theverge--2020-07-20--The best laptop you can buy

The best laptop you can buy

Welcome to our guide to the best laptops of 2020 .
We live in a world where smartphones are ubiquitous , tablets are commonplace , and even smartwatches are a thing that people talk about on the regular .
But throughout all of these advances , the humble laptop has persevered — and for good reason .
When it comes time to work , whether that 's editing photos , writing a lot of emails , composing documents , or staying in touch with colleagues and family , we ’ re here to help you find the best laptop for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to buy a bad laptop , but what separates the best laptops from good laptops is how they balance power , efficiency , portability , and comfort .
The best laptop should have a fantastic keyboard and trackpad — after all , those are the two biggest reasons you 'd choose a laptop over a smartphone or tablet .
Its display should be easy on the eyes , bright , and sharp enough that you are n't distracted by jagged edges and visible pixels .
It should be powerful enough for most anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gaming .
It should be easy to carry around from place to place , and it should be able to last all day without needing to be plugged in .
That ’ s why our pick for the best laptop of 2020 is the Dell XPS 13 .
It ’ s a device that does just about everything right .
While it ’ s certainly not a perfect device , there are no major flaws .
It ’ s a great pick for productivity , browsing , and even light gaming .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mac users is the MacBook Air ( 2020 ) .
Apple fixed the Air ’ s biggest problem — the keyboard — and upgraded to more modern processors .
Our other picks for the best laptops of 2020 include the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 , the MacBook Pro 16 , and the HP Elite Dragonfly .
Check out the full list of best laptops below .
The Best Laptops in 2020 The best laptop you can buy If you ’ re looking for a laptop that does just about everything right , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It features a sturdy build , 10th Gen Intel processors with powerful integrated graphics , and a nearly bezel-free 16:10 panel .
The display is what you ’ ll likely notice first .
It has a 91.5 percent screen-to-body ratio with a bottom bezel of just 4.6mm .
You can configure the XPS with a 1920 x 1200 pixel or 4K display , but the lower-resolution model should be adequate for anyone who ’ s not doing creative work .
It delivers up to 500 nits of brightness ( plenty for working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and accurate , vivid colors .
It ’ ll also give you significantly better battery life , in addition to the lower cost .
You can customize a number of other specs ; the current base model has a Core i5-1035G1 , 8GB RAM , a 256GB SSD , and a 1920 x 1200 non-touch display .
( There ’ s allegedly a model with a Core i3 and 4GB RAM floating around , but it ’ s not currently listed on Dell ’ s website .
You should avoid it if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this base model to anyone who just wants to browse ; if you plan on gaming or creative work , it ’ s worth upgrading for more storage and RAM .
The latest XPS 13 excels at productivity and even has enough power for light gaming The Ice Lake processor features Intel ’ s new Iris Plus integrated graphics , which delivered exceptional performance for an integrated GPU .
You ’ ll still want a discrete graphics card for serious gaming , but you ’ ll have no problem running lighter fare like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games , it delivers comparable performance to some lower-tier graphics cards , such as Nvidia ’ s MX150 that came in older versions of the Razer Blade Stealth .
When it comes to the other basics , the XPS beats its competition in just about every way .
We got an acceptable seven hours of battery life and even three hours of light gaming .
( League of Legends was playable for about 85 percent of that time . )
The keyboard and touchpad are among the best in their categories as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0.58 inches thick , it ’ s quite portable .
The biggest knock against the XPS 13 is its limited port selection .
With just two Thunderbolt 3 ports , a headphone jack , and a microSD slot , it ’ s getting into MacBook territory ( though it does ship with a USB-C to USB-A dongle ) .
The 720p webcam is also pretty terrible , though , in Dell ’ s defense , it had to squeeze the thing into a 2.25mm top bezel .
These are legitimate concerns that may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But for most users , they won ’ t be as important as the fundamentals : build quality , keyboard , touchpad , display , and performance .
The XPS excels in all of those areas , earning it our top recommendation .
The best laptop for Mac users The 2020 MacBook Air is the best option for most people who prefer the Apple ecosystem .
The Air comes with 10th Gen Intel processors ( though in a lower power variation than the XPS 13 ) , a sharp Retina display , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ configuration ( including a Core i3 , 8GB RAM , and 256GB storage ) comes in under $ 1,000 , but we recommend that you go for , at minimum , the upgraded model with a Core i5 processor .
MacBook keyboards have been almost universally maligned for the past few years .
But the 2020 Air inherited the new-and-improved keyboard from the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro , which brings back the “ inverted T ” arrow layout and keys with 1mm of travel .
There ’ s no Touch Bar , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and most users should be fine with the standard top row and function keys .
It does retain the Touch ID fingerprint scanner for easy logins and payment authentication .
The MacBook Air is the default Apple laptop for most people You can configure the Air with three different Y-series chips , maxing out at a 1.2GHz quad-core Core i7 .
We had no problem with the 1.1GHz Core i5 , though ; it handled Chrome , Slack , Zoom , and Lightroom just fine , and had single-threaded Geekbench scores in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pro .
Where you might run into trouble is with heavy workloads that need to run for long periods of time , such as rendering graphics or exporting video .
We witnessed some thermal throttling in these cases , and clock speeds were capped at less than half of the processor ’ s boost .
That means if you ’ re doing heavy creative work or other tasks that really push the CPU , you ’ re likely to experience slowdown and a very loud fan .
The MacBook Air does have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one is battery life .
We got about five hours using a workflow of Chrome , Slack , Zoom , and Lightroom with the screen on maximum brightness .
You ’ ll probably get more juice if you dim the screen and stick with Apple ’ s apps , but we expect most people will want to keep the brightness high ( it only gets up to 400 nits ) , and third-party programs are necessities for many .
Despite those downsides , though , the MacBook Air will serve as a competent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It has the excellent design , display , performance , and ( finally ) keyboard that we expect from Apple .
Power users who need the Pro probably know who they are ; everyone else should be just fine with the Air .
Needs for laptops can vary widely .
Some people need to do intense video editing and should pony up for a pro machine .
Others just need a reliable keyboard and a few windows , so something less powerful will do .
Some might want a super light laptop that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some will want a portable gaming machine capable of running all of the latest titles .
Others want a tall aspect-ratio screen , which is much more comfortable to use than a cramped 16:9 display if you primarily do your work in Office documents or a web browser .
Below , we ’ ve got recommendations for all of those use cases and more .
There are plenty of great options in the Windows PC world , complete with the latest processors and designs , and Apple ’ s MacBook lineup has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upgraded performance .
The Zephyrus G14 is an astonishingly powerful gaming laptop for a low price ( relative to other notebooks with comparable hardware ) .
It pairs AMD ’ s new Ryzen 9 4900HS with an Nvidia RTX 2060 Max-Q GPU and a 120HZ display , and it can run demanding games at their highest settings without a problem .
It ’ s also quite light for such a powerful laptop , weighing just over 3.5 pounds .
Its battery life is also impressive for a gaming rig ; we got almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t need to be a gamer to appreciate the Zephyrus G14 .
It ’ s also a great notebook for business and everyday multitasking with a unique retro design .
Plus , the keyboard and touchpad are exceptional and quiet enough not to bother officemates .
On the flip side , if you need to use your laptop for videoconferences , the G14 would not be a great choice , as it lacks a webcam .
The 16-inch MacBook Pro is the best Apple laptop for power users .
Apple dealt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historically had about MacBook Pros , and if you can stomach the price , there ’ s not a lot else to complain about .
Most importantly , the keyboard is good again .
The keys have a full millimeter of travel , and while the typing experience isn ’ t exceptional , it ’ s a world away from the maligned butterfly keyboard of MacBooks past .
It ’ s fairly quiet , too .
This MacBook also features the best sound you ’ ll find on a laptop .
Apple has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including two woofers .
The result is balanced audio with audible bass and great stereo separation .
For those who need a laptop that can crank through editing video , working with multiple audio tracks , or processing large batches of photos , the 16-inch MacBook Pro is the king of the hill .
You don ’ t need to spend $ 1,000 to get a laptop that looks and feels premium .
The HP Envy x360 2020 is one of the best midrange laptops you can buy , thanks to its sturdy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and excellent performance .
Part of what makes the Envy so great is that HP has ported over a number of elements from its excellent 2019 flagship , the Spectre x360 , including the thin and light chassis , and nearly bezel-free display with an 88 percent screen-to-body ratio .
The touchscreen ( which supports HP ’ s MPP2.0 pen ) is bright and looks great .
( You can choose a 300-nit , 400-nit , or 1,000-nit panel ) .
And HP has added a row of convenient hotkeys to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ microphone and webcam .
But the most exciting feature is inside : The new Envy x360 is powered by AMD ’ s Ryzen 4000 series .
The Ryzen 5-4500U in my model did an outstanding job with a fairly heavy load of multitasking .
And AMD ’ s integrated Raedon graphics delivered good gaming performance comparable to what you ’ d expect from a lower-powered discrete GPU .
If you ’ re a business professional and money is no object for you or your company , you can ’ t do better than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ model is the first Dragonfly that features HP ’ s super-secure SureView Reflect technology , which tints the screen so that snoops can ’ t see what you ’ re doing while you ’ re working in public .
When it ’ s not tinted , the display gets quite bright ( over 700 nits ) and has great viewing angles .
The new Dragonfly is also the first laptop to include a built-in Tile tracker .
That means if you lose the device , you can use the Tile smartphone app to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s in Bluetooth range ) or locate it anywhere in the world using Tile ’ s crowd-finding network .
The tracker can work for a limited time even when the laptop is off .
Almost everything else about the Dragonfly is good ; it has some of the best battery life of any laptop on the market ( we got over 11 hours ) , a sleek and stunning 2-in-1 design , and an exceptional keyboard .
Plus , it incorporates sustainable material , including ocean-bound plastics and recycled DVDs .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheaper business laptops that will suit the needs of most professionals just fine .
But if you ’ re looking for the best of the best , it ’ s the unambiguous winner .
Lenovo ’ s Chromebook Duet is a great convertible laptop for kids , or anyone who wants a reliable secondary driver for browsing and games .
It ’ s a nice-looking , well-made 10-inch device that comes with a detachable keyboard and kickstand .
The Duet is tailor-made to be used around the house and on the go , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 hours of battery life .
Its MediaTek processor isn ’ t designed to shoulder heavy loads , but it ’ s just fine for browsing in a couple tabs , watching Netflix , or playing Android games — it even handles photo editing pretty well .
The Duet also features a new “ tablet mode ” for Chrome OS , which supports an Android-inspired gesture navigation system and a unique Chrome layout optimized for tablet use .
The Chromebook Duet is an absolute steal for its low price , and is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a tight budget .
The Spectre x360 is a premium-level 2-in-1 Windows laptop with the latest processor options from Intel , a vibrant touchscreen , and more port options than are found on other laptops in this segment .
The x360 weighs less than three pounds and is about two-thirds of an inch thick when closed , which makes it very easy to travel with .
The latest model has a smaller footprint than before , thanks to shrunken bezels above and below the screen , but it still maintains a full-size @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it provides both facial and fingerprint biometric authentication , so you can choose which way you prefer to log in .
HP updated the trackpad drivers it uses in the latest model to Microsoft ’ s Precision set and the experience is improved over the older versions to the point where it ’ s no longer an issue .
The x360 ’ s trackpad is now right up there with the best Windows trackpad options ( which are still a tick behind what you get on a MacBook ) in terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rejection .
The biggest argument against the x360 is that it has a 16:9 display , as opposed to the 16:10 or 3:2 screens you ’ ll find on Dell or Microsoft ’ s computers .
Those taller aspect ratios are much better for productivity work , whether that ’ s working in two documents side by side or researching on the web without having to scroll as much .
But unless you are very particular about your screen ’ s aspect ratio , most people won ’ t find this to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for everyday users If you ’ re looking for a MacBook that ’ s more powerful than the Air , but isn ’ t as pricey as the 16-inch Pro , the MacBook Pro 13 hits the sweet spot in the middle .
It has a bright 500-nit screen , excellent speakers and — finally — a keyboard that ’ s actually reliable .
There are two models you can consider depending on your needs : the “ base ” model has 8th-Gen Intel processors and two Thunderbolt 3 processors , while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thunderbolt 3 ports ( as well as 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD ) .
If you can afford it , we recommend stepping up to the pricier version , as the performance difference between the two generations is noticeable .
The Gigabyte Aero 15 is a colorful , powerful laptop for creative professionals .
This 15.6-inch workstation pairs a bright OLED screen with an eight-core i7-10875H processor and Nvidia ’ s cutting-edge GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q GPU .
It also comes with a laundry list of ports , including a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll be able to plug in all kinds of projectors , monitors , and other equipment without a problem .
We also found that it was able to run demanding games on their highest settings at acceptable frame rates , and export 4K video as fast as any other laptop we ’ ve tested .
This is an expensive machine , and if you just want to play games , it ’ s probably not worth spending so much money on an OLED screen .
But if you need the combination of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Aero 15 is for you .
You can configure the XPS 15 with up to an eight-core Core i7 processor , Nvidia ’ s GTX 1650 Ti graphics , and a 3840 x 2400 touchscreen .
Those specs are overkill for most people , but they ’ re ideal for anyone who needs to edit video or do other heavy creative work with Adobe Premiere .
We recommend that anyone who ’ s just browsing and streaming go for the 1920 x 1200 screen and a Core i5 , which will save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experienced some heat management issues and disappointing battery life with the i7 unit . )
The XPS 15 isn ’ t a serious gaming rig , but the GTX 1650 Ti can help out with creative tasks .
Our model was able to export a five-minute , 33-second video in Adobe Premiere Pro in just four and a half minutes — which is faster than we got with the 16-inch MacBook Pro .
If you ’ re looking for a large , attractive Windows laptop that packs decent power , this is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules of gaming laptops with its debut in the Zephyrus G14 , but it ’ s made a splash in the budget gaming range as well with the G5 15 SE .
This laptop ran every popular title we threw at it at very playable frame rates — and the games looked great on our model ’ s 144Hz FreeSync screen .
( You can choose a 60Hz panel as well ) .
The Radeon RX 5600M GPU gets a boost from AMD ’ s SmartShift feature , which pushes power between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s needed .
For times when you ’ re not gaming , the G5 also makes a good daily driver .
It does a great job with graphically intensive work as well as general multitasking , and the fans stayed quiet throughout our testing .
And there ’ s a better port selection than we ’ d generally expect to see at this price point , including an SD card reader , an audio jack , two USB 2.0 Type-A , a Mini DisplayPort , HDMi 2.0 , a USB 3.2 Gen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USB-C with DisplayPort .
Ultimately , the G15 delivers outstanding performance for its price , and is the budget gaming rig to beat .
The XPS 17 is a workstation for professionals who need a huge screen and huge power .
Its 17-inch 3840 x 2400 display allows you room to comfortably work in multiple tabs and apps , and it ’ s also bright enough to use for outdoor work without much obtrusive glare .
It contains H-series Intel processors , and can be configured with discrete RTX GPUs — our model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That system flew through gaming benchmarks and complex video work — and didn ’ t burn itself up in the process , thanks to a new cooling system from Dell that includes a chassis-wide vapor chamber .
Best of all , those specs and screen manage to function without decimating the XPS ’ s battery life ; our unit ( with a 97Wh brick ) was able to last a full work day .
The LG Gram 17 is one of the best 17-inch laptops you can buy .
Its main calling card @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pounds , it weighs less than even some 13-inch laptops .
The Gram has a surprisingly robust port selection for such a thin device , including one HDMI , three USB 3.1 Type-A , one USB 3.1 Type-C ( Thunderbolt 3 ) , an audio jack , a power port , and a microSD slot .
There are some drawbacks to a 17-inch screen .
For one , you might have trouble fitting it into smaller backpacks and bags , and it may be ungainly to use on crowded trains and flights .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ side , and if you don ’ t need all 17 inches , you can get similar performance and portability with a smaller screen for significantly less .
But if you ’ re set on a large display and a lightweight build , you can ’ t do better than the Gram 17 for its price .
And you ’ ll be able to see a heck of a lot in split-screen view .
Microsoft ’ s Surface Line includes a number of innovative , quirky products at a variety of prices .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ most “ traditional ” option , and it ’ s the best one for most people .
It features an outstanding keyboard and touchpad as well as a sturdy and attractive chassis that ’ s fairly portable at just 2.89 pounds .
And it packs great everyday performance , with enough horsepower to handle Lightroom and Photoshop , and even graphic-intensive tasks in Premiere Pro .
The biggest issue it has is the ports that are available : there ’ s just one USB-C and one USB-A port and no support for Thunderbolt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t a budget product , it ’ s an all-around excellent device that still won ’ t break the bank for most shoppers — especially if you can find it on sale .

We test a wide variety of laptops each year here at The Verge, and many of them are very good. But you can’t buy them all. So to help with your purchasing decisions I’ve done the very difficult (very difficult, trust me) task here of selecting 15 of the most exceptional devices out there for this Best Laptop of 2023 page. Whether you’re looking for a Chromebook, a gaming laptop, a 2-in-1 convertible, an ultralight notebook, or something that’s a little bit of each, I’ve got multiple options for you here. These aren’t necessarily the best laptops of all time, but they are, in my opinion, the best laptops you can buy right now.
My current pick for the best laptop of 2023 is the MacBook Air. It’s a device that does just about everything right. While it’s certainly not perfect, there are no major flaws. It’s a great pick for productivity, browsing, and even light gaming.
It's getting harder to buy a bad laptop, but what separates the best laptops from good laptops is how they balance power, efficiency, portability, and comfort. The top laptop should have a fantastic keyboard and trackpad — after all, those are the two biggest reasons you'd choose a laptop over a smartphone or tablet. Its display should be easy on the eyes, bright, and sharp enough that you aren't distracted by jagged edges and visible pixels. It should be powerful enough for most anything short of intensive video editing and advanced gaming. It should be easy to carry around from place to place, and it should be able to last all day without needing to be plugged in.
Our other picks for the best laptops, Chromebooks, and 2-in-1s include the the MacBook Pro 16 and the HP Spectre x360 14. Check out the full list of best laptop picks below or our roundup of the best gaming laptops, if you’re looking for a powerful machine that doesn’t sacrifice portability.
What we’re looking for Value: Price is a very important factor in evaluating devices for this page. We’re seeking laptops that offer great value for their asking price, and that are the best of the best compared to other laptops in their price category. The more expensive a device, the more exceptional it has to be to make it on here. Performance: We want laptops with enough power to accommodate their target audience. An ultraportable laptop should be able to handle a standard office workload without excessive heat or fan noise. A gaming laptop should run today’s popular games. Screen: We like displays that are color-accurate and bright. Design: We’re looking for laptops with a solid, durable build that can handle a standard amount of briefcase wear-and-tear. Battery life: Battery life is much more important in some categories than it is in others. That said, in general, we assume that most shoppers are choosing a laptop over a desktop because they value some ability to work away from a plug. Battery life gives a user more freedom and makes a device more reliable for travel, so we consider it here. Port selection: The more ports, the better. We try to keep our picks as current as possible, but we may include an older device over its newer generation if we feel that the newer generation is a significant downgrade. We rarely recommend devices that are more than two years old.
1. Apple MacBook Air (M2)
The best laptop of 2023
MacBook Air with M2 (2022) $ 949 $ 1199 21 % off $ 949 $ 949 $ 1199 21 % off The redesigned MacBook Air is a thin, lightweight device powered by Apple’s latest chip. The M2 model also touts a 1080p webcam and a better display than its predecessor, while retaining features like long battery life and MagSafe charging. $1099 at Apple$949 at Best Buy
CPU: M2 / GPU: M2/ RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 24GB / Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB / Display: 13.6-inch IPS display, 2560 x 1664, 60Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches / Weight: 2.7 pounds
The latest MacBook Air, powered by Apple’s M2 processor, is the best laptop for most people.
The base model, which includes 8GB of memory, 256GB of storage, an 8-core CPU, and an 8-core GPU, starts at $1,199. A model with 512GB of storage, which is what we recommend for most people and will let you keep using the laptop for longer, costs $1,399.
The Air has lost the wedge-shape design that was its calling card for years but retains many of the other excellent features of years past, including MagSafe charging, Touch ID, and the scissor-switch keyboard, and adds a new 1080p webcam and two new color options.
The Apple MacBook Air is the best laptop of 2023. Photo by Becca Farsace / The Verge
The M2 processor inside isn’t as fast or powerful as the M1 Pro or M1 Max you get in the larger (and more expensive) MacBook Pro models, but it’s still mighty fast. In our testing, it was able to handle intense office workloads with little to no heat or slowdown. Given how thin and light this device is, it delivers a combination of power and portability that you’ll be hard-pressed to find in many other machines out there.
The M2 Air didn’t give us quite as much battery life as the 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook did in our rundown testing, but we would still expect it to last most people a full day of continuous use.
Apple is continuing to sell the M1 MacBook Air, which was released in 2020. If the M2 MacBook Air is out of your price range, we recommend that you consider the M1 model.
Read our MacBook Air review.
2. MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch)
The best Macbook for creators
CPU: M1 Pro, M1 Max / GPU: M1 Pro, M1 Max / RAM: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 96GB/ Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB / Display: 14.2/16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, 3024 x 1964/3456 x 2234, adaptive refresh up to 120Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61/14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches / Weight: 3.5/4.7 pounds (M2 Pro), 3.6/4.8 pounds (M2 Max)
It may be confusing to see both the 2021 MacBook Pro models (with the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips) and the 2023 MacBook Pro models (with the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips) on this list. The 2023 models are more powerful devices — but because of their high price, they’re also more niche devices, and we recommend them mostly to professionals who need every ounce of power. We see the 2021 models, which can now be found at much lower prices, as better purchases for a more mainstream audience. That’s why they’re higher on this list.
In our benchmarks, which test a variety of creative tasks including encoding, playback, and export time, the MacBook Pro 16 did better than any laptop we’ve ever used — the only other machines that have come close to matching this thing in some of our benchmarks are high-end desktop PCs. The battery life is also record-shattering. The 16-inch configuration with the M1 Pro processor lasted 16 hours in my testing — making it the longest-lasting laptop we’ve ever reviewed. (The M1 Max configuration doesn’t last quite as long, but still got us through a work day.)
Elsewhere, we have basically no complaints about the 2021 MacBook Pro. It has a gorgeous display that can reach 1,000 nits when playing HDR content. It pairs that with the best set of speakers we’ve ever heard from a laptop. And these Pro models can output to multiple external displays, while the Air is limited to one.
If you’re looking for a machine that can accommodate a demanding workload while also serving as an excellent multimedia device when you’re off the clock, you’ll likely be satisfied with what the M1 Pro and M1 Max can do.
If you’re a creative professional who doesn’t quite want to pay the price of the MacBook Pro 16, or you’re looking for something more compact, you’re probably better suited to the 14-inch MacBook Pro. This device is smaller, lighter, and less expensive than its 16-inch counterpart, but it comes with the same monstrous processor options and the same stellar screen.
We didn’t see much of a difference in benchmark scores between the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBooks with the same processors — the 14-incher actually outperformed the 16-inchers in some of our tests. The primary difference to consider, apart from the sizes of these devices, is battery life. The 16-inch chassis allows for a significantly bigger battery, and the 16-inch M1 Pro model lasted several hours longer than the 14-inch M1 Pro model did in our testing.
Read our MacBook Pro 14 and 16 review.
3. Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 14
The best dual-screen laptop
CPU: Intel Core i9-13900H / GPU: Nvidia Geforce RTX 4050, RTX 4060 / RAM: 32GB / Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB / Display: 14.5-inch OLED, 2880 x 1800, 120Hz + 12.7-inch IPS, 2880 x 864, 60Hz, touch option / Dimensions: 12.74 x 8.85 x 0.7 inches/ Weight: 3.86 pounds
Finally, there is a dual-screen laptop we can actually recommend buying. In the past, the dual-screen form factor has felt gimmicky, difficult to see, and difficult to use. But in the Zenbook Duo 14, Asus has angled the screen significantly higher than before, made it higher resolution, and given it an anti-glare etching that’s made it actually useful.
The Asus Zenbook Pro Duo 14 OLED has not one, but two high-resolution screens. Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge
Using Asus’s ScreenXpert software, Zenbook Pro Duo users essentially have a small, crisp secondary OLED monitor on their keyboard deck. This second screen can also be turned into a giant touchpad (which is helpful since the actual touchpad the device comes with is pretty tiny. The device also comes with high-performance chips from Intel and Nvidia, and a roomy 16:10 primary screen. While the keyboard-in-the-front layout won’t be for everyone, this innovative device is the best choice for shoppers who want multiple screens in one.
Read our Asus Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED review.
4. Asus ROG Zephyrus G14
The best gaming laptop
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 $ 1900 The ROG Zephyrus G14 is an astonishingly powerful gaming laptop. Its AMD Ryzen 9 processor and GeForce RTX 3060 can push powerful, smooth graphics performance in games with its QHD display while also being surprisingly efficient for other tasks. $1900 at Best Buy
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS / GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6700S / RAM: 8GB / Storage: 1TB / Display: 14-inch IPS, 2560 x 1600, 120Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 12.28 x 8.94 x 0.73/ Weight: 3.64 pounds
You want to be careful with this one, because some of the models are too expensive for what they offer. Make sure that you’re buying the $1,649.99 SKU with the 6700S GPU. We feel that this model, specifically, is the best 14-inch gaming laptop you can buy. It’s a perfectly portable device at just 3.79 pounds and 0.77 inches thick, and it comes with a great keyboard, touchpad, port selection, and screen. The frame rates it produced in our testing were solid, and we didn’t see a huge difference in performance between the 6700S and 6800S models. And we got all-day battery life, which you don’t see in gaming laptops every day.
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is the lightweight gaming laptop to buy. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
If you are interested in having an animated grid of colored lights on your computer, you can also pay more for a model that has Asus’s AniMe Matrix. We don’t think these models offer particularly good value for their price, but they do have some cute benefits – you can customize them to display words or images of your choice, and there’s a virtual pet on it that you can play with.
Read our Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 review.
5. Asus Chromebook Flip CX5
The best Chromebook
CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7 / GPU: Intel Iris Xe / RAM: 16GB / Storage: 128GB / Display: 15.6-inch IPS, 1920 x 1080, 60Hz / Dimensions: 14.08 x 9.48 x 0.73/ Weight: 4.3 pounds
Asus surprised us with its Chromebook Flip CX5, a gorgeous $800 laptop that happens to run Chrome OS. It’s as sturdy and well-built as all kinds of Windows laptops at higher price points, and sports a unique smooth texture. It includes fully-fledged laptop specs, including a 57Wh battery, which provide speedy performance, long battery life, and quick charging.
The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 is a massive, powerful Chromebook. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales
You get all kinds of ports, including an HDMI and a microSD slot. The speakers sound great, and the keyboard is comfortable. Asus hasn’t skimped on CX5’s chassis or its performance — it’s absolutely the product to buy if you’re looking for a Chromebook with a big screen.
Read our Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 review.
6. MacBook Pro 16 (M2 Pro and M2 Max)
Best video editing laptop
CPU: M2 Pro, M2 Max / GPU: M2 Pro, M2 Max / RAM: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 96GB / Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB / Display: 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, 3456 x 2234, adaptive refresh up to 120Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches / Weight: 4.7 pounds (M2 Pro), 4.8 pounds (M2 Max)
If you’re a professional with a heavy workload looking for the best in power, graphics, and battery life that Apple has to offer, you want the 16-inch MacBook Pro with Apple’s brand-new M2 Pro or M2 Max. It won’t come cheap – models start at $2,499 – but it is one of the most powerful and longest-lasting laptops you can buy. To reiterate, we believe that most creators should go for a discounted M1 Pro or M1 Max laptop over this one — the newest M2 Pro and M2 Max are best for the most deep-pocketed of power users.
The 2023 MacBook Pro looks very similar to the 2021 MacBook Pro, with the same camera notch, the same port selection (including MagSafe charging), and the same exceptional speaker system.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro is a good option for power users. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
In testing, we’ve found that the M2 Max provides several additional hours of battery life over the M1 Max that powered the 2021 MacBook Pro 16. The M2 Max also has more multicore and single-core CPU power, and a lot more graphic power, than the M1 Max did. That won’t make a difference for standard home and office tasks, but can save you some time if your occupation requires a really powerful PC.
For more guidance on which M2 MacBook to buy, we’ve got a video breaking down the M2 lineup.
Read our MacBook Pro 16 review.
7. MacBook Air 15
The best 15-inch laptop
CPU: M2 / GPU: M2 / RAM: 16GB, 16GB, 24GB / Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB / Display: 15.3-inch IPS display, 2880 x 1864, 60Hz no touch option / Dimensions: 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches / Weight: 3.3 pounds
The MacBook Pro 15 is the 15-inch laptop that a lot of people have been waiting for. It’s got a large, gorgeous screen, but it’s much lighter and less expensive than the 16-inch MacBook Pro models that are currently available. It has the same M2 chip that powers the 13-inch MacBook Air further up this list, but its larger chassis allows for a bit of extra cooling (and therefore, slightly more performance). For those who like the portability of the 13-inch MacBook Air but want more screen space to work with, the Air 15 is the option.
The MacBook Air 16 is a lightweight, big-screen laptop. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
The 15-inch Air does have a few compromises that the 14-inch and 16-inch Pro don’t. Most importantly, its port selection is limited to two USB-C Thunderbolt, one MagSafe, and one headphone jack, and all but the headphone jack are crammed onto the left side. It also only supports one external display, which is a frustrating limitation for some. Nevertheless, as a more affordable and portable option than Apple’s other big-screen offerings, the Air will still be the best choice for a lot of people.
Read our MacBook Air 15 review.
8. Framework Laptop
A repairable laptop for DIYers
Framework Laptop 13 $ 849 The Framework Laptop 13 is the best laptop for those who want full control of their experience. Everything from the processor and RAM to the keyboard and bezels is user-upgradeable. $849 at Framework
CPU: Intel Core i5-1340P/i7-1360P/17-1370P, AMD Ryzen 7 7840U / GPU: Intel UHD/Iris Xe, Radeon 700M / RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB / Storage: 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB / Display: 13.5 inch IPS, 2256 x 1540, 60Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 11.68 x 9.01 x 0.62 inches / Weight: 2.87 pounds
If you want a 13-inch laptop that you can configure and assemble yourself, from the ground up, the Framework Laptop 13 is pretty much your only option. The Framework is a modular laptop that users can repair and upgrade over the length of their ownership. Everything from the RAM, to the storage, to even the processor can be upgraded down the line. The company has even come out with upgrades for parts like speakers and hinges that you can install yourself. Not only can you buy it as a prebuilt system, but you can also order it as a DIY kit, allowing you to assemble the entire thing yourself and swap out parts as you please.
Repairability aside, the Framework has a number of laudable features as a laptop itself. The display is bright and high-resolution, the speakers are great, and the chassis is quite portable, coming in at under three pounds. The 3:2 aspect ratio provides a lot of room to work, and still a somewhat rare find on today’s market.
The Framework Laptop 13 is one of very few 13-inch laptops with this degree of repairability. Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge
That said, I won’t pretend that this is the best 13-inch laptop you can buy; on its own merits, it is an unremarkable system with a somewhat generic look and plasticky build, particularly compared to others in its price category. Nevertheless, the Framework’s standout feature is the unprecedented access it allows its users to replace and repair its parts. We’d love to see more companies make that kind of commitment to sustainable design.
Read our Framework Laptop 13 review.
9. Dell XPS 13
The best Windows laptop
Dell XPS 13 $ 999 Dell’s XPS 13 is the ultimate execution on the traditional thin-and-light clamshell laptop design. It’s sleek and compact, has a great keyboard and trackpad, and has excellent performance. $999 at Dell
CPU: Intel Core i7-1250U / GPU: Intel Iris Xe / RAM: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB / Storage: 512GB, 1TB / Display: 13.4 inch IPS, 1920 x 1200, 60Hz, touch option / Dimensions: 11.63 x 7.86 x 0.55 inches / Weight: 2.59 pounds
The Dell XPS 13 is a compact and reliable laptop. Its beautiful chassis, excellent 16:10 display, and great performance make it an excellent choice for general-purpose users. At well under three pounds and just over half an inch thick, it’s a dream for travel and on-the-go work.
The specs of our test unit (a Core i5 configuration) were just fine for the work tasks I needed to do. I do recommend using the Silent cooling profile if you don’t need heavyweight performance, as the fans get going very easily on this model.
The Dell XPS 13 is one of the best laptops of 2023. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
There is also a fancier Dell XPS 13 Plus available for purchase, which includes all kinds of new features the XPS 13 doesn’t have including an OLED display option, borderless haptic touchpad, and LED touch function keys, as well as a more powerful P-series processor. I don’t recommend that model over this one for most people, but it’s worth looking into if you want something a bit funkier with a higher-resolution screen.
Read our Dell XPS 13 review.
10. Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED
The best OLED laptop
CPU: Intel Core i7-1355U / GPU: Intel Iris Xe / RAM: 32GB / Storage: 1TB / Display: 13.3-inch OLED, 2880 x 1800, 60Hz, no touch option / Dimensions: 11.66 x 8.52 x 0.43 inches / Weight: 2.2 pounds
If your top priority is a lightweight laptop with an excellent screen, look no further than the Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED. Powered by Intel’s new 13th-Gen processors, it’s an astonishingly lightweight device with a neat, unique design. The lid doesn’t pick up fingerprints, which is a very rare thing to be able to say about dark laptops.
In addition to its compact build, the Zenbook S 13 has a solid port selection including HDMI 2.1, USB-A, and multiple Thunderbolt ports. The OLED display is sharp and roomy, and looks quite nice.
The Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED is the best laptop you can buy with a 13-inch OLED screen. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
The Intel processor in my test model did an excellent job with my multitasking workload. It can get loud while completing heavier tasks like gaming, but a built-in Whisper Mode will keep it quiet during everyday productivity work (which is the sort of workload this device is best suited for).
Read our Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED review.
11. Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3
The best laptop under $400
CPU: Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 / GPU: Qualcomm Adreno graphics/ RAM: 4Gb, 8GB / Storage: 128GB / Display: 10.95-inch IPS, 2000 x 1200, 60Hz, touch option / Dimensions: 10.16 x 6.48 x 0.31 inches / Weight: 1.14 pounds
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 is a great, tiny laptop for budget shoppers. It comes with a magnetic detachable keyboard that’s a breeze to pop on and off. The screen also supports USI styluses, though a stylus is not included in the price. The keyboard is included in the price, however, as is the magnetic back cover and kickstand.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 is a great option for anyone shopping on a tight budget. Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge
Day-to-day, this laptop is quite usable for light work and leisure. It has a sharp, bright 11-inch screen and a surprisingly comfortable keyboard and touchpad. The battery life is close to all-day. But the real draw of this device is its portability — it’s just 2.09 pounds with the keyboard attached, making it quite convenient to carry around and whip out to use on the go.
Read our Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 review.
12. Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (13.5-inch)
A lower-cost thin and light option
CPU: Intel Core i5 1235U, Core i7-1255U / GPU: Intel Iris Xe / RAM: 8GB, 16GB / Storage: 256GB, 512GB / Display: 13.5-inch IPS, 2256 x 1504, 60Hz, touch option / Dimensions: 12.1 x 8.8 x .57 inches / Weight: 2.8 pounds
The Surface Laptop 5 looks and feels quite similar to last year’s Surface Laptop 4. Like its predecessor, the Laptop 5 is thin, light, and well built, with Microsoft’s signature elegant style. Newly this year, the Laptop 5 supports Thunderbolt 4 — but unlike last year, there are only Intel models, with no AMD ones available.
The Surface Laptop 5 is a thin and light work machine. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Inside, the 12th-Gen processors delivery satisfactory performance, particularly single-core tasks. We felt no heat or fan noise during our testing, which was remarkable considering the device’s thin profile. Our tasks looked quite sharp on the 3:2, 13-inch display as well. Our primary complaint was the battery life, which is okay, but not amazing, and a decrease from last year’s results.
Read our Surface Laptop 5 review.
13. Razer Blade 16
The best laptop for AAA gaming
CPU: Intel Core i9-13980HX, Core i9-13950HX / GPU: Nvidia Geforce RTX 4060, RTX 4070, RTX 4080, RTX 4090 / RAM: 16GB, 32GB / Storage: 1TB / Display: 16-inch Mini-LED, Dual UHD/FHD+, 120Hz/240Hz / Dimensions: 13.98 x 9.61 x 0.87 inches / Weight: 5.4 pounds
The Razer Blade 16 is an incredible purchase for gamers with very, very deep pockets. Equipped with top-end chips from Nvidia and Intel, it can run most of today’s’ most demanding games at their highest settings with all the effects you want. Add Razer’s signature suave chassis and fun (but unobtrusive) RGB keyboard, and there’s little to complain about.
But it’s not just the performance that stands out — games also look great. The Blade comes with an optional Mini LED screen. Not only does the panel deliver rich and vivid colors, but it also has a dual-mode feature that allows you to swap between native UDH Plus /120Hz and FHD Plus/240Hz modes with one click.
The Razer Blade 16 is the premium gaming laptop to buy. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
You don’t need to spend this much on a gaming laptop in order to get a good gaming experience, as some of the entries earlier on this list prove. But if you’re looking for the best performance and best display you can squeeze out of the 16-inch form factor, this is the choice for you. It’s a luxury gaming experience for a luxury price.
Read our Razer Blade 16 review.
14. HP Dragonfly Pro
The best business laptop
HP Elite Dragonfly Pro $ 1550 The HP Elite Dragonfly Pro is one of the best business laptops for freelancers and self-employed customers. It performs quite well and comes with extra service. $1550 at HP
CPU: Intel Core i5-1235U, AMD Ryzen 77736U / GPU: Intel Iris Xe, AMD Radeon/ RAM: 16GB, 32GB / Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB / Display: 14-inch IPS, 1920 x 1200/2560 x 1600, 60Hz, touch option / Dimensions: 12.39 x 8.78 x 0.72 inches / Weight: 3.42 pounds
While part of HP’s Dragonfly business line, the Dragonfly Pro isn’t being sold to IT departments — it’s tailored to self-employed individuals and freelance workers. It’s powered by AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series, and its performance rivaled that of the M2 MacBook Pro in our testing. Battery life, while not quite M2-level, was enough to power through a full day unplugged. There’s little to object to among the other features as well. The speakers sound good, the webcam delivers a detailed picture, the keyboard is comfortable, and the screen is quite bright. In typical HP fashion, the chassis is quite well built with a sleek and professional look.
The HP Dragonfly Pro is the best business laptop you can buy. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
The Dragonfly Pro comes with an optional 24/7 live support service, which you can access via a hotkey on the right side of the keyboard. It’s included with the first year, and then it’s $10.99 per month. This isn’t something we think most people will need, but if you’re interested in having access to that sort of program, this is the laptop for you.
15. HP Spectre x360 13.5
The best convertible Windows laptop
CPU: Intel Core i5 1235U, Core i7 1255U, Core i7-1355U / GPU: Intel UHD, Iris Xe / RAM: 8GB, 16GB / Storage: 512GB, 1TB / Display: 13.5-inch IPS, 60Hz, 1920 x 1280/OLED, 3000 x 2000, touch option / Dimensions: 11.75 x 8.67 x 0.67 inches / Weight: 3.01 pounds
The HP Spectre x360 13.5 is a drop-dead gorgeous machine with a sturdy build and a premium look and feel. It’s got a roomy 3:2 OLED screen with adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz that’s vivid, crisp, and bright. You also get a comfortable keyboard, clear and bass-heavy audio, and a practical port selection. (There are even ports on the corners.) HP ships it with a number of webcam features via its GlamCam package, which you can use to “glam” your video calling experience if that is of interest.
Performance (on the unit we received) was quite speedy, and was cool and quiet throughout much of our day-to-day testing. If you’re looking for a sleek and beautiful device, you should look no further than HP’s Spectre line.
The HP Spectre x360 13.5 is one of the best convertible laptops you can buy — but it has a few compromises to be aware of. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
This machine comes with a couple major caveats, however. First, the battery life is not great. We averaged between four and five hours of continuous use. That’s not necessarily unexpected given the screen’s high resolution and refresh rate, but it will still make the Spectre an impractical buy for some people. We’d expect many of the laptops that are higher on this list to last at least a couple hours longer to a charge.
The other thing to note is that this package doesn’t come cheap. Many customers will find better battery life and similar performance in any number of less expensive products. The Spectre is worth a splurge only if you really need a 2-in-1 convertible (a form factor that’s become much harder to find these days), if battery life isn’t a priority for you, and if you value beauty and craftsmanship above all else.
Read our HP Spectre x360 14 review.
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theverge--2020-07-20--The brain behind the Google Pixel camera is building a universal camera app for Adobe

Marc Levoy , the researcher who used software to turn Google ’ s Pixel camera into a powerhouse , has joined Adobe to build a universal camera app , Adobe announced today .
Levoy headed up the team that developed the impressive computational photography technology used in Google ’ s Pixel smartphones , including features like Night Sight , Portrait Mode , and HDR+ .
His work also helped Pixels take great photos without requiring as much hardware as competing phones — the Pixel line famously only needed a single camera to stay competitive with Apple ’ s iPhones , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushed Google to add a second , telephoto lens with last year ’ s Pixel 4 .
( The first iPhone with a second lens , the iPhone 7 Plus , came out in 2016 . )
Levoy ’ s efforts arguably inspired Apple , Samsung , and others to beef up their computational photography chops At Adobe , it sounds like Levoy could be planning to make a great camera not just for Pixel users , but for anyone with a smartphone .
Levoy will be working on computational photography initiatives across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be “ centered on the concept of a universal camera app , ” the company said in an email .
That said , Adobe wasn ’ t immediately able to define “ universal camera app ” for us — we ’ ve also heard that phrase refer to an app platform that companies like Facebook and Snapchat could use to produce their own camera apps or an app that could work across , say , a cameraphone and a larger camera like a DSLR .
We ’ re hoping to narrow that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ app in Photoshop Camera , and there ’ s one built into the Adobe Lightroom app , too , but perhaps Adobe has a grander vision for its camera apps .
And Adobe said in an email that Levoy will also be working with the Photoshop Camera , Adobe Research , and Sensei AI teams , so maybe Photoshop Camera will be the focus for these bigger efforts .
Levoy will report to Adobe CTO Abhay Parasnis , and he starts today .
Levoy left Google in March after nearly six years at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full time , Levoy worked on the camera in the $ 1,500 Google Glass Explorer Edition as visiting faculty at Google ’ s former Moonshot division , Google X , and he launched a Google-funded research project at Stanford in 2002 that eventually became Street View in Google Maps .
Levoy is also a computer graphics researcher at Stanford , and he helped get the world interested in light field photography with some of his writing there .
Correction : The first iPhone with a second camera lens was the iPhone 7 Plus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we said originally .
We regret the error .

Marc Levoy, the researcher who used software to turn Google’s Pixel camera into a powerhouse, has joined Adobe to build a universal camera app, Adobe announced today.
Levoy headed up the team that developed the impressive computational photography technology used in Google’s Pixel smartphones, including features like Night Sight, Portrait Mode, and HDR+. His work also helped Pixels take great photos without requiring as much hardware as competing phones — the Pixel line famously only needed a single camera to stay competitive with Apple’s iPhones, until a desire for sharper zoom images pushed Google to add a second, telephoto lens with last year’s Pixel 4. (The first iPhone with a second lens, the iPhone 7 Plus, came out in 2016.)
Levoy’s efforts arguably inspired Apple, Samsung, and others to beef up their computational photography chops
At Adobe, it sounds like Levoy could be planning to make a great camera not just for Pixel users, but for anyone with a smartphone. Levoy will be working on computational photography initiatives across Adobe, and intriguingly, his efforts will be “centered on the concept of a universal camera app,” the company said in an email. That said, Adobe wasn’t immediately able to define “universal camera app” for us — we’ve also heard that phrase refer to an app platform that companies like Facebook and Snapchat could use to produce their own camera apps or an app that could work across, say, a cameraphone and a larger camera like a DSLR. We’re hoping to narrow that down.
Adobe already offers a camera app in Photoshop Camera, and there’s one built into the Adobe Lightroom app, too, but perhaps Adobe has a grander vision for its camera apps. And Adobe said in an email that Levoy will also be working with the Photoshop Camera, Adobe Research, and Sensei AI teams, so maybe Photoshop Camera will be the focus for these bigger efforts. Levoy will report to Adobe CTO Abhay Parasnis, and he starts today.
Levoy left Google in March after nearly six years at the company. Before he joined Google full time, Levoy worked on the camera in the $1,500 Google Glass Explorer Edition as visiting faculty at Google’s former Moonshot division, Google X, and he launched a Google-funded research project at Stanford in 2002 that eventually became Street View in Google Maps. Levoy is also a computer graphics researcher at Stanford, and he helped get the world interested in light field photography with some of his writing there.


theverge--2020-07-20--Mark Zuckerberg says there’s ‘no deal of any kind’ with Donald Trump

Has Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg cut a secret deal with President Donald Trump , turning a blind eye to his lies and incendiary posts in the hope that the social media giant won ’ t become the president ’ s next target ?
Rumors of this sort have been swirling for months , but Zuckerberg himself has now denied it , telling Axios that no such deal exists .
“ I ’ ve heard this speculation , too , so let me be clear : There ’ s no deal of any kind , ” said Zuckerberg .
“ Actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is pretty ridiculous.
” As Trump has stoked tensions , Zuckerberg has remained cordial with the president The comments come in response to mounting concern over Zuckerberg ’ s relationship with the president , which has remained cordial despite worries about the president ’ s use of social media .
NBC News reported last year that Trump hosted Zuckerberg for a secret dinner at the White House .
The dinner came just a week after Zuckerberg made a speech confirming that Facebook would not fact-check political ads , giving Trump license to share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the world ’ s biggest social network .
Since then , the president and his supporters have pushed the limits of Facebook ’ s largesse , sharing doctored campaign videos and lies about mail-in ballots .
There have also been incidents in which Facebook seems to have gone out of its way not to remove misinformation beloved by the political right .
Just this week , an investigation by HEATED and Popular Information found that Facebook removed the fact-check of a “ partly false ” article about climate change published by right-wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company did so after the author complained he was being censored and a Republican congressman took up the cause .
According to the investigation , the decision to remove the fact-check went right to the top of the company , involving Facebook ’ s VP of global affairs and communications , the former British politician Nick Clegg .
Facebook ’ s refusal to remove certain posts , like Trump ’ s response to protests in Minneapolis against racist police violence ( “ when the looting starts , the shooting starts ” ) has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s faced employee walkouts and advertiser boycotts because of them .
But Trump , who otherwise delights in picking fights with tech giants like Amazon and Twitter , has increasingly left Facebook alone .
It ’ s a state of affairs that hasn ’ t gone unnoticed .
“ Trump needs Facebook ’ s thumb on the scale to win this election.
” Roger McNamee , a venture capitalist who was an early investor in Facebook and now a noted critic of the company , told The New York Times last month that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of some sort .
McNamee said the arrangement was “ probably implied rather than explicit ” and “ highly utilitarian , ” but mutually beneficent all the same .
“ It ’ s basically about getting [ Facebook ] free rein and protection from regulation , ” said McNamee .
“ Trump needs Facebook ’ s thumb on the scale to win this election.
” To support McNamee ’ s claim , the Times reported that the antitrust investigations being led by the Justice Department into US tech giants look like they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A source familiar with the investigations told the Times that while Google and Amazon were up against “ mature investigations , ” the probe into Facebook is “ not real at all.
” The response from Zuckerberg and Facebook to accusations of a deal has been to point out the various disagreements they ’ ve had with the White House over things like immigration policy and climate change .
Speaking to Axios about the dinner with Trump last year , the Facebook CEO also noted that it ’ s hardly unusual for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I accepted the invite for dinner because I was in town and he is the president of the United States , ” Zuckerberg told Axios .
“ For what it ’ s worth , I also had multiple meals and meetings with President Obama ... both at the White House and outside , including hosting an event for him at Facebook HQ.
” You don ’ t need a formal deal to have a mutually beneficial arrangement But just because no formal ( or even implicit ) deal exists , it doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s interests aren ’ t aligned right now .
Zuckerberg wants to avoid accusations of anti-conservative bias and exhaustive antitrust investigations , while Trump wants to continue being able to say whatever he likes to the American public without fear of censorship .
As a recent report by The Washington Post noted , though , Zuckerberg has been shaping Facebook ’ s rules to fit Trump ’ s speech for a while now .
In 2015 , as Trump began to attract supporters as a candidate , he posted a video on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ban Muslims from entering the United States .
As the Post reports , the video outraged many Facebook employees who said it violated the company ’ s policies for hate speech , but Zuckerberg ultimately let the video stand because of its “ newsworthiness ” — a standard which would become policy in 2016 .
In other words , if Zuckerberg made a deal with Trump , he did so long ago .

Has Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg cut a secret deal with President Donald Trump, turning a blind eye to his lies and incendiary posts in the hope that the social media giant won’t become the president’s next target? Rumors of this sort have been swirling for months, but Zuckerberg himself has now denied it, telling Axios that no such deal exists.
“I’ve heard this speculation, too, so let me be clear: There’s no deal of any kind,” said Zuckerberg. “Actually, the whole idea of a deal is pretty ridiculous.”
As Trump has stoked tensions, Zuckerberg has remained cordial with the president
The comments come in response to mounting concern over Zuckerberg’s relationship with the president, which has remained cordial despite worries about the president’s use of social media. NBC News reported last year that Trump hosted Zuckerberg for a secret dinner at the White House. The dinner came just a week after Zuckerberg made a speech confirming that Facebook would not fact-check political ads, giving Trump license to share misleading videos, ads, and posts on the world’s biggest social network.
Since then, the president and his supporters have pushed the limits of Facebook’s largesse, sharing doctored campaign videos and lies about mail-in ballots. There have also been incidents in which Facebook seems to have gone out of its way not to remove misinformation beloved by the political right.
Just this week, an investigation by HEATED and Popular Information found that Facebook removed the fact-check of a “partly false” article about climate change published by right-wing news site The Daily Wire. The company did so after the author complained he was being censored and a Republican congressman took up the cause. According to the investigation, the decision to remove the fact-check went right to the top of the company, involving Facebook’s VP of global affairs and communications, the former British politician Nick Clegg.
Facebook’s refusal to remove certain posts, like Trump’s response to protests in Minneapolis against racist police violence (“when the looting starts, the shooting starts”) has certainly cost the company. It’s faced employee walkouts and advertiser boycotts because of them. But Trump, who otherwise delights in picking fights with tech giants like Amazon and Twitter, has increasingly left Facebook alone. It’s a state of affairs that hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“Trump needs Facebook’s thumb on the scale to win this election.”
Roger McNamee, a venture capitalist who was an early investor in Facebook and now a noted critic of the company, told The New York Times last month that he believed the two had a deal of some sort. McNamee said the arrangement was “probably implied rather than explicit” and “highly utilitarian,” but mutually beneficent all the same.
“It’s basically about getting [Facebook] free rein and protection from regulation,” said McNamee. “Trump needs Facebook’s thumb on the scale to win this election.”
To support McNamee’s claim, the Times reported that the antitrust investigations being led by the Justice Department into US tech giants look like they will be kind to Zuckerberg’s company. A source familiar with the investigations told the Times that while Google and Amazon were up against “mature investigations,” the probe into Facebook is “not real at all.”
The response from Zuckerberg and Facebook to accusations of a deal has been to point out the various disagreements they’ve had with the White House over things like immigration policy and climate change. Speaking to Axios about the dinner with Trump last year, the Facebook CEO also noted that it’s hardly unusual for him to meet heads of state.
“I accepted the invite for dinner because I was in town and he is the president of the United States,” Zuckerberg told Axios. “For what it’s worth, I also had multiple meals and meetings with President Obama ... both at the White House and outside, including hosting an event for him at Facebook HQ.”
You don’t need a formal deal to have a mutually beneficial arrangement
But just because no formal (or even implicit) deal exists, it doesn’t mean that Zuckerberg and Trump’s interests aren’t aligned right now. Zuckerberg wants to avoid accusations of anti-conservative bias and exhaustive antitrust investigations, while Trump wants to continue being able to say whatever he likes to the American public without fear of censorship.
As a recent report by The Washington Post noted, though, Zuckerberg has been shaping Facebook’s rules to fit Trump’s speech for a while now. In 2015, as Trump began to attract supporters as a candidate, he posted a video on Facebook in which he said he wanted to ban Muslims from entering the United States. As the Post reports, the video outraged many Facebook employees who said it violated the company’s policies for hate speech, but Zuckerberg ultimately let the video stand because of its “newsworthiness” — a standard which would become policy in 2016.


theverge--2020-07-20--Coinbase says it halted more than $280,000 in bitcoin transactions during Twitter hack

The cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase said that it stopped around 1,100 customers from sending bitcoin to hackers who gained access to high-profile Twitter accounts last week .
Last Wednesday , over 100 Twitter accounts , some belonging to major companies like Apple and high-profile people like Vice President Joe Biden and Bill Gates , were hacked as part of a massive coordinated bitcoin scam .
According to Twitter , the hackers were able to convince some of the company ’ s employees to use internal systems and tools to access the accounts and help the hackers defraud users into sending them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other cryptocurrency exchanges were able to stop some customers from sending bitcoin to the hackers by blacklisting the hackers ’ wallet address .
Specifically , Coinbase says it prevented just over 1,000 customers from sending around $ 280,000 worth of bitcoin during last Wednesday ’ s attack .
Roughly 14 Coinbase users sent around $ 3,000 worth of bitcoin to the scam ’ s bitcoin address before the company moved to blacklist it , the company said .
“ We noticed the scam and began blocking transactions within a couple of minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” a Coinbase spokesperson told The Verge on Monday .
Twitter accounts belonging to cryptocurrency exchanges including Binance and Gemini were also targeted during Wednesday ’ s attack .
Coinbase ’ s chief information officer told Forbes on Sunday that it learned of the scam shortly after tweets were posted from fellow exchanges ’ accounts .
As of Monday , Twitter is still investigating Wednesday ’ s attack .
On Friday , the company put out a blog post confirming that 130 accounts were targeted and the hackers were able to initiative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the account , and send tweets for 45 of those accounts .
Twitter also said that the hackers were able to download account data belonging to eight unverified users .

The cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase said that it stopped around 1,100 customers from sending bitcoin to hackers who gained access to high-profile Twitter accounts last week.
Last Wednesday, over 100 Twitter accounts, some belonging to major companies like Apple and high-profile people like Vice President Joe Biden and Bill Gates, were hacked as part of a massive coordinated bitcoin scam. According to Twitter, the hackers were able to convince some of the company’s employees to use internal systems and tools to access the accounts and help the hackers defraud users into sending them bitcoin.
According to Forbes, Coinbase and other cryptocurrency exchanges were able to stop some customers from sending bitcoin to the hackers by blacklisting the hackers’ wallet address. Specifically, Coinbase says it prevented just over 1,000 customers from sending around $280,000 worth of bitcoin during last Wednesday’s attack. Roughly 14 Coinbase users sent around $3,000 worth of bitcoin to the scam’s bitcoin address before the company moved to blacklist it, the company said.
“We noticed the scam and began blocking transactions within a couple of minutes of the initial wave of scam posts,” a Coinbase spokesperson told The Verge on Monday.
Twitter accounts belonging to cryptocurrency exchanges including Binance and Gemini were also targeted during Wednesday’s attack. Coinbase’s chief information officer told Forbes on Sunday that it learned of the scam shortly after tweets were posted from fellow exchanges’ accounts.


theverge--2020-07-20--Aurora will test its fleet of self-driving cars and semi trucks in Texas

Aurora , the startup founded by former lead engineer for Google ’ s self-driving project Chris Urmson , is bringing its fleet of test vehicles to Texas .
It ’ s the latest company to shift resources to the Lone Star State , which has quickly become a hotbed of autonomous vehicle testing .
Aurora says it is bringing a “ small ” fleet of vehicles to the Dallas-Fort Worth area within the next few weeks .
The company tests out its autonomous vehicle hardware and software in both Chrysler Pacifica minivans — also popular with Urmson ’ s former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and Class 8 tractor trailers .
Aurora says its first commercial service will be in trucking “ where the market is largest today , the unit economics are best , and the level of service requirements is most accommodating.
” Trucking is “ where the market is largest today ” “ Whether a vehicle is moving people or goods , an investment in foundational elements like world-class perception , localization , and motion planning can ’ t be sidestepped , ” the company said in a statement .
“ Our early focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accelerates our ability to handle the hardest aspects of trucking .
While this investment takes time on the front end , its payoff can ’ t be underestimated.
” The company has mostly kept its technology under wraps until very recently .
Aurora newly acquired a LIDAR sensor maker , debuted its own in-house LIDAR , hired a VP of hardware , and took an investment from Amazon .
It also started giving reporters and members of the media test rides in its vehicles .
To date , Aurora has raised $ 690 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been hailed as the “ Henry Ford of autonomous vehicles , ” thanks to his work helping to pioneer Google ’ s self-driving car initiative .
His co-founders are Sterling Anderson , who helped lead Tesla ’ s Model X project , and Drew Bagnell , who ran a research lab at Carnegie Mellon then left to work on autonomous vehicles at Uber .
Fiat Chrysler , Hyundai , and EV startup Byton are also Aurora customers .
The company raised half a billion dollars last year in a funding round led by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some setbacks .
Last year , Volkswagen broke with Aurora after securing a deal with Ford to collaborate on electric and autonomous vehicles .
Texas is now firmly one of the top states in the US for AV testing .
In addition to Aurora , the state is also playing host to Ford / Argo , Uber , self-driving truck startup TuSimple , and Waymo , as well as a remote-operated driverless shuttle in service at Texas A & M University .
AV startup Drive.ai also operated in the Dallas region before going @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Aurora, the startup founded by former lead engineer for Google’s self-driving project Chris Urmson, is bringing its fleet of test vehicles to Texas. It’s the latest company to shift resources to the Lone Star State, which has quickly become a hotbed of autonomous vehicle testing.
Aurora says it is bringing a “small” fleet of vehicles to the Dallas-Fort Worth area within the next few weeks. The company tests out its autonomous vehicle hardware and software in both Chrysler Pacifica minivans — also popular with Urmson’s former employers at Waymo (née Google) — and Class 8 tractor trailers. Aurora says its first commercial service will be in trucking “where the market is largest today, the unit economics are best, and the level of service requirements is most accommodating.”
Trucking is “where the market is largest today”
“Whether a vehicle is moving people or goods, an investment in foundational elements like world-class perception, localization, and motion planning can’t be sidestepped,” the company said in a statement. “Our early focus on the complexities of surface street driving accelerates our ability to handle the hardest aspects of trucking. While this investment takes time on the front end, its payoff can’t be underestimated.”
The company has mostly kept its technology under wraps until very recently. Aurora newly acquired a LIDAR sensor maker, debuted its own in-house LIDAR, hired a VP of hardware, and took an investment from Amazon. It also started giving reporters and members of the media test rides in its vehicles.
To date, Aurora has raised $690 million in funding, and Urmson has been hailed as the “Henry Ford of autonomous vehicles,” thanks to his work helping to pioneer Google’s self-driving car initiative. His co-founders are Sterling Anderson, who helped lead Tesla’s Model X project, and Drew Bagnell, who ran a research lab at Carnegie Mellon then left to work on autonomous vehicles at Uber. Fiat Chrysler, Hyundai, and EV startup Byton are also Aurora customers. The company raised half a billion dollars last year in a funding round led by Amazon.
The company also has had some setbacks. Last year, Volkswagen broke with Aurora after securing a deal with Ford to collaborate on electric and autonomous vehicles.


theverge--2020-07-21--If you really want a smaller phone, try the tiny Jelly 2

Have you been lamenting that the new iPhone SE is just too darn big ?
Unihertz might have the solution .
The Jelly 2 , launching today on Kickstarter , is a truly tiny phone — the world ’ s smallest 4G phone with Android 10 , apparently .
How tiny ?
I just tried looking for it on my desk to help inspire a good description for this sentence , and I eventually found it underneath my air conditioner remote .
Now it ’ s in my jeans coin pocket for safekeeping .
The Jelly 2 is the successor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ original Jelly from 2017 .
My former colleague Michael Zelenko tested the Jelly a couple of years ago as part of a roundup of minimalist phones , and his main criticisms were an unusable software keyboard , bad battery life , and too much functionality to let him unplug .
The Jelly 2 fixes two of those problems .
I never tried the first Jelly , but its sequel feels way more practical , at least to a point .
Unihertz has given it a 3-inch 480x384 screen , which is obviously very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ size makes a big difference .
You can now see five whole tweets on screen at once , for example , as long as they only contain a few words each .
And though I wouldn ’ t want to type out much more than a couple of sentences , the keyboard is just about workable for quick searches , chat replies , and so on .
The Jelly 2 doesn ’ t exactly have tiny bezels , but the screen makes much more efficient use of the phone ’ s physical real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slightly larger overall than the original .
While the panel isn ’ t the most vibrant I ’ ve ever seen , it ’ s sharp enough — and let ’ s face it , you ’ re not buying this thing to edit photos or watch movies on .
Unihertz ’ s 4-inch Atom XL does feel a lot better suited for general smartphone use , if you ’ re not willing to go quite this small .
Performance from the MediaTek Helio P60 processor is not what I would call blazing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of actions I ’ ve been expecting the Jelly 2 to perform .
With a screen this small , it ’ s not even really worth trying to execute hardcore multitasking .
I did play a couple of Asphalt 9 races to test the performance and it was noticeably low-res , but most games wouldn ’ t really be playable on a screen like this even with unlimited horsepower .
As for the battery life , it ’ s seemed reasonable in my testing .
There ’ s a 2000mAh battery inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standards — but then most Android phones don ’ t have to power 3-inch screens , and this is more than double the capacity of the original Jelly .
For the expected use case of “ keep it mostly in your pocket and use it only when you really need to ” rather than the typical phone scenario of endless doomscrolling and 4K video recording , I think the Jelly 2 will be fine .
Speaking of the camera , there ’ s a 16-megapixel sensor on the back and an 8-megapixel sensor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t great , unsurprisingly , but it does the job as long as you ’ re only going to be viewing the photos on the tiny screen .
Most actual cameras have bigger screens than the Jelly 2 , though , so you should probably take one of those along too if you ’ re planning on visiting somewhere dark or pretty .
Some other notes on the hardware .
This phone is 16.5mm thick , which sounds excessive but given the small footprint actually makes it feel reassuringly chunky , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is by far the worst I ’ ve ever used and might as well not exist .
You get 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage .
There ’ s a headphone jack , so you could just use this as a compact MP3 player if you wanted .
If the idea of an Android phone roughly the size of a small potato is at all appealing to you , the Jelly 2 is about as good an example as I can imagine anyone actually making .
With Kickstarter pricing starting at $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be your only phone , either .
I can ’ t say I have much need for the Jelly 2 myself , but I continue to appreciate Unihertz ’ devotion to making ultra-niche devices .
I ’ m sure the Jelly 2 is exactly what a very small number of people have been waiting for .

Have you been lamenting that the new iPhone SE is just too darn big? Unihertz might have the solution. The Jelly 2, launching today on Kickstarter, is a truly tiny phone — the world’s smallest 4G phone with Android 10, apparently. How tiny? I just tried looking for it on my desk to help inspire a good description for this sentence, and I eventually found it underneath my air conditioner remote. Now it’s in my jeans coin pocket for safekeeping.
The Jelly 2 is the successor to Unihertz’s first phone, the original Jelly from 2017. My former colleague Michael Zelenko tested the Jelly a couple of years ago as part of a roundup of minimalist phones, and his main criticisms were an unusable software keyboard, bad battery life, and too much functionality to let him unplug. The Jelly 2 fixes two of those problems.
I never tried the first Jelly, but its sequel feels way more practical, at least to a point. Unihertz has given it a three-inch 480 x 854 screen, which is obviously very small, but the 20 percent-ish increase in size makes a big difference. You can now see five whole tweets on screen at once, for example, as long as they only contain a few words each. And though I wouldn’t want to type out much more than a couple of sentences, the keyboard is just about workable for quick searches, chat replies, and so on.
A note on crowdfunding: Crowdfunding is a chaotic field by nature: companies looking for funding tend to make big promises. According to a study run by Kickstarter in 2015, roughly 1 in 10 “successful” products that reach their funding goals fail to actually deliver rewards. Of the ones that do deliver, delays, missed deadlines, or overpromised ideas mean that there’s often disappointment in store for those products that do get done. The best defense is to use your best judgment. Ask yourself: does the product look legitimate? Is the company making outlandish claims? Is there a working prototype? Does the company mention existing plans to manufacture and ship finished products? Has it completed a Kickstarter before? And remember: you’re not necessarily buying a product when you back it on a crowdfunding site.
The Jelly 2 doesn’t exactly have tiny bezels, but the screen makes much more efficient use of the phone’s physical real estate, so the device is only slightly larger overall than the original. While the panel isn’t the most vibrant I’ve ever seen, it’s sharp enough — and let’s face it, you’re not buying this thing to edit photos or watch movies on. Unihertz’s four-inch Atom XL does feel a lot better suited for general smartphone use, if you’re not willing to go quite this small.
Performance from the MediaTek Helio P60 processor is not what I would call blazing, but more than adequate for the kind of actions I’ve been expecting the Jelly 2 to perform. With a screen this small, it’s not even really worth trying to execute hardcore multitasking. I did play a couple of Asphalt 9 races to test the performance and it was noticeably low-res, but most games wouldn’t really be playable on a screen like this even with unlimited horsepower.
As for the battery life, it’s seemed reasonable in my testing. There’s a 2,000mAh battery inside, which is small by Android phone standards — but then most Android phones don’t have to power three-inch screens, and this is more than double the capacity of the original Jelly. For the expected use case of “keep it mostly in your pocket and use it only when you really need to” rather than the typical phone scenario of endless doomscrolling and 4K video recording, I think the Jelly 2 will be fine.
Speaking of the camera, there’s a 16-megapixel sensor on the back and an 8-megapixel sensor for selfies. The primary camera isn’t great, unsurprisingly, but it does the job as long as you’re only going to be viewing the photos on the tiny screen. Most actual cameras have bigger screens than the Jelly 2, though, so you should probably take one of those along too if you’re planning on visiting somewhere dark or pretty.
Some other notes on the hardware. This phone is 16.5mm thick, which sounds excessive but given the small footprint actually makes it feel reassuringly chunky, like a pebble. The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor is by far the worst I’ve ever used and might as well not exist. You get 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There’s a headphone jack, so you could just use this as a compact MP3 player if you wanted.


theverge--2020-07-21--AMD’s first 7nm Ryzen 4000 desktop chips bring the fight to Intel

AMD is beginning to bring its latest 7nm Ryzen 4000 chips based on its Zen 2 architecture to desktops today , following a successful rollout of the laptop version of those processors earlier this year .
AMD is starting with chips for consumer-focused prebuilt systems by OEMs , which means customers looking to use the new 4000-series chips in their own custom-built rigs will still have to wait a bit .
It also means that it ’ ll be tougher to compare the new lineup to Intel ’ s own 10th Gen chips , which it boasts as being “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” It ’ s also important to note that these chips are still based on the Zen 2 architecture — not the next-gen Zen 3 lineup that ’ s expected to debut later this year .
Specifically , the first line of desktop chips AMD is offering is the Ryzen 4000 G-Series desktop processor , with built-in Radeon graphics that AMD says will offer a vastly improved gaming performance on the new APUs , even without a discrete card ( although you ’ ll obviously be able to pair them with a discrete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offers one ) .
AMD says that the new chips are designed for consumer prebuilt desktops — ranging from all-in-one designs to prebuilt gaming PC towers — and , as the company is announcing a trio of Ryzen 7 , Ryzen 5 , and Ryzen 3 models at both a 65W TDP and a 35W TDP that hit a range of performance and power points .
It ’ s difficult to compare the new AMD chips to Intel ’ s lineup yet for a few reasons : differences in the type of chip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scarcity of Intel ’ s 10th Gen lineup make a full-on head-to-head difficult to come by , and the fact that Intel offers a 125W TDP class chip that AMD isn ’ t currently offering its own competing variant of yet .
But the new chips should give at least an indication of whether AMD will be able to replicate its huge success with the Ryzen 4000 lineup on laptops on the desktop side of things .
AMD ’ s 7nm Zen 2 is also the same technology that the custom processors that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 will use , too .
That means the first computer using these chips might not just be the first look at AMD ’ s latest salvo against Intel — as AMD ’ s latest chips , they might be the best look yet at what next-gen gaming might look like .
Update July 21st , 9:15am : Added clarification that these new chips aren ’ t using AMD ’ s Zen 3 architecture , which is due out later in 2020 .

AMD is beginning to bring its latest 7nm Ryzen 4000 chips based on its Zen 2 architecture to desktops today, following a successful rollout of the laptop version of those processors earlier this year.
AMD is starting with chips for consumer-focused prebuilt systems by OEMs, which means customers looking to use the new 4000-series chips in their own custom-built rigs will still have to wait a bit. It also means that it’ll be tougher to compare the new lineup to Intel’s own 10th Gen chips, which it boasts as being “the world’s fastest gaming processor.”
It’s also important to note that these chips are still based on the Zen 2 architecture — not the next-gen Zen 3 lineup that’s expected to debut later this year.
Specifically, the first line of desktop chips AMD is offering is the Ryzen 4000 G-Series desktop processor, with built-in Radeon graphics that AMD says will offer a vastly improved gaming performance on the new APUs, even without a discrete card (although you’ll obviously be able to pair them with a discrete GPU, too, assuming your OEM offers one).
AMD says that the new chips are designed for consumer prebuilt desktops — ranging from all-in-one designs to prebuilt gaming PC towers — and, as the company is announcing a trio of Ryzen 7, Ryzen 5, and Ryzen 3 models at both a 65W TDP and a 35W TDP that hit a range of performance and power points.
AMD Ryzen 4000 G-Series desktop chips Model Cores/ Threads Watts Boost / Base Frequency (GHz) GPU Cores Graphics Frequency AMD Ryzen 7 4700G 8C/16T 65W Up to 4.4 / 3.6 GHz 8 2100 MHz AMD Ryzen 5 4600G 6C/12T 65W Up to 4.2 / 3.7 GHz 7 1900 MHz AMD Ryzen 3 4300G 4C/8T 65W Up to 4.0 / 3.8 GHz 6 1700 MHz AMD Ryzen 7 4700GE 8C/16T 35W Up to 4.3 / 3.1 GHz 8 2000 MHz AMD Ryzen 5 4600GE 6C/12T 35W Up to 4.2 / 3.3 GHz 7 1900 MHz AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE 4C/8T 35W Up to 4.0 / 3.5 GHz 6 1700 MHz
It’s difficult to compare the new AMD chips to Intel’s lineup yet for a few reasons: differences in the type of chip that AMD is launching today, the scarcity of Intel’s 10th Gen lineup make a full-on head-to-head difficult to come by, and the fact that Intel offers a 125W TDP class chip that AMD isn’t currently offering its own competing variant of yet. But the new chips should give at least an indication of whether AMD will be able to replicate its huge success with the Ryzen 4000 lineup on laptops on the desktop side of things.
AMD’s 7nm Zen 2 is also the same technology that the custom processors that both the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 will use, too. That means the first computer using these chips might not just be the first look at AMD’s latest salvo against Intel — as AMD’s latest chips, they might be the best look yet at what next-gen gaming might look like.


theverge--2020-07-21--This $30 remote is for anyone who loves their Apple TV but hates its Siri Remote

If you ’ re someone who hates the minimalist approach Apple has taken to its latest Siri TV remote , then this $ 30 replacement might be worth a look .
The “ Button Remote for Apple TV , ” as it ’ s been branded by its seller Function , looks almost identical to a version developed by Swiss TV and internet provider Salt that we covered last year .
The biggest difference is that it should be easier to get your hands on it in the US , unlike the Salt-branded model , which AppleInsider notes currently commands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s latest TV remote is disliked by many because of a minimalistic design that asks you to use a touchpad for many common controls .
Some people like the simplicity of it , while others prefer the reassurance of physical buttons .
If you ’ re in the latter category and want a remote to match your Apple TV box , then this could fit the bill .
From the pictures , the remote appears to have a similar mix of controls to your typical VCR or Blu-ray player remote : there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ volume , and mute buttons , and there ’ s a cluster of navigation buttons that should let you scroll up , down , left , and right without so much as having to look at a touchpad .
However , from the looks of things , the Siri button hasn ’ t made the cut .
Of course , it ’ s also possible to use plenty of other remotes , including Apple ’ s original TV remote , with the Apple TV .
Apple has instructions on how to set this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the process involving training the set-top box to recognize the IR signals sent out by your own remote .
Function says it expects to start shipping the remote later this month .

If you’re someone who hates the minimalist approach Apple has taken to its latest Siri TV remote, then this $30 replacement might be worth a look. The “Button Remote for Apple TV,” as it’s been branded by its seller Function, looks almost identical to a version developed by Swiss TV and internet provider Salt that we covered last year. The biggest difference is that it should be easier to get your hands on it in the US, unlike the Salt-branded model, which AppleInsider notes currently commands a hefty premium on eBay.
Apple’s latest TV remote is disliked by many because of a minimalistic design that asks you to use a touchpad for many common controls. Some people like the simplicity of it, while others prefer the reassurance of physical buttons. If you’re in the latter category and want a remote to match your Apple TV box, then this could fit the bill.
Image: Function
From the pictures, the remote appears to have a similar mix of controls to your typical VCR or Blu-ray player remote: there are play / pause, fast-forward, volume, and mute buttons, and there’s a cluster of navigation buttons that should let you scroll up, down, left, and right without so much as having to look at a touchpad. However, from the looks of things, the Siri button hasn’t made the cut.
Of course, it’s also possible to use plenty of other remotes, including Apple’s original TV remote, with the Apple TV. Apple has instructions on how to set this up on a dedicated help page, with the process involving training the set-top box to recognize the IR signals sent out by your own remote.


theverge--2020-07-21--Voicemod arrives on iPhone to change your voice to Darth Vader, T-Pain, and more

Popular voice changing app Voicemod is making its way to the iPhone today .
Voicemod Clips is a new mobile app that will allow iPhone owners , and Android users soon , to modify their voice for short video and audio clips .
The app is completely free to use , with no annoying ads or freemium features .
You can choose from a variety of facial and audio filters to create clips that can be shared freely on social networks , messaging apps , and more .
Much like the desktop app for PC , Voicemod Clips lets you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that modify your voice in real time with the flick of a switch .
There are 12 to choose from daily , out of a library of 60 in total .
The effects are a fun way to alter your voice for pranks on friends , or to add some creative flair to that TikTok banger .
I ’ ve been testing the app over the past week , trying out a variety of voices including a “ sword ” one that makes you sound like Darth Vader , another that amplifies your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a T-Pain auto-tune option .
Clips can be up to 60 seconds long , and are saved as videos to make it easy to share across a variety of other mobile apps .
Voicemod has teamed up with T-Pain to create a special voice based on the rapper ’ s infamous use of auto-tune .
It ’ s the only voice I ’ ve tested that requires headphones to use .
“ This partnership with Voicemod has been a long time coming .
I ’ ve been using their desktop version for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says T-Pain .
“ I was pretty excited when they reached out about doing something together .
I hope people have as much fun with it as I do.
” While a number of voice-changing apps exist for mobile and PC , Voicemod has certainly emerged as one of the most popular for streamers , gamers , and creators .
The PC version also includes a soundboard so you can change your voice with presets or import MP3s to play while you speak .
Voicemod Clips doesn ’ t include soundboard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of artificial intelligence and digital signal processing technologies for its synthetic voices .
The company , based in Spain , recently raised €7.1 million in investment to improve its speech conversion technologies .
Voicemod has also experimented with previously available mobile apps like Another Voice , Voice Swap , and Funny Calls .
Launching the main Voicemod app on mobile is clearly an important part of the company ’ s ambition to move beyond just the PC .
While Voicemod Clips is free , the daily rotation of 12 voices does hint that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid tier eventually to access all of the effects simultaneously .
Voicemod on PC is also free , with 7 voices that rotate every week .
The Pro version of Voicemod on PC unlocks all of the effects , custom voices , and more options for the soundboard .
You can download the iPhone version of Voicemod Clips over at Apple ’ s App Store , and the Android app should be available in the coming days over at Google ’ s Play Store .

Popular voice changing app Voicemod is making its way to the iPhone today. Voicemod Clips is a new mobile app that will allow iPhone owners, and Android users soon, to modify their voice for short video and audio clips. The app is completely free to use, with no annoying ads or freemium features. You can choose from a variety of facial and audio filters to create clips that can be shared freely on social networks, messaging apps, and more.
Much like the desktop app for PC, Voicemod Clips lets you choose from a variety of different voices that modify your voice in real time with the flick of a switch. There are 12 to choose from daily, out of a library of 60 in total. The effects are a fun way to alter your voice for pranks on friends, or to add some creative flair to that TikTok banger.
I’ve been testing the app over the past week, trying out a variety of voices including a “sword” one that makes you sound like Darth Vader, another that amplifies your voice like a megaphone, and even a T-Pain auto-tune option. Clips can be up to 60 seconds long, and are saved as videos to make it easy to share across a variety of other mobile apps.
Voicemod has teamed up with T-Pain to create a special voice based on the rapper’s infamous use of auto-tune. It’s the only voice I’ve tested that requires headphones to use. “This partnership with Voicemod has been a long time coming. I’ve been using their desktop version for a while now when I’m gaming,” says T-Pain. “I was pretty excited when they reached out about doing something together. I hope people have as much fun with it as I do.”
While a number of voice-changing apps exist for mobile and PC, Voicemod has certainly emerged as one of the most popular for streamers, gamers, and creators. The PC version also includes a soundboard so you can change your voice with presets or import MP3s to play while you speak. Voicemod Clips doesn’t include soundboard functionality yet.
Voicemod uses a combination of artificial intelligence and digital signal processing technologies for its synthetic voices. The company, based in Spain, recently raised €7.1 million in investment to improve its speech conversion technologies. Voicemod has also experimented with previously available mobile apps like Another Voice, Voice Swap, and Funny Calls. Launching the main Voicemod app on mobile is clearly an important part of the company’s ambition to move beyond just the PC.
While Voicemod Clips is free, the daily rotation of 12 voices does hint that the company may introduce some type of paid tier eventually to access all of the effects simultaneously. Voicemod on PC is also free, with 7 voices that rotate every week. The Pro version of Voicemod on PC unlocks all of the effects, custom voices, and more options for the soundboard.


theverge--2020-07-21--Amazon expands its robot delivery trials to more states

Amazon unveiled its six-wheel delivery robot , Scout , in January 2019 , but has only been slowly expanding its field tests .
After launching in a single neighborhood in Snohomish County , Washington and then adding a larger site in Irvine , California last August , Scout is now undergoing trials in Atlanta , Georgia and Franklin , Tennessee , Amazon announced today .
It ’ s unclear how many robots are on the road and how many customers Scout is serving .
But it seems the bots are very much still prototypes , and are being treated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s built its reputation on speedy and reliable delivery .
Amazon says it has a “ small number of Amazon Scout devices ” operating in both Atlanta and Franklin , which will be delivering “ Monday through Friday , during daylight hours.
” The devices navigate autonomously but are accompanied by a human minder at all times ( an “ Amazon Scout Ambassador ” in the retailer ’ s corporate jargon ) .
Delivery robots have become a fast-moving arena in recent years , with a number of startups fielding their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of hampers , like Amazon ’ s Scout , while others are more like small cars .
With the advent of coronavirus , interest in the technology has increased yet again as companies look for ways to minimize human contact and demand for home deliveries booms .
Amazon says its trials of Scout have continued during the pandemic , helping the company to “ meet increased customer demand by supplementing our transportation network.
” But while early trials of delivery robots are promising , it ’ s not yet clear if the machines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world .
Navigating clutter-free sidewalks in suburbia is easy enough , but dealing with all the hazards of a city street is much tougher .
And despite the promise of AI to give these robots the smarts they need to steer themselves , companies still rely on human drivers operating machines remotely to make the rounds .

Amazon unveiled its six-wheel delivery robot, Scout, in January 2019, but has only been slowly expanding its field tests. After launching in a single neighborhood in Snohomish County, Washington and then adding a larger site in Irvine, California last August, Scout is now undergoing trials in Atlanta, Georgia and Franklin, Tennessee, Amazon announced today.
It’s unclear how many robots are on the road and how many customers Scout is serving. But it seems the bots are very much still prototypes, and are being treated with the caution appropriate for a company that’s built its reputation on speedy and reliable delivery.
Amazon says it has a “small number of Amazon Scout devices” operating in both Atlanta and Franklin, which will be delivering “Monday through Friday, during daylight hours.” The devices navigate autonomously but are accompanied by a human minder at all times (an “Amazon Scout Ambassador” in the retailer’s corporate jargon).
Amazon’s Scout robots navigate autonomously, but are accompanied by human minders at all times. Image: Amazon
Delivery robots have become a fast-moving arena in recent years, with a number of startups fielding their own devices. Some robots are the size of hampers, like Amazon’s Scout, while others are more like small cars. With the advent of coronavirus, interest in the technology has increased yet again as companies look for ways to minimize human contact and demand for home deliveries booms.
Amazon says its trials of Scout have continued during the pandemic, helping the company to “meet increased customer demand by supplementing our transportation network.”