Month: February 2023
The best Chromebooks you can buy in 2023
Choosing the best Chromebook for your needs and your budget can be hard to do given the multitude of models on the market today. The combination of years worth of software updates and laptop manufacturers making more powerful and better-built laptops means there are a ton of good Chrome OS machines that work well as everyday drivers. But there are some special factors to Chromebooks that you should keep in mind before choosing one. We’ll help you figure out what is the best Chromebook for you, from the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i to the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 and in between.
What is Chrome OS, and why would I use it over Windows?
That’s probably the number one question about Chromebooks. There are plenty of inexpensive Windows laptops on the market, so why bother with Chrome OS? Glad you asked. For me, the simple and clean nature of Chrome OS is a big selling point. If you didn’t know, it’s based on Google’s Chrome browser, which means most of the programs you can run are web based. There’s no bloatware or unwanted apps to uninstall like you often get on Windows laptops, it boots up in seconds, and you can completely reset to factory settings almost as quickly.
Of course, the simplicity is also a major drawback for some users. Not being able to install native software can be a dealbreaker if you’re, say, a video editor or software developer. But there are also plenty of people who do the vast majority of their work in a browser. Unless I need to edit photos for a review, I can do my entire job on a Chromebook.
Google has also added support for Android apps on Chromebooks, which greatly expands the amount of software available. The quality varies widely, but it means you can do more with a Chromebook beyond just web-based apps. For example, you can install the Netflix app and save videos for offline watching; other Android apps like Microsoft Office and Adobe Lightroom are surprisingly capable. Between Android apps and a general improvement in web apps, Chromebooks are more than just a browser.
What do Chromebooks do well?
Nathan Ingraham / EngadgetPut simply, anything web based. Browsing, streaming music and video and using various social media sites are among the most common daily tasks people do on Chromebooks. As you might expect, they also work well with Google services like Photos, Docs, Gmail, Drive, Keep and so on. Yes, any computer that can run Chrome can do that too, but the lightweight nature of Google Chrome OS makes it a responsive and stable platform.
As I mentioned before, Chrome OS can run Android apps, so if you’re an Android user you’ll find some nice ties between the platforms. You can get most of the same apps that are on your phone on a Chromebook and keep info in sync between them. You can also use some Android phones as a security key for your Chromebook or instantly tether your laptop to use mobile data.
Google continues to tout security as a major differentiator for Chromebooks, and I think it’s definitely a factor worth considering. The first line of defense is auto-updates. Chrome OS updates download quickly in the background and a fast reboot is all it takes to install the latest version. Google says that each webpage and app on a Chromebook runs in its own sandbox, as well, so any security threats are contained to that individual app. Finally, Chrome OS has a self-check called Verified Boot that runs every time a device starts up. Beyond all this, the simple fact that you generally can’t install traditional apps on a Chromebook means there are a lot fewer ways for bad actors to access the system.
As for when to avoid them, the answer is simple: If you rely heavily on a specific native application for Windows or a Mac, chances are you won’t find the exact same option on a Chromebook. That’s most true in fields like photo and video editing, but it can also be the case in law or finance. Plenty of businesses run on Google’s G suite software, but more still have specific requirements that a Chromebook might not match. If you’re an iPhone user, you’ll also miss out on the way the iPhone easily integrates with an iPad or Mac. For me, the big downside is not being able to access iMessage on a Chromebook.
Finally, gaming is mostly a non-starter, as there are no native Chrome OS games of note. You can install Android games from the Google Play Store, but that’s not what most people are thinking of when they want to game on a laptop. That said, Google’s game-streaming service Stadia has changed that long-standing problem. The service isn’t perfect, but it remains the only way to play recent, high-profile games on a Chromebook. It’s not as good as running local games on a Windows computer, but the lag issues that can crop up reflect mostly on Stadia itself and not Chrome OS.
There’s also a potential change on the horizon in that regard, as Valve and Google are working to bring the massive Steam catalog to Chromebooks. Right now, Steam is only available as an early alpha on a handful of devices with higher specs, but it works a lot better than I expected. Of course, you’re still not going to run the most demanding games on basic laptops, but the Steam catalog is so vast that there are plenty of titles that worked on the Chromebook I tested it with. Maybe by next year, Steam will be supported on more devices.
What are the most important specs for a Chromebook?
Nathan Ingraham / EngadgetChrome OS is lightweight and usually runs well on fairly modest hardware, so the most important thing to look for might not be processor power or storage space. That said, I’d still recommend you get a Chromebook with a relatively recent Intel processor, ideally an eighth-generation or newer M3 or i3. Most non-Intel Chromebooks I’ve tried haven’t had terribly strong performance, but that’s starting to change. Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet 2-in-1 from 2021 runs surprisingly well on its MediaTek processor.
As for RAM, 8GB should be the target, unless you’re looking for a budget model and know that your needs are fairly modest. Storage space is another place where you don’t need to spend too much; 64GB should be fine for almost anyone. If you plan on storing a lot of files locally or loading up your Chromebook with Linux or Android apps, get 128GB. But for what it’s worth, I’ve never felt like I might run out of storage when using Chrome OS.
Things like the keyboard and display quality are arguably more important than sheer specs. The good news is that you can find less expensive Chromebooks that still have pretty good screens and keyboards that you won’t mind typing on all day. Many cheap Chromebooks still come with tiny, low-resolution displays, but at this point there’s no reason to settle for anything less than 1080p. (If you’re looking for an extremely portable, 11-inch Chromebook, though, you’ll probably end up with a lesser screen.) Obviously, keyboard quality is a bit more subjective, but there are plenty of affordable options that offer strong typing experiences.
Google has an Auto Update policy for Chromebooks, and while that’s not a spec, per se, it’s worth checking before you buy. Basically, Chromebooks get regular software updates automatically for about six years from their release date (though that can vary from device to device). This support page lists the Auto Update expiration date for virtually every Chromebook ever, but a good rule of thumb is to buy the newest machine you can to maximize your support.
How much should I spend?
Chromebooks started out notoriously cheap, with list prices often coming in under $300. But as they’ve gone more mainstream, they’ve transitioned from being essentially modern netbooks to the kind of laptop you’ll want to use all day. As such, prices have increased a bit over the last few years. At this point, you should expect to spend at least $400 if you want a solid daily driver. There are still many budget options out there that may be suitable as couch machines or secondary devices, but Chromebooks that can be an all-day, every-day laptop will cost a bit more.
There are also plenty of premium Chromebooks that approach or even exceed $1,000, but I don’t recommend spending that much. Generally, that’ll get you a better design with more premium materials, as well as more powerful internals and extra storage space. Of course, you also sometimes pay for the brand name. But, the specs I outlined earlier are usually enough.
Right now, there actually aren’t too many Chromebooks that cost that much. The Google Pixelbook Go comes in $999 and $1,399 configurations, but the more affordable $650 and $850 options will be just as good for nearly everyone. Samsung released the $1,000 Galaxy Chromebook in 2020; this luxury device does almost everything right but has terrible battery life. Samsung quickly learned from that mistake and is now offering the Galaxy Chromebook 2 with more modest specs, but vastly better battery life at a more affordable price . For the most part, you don’t need to spend more than $850 to get a premium Chromebook that’ll last you years.
Best overall: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i
Lenovo has been making some of the best Chromebooks you can buy for several years now and, more recently, it has once again made the best option for most people. The IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook is essentially an upgraded version of the model we recommended last year, and there are a few notable improvements. The 13.3-inch, 1080p touchscreen is extremely bright and fairly sharp; I wish it had a taller aspect ratio than 16:9, but this type of screen is very commonplace in Chromebooks. This Lenovo Chromebook runs on a 11th-generation Intel Core i3 processor and includes 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage; both of those are double what last year’s model offered. Eight hours of battery life is pretty good for a laptop in this price range, and the backlit keyboard is excellent for such an affordable device. The key caps feel a little small under my fingers, but that’s the only real complaint I have.
The Lenovo Flex 5i is no longer available directly from Lenovo, but you can commonly find it on Amazon for about $400 (as of this writing, it is selling for $409; when I bought it, it was priced at $390). That’s an outstanding value.
Other things in the Flex 5i’s favor include that it has both USB-C and USB-A ports, a microSD card slot and a security lock. At three pounds and 0.66 inches thick, it’s not the lightest or slimmest option out there, but it’s totally reasonable considering the price. Finally, the Flex 5i will receive software and security updates until June of 2029, so you can buy this computer and have it covered for years to come.
Ultimately, the Ideapad Flex 5i hits the sweet spot for a large majority of Chromebook buyers out there, providing a level of quality and performance that’s pretty rare to find at this price point. That said, given this laptop has been out for over a year now, we’re keeping an eye out for a replacement from Lenovo, as well as comparable options other manufacturers release.
One to look out for is Lenovo’s Chromebook 5i, which the company recently released. Right now, it’s only available with an Intel Pentium Gold processor and 4GB of RAM; in my testing, that wasn’t enough power by modern standards. The device froze up far too often, and the IdeaPad Flex 5i with its i3 processor was clearly faster at everything I tried. But Lenovo says it’ll offer the Chromebook 5i with up to an Intel i5 processor, which should make the laptop worth checking out.
Upgrade option: Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2
Last year, Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook 2 was one of my recommendations for people looking for a more premium Chromebook. Now that Samsung often sells the device for $550, it’s an excellent all-purpose recommendation if you want something more svelte and stylish than Lenovo’s IdeaPad Flex 5i.
The Galaxy Chromebook 2 is infinitely more stylish than most other Chromebooks, with a bright metallic red finish and sleek design. This Samsung Chromebook 2 fixes some of the serious flaws we identified in the original Galaxy Chromebook. Specifically, the 2020 Galaxy Chromebook had terrible battery life and cost $999; this year’s model can be found for $550 and can last seven hours off the charger. That’s not great, but it’s far better than the lousy four hours the original offered.
Samsung cut a few corners to lower the Galaxy Chromebook 2’s price. Most noticeable is the 1080p 13.3-inch touchscreen, down from the 4K panel on the older model. The good news is that the display is among the best 1080p laptop screens I’ve seen in a long time, and the lower resolution helps the battery life, too. Along with that excellent screen, the device also has a very comfortable keyboard, though I wish the trackpad was a little bigger. The Galaxy Chromebook 2 is also a bit thicker and heavier than its predecessor, but it’s still reasonably compact. At 13.9mm thick and 2.7 pounds, it’s noticeably smaller than the Lenovo.
The Galaxy Chromebook 2 has a 10th-generation Intel Core i3 processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which is plenty. This all adds up to a laptop that isn’t as ambitious as the first Galaxy Chromebook, but one that is much easier to recommend. Instead of pushing to have the best screen in the thinnest and lightest body with a faster processor, Samsung pulled everything back a bit to make a better-priced but still premium Chromebook laptop. Given that the Galaxy Chromebook 2 is well over a year old now, I wouldn’t recommend spending $700 on it – but if you can catch it on sale for $550 (as it is right now), it’s a solid option.
Premium option: Acer Chromebook Spin 714
Acer’s Chromebook Spin 714 is an evolution of the Spin 713 that I recommended last year. Acer made a few tweaks to the formula, but you’re still getting a well-built, powerful laptop that won’t turn any heads with its design but gets the job done well.
I loved the display on the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, and unfortunately the one on the Spin 714 isn’t quite as exciting. It’s a 14-inch, 1900×1200 touchscreen; that works out to a taller 16:10 aspect ratio than you’ll get from the 1080p panels on most other premium Chromebooks. I’m a big fan of taller laptop screens – but the Spin 713 had a 13.5-inch screen that had an even taller 3:2 aspect ratio and a higher resolution. I can’t help but wonder if Acer found that people still prefer a widescreen display. If that’s the case, the Spin 714’s display is a nice middle ground.
Putting aside these comparisons to last year’s model, the Acer Spin 714’s screen is still very nice – it can get uncomfortably bright if that’s your thing, and the bezels are thin. It’s not nearly as pixel-dense as the Spin 713, but it’s still plenty sharp. Between the extra vertical height and the slightly larger screen size, the Spin 714’s display is a pleasure to use.
As for the rest of the hardware, the 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor is more than enough power for most everyday tasks, and the keyboard and trackpad are solid, if not the best I’ve used before. The same can be said for battery life: I got about seven hours using the Spin 714 in my normal daily routine – not exceptional, but in line with what I’ve seen on other Chromebooks with an i5 processor. Rounding out the hardware is 8GB of RAM and a generous 256GB of storage space. From a support perspective, Google will offer software and security updates until June of 2030.
Another bonus is that its hardware meets Google’s recommended specs to run Steam, though the alpha build is still limited to seven devices. So while it’s not officially supported yet, Steam will hopefully work on this laptop once Google and Valve start rolling it out more widely.
Just as the name suggests, the Spin 714 has a 360-degree hinge which lets you use the laptop in tablet mode. I’m not particularly a fan of this convertible design – I don’t know who wants to use a 3-plus pound tablet, but Acer did include a built-in stylus for handwriting notes or drawing in apps like the built-in Chrome Canvas.
The Spin 714 configuration I tested costs $730 – that’s a lot of money for even a high-end Chromebook. But it’s not an unreasonable price for a computer with these specs and built quality. For most people, the Lenovo will be enough. But, if you’re a serious multitasker, want a better display and keyboard, or just want a computer that’ll last as long as possible, the Acer Spin 714 is easy to recommend.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-chromebooks-160054646.html?src=rss
Choosing the best Chromebook for your needs and your budget can be hard to do given the multitude of models on the market today. The combination of years worth of software updates and laptop manufacturers making more powerful and better-built laptops means there are a ton of good Chrome OS machines that work well as everyday drivers. But there are some special factors to Chromebooks that you should keep in mind before choosing one. We’ll help you figure out what is the best Chromebook for you, from the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i to the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 and in between.
What is Chrome OS, and why would I use it over Windows?
That’s probably the number one question about Chromebooks. There are plenty of inexpensive Windows laptops on the market, so why bother with Chrome OS? Glad you asked. For me, the simple and clean nature of Chrome OS is a big selling point. If you didn’t know, it’s based on Google’s Chrome browser, which means most of the programs you can run are web based. There’s no bloatware or unwanted apps to uninstall like you often get on Windows laptops, it boots up in seconds, and you can completely reset to factory settings almost as quickly.
Of course, the simplicity is also a major drawback for some users. Not being able to install native software can be a dealbreaker if you’re, say, a video editor or software developer. But there are also plenty of people who do the vast majority of their work in a browser. Unless I need to edit photos for a review, I can do my entire job on a Chromebook.
Google has also added support for Android apps on Chromebooks, which greatly expands the amount of software available. The quality varies widely, but it means you can do more with a Chromebook beyond just web-based apps. For example, you can install the Netflix app and save videos for offline watching; other Android apps like Microsoft Office and Adobe Lightroom are surprisingly capable. Between Android apps and a general improvement in web apps, Chromebooks are more than just a browser.
What do Chromebooks do well?
Put simply, anything web based. Browsing, streaming music and video and using various social media sites are among the most common daily tasks people do on Chromebooks. As you might expect, they also work well with Google services like Photos, Docs, Gmail, Drive, Keep and so on. Yes, any computer that can run Chrome can do that too, but the lightweight nature of Google Chrome OS makes it a responsive and stable platform.
As I mentioned before, Chrome OS can run Android apps, so if you’re an Android user you’ll find some nice ties between the platforms. You can get most of the same apps that are on your phone on a Chromebook and keep info in sync between them. You can also use some Android phones as a security key for your Chromebook or instantly tether your laptop to use mobile data.
Google continues to tout security as a major differentiator for Chromebooks, and I think it’s definitely a factor worth considering. The first line of defense is auto-updates. Chrome OS updates download quickly in the background and a fast reboot is all it takes to install the latest version. Google says that each webpage and app on a Chromebook runs in its own sandbox, as well, so any security threats are contained to that individual app. Finally, Chrome OS has a self-check called Verified Boot that runs every time a device starts up. Beyond all this, the simple fact that you generally can’t install traditional apps on a Chromebook means there are a lot fewer ways for bad actors to access the system.
As for when to avoid them, the answer is simple: If you rely heavily on a specific native application for Windows or a Mac, chances are you won’t find the exact same option on a Chromebook. That’s most true in fields like photo and video editing, but it can also be the case in law or finance. Plenty of businesses run on Google’s G suite software, but more still have specific requirements that a Chromebook might not match. If you’re an iPhone user, you’ll also miss out on the way the iPhone easily integrates with an iPad or Mac. For me, the big downside is not being able to access iMessage on a Chromebook.
Finally, gaming is mostly a non-starter, as there are no native Chrome OS games of note. You can install Android games from the Google Play Store, but that’s not what most people are thinking of when they want to game on a laptop. That said, Google’s game-streaming service Stadia has changed that long-standing problem. The service isn’t perfect, but it remains the only way to play recent, high-profile games on a Chromebook. It’s not as good as running local games on a Windows computer, but the lag issues that can crop up reflect mostly on Stadia itself and not Chrome OS.
There’s also a potential change on the horizon in that regard, as Valve and Google are working to bring the massive Steam catalog to Chromebooks. Right now, Steam is only available as an early alpha on a handful of devices with higher specs, but it works a lot better than I expected. Of course, you’re still not going to run the most demanding games on basic laptops, but the Steam catalog is so vast that there are plenty of titles that worked on the Chromebook I tested it with. Maybe by next year, Steam will be supported on more devices.
What are the most important specs for a Chromebook?
Chrome OS is lightweight and usually runs well on fairly modest hardware, so the most important thing to look for might not be processor power or storage space. That said, I’d still recommend you get a Chromebook with a relatively recent Intel processor, ideally an eighth-generation or newer M3 or i3. Most non-Intel Chromebooks I’ve tried haven’t had terribly strong performance, but that’s starting to change. Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet 2-in-1 from 2021 runs surprisingly well on its MediaTek processor.
As for RAM, 8GB should be the target, unless you’re looking for a budget model and know that your needs are fairly modest. Storage space is another place where you don’t need to spend too much; 64GB should be fine for almost anyone. If you plan on storing a lot of files locally or loading up your Chromebook with Linux or Android apps, get 128GB. But for what it’s worth, I’ve never felt like I might run out of storage when using Chrome OS.
Things like the keyboard and display quality are arguably more important than sheer specs. The good news is that you can find less expensive Chromebooks that still have pretty good screens and keyboards that you won’t mind typing on all day. Many cheap Chromebooks still come with tiny, low-resolution displays, but at this point there’s no reason to settle for anything less than 1080p. (If you’re looking for an extremely portable, 11-inch Chromebook, though, you’ll probably end up with a lesser screen.) Obviously, keyboard quality is a bit more subjective, but there are plenty of affordable options that offer strong typing experiences.
Google has an Auto Update policy for Chromebooks, and while that’s not a spec, per se, it’s worth checking before you buy. Basically, Chromebooks get regular software updates automatically for about six years from their release date (though that can vary from device to device). This support page lists the Auto Update expiration date for virtually every Chromebook ever, but a good rule of thumb is to buy the newest machine you can to maximize your support.
How much should I spend?
Chromebooks started out notoriously cheap, with list prices often coming in under $300. But as they’ve gone more mainstream, they’ve transitioned from being essentially modern netbooks to the kind of laptop you’ll want to use all day. As such, prices have increased a bit over the last few years. At this point, you should expect to spend at least $400 if you want a solid daily driver. There are still many budget options out there that may be suitable as couch machines or secondary devices, but Chromebooks that can be an all-day, every-day laptop will cost a bit more.
There are also plenty of premium Chromebooks that approach or even exceed $1,000, but I don’t recommend spending that much. Generally, that’ll get you a better design with more premium materials, as well as more powerful internals and extra storage space. Of course, you also sometimes pay for the brand name. But, the specs I outlined earlier are usually enough.
Right now, there actually aren’t too many Chromebooks that cost that much. The Google Pixelbook Go comes in $999 and $1,399 configurations, but the more affordable $650 and $850 options will be just as good for nearly everyone. Samsung released the $1,000 Galaxy Chromebook in 2020; this luxury device does almost everything right but has terrible battery life. Samsung quickly learned from that mistake and is now offering the Galaxy Chromebook 2 with more modest specs, but vastly better battery life at a more affordable price . For the most part, you don’t need to spend more than $850 to get a premium Chromebook that’ll last you years.
Best overall: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i
Lenovo has been making some of the best Chromebooks you can buy for several years now and, more recently, it has once again made the best option for most people. The IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook is essentially an upgraded version of the model we recommended last year, and there are a few notable improvements. The 13.3-inch, 1080p touchscreen is extremely bright and fairly sharp; I wish it had a taller aspect ratio than 16:9, but this type of screen is very commonplace in Chromebooks. This Lenovo Chromebook runs on a 11th-generation Intel Core i3 processor and includes 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage; both of those are double what last year’s model offered. Eight hours of battery life is pretty good for a laptop in this price range, and the backlit keyboard is excellent for such an affordable device. The key caps feel a little small under my fingers, but that’s the only real complaint I have.
The Lenovo Flex 5i is no longer available directly from Lenovo, but you can commonly find it on Amazon for about $400 (as of this writing, it is selling for $409; when I bought it, it was priced at $390). That’s an outstanding value.
Other things in the Flex 5i’s favor include that it has both USB-C and USB-A ports, a microSD card slot and a security lock. At three pounds and 0.66 inches thick, it’s not the lightest or slimmest option out there, but it’s totally reasonable considering the price. Finally, the Flex 5i will receive software and security updates until June of 2029, so you can buy this computer and have it covered for years to come.
Ultimately, the Ideapad Flex 5i hits the sweet spot for a large majority of Chromebook buyers out there, providing a level of quality and performance that’s pretty rare to find at this price point. That said, given this laptop has been out for over a year now, we’re keeping an eye out for a replacement from Lenovo, as well as comparable options other manufacturers release.
One to look out for is Lenovo’s Chromebook 5i, which the company recently released. Right now, it’s only available with an Intel Pentium Gold processor and 4GB of RAM; in my testing, that wasn’t enough power by modern standards. The device froze up far too often, and the IdeaPad Flex 5i with its i3 processor was clearly faster at everything I tried. But Lenovo says it’ll offer the Chromebook 5i with up to an Intel i5 processor, which should make the laptop worth checking out.
Upgrade option: Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2
Last year, Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook 2 was one of my recommendations for people looking for a more premium Chromebook. Now that Samsung often sells the device for $550, it’s an excellent all-purpose recommendation if you want something more svelte and stylish than Lenovo’s IdeaPad Flex 5i.
The Galaxy Chromebook 2 is infinitely more stylish than most other Chromebooks, with a bright metallic red finish and sleek design. This Samsung Chromebook 2 fixes some of the serious flaws we identified in the original Galaxy Chromebook. Specifically, the 2020 Galaxy Chromebook had terrible battery life and cost $999; this year’s model can be found for $550 and can last seven hours off the charger. That’s not great, but it’s far better than the lousy four hours the original offered.
Samsung cut a few corners to lower the Galaxy Chromebook 2’s price. Most noticeable is the 1080p 13.3-inch touchscreen, down from the 4K panel on the older model. The good news is that the display is among the best 1080p laptop screens I’ve seen in a long time, and the lower resolution helps the battery life, too. Along with that excellent screen, the device also has a very comfortable keyboard, though I wish the trackpad was a little bigger. The Galaxy Chromebook 2 is also a bit thicker and heavier than its predecessor, but it’s still reasonably compact. At 13.9mm thick and 2.7 pounds, it’s noticeably smaller than the Lenovo.
The Galaxy Chromebook 2 has a 10th-generation Intel Core i3 processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which is plenty. This all adds up to a laptop that isn’t as ambitious as the first Galaxy Chromebook, but one that is much easier to recommend. Instead of pushing to have the best screen in the thinnest and lightest body with a faster processor, Samsung pulled everything back a bit to make a better-priced but still premium Chromebook laptop. Given that the Galaxy Chromebook 2 is well over a year old now, I wouldn’t recommend spending $700 on it – but if you can catch it on sale for $550 (as it is right now), it’s a solid option.
Premium option: Acer Chromebook Spin 714
Acer’s Chromebook Spin 714 is an evolution of the Spin 713 that I recommended last year. Acer made a few tweaks to the formula, but you’re still getting a well-built, powerful laptop that won’t turn any heads with its design but gets the job done well.
I loved the display on the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, and unfortunately the one on the Spin 714 isn’t quite as exciting. It’s a 14-inch, 1900×1200 touchscreen; that works out to a taller 16:10 aspect ratio than you’ll get from the 1080p panels on most other premium Chromebooks. I’m a big fan of taller laptop screens – but the Spin 713 had a 13.5-inch screen that had an even taller 3:2 aspect ratio and a higher resolution. I can’t help but wonder if Acer found that people still prefer a widescreen display. If that’s the case, the Spin 714’s display is a nice middle ground.
Putting aside these comparisons to last year’s model, the Acer Spin 714’s screen is still very nice – it can get uncomfortably bright if that’s your thing, and the bezels are thin. It’s not nearly as pixel-dense as the Spin 713, but it’s still plenty sharp. Between the extra vertical height and the slightly larger screen size, the Spin 714’s display is a pleasure to use.
As for the rest of the hardware, the 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor is more than enough power for most everyday tasks, and the keyboard and trackpad are solid, if not the best I’ve used before. The same can be said for battery life: I got about seven hours using the Spin 714 in my normal daily routine – not exceptional, but in line with what I’ve seen on other Chromebooks with an i5 processor. Rounding out the hardware is 8GB of RAM and a generous 256GB of storage space. From a support perspective, Google will offer software and security updates until June of 2030.
Another bonus is that its hardware meets Google’s recommended specs to run Steam, though the alpha build is still limited to seven devices. So while it’s not officially supported yet, Steam will hopefully work on this laptop once Google and Valve start rolling it out more widely.
Just as the name suggests, the Spin 714 has a 360-degree hinge which lets you use the laptop in tablet mode. I’m not particularly a fan of this convertible design – I don’t know who wants to use a 3-plus pound tablet, but Acer did include a built-in stylus for handwriting notes or drawing in apps like the built-in Chrome Canvas.
The Spin 714 configuration I tested costs $730 – that’s a lot of money for even a high-end Chromebook. But it’s not an unreasonable price for a computer with these specs and built quality. For most people, the Lenovo will be enough. But, if you’re a serious multitasker, want a better display and keyboard, or just want a computer that’ll last as long as possible, the Acer Spin 714 is easy to recommend.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-chromebooks-160054646.html?src=rss
Two in-development Meta Quest VR headsets may have just been canceled
Meta has reportedly canceled two VR headsets it was working on, likely what would have been the Quest Pro 2 and Quest 4.
Meta has just canceled two in-development VR headsets if the latest rumors are true.
The social media giant has made a name for itself in the VR world by making some of the world’s best VR headsets – the Oculus Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro. We expect it’ll continue to impress us later this year when the Oculus Quest 3 finally launches, but its launch calendar after that might be looking a little more sparse.
According to The Verge’s Alex Heath in his Command Line weekly newsletter, Meta is believed to have canceled two in-development headsets, known by their codenames as Cardiff and Hermosa (via UploadVR).
As with all rumors, we should take this news with a pinch of salt, but it does make sense. Meta recently announced a new batch of layoffs, and also announced plans to direct more of its efforts into developing AI projects. Its limited resources can only spread so far, so it may have canceled these VR headsets in favor of other VR and non-VR products that it believes will be more worthwhile.
Project Cardiff: the Meta Quest Pro 2?
If Cardiff was due for 2024, the headset it seems most likely to be is the Meta Quest Pro 2. That launch would have happened two years after the release of the original Quest Pro – a launch cycle that would have made sense given the current pace of improvement in VR hardware – and Cardiff is related to the codename of its predecessor, which was Cambria; Cambria is another name for Wales, of which Cardiff is the capital.
The only other option would be the Quest 4, and given that the Quest 3 is due out this year – we’re expecting an announcement in October, with a launch shortly thereafter – a 2024 launch for its follow-up feels way too soon. For context, the gap between the launch of the Quest 2 and the expected Quest 3 launch will be three years.
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Boumen Japet)
So why would Meta cancel the Pro 2?
Well, the current Meta Quest Pro hasn’t been especially well received. In my three-and-a-half-star Meta Quest Pro review, I applauded the headset’s improved performance and comfort over the Quest 2, but found its $1,500 / £1,500 / AU$2,450 price a tough pill to swallow.
The main issue is that the software isn’t quite there to properly utilize Meta Quest Pro’s biggest improvements – color passthrough, eye tracking, and face tracking. So you’re paying a lot for what in real terms is a fairly minor upgrade.
Hopefully, some new software will launch this year, and updates will be released for existing apps (like Horizon Workrooms) that desperately need updating to make the Quest Pro feel like better value for money.
However, by the time a lot of these changes arrive we’ll probably be about a year out from the new headset – and Meta might have begun hyping up the new machine, as it has done with the Quest Pro and Quest 3, a year before their respective launches.
This would not only annoy existing Quest Pro users who may feel their investment was wasted, and that they should have waited for the second-generation model, but it doesn’t give Meta a lot of time to ensure it doesn’t repeat the mistakes of the original Quest Pro with its follow-up, i.e., by not having new software developed to support its upgrades).
So – if the rumor is true – I don’t think this is a full-on cancellation. I do think we’ll see a Meta Quest Pro 2, just not in the way Cardiff would have delivered it in 2024. Instead, the project will likely be delayed a year or two, and Meta will launch a new premium model that feels like a worthwhile investment.
What about Project Hermosa?
Project Hermosa, meanwhile, would most likely have been the working title of what might have been the Meta Quest 4. It likely would have arrived in 2025, which would have given the Quest 3 a solid amount of breathing room; plus, much as with the link between Cambria and Cardiff, Hermosa and Stinson (the Oculus Quest 3’s codename) are both beaches in California, suggesting that these projects are related in some way.
(Image credit: Facebook / Ray-Ban)
Again, as with the rumored Cardiff cancellation, I don’t expect this to be a full-on canning of the Quest 4. Instead, Meta would most likely be rethinking its approach to the headset, and launching different hardware under the same name.
We’ll have to wait and see what Meta announces over the coming years – alongside its headsets it also has AR glasses in development, products that Cardiff or Hermos could also have been. But whatever it has in store, as soon was we learn the details, rumored or otherwise, we’ll bring you that news.
Nvidia’s latest GPU drivers can upscale old blurry YouTube videos
submitted by /u/prehistoric_knight [link] [comments]
submitted by /u/prehistoric_knight
[link] [comments]
Chipmakers receiving US federal funds can’t expand in China for 10 years
Chipmakers must also provide affordable childcare and are barred from stock buybacks.
Chipmakers must agree not to expand capacity in China for a decade if they are to receive money from a $39 billion federal fund designed to build a leading-edge US semiconductor industry, according to new commerce department rules.
The department on Tuesday called for applications for funds from the Chips Act passed by Congress last year, as it launched a landmark industrial policy program designed to counter China.
In announcing the move, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo stressed that the department would be implementing safeguards to ensure the program was not abused.
The Google Pixel 6A is on sale for its best price yet
The Google Pixel 6A remains our favorite phone under $500. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
Want an excellent phone but don’t want to fork out close to $1,000 on the latest and greatest flagships? Depending on your needs, the Google Pixel 6A could be a good alternative. Right now, the unlocked phone is on sale at Amazon in the white colorway with 128GB of storage for $299 ($150 off), matching its lowest price to date.
The 6A, our favorite Android phone for under $500, shares a few features typically reserved for flagship devices, including a 6.1-inch 1080p screen, a good camera array, and stellar performance that’s on par with the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Plus, you can rest easy knowing the phone’s due to receive five years of security updates, making it a good investment you can use for many years to come. You won’t get wireless charging or a fast refresh rate — the 6A maxes out at 60Hz — but you can’t go wrong with the midrange Pixel 6A for the price. Read our review.
For those who care about the latest and greatest tech, you’ll be happy to hear that Apple’s M2 Pro-equipped MacBook Pro has dropped to a new low in the 14-inch configuration. Right now, it’s on sale at B&H Photo with a 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, and 512GB of storage for $1,799 ($200 off), the first sizable discount we’ve seen on the new macOS machine.
The new MacBook Pro is very similar to its lightning-fast predecessor, with the same Mini LED display, port selection, and 1080p webcam. What’s new is Apple’s M2 Pro chip, which can deliver more power and speed than the prior M1 chipset, rendering the laptop a good option for creative professionals or developers who work a lot with apps such as Adobe Photoshop and Xcode. Just note that there are reports the base 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro allegedly has slower storage than its predecessor, though it should still be faster than the 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro.
Shifting from laptops to smart home devices, you can currently buy the third-gen Echo Dot for $19.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. While not an all-time low, that’s a 50 percent discount and the best price we’ve seen on the compact smart speaker so far this year.
The third-gen Echo Dot is a good option if you simply want to add an Alexa-enabled smart speaker to your home for as cheap as possible. Like the newer fifth-gen model, you can use it to control various smart home devices, set timers, get news reports, and perform a range of other Alexa-enabled tasks. While it doesn’t sound as great as the fifth-gen version or work as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender like the more recent models, the puck-shaped device still offers plenty of functionality and surprisingly robust sound for its size, especially at $20. Read our review.
Whether you’d like to speed through your spring cleaning or spoil your cat with their own kitty Uber, today’s deal on iRobot’s Roomba j7 and Roomba j7 Plus can help. Right now, the standard j7 is on sale at Amazon and Wellbots for $399 ($200 off), while the j7 Plus (and its auto-empty dock) is going for $599 ($200 off) at the same retailers (Amazon / Wellbots).
The Roomba j7 is our favorite robot vacuum, one that offers a variety of features that make cleaning faster and more efficient. The robovac features simple operation and scheduling, for instance, and can learn your home’s layout so it only cleans certain areas. It’s also outfitted with AI obstacle avoidance, which means it won’t run into power cables, shoes, or pet waste. If it does end up dragging the latter everywhere in your home within the first year, iRobot will even send you a new one. Combine those features with support for Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, and you have a feature-rich robot vacuum that’s essentially unmatched in its cleaning prowess. Read our Roomba J7 Plus review.
The deals just keep coming
Anker’s Soundcore Liberty 4 are currently on sale for around $129.99 ($20 off) at Amazon and direct from Soundcore (with offer code WS24A3953PED). The noise-canceling earbuds sport a few features not typically on earbuds in this price range, like heart rate tracking and spatial audio support as well as multipoint connectivity. While we have yet to test them, we were fans of both the Liberty Air 2 Pro and Liberty 3 Pro.
If you don’t need noise cancellation, you can still buy Jabra’s Elite 3 — our favorite pair of wireless earbuds for under $100 — for just $59.99 ($20 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The Elite 3 sound terrific and offer impressive perks for the price, like the ability to use either earbud independently and an IP55 water resistance rating. Read our review.
For those who prefer a desktop over a laptop, B&H Photo is selling Apple’s M2-powered Mac Mini for $549 ($50 off) with an eight-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. It’s also on sale with 512GB of storage for $749 ($50 off). The latest Mini is faster than its predecessor and features a wide selection of ports, including an upgraded HDMI 2.0 port. Read our review.
The Google Pixel 6A remains our favorite phone under $500. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
Want an excellent phone but don’t want to fork out close to $1,000 on the latest and greatest flagships? Depending on your needs, the Google Pixel 6A could be a good alternative. Right now, the unlocked phone is on sale at Amazon in the white colorway with 128GB of storage for $299 ($150 off), matching its lowest price to date.
The 6A, our favorite Android phone for under $500, shares a few features typically reserved for flagship devices, including a 6.1-inch 1080p screen, a good camera array, and stellar performance that’s on par with the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Plus, you can rest easy knowing the phone’s due to receive five years of security updates, making it a good investment you can use for many years to come. You won’t get wireless charging or a fast refresh rate — the 6A maxes out at 60Hz — but you can’t go wrong with the midrange Pixel 6A for the price. Read our review.
For those who care about the latest and greatest tech, you’ll be happy to hear that Apple’s M2 Pro-equipped MacBook Pro has dropped to a new low in the 14-inch configuration. Right now, it’s on sale at B&H Photo with a 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, and 512GB of storage for $1,799 ($200 off), the first sizable discount we’ve seen on the new macOS machine.
The new MacBook Pro is very similar to its lightning-fast predecessor, with the same Mini LED display, port selection, and 1080p webcam. What’s new is Apple’s M2 Pro chip, which can deliver more power and speed than the prior M1 chipset, rendering the laptop a good option for creative professionals or developers who work a lot with apps such as Adobe Photoshop and Xcode. Just note that there are reports the base 14-inch M2 MacBook Pro allegedly has slower storage than its predecessor, though it should still be faster than the 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro.
Shifting from laptops to smart home devices, you can currently buy the third-gen Echo Dot for $19.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. While not an all-time low, that’s a 50 percent discount and the best price we’ve seen on the compact smart speaker so far this year.
The third-gen Echo Dot is a good option if you simply want to add an Alexa-enabled smart speaker to your home for as cheap as possible. Like the newer fifth-gen model, you can use it to control various smart home devices, set timers, get news reports, and perform a range of other Alexa-enabled tasks. While it doesn’t sound as great as the fifth-gen version or work as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender like the more recent models, the puck-shaped device still offers plenty of functionality and surprisingly robust sound for its size, especially at $20. Read our review.
Whether you’d like to speed through your spring cleaning or spoil your cat with their own kitty Uber, today’s deal on iRobot’s Roomba j7 and Roomba j7 Plus can help. Right now, the standard j7 is on sale at Amazon and Wellbots for $399 ($200 off), while the j7 Plus (and its auto-empty dock) is going for $599 ($200 off) at the same retailers (Amazon / Wellbots).
The Roomba j7 is our favorite robot vacuum, one that offers a variety of features that make cleaning faster and more efficient. The robovac features simple operation and scheduling, for instance, and can learn your home’s layout so it only cleans certain areas. It’s also outfitted with AI obstacle avoidance, which means it won’t run into power cables, shoes, or pet waste. If it does end up dragging the latter everywhere in your home within the first year, iRobot will even send you a new one. Combine those features with support for Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, and you have a feature-rich robot vacuum that’s essentially unmatched in its cleaning prowess. Read our Roomba J7 Plus review.
The deals just keep coming
Anker’s Soundcore Liberty 4 are currently on sale for around $129.99 ($20 off) at Amazon and direct from Soundcore (with offer code WS24A3953PED). The noise-canceling earbuds sport a few features not typically on earbuds in this price range, like heart rate tracking and spatial audio support as well as multipoint connectivity. While we have yet to test them, we were fans of both the Liberty Air 2 Pro and Liberty 3 Pro.
If you don’t need noise cancellation, you can still buy Jabra’s Elite 3 — our favorite pair of wireless earbuds for under $100 — for just $59.99 ($20 off) at Amazon and Best Buy. The Elite 3 sound terrific and offer impressive perks for the price, like the ability to use either earbud independently and an IP55 water resistance rating. Read our review.
For those who prefer a desktop over a laptop, B&H Photo is selling Apple’s M2-powered Mac Mini for $549 ($50 off) with an eight-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. It’s also on sale with 512GB of storage for $749 ($50 off). The latest Mini is faster than its predecessor and features a wide selection of ports, including an upgraded HDMI 2.0 port. Read our review.
NordVPN apps and servers confirmed as secure by independent auditors
Experts at Cure53 examined both its server infrastructure and app security, garnering a “robust impression” overall.
One of the best VPN services around, NordVPN, has called in an independent cybersecurity firm to test the security of its software.
Experts at Cure53 examined both Nord’s server infrastructure and the security of all its apps, garnering a “robust impression” overall.
These results confirmed, once again, the provider’s eagerness to ensure transparent operations, advanced online security, and reliable users’ privacy.
Not long ago, in fact, Nord also passed its third no-logs audit with flying colors.
Transparency and security at NordVPN’s core
“Dedication to product development and a happy customer always pay off. We continuously improve the overall performance of our service and develop advanced VPN features, giving our users increased online security,” said Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN.
Strong online security is indeed a pivotal feature for a VPN service. Something that the biggest name in the market decided to put under scrutiny.
The third-party auditors conducted a series of white-box penetration tests and source code audits to evaluate NordVPN’s servers, infrastructure as well as its desktop apps (Windows, Linux, macOS) and both Android VPN and iOS VPN apps.
The tests were performed between September/October and July/August 2022, respectively.
The audit on Nord’s servers and infrastructure found a total of eleven issues, among which only one was categorized as a security vulnerability.
Experts were pleased to confirm NordVPN as secure, garnering “a relatively strong impression” overall.
The test on Nord’s VPN applications gained a mixed impression, though, with a total of 22 among some security vulnerabilities and general weakness.
Despite finding a series of areas of improvement, Cure53 confirmed that “the entire client software complex has already made strong progress from a security perspective.”
Even better, many of these issues don’t actually exist anymore or are planned to be fixed soon with upcoming updates.
“Our developers fixed all detected vulnerabilities, and they were approved by Cure53, ensuring that NordVPN implemented all mitigations correctly,” said Briedis.
The full reports are available to review via the user control panel. Alternatively, follow the app security assessment report and infrastructure security assessment report links.
Bing chatbot just got smarter – and it’s about to get different AI personalities
Prepare yourself: Bing chatbot’s AI personalities are about to arrive, and there’ll be three of them initially.
Microsoft has deployed a new version of its Bing chatbot (v96) featuring improvements to make the AI smarter in a couple of key areas – and a big change has been flagged up as imminent, too.
Mikhail Parakhin, who heads up the Advertising and Web Services division at Microsoft, shared this info on Twitter (via MS Power User).
OK, it took longer than we initially expected, but finally Bing Chat v96 is fully in production. Give it a try! Now, onto fully shipping the tri-toggle…February 28, 2023
So, what’s new with v96? Parakhin explains that users of the ChatGPT-powered Bing will now experience a ‘significant’ reduction in the number of times that the AI simply refuses to reply to a query.
There will also be “reduced instances of hallucination in answers” apparently, which is industry lingo meaning that the chatbot will produce fewer mistakes and inaccuracies when responding to users. In short, we should see less misinformation being imparted by the chatbot, and there have been some worrying instances of that occuring recently.
The other major news Parakhin delivers is that the so-called tri-toggle, known more formally as the Bing Chat Mode selector – featuring three settings to switch between different personalities of the AI Bing – is set to go live in the “next couple of days” we’re told.
Analysis: Long and winding road ahead
The ability to switch between a trio of personalities is the big change for the Bing chatbot, and to hear that it’s imminent is exciting stuff for those who have been engaging with the AI thus far.
As detailed previously, the trio of personalities available are labeled as Precise, Balanced, and Creative. The latter is set to provide a chattier experience, and Precise will offer a shorter, more typical ‘search result’ delivery, with Balanced being a middle road between the two. So, if you don’t like how the AI is responding to you, at least there will be choices to alter its behavior.
Various different versions of the Chat Mode selector have been tested, as you would imagine, and the final model has just been picked. This is now undergoing honing before release which should happen later this week as noted, but we’re guessing there’ll be plenty of further fine-tuning to be done post-release.
Certainly if the overall Bing AI experience has been anything to go by, as the whole project is, of course, still in its early stages, and Microsoft is chopping and changing things – sometimes in huge ways – seemingly without much caution.
The current tuning for v96 to ensure Bing doesn’t get confused and simply not reply will help make the AI a more pleasant virtual entity to interact with, and the same will hopefully be true for the ability to switch personalities.
At the very least, the Creative personality should inject some much-needed character back into the chatbot, which is what many folks want – because if the AI behaves pretty much like a search engine, then the project seems a bit dry and frankly in danger of being judged as pointless. After all, the entire drive of this initiative is to make Bing something different rather than just a traditional search experience.
It’s going to be a long road of tweaking for the Bing AI no doubt, and the next step after the personalities go live will likely be to lift that chat limit (which was imposed shortly after launch) to something a bit higher to allow for more prolonged conversations. If not the full-on rambles initially witnessed, the ones that got the chatbot into hot water for the oddities it produced…
This critical WordPress plugin flaw could let hackers hijack your website
Two WordPress plugin flaws discovered and patched, but hackers are still out there abusing them.
Researchers have discovered two high-severity vulnerabilities in a popular WordPress theme and plugin that could allow threat actors to completely take over the affected websites.
Cybersecurity experts from Patchstack uncovered two flaws in a premium add-on used mostly for real-estate websites. The $69 theme is called Houzez, and reportedly has more than 35,000 customers.
The two vulnerabilities are now tracked as CVE-2023-26540 and CVE-2023-26009. Both are rated 9.8 – critical, and both allow for the elevation of privileges, from a remote location – no authentication required.
Used in the wild
To make matters even worse – both are being actively used in the wild.
“The vulnerability in the theme and plugin is currently exploited in the wild and have seen a large number of attacks from the IP address 103.167.93.138 at the time of writing,” Patchstack warned.
The flaws are hardly new, too. Roughly half a year ago, after the researchers first reached out to the theme’s vendor – ThemeForest – a patch for one of the flaws was released, bringing the theme up to version 2.6.4. In November last year, the vendor patched the second flaw as well, bringing Houzez to version 2.7.2.
As usual, users are advised to apply the patch immediately and avoid the risk of being targeted by cybercriminals.
WordPress is the world’s most popular website hosting platform, and as such, is a popular target for hackers. But the platform is generally perceived as secure – it’s the countless themes and add-ons that hackers often manage to exploit.
The themes and add-ons, which can be acquired either directly via WordPress, or through vendor website, offer basically infinite customization options. They are split into free and commercial categories, and while paid options are usually frequently updated and maintained, free versions are sometimes abandoned. That being said, they don’t get the necessary patches on time and provide hackers with ample opportunities to compromise the website, steal its data, redirect visitors elsewhere, and do all other sorts of malicious activities.
Here’s our list of the best endpoint protection tools right now
Via: BleepingComputer