and gas industry, it is one of the only two models to feature an Intel Xeon processor. There's also a built-in colour calibrator as well as a steep price tag for the top-end model to highlight its premium nature. It is a shame though that it doesn't offer any RAID option at this price and tops out at 512GB storage.

Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad P70

MSI

The MSI WT72 6QK is an excellent mobile workstation, and with MSI being known for producing powerful gaming laptops, it’s no surprise that the company has also created this powerful workstation that excels in CAD and graphics applications. This laptop has been updated to provide some of the latest components to ensure a top notch experience.



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The next Acer Swift 7 will somehow be even thinner and smaller

The next Acer Swift 7 will somehow be even thinner and smaller

The current Acer Swift 7 laptop, released just months ago, is already the world’s thinnest, but at its IFA 2018 keynote address in Berlin Germany Acer has teased a follow-up that will be both thinner and smaller.

Showed off on the keynote stage, this upcoming Acer Swift 7 will measure less than a centimeter (0.39 inches) thin and weigh less than one kilogram (2.2 pounds), according to Laptop.

The recently released 2018 model comes in at 0.89cm (0.35 inches) thin and weighs 1.18kg (2.6 pounds). The reduction in weight to under 1kg will likely come from even thinner screen bezels, which will be shrunk down to 4.27 millimeters, resulting in a 15% smaller laptop while maintaining the 14-inch screen size for a new, massive screen-to-body ratio of 92%.

However, considering that Acer had to remove the touchpad’s clicking function to make this year’s Swift 7 as thin as it is, we almost don’t want to know what else the firm is willing to shave off to maintain its claim to the ultra-thin throne.

Acer hasn’t yet given any information regarding the laptop’s price or availability, and considering how recently the 2018 Swift 7 has released, we likely won’t see this follow-up until 2019.

  • IFA 2018 is Europe's biggest tech show. The TechRadar team is in Berlin to bring you all the breaking news and hands-on first impressions of new phones, watches and other tech as they're announced.

Lead image credit: Laptop



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Acer Swift 5 announced at IFA 2018 as the world’s lightest 15-inch laptop

Acer Swift 5 announced at IFA 2018 as the world’s lightest 15-inch laptop

Acer has unveiled its new lineup of laptops, monitors and peripherals at this year’s IFA 2018 conference in Berlin, including a radically improved Acer Swift 5, which the company claims is the world’s lightest 15-inch notebook.

The Acer Swift 5 (SF515-51T), to give it its full name, weighs just 990 grams (2.2 pounds). It comes with a magnesium-lithium alloy body, so it’s robust as well as light, and it comes with 8th-generation Intel Core i7 and i5 processors.

We had some brief hands-on time with the laptop earlier this year, and we were very impressed by how light it was. At IFA 2018, Acer revealed that the Acer Swift 5 will be available in North America with a price tag starting at $1,099 (around £900, AU$1,500); we’ve asked Acer to confirm UK and Australian availability and prices.

Laptops galore

While the Acer Swift 5 is arguably the most exciting laptop Acer showed off at IFA, the company also announced a wide range of new laptops that will be coming our way soon.

The Acer Swift 5 (SF514-53T) is the 14-inch version of the Swift 5, and is also incredibly thin and light, with the same durable magnesium-lithium alloy design, a 14-inch 1080p display and 8th-generation Intel Core processors.

Acer’s Swift 3 lineup of laptops has also been refreshed, with the 13.3 and 14-inch displays coming with slimmer bezels to make the devices more portable and stylish. The Acer Swift 3 with 14-inch display (SF314-55) will be available in North America in November, starting at $799.99. 

The Swift 3 with 14-inch display (SF314-56) will be available in Europe, the Middle East and Africa in January 2019, starting at €799 (around £750, AU$1,300). Again, we’ve asked Acer to confirm UK and Australian prices.

Acer’s Aspire 3, 5 and 7 notebook series have been updated with the latest components, including 8th-generation Intel Core processors and support for Intel Optane memory. These new models should appear on shelves by December.

Acer also showed off a new Chromebook, the Chromebook 514, which comes with a 14-inch screen, aluminium chassis and a 12 hour battery life. We don’t have exact dates and prices for this device just yet.

  • IFA 2018 is Europe's biggest tech show. The TechRadar team is in Berlin to bring you all the breaking news and hands-on first impressions of new phones, watches and other tech as they're announced. 


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Dell’s 2018 Inspiron 2-in-1 laptops bring more flagship features to the mainstream

Dell’s 2018 Inspiron 2-in-1 laptops bring more flagship features to the mainstream

Announced at IFA 2018 in Berlin, Germany, Dell has completely refreshed its 2018 line of Inspiron 7000 2-in-1 laptops and updated its Inspiron 14 5000 device. Now, the lineup looks even more like its pricier flagship counterparts in the XPS series.

Starting with the 7000 series of 2-in-1 Inspirons, Dell has updated the entire line with the latest, 8th-generation Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, and has brought a capability that the XPS line has dreamt of for years: a webcam in the proper spot despite a narrow bezel display. The smaller webcam loses out on facial scan biometric login, made up for with a new fingerprint reader.

While the 13-inch version can hold up to 1TB of SSD storage and 16GB of memory, the 15- and- 17-inch versions have options for up to 2TB of hard drive storage with SSDs up to 512GB attached. Intel Optane memory options are available as well, treated as additional RAM in these cases.

All three of these laptops will support Amazon Alexa later as well as Dell’s Mobile Connect phone management app, which now works with iPhones, and will be available starting October 2 in the US. Prices will start at $879 (about £682, AU$1,196) $849 (about £659, AU$1,157) and $1,099 (about £854, AU$1,489) for the 13-inch, 15-inch and 17-inch models, respectively.

Dell Inspiron 14 5000 2-in-1

The 14-inch 5000 series laptop is all new, too

Dell also updated the 5000 series of 14-inch Inspiron laptops, but instead of putting out features that would make the XPS line jealous, these laptops take the best of the Inspiron 7000 series with a little bit of frill taken off the top.

Starting at $459 (about £356, AU$625) and set to land in the US on October 2, the Inspiron 14 5000 for 2018 will be configurable with 8th generation Intel Core i3 to i7 processors as well optional Nvidia GeForce MX130 graphics. Storage ranges between a solo 128GB SSD and up to a 2TB spinning drive paired with a 256GB SSD. Memory starts at 4GB DDR4 to up 32GB, with Intel Optane storage pairing options included.

All of this comes behind a 14-inch, Full HD touchscreen, and these laptops also feature Amazon Alexa and Dell’s Mobile Connect software. What these laptops do not feature is secure biometric login – that’s reserved for the pricier options. All told, you’re looking at a lineup of flagship laptops in disguise, here just in time for Back to School season and the upcoming holiday shopping season.

  • Here's everything new in tech from IFA 2018


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Dell’s new 2018 Chromebooks leave the classroom for the living room

Dell’s new 2018 Chromebooks leave the classroom for the living room

Having already littered classrooms with countless Chromebooks, Dell is turning its Chrome OS efforts to the living room with a new set of laptops with the Inspiron moniker. Announced at IFA 2018, these Chromebooks come in one straight 11-inch and one 2-in-1 11-inch varieties, as well as a particularly interesting 14-inch 2-in-1 model.

Starting with star of Dell’s Chromebook show, the Inspiron Chromebook 14 2-in-1 is a premium-built laptop with an aluminum shell and Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) touchscreen. The tablet comes with an electromagnetic response, or EMR, stylus that tucks into the aluminum base.

Inside, the laptop houses an Intel Core i3 processor that drives 4GB of DDR4 memory and a 128GB eMMC SSD. That all comes together for $599 (about £464, AU$814) when this laptop launches on October 23 in the US.

New tiny Inspirons for all

Dell has also released two 11-inch Inspiron Chromebooks, one that’s a straight laptop and another that’s a 2-in-1 laptop, both running on the same Intel Celeron processor that’s found in most Chromebooks of their size. Both laptops house a 1,366 x 768 display, with the 2-in-1 variety being a touchscreen that can bend 360 degrees.

Both versions of the laptop come in plastic shells, with the straight laptop offering 16GB to 32GB of eMMC storage with 4GB of DDR3 memory and the 2-in-1 putting up 32GB to 64GB of storage and the same memory. Likewise, both laptops have two USB 3.1 ports as well as HDMI and a microSD card reader.

Unfortunately, Dell hasn’t yet disclosed pricing or release information for these Chromebooks. We’ll update this story once we receive this information. In the meantime, read our hands-on review of the Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14 2-in-1.

  • Here's everything new in tech from IFA 2018


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Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S4 lands in the UAE

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S4 lands in the UAE

Samsung has officially released it's premium new tablet, the Galaxy Tab S4 in the UAE. Sporting a 10.5-inch display, a 7,300mAh battery with fast charging and four-speaker Dolby Atmos sound system, the Galaxy Tab S4 is taking an aim at Apple's iPad Pro.

A productivity focused tablet

The new 2-in-1 Android tablet is designed for people who want to do more on the go with support for LTE, and, Samsung's DeX and S Pen technologies with the optional Book Cover Keyboard.

The beautiful 10.5-inch AMOLED display has a 2,560 x 1,600 pixel resolution and can be connected to an external monitor with a compatible HDMI to USB-C multi-port adapter. When connected, the Galaxy Tab S4 can serve as a track pad or a sketch pad. 

Other specs include 4GB RAM, the octa-core Snapdragon 835 processor and 64GB onboard storage. Cameras include a 13MP rear camera and a front-facing 8MP snapper.

Pricing and availablity

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is available across major retailers and Samsung Brand Stores in the UAE, at AED 2699 for the Tab S4, Wifi version and AED 2,899 for the Tab S4, LTE version.



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Amazon Kindle devices now officially available in the Middle East

Amazon Kindle devices now officially available in the Middle East

The Amazon Kindle is arguably the world's most loved e-reader and it is finally making it's way to the Middle East.  Customers in United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman can shop the latest Kindle devices on souq.com

Kevin Keith, Vice President, Amazon Devices said “We’re thrilled to bring the features that readers love about Kindle to SOUQ.com customers. With Kindle, readers can access the vast selection of books on Amazon.com in the Kindle Store—more than one million titles, and now including more than 12,000 Arabic language Kindle books.” 

Kindle pricing and availability in the UAE

Amazon is releasing all three models of the Kindle in the Middle East.

Kindle - AED 309

Weighing just 161 grams, Amazon Kindle is small and light, making it easy to take your library with you on-the-go.  Kindle features a 6-inch display with a high contrast touchscreen that eliminates glare, even in direct sunlight. The Amazon Kindle is available for AED 309.

Kindle Paperwhite - AED 479

Kindle Paperwhite is Amazon's bestselling Kindle and features a built-in adjustable light allowing you to read day or night. The 6-inch 300 ppi high-resolution display that delivers crisp, laser-quality text.  The Kindle Paperwhite is available for AED 479. 

Kindle Oasis - AED 999

Finally, Kindle Oasis features the largest, highest-resolution Paperwhite display in a thin and light ergonomic design. It's also waterproof (IPX8), allowing you to read in even more places. The Kindle Oasis has a battery that goes on for weeks and includes a fast-charging capability to fully charge the device in less than two hours. The Kindle Oasis is available for AED 999.

Back to school promo on Kindle devices

For a limited time only, (until September 9th, 2018). SOUQ.com is running a promotion with the Kindle Paperwhite selling for AED 399 and the 6-inch Kindle for only AED 259.



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Microsoft may introduce ‘ultrafast’ wireless charging tech for Surface devices

Microsoft may introduce ‘ultrafast’ wireless charging tech for Surface devices

Microsoft is always working to improve its Surface devices, and a new patent filed by the company indicates that one possible avenue is developing a smart battery that's capable of being wirelessly charged in super-quick time.

The patent, published last week and spotted by Windows Latest, describes innovative ‘smart batteries for ultrafast charging’ aimed at portable computing devices, so that could mean not just laptops or hybrids, like the firm’s Surface offerings, but potentially smartphones too (indeed a phone is pictured in the patent’s accompanying diagrams).

However, it’s obviously likely that the main focus will be the Surface range, and the basic idea of the tech is to utilize multiple battery modules within the power pack, rather than just the one. These multiple modules could be juiced up with a more efficient wireless charging process via a battery management controller, with the net result being much faster charging.

And that would certainly be great news for Surface users, who've suffered in the past on the battery front, with a number of gremlins plaguing Microsoft’s hybrids down the years.

Prototype palaver

Of course, that’s assuming this charging technology is targeted at these devices, and that it ever makes it further than the research labs. There are plenty of patents filed rather speculatively, or which don’t make it past early prototypes, so it's far from certain that we'll see some kind of ultrafast charging introduced by Microsoft. We can but hope, though.

It's also the case that products go through all sorts of changes during the development process. Indeed, we heard last week that the Surface Go, the newest member of Microsoft’s range, was originally supposed to be powered by an ARM processor, rather than the Intel Pentium Gold CPU that ended up inside the compact tablet.



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Google’s answer to FaceTime has been optimized for tablets

Google’s answer to FaceTime has been optimized for tablets

Google has launched an update to its video calling app Duo, which will see the service optimized for both Android tablet and iPad users. 

Previously, if you were using Duo on a tablet you were forced to used a scaled-up version of smartphone app, which didn’t provide a great picture quality. 

In a tweet the company announced the rollout will take place “over the next few days”, cementing Duo’s status as a direct competitor to Apple’s FaceTime, and appealing to those of us who prefer to chat to family and friends using a bigger screen. 

Knock knock

One of Duo’s more popular features is ‘Knock Knock’, which allows you to see a live video of the person calling you before you pick up, in an attempt by Google to “make calls feel like an invitation rather than an interruption”. 

Like FaceTime, Duo has a simple interface and offers the option for voice-only calls, with Google claiming that it’s “highest quality video calling app available”.

Group chat

However, Apple isn’t content to sit back and watch Google run away with the competition, and announced in June 2018 that Group FaceTime will be rolled out with its next software update, iOS 12. 

That being said, the new feature that will allow up to 32 people to join a FaceTime conversation, has reportedly been delayed, and the likelihood is it won’t be available until iOS 12.1 or 12.2. 

Via 9to5Mac 



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Microsoft Surface Go was reportedly almost an ARM Windows tablet

Microsoft Surface Go was reportedly almost an ARM Windows tablet

Sources speaking to Paul Thurrott have said that the Surface Go, Microsoft’s latest miniaturized version of its flagship Windows tablet, was originally intended to use an ARM processor. It reportedly wasn’t until Intel ‘petitioned Microsoft heavily’ that it went with a Pentium Gold processor.

The report deals with a response many had to the Surface Go: why did Microsoft choose an Intel processor for its smallest Surface tablet instead of an ARM-based one, considering the latter’s supposed benefits to battery life and mobile-centric use?

Not to mention that Microsoft was expected to set an example for Windows on ARM. Earlier this year, the Windows on ARM platform debuted to poor performance, so an improvement was expected.

Why the last minute change?

It still remains unclear why Microsoft ultimately went with the Intel processor, but these issues with performance wouldn’t likely have been resolved before the Surface Go’s release. 

Even the updated Snapdragon 850 processor for late-2018 Windows devices isn’t likely to match the power that users have come to expect from Windows laptops and tablets running on Intel chips.

Furthermore, ARM-based Windows devices still cannot support a large number of apps that Intel and AMD-based ones inherently do. 

This is because the vast majority of apps on Windows 10 were created to interface with Intel’s x86 instruction set architecture, and therefore are incompatible with the ARM processor without emulation.

Not only does this emulation introduce an additional level of overhead on the ARM processor to drive the virtualized environment in which to run these apps, Windows 10 can only emulate 32-bit x86 apps so far – a majority of Windows 10 apps are 64-bit, but this limitation is almost through

What's even worse for ARM is that Intel is publicly against this emulation and possibly prepared to lawyer up over it on patent infringement concerns.

All told, ARM’s success on Windows has been an uphill battle for years, and is likely to be that way for at least a while longer. App compatibility and performance issues are more easily solvable problems – Qualcomm’s already planning an update following Snapdragon 850 for 2019 – than potential patent infringement lawsuits.

Intel, meanwhile, has had trouble keeping pace with rivals in moving onto smaller processor design architectures, with its 14-nanometer process now several years old and its 10nm process delayed to mid-2019. 

This news shows how heated the competition in the silicon industry has become in the past few years.

Via The Verge



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The best Ultrabooks in Australia: top thin and light laptops reviewed

The best Ultrabooks in Australia: top thin and light laptops reviewed

We can largely thank Apple and its MacBook Air for the Ultrabook trend we're seeing. Where large, clunky laptops aren't sleek enough, and thin, portable tablets aren't powerful enough, the Ultrabook shines.

A unibody chassis packed with some of the best SSDs, processors and battery life available to devices this size, the Ultrabook is a thin and portable marvel that'll let you get on with your business, browsing or buffering without the lengthy wait times.

With TechRadar's extensive reviewing and lab testing, we've got a strong idea of what's going to cut it in today's Ultrabook landscape, and on this page we've ranked the best of the best so that you can find yourself a bargain on the cream of the crop.

Whether you're chasing the well-known brands like Dell, HP, Microsoft and Lenovo, or some surprise entrants like Razer, we've got you covered.

If you want to know exactly what to consider before buying an Ultrabook, check out our video below:

Weighing it a a measly 1.21kg and measuring just 76mm thick, the Dell XPS 13 is the epitome of an Ultrabook, and it has the reputation and power to back up the 'Ultra' part too. You won’t find that it’s the most affordable Ultrabook, but it's the most well-balanced option in Australia right now, with a healthy portioning of power and portability. It wields the latest 8th-generation Intel Core i5 and i7 CPUs, obviously, but it also rocks three USB Type-C ports and the option of an Alpine White finish that we’re absolutely in love with. 

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13

There aren't many Ultrabooks as illustriously designed as the Lenovo Yoga 920: a 2-in-1 laptop that’s as dreamy to look at as it is to use. In contrast to its nearest competitors, such as Microsoft’s Surface Book 2, it doesn't weigh nearly as heavy on the wallet either. For the modest price you pay, you’re getting a gorgeous, all-metal finish that can be flipped inside out for extended functionality. It also houses the latest 8th-generation Intel processors, just in case speed was a concern.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 920

macbook pro 13-inch 2018 deals best price

While we acknowledge that Intel's Ultrabook specification is basically the Windows response to Apple's MacBook Air, it wouldn't be fair to not give Apple right of reply in this field. The latest MacBook Pro with Touch Bar is a sleek beast, offering some excellent and reliable performance with its quad-core CPU, and while you will be paying the kind of premium you'd expect from Apple, there are few Ultrabooks out there that get the balance of design and user experience quite as right as the MacBook Pro.

Read our full review: MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (13-inch, mid-2018)

When you lay your eyes on the HP Spectre 13 for the first time, you might be blinded by its sheer beauty. HP has taken the already-beautiful Spectre, and spruced it up with gold trim and packed it with internal specs that blow the competition out of the water. One of the first Ultrabooks packing a quad-core CPU, the 2017 Spectre 13 more than doubles the CPU performance of most of its competitors. It comes at the cost of battery life, but clocking in at just under 6 hours – the battery is still passable. 

Read the full review: HP Spectre 13 

Razer has to deal with the common misconception that it’s solely a gaming laptop and peripheral company, a reputation it subverted when it introduced the Blade Stealth back in 2016. And, if you’re unconvinced, the latest edition of the Razer Blade Stealth may change your mind by turning into a 13.3-inch, QHD+ beauty. There’s no longer the option for 4K, but the performance this Ultrabook delivers is worth the compromise. 

Read the full review: Razer Blade Stealth

Rarely does a company think of everything when designing a laptop, but for what it’s worth, the HP Spectre x360 comes surprisingly close. It’s a 2-in-1 convertible laptop, which by default makes it not for everyone. Still, for those right-brained users out there, it comes bundled with a Windows Ink-compatible stylus, unlike the vast majority of hybrids. That would mean very little if the HP Spectre x360 didn’t have great sound and visuals, though it evidently does.

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360

Anyone familiar with Apple’s thinnest and lightest laptop would be wise to compare the Asus ZenBook 3 to the 12-inch MacBook. The similarities are obvious, but one look at the specs and the differences stand out too. Adorned with the choice of a U-series Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, the ZenBook 3 is awfully powerful considering it’s less than half an inch thick and weighs two pounds. The port selection is sparse, but ultimately it’s well worth the sacrifice.

Read the full review: Asus ZenBook 3

Best Ultrabooks

It’s no secret that Apple has all but neglected the MacBook Air recently, but in some cases a Windows Ultrabook can be just as good, if not better. Take the Asus ZenBook UX310, for example, the long awaited follow-up to the award-winning ZenBook UX305. Donning a 7th generation Intel Kaby Lake processor, a 178-degree rotating QHD+ screen, a USB-C port and an all-aluminium shell, this truly is a candidate for the MacBook Air’s throne. 

 Read the full review: Asus ZenBook UX310

best ultrabook

No, it’s not another 2-in-1 - the Surface Laptop is a full-on traditional laptop (with a touchscreen) designed by the Microsoft hardware design lab. From the Italian imported Alcantara fabric material decorating the keyboard to its beautiful 13.5-inch, 3:2 PixelSense display, there’s no questioning the Surface Laptop’s appeal at face value – but dig even deeper and you’ll find a notebook that’s arguably more competent than Apple’s more expensive 12-inch MacBook. And, keep your eye out – we’re expecting the Surface Laptop 2 sometime in 2018. 

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Laptop

If you’re looking to get your hands on an entry-level Ultrabook that can get some work done (without spending a fortune), the Lenovo Yoga 730 should be at the top of your list. Sure, it doesn’t have the longest battery life, but with how much (or how little) this device will set you back, it’s a worthy trade off – especially considering the speedy SSD storage, quad-core processor and 8GB of RAM you’re getting at the entry level. For anyone on a budget, the Lenovo Yoga 730 is certainly one of the best Ultrabooks around right now.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 730 



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Huawei’s new MateBook D delivers MateBook X Pro power for hundreds less

Huawei’s new MateBook D delivers MateBook X Pro power for hundreds less

The Huawei MateBook X Pro still stands as our best laptop of 2018, but you can now get nearly that same level power in a nearly as pretty package, and it comes from Huawei. The firm has announced a new version of its MateBook D laptop, now with Intel and Nvidia hardware inside.

In fact, this new version of the Huawei MateBook D has the very same GPU and CPU to start as the entry-level MateBook X Pro: the Nvidia GeForce MX150 and Intel Core i5-8250U, respectively. The laptop starts at $999 (about £776, AU$1,374), and is available now on Amazon, Newegg and B&H in the US at that price.

Rounding out the configuration are the same specifications as the previously-announced AMD version of the laptop: a 14-inch, FHD (1,920 x 1,080) touchscreen, a 256GB SSD and 8GB of DDR3 memory. The processor and storage can be upgraded to an Intel Core i7 chip and 512GB of space, respectively, and Microsoft is selling that version for $1,099 (about £854, AU$1,509).

Huawei MateBook D side view

Save for the standard FHD display and containing half as much memory as the MateBook X Pro, this MateBook D is essentially just as powerful as Huawei’s flagship laptop, but costs $500 less. It’s missing the pristine shell (though it’s still metal) and super-sharp screen, but this laptop features USB-C connectivity and charging, as well as a fingerprint sensor for biometric login via Windows Hello – just like the MateBook X Pro.

The MateBook D is rated to last for up to 12 hours on a charge of nonstop video playback, which in real-life testing should land somewhere around the MateBook X Pro’s result of eight hours in our own video rundown test. If you want the power of Huawei’s flagship laptop without all of the frills (though it still has plenty of those), the MateBook D looks to be your answer.



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Currys PC World has some bank holiday PC bargains with up to £200 off

Currys PC World has some bank holiday PC bargains with up to £200 off

Currys PC World has kicked off a big August bank holiday sales event, with a host of deals both online and in retail outlets. And as you would expect, there are some neat laptop and PC deals to be had, not to mention a bargain printer.

Check out the following discounted products…

The sale runs until next Tuesday (August 28), although as ever it’s only while stocks last, so a popular item might run out sooner. If you’re at all tempted by one of these pieces of hardware, you may want to get in there early.



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Lenovo launches five new low-cost Android tablets

Lenovo launches five new low-cost Android tablets

You wait for a new Android tablet to arrive and then five come along at once - and they're all from Lenovo.

The new slates fall into two separate categories, with the low-cost, entry-level Lenovo Tab E7, Tab E8 and Tab E10 aimed at families who don't want to do anything too taxing on their tablet.

The Lenovo Tab E7 is the cheapest of the bunch and comes with a 7-inch display, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, microSD slot, 2MP rear camera, 0.3MP front camera and Android Oreo Go Edition.

The minimal power under the hood means it won't be much use for gaming, with the Tab E7 better suited to simple web browsing tasks and maybe the odd bit of video streaming.

The Lenovo Tab E8 offers a slightly larger, 8-inch HD display, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, microSD slot, 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera and claims to have up to 10 hours of video playback in its battery.

Finally, the Lenovo Tab E10 has a 10-inch HD display, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, microSD slot, 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera and two front facing speakers. 

Under the hood is Qualcomm's entry-level Snapdragon 210, which means it won't be much good at heavy lifting tasks, but general web browsing and simple apps should be fine.

The Lenovo Tab E7 price is $69.99 (around £55, AU$100) and will be available from October, the Tab E8 can be picked up now for $99.99 (around £75, AU$140) and the $129.99 (around £100, AU$180) Tab E10 will also be available from October. 

Walmart will be stocking all three tablets in the US, but there's no word on whether they'll make their way to other markets just yet.

Something more premium

The other two tablets are slightly more premium, but they certainly won't be troubling Apple's high-end iPad range.

First up is the Lenovo Tab M10, with a 10.1-inch full HD display, Snapdragon 450 chipset, 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, 5MP rear camera, 2MP front camera and a 4,850mAh battery.

Then there's the Lenovo Tab P10, which packs a 10.1-inch full HD display, Snapdragon 450 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, 8MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, fingerprint scanner and a sizable 7,000mAh power pack. It also boasts four front facing speakers with Dolby Atmos support.

We currently don't have any price information for the P10 or M10, but Lenovo tells us that both tablets will be available for pre-order before the end of the year at Amazon - although again, we don't know if they will be available outside of the US.



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Older Chromebooks including the 3-year-old Chromebook Pixel won’t get Linux apps

Older Chromebooks including the 3-year-old Chromebook Pixel won’t get Linux apps

Those of you who are looking forward to having Linux apps on your Chromebook may be in for a disappointment if you’re running an older machine, because a number of these more dated models won’t be able to support this functionality – including Google’s second-gen Chromebook Pixel from 2015.

Support for Linux apps in Chrome OS was announced back in May, but now it has emerged that several two or three-year-old Chromebooks won’t benefit from this.

Why not? Well, these devices are running an old version of the Linux kernel, and these older variants won’t be upgraded by Google to add the facilities necessary to be able to play nice with Linux apps – it would simply be too much work to get things functioning.

So the cut-off point for machines which will be upgraded has been officially marked as Linux kernel 3.14, or older, as spotted on Reddit.

Cold shoulder

That means Chromebooks using that version of the kernel or older are out in the cold, and that includes the following models:

  • AOpen Chromebase Mini (Feb 2017; tiger, veyron_pinky)
  • AOpen Chromebox Mini (Feb 2017; fievel, veyron_pinky)
  • ASUS Chromebook C201 (May 2015; speedy, veyron_pinky)
  • Acer C670 Chromebook 11 (Feb 2015; paine, auron)
  • Acer Chromebase 24 (Apr 2016; buddy, auron)
  • Acer Chromebook 15 (Apr 2015; yuna, auron)
  • Acer Chromebox CXI2 (May 2015; rikku, jecht)
  • Asus Chromebit CS10 (Nov 2015; mickey, veyron_pinky)
  • Asus Chromebook Flip C100PA (Jul 2015; minnie, veyron_pinky)
  • Asus Chromebox CN62 (Aug 2015; guado, jecht)
  • Dell Chromebook 13 7310 (Aug 2015; lulu, auron)
  • Google Chromebook Pixel (Mar 2015; samus)
  • Lenovo ThinkCentre Chromebook (May 2015; tidus, jecht)
  • Toshiba Chromebookk 2 (Sep 2015; gandof, auron)

There’s not much you can do if you own one of these machines – you’ll just have to resign yourself to not benefiting from Linux apps.

In other recent Chromebook news, we saw that Google is working on introducing support for dual-booting Chromebooks, offering users the choice of picking between Chrome OS and Windows 10 when they fire up their machine.

Of course, as well as bringing in support for Linux apps, Chrome OS devices are already capable of running Android apps.

Via Slashgear



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The best cheap MacBook Pro deals in August 2018

The best cheap MacBook Pro deals in August 2018

Welcome to the home of the best cheap MacBook Pro deals. Here at TechRadar, we check around for the cheapest MacBook Pro prices everyday at the top retailers on the net. So you're certainly in the right place to save money on your new Apple laptop. Better yet, we've just updated our guide with the latest models. We've still included the earlier models, as some of them are a lot cheaper.

The MacBook Pro has become the go to laptop range for professionals and enthusiasts alike, absolutely powering through tasks regular laptops fear. Apple's staggering lineup of Retina screens lead the way for crisp visuals and the increasingly excellent physical design of the laptops themselves has seen the latest Macbook Pro usurp the svelte form of the MacBook Air. You want the best there is, but there's no reason to pay more than you should for it. If you want to save some money you could check out the other MacBook deals or maybe even a cheap laptop deal.

macbook pro 13-inch 2018 deals best price

The 2018 version of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro is the best yet, comes with the Touch Bar as standard and features a range of improvements over the older models. The screen resolution may be the same with the excellent Retina display, but now there's True Tone technology inside that senses ambient lighting in the room or outdoors to adjust the brightness of the screen for the best possible picture. The keyboard is quieter and less 'clicky' too. You're getting the brand new 8th-gen Coffee Lake core processor and the quad-core CPUs have doubled the performance of the 2017 models. With more options for larger RAM too, options really open up for creatives and professionals with the MacBook Pro 2018.

apple macbook pro 15-inch 2018 deals

The larger 15-inch version of the 2018 MacBook Pro with the Touch Bar is generally going to cost a fair bit more than the 13-inch model, but that's not just because of the larger screen. This model packs a lot more under the hood too, with Apple providing multiple options with increased RAM, extra processing power with a six core Coffee Lake processor and larger SSD storage options. Naturally, you're getting the same improvements over the 2017 version too like the True Tone screen technology and quieter keyboard. This really is a powerhouse laptop for designers and industry creatives. If you don't need all the power though, we'd consider the cheaper 13-inch model, or maybe even one of the older versions found below if the prices are right for you.

Macbook Pro with Touch Bar (2017) deals

2017 update: The 2017 lineup has recently been released too. The newer models aren't a massive upgrade over the 2016 lineup. Actually the -admittedly still excellent- retina display and overall size are the same. If you're looking for increased performance, you're in luck as the new models have been upgraded to include the 7th-gen Kaby Lake processor chips for enhanced 4K streaming and media editing.

The new 2017 MacBook Pros will eventually phase out the older models, which means you'll more than likely be able to snag a cheap MacBook Pro deal on the older laptops.

2016 was crying out for a refresh of the MacBook Pro and Apple once again come up with something rather special. In addition to the internal spec getting a long awaited upgrade and that gorgeous Retina display (available in 13-inch and 15-inch flavours), Apple has introduced their long-rumoured Touch Bar technology. This mini-LED display replaces the Function keys and comes up with different touch display controls for an increasing number of programs. Uses so far include Safari bookmarks, predictive text, search field, emojis, photo galleries or even more intensive actions like photo editing or mixing records. Simple, yet innovative. Expect rival firms to start copying it soon.

This new 13-inch MacBook Pro is the cheapest way to get your hands on one of Apple's latest laptops, released in late 2016. This is the lightest MacBook Pro ever made, but still packs an incredible punch with 2.0GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 or 2.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor options. You don't get the new Touch Bar on this version, but you do get a Retina display and the new larger trackpad. Prices start around $1,499/£1,449/AU$2,199. Stay updated on the latest prices in the comparison chart below.

MacBook Pro 13-inch - no Touch Bar (2017)

2017 update: Just like the aforementioned Touch Bar models, the screen and shape are unchanged since the 2016 models. You are getting the new Kaby Lake 7th-gen processor though. 

2016's lineup was very expensive, which is why we're delighted to see that Apple has released an even cheaper 13-inch model for an entry-level, but still very modern, MacBook Pro experience. This does come at the cost of a smaller storage capacity though, with the cheapest options including a 128GB SSD instead of 256GB.

These new 2017 models will start to phase out some of the older ones, so keep an eye on our comparison charts as we expect to see some tasty discounts on the 2016 crew as retailers make way for the new breed.

The 2015 MacBook Pro didn't undergo a dramatic reimagining, but then there wasn't anything particularly wrong with it in the first place. Improvements to its performance mean it's better value than before, and the noticeably improved battery life makes it even more of a mobile workhorse. As ever the cost of adding memory and storage soon sends the price tag into orbit, but even the stock MacBook Pro is an incredibly versatile computer and arguably Apple's best ever laptop. Newer MacBooks may be more portable, but the Pro has all the power. 

If you're looking for the larger-sized laptop experience in the MacBook range, you'll be wanting to take a look at the seriously impressive specs of the 2015 model 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. The Intel Core i7 2.5 Ghz processor combined with 16GB of RAM will make light work of anything you can throw at it. 512GB of super fast flash storage, a new Force Touch trackpad and that incredible four million pixel-packing display make this one of the best laptops in the business.



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LG reveals the StanbyME Go, a portable tablet with its own stylish suitcase

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