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Mechanical keyboards have swept the mainstream in recent years, saving typists and gamers alike from the scourge of cheap, mushy typing. However, a secret third option might prove to be even better. Most keyboards, from those found on the best Windows laptops to Apple’s Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro or Mac, are membrane keyboards which use a rubber or silicone layer under the keys to register presses. Mechanical keyboards, on the other hand, use discrete, customizable switches for each key. In addition to being relatively cheap, the best mechanical keyboards can turn typing into a pleasure rather than a chore. But lately, you may have heard about the new kid on the block: Hall effect keyboards. Although they started out as gaming-centric products, they have also lately become great options for everyday typing.
Regular mechanical keyboard switches have been around since the early days of personal computing. They contain springs that keep two metal contacts separated, completing a circuit when the user presses down. Hall effect switches, by contrast, use magnetic fields. Each switch has two magnets facing each other, and as they get closer during a keypress, they generate a voltage field. This means Hall switches don’t need contact to actuate a keystroke, and they can also sense exactly how far down they’re being pressed. The actuation point can therefore be customized, enabling some very cool applications, especially for video gaming.
Although they’ve seen the most prominence in the gaming segment of the keyboard market, Hall effect keyboards are becoming more common among the average typist. So, are these futuristic input devices ready for prime time, or should the typical consumer still opt for a mechanical keyboard? Here’s what you need to know.
Hall effect keyboards are great for gaming and getting better for everyday use
As mentioned, Hall effect keyboards have seen the widest adoption among the gaming crowd, but some of the benefits for gaming also translate into everyday use. The ability to fine tune the actuation point — how far down you need to press a key before it registers as an input —means you can pull of some seriously advanced moves in competitive games. Last year, we reported why some gamers called Razer’s Snap Tap feature cheating, since it allowed keyboards, especially those with Hall effect and optical switches (which are similar but use light instead of magnets), to trivialize strafing techniques that require hours of practice on mechanical switches. That same feature could make typing easier for speedy typists who often find themselves typing letters too quickly and end up having to backspace constantly.
If you’re getting spacebar bounce and accidentally adding extra spaces when you type, adjusting the actuation point further down can eliminate those errors. If you want to get even more advanced, many Hall effect keyboards allow multiple actuation points on a single key. This allows gamers to bind multiple controls to a single key, but for everyday use, you could arrange a slight press of the backspace key to erase one letter at a time, while a full press erases an entire line.
Another benefit that shouldn’t be overlooked is that, since the magnets in a Hall switch never touch each other, they don’t wear out nearly as quickly as mechanical switches which make physical contact with each keystroke. If you’re someone who types often (for example, a writer, secretary, or receptionist), using Hall switches could save you money in the long run.
Are Hall effect keyboards comfortable for everyday use?
Although some of the unique features enabled by Hall effect keyboards may be great for gaming and useful for the average user, there’s a reason most non-gamer keyboard enthusiasts haven’t bought them. In general, gaming keyboards have different priorities than normal keyboards. While gaming, users press a few specific keys at precise times, whereas everyday users are typing emails and documents using the entire keyboard. Therefore, great gaming performance often comes at the expense of the typing experience, where users take advantage of the entire keyboard. However, as more companies adopt Hall effect technology, there’s been an increased focus on making them feel great for everyday use.
Hall effect keyboards like the Keychron K2 HE which aim to bridge the gap between gaming performance and typing comfort are beginning to proliferate, and they’re drawing praise from keyboard experts outside the gaming world. SlashGear gave the Keychron Q1 HE a perfect 10/10 in its review, finding it to have a delightfully smooth typing feel and excellent typing accuracy thanks to its Hall switches. Offerings like the Nuphy Field75 HE have garnered great reviews, too. Surprisingly, even keyboards from gaming brands like Wooting are drawing praise from typists.
If you’re not a gamer and you’re looking for the best typing experience, the most reliable mechanical keyboard brands still offer far more plentiful choices than you’ll find from brands that offer Hall effect keyboards. However, if you want a keyboard that can deliver the best of both worlds, Hall effect keyboards are worth considering.
Whether they’re going back to school or back to the couch, these are the best Chromebooks for kids
Buying a Chromebook for your kid isn’t as simple as grabbing the cheapest one on sale — I’ve learned that the hard way. As someone who tests laptops for a living, I’ve seen the full range: rugged models built for classroom chaos, sleek 2-in-1s that double as tablets, and budget machines that just barely get by.
So when it comes to picking the right Chromebook for a child, I focus on what actually matters: durability, ease of use, good battery life, and just enough performance to handle schoolwork (and a bit of YouTube, too).
I genuinely think Chromebooks are a great choice for kids — they’re simple, secure, and often affordable. But not all are created equal. Some models have touchscreens, some don’t. Some come with a solid port selection for connecting a mouse or USB drive, while others cut corners to stay light and cheap. And a few support Android apps or even Linux, which opens up surprising flexibility down the line.
Below are the best Chromebooks for kids I’ve personally tested — whether you’re buying for school, home learning, or just want a reliable first laptop that won’t break the bank.
I often recommend the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus as a great option for kids because it sports the three key things needed — versatility, durability and the ability to get stuff done.
In a two-in-one form factor, it can both be a solid laptop for getting work done with a zippy Intel Core i3 CPU. Plus the inclusion of 12 months of Google AI alongside multiple account support in Chrome OS means you can make the most of Gemini and even NotebookLM — it’s been a serious game changer for my nephew asking questions of his stories.
Flip it into tent mode and it becomes a great creative canvas with a responsive, bright and colorful touchscreen, or a great distraction for a bunch of episodes of Bluey.
My only real frustration is the lack of a stylus included in the box. That’s an additional investment on top for doodling to his heart’s content, but the works of art he makes does make it all worthwhile.
+Impressive performance +Lightweight design +Excellent battery life
Reasons to avoid
-Underwhelming display -Poor sound quality -Limited by Chrome OS
Advancements in ChromeOS and cloud gaming services have made the idea of a “gaming Chromebook” that can play the latest and greatest games a viable option, and the Acer Chromebook 516 GE was one of the first to hit the market.
With a starting price of $649, a big 16-inch (2,500 x 1,600 pixels) display and a surprisingly low (for a 16-inch gaming laptop) weight of 3.9 pounds, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is a solid big-screen Chromebook for not a lot of money.
Admittedly, the 12th Gen Intel CPU, 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD in our review unit didn’t give it a lot of horsepower or space to run games, but since you’re meant to mostly play games via cloud gaming services like Amazon Luna, GeForce Now and Xbox Game Pass you just need a rock-solid Internet connection. And since it sports an Ethernet jack (a rarity on Chromebooks) you can count on being able to plug into wired Internet for optimal gaming.
+Lengthy battery life +Excellent screen for its price +Affordable, plus keyboard included
Reasons to avoid
-Keyboard is best for small hands -Hinge could be stronger
As you might have guessed from the name, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a cheaper, less capable version of our top recommendation, the Duet 3.
This is basically the same kind of Chrome tablet, but the Duet is cheaper than the Duet 3 and also slower and smaller. Plus, it offers fewer ports and a dimmer screen. But if you’re on a tight budget, these are easy trade-offs to make in return for the Duet’s core value: a light, durable Chrome tablet with good battery life and a decent detachable keyboard.
Plus, it actually lasted hours longer than its more expensive sibling in our battery rundown tests, so you get better battery life (12+ hours!) than the Duet 3.
While this Chrome tablet is smaller and less capable than the Duet 3, with a screen that has a lower resolution, that’s not necessarily something a child will notice or care about. And the fact that it’s so cheap may make it the ideal Chromebook for kids that aren’t old enough to know how to take care of a tablet yet, since it won’t cost much to replace.
Sure, even smaller hands may find the Chromebook Duet’s keyboard a little on the tight side, but at this price,anykeyboard is a surprise and a steal.
How to choose the best Chromebook
How to choose the best Chromebook for your kid
Kids don’t need all the bells and whistles of a premium Chromebook. They need something functional enough to check them into class and help facilitate participation. Chromebooks running lesser-known processors such as the MediaTek Helio P60T and the Intel Celeron N4000 are undoubtedly able, but they’re not workhorses akin to the Intel Core M3 and Core i5 processors. For something more powerful and capable of flying through several Chrome tabs at a time, plus Android apps where applicable, 8GB of memory is a minimum requirement. At the very least, you won’t have to worry about discrepancies in battery life between the models mentioned here because education-focused Chromebooks run on the least-taxing specifications.
For a child who is mostly stuck at the desk doing schoolwork, a traditional laptop-type Chromebook will suffice, though you’ll want to choose an exterior that’s easy to wipe down when messes occur. If your child prefers a mouse to navigate, select one with a standard USB input. It simplifies the process of connecting a mouse, and you don’t have to worry about buying a compatible USB-C dock. For squirmier tykes, a 2-in-1 Chromebook tablet has the same functionality as a desk-bound Chromebook, but with the flexibility of doing schoolwork in a beanbag chair or another extremely comfortable situation.
When it comes to screen size, an 11-inch display is ample enough for younger kids. Older kids and middle-schoolers will benefit more from a larger display, or anything 13-inches and over. If you don’t like the display of the Chromebook–perhaps it’s a bit washed out, or you realize it’s uncomfortable for your child–you can always invest in the USB hub mentioned above to tack on HDMI and connect to an external monitor.
Lastly, since Chromebook models aren’t typically refreshed annually, be keen on whether or not the Chromebook model you choose will receive software and security updates down the line. Most of the Chromebooks featured here are set for updates until 2026. (Google offers a helpfulsupport pageif you want to look up a specific model.) This ensures compatibility with software and that your child’s laptop isn’t exposed to any major security vulnerabilities. You may have to perform some manual parenting maintenance to ensure the device stays up to date.
Battery test results compared
Battery life is one of the key things you should look at when deciding which Chromebook to buy a child, which is why we run every laptop we review through a series of battery tests to see how long it lasts on a full charge.
These tests do not reflect real-world use patterns since we have to set every laptop to the same settings in order to do fair comparisons. Thus, while the times listed here are accurate and useful as a comparison point, your own experience with a laptop’s battery life will likely vary.
This is because when we run our battery test we set the laptop’s display to 150 nits of brightness and have it endlessly browse the web via Wi-Fi until it dies. However, when you use your laptop you’re likely adjusting brightness on the fly, doing all sorts of different tasks while perhaps listening to music or watching a video at the same time, and generally putting the machine through more of a workout than it gets in our test.
So while I stand by our testing and the battery life results we compare in the chart below, I want to be clear that your own experience will vary!
Buying a refurbished laptop can be a great way to save money, which is why many of us consider doing so. There are many laptops worth buying used or refurbished, but the battery is often one of the biggest question marks. Anyone who’s used a laptop on the go knows how important battery life is when there’s no power outlet available. If your laptop’s battery is in good condition, it’ll last a decent amount of time between charges, letting you stay productive without being tied to a charger. However, when you buy a refurbished laptop, it’s not always clear what type of battery you’ll end up with.
The unfortunate reality is that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to whether refurbished laptops come with new or used batteries. You may end up with a new one, a used one, or something in between. The condition of the battery you get with a refurbished laptop has a lot to do with where you buy it and who refurbished it. For example, while Apple installs new batteries in refurbished iPhones and iPads, the same isn’t always true for MacBooks, where Apple replaces the battery only if it falls below their performance standards. Whether you buy from a manufacturer or a third-party refurbisher, in most cases, they’ll test the battery during refurbishment and only replace it if its charging capacity falls below a certain threshold. That’s why it’s important to read the fine print, so you know exactly what you’re getting before you click “buy.”
Do refurbished laptops typically come with new batteries?
If you’re like many consumers, one of your biggest concerns when buying a refurbished laptop is the state of its battery. You know that a laptop’s battery degrades with every charge cycle and won’t last forever. Even if you buy a Windows laptop with amazing battery life, at some point the battery is going to start to wear down, and with a refurbished model, it may already have, especially if it’s more than two years old. So, it’s reasonable to wonder if you’re getting a new or used battery when you buy a refurbished laptop, especially since not all sellers handle battery replacements the same way.
If you’re buying a refurbished laptop from the manufacturer or a certified refurbisher, they’ll almost always test the battery during the refurbishment process. Many sellers follow a standard where they’ll replace the battery on a refurbished laptop if it no longer meets their minimum capacity guidelines, often around 80%. If it doesn’t meet that threshold, it’s usually replaced with a new or lightly used one that performs better. However, you should keep in mind that there’s no universal rule that refurbishers follow, and policies vary from one brand to the next. Furthermore, the warranties that come with refurbished laptops often exclude battery performance. So, before you purchase a refurbished laptop, you should check to see if the seller guarantees a certain level of battery health.
What to look for in a refurbished laptop’s battery
If you’re thinking about buying a refurbished laptop, understanding its battery health can save you money and help you avoid unpleasant surprises down the line. If you’re buying the laptop online, you most likely won’t have a chance to check the battery yourself before you purchase it. That’s why it’s important to ask the seller about the battery’s condition and whether it meets a minimum capacity standard. Once your refurbished laptop arrives, you can run diagnostics to confirm its current capacity matches what the seller promised. Depending on the warranty that came with the laptop, if the battery doesn’t meet expectations, you may be able to request a replacement or return the device.
That’s why, before you commit to buying a refurbished laptop, you should ask the seller about its battery replacement policy. Also, confirm whether the battery has been replaced recently or if the laptop is still using the original battery. For example, while refurbished MacBooks don’t always come with new batteries, they’re still an Apple product worth buying refurbished because they undergo thorough testing, come with a one-year limited warranty, and often cost much less than new models. Whatever brand you choose, make sure the seller is transparent about the battery’s condition and has a clear return policy or warranty in case it doesn’t meet your expectations.
These are some of the finest notebooks available right now
I can’t say that 2025 has been a particularly exceptional year for laptops, at least so far.
That’s not to say there haven’t been new developments. After all, the firstRTX 50-series notebooksare now available, offering a decent (if unremarkable) performance bump from previous generations. There are also a good number of Intel Lunar Lake laptops that finally give thebest Windows laptopscomparable battery life to thebest MacBooks.
I test and review laptops for a living, and these three have stood above the rest. Below, I’ll detail what I like about each of these laptops and hope that this can help you if you’re in the market for a new notebook, whether it’s for work or fun.
TheMacBook Air 15-inch M4is currently the main laptop I use at the office, so it instantly makes it on this list. But why this specific laptop instead of something that’s either smaller or perhaps more powerful? This MacBook has everything I need to get work done as efficiently as possible.
I have the 15-inch MacBook Air M4 connected to an external monitor, with the latter serving as my primary monitor. The MacBook Air M4 serves as my secondary display, which I specifically use to view and respond to Slack messages. Its large screen ensures I don’t have to squint when reading messages from my colleagues.
Thanks to theM4 chipinside, the Air M4 can easily handle my everyday workload, which often consists of 20 to 30 open tabs and the occasional YouTube video (or two) running in the background. And when I need to head into a meeting room, this laptop is light enough to easily carry around the office. The big screen also means I don’t have to make a big compromise when I have to work with a single screen.
When it comes to everyday work at the office, the 15-inch MacBook Air M4 fits all of my needs. Plus, it just looks nice sitting on my desk!
While they don’t get as much attention, I’m a fan of Samsung’s laptops due to their general lightweight design and OLED panel options. The last one I tested was theSamsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro, and it exemplifies everything I love about the company’s laptop line.
The main reason I like this notebook is its gorgeous 16-inch (2880 x 1800) OLED. This screen makes everything pop, so movies and shows look spectacular. It also gets pretty bright for both SDR and HDR content, meaning you won’t miss a single detail in videos or on websites.
While relatively large, this laptop’s lightweight and thin design make it a great travel companion. I also like the generous port selection, which is something you don’t always find on machines this thin. Inside, it packs a Lunar Lake chip that gives it plenty of power for everyday work and nearly 12 and a half hours of battery life, which is better than average for a Windows laptop.
Even ifLunar Lakeisn’t as energy efficient asSnapdragon X Elite, Intel’s CPU generally plays nicer with a broader range of apps and programs compared to Qualcomm chips.
I initially had reservations about RTX 50-series gaming laptops since I felt the previous-gen RTX 40-series machines were still good enough for gaming. While that’s still true, testing rigs like theHP Omen Max 16and Alienware 16 Area-51 Gaming Laptop have made me an RTX 50-series believer. This is especially true with Alienware’s incredible laptop.
The Alienware 16 Area-51 has style and substance. Its Liquid Teal finish gives the laptop a dark iridescent sheen that shifts colors when you view it under different lighting. Combine that with the RGB lighting that mimics the motions of the aurora borealis, and you have a machine that looks like it was created by aliens! Though this Alienware laptop is big and bulky, there’s no denying that it’s one beautiful piece of kit.
Then there’s the incredible gaming performance. I gotDoom: The Dark Agesto run at 120 fps with DLSS 4 off and 240 fps with DLSS 4 enabled. The latter’s fps effectively matches the display’s refresh rate. This laptop can even run the graphically demandingCyberpunk 2077at 70 fps with DLSS off and 240 fps with the frame-generating tech turned on.
You can read my fullAlienware 16 Area-51 reviewfor more details (and gushing), but suffice it to say this is my favorite gaming laptop of 2025 right now.
Because USB is so common, it’s easy to overlook how incredible it truly is. In a world of hyper-competitive tech companies, the existence of a single data transfer and charging standard that works across computers, smartphones, and a myriad of other gadgets is as miraculous as an international peace treaty. But even so, USB itself is fragmented between multiple connectors and generations of the technology, which quickly muddies the waters. Two devices can both have USB, yet one might have far more capabilities than the other. It can be a nightmare for the average consumer to navigate USB standards, which are frankly a labyrinthean mess. So, which kind of USB port is guaranteed to provide you with the fastest data transfer speeds?
The short answer is that two types of USB ports tie for the fastest: USB4 and Thunderbolt 5, both of which can support bidirectional speeds of up to 80 gigabits per second (Gbps). However, there are major caveats. You need to find the correct version of USB4, and even then, you’ll still need to refer to your device’s manual or specification sheet. Thunderbolt 5, meanwhile, is only available on a small segment of devices, making it far less universal than USB4. And that’s all before you realize that there just aren’t a lot of reasons to use the fastest USB ports in the first place. We’ll break down all these quirks and compromises below, so read on.
Currently, USB4 Version 2 is the fastest USB specification, and ports equipped with it offer the fastest data transfer speeds. The top speed of a USB4 Version 2 port is 80 Gbps of bi-directional data transfer. Bi-directional means it can send and receive data at that speed. There is also an asymmetrical transfer mode that can send 120 Gbps of data one way and 40 Gbps the other. USB4 V2 also carries PCIe and DisplayPort tunneling, which is explained further down in this article.
However, what makes USB4 so exciting is not just its top speed, but its lowest. To meet the specification, a USB4 port must deliver at least 20 gigabits per second of data throughput. The one downside here is that, even if a USB-C port has USB4, you can’t assume it will hit the top speed. As long as it clears the 20 Gbps floor (and meets other key specifications), it can be considered USB4. If you really want that blazing-fast 80 gig connection, you’ll need to check whether a particular device is capable of it. For reference, 20 Gbps was the top speed of USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports, previously one of the fastest on the market. You won’t find many devices that can handle USB4’s 80 Gbps top speeds, but you’ll find plenty that can at least reach that 20 Gbps threshold.
Assuming you have two USB4-compatible devices, a compatible cable is necessary to take advantage of the specification’s top speed. I’ve personally been using this Anker USB-C USB4 data cable, which gives me the peace of mind to know I’ll be transferring data at the highest possible rate between any two devices.
While we’re talking about USB speeds, we have to talk about Thunderbolt. It’s not technically part of the USB standard, and is a proprietary technology owned by Intel and developed in collaboration with Apple. Rather than using USB, it uses PCIe and DisplayPort technologies — the same standards used to connect PC graphics cards and gaming monitors. As noted above, these were also added to USB4 Version 2. However, Thunderbolt 5 is exclusively accessed over USB-C connectors on devices that support it, which makes the distinction slightly confusing. Computers with the latest Thunderbolt 5 capabilities can also achieve 80 Gbps bidirectional transfer speeds, similar to USB4.
Astute readers may ask what makes Thunderbolt 5 different from USB4, and the answer is peace of mind. Whereas USB4 Version 2 has a speed floor of 20 Gbps, Thunderbolt 5 mandates that a port be capable of at least 80 Gbps. You won’t have to hunt for spec sheets just to make sure a Thunderbolt 5 port is blazing fast.
Most consumers, however, don’t need to worry about all this. Although Thunderbolt 5 capable PCs are on the market, Moreover, from flash drives to smartphones, no useful USB gadgets of the kind you could find on Amazon or at Best Buy yet support the top speed of either Thunderbolt 5 or USB4 Version 2. The first USB4 V2 cables only launched last year. Devices that support the floor speed of 20Gbps are more common, but many of those are still using USB 3.X. Those top speeds matter much more if you want to do something like daisy chain high-resolution displays together or connect an external graphics card (eGPU) to your laptop. Thunderbolt 5 is great for these applications because of its PCIe tunnelling capabilities.
If you are an avid PC gamer, chances are you might have heard of MSI, the Taiwanese PC brand popular for its gaming laptops, desktop PCs, and PC components. MSI, which is short for Micro-Star International, was founded in 1986, with the company initially focusing on components like motherboards and graphics cards. Today, however, MSI is a familiar name among gamers, thanks to its extensive range of gaming-focused products, which include laptops, desktops, and handhelds. MSI also dabbles with a variety of PC components and accessories.
It was only after the gaming industry exploded in the 2000s that MSI began its evolution into a maker of computers. One of MSI’s first standalone products was the MSI Mega PC, a unique product that combined the functionalities of a full-fledged desktop PC and a well-equipped audio center. The MegaPC featured a front end that resembled a mini component system — complete with an LCD panel and a volume dial — but a rear end that featured PC-like ports. MSI’s first-ever laptop — the MSI Megabook M510c — was released in 2004. This was a $2,500 machine that was then described by Engadget as “reasonably well equipped.”
Fast forward two decades; today, MSI produces a wide range of products, including gaming laptops for every budget, desktops, monitors, gaming peripherals, cooling systems, and even streaming gear. Despite being around for nearly 40 years, MSI is still considered a niche player in the world of laptops and desktop PCs, with a market share considerably less than players like HP, Dell, Asus, and Lenovo. MSI’s low market share can be attributed to the fact that the company primarily focuses on the gaming space, although of late, the company has a lineup of products that target the non-gaming crowd.
For gamers, MSI’s familiar red-and-black dragon logo has become a common sight at some of the world’s premier esports tournaments. For several years, MSI has had a deep-rooted involvement in the global gaming ecosystem, which has helped it become a well-established player in the competitive gaming space.
MSI’s popularity among gamers stems in part from its strategic sponsorship of high-profile esports tournaments such as ESL One, DreamHack, and the PUBG Global Championship 2023. These events attract millions of viewers and serve as a showcase for MSI’s hardware. The brand also sponsors regional competitions in Dota 2 and CS: GO, particularly in Asia and Europe, reinforcing its global presence.
Aside from popular tournaments, MSI makes a notable presence at major gaming expos, such as Computex, Gamescom, and CES, where it unveils new hardware and hosts live matches and influencer demonstrations. MSI has also sponsored professional teams like Fnatic, Flash Wolves, and Cloud9, boosting its brand visibility. If that wasn’t enough, MSI even runs its own global tournament series, the Masters Gaming Arena (MGA), which claims to provide a platform for rising talent. This strategy gives MSI a strong presence in spaces where its core audience hangs out — Twitch, Discord, Reddit, and YouTube. MSI also runs its own bulletin board/online forum, which lets its users have an interactive space to discuss MSI products, exchange technical insights, troubleshoot and solve common problems.
Beyond sponsoring major gaming events and supporting gifted gamers, MSI has developed a comprehensive ecosystem of high-end computing products, several of which feature the brand’s most advanced and premium-tier (and expensive) hardware. Its gaming laptops, including the “Raider”, “Stealth,” and “Titan” series, are purpose-built with the latest Intel or AMD processors and paired with high-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics cards. Many of these laptops come with high refresh rate displays, advanced thermal solutions like Cooler Boost technology, and support for fast PCIe Gen 4 SSDs. These are the kind of specs competitive gamers drool over.
As for desktops, MSI has a comprehensive range of products with the MEG series positioned as the highest-tier, followed by MPG series in the mid-range tier, and MAG lineup catering to the entry-level crowd. All these machines feature gamer-friedy features, are overclocking-friendly and are easy to upgrade. The company also has its own software suite called the MSI Center that allows users to adjust fan speeds, lighting, overclocking profiles, and game-specific optimizations.
And then there’s the aesthetics. MSI machines look the part. With aggressive designs, RGB lighting zones, and aluminum chassis, MSI gear fits perfectly into a gaming setup, whether it’s in a dorm room, or a tournament booth. Ultimately, MSI’s popularity amidst gamers stems the company’s relentless focus on the gaming vertical and the fact that it understands the needs of its target audience.
Perfect for a desktop replacement, just okay as a portable
Verdict
Yes, the battery life is not great, but this is a gaming laptop, and a powerful one at that. It can handle just about anything gaming-wise, comes with a gorgeous OLED screen, and has more than enough ports for all your gaming needs. Just be ready to spend quite a good chunk of change on it.
TheLenovoLegion Pro 7i is an ideal desktop replacement with more than enough power to take on just about everything in PC gaming spaces and at max settings for the most part.
While there are some situations you might need to bring some settings down a smidge (cough*Cyberpunk 2077*cough), that’s only really due to the higher resolutionOLEDpanel that only requires a bit of power.
Starting at$2,909.99/£2,700/AU$4,999, the Legion Pro 7i comes with anIntelCore Ultra 9 CPU,NvidiaRTX 50-series GPUs, a 16-inch 2560 x 1600p OLED display, and up to 64GB DDR5 RAM and 2TB PCIe SSD storage.
Along with the performance and OLED screen are a nice assortment of ports, a full keyboard, and a responsive touchpad that is, unfortunately, not ideally aligned.
For some, especially those who don’t take their gaming laptops on the road all that much, this might be among thebest gaming laptopsout there. But poor battery life might make one take pause if you plan on getting a laptop that you want to use regularly untethered.
Still, if you have the cash and don’t plan on transporting your gaming laptop often (or have a big backpack), the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is worth a look, especially if you want a larger 16-inch screen for your gaming experience.
How much does it cost?Starting at$2,909.99/£2,700/AU$4,999
When is it available?Available now
Where can you get it?Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i might not be Lenovo’s most expensive gaming laptop – that honor goes to the Legion Pro 9i – but it’s still very expensive. Its most affordable price is a sizable$2,909.99/£2,700/AU$4,999.
Starting out with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD, pricing goes up from there. The review unit I have, upgraded with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 and 2TB SSD, costs $3,559.99 / £2,990.00 / AU$6,839.00, while the maxed-out configuration of Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, 64GB DDR5 RAM, and 2TB SSD is a jaw-dropping $4,424.49 / £3,900.00 / AU$7,079.00.
As expensive as the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is, larger gaming laptops tend to come with an even heftier price tag. TheOrigin EON17-X v2I reviewed last year started at $3,400.00 (about £2,610.00 / AU$5,120.00) for a configuration of Intel Core i9-14900HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, 16GB of RAM, and a 17-inch 1440p@240Hz screen.
Of course, you can customize the lid on the EON17-X v2 with whatever design you want, but this does make the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i look affordable in comparison.
No matter which configuration you choose, the CPU you get is the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, a 24-core/24-thread processor with a peak frequency of 5.4GHz.
However, there is some wiggle room with the GPU where you can choose from an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080, or RTX 5090, 32GB or 64GB RAM, and between 1TB or 2TB SSD storage.
21.9mm-26.6mm x 364mm x 275.9mm / 0.86″- 1.04″ x 14.33″ x 10.86″
21.9mm-26.6mm x 364mm x 275.9mm / 0.86″- 1.04″ x 14.33″ x 10.86″
21.9mm-26.6mm x 364mm x 275.9mm / 0.86″- 1.04″ x 14.33″ x 10.86″
Considering that the base configuration is still fairly expensive, it’s no wonder that all the configurations keep the more premium appointments. Specifically, no matter what you do, you’ll get that OLED 1600p @ 240Hz panel withHDR1000.
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Design
This is a big computer
Large keyboard, touchpad aligned to the left
Lots of ports including Thunderbolt 4
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is big. It is a 16-inch laptop, after all. It’s fairly imposing in its matte “Eclipse Black” finish with only Legion emblazoned on the back of the lid and Lenovo in silver on the top back as flourishes. It’s also a little over an inch at its thickest.
This is not the most portable of gaming laptops. So, while it makes for a great desktop replacement, leave plenty of space in your backpack if you plan on getting this.
Almost all the venting is underneath and back, so you don’t have to worry about hot air being blown onto you when gaming, assuming you’re using a mouse situated next to the laptop.
Besides the large 16-inch OLED screen, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i comes with a full-size keyboard complete with a ten-key numpad. There aren’t any standalone hotkeys, but plenty of keys have secondary functions, so I didn’t really miss them.
The keycaps have a quality feel to them with a concave shape and textured feel that makes typing a relative pleasure. I do find the keyboard to feel a little big for some reason and find myself sometimes pressing the wrong button when reaching (mainly when gaming).
The touchpad is not oversized, but it’s set off to the left, which makes sense as the keyboard with the Numpad pushes the natural hand placement to the left as well. However, I’m not a fan of the touchpad’s placement – I would prefer it to be a bit more centered. At least, it’s accurate and responsive.
If you do want to use the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i as a desktop replacement, you’ll be happy to know that the port selection is fairly plentiful. It comes with an HDMI 2.1 port, a Thunderbolt 4 port, and a USB-C port, both of which support DisplayPort 2.1. There are also three USB-A ports and an Ethernet one, along with an eShutter button for privacy’s sake.
Design:4 / 5
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Performance
Strong performance that’s limited somewhat by the power-hungry panel
Can run most games at max settings with speedy results
Sound quality is pretty good
Considering the powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU and higher-end Nvidia 5000-series GPUs – I tested the model with an RTX 5080 – not to mention a minimum of 32GB of RAM, the gaming performance here is going to be quite robust.
Now, all that hardware has to power the 16-inch OLED panel which has a 2560 x 1600p resolution with a refresh rate of 240Hz. That panel also manages 500 nits of brightness and has HDR 1000 True Black support.
So, that can knock off up to 20 or 30 fps from the Lenovo Legion 7i’s performance if you want to take full advantage of this laptop’s display. It’s worth noting that it also achieves a DCI-P3 of 100%, making this a sharp looking, vibrant display. I definitely preferred running games likeSouth of Midnight,Starfield, RoboCop: Rogue City,andCyberpunk 2077at that higher resolution.
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Synthetic Benchmarks
Benchmark
Score
Geekbench 6.4 Single Core
3,103
Geekbench 6.4 Multi Core
19,829
Crossmark Overall
2,163
Crossmark Productivity
1,998
Crossmark Creativity
2,525
Crossmark Responsiveness
1,727
25GB File Copy Transfer Rate (MB/s)
2,030.38
3DMark Fire Strike
34,434
3DMark Time Spy
16,928
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra
11,388
3DMark Time Spy Extreme
8,337
3DMark Speed Way
4,301
3DMark Steel Nomad
3,999
3DMark Port Royal
10,958
Speaking of, I was able to run all those games at basically max settings, including Ray Tracing where applicable, with smooth results and crisp, clear images. I didn’t experience any skipping, stuttering, or screen tearing. Any way you cut it, this is a powerful gaming laptop that will hold up.
If you look at our benchmarks, you can get a solid idea of what to expect.Cyberpunk 2077with everything maxed will look good and will be smooth enough, but won’t really take advantage of that high refresh rate as it gets just an okay 30 fps on average on 1600p, so if you plan on playing at the display’s native resolution, make sure to use DLSS for the best experience.
However, there are plenty of games where I can achieve up to and above 100 fps even before compromising on settings.
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gaming Benchmarks
Game & settings
Frames per second
Assassin’s Creed Shadows (Ultra High, 1080p)
45 fps
Black Myth: Wukong (Cinematic, 1080p)
45 fps
Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra, 1080p)
50 fps
Metro: Exodus (Extreme, 1080p)
63 fps
Monster Hunter Wilds (Very High, 1080p)
73 fps
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Very High, 1080p)
163 fps
Total War: Warhammer III (Ultra, 1080p)
144 fps
Web Surfing Battery Informant
4:37
PCMark 10 Gaming Battery Test
1:36
As mentioned before, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i has a four-speaker system. I didn’t mention that it supports Nahimic Audio, so you get some spatial audio support. Laptops often have mediocre audio at best, but this one sounds pretty good.
Besides the usual caveat that laptop speakers will never surpass dedicated headphones or speakers, the sound is full with plenty of clarity. There’s not a lot of rumble (to be expected, of course), but there’s not anything else missing from the frequency range.
Lastly, the webcam with its 5MP resolution looks good and is pretty smooth to boot. If you get this laptop to stream, you might not need to get a dedicated webcam. It’s also nice that it has a privacy eShutter button.
Performance:4.5 / 5
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Battery life
Suffers from the typical short battery life of a gaming laptop
Doesn’t do a great job of retaining charge while in sleep mode
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Battery Test Results
Web Surfing Battery Informant
4:37 hours
PCMark 10 Gaming Battery Test
1:36 hours
The battery life on gaming laptops is typically not all that great. There are some exceptions, but a powerhouse sporting a 16-inch OLED screen with a 1600p resolution is not going to be one of them.
For proof, just look at our benchmarks. In our web surfing test, it lasted a whopping four and a half hours. That’s not great, but this isn’t a new MacBook Air that lasts almost 15 hours, nor is it supposed to be.
It’s not surprising that in the PCMark 10 gaming benchmark, it lasts just over an hour and a half. If you want extended cordless gaming, you should probably get a Steam Deck (or one of its competitors).
A little more concerning and a little more unexpected is the fact that the battery runs down even when in sleep mode. Now, this is not atypical, but there are plenty of laptops that don’t drop down to 35% battery life after being unplugged for a day, even though they haven’t been used.
Battery life:3.5 / 5
Should you buy the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i?
Buy the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i if…
You want a powerful desktop replacement The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is quite big, and it’s quite powerful. If you’re looking for something that can replace a gaming desktop, this model is more than capable.
You want an OLED screen The OLED screen here comes with a higher resolution and frame rate, not to mention strong HDR support and DCI-P3 color coverage. If you want a good OLED screen with your gaming laptop, you’re certainly getting it here.
You can afford it This laptop has the latest and greatest powerful components (at least for a laptop), so it comes with a hefty price tag. Consider this one if money is no object.
Don’t buy it if…
You have a limited budget If you have limited cash for a gaming laptop, then the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is going to be out of your price range, considering its starting price is around 2K.
You want good battery life Gaming laptops typically don’t have good battery life, and this laptop is no different. If you want one that can last a while without being plugged in, there’s a short list of options out there that don’t include this one.
Because USB is so common, it’s easy to overlook how incredible it truly is. In a world of hyper-competitive tech companies, the existence of a single data transfer and charging standard that works across computers, smartphones, and a myriad of other gadgets is as miraculous as an international peace treaty. But even so, USB itself is fragmented between multiple connectors and generations of the technology, which quickly muddies the waters. Two devices can both have USB, yet one might have far more capabilities than the other. It can be a nightmare for the average consumer to navigate USB standards, which are frankly a labyrinthean mess. So, which kind of USB port is guaranteed to provide you with the fastest data transfer speeds?
The short answer is that two types of USB ports tie for the fastest: USB4 and Thunderbolt 5, both of which can support bidirectional speeds of up to 80 gigabits per second (Gbps). However, there are major caveats. You need to find the correct version of USB4, and even then, you’ll still need to refer to your device’s manual or specification sheet. Thunderbolt 5, meanwhile, is only available on a small segment of devices, making it far less universal than USB4. And that’s all before you realize that there just aren’t a lot of reasons to use the fastest USB ports in the first place. We’ll break down all these quirks and compromises below, so read on.
Currently, USB4 Version 2 is the fastest USB specification, and ports equipped with it offer the fastest data transfer speeds. The top speed of a USB4 Version 2 port is 80 Gbps of bi-directional data transfer. Bi-directional means it can send and receive data at that speed. There is also an asymmetrical transfer mode that can send 120 Gbps of data one way and 40 Gbps the other. USB4 V2 also carries PCIe and DisplayPort tunneling, which is explained further down in this article.
However, what makes USB4 so exciting is not just its top speed, but its lowest. To meet the specification, a USB4 port must deliver at least 20 gigabits per second of data throughput. The one downside here is that, even if a USB-C port has USB4, you can’t assume it will hit the top speed. As long as it clears the 20 Gbps floor (and meets other key specifications), it can be considered USB4. If you really want that blazing-fast 80 gig connection, you’ll need to check whether a particular device is capable of it. For reference, 20 Gbps was the top speed of USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 ports, previously one of the fastest on the market. You won’t find many devices that can handle USB4’s 80 Gbps top speeds, but you’ll find plenty that can at least reach that 20 Gbps threshold.
Assuming you have two USB4-compatible devices, a compatible cable is necessary to take advantage of the specification’s top speed. I’ve personally been using this Anker USB-C USB4 data cable, which gives me the peace of mind to know I’ll be transferring data at the highest possible rate between any two devices.
While we’re talking about USB speeds, we have to talk about Thunderbolt. It’s not technically part of the USB standard, and is a proprietary technology owned by Intel and developed in collaboration with Apple. Rather than using USB, it uses PCIe and DisplayPort technologies — the same standards used to connect PC graphics cards and gaming monitors. As noted above, these were also added to USB4 Version 2. However, Thunderbolt 5 is exclusively accessed over USB-C connectors on devices that support it, which makes the distinction slightly confusing. Computers with the latest Thunderbolt 5 capabilities can also achieve 80 Gbps bidirectional transfer speeds, similar to USB4.
Astute readers may ask what makes Thunderbolt 5 different from USB4, and the answer is peace of mind. Whereas USB4 Version 2 has a speed floor of 20 Gbps, Thunderbolt 5 mandates that a port be capable of at least 80 Gbps. You won’t have to hunt for spec sheets just to make sure a Thunderbolt 5 port is blazing fast.
Most consumers, however, don’t need to worry about all this. Although Thunderbolt 5 capable PCs are on the market, Moreover, from flash drives to smartphones, no useful USB gadgets of the kind you could find on Amazon or at Best Buy yet support the top speed of either Thunderbolt 5 or USB4 Version 2. The first USB4 V2 cables only launched last year. Devices that support the floor speed of 20Gbps are more common, but many of those are still using USB 3.X. Those top speeds matter much more if you want to do something like daisy chain high-resolution displays together or connect an external graphics card (eGPU) to your laptop. Thunderbolt 5 is great for these applications because of its PCIe tunnelling capabilities.
Anyone using a Nest Doorbell or a surveillance camera from Google’s subsidiary will have to pay 25 to 33% more for the corresponding Nest Aware subscription, which is almost indispensable for using the cameras.
Anyone using a Nest Doorbell will have to purchase a more expensive subscription in the future. (Image source: Google)
The popularNest Doorbelland Nest security cameras are only truly useful in conjunction with the Nest Aware subscription. This subscription unlocks, among other things, event-based notifications and allows video clips to be saved for 30 or 60 days, depending on the subscription. The more expensive subscription even includes 24/7 video history for supported cameras for the past ten days. Those who don’t subscribe can only save video clips from the past three hours.
While Nest Aware cost $6 two years ago and $8 per month a few days ago, Google has now increased the price of the cheaper of the two subscription options to $10 per month or $100 per year – a price increase of 25%. Anyone who wants to save 60 days of video history instead of 30 and needs access to continuous recordings of the past ten days will now have to pay $20 per month (instead of $15) or $200 (instead of $150) per year, a 33% increase. Google stresses that this subscription only needs to be paid once, regardless of how many cameras are used.
Google once again demonstrates that customers should be more cautious than ever when purchasing products that require cloud access. Especially since there are alternatives that do not require a subscription or can use an existing subscription. For example, the Netatmo Video Doorbell stores video clips on a microSD memory card instead of the cloud, whilecameras from Eve Home, for example, use Apple HomeKit Secure Video, allowing videos to be stored in iCloud, which is sufficient for the cheapest iCloud subscription at $0.99 per month.
The Dell Pro 32 Plus is Dell’s new naming convention applied to a great 4K panel with decent ports, a great display, mediocre brightness, and a reasonable price tag
Verdict
The Dell Pro 32 Plus is a simple 4K monitor with a great picture, decent ports, tolerable brightness, and a great experience.
Ever since I moved my Tribesigns Mobile Height Adjustable Desk to the second story of my house, I have had the Dell Pro 32 in the dead center of the desktop. I didn’t expect to like this monitor as much as I do. It would be an entry-level option with the technical specs of 4K, but it wouldn’t be something I would want to use.
However, what I have discovered is that this display has quickly become one that I have come to love using. I expected to rotate this monitor out with the others I am testing, but instead, I have set those monitors up in other areas for now, so I could conduct a full review with this display.
The Dell Pro 32 Plus, in short, is a massive, yet affordable 4K USB-C hub monitor that is perfect for productivity. It’s abusiness monitor. That’s clear. And while it could be integrated into a larger setup relatively easily, this monitor screams simplicity, as in that scenario, it can do it all and do it well.
Dell Pro 32 Plus: Pricing and Availability
Dell’s new naming structure with the Pro monitor can mean various things, but this P3225QE model is specifically a 32-inch 4K UHD (3840×2160) USB-C Hub Monitor.
You can purchase one for just $599.99 from Dell’s website, or you can find it at a handful of third-party retailers as well. I’ve seen this monitor drop well below the MSRP for deals, so be sure to keep an eye out for them if you’re in the market for a monitor.
Dell Pro 32 Plus: Unboxing & first impressions
The packaging for Dell is always pretty straightforward. They have recently adopted a more sustainable packaging style, which is a nice change. Still, I am always concerned about the reliability, as companies continue to move in that direction. Regardless, my monitor arrived in one piece, and I was able to set it up in a matter of seconds. Then, I took it to the Tribesigns desk, and that’s where it has stayed for over 100 days.
This display is sleek. The base is still just alright, nothing fancy, but nothing wrong with it either, it’s just not my favorite. The ports are easily accessible on the back; there are two ports within a pop-up on the left-hand side of the monitor for easy port access, and the buttons are off to the right. The bezels are minimal, with the Dell branding positioned small and centered on the bottom bezel. However, outside of that, this display is clean and sleek.
Display: 31.5 inches Resolution: 3840×2160 Color: 99 % sRGB Brightness: 350 nits ResponseTime: 8 ms (normal), 5 ms (Fast Mode) Ports: DP1.4, HDMI2.1, USB‑C up (DP alt + 90 W PD), USB‑C + 3 USB‑A, RJ‑45
This display is classic Dell in my mind. A great basic monitor. Nothing overly flashy, nothing that’s going to give out in a few years, but something that works, works well, looks clean and straightforward, and will work with just about any device.
Yes, Dell updated its naming conventions, but this is just Dell continuing to do what Dell does well.
The build quality is solid. Over the last 100+ days, nothing has broken, worn down, seemed loose, or damaged; nothing has malfunctioned. It’s been a fantastic companion during this time.
Dell Pro 32 Plus: In use
As I mentioned above, I initially grabbed this display for a quick working session on the Tribesigns desk. However, that was over 100 days ago, and I have used this monitor extensively since then. When I say a lot, I’ll admit that I have put in some intense late nights, working from home while my kids play, on this floor of our house, and even quite a few early mornings where I didn’t want to go all the way down to my basement office to get some work done. It’s been a busy season for me, and this monitor has helped me navigate it as the near-perfect 4K display, and a truly impressive competitor in the budget or basic tier of 4K displays.
In my time using this display, the picture and clarity have been spectacular. I have my MacBook Pro scaled all the way to “More Space”, pushing every single pixel to the maximum so that I can fit the most content on my monitor. Since I work on a 13-inch MacBook Pro throughout the day, I take full advantage of a bigger display when I can. I haven’t had any issues with scaling, with blurred text, or any other visual problems. Everything has scaled beautifully with macOS; everything is sharp and clear.
Directly behind my left shoulder, while I work at this desk, is a lamp. If this monitor weren’t matte, I’d be blinded by the reflection of the light. However, because of the matte finish, I can work with very little distraction, and most of the time, I can work without even noticing the lamp.
Since probably the second week, maybe the first week of having this desk setup I have had the front ports visible and I have used it to plug in a USB-C cable to charge myLogitech MX Keys Mini,Logitech MX Anywhere, myiPad mini 7, or any other device I have that needs a quick charge. On the back, I have a cheap lightbar from Amazon plugged into one of the USB-A ports and then the lightbar is sitting atop the monitor shining down on the workspace, though I’m contemplating adding my BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 from my office up here. Beyond that, I have a USB-C cable running to my MacBook Pro, which is sitting in one of my favorite vertical laptop stands of all time, the Grovemade Wood MacBook Dock in Walnut. If I am running another laptop from this desk, I’ll plug it into the same port, which is part of what makes a USB-C monitor so wonderful.
In these 100+ days I have had only one complaint, which is that on a super sunny day, if the sun is hitting the screen I have wished it would get a little bit brighter. However, outside of that, this display can do just about everything else needed and then some in the realm of business. I’ve even done some light gaming on this to see how it was and everything felt fine. But, in the professional space, this monitor can get just about everything you need done in a minimalist workspace, or as a part of a larger workspace if needed.
It’s worth noting that this display is USB-C and not Thunderbolt, but then again, I have yet to notice a situation to where I would need Thunderbolt bad enough to expet my monitor to have it, especially not a basic monitor that is designed for business productivity work.
Dell Pro 32 Plus: Final verdict
The Dell Pro 32 Plus knocks it out of the park with the essentials in what I’d expect in a 4K monitor as a whole, let alone one that is also at a reasonable price. This display has great color, crisp text and images, decent ports, great resolution, a clean and modern look and okay brightness. Truly, what more could you ask for in a USB-C monitor for that money? If you’re in the market for a 4K USB-C display, as long as you’re trying to work on it, rather than game, this display is one that should be considered in your research.
