For some, there is something soothing about watching the weather change, the cloud formations taking shape and the shadows shifting and changing. Maybe you capture these moments with one of the best cameras or currently use one of the best binoculars. But, with one of the best home weather stations, you can go further and capture the details of these weather changes by measuring rainfall, wind speed and direction and humidity levels, among other things. Our expert, television meteorologist, Joe Rao, explains that these modern weather stations "can be monitored remotely from indoors and records data on temperature, humidity, wind and rainfall."

While these modern weather stations allow you to check weather updates from the comfort of your own home, more traditional means are also still used. Joe Rao explains, "There are the old-fashioned weather shelters, where weather instruments are housed in a small enclosure. A person would visit the station once or several times a day to check out the latest observations. Many cooperative weather observers still record their observations using this methodology." With these best home weather stations, you don't have to brave the weather to get your updates. Here are our top picks of home weather stations available right now. We have yet to get our hands on them for reviewing and testing but these have been picked after extensive research and talking to our expert, who himself uses the Davis Vantage Vue.

The quick list

The best home weather stations we recommend in 2026: Our top-pick of the best brands available

The best home weather station overall

The Ambient Weather WS-2902 is a brilliant all-rounder home weather station, allowing you to measure a multitude of weather conditions. You can measure rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, UV, solar radiation, indoor and outdoor temperatures and humidity and barometric pressure. Not only this but this weather station can also calculate dew point, wind chill and heat index. This is pretty impressive for a home weather station.

The wireless sensor array connects to your LCD display, which you can place within your home. The wireless sensor array can be placed up to 330ft away from the console, as long as it's not obstructed by solid metal. The sensor array is powered by a supercapacitor whose primary power source is a solar panel, meaning you don't have to worry about the power going out. However, there is the option of battery backup, with the device requiring 3 AAA batteries.

While your weather station will begin work capturing weather conditions as soon as you've installed it, feeding these back to your LCD display, you also have the option to enable Wi-Fi connectivity. This is where it gets exciting. The Ambient Weather WS-2902 connects to your router, allowing data to be transmitted wirelessly to what are known as 'personal weather station networks'. You can join a weather enthusiast community via ambientweather.net which allows you to connect with fellow weather enthusiasts and share your local real-time weather, via these 'personal weather station networks'. The great thing about this community aspect is that, not only are you capturing local data, you can also get real-time weather data from elsewhere, be that nearby or further afield. And with this Wi-Fi connectivity and the app, you can monitor your local weather from anywhere.

With this weather station receiving 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon, we think it's the best overall weather station for the variety of weather conditions it can monitor as well as the added bonus to connect with like-minded people. However, while reviews have mainly been positive, some people have experienced issues with Wi-Fi connection, with others mentioning the LCD display quality to be variable. Despite these minor negatives, we still think it's a great investment for weather enthusiasts.

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The best budget home weather station

Instead of relying on your phone for weather updates, you can now monitor your hyperlocal weather with ease. For less than $40, the Newenter Weather Station can provide updates on the weather happening outside your door. While phone apps are useful, most of the time you have to select a larger area to get a rough idea of the weather. The Newentor gives you a more accurate idea of the weather local to you.

This budget home weather station is a great addition for anyone interested in tracking basic weather conditions daily. The sensor can be placed outside to capture outdoor temperature and humidity while the LCD display gives you up-to-date hyperlocal weather. It also provides you with 12-24 hour forecasts — handy if you want to plan ahead.

There are few extra features that make this the best budget home weather station. You can set temperature alerts which means you can keep an eye on a baby's room, for example. You can also adjust the screen brightness of the display unit depending on the light in the room and if you place this display near your bed, it can also charge your phone via the USB charging port. A rather handy addition.

As this is a budget home weather station, it does mean that there is a limit as to how many weather conditions it can monitor. For those looking to be able to monitor rainfall, wind and more, the Newentor will be too basic.

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The best home weather station for beginners

The AcuRite 75077A3M is the best home weather station for beginners as it's simple to set up and doesn't overcomplicate matters. The sensor, which takes 2 AA batteries, can be placed somewhere appropriate outdoors. Readings from this sensor will be sent to the indoor display unit, giving you local weather updates. The sensor can capture outdoor temperature and humidity, while the indoor unit takes care of the temperature and humidity indoors. While this may seem basic, this weather station self-calibrates to your precise location to provide a hyperlocal forecast for the next 12 hours. This is pretty smart. Not only this, but this unit is self-learning. In learning mode, the AcuRite 75077A3M uses an algorithm to track changes in pressure over time which determines your altitude. You need to use the weather station for 14 days before the learning mode icon disappears from the display. Once you see this disappear, it means the unit has self-calibrated with the pressure being logged. This helps to give accurate weather predictions.

These accurate weather predictions can help you plan ahead, especially if bad weather is likely to interrupt your plans. So, while this weather station can only monitor temperature and humidity, it does do a lot more than the basics in terms of weather forecasting. We think this is an impressive feature.

While many home weather stations have a bright colored screen, the AcuRite 75077A3M boasts a simple, monochrome screen. We think this makes it easy to read and digest the information, however, others may prefer a colored-screen. If that's the case, this beginner's weather station won't suit you. Some users have mentioned the screen can be tricky to see in darker rooms so this is something to bear in mind.

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The best home weather station for experienced users

The Davis Vantage Vue gets high praise from users with some reporting they've had their unit for 20-30 years! This is astounding and proves this product is durable. This may be partly due to its corrosion and UV-resistant sensor array. It can withstand being out in any weather, including freezing temperatures and extremely hot days.

The sensor array is wireless and powered by solar panels but it does have a lithium battery backup, if required. While solar powers the sensor during the day, a supercapacitator gives it power at night, so you'll never be without weather updates. While other weather stations can be placed around 330ft away from the display console, the Davis Vantage Vue can be placed up to 1000ft away which is remarkable.

This weather station has been designed with meteorologists in mind. The tipping spoon is self-emptying and measures rain in 0.01" (0,2mm) increment while the unit can record wind speeds from 2 mph to 200 mph, with the console receiving an updated wind speed every 2.5 seconds. You can't argue that that is a fast update.

This home weather station can be placed in most weather conditions with it being able to measure temperatures from -40° to +150°F (-40° to +65°C), with updates provided every 10 seconds.

While many display units offer simple weather updates, the WeatherLink Console provided with the Vantage Vue, offers you the chance to put up to 21 weather parameters on your dashboard. This can make it look a little chaotic but to keen weather enthusiasts, this is a bonus.

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The best home weather station for storms

The AcuRite Iris 5-in-1 is one of the best home weather stations you can get. Not only does it capture rainfall, wind direction and speed and temperature, like most home weather stations, but this one can also detect storms. For those living in more volatile environments, the AcuRite Iris is the ideal weather station.

Being able to detect lightning in a 25-mile radius, as well as produce distance-to-storm estimates, this weather station is a must-have for those interested in storms or even storm chasers. Plus, if you do live in a volatile environment, this feature can act as a safety precaution. For example, by knowing where lightning is currently striking within that 25-mile radius, it means you can plan ahead and travel to family, if needed. On a more positive note, this weather station would suit those looking to follow the storm, and with the sensor being solar-powered, this device is portable. However, the display unit is not as it needs a power adaptor and has no battery backup. This isn't too much of an issue for storm chasers as the sensor itself will sound an audible alarm upon lightning detection. Data is transmitted every 24 seconds but this increases to every 8 seconds, for a total of 30 minutes, if lightning is detected, making this a handy device for storm-prone areas. The lack of battery backup has been an issue for some users. Nevertheless, users do state that even without the battery backup, if your power goes out, your data is stored.

The AcuRite Iris 5-in-1 records indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity. Capturing your indoor temperature and humidity allows you to monitor the health of your home, as high humidity can cause mold. Having this data available means you can be in charge and make changes to your home to make it more comfortable.

As with other home weather stations, the AcuRite Iris can produce a hyperlocal forecast. However, it uses AcuRite's self-calibrating technology, where the unit self-calibrates to your location. This calibration gives you accurate hyperlocal forecasts for the next 12 hours. This helps you to plan ahead and to know exactly what the weather is doing in your location so you're not caught off guard.

The AcuRite Iris comes with a colorful HD screen display with the added bonus of a auto-dimming 'sleep' function. This allows you to set times when you'd prefer the screen to be dim. The display holds up to 1 year of weekly and monthly highs and lows for those interested in looking at trends. We think this is a great investment and one that shouldn't be missed for those either interested in storms or find themselves living in a storm-prone place.

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The best home weather station for wet climates

There's a reason why the word 'professional' is used in this product's name and that's because it offers an extensive weather monitoring system. From rainfall and humidity to temperature and weather forecasts, the La Crosse Professional V42 is a great home weather station that can help you plan your day around the weather.

The best thing about the La Crosse Professional V42 is the fact that it has such an interactive rain measuring capacity. It doesn't just capture rainfall in its self-emptying rainfall gauge but this information feeds through to the main display unit that has a dynamic rain reading meter and access to historical rainfalls. For those who live in damper climates, this weather station provides adequate rainfall data to track patterns and trends, or to help you plan in advance.

You get two sensors with the La Crosse Professional V42 but this isn't all you can have — this unit comes with the ability to expand your sensor collection to give you even more weather data. For example, you can buy more rainfall and wind sensors.

With the ability to create weather forecasts as well as offer indoor comfort readings, the La Crosse Professional V42 would not only suit weather enthusiasts but anyone interested in receiving a hyperlocal weather forecast compared to a generic area weather forecast. The HD dispay unit is colorful and allows you to see the outdoor conditions, indoor comfort levels, wind speed and direction and, of course, the in-depth rainfall data. It's a great all-round weather station that's better suited to wetter climates thanks to its extensive rain measuring capacities.

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Best home weather stations: comparison

Our expert consultants

Best home weather stations: Frequently Asked Questions

Wildlife photography can feel like a rich person's hobby. Giant lenses, camouflage, a four-figure camera that looks like it came off a movie set.

But here's the truth: you don't need a mega-zoom lens or a weekend in the Serengeti to take great wildlife photos. You just need a bit of patience, some strategy and whatever camera you've already got — even your smartphone.

These five simple tips will help you capture better wildlife shots without spending a penny on new kit.

1. Learn your subject first

Before you even pick up your camera, you need to know what you're photographing. Understanding an animal's habits — when it's most active, where it's likely to be found and what it eats — can help you plan your shoot more effectively. For example, many birds are most active early in the morning and around dusk. Grab a pair of bird-watching binoculars and use free tools like the Merlin Bird ID app to help you identify species and learn their calls. The more you know about your subject — feeding habits, active times and favorite hangouts — the more likely you are to be in the right place before the moment happens.

There's always the option to set up a trail camera to observe the wildlife in your local area. You can use the footage to find out what types of wildlife you have around you, and when they're most active.

2. Use what you already have

You don't need expensive gear to take great wildlife photos. Whether you've got a smartphone, a compact camera or a basic DSLR with a kit lens, it's all about making the most of what you already own.

Modern smartphones are more capable than ever, and some have pretty good zoom. Use burst mode for action, tap to focus on the animal's eye and shoot in good light to maximize image quality. If you already have a camera with a basic zoom or kit lens, you can get strong results by getting closer to your subject.

But you don't need to book a trip to Africa to photograph wildlife. One of the best ways to improve your chances of a great shot is to bring the wildlife to you. Set up a bird feeder or bird bath in your garden to attract animals. Position them near natural perches like branches or rocks to create more photogenic scenes. You can even photograph them through a window, ensuring you stay hidden from shy wildlife and protecting gear that may not be weather-sealed. There are even clear bird feeders that stick directly onto your window.

If the gear you own isn't quite cutting it and you decide it's time to level up, you can find some good beginner wildlife lenses for under $1,000.

3. Light is your best free tool

Good lighting can transform an average wildlife photo into a beautiful one. Learning to use natural light to your advantage is essential, and it doesn't cost a thing.

Soft, overcast light is often ideal for wildlife photography. Clouds act like a giant diffuser, reducing harsh shadows and making colors appear richer and more balanced. On bright, sunny days, direct light can be harsh and create strong contrasts, especially in midday sun. Shooting during golden hour, just after sunrise or before sunset, gives you warm, flattering light and long shadows that add depth and texture. The best lenses for wildlife photography excel in low light, like at dawn or dusk, thanks to their wide apertures.

As many animals are most active at dawn and dusk, this introduces another obstacle when you're out shooting — the continuously changing light. Understanding the exposure triangle and knowing how to adjust your settings accordingly as the light changes will prevent you from ending up with over- or under-exposed shots.

4. Steady your shots

Sharpness is crucial in wildlife photography, and camera shake is one of the easiest ways to ruin and otherwise perfect shot — especially when you're using a longer lens or shooting in low light. Many cameras and lenses have image stabilization, but even if yours doesn't, there are still plenty of ways to keep things steady.

If you're photographing an animal in a fixed setup, like at a bird feeder in your backyard, using a tripod or monopod can make a huge difference. Once you know where your subject is likely to appear, you can pre-frame the shot and wait without faffing around adjusting your composition every time something flies in. This not only improves sharpness but lets you focus on the timing and composition.

Out in the field, however, a tripod just gets in the way and ends up slowing you down when your subject is constantly moving. To stabilize handheld shots, tuck your elbows into your sides, hold the camera with both hands and gently exhale as you press the shutter. You can also learn against a tree, wall or rock for extra support.

Using a fast shutter speed (1/1000 and higher) will help freeze motion and reduce and camera shake. Combine this with good technique, and even without high-end gear, you'll get sharper, more professional-looking wildlife shots.

5. Focus on the eyes

In wildlife photography, the eyes are everything. A sharp eye draws the viewer in and creates an instant connection with the animal. Even if the rest of the image is slightly soft, getting the eye in focus makes the shot feel intentional and engaging.

Shooting at eye level is just as important. When you're on the same level as your subject, whether it's a bird on a fence, a fox in a field or a squirrel on the ground, the image becomes more immersive. It feels like you're part of the animal's world, rather than looking down on it. Obviously, this is a lot harder to do when you're photographing a bird in flight, but you get the idea!

Fortunately, focusing on the eyes is easier than ever. Many modern cameras and smartphones have touchscreen focusing, allowing you to tap directly on the animal's eye to ensure it's sharp. Some of the best wildlife cameras also have animal eye autofocus, which automatically detects and locks onto the eye and tracks it as the subject moves.

If your camera doesn't have these features, use single-point autofocus and place the focus point over the eye. It takes a bit more care, but the payoff is worth it — your wildlife photos will feel more alive and powerful.

Scientists have created the first artificial tongue that can sense and identify flavors entirely in liquid environments — mimicking how human taste buds work.

The achievement, described July 15 in the journal PNAS, could lead to automated systems for food safety and early detection of diseases via chemical analysis, the researchers say.

The technology could also be integrated into lab equipment for chemical analysis of liquid samples. The researchers also see it as a step toward "neuromorphic computing" — AI systems that mimic the brain’s learning process.

The artificial tongue is made from graphene oxide membranes, ultra-thin sheets of carbon that act as molecular filters for ionic versions of tastes. Instead of separating large particles, these membranes slow the movement of ions, letting the device identify and remember tastes placed into the device.

In the new study, the device identified four basic tastes — sweet, sour, salty and bitter — with 72.5% to 87.5% accuracy, and with 96% accuracy for drinks with multiple flavor profiles like coffee and Coca-Cola. The higher accuracy is due to the electrical makeup of complex drink mixtures, which makes them easier for the system to identify. According to the study, this is the first time researchers have successfully combined sensing and information processing in a single wet system.

"This discovery gives us a blueprint for building new bio-inspired ionic devices," Yong Yan, a professor of chemistry at the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology in China and co-author of the study, told Live Science in an email. "Our devices can work in liquid and can sense their environment and process information — just like our nervous system does."

A breakthrough in processing information in liquid

Previous tasting systems processed all information on external computer systems, but the new system conducts all sensing and a large portion of data processing in liquid. This primarily liquid approach allows for greater accuracy because it allows tastes to be processed in their natural ionic state instead of being converted to suit processing dry systems.

Related: Scientists have built an AI-powered 'electronic tongue'

Since traditional electronic components malfunction in liquid, researchers had to separate the sensing and processing functions. This breakthrough overcomes that limitation by using graphene oxide membranes that can detect and conduct much of the information processing immersed in liquid.

"We're lacking components that can reliably perform sensing, logic processing, and neuromorphic computing in liquid environments," Yan said. "Our research tries to tackle these critical problems head-on."

The artificial tongue works by dissolving chemical compounds in liquid that then breaks down into ions. The ions pass through layers of specialized carbon sheets that create incredibly small channels thousands of times thinner than a human hair.

This allows for the ions to create unique patterns that signal which flavor the initial chemical compound represents. The system then ‘learns’ this pattern and becomes more accurate in identifying tastes with continued use.

A key innovation lies in how the researchers slowed down ion movement through the channels — making it 500 times slower than normal. This slowdown gave the system time to "remember" each taste it encountered, with memories lasting around 140 seconds, instead of only milliseconds, depending on the thickness of the membrane.

The researchers compared their results to recent work by Andrew Pannone and colleagues, who published in the journal Nature in October 2024. That study used neural networks running on traditional, solid-state computers to analyze data from graphene-based electronic tongues.

The system processes information in what the scientists call a reservoir that allows the system to learn flavors. The neural network or processing portion of the system identifies the patterns and passes them on for final processing.

"We identified different flavors using a simpler machine learning system: part reservoir computing and part basic neural network," Yan explained. "Crucially, our physical device actually did part of the computing work." This is unlike systems that rely entirely on external computers for processing.

The system builds memories progressively, similar to how our brains learn to distinguish flavors. With each exposure, the system gets better at differentiating similar tastes.

"It can reliably distinguish between complex flavors like coffee, Coke and even their mixtures — matching the performance of Pannone's sophisticated neural network," Yong said.

Medical and practical applications

The technology could enable the early detection of diseases through taste analysis, help to identify the effects of medications, and assist people who have lost their sense of taste due to a neurological disorder or stroke.

The artificial tongue could also help to improve food safety testing, quality control in beverage production, and the environmental monitoring of water supplies. It could do this by helping to identify the specific flavors in samples.

"These innovations lay critical groundwork for applications ranging from medical diagnostics to autonomous machines capable of 'tasting' their environment," Yong said.

While the results are promising, Yong acknowledged that significant challenges remain. "The system is still too bulky for practical applications," he told Live Science. "Detection sensitivity needs improvement, and power consumption is higher than we'd like."

Yet Yong remains optimistic about the timeline for improvements. "Once we crack the challenges of scaling up production, improving power efficiency, and integrating multiple sensors — and develop compatible neuromorphic hardware, we could see transformative advances in healthcare technology, robotics, and environmental monitoring within the next decade."

Whether you're a beginner backyard astronomer or simply want a more portable way to explore the night sky, these astronomy binoculars are an excellent entry point, and right now, the Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 binoculars are just $79 at Amazon when you apply the $10 coupon at checkout.

Although it's not the biggest saving we've ever seen, it's a solid price for a pair of binoculars we've personally tested and loved in our full Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 review. Designed specifically for long-distance viewing, they offer a powerful 15x magnification and large 70mm objective lenses, making them ideal for stargazing, spotting the moons of Jupiter or sweeping views of the Milky Way.

This deal at Amazon knocks $10 off the usual price, making it the same price it was during Prime Day. In the box, you'll get the binoculars, a tripod adapter (essential for stabilizing the view due to their weight and magnification), lens caps, a carrying case and a cleaning cloth — everything you need to get started.

While they're not as powerful as a telescope, we found the wide field of view and portability to be great for popping them in our bag to take to dark sky sites. We loved using them for stargazing, and you can even use them for daytime wildlife observation.

If you're not quite ready to invest in your first beginner telescope, or you want to explore the sky on a budget, this deal is a smart pick.

Key features: 15x magnification, 70mm objective lenses, water-resistant, 18mm eye relief, 52.5 feet (16m) close distancing.

Price history: They've been a few dollars cheaper throughout the year, but overall, this price is one of the lowest we've seen.

Price comparison: Amazon: $79 | Walmart: $129.95 | BHPhoto: $89

Reviews consensus: Budget-friendly binoculars for beginners that are surprisingly good for the price.

Featured in guides: Best binoculars for stargazing

✅ Buy it if: You want a pair of dedicated astronomy binoculars.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want a compact binocular you can use handheld.celes

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors and much more.

Prime Day may be over, but we've searched the web for the last of the Prime Day deals so you can still save some money on your next camera, binoculars or telescope — and some are even cheaper than they were during Prime Day.

We've checked each deal to make sure it's genuine and the best price among all our trusted retailers to ensure you get the best price. Whether you're looking for one of the best astrophotography cameras to photograph the Perseids, one of the best telescopes to gaze at the upcoming full Sturgeon moon on August 9, or get closer to summer wildlife with the best binoculars, there will be something here to suit you.

• Amazon: Save $$$s on our favorite models
• Best Buy: Black Friday in July
• Walmart: Unbeatable prices on optics
• BHPhoto: Save on bundles
• Adorama: Optics deals

Camera deals

Telescope deals

Binocular deals

• Visit our Amazon Prime Day hub for deals on air purifiers, electric toothbrushes, health & fitness equipment, cameras, telescopes, binoculars, star projectors and more.

Check out our other guides to the best air purifiers, air purifiers for allergies, the best telescopes, microscopes for students, binoculars, rowing machines, electric toothbrushes and more.

Prime Day ends tonight, so you only have a matter of hours to take advantage of these astrophotography deals — but you'll need to act fast.

These last-minute Prime Day deals will save you money as you build your kit bag — with the best astrophotography cameras, lenses, tripods, bags, storage and star trackers, don't miss the chance to stock up on essentials before Prime Day is over.

We've also compiled all the best deals on air purifiers, electric toothbrushes, health and fitness equipment, telescopes, binoculars, star projectors and more over in our Amazon Prime Day hub.

Best camera deals today

• Amazon: Save $$$s on our favorite models
• Best Buy: Black Friday in July
• Walmart: Unbeatable prices on camera deals
• BHPhoto: Save on bundles
• Adorama: Prime Day camera deals

Prime day camera deals

Prime day lens deals

Prime day tripod deals

Prime day camera bags

Prime Day star trackers

Prime Day Power bank deals

Prime day external hard drives

Prime day lens warmers

Prime Day SD Card deals

Prime Day airtag deals

• Visit our Amazon Prime Day hub for deals on air purifiers, electric toothbrushes, health & fitness equipment, cameras, telescopes, binoculars, star projectors and more.

Check out our other guides to the best air purifiers, air purifiers for allergies, the best telescopes, microscopes for students, binoculars, rowing machines, electric toothbrushes and more.

If you're looking to save big on Apple technology, Prime Day is absolutely the time to go shopping for a bargain. Compared to other manufacturers, Apple is less forthcoming with discounts but if you go via Amazon you can save some serious money.

That's why we've rounded up the absolute best deals on Apple technology, from $9 off an equipment-tracking Apple AirTag through to $150 off an Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4).

However, you'll really have to run! Some of these details are tied into Prime Day, which ends tonight. We've already seen some Amazon Prime Day deals disappear over the previous three days.

Make sure you've go through with your purchase too. Just putting an item in your cart isn't enough to reserve it, and the price could go up or the item could sell out all together!

So read on for your best, last chance to save big on Apple technology and don't forget to check out the other deals in our Amazon Prime Day hub.

MacBook deals

iPad deals

Apple Watch deals

Other Apple deals

• Visit our Amazon Prime Day hub for deals on air purifiers, electric toothbrushes, health & fitness equipment, cameras, telescopes, binoculars, star projectors and more.

Check out our other guides to the best air purifiers, air purifiers for allergies, the best telescopes, microscopes for students, binoculars, rowing machines, electric toothbrushes and more.

It's the final day of Prime Day, and it's the last call to grab a deal on some of the best streaming services available. Whether it's blockbuster sci-fi movies or documentaries exploring nature, science and space, these streaming deals offer you that and more.

There's still time to sign up, and save over 90% on subscriptions including Paramount+, AppleTV+, and Starz to name a few, but you'll have to move quickly though as Prime Day ends at today midnight, and there's no guarantee these deal will still be live tomorrow.

Amazon Prime Day comes to its conclusion today July 11, and the four-day event has seen some huge discounts on some of our favorite products. I'd suggest if a streaming deals isn't of interest to you, then have a look at our Prime Day Deals page, for last minute deals, or scroll on for the best Prime Day streaming deals.

To take advantage of all these streaming deals, and any of the Prime Day discounts, you'll need to be an Amazon Prime member. Amazon offers a free trial period for new users, but you can cancel your trial before the first payment is taken.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our Amazon Prime Day deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, fitness trackers, running shoes, rowing machines and more.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors and much more.

If you're travelling with expensive gear, whether that's a telescope, camera, portable projector or any other kind of gizmo, the last thing you want is to lose it. That's where Apple's AirTag comes in and, right now, you can save 31% on one at Amazon.

You can get an Apple AirTag at Amazon, priced at $20 for a single tag or $65 for a pack of four.

As long as you've got an iPhone, iPad or Mac, you can attach an AirTag to your equipment and track it using the Find My app. With a range of up to 100 feet, you'll be able to track your equipment without the embarrassment of asking everyone if they've seen it.

There's no limit on what you can attach an AirTag to. Have you invested in the best binoculars for stargazing, traveled to a light pollution free spot and then put them down? An AirTag makes it child's play to find them in the dark. Likewise, an AirTag is an easy way to track a lost drone. You'll wonder how you ever managed without one.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our Amazon Prime Day deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, fitness trackers, running shoes, rowing machines and more.

As long as you've got an iPhone, iPad or Mac (since these devices don't work with Android or PC), AirTags are a brilliant method of tracking equipment when you're on the go. Whether you're traveling with a telescopes, drone, pair of binoculars or any other device, an AirTag is invaluable in the even you lose it.

You will need to provide your own holder, to attach it to to the device, but you can get those for a couple of dollars, sometimes less. The battery life is an impressive 1 year and, unlike an iPhone, you can replace the battery with ease.

Apple's Find My app is a breeze to use, locating your device via Bluetooth. AirTag is intended to find displaced rather than stolen devices, since it's not got a built-in GPS. But at a range of 100 feet, you should be able to find your item if it's anywhere nearby.

You can save even more money by purchasing a four pack of AirTags, and $20 is nothing to safeguard equipment worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Key features: 1 year battery life, replaceable battery, range of up to 100 feet, size of a quarter or £2 coin, works via Bluetooth, clip not included.

Product launched: April 2021

Price history: This is the lowest price single-pack Apple AirTags have been this year. They're also the same price at Walmart and Best Buy. AirTags were, briefly, 99c cheaper in December but other than that they've hovered around $25 - $27. Or if you want several, you can save even more with this four-pack.

Price comparison: Amazon: $20 | Walmart: $20 | Best Buy: $20

Reviews consensus: Our friends at TechRadar awarded the Apple AirTag four stars, calling it "An invaluable and easy-to-use tool for reuniting you with your misplaced possessions". Its Amazon reviews are similarly positive, though remember that you will need to buy a separate holder or clip.

TechRadar: ★★★★ | Toms Guide: ★★★★

✅ Buy it if: You have an iPhone, iPad or Mac and want to tag your equipment so you can easily find it if you put it down somewhere nearby.

❌ Don't buy it if: You don't have an Apple device, or want to track your gear halfway round the world; this is not a GPS.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors and much more.

It's the final day of Prime Day, and perhaps your last chance to get the Canon EOS R8 and 24-50mm kit lens while it's still on sale. Right now, Walmart is selling it for $1,324.99 — that's $274 cheaper than Amazon.

Get the Canon EOS R8 in this Prime Day deal at Walmart.

Ideal for both beginners and intermediate users, it's a fantastic choice either as a first camera or if you're making the switch from APS-C to full frame. And with the peak of Milky Way season now upon us, as well as the start of the Perseid meteor shower, the timing of this deal couldn't be better. But Prime Day ends tonight, so there's no guarantee this deal will still be live tomorrow.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our Amazon Prime Day deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, fitness trackers, running shoes, rowing machines and more.

But don't let its price and small form fool you — with its 24.2MP sensor and lightning-quick burst rate of up to 40FPS, it impressed us for both astrophotography and wildlife photography when we reviewed it. It's user-friendly enough not to overwhelm beginners, but it has enough features and skills packed into it to please intermediate users who won't want to upgrade after a year.

And what's more, this deal includes the RF 24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM kit lens, plus a battery and charger.

Key features: 24.2MP full frame mirrorless camera, Canon RF mount, ISO range 100-102,400 — expandable to 50-204,800, 4K UHD 60p video, up to 40FPS burst rate, 0.91 lbs / 414g, one card slot compatible with SD UHS-II card.

Price history: Before today's deal, this kit bundle briefly went down to $1,299 at Amazon, but otherwise, this is one of the cheapest prices we've seen.

Price comparison: Amazon: $1,599 | Walmart: $1,324.99 | Best Buy: $1,599.99

Reviews consensus: For beginners or users upgrading from their existing camera, the R8 is a fantastic all-rounder to continue growing your skills, whether that's wildlife or astrophotography.

TechRadar: ★★★★ | Space: ★★★★½ Toms Guide: ★★★★ | Live Science: ★★★★½ | Digital Camera World: ★★★★½

Featured in guides: Best cameras, Best cameras for wildlife photography, Best cameras for astrophotography, Best beginner cameras, Best beginner cameras for astrophotography

✅ Buy it if: You are upgrading from your compact camera or smartphone and want a small and lightweight camera.

❌ Don't buy it if: You're a professional who needs a powerful camera for pro work.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors and much more.

Beginner telescopes are typically easy to use and very affordable, but they often don't last the user very long due to their simplistic nature. Once your enjoyment in astronomy grows, you find yourself wanting to upgrade.

The Celestron NexStar range is widely considered to be one of the best telescope ranges on the market, so if you can afford to spend a bit more than you normally would on a beginner telescope, the Celestron NexStar 4SE will amaze beginners and last them beyond beginner status. It has all the perks of other beginner scopes — user-friendly and quick to set up, plus the quality and functionality of more expensive scopes. We awarded it 4 stars in our review over at our sister site Space.com.

Plus, with Saturn making its return to the night sky next week after spending the last few months as a 'morning star', the Celestron NexStar 4SE is the ideal scope to view it.

We track the prices throughout the year, and although it's been cheaper in previous years (which is the same story for many of this year's deals), it typically retails for $749, making this price of $679 the cheapest we've seen it since April.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our Amazon Prime Day deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, fitness trackers, running shoes, rowing machines and more.

The Celestron NexStar 4SE is ideal for a backyard setup, and its sturdy frame reduces vibrations very well. We found the calibration to be easy to do and only took a few minutes, and the motors are smooth and efficient to get you observing in no time. Once you're up and running, you'll be treated to the instant wow factor of lunar and planetary views — we loved observing Jupiter and its moons.

Even if you have no telescope experience or prior knowledge of the night sky, this telescope is suitable for everyone and its automated GoTo technology and database will guide you through the sky, so you just need to select an object using the hand controller, and the telescope will locate and track it for you. While it's not the most powerful telescope in the range, it's still worth buying and will suit beginners for a long time until you're ready to level up.

Key features: 4-inch aperture, 52.17-inch (1325 mm) focal length, 25mm eyepiece, 22 lbs 15 oz (10.4kg).

Product launched: 2003

Price history: It's been cheaper during previous Prime Day and Black Friday events, but this price of $679 is the best we've seen since April.

Price comparison: Amazon: $679 | Walmart: $679 | Best Buy: $679

Reviews consensus: Rated as our best beginner telescope, it's a quick and easy way to get beautiful views of the moon and planets, with a user-friendly GoTo system that's ideal for newbies.

Space: ★★★★

Featured in guides: Best beginner telescopes

✅ Buy it if: You want an easy-to-use telescope for a good price that doesn't compromise on features and optical quality.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want to view deep space objects — we'd recommend at least a 6-inch telescope for this.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors and much more.

We're over halfway through Prime Day and we've already rounded up the best Prime Day camera deals on the most popular Sony, Nikon and Canon cameras — but now we're focusing (pun-intended) solely on Canon cameras, lenses and kit bundles that are budget-friendly and suitable for beginners.

If you aren't sure which camera to get, make sure you read up on the best beginner astrophotography cameras and the best beginner cameras to help you make your decision before Prime Day ends tomorrow evening.

But cameras aren't the only thing you can save money on this Prime Day. We've compiled all the best deals on air purifiers, electric toothbrushes, health and fitness equipment, telescopes, binoculars, star projectors and more over in our Amazon Prime Day hub.

• Amazon: Save $$$s on our favorite models
• Best Buy: Black Friday in July
• Walmart: Unbeatable prices on camera deals
• BHPhoto: Save on bundles
• Adorama: Prime Day camera deals

Canon prime day camera deals

Canon camera & lens bundle prime day deals

Canon prime day lens deals

• Visit our Amazon Prime Day hub for deals on air purifiers, electric toothbrushes, health & fitness equipment, cameras, telescopes, binoculars, star projectors and more.

Check out our other guides to the best air purifiers, air purifiers for allergies, the best telescopes, microscopes for students, binoculars, rowing machines, electric toothbrushes and more.

The air quality in your home took a dip this summer? Then you can't miss this air purifier deal. The Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 simultaneously helps cool the temperature, prevents the indoor air from stagnating and removes a wide range of indoor pollutants, including pollen and smoke — and right now, this excellent fan-purifier is 43% off in the Amazon Prime Day sale, and at its lowest price since the Black Friday sale last year. A perfect combination to help you breathe easier this summer.

We are big fans of this 2-in-1 appliance. We gave it a strong 4-star rating in our full Dyson Purifier Cool review, and for a whole two years, we named it the best option for cooling in our guide to the best air purifiers. It has now been superseded by the Dyson Purifier Cool PC1, but mostly because it was cheaper. This Prime Day deal, however, puts both of these Dyson devices on an equal price footing.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our Amazon Prime Day deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, fitness trackers, running shoes, rowing machines and more.

So, what makes this appliance so special? The Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 features a 350-degree bladeless fan and a HEPA H13 filter capable of removing up to 99.97% of particles measuring as little as 0.3 microns, including pollen, mold spores, pet dander and other airborne allergens. Moreover, it offers detailed air quality readings, Auto mode and a host of useful smart features. For example, you can connect the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 to your Alexa or Google Home assistants. For less than $350, this fan-purifier is a real treat.

Mind you, this Prime Day deal applies only to the white/nickel color option. If you prefer something darker, the next best deal can be found at Best Buy and Dyson. Both of these retailers have just slashed the price of the black TP07 to just $399.99.

Key features: HEPA H13 filter, 350-degree fan oscillation, app and voice control, white/silver color, 78 dB maximum noise, Auto mode, Night mode

Product launched: April 2021

Price history: For the better part of this year, the price of the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 fluctuated between $449.99 and $499.99. Today's Prime Day deal brings the price down to $349.99, which is the lowest price since Black Friday last year.

Price comparison: Dyson: $399.99 (black/nickel model) | Best Buy: $399.99 (black/ nickel model) | Home Depot: $449.99 | Target: $649.99

Reviews consensus: The Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 is universally praised for its sleek, modern design, wide range of smart features and great air-cleaning performance in small to medium spaces. However, there are mixed opinions on its size and cooling capabilities, and most reviewers complained about its price tag and excessive noise levels at high fan speeds.

Live Science: ★★★★ | Tech Radar: ★★★★

✅ Buy it if: You want a premium Dyson fan-purifier at a reasonable price.

❌ Don't buy it if: You are looking for something bigger and more powerful, or want a fan-purifier with temperature control.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

If you're looking for a portable but powerful machine to give yourself a major productivity boost, the HP ZBook Firefly G11 A 14 is now available for less than $900 via Newegg.

This machine features a high-end AMD processor alongside an integrated AMD Radeon 780M integrated graphics chip, 16 GB RAM and a decently sized 512 GB SSD. Being a mobile workstation, you can also expect excellent webcam and speaker quality alongside a host of useful ports, including HDMI and USB-A ports. This represents a great deal, with the HP ZBook Firefly G11 A 14 now 47% off during the Prime Day sale with Newegg.

We gave its larger cousin, the HP ZBook Power G11, a positive review — praising its buld quality and how much of a joy it can be to use. These elements have made it into the smaller and leaner package. While you won't get the same sheer performance levels as in the ZBook Power, you do get a highly versatile and portable workstation that's ideal for coding on the move.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our Amazon Prime Day deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, fitness trackers, running shoes, rowing machines and more.

Key features: This machine features a robust and functional chassis that looks stylish and comes with plenty of connectivity options. You also get high-end specs and an HD screen.

Product launched: March 2024

Price history: The HP ZBook Power G11 14 A was launched at a retail price of $1,600 when it came out last year. You can now find it online for between $950 and $1,400, depending on the internal specs. At $899, this is the lowest price it's ever been.

Price comparison: Newegg: $899.99 | Amazon: $989.00

✅ Buy it if: You want plenty of ports and power in a compact package

❌ Don't buy it if: You want a much larger or more detailed display

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

Bring the cosmos into your living room and enjoy the beauty of the universe for under $60 in this Orzorz Galaxy Lite star projector deal at Amazon.

Many cheap star projectors are little more than just a pretty light, but the Orzorz comes with interchangeable discs that produce bright, vivid and realistic projections onto your wall or ceiling. The included discs are the Pillars of Creation, NGC 2359 (Thor's Helmet), the Moon, the Milky Way and the Earth and Moon (on one disk) — with additional discs available to purchase separately.

The Orzorz is just as good as the Sega Homestar Flux, but for a fraction of the price — it's now $59 at Amazon, which is the cheapest we've seen it in a year.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our Amazon Prime Day deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, fitness trackers, running shoes, rowing machines and more.

During our Orzorz Galaxy Lite review, we praised its sleek and contemporary look alongside its realistic and high definition imagery — we were blown away by how good they were. In total darkness, the colors couldn't be more impressive; they've absolutely nailed it with this star projector. Plus, it's rechargeable with up to 8 hours of charge, so you're not limited to having it near a power outlet — ideal for moving it from room to room, taking it to a friend's house or using it in a camper van.

Key features: LED bulb, Sleep timer, Projection Surface: Max 4m, on-body controls.

Price history: Before today's deal, the lowest price we've seen is $49.99 around a year ago — this current price is the cheapest it's been since then.

Reviews consensus: Rated as our best star projector, the Orzorz is affordable, stylish and displays excellent projections. We love its rechargeable nature, and we think it's the one to beat.

Live Science: ★★★★★ | Space: ★★★★★

Featured in guides: Best star projectors

✅ Buy it if: You want realistic imagery without having to reach too deep into your pockets.

❌ Don't buy it if: You just want a cheap novelty light to add atmosphere to a room.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors and much more.

Amazon's first four-day Prime Day sales event is well underway, which means there are more deals than ever and more time to take advantage. This year, expect to see discounts until July 11.

We've searched far and wide for the best deals on laptops, whether you're looking for a machine to help process images as you embark on photography trips, or if you're hunting down an affordable laptop for college.

During sales events like these, you can always be sure that some quite price hiking happens behind the scenes. That's why we've inspected every day to make sure they represent genuine discounts and you're getting the best price.

You won't only find a great deal on one of the best laptops during Prime Day. We've looked across the board for great deals on telescopes, cameras, binoculars, air purifiers, electric toothbrushes, health and fitness equipment, star projects, and so much more over in our Amazon Prime Day hub.

Best laptop deals today

• Amazon: Save hundeds on the best models
• Best Buy: Black Friday in July
• Walmart: Unbeatable prices on laptop deals
• Newegg: Lightning laptop discounts

Best laptop deals

• Visit our Amazon Prime Day hub for deals on air purifiers, electric toothbrushes, health & fitness equipment, cameras, telescopes, binoculars, star projectors and more.

• Want to learn more about the best laptops? Read our guides to the best laptops you can find on the market today:
  • Best laptops for photo editing
  • Best laptops for coding and programming
  • Best laptops for students
  • Best MacBooks for students

Check out our other guides to the best air purifiers, air purifiers for allergies, the best telescopes, microscopes for students, binoculars, rowing machines, electric toothbrushes and more.

Astronomy binoculars don't have to cost the Earth when you want to gaze into space, and one of our favorite pairs of stargazing binoculars is now $79 for Prime Day.

Get the Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 for $79 at Amazon right now.

With powerful 15x magnification and big 70mm objective lenses, these binoculars are ideal for getting a closer look at the night sky without having to break the bank. During our full Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 review, we were able to spot all four Galilean moons of Jupiter, the Pleiades star cluster and the Andromeda Galaxy in all their glory, as well as observing details on the lunar surface, now cheaper for Amazon Prime Day.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our Amazon Prime Day deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, fitness trackers, running shoes, rowing machines and more.

They come with a carry bag and tripod adapter, which is handy as they need to be mounted on a tripod due to their weight and high magnification. We noticed some chromatic aberration around bright, contrasty objects like the moon, but for the price, we aren't expecting perfection. In fact, we reviewed them alongside the ED Pro version and we would regularly reach for this pair given the choice between the two.

They're a fantastic choice as a 'first pair of binoculars' and anyone who hasn't stargazed before will be thrilled with them.

Key features: 15x magnification, 70mm objective lenses, water-resistant, 18mm eye relief, 52.5 feet (16m) close distancing.

Price history: They've been a few dollars cheaper for short periods throughout the year, but overall, this is a great price.

Price comparison: Amazon: $79 | Walmart: $89 | BHPhoto: $99.99

Reviews consensus: An excellent beginner binocular for those getting started with astronomy. They offer fantastic views of the moon, planets and some bright deep-sky objects at a very affordable price.

Featured in guides: Best binoculars for stargazing

✅ Buy it if: You want an affordable pair of stargazing binoculars that actually give good views, with high magnification and perform well in the dark.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want a compact binocular you can use handheld and throw in your backpack to take hiking.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors and much more.

Waiting for Prime Day to upgrade your adventure watch? You may want to reconsider. The event has not even started yet, but discounted Garmin watches are already flying off the shelves. Some of the best models have even sold out. Thankfully, we have spotted a couple of excellent deals that are still alive and kicking.

The Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition, for example. Most models of this rugged multisport smartwatch are still available with up to a 45% discount at Amazon. True, this Garmin watch has been largely discounted during the last six months, but this early Prime Day deal brings it to its lowest-ever price. If you are looking for a premium military-grade GPS watch, this offer is simply too good to be missed.

Not a fan of Amazon? You will not be left empty-handed, with similar deals found at some other retailers — Walmart, for example. That said, they only apply to certain models of the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our Amazon Prime Day deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, fitness trackers, running shoes, rowing machines and more.

While we admittedly did not test this particular model, we did review the Garmin Epix (Gen 2), a more basic and affordable version of the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) — and really liked it. This multisport watch impressed us with its glossy-looking screen, excellent GPS accuracy, advanced workout tracking features and reliable heart rate measurements. We liked it so much we gave it a strong 4-star rating, knocking just one star off due to its sky-high price at the time of testing.

The Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition is even more advanced than the Epix Gen 2. This model comes with a more durable build, improved sensor accuracy and longer battery life, making it an even better pick for outdoor enthusiasts and professional athletes. Thanks to its huge array of features, the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) can even compete with the pricier Garmin Fenix 8. The best part? It is now 45% cheaper at Amazon and other retailers.

Key features: 1.4-inch always-on AMOLED display with a scratch-resistant sapphire lens and a titanium bezel, a built-in flashlight, multi-GNSS GPS navigation, gesture control, advanced health and fitness tracking features, 10ATM water resistance, up to 16 days of battery life

Product launched: May 2023

Price history: For the better part of the year, the price of the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition fluctuated between $699.99 and $799.99. Today's offer from Amazon brings the price down to $609.99, which is the lowest price we have ever seen.

Price comparison: Amazon: $609.99 | Walmart: $609.99 | Best Buy: $649.99

Reviews consensus: The Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) is universally praised for its highly accurate tracking features, durable design and bright AMOLED display, with most reviewers placing it among some of the best watches Garmin has ever made. Thanks to its sapphire lens and outdoor-oriented features, it is a particularly good option for explorers and professional athletes. The only caveat? A sky-high price.

TechRadar: ★★★★½ | Cycling Weekly: ★★★★★ | CoachWeb: ★★★★★

✅ Buy it if: You want a feature-packed GPS adventure watch that is sleek, durable and reliable.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want a Garmin watch with solar charging or something you can take scuba diving (such as the Garmin Fenix 8, for example).

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

Prime Day ends tonight, so you only have a matter of hours to take advantage of these camera deals — but you'll need to act fast.

We've scoured the internet throughout the week for the best camera deals to bring you the cheapest prices, and some other retailers are even cheaper than Amazon. We've thoroughly inspected each deal to ensure it's the best price on the market and that there hasn't been any sneaky price-hiking going on to make deals look better than they actually are. If the camera you've been looking for isn't here, then keep checking back as we'll be updating this page regularly throughout the rest of the week.

If you aren't sure which camera to get, make sure you read up on the best astrophotography cameras and the best cameras for wildlife photography to help you make your decision before Prime Day ends.

But cameras aren't the only thing you can save money on this Prime Day. We've compiled all the best deals on air purifiers, electric toothbrushes, health and fitness equipment, telescopes, binoculars, star projectors and more over in our Amazon Prime Day hub.

Best camera deals today

• Amazon: Save $$$s on our favorite models
• Best Buy: Black Friday in July
• Walmart: Unbeatable prices on camera deals
• BHPhoto: Save on bundles
• Adorama: Prime Day camera deals

Nikon prime day camera deals

Canon prime day camera deals

Sony prime day camera deals

OM System prime day camera deals

Panasonic prime day camera deals

• Visit our Amazon Prime Day hub for deals on air purifiers, electric toothbrushes, health & fitness equipment, cameras, telescopes, binoculars, star projectors and more.

Check out our other guides to the best air purifiers, air purifiers for allergies, the best telescopes, microscopes for students, binoculars, rowing machines, electric toothbrushes and more.

The Celestron NexStar 8SE is widely known as the best telescope you can buy and has long had a stellar reputation as the 'world's most beloved telescope'. While it's not as heavy on the purse strings as many smart telescopes, it's still quite pricey and certainly a telescope you'd work your way up to as your skills and interest in astronomy develop.

If the Celestron NexStar 8SE has been on your wishlist for a while, now is a great time to buy, as it's down to $1,499 at Amazon — the lowest price we've seen since January. It is suffering from an inflated 'before' price, as it usually retails for $1,599, but a $100 saving is certainly not to be sniffed at. There's still time for it to drop further, and it went as low as $1,299 during Black Friday, so it's worth keeping an eye on this deal as the week goes on.

Many scopes excel at either planetary or deep-space viewing, but the Celestron NexStar 8SE can do it all. Plus, its computerized GoTo mount will automatically locate and track over 40,000 celestial objects. We thought its optical clarity was stunning during our full Celestron NexStar 8SE review, and we think it's the best telescope on the market.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our Amazon Prime Day deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, fitness trackers, running shoes, rowing machines and more.

So why is this telescope so hyped up? Well, its 8-inch aperture is fantastic for viewing deep-space objects like the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy, plus detailed views of the moon, Jupiter's belts and moons and Saturn's rings. Pluto will be brightest at the end of July, and because it's so distant, you'll need a powerful telescope to see it — the Celestron NexStar 8SE will be ideal for this.

This Celestron NexStar 8SE deal includes everything you need to start observing — the optical tube itself, tripod (with accessory tray) and mount, plus the Star Pointer Finderscope, the NexStar+ Hand Control, a 25mm eyepiece, a Star Diagonal and a Bluetooth shutter release button.

It may not be a particularly beginner-friendly price point, but if you have the money and a keen interest in astronomy, it will amaze users of all experience levels for years to come, and we are confident you won't need to buy another telescope or upgrade for a very long time.

Key features: 8-inches (203.2mm) aperture, 80-inches (2032mm) focal length, f/10 focal ratio, 180x highest useful magnification, 32 lbs (14.48 kg) weight, two-year warranty.

Price history: It went as low as $1,299 during Black Friday, but this is the cheapest we've seen it since January.

Price comparison: Amazon: $1,499 | Walmart: $1,499 | Best Buy: $1,499

Reviews consensus: This is Live Science's top-rated telescope. It offers ultra-bright views of the universe, a massive bank of 40,000 stellar objects and it's a real investment for those who are serious about stargazing.

Space: ★★★★½ | Live Science: ★★★★½

Featured in guides: Best telescopes

✅ Buy it if: You're serious about stargazing and want a powerful telescope that can view nearby planets and deep-space nebulas and star clusters.

❌ Don't buy it if: You're a beginner wanting an affordable telescope, or something small and portable to carry to dark sky sites.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, best smart telescopes, best small telescopes, best beginner telescopes and best telescopes for kids.

HP's ZBook workstations are larger than most conventional laptops you might be tempted by, with 16 inches (40.6 centimeters) of screen real estate to accompany powerful specs that are designed to go beyond what your typical ultraportable can do. Indeed, most of the attention falls on the graphics chips included in these laptops — which range from capable mid-range workhorses to sophisticated and powerful heavyweights.

The HP ZBook Power G11 falls somewhere in the middle of the family, offering a robust Intel chipset alongside a great Nvidia RTX 3000 Ada graphics chip. This machine is ideal for 3D workflows, image editing, rendering and other visual work. It remains to be seen, however, if it's worth the significant investment.

HP ZBook Power G11 review

HP ZBook Power G11: Design

The ZBook Power G11 is incredibly robust and well constructed, with a sophisticated silver coating on an all-aluminum chassis that means business. There are no alternative color schemes to point out — so it's take it or leave it as far as its look goes — but it feels just as robust as its performance when you're using it.

Its keyboard does feature contrasting keys, which look sharp, alongside a cooler gray used for its touchpad. What you don't get, however, is the flair and pizzazz that slimline and more compact models can afford, such as narrow bezels around the screen and, say, the shaved angular corners in the HP OmniBook series. But you aren't really in the market for a ZBook if such things are your main priorities.

While the ZBook Power G11 will be heavier than many 14- or 15-inch laptops, this is entirely to be expected and in line with similar machines. For example, its 4.68-pound (2.12 kilogram) weight is only a shade lighter than the Dell XPS 16 laptop, which weighs 4.7 lbs (2.13 kg). This machine is, however, bulkier than you may be used to. Its width is the same as an XPS 16, but its depth and height are much larger — 9.9 x 0.9 inches (216.2 x 22.9 mm) versus 9.5 x 0.74 in (240 x 18.7 mm).

Either way, it's not best suited to you if you're mostly looking for something to use while away from the desk.

HP ZBook Power G11: Display

The sharpness of the standard IPS HDR screen in the ZBook Power G11 is disappointing, with only a 1,920 x 1,200-pixel resolution that spans across a 16-inch panel, meaning a dreadfully low 141.5 pixels-per-inch (PPI). We prefer displays with a PPI ratio over 200, as there's always a lack of sharpness below this figure. You can upgrade the resolution to 2,560 x 1,600 pixels, but this renders a PPI ratio of 188.7: that’s pretty average, but still short of the magic number that makes it a "great" choice.

Elsewhere, its brightness feels a little above average, which we confirmed in testing with a display calibrator, generating a result of 382 nits. Its white balance, however, was pretty much perfect with no major adjustments needed to RGB levels. Color accuracy, similarly, was reasonable, with our testing generating 99.4% coverage of the sRGB spectrum. Scores for color accuracy in the Adobe RGB and DCI P3 spectra of 73.6% and 80.5%, respectively, are dead average for laptops, although we usually expect a score of 90% and 95% or higher for "professional grade" monitors.

Altogether, the above means we wouldn't rely on this machine's screen for visual work unless you're in a pinch. We would suggest using an external monitor instead, or at least verifying whatever it is you're working on when you next have access to a better screen.

HP ZBook Power G11: Keyboard and touchpad

We have mixed feelings about the ZBook Power G11's keyboard. On the one hand, keystrokes are very satisfying, and tapping each key exudes a perfect balance of haptic feedback and snap — combined with a reasonable travel distance — for a satisfying typing experience, at least in theory.

On the other hand, the keys feel a little small and too crammed together, largely due to the inclusion of a number pad on the far-right. We aren't enamored with number pads on laptops, and would rather the extra space you get in a larger chassis was dedicated to spacing out the keys a bit more. The way the specific keys are arranged also makes it easy to hit the wrong one, with Pg Up and Pg Down buttons dangerously close to the Left Arrow and Right Arrow keys.

Its touchpad, while spacious enough, has a strange smooth-yet-frictional texture to its glass surface. Some friction is good, but in the ZBook Power G11 it slows your movements down to a halt, and you end up with a "grating" feeling. This is a shame as the Left Click and Right Click buttons are just as enjoyable to use as the individual keystrokes.

HP ZBook Power G11: Performance and battery

Fitted in our review configuration was last year's Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU, alongside an Intel AI Boost NPU (capable of hitting 36 TOPS) and an Nvidia RTX 3000 Ada GPU. It also came with 32 GB DDR5 RAM and 1 TB SSD storage, although you can upgrade at a cost.

On single-threaded tasks, the HP ZBook Power G11 scored 2,397. This is slightly higher than the first-gen Intel chip and about in line with scores of between 2,200 and 2,500 that Snapdragon X Elite chips register. The new Series 2 Intel chips, however, normally hit between 2,700 and 2,900, by way of comparison. Anecdotally, we noticed several performance hitches when using it day-to-day, including instances of input lag and one occasion where the Wi-Fi connection dropped entirely, and no networks were available.

On multi-threaded tasks, meanwhile, this machine hit 11,906 — a higher score than you would expect in Series 2 Intel chips, but lower than Snapdragon X Elite CPUs, which score between 13,000 and 15,000. It's a mixed bag — but overall a good set of results and about in line for a mid-range workstation.

Where the G11 excels is in its whopping graphics score of 88,543 in the OpenCL benchmark — just a few points shy of a score you'd get with the Nvidia RTX GeForce 4060 GPU. That’s based on public data, although when we tested the GPU in the HP Omen 16, we achieved a disappointing score of 35,981 with the 4060 chip, so plenty of variables are at play. Overall, it's a phenomenal result that's head and shoulders above most laptops we've seen.

Similarly, a battery life of 17 hours and 48 minutes is fantastic for a larger laptop with beefy internals and plenty of power draw. We expected something more in line with the 4 hours and 52 minutes of the HP Omen, but it's in line with slimmer ultraportables, which is fantastic if you need to use a hefty amount of graphical power while on the move.

Also worth mentioning are very zippy data read and write speeds of 6,998.06 and 5,613.99 megabytes per second (Mbps), respectively — excellent news for anyone transferring chunky files regularly.

HP ZBook Power G11: Ports and features

You get pretty much everything you would ever need in the HP ZBook Power G11, with the manufacturer taking no shortcuts and making full use of the larger chassis.

There are two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, two USB-A ports (including one with charging support), an HDMI port, an SD Card reader and a Security lock slot, as well as a 3.5 mm headphone jack. You can also opt for an optional Nano SIM card slot and a SmartCard Reader. This is an excellent array — especially the inclusion of the SD card slot, which is great for anybody primarily in need of a machine to complement their photography.

You get all the AI features you'd typically expect from modern AI PCs in this machine, alongside some nifty security additions. Firstly, the 5MP camera features a shutter that you can flick on/off with a manual switch, while there's a fingerprint scanner just beneath the keyboard. There's also an array of software features, including HP Wolf Security, for those who want the added protection. A couple of downsides are the inclusion of Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 — where plenty of machines now offer Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity.

HP ZBook Power G11: Should I buy it?

The ZBook Power G11 offers plenty of power in a reasonably portable machine, with its blockbuster graphics performance a major highlight — something that's especially valuable when combined with a great battery life. We were disappointed by the screen, but you can always mitigate this by hooking the laptop up with an external monitor when you're using it on your desk. Otherwise, it's no heavier than many other 16-inch laptops, although we wouldn't necessarily suggest you take it out on long photography trips.

For graphics-intensive work like photo editing at a minimum (but also more intensive tasks like video editing or 3D modeling) it's a great machine, but only if you can afford its price tag.

If the HP ZBook Power G11 isn’t for you

The Dell XPS 16 is still a fantastic laptop — it's cheaper than the ZBook and more compact too, making it a better option for carrying on the move. With the XPS 16, you also have the option to upgrade to a sharper OLED display — at a cost, of course.

We would also recommend the MacBook Pro 16-inch if you're looking to spend a little more. You get a fantastic amount of power and a capable GPU (while not as powerful as the Nvidia RTX 3000 Ada, it's certainly good enough for most moderate tasks you can throw at it). You also get a much better screen to work with.

HP has rebranded its Spectre x360 line of high-end 2-in-1s to the UltraBook Flip — and with the name change have come improvements across the board. Firstly, the new laptop is thinner and lighter, and it also includes the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 2 chipset. Our experience using the Spectre x360 14 (2024) was hugely positive, barring one or two minor bugbears — and the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 looks set to build on it in all major categories, especially if the Intel chipset shows marked improvements on its predecessor.

Most striking is its sophisticated blue finish, which is near-identical to the coating in the HP EliteBook Ultra 14 G1q — a Qualcomm-powered laptop that demonstrated plenty of power but was hampered by a disappointing display. It was a similar story with the non-flip OmniBook Ultra 14. The new OmniBook Ultra Flip 14, however, features an OLED panel once again, alongside the latest hardware. Depending on testing, it could potentially be one of the best laptops for photo editing out there right now.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (2024) review

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (2024): Design

The HP OmniBook Flip Ultra 14 is an elegant machine that builds on the fantastic design of its predecessor in almost every way — not to mention its stunning blue finish. On first impressions, the chassis looks broadly the same, down to the use of recycled aluminum and plastics. But this machine is much thinner and lighter, with its edges more squared off, giving it something of a sharper look.

In contrast to its sharper edges, the keycaps are actually more rounded than in the HP Spectre x360, while the multi-tone palette — including a lighter shade of blue for use in the top row of physical keys, and an even lighter tone for the power button — persists. We're personally not enamored by this design choice, but it's down to a matter of personal preference. The deeper blue used in the expansive touchpad — sizing up to be 5.5 in by 3.5 in (140 x 89 millimeters) — is also a lovely touch.

The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is 0.59 inches (14.9 mm) thick, making it one of the thinnest 14-inch machines out there, while it weighs 2.95 pounds (1.34 kilograms), so it's ideal for use on the move. Only the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition and Acer Swift Go 14 AI laptops are lighter, based on models we've recently tested.

The trade-off is ditching a USB-A port; instead the OmniBook Flip 14 offers three USB-C ports, so an adapter will be necessary for any excursions. The webcam, hidden above the display, also uses a physical switch to hide or show it, as opposed to a keyboard function in the Spectre x360.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (2024): Display

We really enjoyed the OLED screen fitted into the HP Spectre x360, so you can imagine the disappointment we had in testing the dim and underwhelming lower-resolution (2,240 x 1,400) IPS display in the HP OmniBook Ultra 14. Thankfully, HP has restored the 2.8K (2,880 x 1,800 pixel) OLED panel, with a 120 Hz refresh rate, in the Flip version — and it's a sheer delight to use.

Firstly, it's worth stating that it's bright enough for most uses — but it's still about middle of the road when you consider all models, with our testing with a display calibrator showing a peak brightness of 358 nits. Microsoft and Lenovo machines tend to be a tad brighter, but it's also equally possible to find plenty that disappoint.

Where this machine excelled, however, was when we tested its color accuracy. The OLED display scored a perfect 100% coverage of the sRGB color gamut with a great color balance between the different channels. Remarkably, it also scored 100% in the DCI P3 color space (measuring accuracy for video editing), as well as 93.1% in the Adobe RGB color space (measuring accuracy for photo editing). These are stunning results and head-and-shoulders above what you'd typically expect in a laptop display. We'd wholeheartedly recommend this machine for professional-grade use as a result.

Its Delta-E score — a measure of how distorted colors are against a baseline — was also fantastic, with a 0.26 average and 0.88 maximum. A result between 3 and 6 was historically considered a good result, but the panels are improving year on year. As with all OLED panels, we also measured 0 nits on black luminance and an infinity:1 contrast ratio.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (2024): Keyboard and touchpad

The keyboard and touchpad fitted into the Spectre x360 were delightful to use — offering plenty of haptic feedback and travel distance — so it's hard to beat. The OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 comes within touching distance of matching it, thankfully.

This machine retains the large and generously spaced keys, with the positioning almost perfect for a comfortable touch-typing experience. The travel distance is also good, but does feel a little shorter than it did in the Spectre x360, as there feels to be a little punch lacking with the haptic feedback. There's still plenty of snap when tapping keys, however.

The massive touchpad, coated in glass, is also a stunning and functional compatriot of, and improvement on, that fitted into the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14's predecessor. It offers a reasonable amount of force feedback when both left- and right-clicking, and the sensitivity level when gliding your finger across the surface is perfect — unlike the Spectre, which felt almost like gliding your finger across ice at times, there's just enough resistance so you can control the cursor with precision.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (2024): Performance and battery

You can now find plenty of Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) chips in new models, which offer plenty of positives and downsides alike. Our review unit was fitted with an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V CPU, complemented with the Intel Arc Graphics chip as well as 16 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD.

Performance across day-to-day tasks is zippy, with no real issues arising. This was reflected in testing via GeekBench 6, with a very high single-threaded performance score of 2,701. You may get a little bit more from comparable machines, like the Dell Pro 13 Premium (fitted with the same CPU), which scored 2,828. But it represents a considerable improvement on the Intel Core Ultra (Series 1) chips and the Snapdragon X Elite CPUs fitted in 2024 models.

However, multi-threaded performance was a tad below where we'd like it to be. A score of 10,793 is only a few hundred points higher than the Spectre x360 14 (fitted with the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H chip). The Snapdragon CPUs usually register between 13,000 and 15,000, while we also registered a slightly higher score in the Dell (11,196). Overall, it means the laptop is exceptionally quick for the vast majority of day-to-day needs, but when it comes to multi-core reliance, the Snapdragon laptops tend to offer more muscle.

By contrast, its graphics performance was strong, garnering an OpenCL benchmark score of 28,037. This is considerably higher than the Snapdragon laptops usually score (between 15,000 and 20,000), and just shy of a mid-range dedicated GPU from Nvidia or AMD.

Thanks to the greater efficiency in the Series 2 Intel chip, this machine's battery life also hit 17 hours and 49 minutes. This is a great result, although you now tend to find machines exceeding 20 hours regularly, including the Dell Pro 13 Premium, which lasted 24 hours and 26 minutes in our battery test. Nevertheless, it's an improvement on previous HP machines we've tested, with the Spectre x360 lasting 14 hours and 29 minutes, and the AMD-powered OmniBook Ultra 14 lasting 16 hours and 41 minutes. It doesn't quite hit the levels of the HP EliteBook Ultra 14 G1q, which lasted 26 hours and 45 minutes, however.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (2024): Ports and features

One of the trade-offs with a machine as thin as this is the lack of ports — with the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 limited to three USB-C ports and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. It's sleekness also means it's not as functional as many other machines, meaning you'll often need to use an adapter or dongle if you wish to use other ports like HDMI or an SD card reader.

The PolyStudio speakers in the machine are a bit of a disappointment, with the bass offering plenty of punch but also plenty of fuzz and a hint of tinniness. High and midrange tones fare much better, but you still sacrifice plenty of quality as a result of cramming these speakers into such a slender chassis.

Elsewhere, you have Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, as well as a 9-megapixel infrared "AI camera" with temporal noise reduction. The picture is fairly saturated, but you can also take advantage of an array of AI tools to configure the image, including Windows' own Studio Effects tools, as well as HP Enhanced Lighting.

The machine also ships with the HP AI Companion app, which offers on-device AI-powered assistance by taking advantage of the 48 TOPS NPU.

HP OmniBook Ultra 14 (2024): Should I buy it?

The HP OmniBook Ultra 14 is a relatively unusual case of a laptop that excels in multiple departments without disappointing in any in particular. We absolutely loved the dazzling OLED screen. While the screen is only about average in terms of its brightness, it’s certainly good enough to use without noticing major problems, and its color accuracy is exceptional, which means it’s suitable for professional-grade tasks, including photo and video editing.

Indeed, rather than finding any serious flaws, we can only point to one or two aspects that don't match up with the very best. Its performance, for example, is mostly good — including fantastic single-threaded and graphics scores — with the exception of a middling multi-threaded result. All that, combined with a great keyboard and touchpad, as well as a fantastic build quality and elegant chassis, makes this an exceptional machine.

If the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 (2024) isn’t for you

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition is a similarly striking machine that is near-identical in almost every way to the HP, with some minor variations in size and weight. It does, however, also feature a USB-A port. This is well worth considering, although it may be a little more pricey.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is also a fantastic 2-in-1 machine that offers great performance as well as a dazzlingly bright IPS display, although it may, again, be on the pricier side.

For something a little more affordable, the HP Spectre x360 14 is still great value — offering a decent amount of power and battery life, alongside a great OLED screen, although not one that's capable of professional-grade color reproduction, as you'll get in the OmniBook Ultra Flip 14.

Lenovo's business laptops are usually incredibly stiff and serious, largely reflected in the design. This is the complete opposite of their sleek and stylish consumer models, which tend to be easier on the eye. But the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition attempts to straddle these two camps, marrying the best of both worlds in a compact and lightweight package with an intriguing purple-tinted gray chassis and one or two more ports than you would normally find in an ultraportable.

There are so many 14-inch machines to pick out these days — so we're always looking for something that stands out. Although this laptop features the same second-generation Intel Core Ultra hardware found in many new devices, what sets it apart is its explicit "prosumer" feel and a stunning 2.8K OLED display that dazzles on first glance, potentially making it one of the best devices for photo editing you can grab right now.

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition review

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition: Design

The first thing that stands out is the particular shade of gray Lenovo adopts for this device's ultrathin aluminum chassis — a gray mixed with a touch of red to produce a rather sharp color that certainly lives up to the moniker. There is an aura about this laptop.

Despite ditching the standard carbon fiber matte black of Lenovo's business machines, this relatively lightweight machine retains the MIL-STD 810H certification — which means you'll be protected against shocks in transit — and there is a baked-in robustness that you feel as you hold it, use it, and handle the display too. What's equally impressive is its 2.73-pound (1.24 kilogram) weight, making it the same weight as the MacBook Air 13-inch, which also weighs 2.7 lbs (1.24 kg). There are only a few laptops that are actually lighter than this without dropping your screen size to 13 inches.

Its dimensions are also highly compact, with its sleek nature shining through, given its minimal height of 0.51 inches (13 millimeters). Only the HP EliteBook Ultra 14 G1q and MacBook Air are thinner, both with a height of 0.44 inches (11.2 mm). But the trade-off here is that you benefit from an additional port in the form of HDMI connectivity.

The keyboard, meanwhile, adopts an interesting design, with indentations at the base of its relatively small but spaced-out keys, and no touch point (a Lenovo business laptop staple). Some still use it, but the touch pad is spacious and looks sharp, meaning the touch point is a little redundant, and the overall look and feel of the device is better off for its absence.

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition: Display

The 2.8K (2,880 x 1,800-pixel) 120 Hz OLED HDR display in the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition is a force of nature and one we thoroughly enjoyed using across all kinds of domains — from editing photos to watching videos.

We registered a high peak brightness in this device of 470 nits — which is brighter than almost all other machines we've tested in recent years. Only the Surface Laptop 7 edged it with a brightness of 474 — and most devices are around 100 nits dimmer on average.

The good news doesn't end there, with this machine's color accuracy also incredibly strong. Although the white balance needs some minor tweaking to get right (greens are oversaturated while reds and blues are ever-so-slightly undersaturated), its coverage of the three color spectra we test against were outstanding.

Firstly, it's 99.4% coverage of the sRGB color spectrum is great — but fairly standard these days. More impressive was its 94.2% coverage of the Adobe RGB spectrum and 98.5% coverage of the DCI P3 color spectrum. A "professional-grade" result usually falls above 90% and 95% respectively — with most laptops falling well short of this point (registering between 70% and 80% on average). That means we'd wholeheartedly recommend this machine for professional-grade color-based visual work.

As always with OLED displays, there was a 0 nits black level and infinity:1 contrast ratio, underlining the depths of blacks you get with OLEd screens, while the Delta-E rating (a measure of how distorted colors appear across the panel against a baseline) was 0.3 on average with a maximum of 0.89 — a fantastic result.

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition: Keyboard and touchpad

We only have good things to say about the keyboard and touchpad in the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition. Although the keys are a little smaller than you might find on other devices, they're well spaced and we had no issues getting a feel for the machine and touch typing at pace within minutes.

The travel distance feels deep, and there's a satisfying level of force feedback — without too much of a loud snap. The dents on the base of each key seem more an aesthetic choice than one necessitated by any functional need — but they do give the keyboard a bit of visual character that sets it apart from the rest of the pack.

The touchpad, similarly, was a joy to use — striking the perfect balance between being slippery smooth and just enough resistance so your cursor doesn't glide away. It was also highly responsive in all instances, with both the left-click and right-click buttons delivering a perfect dose of feedback, and dragging is fairly simple.

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition: Performance and battery

While all aspects of this device thus far have been close to exceptional, the performance left us wanted. This machine is fitted with Intel's latest chip, the Core Ultra 7 258V, which is fitted alongside an Intel Arc Graphics chip and an Intel AI Boost NPU with 48 TOPS. You also benefit from 32 GB LPDDR5x RAM alongside a 1 TB SSD — which is pretty standard in most machines of this standard.

Benchmarking, however, showed that this hardware is not utilized to its fullest — with a single-threaded performance score of 2,718 and a multi-threaded benchmarking result of 10,684. Why? While the single-core performance is certainly a considerable improvement (and more than enough for 99% of tasks), the multi-core result represents only a marginal improvement on the Intel Core Ultra 7 (Series 1) chips in last-generation machines. The HP Spectre x360 14 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H), for example, registered 2,110 and 10,480. Newer machines, like the Dell Pro 13 Premium (Intel Core Ultra 7 256V) hit 2,828 and 11,196 in the same benchmark.

This story carries through to poor graphics performance against the baseline for the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 chips. A result of 23,033 is much lower than the Dell 13 Pro Premium's 29,925, for example, and the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14's 28,037. Another benefit of the new Series 2 chips is a much higher efficiency, which should translate to a longer battery life. For example, the new HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 lasted 17 hours and 49 minutes in our battery test, versus the HP Spectre x360, which lasted 14 hours and 29 minutes. But this machine lasted just 11 hours and 51 minutes — a very poor result considering many machines now hit near-20 hours and even go beyond that.

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition: Ports and features

Part of the dip in performance may be a question of the incredibly slimline form factor. For a machine as thin as this, we were surprised to see an HDMI port included. This is fitted alongside two USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There is no room for USB-A, however, or an SD card slot — which means you'll likely need a dongle anyway. Wirelessly, you can benefit from the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 standards, making this a future-proof device. The Dolby Atmos speakers, meanwhile, are passable — with the bass perhaps a little more present than you'd expect for a device as thin as this. Its camera, meanwhile, is a sharp 4K 8MP device with a webcam privacy shutter that works digitally — rather than a physical switch that many other devices come baked in with.

Thanks to the 48 TOPS NPU, the Lenovo also features a number of AI tools — including Modes. Tapping F8 takes you to the Modes interface, which lets you configure your device if you're hoping to achieve specific goals. These include Attention Mode, to block distracting sites or notifications, as well as Power Mode, to boost your performance, alongside others. There's also the standard AI tools you get in Windows 11, including Studio Effects.

Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition: Should I buy it?

We loved using the ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition — and its screen is absolutely stunning — but there are certainly a few drawbacks to it, including its slightly weaker performance against the norm as well as a lower battery life. There is plenty that's great about this machine, including its sleek dimensions and connectivity options, as well as how zippy and great it feels to type with, but we certainly wanted more punch from a "prosumer" laptop that marries the best of consumer machines and professional-grade devices.

If the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition isn’t for you

We enjoyed using last year's Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, and this machine reminds us a lot of Microsoft's Snapdragon-powered alternative. Although its single-threaded performance and graphics output is slightly weaker, the multi-threaded performance battery life is far superior. Alternatively, the newer HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is a fantastic alternative that is only slightly more powerful, but features an even better screen and a much better battery life. Given the Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition is pitched as a MacBook Air replacement, it's always worth considering the new MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) too.

Dell has relaunched its entire portfolio of laptops, with the Dell Pro 13 Premium one of the first off the blocks. This new machine is in many ways the spiritual successor to the Dell XPS, although in truth it seems nothing like it at first glance. Its chassis appears a little like a MacBook crossed with older enterprise-focused machines — and it certainly doesn’t create a modern or slick first impression.

But looks aren't everything, and this machine is an extremely compact and lightweight option with plenty packed under the hood, alongside offering some great connectivity options — making it a worthwhile laptop for coding and programming while on the move.

Dell Pro 13 Premium review

Dell Pro 13 Premium: Design

The Dell Pro 13 Premium speaks two design languages at once — the first is one of elegance and robustness while the other is one of bland, unremarkable professionalism.

There's not much joy to be found in the dark gray that its 90% recycled magnesium chassis is draped in. But on the flipside, some elements strongly resemble a MacBook, including rounded-off corners and a dint on the front that you can use to get enough purchase to open its lid when closed. Coupled with the aesthetically pleasing gapless keyboard, it makes for a smart overall look, and feels excellent to handle.

We also liked the way that tilting the screen back raises the incline of the keyboard, which elevates the experience when typing. But the thick borders around its IPS display (mostly above the screen to fit in the webcam) are a little more clunky, and again betray the corporate nature of this machine.

Where the Dell Pro 13 Premium excels, however, is in its dimensions (if you ignore its thickness) and extremely low weight. Measuring 11.64 x 8.23 inches (179.5 x 171.9 mm), the Dell Pro 13 Premium is small enough to fit into your bag easily if you're hoping to work on the move. It's also exceptionally light, weighing just 2.36 lbs (1.07 kg) — making it one of the lightest machines you can buy today.

Dell Pro 13 Premium: Display

The standard matte FHD+ IPS non-touch display fitted into our review model was unimpressive on the whole. With a pixel resolution of 1,920 x 1,200, it isn't as sharp as you would expect given how much this machine costs — with a pixel-per-inch ratio of just 170 (usually we'd be looking for 200-plus) — and its refresh rate is limited to 60 Hz.

Note that a glass-coated QHD+ touchscreen variant is available, which Dell claims is brighter and sharper, so we would probably recommend considering that over this version if you need a high-quality panel, although we haven't been able to test it and this is good enough for most day-to-day purposes.

Testing with a display calibrator rendered a brightness result of 369 nits — just shy of the 400 nits Dell claims this screen can hit. This is not a bad result (it's above average compared with other machines), but the colors appear washed out and the white balance is too warm, so will need some recalibrating.

That said, the color accuracy is perfectly reasonable, with the Dell Pro 13 Premium scoring 99.9% coverage of the sRGB color spectrum. Its black level of 0.3 nits and 1,202:1 contrast ratio aren’t bad for non-OLED displays, but there's nothing remarkable about those stats either, and this screen is let down by its skewed white balance and a distinct lack of sharpness.

Dell Pro 13 Premium: Keyboard and touchpad

The gapless keyboard is similar to that used in recent Dell XPS machines — except for the return of the row of physical function keys, which is incredibly welcome. Its gapless keys are spaced out enough to feel comfortable when typing, but there is a lack of punch in the haptic feedback you get with each keystroke. This isn't made any better by the short travel distance. While it's perfectly comfortable to type with over lengthy periods, we prefer keyboards with more room to push each key while touch-typing.

The touchpad is sized proportionately for the machine overall, but it can be fiddly to use at times, thanks to a frictionless surface that means it's difficult to precisely control your cursor — your fingers tend to glide across its surface a little too easily. Clicking feels a bit hollow, and while we experienced no sensitivity problems, the haptic feedback seemed a little underwhelming.

Dell Pro 13 Premium: Performance and battery

Our review unit featured the same Intel Core Ultra 7 256V CPU and Intel Arc Graphics GPU fitted into the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14, and paired these with 32 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD. These are high-end specs, and the new Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) chips are said to be far more efficient than their predecessors.

We confirmed this in our testing. Overall, the Dell Pro 13 Premium scored well in our benchmarking, with a very high single-threaded score of 2,828 and decent multi-threaded score of 11,196. This was higher than the HP, which scored 2,701 and 10,793 when we tested it, which can be accounted for in part by its only having half the amount of RAM.

It's worth noting, however, that Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chips underperform on single-threaded tasks but vastly outperform the Intel chip in multitasking, scoring between 13,000 to 15,000 depending on how the machine is optimized.

Where we were very impressed was with a score of 29,925 in the OpenCL test for the graphics chip — which approaches what you'd typically expect in a mid-range GPU from the likes of Nvidia or AMD. This result means we'd recommend this machine for visual-based work on the move if it wasn't for the quality of the display.

The efficiency of this new Intel CPU really shone through, however, in our battery test, with the Dell Pro 13 Premium lasting a staggering 24 hours and 26 minutes. With the previous generation of Intel chips, you would be lucky if your machine could last more than 15 hours — with many Snapdragon-powered devices able to eclipse that figure easily, and some lasting as long as 28 hours, including the Dell XPS 13 9345. But it shows the new Intel chip has finally caught up in terms of power efficiency.

Dell Pro 13 Premium: Ports and features

The Dell Pro 13 Premium is a little thicker than most devices, with a height of 0.7 inches (16.6 mm), but you can forgive that once you look at the number of ports available. This machine comes with an HDMI port, a USB-A port and a USB-C port on either side of the chassis. This is in addition to a 3.5mm headphone jack and a wedge-shaped lock slot for a little added peace of mind.

The machine also features strong connectivity options like the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 standards, as well as including an optional nanoSIM slot in some models. The webcam is 8 MP and offers sharp images in good lighting, but you can also take advantage of the AI-powered Studio Effects to optimize your picture, as you can in all AI PCs.

Dell Pro 13 Premium: Should I buy it?

It's hard to recommend the Dell Pro 13 Premium given its price and the fact that more elegant and stronger machines exist. But what the Dell Pro 13 Premium excels at is offering excellent performance overall in a package that's extremely light and efficient, guaranteeing you a long-lasting battery that takes longer to run down than most other machines.

If the quality of the screen doesn't matter too much — or you can afford to upgrade to the QHD+ variant — you should certainly consider it, especially if portability and working on the go are your main priorities in a laptop for coding and programming.

If the Dell Pro 13 Premium isn’t for you

There are plenty of 2024 machines that might fit the bill, but the machine we'd recommend above all others in this price range is a MacBook Pro — whether you opt for a new M4-powered machine or an older (but still powerful) M3 version.

You may also be interested in the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7. Although it's nearly a year old, this Snapdragon-powered device outperforms the Dell (albeit not in terms of graphics performance) and includes a stunning IPS display. Its battery is also more than enough at 17 hours and 31 minutes.

Prime Day doesn't kick off until Tuesday, July 8, but if you don't want to wait until then, these 4th of July deals bring you a chance to save money on your next telescope ahead of the big four-day Prime event next week.

We've scoured the web for the best deals ahead of Prime Day, and the entire Celestron NexStar range is on sale right now with savings of up to $200, including our favorite telescope, the Celestron NexStar 8SE.

We only recommend products we truly love from brands we know and trust, and we keep track of prices throughout the year, so we can bring you genuine deals.

• We're constantly checking the best prices on our Black Friday deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes, binoculars, star projectors, cameras, air purifiers, fitness trackers and more.

If you frequently travel overseas, it can be difficult to access your home streaming services. A virtual private network (VPN) is a great tool to ensure you don't miss out on any of your favorite shows.

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Check out our other guides to the best air purifiers, air purifiers for allergies, the best telescopes, microscopes for students, binoculars, rowing machines, electric toothbrushes and more.

The U.S. military has set a new record for wireless power transmission, beaming a laser carrying more than 800 watts of power across a distance of 5.3 miles (8.6 kilometers).

The test, performed by the U.S. military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as part of its Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program, is a key step toward unlocking the near-instant beaming of power.

It also smashes previous records set by the POWER program, which previously beamed 230 watts across 1 mile (1.7 km) for 25 seconds, and a smaller, undisclosed amount of power as far as 2.3 miles (3.7 km).

"It is beyond a doubt that we absolutely obliterated all previously reported optical power beaming demonstrations for power and distance," Paul Jaffe, the POWER program manager, said in a statement.

The concept of wireless power transmission (WPT) has been a popular goal since the days of Nikola Tesla, who in 1901 began constructing the Wardenclyffe Tower on Long Island, New York — a 187-foot (57 meters) structure intended to be the first node in a "World Wireless System" that would beam power around the globe. Yet technical challenges meant that funding for the project, initially provided by the financier J.P. Morgan, dried up, leaving Tesla's vision unrealized.

Related: NASA's 1st successful 2-way laser experiment is a giant leap for moon and Mars communications

Nonetheless, interest in the concept has recently increased, both for military applications and space-based solar power, a nascent technology that would collect and transmit energy from sunlight in space, where it is 10 times more intense than at Earth's surface.

Energy is essential for military operations, and getting that energy to the battlefields and disaster areas where it's needed is slow, risky, and resource intensive, often using up a lot of fuel, DARPA representatives wrote in the statement.

"These tests, referred to as PRAD (POWER Receiver Array Demo), mark an important step toward the POWER program's long-term goal of being able to instantly beam power from a location where it can be easily generated to wherever it's needed," the agency added.

In the latest experiment, conducted at the U.S. Army's White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, the power was beamed over the 5.3-mile distance in a 30-second pulse. The laser beam arrived at the receiver before passing through a small aperture, bouncing off a parabolic mirror onto solar cells within.

The pulse was transmitted with an approximate 20% efficiency, and some of the power it transmitted was used to make popcorn. The researchers have bigger ambitions for the system's use in the field, however, suggesting that it could be used to power unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

They will now move on to testing power beaming both across multiple connected relays and vertically, where the atmosphere is thinner and transmission more efficient.

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Check out our other guides to the best air purifiers, air purifiers for allergies, the best telescopes, microscopes for students, binoculars, rowing machines, electric toothbrushes and more.

Father's Day is mere days away (June 15), so any excuse for a sale — and if you're searching for something for your dad, stepdad, grandfather or just looking to take advantage of a deal for yourself, we're here to help. We've rounded up the best deals on telescopes, binoculars and more, so why not treat dad to something really special?

In our round-up of the best Father's Day deals below, you'll find some of the best telescopes on the market with 15% savings, 20% off one of our favorite cameras, and up to $100 off some of the best IS binoculars. Although many items in these categories are typically more expensive than the usual 'gift prices', these deals are still worth it if you can afford them.

We can't guarantee that these deals will stick around after Father's Day, so even if you're just wanting to treat yourself, don't hesitate on picking up a saving. Hey, we don't judge: You deserve a gift just as much as anyone... especially if it's on sale.

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As news reports broadcast images of planes flipping upside down, performing emergency landings or colliding into unforeseen obstacles, many people may be nervous about air travel. Some may wonder, is there a seat on the plane that will maximize my safety? What's the safest seat on a plane?

First, it's important to note that air travel is one of the safest modes of transportation. "The fatality rate is way, way lower than driving a car," said Cheng-Lung Wu, an associate professor in the School of Aviation at the University of New South Wales in Australia. In the United States, your odds of dying in commercial air travel is 1 in 13.7 million for each flight, according to a 2024 study in the Journal of Air Transport Management. The vast majority of passenger plane crashes, around 94%, also have a 100% survival rate, according to data between 2001 and 2017 from the National Transportation Safety Board.

However, there have been no robust scientific studies investigating which seats on an airplane are the safest, Wu said. But based on past plane crashes and knowledge of airplane design, it's possible to infer the safest seat in the event of an accident.

"It all depends on the crash dynamics," said Daniel Kwasi Adjekum, an aviation safety researcher at the University of North Dakota. Of course, if the plane is completely obliterated, you're doomed no matter where you sit.

But say a crash happens with low energy and a low angle of impact, for instance if the plane loses control upon landing, and it goes off the runway. "Then it really matters where you are seated to be able to survive structurally," Adjekum said.

In these instances, the plane may break into two sections upon hitting the ground, and much of the kinetic energy would be in the front section of the plane, making it barrel forward. In this case, the back of the plane would be safer. Indeed, a 2015 analysis of Federal Aviation Administration data by Time magazine found that the back third of the plane had the lowest fatality rate.

Related: Can a commercial airplane do a barrel roll?

Wu also noted another spot that may offer more protection: seats next to or close to the plane's wings. This part of the plane has a lot of structural reinforcement, so it can withstand more force. These seats are close to the emergency exits, Wu said, which means you can evacuate more quickly (unless you are seated in the emergency exit row and need to help others evacuate the plane).

But a danger lurks underneath this middle part of the plane: the fuel tanks. Although planes are supposed to empty their fuel tanks before landing, these capsules may still emit smoke or catch fire in a crash. In these scenarios, it's even more important to evacuate the plane quickly, within 90 seconds, Adjekum said. That means leaving your luggage behind, and not panicking, filming the accident or performing other actions that could slow you down.

"You have to listen to the instruction from the cabin crew," Adjekum said. "I think that's the most important thing." Planes are generally well engineered to minimize risk, he added. Parts of the plane can break off to protect the main cabin, seats are very securely attached, and seat belts are designed to minimize crash forces for a sitting passenger.

Beyond wearing seat belts and following safety instructions, be aware of your surroundings. "Know where you sit," Wu said. Locate the nearest emergency exit, and count the rows to the exit in case smoke obscures your view.

So, the next time you're on a plane, take note of your environment, listen closely to the safety video, and stay tuned for instructions in the event of an incident.

Scientists in Canada have built a speaker array that can mimic a 3D soundscape with such fidelity that, to the human ear, it sounds exactly like the real thing.

The 11-foot (3.4 meters) AudioDome speaker system, set up in a sealed chamber in Ontario, leverages advanced audio-rendering techniques to create rich virtual sound fields that simulate the precise locations of sounds as they were recorded — sonically transporting users anywhere in the world.

In new research, scientists tested the speaker system on people to evaluate its accuracy. The results showed that the AudioDome could simulate soundscapes with a level of detail that was beyond the limits of human auditory perception. The researchers published their findings April 15 in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America.

The results demonstrated that ambisonics technology could be used for more in-depth research into how the human brain processes sounds, the researchers wrote in the paper.

The dome gives researchers the ability to "maintain tight experimental control while also studying human auditory spatial perception in the type of complex, dynamic, three-dimensional soundscapes that the auditory system evolved to handle," study lead author Nima Zargarnezhad, a graduate student in neuroscience and music cognition at Western University, Ontario, said in a statement.

A new frontier for simulating sounds in 3D

Surround-sound technology has been around for a while, often employing other forms of sound reproduction such as single-channel (SC) presentation or vector-based amplitude panning (VBAP) to provide listeners with an immersive listening experience.

In a single-channel surround sound system the presented sound source is constrained by the physical location of each speaker in the array, whereas VBAP relies on manipulating the gain across a trio of speakers in the array, creating a virtual source somewhere between them to approximate the original sound’s location.

But neither of these systems can create an accurate virtual soundscape over as broad an area as ambisonic panning, according to the study.

Related: Self-bending beams can deliver sound waves only to your ear in a crowd

Ambisonic panning is a sound-reproduction technique that decomposes a 3D soundscape into a series of mathematical functions that describe each sound's directionality, pressure and velocity.

Theoretically, ambisonic panning also has higher spatial resolution than both SC or VBAP, the researchers wrote — but it has its limitations. Lower-order ambisonic panning systems (those with fewer channels) were found to render sound sources in a way that is "blurry" or diffused.

The AudioDome gave the researchers the chance to test whether a higher order ambisonic panning system could achieve sufficient spatial resolution to be suitable for experiments that study human hearing and perception.

"We already knew that some reconstruction errors were theoretically predicted and confirmed with simulations, but we did not know how and to what extent they would affect human perception of sound location and identity," Zargarnezhad said.

Made up of four dual–channel subwoofers and 91 loudspeakers arranged in a dome, the structure is positioned in a sound dampening, echo-free chamber to provide maximum control over the acoustic environment.

The AudioDome's speaker array is a ninth-order ambisonic panning system (meaning that it uses 100 sound channels in the system) which the researchers found was capable of reproducing the "identity and location of many common sounds, including speech, at a spatial resolution that is at the level of human spatial acuity, if not better."

This means the AudioDome was "sufficient to ensure the reproduced soundscapes are accurately simulating the real world," the researchers concluded.

The study highlights one weakness in ambisonic panning, however. For sounds with energy frequencies above 4 kHz, such as the human vocal range, the localization cues became distorted — meaning the information that helps the brain determine the location sound is coming from seemed incorrect to listeners.

The result was that speech, although reproduced "accurately," was somewhat degraded and instead sounded as if it was being heard over a phone line. As such, the paper recommended using SC reproduction for "naturalistic studies of speech."

Nonetheless, the researchers wrote that the AudioDome offers a promising advancement for research into how our brains process sound and "lays the groundwork for future experiments on naturalistic human auditory perception."

With Memorial Day taking place on Monday, May 26, 2025, we've rounded up some of the best deals on telescopes, binoculars and cameras in this year's Memorial Day sale, bringing you massive savings of up to $625 on all our favorite optics.

We can't guarantee these savings will be around after Memorial Day, so make sure you take advantage of these incredible deals while you still can.

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Scientists have created night-vision contact lenses that they claim can grant people "super-vision."

The lenses — which use nanoparticles to absorb low-frequency light before emitting it in the visible spectrum — enable wearers to see infrared wavelengths that are otherwise invisible to the human eye.

And unlike traditional night-vision goggles, these lenses don't require a power source. The researchers described the new lenses May 22 in the journal Cell Press.

"Our research opens up the potential for non-invasive wearable devices to give people super-vision," senior author Tian Xue, a neuroscientist at the University of Science and Technology of China, said in a statement. "There are many potential applications right away for this material. For example, flickering infrared light could be used to transmit information in security, rescue, encryption or anti-counterfeiting settings."

First used in night combat during World War II, traditional night-vision goggles use an electronic image-intensifier tube to turn visible light or near-infrared photons into electrons. These electrons are then channeled onto a luminescent screen, causing it to glow green.

Related: Scientists hijacked the human eye to get it to see a brand-new color. It's called 'olo.'

But these goggles typically need an energy source, which makes them bulky. Infrared goggles are also unable to precisely distinguish light across the infrared range, especially those at longer wavelengths.

To create the new lenses, the scientists embedded nanoparticles inside flexible, nontoxic polymers typically used in soft contact lenses. The nanoparticles — which consist of sodium gadolinium fluoride embedded with luminescent ytterbium, erbium and gold — absorb near-infrared photons in the 800- to 1,600-nanometer wavelength range before emitting them as visible light, wavelengths from around 380 to 750 nanometers

The researchers first tested their new lenses in mice. Mice sporting the new lenses favored dark boxes over those illuminated by infrared light, while those without the lenses showed no preference. (Mice are crepuscular animals that usually stick to dark environments to evade predators.) Additionally, the pupils of lens-wearing mice constricted in the presence of infrared light sources, with brain scans showing that their visual processing centers were firing.

Next, the team tried the lenses in humans. The people could perceive flickering infrared light and pick up on its direction. This infrared vision was enhanced when the participants closed their eyes, the researchers said.

"It's totally clear cut: without the contact lenses, the subject cannot see anything, but when they put them on, they can clearly see the flickering of the infrared light," Xue said. "We also found that when the subject closes their eyes, they're even better able to receive this flickering information, because near-infrared light penetrates the eyelid more effectively than visible light, so there is less interference from visible light."

The scientists replaced the nanoparticles embedded in the lenses with modified versions that mapped specific parts of the near-infrared spectrum to blue, green and red. The researchers suggested that this tweak could be used to aid people with color blindness.

"By converting red visible light into something like green visible light, this technology could make the invisible visible for color blind people," Xue said.

Despite these promising advances, more work is needed before the lenses see the light of day. Currently, they only pick up light projected from LED sources, which are incredibly bright, so the scientists will need to boost the lenses' sensitivity to pick up light of lower intensities.

The lenses' proximity to the retinas also may prevent them from detecting finer details, so the researchers have developed a wearable glass system for viewing objects at higher resolutions.

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• Check out the best Memorial Day discounts we've found so far including deals on smartwatches and exercise equipment.

In terms of Science & Technology docs, there is "Banking on Bitcoin" and "Silicon Cowboys", the story of the Compaq portable computer that altered the future of computing.

Sci-Fi fans can enjoy the Peacock original "Mrs. Davis", a comedy-drama about a rogue AI. There are also shows from SYFY such as "Resident Alien" and "The Ark", as well as the classics "Farscape", "Quantum Leap, and "Heroes", to name but a few.

With so much to watch on Peacock, there may be times when subscribers from the USA are travelling outside of the country and find access blocked due to geo-restrictions.

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Have a look at our buyers guides to the best air purifiers, air purifiers for allergies, the best telescopes, microscopes for students, binoculars, rowing machines, electric toothbrushes and more.

A sturdy tripod is essential for shooting various subjects, and particularly crucial when using one of the best astrophotography cameras. Benro is known for high-quality tripods that last for years and provide a stable base for your camera, no matter where you are.

The Benro Rhino is one of the company's more travel-friendly tripods, thanks to its lightweight carbon fiber construction and reverse folding design. The central column adds height and versatility, also making it useful for holding the best binoculars for stargazing. Not only that, the built-in monopod conversion adds even more functionality.

We put the Benro Rhino to the test to see how it holds up and whether it's worth the big price tag. We used the VX25 head alongside the Rhino Carbon Fiber Two Series model.

Benro Rhino tripod review

Design

• Lightweight, carbon fiber design
• Central column provides versatility
• Good for travel in theory, but not the most compact tripod

The Rhino Carbon Fiber Two Series tripod has been designed with versatility in mind, providing a lightweight and well-constructed carbon fiber design without compromising on stability and strength. With four leg sections and an adjustable central column, it can reach a maximum height of 66.33 inches (168.5 centimeters), making it one of the tallest "travel" tripods on the market, and folds down to 25.19 inches (64 cm) when closed, thanks to its reverse folding design.

With interchangeable feet, you can use the soft rubber feet as standard on hard surfaces, for better grip and vibration absorption, or change them out for metal spiky feet for better stability on soft terrain like grass. It has a maximum payload capacity of 39.68 pounds (18 kg), making it suitable for all types of photography setups and heavy astronomy binoculars.

Set-up and ease of use

• Could be smoother when packing down
• Benro tripod heads offer increased safety compared to other makes
• Legs can be splayed up to almost 90 degrees

Generally, the set-up process is quick and easy, although the legs are a little stiff when moving them to and from the reverse folding position, and the button to unlock them so they can go all the way up makes things fiddly — having to hold the button down while lifting the leg up seems counterintuitive. The extension of the legs, however, is very smooth and the legs lock in place with just half a twist of the twist locks.

The great thing about Benro tripods, and particularly the heads, is the increased safety they provide. The heads are sold separately, which does mean increased cost, but the advantage of this is that you can customize your tripod setup to your liking. There are two safety features on the head: One on the dial to loosen or tighten the mounting plate in place, and two prongs on the underside of the mounting plate to prevent the camera from sliding off and falling to the ground. We used the VX25 head with the Rhino, which we thought was nicely slimline and very ergonomic.

Performance

• Solid and sturdy, but it's not immune to wind
• Monopod conversion adds even more versatility
• Leg twist locks can be rough on the hands in the cold

Although we wouldn’t call it our favorite of all the Benro tripods we’ve used, it is the one we’ve used the most and tend to grab on a spontaneous stargazing trip due to its size and versatility. It gives really solid performance for photography and also during long nights of stargazing, although we found the rubber twist locks a little rough on our hands in the cold. While it's solid and sturdy overall, we noticed when using big astronomy binoculars that the slightest bit of wind would cause them to wobble when the tripod was at full height with the central column extended.

The monopod conversion is a nice touch as well: we rarely find ourselves using it in this configuration, but sports photographers will love it.

We think the Carbon Fiber Two Series is marketed as a travel tripod due to its versatility rather than its size. It can carry heavy camera setups, and if you’re using it with a pair of the best binoculars for stargazing, the central column can be adjusted to different heights. The monopod feature is also great for travel as it means you don’t have to take a separate tripod and monopod, but as the circumference of the tripod when folded isn’t the most compact (due to the central column), it’s bulkier then many other tripods and we’ve found it quite fiddly to put it into some of our camera bags.

It does come with its own bag, but if you’re going on a hike with your camera, you won’t want to take a separate tripod bag. When we’ve wanted to take a tripod in our Peak Design Outdoor Backpack, we’ve opted for the Benro Tortoise instead.

Verdict

While we would recommend the Benro Rhino as an all-in-one solution for any type of photography, we appreciate that it's a little pricey for some users, particularly beginners or anyone who just wants a smartphone tripod for casual content creation.

We loved using the Rhino for astrophotography, and although we quickly got frustrated with the monopod when we used it to photograph wildlife (specifically, birds), we found the monopod conversion incredibly useful for sports. It's also great to use with the best stargazing binoculars, as the extendable central column makes it easy to adjust if you're sharing the binos between people or if you want to switch the height from viewing an object on the horizon to something higher in the sky.

If the Benro Rhino isn't for you

How we tested the Benro Rhino

To test the Benro Rhino, we used it with a variety of photography and stargazing equipment in real-world scenarios, including cameras with telephoto lenses, heavy stargazing binoculars and a smart telescope.

We assessed its sturdiness when the tripod was fully extended to see how well it bore the weight of different equipment, noting any dipping in the center and how much visible pressure the legs were under.

We transported the tripod in both the included carry bag and attached to a dedicated camera bag to discern its portability and convenience when traveling or hiking to a remote shooting spot, noting how easy the tripod was to set up and take down while out in the field at all times of the day, including in the dark.

The idea that Earth may operate as a single, self-regulating, living organism has existed for decades, emerging in the 1970s as the Gaia hypothesis. In this excerpt from "Gaia Wakes: Earth's Emerging Consciousness in an Age of Environmental Devastation" (Columbia University Press, 2025), economic development and peacebuilding expert Topher McDougal describes how Earth might acquire a planetary brain powered by artificial intelligence (AI) in what he dubs the "Gaiacephalos hypothesis." McDougal argues that this giant, global brain could benefit humanity by boosting the complexity of life on Earth and ultimately secure a more sustainable future.

What if our entire planet were to grow a consciousness? The human race finds itself aboard a vessel traversing the vastness of the Milky Way — the Spaceship Earth, as Henry George, Kenneth Boulding, Buckminster Fuller, and others since have so appositely described it. But those thinkers were using the phrase only to evoke the limitations placed on human societies in a relatively closed, steady-state system. They were merely implying that our economies can only grow so far before they come up against the very real resource constraints of our tiny planet floating in the vast emptiness of space.

Certainly, the widening scope of environmental devastation humans are wreaking on this planet throws these considerations into stark relief.

But what if Spaceship Earth is itself developing (and indeed has already developed much of the infrastructure to support) a single emergent consciousness? I call this idea the "Gaiacephalos hypothesis," in deference to the "Gaia hypothesis" forwarded by James Lovelock, Lynn Margulis, and others, which contends that Earth's interlocking environmental systems could be thought of as a single organism.

I argue that the two phenomena associated with Spaceship Earth — first the global environmental devastation we are starting to experience, and second the development of a planetary brain — are two halves of the same process. This process is part of a naturally recurring cycle that has driven the increasing complexity of life on Earth — one that will, with effort, culminate in the emergence of a global AI-powered "brain" capable of coordinating the body planetary.

Could a planet really develop a brain? A mind? Would such an outcome be desirable, and could we thwart that development if not? I don't claim to predict what will happen, but rather what could happen. My contention is that Earth may, if we are lucky and diligent and clever enough, grow an emergent superconsciousness.

The questions this development would beg range from the practical to the philosophical and even quasi-mystical. For instance: Is life itself a natural and inextricable part of the evolution of the universe? Are there any limits to the scale of life? Is life the process by which the universe comes to know and understand itself?

To postulate the growth of a planetary brain may at first sound bizarre, even outlandish. Consequently, many readers may, in an effort to grant me the benefit of the doubt, be tempted to misread this treatise in metaphorical terms. "Perhaps the author means that the Earth has interlocking systems — climatological, ecological, biophysical — that could be thought of as a 'brain' or be likened to a mind." But no, let's eliminate any possibility of confusion: I postulate the growth of an emergent neural network — one whose totality is not designed by humans, even if its initial constituent parts are.

This neural network could quite literally enable Earth to achieve unitary consciousness on a massive scale. After the advent of this development, humans would likely continue to play various supporting roles in the life of the planet, but will ultimately find themselves subordinate to and conditioned by a higher intelligence with higher purposes.

What would this new mind consist of in tangible, physical terms? Well, microchips, circuits, superconductors and semiconductors, digital storage devices, fiber optic cables, eventually quantum computers — the stuff of electronic processors and communications. In other words, the planetary mind and the brain supporting it would emerge from what geoscientist Peter Haff has termed the "technosphere," the vast panoply of tools we have created to fashion for ourselves a more interconnected world.

The planetary brain, if it emerges, would likely arise from AI-enhanced, human-made institutions: technologically sophisticated corporations and the governments regulating them, or what we collectively term "postindustrial economies," themselves increasingly cybernetic.

But these interconnected systems and the spectacular potential for information processing they represent operate according to an inherently global logic. As such, a natural scalar synergy exists between high technology and global human institutions, including but not limited to transnational corporations, the United Nations, and transnational social movements. The more extensive the network, the richer its capacities. If they become extensive and fast enough, these systems may, eventually, function together as a brain. And just as in the human brain, where logic may at times war with "gut" instinct, or the need for fresh thinking wrestle with well-laid plans, the decisions made by Gaiacephalos would almost always be the mediated results of discussions, conflicts, and compromises amongst constituent analytical components.

The emergence of a planetary mind would not be the first radical scalar upgrade in the complexity of life on Earth. Indeed we have no fewer than four precedents from which to infer the general patterns at work. All previous upgrades have built on the scalar units of their predecessors. All of them have radically increased life's capacity to harness and use energy — in other words, its capacity for entropy.

These entropy-maximizing processes oscillate cyclically between episodes of expansion and centralization, growth and coordination. Successful units first begin to predate others, but eventually forge more mutualistic relationships with them as prey becomes scarce.

Mutualism yields hierarchical collectives. But these collectives are unwieldy; they require the countervailing formation of centralized information-processing to coordinate their myriad functions. Collectives that succeed in developing coordination apparatuses thrive. In this way, a new, higher-order unit emerges.

The first three of Earth's upgrades are studied in biology. They include the emergence of, respectively, prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and brainy multicellular organisms. The fourth of these upgrades is studied in the social sciences, and involves the emergence of centralized states as massively coordinated resource exploiters.

As with the brains of multicellular organisms, Earth's brain will be energetically taxing to maintain. But it will also potentially pay great returns, allowing the planet to seek out new sources of energy, while regulating those internal functions that would dispose of the energy waste (heat). And while human-devised forms of organization would (at least initially) set the parameters for the basic structure, it would likely evolve quickly. Its abilities to make quick sense of terabytes of information, identify and anticipate possible problems, find optimal solutions to them, and take appropriate actions will far outstrip the capacities of human institutional apparatuses.

At least a few questions confront us under the Gaiacephalos scenario. First, is Earth endowed with the resources necessary to afford a planetary brain? Brains are always energy-intensive organs, and the emergence of the Gaiacephalos, nascent though it may be, has already proved extremely taxing to the body planetary.

Larger planets can probably more easily afford to invest in brain development than smaller ones. Do we have the necessary biological capital to support a brain, or will its development prove so costly that the planet falls back to a brainless state? Second, are there smarter policies that we can adopt that can make Gaiacephalos more likely to develop? Third, if we are successful in creating a planetary brain, what would daily life for humans look like? Will we be part of this brain? Or will we have worked ourselves out of a job? Will the planetary intelligence that emerges be inimical to human flourishing? And will our free will be totally overridden by this potential tyrant? And finally, what are the implications of the emergence of a planetary brain for our understanding of the universe and our place in it?

I cannot claim that what I describe will happen. Nor can I even say I believe it is statistically probable. It is for me one analytic possibility of uncertain likelihood. The argument traces a hopeful path into the future, but that hope should not bias our assessments of the path's likelihood of success.

But this argument does have the potential to direct our policy actions in order to make this path more likely. In that sense, it might serve as a self-fulfilling prophecy. It is important enough to deserve our attention, and perhaps also our best collective efforts: it may prove preferable to the foreseeable alternatives. It is something to run towards, rather than merely run away from. For those who despair of ever achieving environmental sustainability, it may plot one feasible course toward a version of that end.

Excerpted from Gaia Wakes: Earth’s Emergent Consciousness in an Age of Environmental Devastation by Topher McDougal (2025) with permission from Columbia University Press.

If you're looking to step into the world of full-frame photography on a budget, this is an excellent opportunity — the Sony A7 III with 28-70mm lens is now $1,498 at Amazon, down from its original price of $1,999.99.

The Sony A7 III remains one of Sony's most versatile mirrorless cameras, offering a strong balance of image quality, low-light performance and speed, despite its age. The excellent dynamic range and high ISO sensitivity are well suited for capturing the night skies, while its fast autofocus makes it very capable at photographing animals. Before it was succeeded by the Sony A7 IV, it featured in our best astrophotography cameras guide for a long time.

It earned 4 and a half stars in our Sony A7 III review, and we found it to be an absolute workhorse and consistently produced sharp, detailed images, even in low light. While there are undoubtedly more capable models that have been released since, it's still a fantastic camera for anyone wanting to make the jump to full-frame, and a $500 saving is not to be sniffed at. If you don't want the lens, you can get the body for around $1,298.

This Sony A7 III bundle includes the camera body, the 28-70mm lens, and all the standard accessories — battery, charging cable and strap, so you're ready to go straight out of the box. At $500 off, it's an affordable and smart entry into the full-frame system, so you can focus on building your lens lineup.

Key features: 24.2 Megapixel sensor, ISO range 100-51,200, 10 FPS burst rate, Weather sealed, 2.36M dot EVF, 922K dot tilting touchscreen

Product launched: April 2018.

Price history: The last time we saw this bundle at this price was during Black Friday 2024.

Reviews consensus: A very capable camera that can shoot a variety of styles, perfect for budget-conscious users who don't need the newest tech. There's little not to love about this camera.

Live Science: ★★★★½ | TechRadar: ★★★★★ | Space: ★★★★½ | Digital Camera World: ★★★★½

✅ Buy it if: You don't want to spend more than $2,000 on a brand new camera, or if you're making the jump into full-frame and don't need all the newest bells and whistles.

❌ Don't buy it if: You're a professional and want the latest model, although it would still make for a decent second body.

Check out our other guides to the best telescopes, binoculars, cameras, star projectors, drones, lego and much more.

With Bird Day happening on May 4, now is the time to invest in a premium pair of bird-watching binoculars. Luckily for you, we've spotted the Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars at the lowest price we could find on the internet: A whopping $164 off at Newegg. Coming in at $1399 normally, they are rarely on offer and they're now available for $1234 — a bargain we feel is too good to miss.

While these Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars are pricey, they are worth the investment, with us rating them as the best image-stabilized binoculars. With image stabilization, these binoculars will enhance your bird-watching experience. Image stabilization offers the user a chance to see the birds up close without a juddery image, improving the image quality. Plus, the 10x magnification offers detailed views of wildlife.

You can get the Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars on sale right now at Newegg for $1234.

In our review of these Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars, we found they offered amazing image stabilization, producing smooth images. Our reviewer also noted that the tech was "doing its job" as they experienced no purple-fringing. This makes for a great experience while bird-watching — no image aberrations to disrupt your views of the birds.

Not only this, but these binoculars are waterproof in case the weather takes a nasty turn while you're out and because of the image stabilization, a tripod is not needed. These are light enough to carry around for bird-watching, and comfortable to hold, with the added bonus of the image stabilization reducing the amount of kit you need to take with you. We think with a huge $164 off, you'd be silly not to buy them.

If these are still outside of your price range, take a look at our best binoculars for bird-watching guide, where you'll find plenty of alternatives to choose from.

Key features: Battery powered image stabilization, waterproof, 10x magnification, objective lens diameter 42 mm, eye-relief 16 mm, 2.2 lbs.

Product launched: 2014

Price history: These Canon binoculars normally sell for around $1399. They've previously been as high as $1500. Today's offer from Newegg brings the price down to $1234, which is an absolute steal in comparison.

Price comparison: Amazon: $1399 | Walmart: $1386 | B&H Photo: $1399

Reviews consensus: Rated by us as the best image-stabilized binoculars overall, the Canon 10x42L IS WP binoculars received four stars in our review, thanks to its impressive IS and crystal clear images. The 10x magnification allows for viewing of wildlife while the 42 mm objective lens diameter sees them perform well even in the twilight hours. These binoculars are hard to beat.

Space: ★★★★★ | T3: ★★★★★ | Digital Camera World ★★★★★

Featured in guides: Best image-stabilized binoculars, Best binoculars

✅ Buy it if: You're looking for image stabilization as a must-have.

❌ Don't buy it if: You're new to wildlife spotting. These are premium binoculars and have the price tag to go with them. If you're new to using binoculars, a budget pair may suit you better, such as the Celestron Nature DX 12x56, also featured in our best binoculars for bird-watching.

In the mid-1950s, while investigating a series of mysterious crashes of the de Havilland Comet — the world's first commercial jet airliner — David Warren thought of a solution that would assist with all future airline investigations: a flight recorder. The idea was to have a record of the flight condition, such as the speed and altitude, and a tape that captured the pilot's reaction moments before an accident.

Warren, then a 28-year-old scientist at the Aeronautical Research Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia, believed this tool should be placed in every aircraft. Although the idea didn't take off instantly, his innovation would later become a major milestone in the safety of modern aircraft.

Since then, black boxes have aided in numerous aircraft accident investigations, including for commercial planes and helicopters. But what information do black boxes record?

First, let's start with a primer on what a black box actually is.

Flight recorders come with two separate components: a data recorder and a voice recorder. "The data recorder can oftentimes tell you what happened, but the voice recorders can tell you why it happened," David Esser, an aeronautical scientist at the Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, told Live Science.

Related: Can a commercial airplane do a barrel roll?

The flight data recorder is located at the tail of the aircraft — an area that is most likely to survive a crash. But the voice recorder is placed inside the cockpit to record the pilots' conversation and other sounds that may hint at what went wrong moments before an accident. These recorders are each equipped with beacons that send acoustic signals to make them easier to find during an overwater accident.

Their appearance also makes them easier to locate. Despite their nickname, flight recorders are not actually black boxes. "They're orange — on purpose, so that they stand out clearly in a crash scene," Esser said. The term "black box" was likely borrowed from the field of computing, in which a system has an input and output with an internal mechanism that is often not widely understood by a layperson, Esser said.

These recorders are built to withstand extreme conditions such as high impact, fire and deep-sea pressure, said Abdalla Elazaly, an advanced system engineer at Honeywell, which supplies these recorders to aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus. "Engineers use robust materials like titanium or stainless steel for the casing," Elazaly told Live Science in an email.

However, certain situations could lead the systems to fail. Such scenarios include a total loss of power in the airplane, prolonged exposure to fire or a deep water environment, and high-speed crashes, he said.

What do black boxes record?

Some data recorders can retain at least 88 parameters of a flight operation, including the time, altitude and airspeed continuously for 25 hours, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). In addition, they record more than 1,000 data points inside the aircraft that could help with investigations. For example, it records if and when the smoke alarm was triggered, the airplane flap positions, and when it engaged in autopilot. On the other hand, the cockpit voice recorder picks up sounds such as engine noise, landing gear movements, flicks of the switches, and other alerts inside the cockpit. The recorder is usually connected to an overhead microphone that sits between the two pilots. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires commercial aircraft to have voice recorders with at least 25 hours of nonstop recording capacity.

In the event of an aircraft accident, the flight recorders provide key information that can determine the cause of an accident. Only members of the accident investigation — such as the NTSB, the FAA and other relevant authorities — can access the material.

The process, "is like a crime investigation," Houbing Song, an electrical engineer at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County who helped develop flight recorder systems for the FAA, told Live Science.

Unlike earlier designs that used magnetic tape, information in modern flight recorders is stored in a solid-state memory card, like the ones used in laptops and mobile phones. The first step in the recovery process involves ensuring that the memory card is intact and making a copy of the information, Song said. The investigation could take a month or years to complete, depending on the nature of the accident, he said.

Besides accident investigations, flight recorders provide valuable safety information for airlines during normal operations. Several commercial airlines collaborate with the FAA on a voluntary program, called Flight Operational Quality Assurance, that allows airlines to download part of the flight recorders' data for quality control. For instance, the FAA might check for fuel usage, potential engine issues, or other operational inefficiencies.

"The idea is to identify a trend before it becomes an incident or an accident," Esser said.

Although flight recorders hold valuable information, they can only be accessed post-flight. This limitation could become problematic in cases where the recorders are damaged or cannot be recovered.

Several initiatives are now looking at innovations that allow real-time data transmission from the flight recorders that can help overcome this limitation. "The technology is there now; it's just a question of implementation," Esser said.

Brands are increasingly endeavouring to showcase their eco credentials and this is a trend that applies equally to laptop manufacturers. We are beginning to see recycled materials and environmentally friendly practices more and more in the construction of the best laptops, but Acer has taken this one step further with its Aspire Vero 16 — an environmentally conscious laptop in every sense of the word.

It is "inspired by the resilience of the coastline" in its design and engineering. But what does that mean in real terms and, beyond that, will it perform better than other machines on the market? A quick look at its internal specs might suggest not — but sheer power isn't everything and you may well be in the market for a laptop on the cheaper side with a large screen that can handle basic tasks like watching media.

Acer Aspire Vero 16 review

Acer Aspire Vero 16: Design (250)

This machine's eco credentials are front and center of its design — from the moment you receive the packaging that it arrives in. Unboxing the Aspire Vero 16 is to get a crash course in the impressive lengths Acer has gone to design a machine that looks and feels great. The chassis is constructed from a blend of post-consumer recycled plastics (70%) and an oyster shell bio-based material — it has an unusual feel to the touch and its "Iron" color (with a greenish tint) complements this well.

This cement-inspired facade is certainly much smoother than it looks and gives off a more rustic and warmer feel than the plethora of sophisticated metallic finishes you're likely to encounter. Compared to other laptops that incorporate plastics, Acer has achieved this in a way that doesn't cheapen the machine. Overall, the body is a triumph, given that using it does genuinely feel like you are using something unique. The display, meanwhile, is framed in a thick black border (one of the more unsightly features) which carries through to the color of the keyboard keys and the fingerprint scanner on the touchpad.

Elsewhere we were impressed with how light the Acer Aspire Vero 16 felt compared with how heavy 16-inch laptops can get. At 3.97 pounds (1.8 kilograms) it's much lighter than a number of machines, including the HP OMEN 16 at 5.27 lbs (2.4 kg) and the Dell Inspiron 16 at a maximum of 4.71 lbs (2.14 kg). It's also about average in terms of its dimensions, with a 0.65 inch thickness (1.56 centimeters) reasonable for a laptop with a 16-inch panel.

Acer Aspire Vero 16: Display

The 16-inch IPS panel in the Vero 16 doesn't have any of the bells and whistles you might expect with higher-end laptops, like HDR or a high refresh rate, but it does perform the basics very well. Its maximum resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 is on the lower side but you're immediately hit with a decent amount of brightness when you start the machine up — and you get a pleasingly expansive screen if you're hoping to use it to watch lots of video.

When we tested the screen with a specialized display calibrator, we hit a peak brightness of 365 nits, which is a reasonable score — although it might not be bright enough to use in sunny or bright conditions outdoors, it won't let you down. You will, however, get a brighter screen in a few alternatives like the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (which hit 474 nits) or a MacBook Air (which can reach 500, according to Apple).

Otherwise, its color accuracy ratings were strong, registering 99.8% coverage of the sRGB spectrum — and doing much better than most when it came to photo editing and video editing color tests. Where it falls short is in really hitting the depths of the blacks, with a 0.39 nits black level a little higher than we'd have liked, alongside a slightly low 936:1 contrast ratio, where a good result is over 1,000:1.

Acer Aspire Vero 16: Keyboard and touchpad

Modern keyboards tend to use large key sizes with minimal spacing, and in that sense the keyboard in the Vero Aspire 16 is a bit of a throwback. But once you adapt to the key sizing and spacing it becomes a breeze to rattle off sentences in quick succession. The travel distance is optimal, which combines well with plenty of haptic feedback. There's a lot to be said about how muted the keys are when you're tapping away, too.

We were less keen on the number pad, which could have been ditched in favour of larger and betterspaced keys, as well as the fact the E and R keys are mirrored. These represent the first two letters in "reduce, reuse and recycle" and aim to highlight the laptop's eco-friendly credentials. It's a nice branding touch, but does more to confuse you when you're first using it than it does to remind you of the importance of sustainability.

The touchpad, meanwhile, suffers from a few issues. Firstly, gliding your fingers across its surface can be difficult at times, as there's a rubbery resistance to it. Its off-center positioning also means it can be difficult to reach to click, while dragging does occasionally suffer from responsiveness issues where it doesn't register your inputs. This didn't occur frequently, however, and by and large you'll experience few issues.

Acer Aspire Vero 16: Performance and battery

There's a fine line between "rustic" and "outdated" and while the Aspire Vero 16 achieves the former when it comes to the look and feel of the machine, the hardware is sadly one for the latter category. The Intel Core Ultra 5 125U CPU is underpowered compared to some of the more modern and advanced chipsets today, and that’s on a review unit equipped with 16 GB RAM — the entry-level model, which we would avoid at all costs, has just 8 GB of RAM. Our machine also included just 512 GB of SSD storage.

Although a single-threaded performance score of 2,149 is not considered bad, the laptop struggled on multithreaded tasks, scoring just 9,139 on Geekbench 6. It's not too far off the Intel Core Ultra 7 chip fitted into the HP Spectre x360 (2024), but most Qualcomm CPUs hit between 13,000 and 15,000 in this category. A graphics score of 16,483 is below average but not as poor as it could be. We'd say this laptop can handle basic image editing with Photoshop and some light multi-tasking, but likely not much more without struggling.

Unfortunately, its battery life was pretty poor compared to the average modern laptop — lasting 10 hours and 19 minutes in our looped video playback test. To be fair, however, only a couple of years ago this would have been considered a good result. For the price that you pay, it may not be considered too bad.

Acer Aspire Vero 16: Ports and features

There are plenty of ports in the Acer Aspire Vero 16, which you would expect from a big-screen laptop. There are two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 compatibility (both frustratingly on the same side), one USB-A 3.2 port on the right-hand side of the chassis and another USB-C 3.2 port on the left that supports offline charging. This comes in addition to an HDMI port, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a Kensington Lock slot.

Sadly, there is no SD card slot so you can directly import image files directly from a camera, if you were hoping to use this for any work in this respect. The machine also features LED indicators on the right-hand side to indicate whether it's turned on and charging. As for wireless standards, you get Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 — which aren't the latest, but that’s not surprising considering the machine's price tag.

There are one or two AI-powered features in this device thanks to the 11 TOPS NPU that comes bundled in with the Intel hardware. PurifiedView is a tool that lets you adjust the video your webcam broadcasts, including automatic framing and advanced background blur, while Acer TNR sharpens images that are poorly lit. PurifiedVoice, meanwhile, suppresses unwanted background noise.

Acer Aspire Vero 16: Should I buy it?

For its price, you could do much worse than the Acer Aspire Vero 16 if you're looking for a 16-inch machine that performs well at the most basic level and feels genuinely great to use. Far from being a marketing gimmick, the environmentally-friendly chassis is distinct and comfortable to use, while the keyboard is a pleasure to use for extended periods. We also love how lightweight this machine feels at the side of other similar devices.

While there are plenty of positives, performance is underwhelming and its battery life leaves a lot to be desired. When considering if the Aspire Vero 16 is right for you, price is going to be a huge consideration and, thankfully, it might be available in 2025 for much less than you would have originally had to pay on launch. If you're a student looking for a new laptop without breaking the bank or leaving too heavy a carbon footprint, the Acer Aspire Vero 16 ticks plenty of boxes.

If the Acer Aspire Vero 16 isn’t for you

There's very little out there like the Acer Aspire Vero 16 right now, especially when it comes to eco credentials, and you can also often find this model available at a reasonably discounted rate. But if you are seeking one of the best laptops for students at a similar price, the MacBook Air 15-inch (M2) is worth considering. It costs a little more but you get a fantastically quick laptop with a large, expansive screen.

Adopting the ethos of HP's more work-focused machines in its 2024 lineup was the HP EliteBook Ultra G1q.

This is a Windows 11 AI PC that’s marketed squarely at "enterprise" users, as you may glean from its bumper price tag, but that wouldn't look too out of place in any context that demands reliable performance. Its qualities make it a potentially great laptop for coding and programming — but there are question marks as to whether it will cut the mustard.

Our review model feels entry-level in comparison to more heavyweight models out there — with just 16 GB RAM and a standard IPS screen with a lower resolution than we'd expect. But this machine certainly looks fantastic, thanks to its blue finish, and is one of the thinnest and lightest 14-inch models we've seen in recent months.

HP EliteBook Ultra 14 G1q: Design

The EliteBook Ultra 14 G1q is an elegant machine with a stunning "Atmospheric Blue" finish. This is a welcome departure from the usual greys, silvers and blacks that dominate the space — and is highly reminiscent of the exceptional HP Elite Dragonfly G2. The trackpad and the keys offer some contrast with the finish of the exterior, although the multi-toned pastel keyboard (especially the top row and power button) did feel a little out of place when trying to go for that sophisticated, premium feel.

Otherwise, it's one of HP's best-looking models right now and that’s due not just to its finish but also to its compact dimensions. It's far and away one of the thinnest laptops out there in the 14-inch bracket, with a 0.44-inch (11.2 millimeters) thickness. Unlike its cousin, the HP OmniBook Ultra 14, the EliteBook retains curved edges but that softer look neatly complements its overall elegant aesthetic.

Where there is a tinge of disappointment is in the feel of the chassis and build quality — which is due to the use of recycled aluminum and plastics. This isn't to detract from the overall machine which is also, thanks to the way it's been built, relatively lightweight at 2.98 lbs (1.35 kilograms). Contrast this with the less expensive OmniBook Ultra 14, which weighs 3.46 pounds (1.57 kg). The Acer Swift AI is lighter yet at 2.91 lbs (1.32 kg).

HP EliteBook Ultra 14 G1q: Display

The OLED displays fitted into the previous generation of HP models (including the Spectre x360 and Envy x360) were a highlight of those machines — with a decent brightness and vibrant colors. This leaves a particularly bitter taste when you see how underwhelming the "low power" screen built into this machine is by comparison. By no means is it a terrible display — and it's certainly good enough for most tasks that don't involve intensive graphical work — but its 2,240 x 1,400-pixel resolution is less than we'd want, meaning you don't get the same crispness that you did in HP's previous laptops.

Much like the OmniBook Ultra 14, which used the same panel, we found it was too dim and kept inadvertently tapping the key to increase its brightness even when this was set to 100%. Testing with a display calibrator reinforced our opinions, as we registered a dismal 218 nits. This was about 50 nits dimmer than its OmniBook Ultra cousin and about 150 nits dimmer than the OLED panel fitted into the Spectre and Envy models. Around 350 nits is a good enough result, but we'd really want to be seeing models in the 400-plus territory.

Thankfully, unlike the OmniBook Ultra 14, the actual colors on the screen were far more accurate – with a very strong 99.9% coverage of the sRGB spectrum, alongside 74.6% coverage of the Adobe RGB spectrum (for photo editing) and 83.7% on the DCI P3 spectrum (for video editing). While we'd need to see 90% or higher for a "good" result, this is still much higher than we've seen in plenty of other models. It's just a shame the screen itself is so dim.

HP EliteBook Ultra 14 G1q: Keyboard and touchpad

The keyboard adopts the classic HP layout, with odd sizing of the Enter key and up/down arrow keys (while giving the left/right keys double the space), which is a bit of a learning curve regardless of the model you pick up. But once you move beyond that, you will find a decent keyboard with reasonable spacing and plenty of force feedback. The keys are snappy and responsive; they’re also a little on the shallow side, but good enough to spend a considerable amount of time typing with.

The extra-large touchpad in this model was also highly responsive and smooth when gliding your fingers across its surface. There have been plenty of HP machines in years gone by on which the touchpad was either overly sensitive or not sensitive enough, or too slippery, but the touchpad fitted into the EliteBook seems to have quashed those issues.

HP EliteBook Ultra 14 G1q: Performance and battery

By now you might know what to expect from Arm-based Windows 11 AI PCs fitted with Qualcomm Snapdragon hardware — and if you don't, the answer is zippy performance with a stonking great battery life. Under the hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (12 cores) CPU alongside a Qualcomm Adreno graphics card and a Qualcomm Hexagon (45 TOPS) neural processing unit (NPU). While you aren't going to get the performance of a machine fitted with a high-end AMD or Nvidia graphics card, the EliteBook Ultra 14 G1q performs well enough if you're looking to perform day-to-day tasks or even compile some code.

Our testing with Geekbench 6 rendered near-identical results to other machines fitted with the Qualcomm hardware, which is all the more impressive considering our review model shipped with just 16 GB RAM. This machine registered 2,298 in the single-threaded test and 14,035 in the multithreaded test. These scores are a shade under those we saw in the 32 GB RAM-fitted Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 and the OmniBook Ultra 14, but the EliteBook does outperform the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 and Microsoft Surface Pro 11. A graphics score of 20,464 is also a strong result in our OpenCL test, when compared with all the aforementioned devices. But the gains are marginal.

Where the EliteBook truly shines is its phenomenal 26 hours and 45 minutes battery life — double what we would have considered a "good" result. It's an almost unbelievable result but a testament to how efficiently this laptop runs, and perhaps a positive trade-off with its "low power" display.

HP EliteBook Ultra G1q: Ports and features

With the EliteBook Ultra G1q, you are limited to a handful of ports that will serve you well in most instances — including two USB-C ports and USB-A port alongside a 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack. You would perhaps not expect much more in a laptop so thin — even the USB-A port is accessible only thanks to a flap that you must pull down before plugging in your peripherals. But it's a shame this machine doesn't come with a few more options, such as an SD Card reader. We'd also have preferred a USB-C port on either side.

The wireless standards are also a little lower than we'd have expected — with the EliteBook compatible with Wi-Fi 6E (not Wi-Fi 7) and Bluetooth 5.3. This lack of futureproofing is a little short sighted, given the OmniBook Ultra 14 does support Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 and costs a little less, too.

The AI features, meanwhile, come mostly in the form of the HP AI Companion app. This is like an onboard chatbot that you can use to manage your system, however the uses are still fairly limited. But we did find the Poly Camera Pro feature helps to improve your image quality while you're on a video call. It's just a shame the camera itself is just 5 MP as opposed to the 9 MP that's becoming more prevalent in high-end laptops.

HP OmniBook Ultra 14: Should I buy it?

The HP EliteBook Ultra 14 G1q does so many things right but also fails to clear some basic hurdles. We really enjoyed using it thanks to its compactness and lightweight feel, not to mention how stylish it looks. But there are compromises you need to make if you do want to invest in a machine that, quite frankly, is a little overpriced.

You can bank on solid and reliable performance and a staggeringly long battery life that bests pretty much anything else we have seen. But you absolutely cannot bank on its screen to dazzle you in a way that other laptops will. That said, there is nothing inherently "offputting" about it beyond the poor brightness levels. It's absolutely fine for indoor use but we wouldn't recommend taking it outdoors or in bright, sunny weather.

If the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 isn’t for you

If you're looking to pick up a similar laptop that's available for a lot less, we'd consider the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 — it has the same panel as the EliteBook but is a tad brighter and performs much better. Better yet, it's available for a few hundred dollars less.

We would also consider taking a look at the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 — another Arm-based Qualcomm machine that has comparable performance but an incredibly bright and crisp display.

Dell's line of high-end XPS laptops has undergone a significant makeover in the last few years, starting with the Dell XPS 13 Plus and now extending to the entire portfolio. Although Dell has now moved on, there's still plenty of appeal in the Dell XPS 13 9345 (2024), the last machine before we begin to see the streamlined "Dell, Dell Pro and Dell Pro Max" machines.

Our review configuration included high-end Qualcomm hardware fitted into an exquisitely engineered chassis, with an expansive keyboard and edgeless touchpad. As with all XPS machines, the bezels encasing the display are razor-thin, although we'll be rigorously testing the standard IPS FHD+ display to establish whether this base configuration is worth the investment — or if it might be worth upgrading to the OLED edition.

Dell XPS 13 9345 (2024) review

Dell XPS 13 9345 (2024): Design

The XPS 13 9345 (2024) retains the minimalist design of its predecessor, the XPS 13 Plus, with a high build quality thanks to the machined aluminum its chassis is constructed from. It's an exceptional and artful-looking machine, but has proven divisive due to a few features that set it apart from the crowd.

These include the lack of a defined touchpad and buttons (these are hidden beneath an exquisite glass-coated palm rest) as well as a completely gapless keyboard with a light bar row for the function keys. Both the function keys and edgeless touchpad use haptic feedback, rather than mechanical buttons, to register inputs — which fits in with the overall minimalist design. As ever, the display looks fantastic thanks to the typical narrow bezels you would expect in an XPS machine.

Although the graphite color is perhaps more in line with previous editions, we absolutely adored the clean and crisp Platinum look our review configuration was draped in. The overall look and feel neatly complement its portability and weight. At 2.72 pounds (1.24 kilograms), the FHD+ edition of the XPS 13 is fantastically light, but it's also worth mentioning that the OLED version is a shade lighter.

Similarly, its dimensions are extremely compact and make it incredibly easy to fit into your bag so you can take it on the move. However, it's worth noting its thickness is split evenly between the keyboard and screen segments, which means its 0.63-inch (15.95 millimeters) thickness isn't much greater than you might otherwise find — it just means there's only a tiny bit of space beside the keyboard for USB-C ports.

Dell XPS 9345 (2024): Display

The 13.4-inch IPS display fitted into our review configuration of the XPS 13 is its weakest feature by some distance. The 1,920 x 1,200-pixel resolution is on the lower side — rendering a pixel-per-inch ratio of just 169 — and we were unable to access the advertised refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, instead settling for an option to toggle a "variable refresh rate" on or off. While we were unable to test the OLED version of this laptop, both users and reviews by other publications have praised the quality of that display. This base configuration, however, is underwhelming in every respect.

Testing with a display calibrator showed the laptop's peak brightness is 366 nits — about in line with many options out there, but still some way off the advertised 500 nits Dell claimed this configuration could hit. Its colors, too, seemed far too oversaturated in the green space, with blues and reds underrepresented. Variation is normal and it's usually quite subtle, although it was noticeable even without the use of a calibrator. This weakness extends to coverage of the various color gamuts we keep an eye out for. Coverage of the sRGB gamut was 87.4%, a terrible result by today's standards, with many laptop displays comfortably hitting 98% or higher without much of a problem. It was a similar story for the Adobe and DCI P3 gamuts, which measure suitability for photo and video editing respectively. While you never tend to get high results in either category, these were the lowest we've seen from any machine we tested in the last 12 months.

Where we saw more impressive scores were in a very high 1,622:1 contrast level and suitably low 0.23-nits black level. Although a Delta-E color distortion reading of 0.28 on average and 1.02 maximum is excellent, it's almost negated by the poor color gamut coverage results. As such, the FHD+ version of the Dell XPS 13 is not really suitable for any image-based work.

Dell XPS 9345 (2024): Keyboard and touchpad

The flush, edge-to-edge keyboard in the XPS 13 looks incredible — but using it is a different story. The expansive key sizing and lack of any spacing between them makes logical sense (giving you more space to land your keystrokes) and it makes for a striking and stylish design choice. But it can be awkward typing with the thing, especially given the incredibly short travel distance each key has. There's also plenty of snap but not much haptic feedback — leaving touch-typing feeling a bit empty. Speaking of which, there is zero haptic feedback when you use any of the buttons on the light bar.

The borderless touchpad, integrated beneath the glass coating of the palm rest, also takes some getting used to. You might need to guesstimate where the area actually is at first (it's usually where you would expect it to be) but after that, gliding your finger across its surface to move the cursor is exceptionally smooth. Using the left and right-click functions, primarily based on haptic feedback, does leave a little to be desired. You do feel the clicking sensation, but we'd prefer much more force. And, positioning-wise, we often found ourselves having to reach further to the left than is comfortable to left-click.

Dell XPS 9345 (2024): Performance and battery

The XPS 13 is packed with high-end Qualcomm hardware including the Snapdragon X Elite (12-core) CPU, which is bundled with a Qualcomm Adreno graphics card and Hexagon NPU. This premium core was complemented in our review model with just 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. Overall, it performs as speedily as you would expect from a machine with this hardware — although it’s slightly underwhelming on multitask performance when you rack it up against machines with the exact same specs.

Although we hit a single-threaded score of 2,467 using Geekbench 6 — the highest we have seen so far in a machine fitted with Qualcomm hardware — it scored 13,133 in the multi-threaded performance test. This falls within the typical range, but is among the slowest in the bracket. Ramping up the amount of RAM might help, but it's worth noting the likes of the HP EliteBook Ultra 14 G1q, which also used 16 GB RAM, scored 14,035 in this test.

Its graphics performance was, however, on the higher end, scoring 20,467 — a near identical result with the HP machine we just cited. It's as good as you'll get with this Snapdragon hardware, with average scores normally just under 20,000. For anything more intense than basic image or video editing, however, we'd recommend a machine with a dedicated GPU. These tend to score beyond 30,000 in this test.

The Dell XPS 13's battery life, however, was phenomenal, lasting 27 hours and 39 minutes in our battery test. It's the longest-lasting of all the laptops we tested in 2024 and so far in 2025 — and an absolutely fantastic result for anybody hoping to work on the move.

Dell XPS 9345 (2024): Ports and features

Connectivity options are near-barren in the XPS 13, with just two USB-C ports available — although you do at least get one on either side of the machine. There isn't even room for a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a staple in most other machines. It's just as well, then, that the quad-speaker array is broadly impressive across mids and higher tones. The bass isn't quite thumping, but does punch above its weight when you consider how crammed the speakers are in a chassis as sleek as this. We'd recommend carrying a dock if you plan on frequently working with images directly from a camera.

The laptop otherwise features a 1080p camera fitted into the bezel above the screen, which is compatible with Windows Hello, as well as a fingerprint reader fitted into its power button. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 compatibility and Bluetooth 5.4 are also nice ticks to have, meaning you know the device is future-proofed to take advantage of the more advanced features in these wireless protocols.

Dell XPS 9345 (2024): Should I buy it?

We wanted to love the XPS 13 given how elegant and sleek it looks. The device is exquisitely engineered in terms of its physical appearance — but that doesn't mean it's a practical machine.

The invisible touchpad causes a couple of issues, while typing can be hit or miss, given the short travel distance in its keys. While its performance is great and battery life is phenomenal, the FHD+ panel in our review configuration performed too poorly for us to recommend it, especially if you're going to do anything visual. While it's just about bright enough, it lacks sharpness and the colors are askew.

We'd go so far as to recommend avoiding this model altogether unless you're opting for the higher-resolution options — which users report as being far more enjoyable to use.

If the Dell XPS 9345 (2024) isn’t for you

There are plenty of high-end Snapdragon alternatives you can opt for if you're looking for a premium and punchy laptop. The HP EliteBook Ultra 14 G1q suffers from low brightness but has much better color accuracy and performs slightly better while retaining a 26-hour-plus battery life.

If you don't mind taking a slight hit on battery life — albeit 17-hours-plus is still more than reasonable — we also loved the Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th Edition). You'll enjoy the brighter, crisper and more vibrant display alongside its top performance levels and excellent keyboard.

For thousands of years, if you wanted to send a secret message, there was basically one way to do it. You'd scramble the message using a special rule, known only to you and your intended audience. This rule acted like the key to a lock. If you had the key, you could unscramble the message; otherwise, you'd need to pick the lock. Some locks are so effective they can never be picked, even with infinite time and resources. But even those schemes suffer from the same Achilles' heel that plagues all such encryption systems: How do you get that key into the right hands, while keeping it out of the wrong ones?

The counterintuitive solution, known as public key cryptography, relies not on keeping a key secret, but rather on making it widely available. The trick is to also use a second key that you never share with anyone, even the person you're communicating with. It's only by using this combination of two keys — one public, one private — that someone can both scramble and unscramble a message.

To understand how this works, it's easier to think of the "keys" not as objects that fit into a lock, but as two complementary ingredients in an invisible ink. The first ingredient makes messages disappear, and the second makes them reappear. If a spy named Boris wants to send his counterpart Natasha a secret message, he writes a message and then uses the first ingredient to render it invisible on the page. (This is easy for him to do: Natasha has published an easy and well-known formula for disappearing ink.) When Natasha receives the paper in the mail, she applies the second ingredient that makes Boris' message reappear.

Related: Quantum computers will be a dream come true for hackers, risking everything from military secrets to bank information. Can we stop them?

In this scheme, anyone can make messages invisible, but only Natasha can make them visible again. And because she never shares the formula for the second ingredient with anyone — not even Boris — she can be sure the message hasn't been deciphered along the way. When Boris wants to receive secret messages, he simply adopts the same procedure: He publishes an easy recipe for making messages disappear (that Natasha or anyone else can use), while keeping another one just for himself that makes them reappear.

In public key cryptography, the "public" and "private" keys work just like the first and second ingredients in this special invisible ink: One encrypts messages, the other decrypts them. But instead of using chemicals, public key cryptography uses mathematical puzzles called trapdoor functions. These functions are easy to compute in one direction and extremely difficult to reverse. But they also contain "trapdoors," pieces of information that, if known, make the functions trivially easy to compute in both directions.

One common trapdoor function involves multiplying two large prime numbers, an easy operation to perform. But reversing it — that is, starting with the product and finding each prime factor — is computationally impractical. To make a public key, start with two large prime numbers. These are your trapdoors. Multiply the two numbers together, then perform some additional mathematical operations. This public key can now encrypt messages. To decrypt them, you'll need the corresponding private key, which contains the prime factors — the necessary trapdoors. With those numbers, it's easy to decrypt the message. Keep those two prime factors secret, and the message will stay secret.

The foundations for public key cryptography were first discovered between 1970 and 1974 by British mathematicians working for the U.K. Government Communications Headquarters, the same government agency that cracked the Nazi Enigma code during World War II. Their work (which remained classified until 1997) was shared with the U.S. National Security Agency, but due to limited and expensive computing capacity, neither government implemented the system. In 1976, the American researchers Whitfield Diffie and Martin Hellman discovered the first publicly known public key cryptography scheme, influenced by the cryptographer Ralph Merkle. Just a year later, the RSA algorithm, named after its inventors Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir and Leonard Adleman, established a practical way to use public key cryptography. It's still in wide use today, a fundamental building block of the modern internet, enabling everything from shopping to web-based email.

This two-key system also makes possible "digital signatures" — mathematical proof that a message was generated by the holder of a private key. This works because private keys can be used to encrypt messages too, not just decrypt them. Of course, this is useless for keeping messages secret: If you used your private key to scramble a message, anyone could just use the corresponding public key to unscramble it. But it does prove that you, and only you, created the message, since as the holder of the private key, only you could have encrypted the message. Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin couldn't exist without this idea.

If two cryptographic keys instead of one is so effective, why did it take millennia to discover? According to Russell Impagliazzo, a computer scientist and cryptography theorist at the University of California, San Diego, the concept of a trapdoor function just wasn't useful enough before the invention of computers.

"It's a matter of technology," he said. "A person in the 19th century thought of encryption as being between individual agents with military intelligence in the field — literally, in a field with guns firing. So if your first step is 'pick two 100-digit prime numbers to multiply together,' the battle is going to be over before you do that." If you reduce the problem to something a human can do quickly, it's not going to be terribly secure.

Original story reprinted with permission from Quanta Magazine, an editorially independent publication supported by the SimonsFoundation.

The Acer Swift Go 14 is a more stripped-back version of the manufacturer's flagship Acer Swift AI model, although at first glance there is little separating the two machines. They are both made from a basic aluminum chassis and adopt similar physical quirks, like the notch to house the webcam and a keyboard fitted into an angular groove on the chassis. The look of this machine isn't anything to write home about, but aesthetic impressions — especially at this price point — don't speak to how much you can get out of a laptop.

With middle-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon hardware, we'll be judging whether the Acer Swift Go 14 AI can perform well enough to consider, when you can also grab a MacBook for around the same price.

Acer has also made a big deal of the AI features in this machine, and has even stamped some custom branding onto the touchpad that lights up when you're tapping into the power of its NPU — but are they really worth the effort the laptop maker has gone into (literally) highlighting this?

Acer Swift Go 14 review

Acer Swift Go 14 AI: Design (250)

We're immediately struck by the larger size and bulkier shape of the Acer Swift Go 14 AI; you may be forgiven for thinking the use of "Go" in the branding suggests it's a machine that's suitable for use on the move. Broadly, it is.

The 14.5-inch laptop weighs 2.91 pounds (1.32 kilograms), which is lighter than plenty of comparable machines that are in the same ballpark — including the 14-inch HP OmniBook Ultra 14, which weighs 3.46 lbs (1.57 kg) and the 15-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, which weighs 3.67 lbs (1.66 kg). You'd be hard-pressed to find something lighter.

Its 0.65-inch (16.6 millimeters) height is about average — so it's not especially more compact than others, but its design does make it look far bulkier than it actually is. This may be a problem, if looks are important. Similarly, its gray aluminum chassis feels uninspired, while the slightly cheaper feel of its chassis does speak to the fact it's a mid-range machine.

There are also plenty of design quirks that seem to fit the overall design well — and others that raise eyebrows. A raised notch houses the webcam, which does look odd but functionally helps you to open its lid when it's shut. The keyboard is also raised on a slight incline when you open the lid, allowing for a better angle when typing. This does, however, make the laptop again seem a little bulkier than it really is.

Acer Swift Go 14 AI: Display

For a mid-range laptop, the 14.5-inch IPS LCD display is a mixed bag — it's decent overall for most basic uses, such as typing or web browsing, with a crisp 2,560 x 1,600-pixel resolution (resulting in a good pixel-per-inch rating of 208.2). The aspect ratio of 16:10 also gives you a little more vertical screen space than is standard — useful for scrolling and working with any graphics-based tasks. But the display is, sadly, a little dim compared with other options out there, and it also seems oddly overexposed to the naked eye. We were very impressed with the 120 Hz refresh rate (double the historic standard), however, which is a feature we were surprised to see included.

Our concerns over its brightness were borne out in testing with a display calibrator, with the Acer Swift Go 14 AI registering a peak brightness of 273 nits — a below-average result. You can compare this with the Acer Aspire Vero 16, which hit 365 nits, or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, which reached 474 nits. This machine does, however, edge the HP OmniBook Ultra 14's 263 nits brightness.

Overall, this means the laptop is fine for use inside, but we wouldn’t recommend using it in extremely well-lit or sunny conditions outdoors. The overall quality of its colors is also decent, registering a 99.8% coverage of the sRGB spectrum, as well as scoring a Delta-E measure (which speaks to how distorted colors are, with a good result generally falling at under 3-6) of 0.1 on average and 1.64 maximum. This is excellent, considering it's a mid-range machine. A black level of 0.23 nits, meanwhile, coupled with a 1,036:1 contrast ratio is a decent result for a non-OLED panel.

Acer Swift Go 14 AI: Keyboard and touchpad

The keyboard is fairly basic — with smaller keys than you might expect in plenty of other models and spacing that does feel a little cramped. It's perfectly usable once you get used to this, but there isn't much joy in typing due to the short travel distance of each key and the lack of much haptic feedback.

The touchpad, meanwhile, is sized well and feels incredibly smooth when moving the cursor with your fingers. Clicking is also well implemented — with a subtle amount of feedback and a decent noise when you do use it. However, the presence of the distracting light-up AI design in the top-right corner does feel like a gimmick and makes things feel a little cluttered.

Acer Swift Go 14 AI: Performance and battery

The Acer Swift Go 14 AI is fitted with Qualcomm's mid-tier eight-core X Plus CPU alongside the same Adreno GPU and 45-TOPS Hexagon NPU you will find in all Arm-based laptops in the current generation. This comes alongside an entry-level 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD for storage. Overall, it's exactly what you would expect to get for a machine priced the way it is, and this was borne out by its benchmarking scores when we put it through its paces.

The machine registered an admirable 2,364 on single-threaded benchmarking with Geekbench 6, which is actually in line with the highest scores we've seen. However, the performance levels do drop when putting the laptop through its paces in complex workloads and any multitasking — with the Acer scoring 11,044. It's about in line with the first generation of Intel Core Ultra 7 processors, but doesn't hit the 13,000 to 15,000 range we'd expect from a high-end Arm-based laptop. Its graphics performance of 10,075 is also sub-par — so we wouldn't recommend using this for intensive image-based work.

What's also notable is how much noise the machine makes when you ramp up the pressure. Unlike many of the sleeker ultrabooks you're likely to encounter, the Swift Go 14 AI can often kick its fans on unprompted.

This machine's saving grace is its healthy battery life of 17 hours and 51 minutes. We've come to expect excellent battery life in light of the NPUs fitted into Qualcomm-powered laptops, and the Acer Swift Go 14 AI is no exception. While not quite reaching the dizzying heights of the Dell XPS 13 9345, which hit 27 hours and 39 minutes, it's much better than average and a great plus point if you need a machine to rely on when you're out and about.

Acer Swift Go 14 AI: Ports and features

There are two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports in the Acer Swift Go (including one that supports offline charging), alongside a 3.5 mm headphone jack. There are also two LED indicators that light up when the laptop is switched on and when it is charging. The machine does lack a few more ports that you might expect given its size, including an HDMI port and an SD card reader, which is increasingly a rarity these days. However, the wireless connectivity standards are completely up-to-date, with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 compatibility built-in.

Considering how much emphasis Acer has put into the "AI" aspect of this machine — even going so far as to creating a dedicated light-up indicator on the touchpad — there isn't an awful lot that sets the machine apart from the AI crowd. It includes the standard AI features you get with Windows 11, including video call configuration, Cocreator in Paint, Recall and, of course, Copilot. Beyond that, Acer has incorporated a handful of tools that can suppress background noise on video calls and perform some more fine-tuning to the quality of your webcam image.

Acer Swift Go 14 AI: Should I buy it?

There's plenty about this machine that represents great value for money. The display, for example, is a particular highlight thanks to a 120 Hz refresh rate and crisp resolution. We'd also note the long battery life, which is an especially key selling point. That said, there are other less satisfactory aspects, including the overall look of the Swift Go 14 AI, and the performance — which is middling, but exactly what you'd expect to pay for a laptop like this.

Overall, if you're looking for something that's a little larger than most 13- and 14-inch models for video playback or even to use while traveling, this laptop won't let you down. It's only when you begin to throw more intensive tasks at it that it may be worth considering something with a bit more firepower to its name.

If the Acer Swift Go 14 AI isn’t for you

We like the look of the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, which features the same chipset and is available for roughly the same price. It's a little smaller in terms of its screen size, but also looks much better and has similar dimensions. The downside is that you'll only get 512 GB SSD storage, but you may see this is a worthy trade-off for something that's a little easier on the eye and is designed more intuitively.

Otherwise, it's hard to see beyond a MacBook Air — you can probably get an older model like the 13-inch M2 version for a little over $1,000 (or under during sales events) and you're still benefiting from great performance levels and an outstanding screen.

Right now, just in time for the partial solar eclipse on March 29, 2025, Amazon is offering 55% off a ten-pack of Medical King Solar Glasses. Viewing with the best solar eclipse glasses is one of the most cost-effective and safest ways to view the eclipse or for general sungazing.

Buy the ten-pack of certified and approved Medical King Solar Eclipse Glasses for just $8.99 at Amazon.

It’s vitally important that you keep your eyes safe when viewing a solar eclipse, and that you never look at the sun without adequate protection. These Medical King glasses are CE and ISO certified for direct sun viewing. The American Astronomical Society (AAS) also approves the manufacturer on its list of suppliers of safe solar viewers and filters.

The partial solar eclipse is fast approaching, so now is the best time to buy, so they'll arrive in time to view the event. This reduced ten-pack for $8.99 means you can watch the solar spectacle with your children as they’ve also been designed to fit everyone. There are two crease lines on each side to accommodate wide and narrow faces, meaning they can be worn by adults, teens and younger children alike.

They also double up as a smartphone filter so should you wish to view and take images via your smartphone camera preventing damage to the image sensor.

Key features: Solar safe filter technology protects eyes from IR, UV, and 99.99% of visible light, CE and ISO certified.

Price history: They have been priced as high as $19.99 on Amazon and $21.99 at Medical King. With the 55% discount, it's the cheapest the Medical King solar eclipse glasses have ever been.

Price comparison: Amazon: $8.99 | Medical King: $17.99

Reviews consensus: Amazon reviewers have been overwhelmingly positive about these glasses and the Medical King Solar Glasses score of 4.6 out of 5 from almost 7,000 ratings, with 77% of reviewers giving them top marks.

✅ Buy it if: You want to safely enjoy the partial solar eclipse without breaking the bank.

❌ Don't buy it if: You want something slightly more substantial that will last, we'd suggest the Celestron EclipSmart 10x25 Solar Binoculars with 58% off at Amazon. These are a great pair of solar viewing-specific binoculars.

Check out our other guides to the best air purifiers, air purifiers for allergies, the best telescopes, microscopes for students, binoculars, rowing machines, electric toothbrushes and more.

What if you could listen to music or a podcast without headphones or earbuds and without disturbing anyone around you? Or have a private conversation in public without other people hearing you?

Our newly published research introduces a way to create audible enclaves — localized pockets of sound that are isolated from their surroundings. In other words, we've developed a technology that could create sound exactly where it needs to be.

The ability to send sound that becomes audible only at a specific location could transform entertainment, communication and spatial audio experiences.

What is sound?

Sound is a vibration that travels through air as a wave. These waves are created when an object moves back and forth, compressing and decompressing air molecules.

The frequency of these vibrations is what determines pitch. Low frequencies correspond to deep sounds, like a bass drum; high frequencies correspond to sharp sounds, like a whistle.

Controlling where sound goes is difficult because of a phenomenon called diffraction — the tendency of sound waves to spread out as they travel. This effect is particularly strong for low-frequency sounds because of their longer wavelengths, making it nearly impossible to keep sound confined to a specific area.

Certain audio technologies, such as parametric array loudspeakers, can create focused sound beams aimed in a specific direction. However, these technologies will still emit sound that is audible along its entire path as it travels through space.

The science of audible enclaves

We found a new way to send sound to one specific listener: through self-bending ultrasound beams and a concept called nonlinear acoustics.

Ultrasound refers to sound waves with frequencies above the human hearing range, or above 20 kHz. These waves travel through the air like normal sound waves but are inaudible to people. Because ultrasound can penetrate through many materials and interact with objects in unique ways, it's widely used for medical imaging and many industrial applications.

In our work, we used ultrasound as a carrier for audible sound. It can transport sound through space silently — becoming audible only when desired. How did we do this?

Normally, sound waves combine linearly, meaning they just proportionally add up into a bigger wave. However, when sound waves are intense enough, they can interact nonlinearly, generating new frequencies that were not present before.

This is the key to our technique: We use two ultrasound beams at different frequencies that are completely silent on their own. But when they intersect in space, nonlinear effects cause them to generate a new sound wave at an audible frequency that would be heard only in that specific region.

Related: These noise-canceling headphones can filter specific sounds on command, thanks to deep learning

Crucially, we designed ultrasonic beams that can bend on their own. Normally, sound waves travel in straight lines unless something blocks or reflects them. However, by using acoustic metasurfaces — specialized materials that manipulate sound waves — we can shape ultrasound beams to bend as they travel. Similar to how an optical lens bends light, acoustic metasurfaces change the shape of the path of sound waves. By precisely controlling the phase of the ultrasound waves, we create curved sound paths that can navigate around obstacles and meet at a specific target location.

The key phenomenon at play is what's called difference frequency generation. When two ultrasonic beams of slightly different frequencies, such as 40 kHz and 39.5 kHz, overlap, they create a new sound wave at the difference between their frequencies — in this case 0.5 kHz, or 500 Hz, which is well within the human hearing range. Sound can be heard only where the beams cross. Outside of that intersection, the ultrasound waves remain silent.

This means you can deliver audio to a specific location or person without disturbing other people as the sound travels.

Advancing sound control

The ability to create audio enclaves has many potential applications.

Audio enclaves could enable personalized audio in public spaces. For example, museums could provide different audio guides to visitors without headphones, and libraries could allow students to study with audio lessons without disturbing others.

In a car, passengers could listen to music without distracting the driver from hearing navigation instructions. Offices and military settings could also benefit from localized speech zones for confidential conversations. Audio enclaves could also be adapted to cancel out noise in designated areas, creating quiet zones to improve focus in workplaces or reduce noise pollution in cities.

This isn't something that's going to be on the shelf in the immediate future. For instance, challenges remain for our technology. Nonlinear distortion can affect sound quality. And power efficiency is another issue — converting ultrasound to audible sound requires high-intensity fields that can be energy intensive to generate.

Despite these hurdles, audio enclaves present a fundamental shift in sound control. By redefining how sound interacts with space, we open up new possibilities for immersive, efficient and personalized audio experiences.

This edited article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Ran out of cool stuff to watch? Do not worry, you do not have to peruse your streaming services with frustration or fork out hundreds of dollars on movie rentals — we have a deal that will satisfy your curious mind AND save you some of your hard-earned money. Until March 30, you can get four months of Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus for just $2.99, saving you a massive 72%. The last time we saw such a huge discount was during the Black Friday sale last year and we do not expect it to reappear anytime soon, so take advantage of this excellent deal while it lasts.

Get four months of Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus for just $2.99. But hurry, this deal expires on March 30!

Whether you want to marvel at the world-class nature documentaries from Disney Nature and National Geographic, take the edge of a stressful day with a good-old 90s sitcom, or cheer on your favorite sports team, this excellent streaming bundle has something for everyone.

We are big fans of Disney Nature and National Geographic here at Live Science. These guys make some of the most captivating and thought-provoking documentaries on a range of topics close to our hearts, from animal rescue and the natural environment to the disastrous effects of climate change on our planet. It is a real treat for all the science enthusiasts out there, no matter if you are a PhD student or a curious toddler. And if you have somehow managed to exhaust Disney Plus' huge library of science content, you are still left with hours and hours of Star Wars, Marvel movies and other binge-worthy sci-fi series.

Hulu has plenty to offer for sci-fi fans too. From the gripping "Alien" and "The X-Files" franchises to more tongue-in-cheek "Rick and Morty" and "Futurama," there are heaps of entertainment waiting for you there. And if you would rather have a good laugh at something more grounded in reality, you can always tune into "The Schitts Creek", "Scrubs" and other light-hearted TV shows.

ESPN Plus is perhaps the least science-oriented platform in the bundle, but life is not always about the serious stuff, is it? This is one of the best streaming services for elite-level sports and cheering on your favorite athletes. A perfect respite from the day-to-day woes and a great motivation to kickstart your fitness journey — we assure you you will not be disappointed!

Key features: Ad-supported access to Disney Plus, Hulu and ESPN Plus.

Price history: This bundle typically costs $10.99 a month, and the last time we saw such a huge saving was during the Black Friday sale last year.

✅ Buy it if: You want to watch world-class nature documentaries and heaps of science content on demand.

❌ Don't buy it if: You are already subscribed to Disney Plus as you will not be eligible for this deal.

Check out our other guides to the best air purifiers, air purifiers for allergies, the best telescopes, microscopes for students, astrophotography cameras, binoculars, rowing machines, electric toothbrushes and more.

Right now, at Amazon, you can grab the Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm case) with a brilliant $100 reduction off the RRP of $429. The $329 price tag is the lowest we've ever seen since its launch in September last year, and amazingly smashes the Black Friday 2024 price by $30.

Buy the Apple Watch Series 10 for just $329 at Amazon.

This brilliant Amazon Apple Watch deal is also available at Walmart and Best Buy should you prefer to do your shopping elsewhere.

Although we've yet to review the Apple Watch Series 10 here at Live Science, we have loved previous iterations of the world’s bestselling smartwatch like the Apple Watch Series 8, and our colleagues over at TechRadar gave the Series 10 top marks.

The Series 10 builds on a decade of success and is now thinner than ever. This 46mm version features the largest and most advanced display to date and includes enhanced health tools, such as sleep apnea notifications. Additionally, it offers faster charging, as well as water depth and temperature sensing. However, the battery life remains consistent at a claimed 18 hours.

The Series 10 boasts numerous features that were previously introduced with the Apple Watch, along with many new highlights — like the Double Tap functionality, various accessibility-focused hand gestures, and the addition of a QWERTY keyboard for texting. Other noteworthy features are a noise app that alerts you to excessive sound exposure, advanced metrics for running and biking, a bedtime mode with sleep tracking, a low-power battery mode, and much more.

These deals are US-only, but below are the best Apple Watch Series 10 deals in your location.

Key features: watchOS 11, a bigger display with up to 30 percent more screen area and advanced health metrics.

Product launched: September 2024.

Price history: This is the cheapest we've ever seen on the Series 10 Apple Watch, and this 46mm deal beats the Black Friday Series 10 Apple Watch price by $30.

Price comparison: The Series 10 is currently selling for $329 at Walmart and Best Buy.

Reviews consensus: Launched in September 2024, the Series 10 is the best Apple watch to date. It's more comfortable and has an expansive new display which you can see better at all angles. The watchOS 11 experience, improved health metrics, and faster charging are some of the standout features. However, it's the current lowest price ever, which makes it outstanding value and the Apple watch to meet the needs of most people.

Tom's Guide: ★★★★½ | TechRadar: ★★★★

✅ Buy it if: You want a stunning new display, a thinner build and a more comfortable watch.

❌ Don't buy it if: You're hoping for improved battery life, it's still the same 18 hours from Series 9. Check out the Apple Ultra 2, which has the best battery performance in the Apple watch range.

Check out our other guides to the best air purifiers, air purifiers for allergies, the best telescopes, microscopes for students, binoculars, rowing machines, electric toothbrushes and more.

HP has revamped its portfolio and the OmniBook Ultra 14 is, according to the company, the most powerful Windows-powered AI PC out there. We can see why, given the high-end AMD hardware packed into a compact chassis, alongside 32 GB RAM and a 1 TB SSD. There's also a 50-TOPS NPU for good measure — meaning we expect a very long battery life.

This machine looks like a step up in every way from the machines that preceded it — including the HP Envy x360 and the HP Spectre x360. But will the lack of an OLED display be a cause for concern?

LCDs do tend to be brighter, but will we miss the crisp colors and inky blacks? We were excited to find out — given that the HP OmniBook Ultra 14, on paper at least, has everything you could need in a laptop for coders that doesn't break the bank.

HP OmniBook Ultra 14 review

HP OmniBook Ultra 14: Design

If the HP Spectre x360 and the HP Envy x360 had a child, you would end up with something that looks and feels like the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 — but not necessarily in a good way.

Much like the Spectre x360, the OmniBook Ultra features angular shaved-off corners rather than rounded ones, which gives this machine an edge — enabling it to stand apart from the crowd somewhat. They also serve a purpose, with the right-hand corner featuring a USB-C port. Unlike the Spectre x360, though, the left-hand corner is empty — and neither is accented with a different color to show contrast.

Its coating, meanwhile, is the same bland, grayish Silver Meteor finish we encountered on the Envy x360. Although the multi-toned keyboard offers a degree of playfulness, with the top row keys much lighter alongside a pastel blue power button, you realize there's no real coherence in these color choices.

The chassis, too, feels well-built and robust but not quite as premium as you'd want — with the same recycled aluminum material used in the Envy x360. This is fine, but doesn't quite feel as nice as the HP EliteBook Ultra 14 G1q, which is also clad in recycled aluminum.

Where the OmniBook disappoints is its 3.46 pounds (1.57 kg) weight. This renders it as hefty as a MacBook Pro, and much heavier than similar machines. We note that the Spectre and Envy models weigh in at 3.09 lbs (1.44 kg) and 3.06 (1.39 kg) respectively, while the HP EliteBook is a shade lighter at 2.98 lbs (1.57 kg). An alternative Qualcomm-powered machine, the Acer Swift 14 AI, is lighter still at 2.91 lbs (1.32 kg).

The OmniBook’s dimensions are also not as compact as the EliteBook — which is much thinner at 0.44 inches (11.2 millimeters) versus the OmniBook Ultra's 0.65 in (16.4 mm)

HP OmniBook Ultra 14: Display

The display fitted into the OmniBook Ultra is a bland and dim IPS HDR panel that is a real step down for HP laptops. Although OLED displays are vastly preferable, there are plenty of great non-OLED options out there, including the Liquid Retina XDR displays in MacBooks. or the stunningly vibrant display that Microsoft has used in its latest Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models. The OmniBook Ultra's 2,240 x 1,400-pixel resolution panel, by contrast, doesn't offer the same sharpness, nor the brightness you'd want from a machine that's so good in every other department.

While it isn't actively bad, testing proved what we suspected when we first started using it — it just isn't bright enough. I found myself tapping F4 to raise the brightness every now and then because I assumed it wasn't at maximum brightness.

When we tested it with a display calibrator, we registered a brightness of 263 nits. That’s about 100 nits dimmer than the last generation of HP machines with OLED screens — or even its cousin, the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14, a 2-in-1 machine that’s available with an up-to-3K resolution. For reference, we also registered a brightness of 474 nits from the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7. #

The display's colors were also disappointing — with 94.8% coverage of the sRGB spectrum a poor result by today's standards. No other machine we tested in the last year dipped below 98%. A black level of 0.39 nits, meanwhile, is on the high side — and a 779:1 contrast ratio points to the fact you really shouldn't use this display for any image-critical work.

While using it for coding is absolutely fine, and you likely wouldn't notice these issues unless you were working outdoors, they do represent a black mark on an otherwise fantastic model.

HP OmniBook Ultra14: Keyboard and touchpad

The pastel-hued keyboard in the OmniBook Ultra 14 was highly responsive and offered plenty of force feedback. There are also a number of useful shortcuts among its function keys, such as tapping F1 to switch external display input, F11 to quick-launch an app or F12 to take a screenshot. But while it was comfortable to type with at first, touch typing for any length of time began to wear me down. The travel distance of each key felt far too short, while the resistance was a little too high, and my fingers began to feel the strain over prolonged use.

HP has never really been able to absolutely nail its touchpads — there always seem to be minor responsiveness issues, but the OmniBook Ultra 14's touchpad was pretty much perfect. It's well-sized and there is plenty of room for the left-click and right-click buttons. The surface, however, is on the smoother side — as if it's been buffed down — so you may encounter some minor trouble if you're clicking and dragging windows.

HP OmniBook Ultra 14: Performance and battery

Performance is where the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 really shines, thanks to the high-end AMD hardware powering this device. Its AMD Ryzen AI 9 CPU comes with a mid-range AMD Radeon 880M Graphics chip and an integrated 50-TOPS NPU. It's one of the best-performing Windows machines you can pick up at this price point — and we confirmed as much in our benchmarking with Geekbench 6.

Thanks to the AMD hardware under the hood, the HP OmniBook Ultra 14 achieved a high single-threaded score of 2,810 and a multi-tasking score of 14,153. While the latter score is about what you would expect from the upper end of Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered laptops, the single-threaded score is considerably faster. For example, the HP EliteBook Ultra 14 G1q hit 2,298 and 14,035 in the same test.

When we put this GPU through its paces in the OpenGL benchmark, we recorded a score of 33,349 — which is just a few thousand points shy of the Apple M4 chip's 37,508, and a tad less than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 fitted into the HP Omen 16 (35,981). Most Snapdragon Windows laptops normally score between 18,000 and 21,000, while the Intel Arc Graphics chip fitted into the HP Spectre x360 14 hit 24,993 in our testing. This means you can absolutely rely on the OmniBook to handle any compiling or AI workloads that demand the use of a decent GPU.

The 1 TB SSD also hit read speeds of 7,163 MB/s, and write speeds of 6,502 MB/s. That makes it one of the fastest built-in SSDs we tested, so it’s a fantastic option for massive data transfers including any media files. A battery life of 16 hours and 14 minutes is also a huge tick — while a few hours shy of the 22 hours that HP claims this laptop can last, you can get plenty of usage between charges.

HP OmniBook Ultra 14: Ports and features