theverge--2020-09-01--OnlyFans confirms new caps on tips and pay-per-view content, but says the changes are unrelated to B

OnlyFans confirms new caps on tips and pay-per-view content, but says the changes are unrelated to Bella Thorne

OnlyFans confirmed new rule changes to The Verge today that could impact how much money creators make on the platform , as well as how quickly they get paid .
The new rules include a $ 100 cap on paid private messages , compared to $ 200 before , and a $ 50 cap on pay-per-view posts for creators who don ’ t charge a subscription , compared to $ 200 previously .
There ’ s also a new maximum tip price of $ 100 for the first four months a creator is active on the site .
After that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was the standard for all creators up until this point .
OnlyFans is also lengthening the pending payout period from seven to 21 days for creators in 14 countries , including India , Belize , the Dominican Republic , Mexico , and Venezuela .
OnlyFans says the changes reflect an “ evolving process ” that ’ s meant to “ ensure payment protection for both content creators and users.
” The changes come only a couple weeks after actress Bella Thorne joined the service and made $ 1 million in subscription @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her week on the platform , she also supposedly charged $ 200 for a pay-per-view post that didn ’ t deliver on promised nudity , fueling rumors that the platform made its changes because people wanted refunds after spending a significant amount of money for the content .
OnlyFans creators spoke out about the changes and blamed Thorne , saying this would impact how they make money .
For its part , OnlyFans says these rumors are unsubstantiated .
“ We can confirm that any changes to transaction limits are not based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson said in a comment to The Verge last week .
Still , Thorne apologized on Twitter earlier this week for joining the service and apparently only doing so for film research purposes — not because she needs to make a livelihood .
“ I wanted to bring attention to the site , the more people on the site the more likely of a chance to normalize the stigmas , and in trying to do this I hurt you , ” she tweeted .
“ I have risked my career a few times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , porn , and the natural hatred people spew behind anything sex related .
I wrote and directed a porn against the high brows of my peers and managers because I WANTED to help with the stigma behind sex.
” She apologized for joining the platform and potentially hurting people who rely on the service to make money .
She also said she was meeting with OnlyFans to learn about the new restrictions .
Sean Baker , who was widely reported to be working on a film with Thorne , distanced himself from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule changes .
“ I am an ally and have literally devoted my career to tell stories that remove stigma and normalize lifestyles that are under attack , ” he wrote .
“ I would never do anything that could possibly hurt the community.
” Since its launch in 2016 , OnlyFans has become synonymous with sex work and nudity and grew in popularity during the pandemic as celebrities , like Cardi B , joined the service .
Beyoncé shouted OnlyFans out during a song with Megan Thee Stallion , and Instagram influencers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the platform to sell nudes .
Sex workers who found a paying audience on the platform are now wary of its possible transition to less explicit creators , which could push it to ostracize and undervalue sex workers ’ contributions and reliance on the site .

OnlyFans confirmed new rule changes to The Verge today that could impact how much money creators make on the platform, as well as how quickly they get paid. The new rules include a $100 cap on paid private messages, compared to $200 before, and a $50 cap on pay-per-view posts for creators who don’t charge a subscription, compared to $200 previously.
There’s also a new maximum tip price of $100 for the first four months a user is active on the site. After that point, it increases to $200, which was the standard for all users up until this point. OnlyFans is also lengthening the pending payout period from seven to 21 days for creators in 14 countries, including India, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Venezuela.
OnlyFans says the changes reflect an “evolving process” that’s meant to “ensure payment protection for both content creators and users.”
The changes come only a couple weeks after actress Bella Thorne joined the service and made $1 million in subscription money in just a day. During her week on the platform, she also supposedly charged $200 for a pay-per-view post that didn’t deliver on promised nudity, fueling rumors that the platform made its changes because people wanted refunds after spending a significant amount of money for the content. OnlyFans creators spoke out about the changes and blamed Thorne, saying this would impact how they make money. For its part, OnlyFans says these rumors are unsubstantiated.
“We can confirm that any changes to transaction limits are not based on any one user,” an OnlyFans spokesperson said in a comment to The Verge last week.
Still, Thorne apologized on Twitter earlier this week for joining the service and apparently only doing so for film research purposes — not because she needs to make a livelihood.
“I wanted to bring attention to the site, the more people on the site the more likely of a chance to normalize the stigmas, and in trying to do this I hurt you,” she tweeted. “I have risked my career a few times to remove the stigma behind sex work, porn, and the natural hatred people spew behind anything sex related. I wrote and directed a porn against the high brows of my peers and managers because I WANTED to help with the stigma behind sex.”
She apologized for joining the platform and potentially hurting people who rely on the service to make money. She also said she was meeting with OnlyFans to learn about the new restrictions.
Sean Baker, who was widely reported to be working on a film with Thorne, distanced himself from the project after the fallout from the rule changes. “I am an ally and have literally devoted my career to tell stories that remove stigma and normalize lifestyles that are under attack,” he wrote. “I would never do anything that could possibly hurt the community.”
Since its launch in 2016, OnlyFans has become synonymous with sex work and nudity and grew in popularity during the pandemic as celebrities, like Cardi B, joined the service. Beyoncé shouted OnlyFans out during a song with Megan Thee Stallion, and Instagram influencers, like Caroline Calloway, also joined the platform to sell nudes. Sex workers who found a paying audience on the platform are now wary of its possible transition to less explicit creators, which could push it to ostracize and undervalue sex workers’ contributions and reliance on the site.


theverge--2020-09-01--Apple releases iOS 13.7 with support for new automatic COVID-19 notification system

Apple on Tuesday released iOS 13.7 , adding support for a new exposure notification system for powering COVID-19 tracking .
The system is an extension of the existing coronavirus contact tracing efforts , but it removes the burden on states of having to build a dedicated app .
News of the new software framework was first announced earlier today in a joint statement from Apple and Google .
This native support was expected , as it was announced when the exposure notification API — developed collaboratively between Apple and Google — was revealed in April .
But at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it would arrive .
Here ’ s how it will work , from The Verge ’ s report on the announcement : Under the new system , participating health departments will assemble a configuration file , allowing them to set their risk scores , redirect users to their specific health department website , and modify the recommendation for users who have been exposed .
Once the configuration is complete , iOS and Android can automatically generate the necessary software , although the two operating systems handle the task differently .
In Android @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a custom Android app , while iOS will incorporate the settings into its OS-level contact system .
More broadly , the OS-powered contact tracing system is designed to inform someone when they may have been in contact with another person later diagnosed with COVID-19 , primarily through a complex BLE Beacon protocol .
Support for the protocol was first added to iOS in May with the release of iOS 13.5 .
But at the time , any given state needed to have an app developed by a public health agency that used the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can simply provide Apple and Google with the necessary information and the auto-generated software framework will take care of the rest .
Apple and Google made sure to clarify that existing apps , of which there are six , will continue to work , and support for interoperability between states is built into the new framework to allow for contact tracing state lines .
The first official app supporting the exposure notification system debuted in Virginia earlier in August .
The University of Alabama at Birmingham launched a closed pilot for an exposure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ As the next step in our work with public health authorities on Exposure Notifications , we are making it easier and faster for them to use the Exposure Notifications System without the need for them to build and maintain an app , ” Apple and Google said in a joint statement today .
“ Exposure Notifications Express provides another option for public health authorities to supplement their existing contact tracing operations with technology without compromising on the project ’ s core tenets of user privacy and security .
Existing apps using the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Exposure Notifications Express , and we are committed to supporting public health authorities that have deployed or are building custom apps.
” iOS 13.7 is available to download now .

Apple on Tuesday released iOS 13.7, adding support for a new exposure notification system for powering COVID-19 tracking. The system is an extension of the existing coronavirus contact tracing efforts, but it removes the burden on states of having to build a dedicated app. News of the new software framework was first announced earlier today in a joint statement from Apple and Google.
This native support was expected, as it was announced when the exposure notification API — developed collaboratively between Apple and Google — was revealed in April. But at the time, we didn’t know exactly when it would arrive.
Here’s how it will work, from The Verge’s report on the announcement:
Under the new system, participating health departments will assemble a configuration file, allowing them to set their risk scores, redirect users to their specific health department website, and modify the recommendation for users who have been exposed. Once the configuration is complete, iOS and Android can automatically generate the necessary software, although the two operating systems handle the task differently. In Android, the configuration file will automatically generate a custom Android app, while iOS will incorporate the settings into its OS-level contact system.
More broadly, the OS-powered contact tracing system is designed to inform someone when they may have been in contact with another person later diagnosed with COVID-19, primarily through a complex BLE Beacon protocol. Support for the protocol was first added to iOS in May with the release of iOS 13.5. But at the time, any given state needed to have an app developed by a public health agency that used the API. Now, though, states can simply provide Apple and Google with the necessary information and the auto-generated software framework will take care of the rest.
Apple and Google made sure to clarify that existing apps, of which there are six, will continue to work, and support for interoperability between states is built into the new framework to allow for contact tracing state lines. The first official app supporting the exposure notification system debuted in Virginia earlier in August. The University of Alabama at Birmingham launched a closed pilot for an exposure notification app last month as well.
Image: Apple
“As the next step in our work with public health authorities on Exposure Notifications, we are making it easier and faster for them to use the Exposure Notifications System without the need for them to build and maintain an app,” Apple and Google said in a joint statement today. “Exposure Notifications Express provides another option for public health authorities to supplement their existing contact tracing operations with technology without compromising on the project’s core tenets of user privacy and security. Existing apps using the Exposure Notification API will be compatible with Exposure Notifications Express, and we are committed to supporting public health authorities that have deployed or are building custom apps.”


theverge--2020-09-01--Gogo sells commercial in-flight internet business to bankrupt satellite provider

Gogo , the in-flight internet provider , has found a buyer for its commercial airline business .
Intelsat , the world ’ s second largest satellite operator by revenue , has agreed to purchase Gogo ’ s Wi-Fi business for $ 400 million in cash , the companies announced Tuesday .
It ’ s an unlikely pairing , mostly because Intelsat filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May .
The bankruptcy was seen as a means for Intelsat to begin paying down its nearly $ 15 billion debt load while positioning itself to participate in a Federal Communications Commission spectrum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The FCC is clearing out the C-band ( 4-8 GHz ) to make space for 5G customers , and Intelsat is participating in the program that could net the company nearly $ 5 billion by selling airwave licenses it currently owns .
The company operates a fleet of roughly 50 satellites and has another , Galaxy-30 , scheduled to launch this summer on an Ariane 5 rocket .
It expects to pay for the transaction utilizing the cash it has on hand , as well as borrowings under its $ 1 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has obtained approval from the US Bankruptcy Court in Richmond , VA , to complete the acquisition , which is expected to close before the end of the first quarter 2021 .
The commercial airline business will remain independent and headquartered in Chicago , the companies said .
“ This transaction creates a stronger and more focused Gogo , with the singular strategic imperative of serving the business aviation market with the best inflight connectivity and entertainment products in the world , ” Oakleigh Thorne , Gogo ’ s president and CEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sale represents a huge shift for Gogo , which pioneered in-flight connectivity .
But it comes as Gogo , like much of the air travel industry , is struggling due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
Gogo , which is based in Chicago , provides in-flight connectivity to major airlines like Delta , United , and Alaska .
The company lost $ 86 million on $ 96 million in revenue during the second quarter of 2020 .
Its sessions per day in the North American market dropped 91 percent , from 125,000 before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though the company says those crept back up to about 40,000 so far in August .
To cut costs , the company furloughed some 600 workers in April , slashed executive pay , and laid off another 143 in July — the majority of which were in the company ’ s commercial aviation division .
Gogo applied for but did not receive around $ 230 million in funding from the government ’ s Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act .
Gogo has spent the last few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the load on its strained air-to-ground network and to help keep pace with more vertically integrated competitors like ViaSat , which both makes satellites and sells connectivity to airlines .
The company is also working on a 5G network that is still slated to launch in 2021 .

Gogo, the in-flight internet provider, has found a buyer for its commercial airline business. Intelsat, the world’s second largest satellite operator by revenue, has agreed to purchase Gogo’s Wi-Fi business for $400 million in cash, the companies announced Tuesday. It’s an unlikely pairing, mostly because Intelsat filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May.
The bankruptcy was seen as a means for Intelsat to begin paying down its nearly $15 billion debt load while positioning itself to participate in a Federal Communications Commission spectrum clearing program, the company has said. The FCC is clearing out the C-band (4-8 GHz) to make space for 5G customers, and Intelsat is participating in the program that could net the company nearly $5 billion by selling airwave licenses it currently owns. The company operates a fleet of roughly 50 satellites and has another, Galaxy-30, scheduled to launch this summer on an Ariane 5 rocket.
The sale represents a huge shift for Gogo
It expects to pay for the transaction utilizing the cash it has on hand, as well as borrowings under its $1 billion debtor-in-possession credit facility. The company says it has obtained approval from the US Bankruptcy Court in Richmond, VA, to complete the acquisition, which is expected to close before the end of the first quarter 2021.
The commercial airline business will remain independent and headquartered in Chicago, the companies said. “This transaction creates a stronger and more focused Gogo, with the singular strategic imperative of serving the business aviation market with the best inflight connectivity and entertainment products in the world,” Oakleigh Thorne, Gogo’s president and CEO, said in a statement.
The sale represents a huge shift for Gogo, which pioneered in-flight connectivity. But it comes as Gogo, like much of the air travel industry, is struggling due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Gogo, which is based in Chicago, provides in-flight connectivity to major airlines like Delta, United, and Alaska. The company lost $86 million on $96 million in revenue during the second quarter of 2020. Its sessions per day in the North American market dropped 91 percent, from 125,000 before the pandemic to just 11,000 in April, though the company says those crept back up to about 40,000 so far in August.
To cut costs, the company furloughed some 600 workers in April, slashed executive pay, and laid off another 143 in July — the majority of which were in the company’s commercial aviation division. Gogo applied for but did not receive around $230 million in funding from the government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.


theverge--2020-09-01--Dr Disrespect says his mysterious Twitch ban is causing him anxiety

Dr Disrespect says he still doesn ’ t know why he was banned from Twitch , and he warned viewers that the mysterious ban has been causing him anxiety .
“ My anxiety levels are something that comes in these huge waves , ” said Dr Disrespect , real name Guy Beahm , on a stream compilation posted to YouTube this afternoon .
“ And I ’ m having a hard time dealing with it .
I ’ ll be honest.
” Twitch signed Beahm to an exclusive contract at the beginning of the year .
But in June , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Twitch refused to say why or even confirm that he had been banned .
It was a big surprise given that Beahm was one of the platform ’ s top streamers .
The ban came amid criticisms about Twitch failing to deal with sexual harassment , though no complaints had been publicly made about Beahm .
“ Not to be told nothing .
Boom , taken , grabbed .
Everything we ’ ve built .
All the eggs in one bucket .
Boom , taken away.
” Neither Twitch nor Beahm have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Beahm continues to say that he does not know why he was removed from the platform .
“ To have that taken away from you , and to not know why , and to not know anything about it , ” Beahm said in today ’ s video .
“ Not to be told nothing .
Boom , taken , grabbed .
Everything we ’ ve built .
All the eggs in one bucket .
Boom , taken away.
” Beahm has since started streaming on YouTube , where he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viewership has been “ fantastic , ” Beahm said , but that hasn ’ t stopped him from worrying about what happened with Twitch .
“ Just so you know , there might be days when the Doc seems off , feels off , ” Beahm said .
“ We ’ re trying to learn the dark alleyway , man .
We ’ re trying to get out of it.
” Because he ’ s banned on Twitch , other Twitch streamers aren ’ t allowed to feature Beahm in their videos .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to promote his new channel .
“ To think that I ’ m here , and I ’ m just moving on , ” Beahm said .
“ I ’ m not .
I can ’ t .
How ?
How can I ?
I ’ m trying .
How ?
But how ?
How can I ?
” The video then cuts to his character parachuting into a match of Call of Duty : Warzone .

Dr Disrespect says he still doesn’t know why he was banned from Twitch, and he warned viewers that the mysterious ban has been causing him anxiety. “My anxiety levels are something that comes in these huge waves,” said Dr Disrespect, real name Guy Beahm, on a stream compilation posted to YouTube this afternoon. “And I’m having a hard time dealing with it. I’ll be honest.”
“Not to be told nothing. Boom, taken, grabbed. Everything we’ve built. All the eggs in one bucket. Boom, taken away.”
Neither Twitch nor Beahm have elaborated on the apparent ban since then, and Beahm continues to say that he does not know why he was removed from the platform. “To have that taken away from you, and to not know why, and to not know anything about it,” Beahm said in today’s video. “Not to be told nothing. Boom, taken, grabbed. Everything we’ve built. All the eggs in one bucket. Boom, taken away.”
Beahm has since started streaming on YouTube, where he’s nearing 3 million followers. The viewership has been “fantastic,” Beahm said, but that hasn’t stopped him from worrying about what happened with Twitch.
“Just so you know, there might be days when the Doc seems off, feels off,” Beahm said. “We’re trying to learn the dark alleyway, man. We’re trying to get out of it.”
Because he’s banned on Twitch, other Twitch streamers aren’t allowed to feature Beahm in their videos. That limits who he can partner with to promote his new channel.
“To think that I’m here, and I’m just moving on,” Beahm said. “I’m not. I can’t. How? How can I? I’m trying. How? But how? How can I?”


theverge--2020-09-01--The best laptop you can buy in 2020

The best laptop you can buy in 2020

Welcome to our guide to the best laptop to buy in 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting harder to buy a bad laptop , but what separates the best laptops of 2020 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
That ’ s why the Dell XPS 13 is the best laptop you can buy in 2020 .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best laptop for 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 laptop you can buy If you ’ re looking for a laptop that does just about everything right , we recommend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 Overwatch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 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 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 drive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 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 that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
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 few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ 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 with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 crammed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 keyboard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 Dragonfly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 , weighing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 Chromebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tight budget .
Usually , if you want a 17-inch laptop that can pull playable frame rates out of today ’ s most demanding games , you ’ d expect some compromises on portability and design .
Notebooks of this size often weigh north of seven pounds and require multiple power bricks to charge .
But while the Blade Pro 17 doesn ’ t have quite the gaming chops of some bulky desktop replacements , it makes up for that by sporting the compact and attractive design that ’ s a trademark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just over six pounds , it ’ s not too difficult to move around ( as 17-inch workstations go ) .
You get an RTX GPU ( up to Nvidia ’ s 2080 Super Max-Q ) an eight-core CPU ( Intel ’ s Core i7-10875H ) and either a 300Hz screen or a 120Hz touchscreen .
There ’ s even an RGB keyboard with color effects tailored to the game you ’ re playing .
The Spectre x360 is a premium-level 2-in-1 Windows laptop with the latest processor options from Intel , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 keyboard and spacious trackpad .
In addition , it provides both facial and fingerprint biometric authentication , so you can choose which way you prefer to log in .
HP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 scrolling , multifinger gestures , and palm rejection .
The biggest argument against the x360 is that it has a 16:9 display , as opposed to the 16:10 or 3:2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 a deal-breaker .
The best MacBook Pro for everyday users If you ’ re looking for a MacBook that ’ s more powerful than the Air , but isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 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 pricier version has 10th-Gen processors and four Thunderbolt 3 ports ( as well as 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD ) .
If you can afford it , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as the performance difference between the two generations is noticeable .
The best Chromebook of 2020 For high school and college students , or anyone else who needs an affordable , portable machine , a Chromebook can be a great option .
Though it ’ s not the cheapest model available , Acer ’ s Chromebook Spin 713 offers top-notch performance at a lower price than many competing Chromebooks ( and other laptops ) .
It can be equipped with a Core i3 , Core i5 , or Core i7 — the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multitasking load without any slowdown , heat , or noise .
Add all-day battery life , an excellent keyboard , and a generous port selection that includes a full-size HDMI , and there ’ s very little not to like .
But where the 713 really shines is its display .
The 3:2 gives you extra space for comfortable multitasking , and the sharp panel delivers a really excellent picture — I actually preferred it to my MacBook Pro ’ s screen .
Between its standout performance , peripherals , and portability , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
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 full SD-card slot , so you ’ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 high resolution and the high-powered specs , 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 you significant money .
( We also 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 one for you .
AMD rewrote 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 CPU and GPU depending on where it ’ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 1 , an Ethernet , and a 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 had an RTX 2060 Max Q .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

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--2020-09-01--Nvidia’s new RTX 3090 is a $1,499 monster GPU designed for 8K gaming

Nvidia might have just announced its RTX 3080 successor to the RTX 2080 , but the company also had a surprise giant GPU ready : the RTX 3090 .
While the RTX 3080 will ship with 10GB of GDDR6X memory , the RTX 3090 ships with a huge 24GB of GDDR6X memory .
Nvidia is promising that the RTX 3090 will be capable of 60fps gaming at 8K resolutions .
This new flagship card is more akin to Nvidia ’ s Titan series and will ship on September 24th priced at $ 1,499 .
The RTX 3090 is based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which promises some impressive performance gains for PC gaming and ray tracing .
Nvidia claims the RTX 3090 is the “ world ’ s first 8K gaming GPU , ” with 8K HDR ShadowPlay support , HDMI 2.1 , and a whole lot more .
Nvidia is using 10,496 CUDA cores on the RTX 3090 , combined with a boost clock of 1.70GHz and 24GB of GDDR6X memory .
Nvidia is labeling the RTX 3090 a “ Big Ferocious GPU ” ( BFGPU ) .
The card will occupy three slots and include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 times quieter than the existing Titan RTX graphics card .
Nvidia says the RTX 3090 will also be up to 50 percent faster than the Titan RTX , and will require a 750-watt power supply .
The card itself is expected to utilize around 350 watts of power .
While the RTX 3090 clearly promises big power , it ’ s also huge in physical dimensions , too .
The card measures 313mm in length , compared to 285mm for the RTX 3080 .
It also occupies three slots compared to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have to consider which type of case to slot this into .
Nvidia only just announced this card alongside the RTX 3080 , so we ’ re waiting to hear exactly what type of performance we can expect to see in regular games with and without ray tracing .
Given the big promises of 8K gaming , this could be the card we ’ ve been waiting for to really push 4K gaming into higher frame rates and more reliable performance .
Update , September 1st 2PM ET : Updated with more @ @ @ @ @ @

Nvidia might have just announced its RTX 3080 successor to the RTX 2080, but the company also had a surprise giant GPU ready: the RTX 3090. While the RTX 3080 will ship with 10GB of GDDR6X memory, the RTX 3090 ships with a huge 24GB of GDDR6X memory. Nvidia is promising that the RTX 3090 will be capable of 60fps gaming at 8K resolutions. This new flagship card is more akin to Nvidia’s Titan series and will ship on September 24th priced at $1,499.
The RTX 3090 is based on Nvidia’s Ampere GPU architecture, which promises some impressive performance gains for PC gaming and ray tracing. Nvidia claims the RTX 3090 is the “world’s first 8K gaming GPU,” with 8K HDR ShadowPlay support, HDMI 2.1, and a whole lot more. Nvidia is using 10,496 CUDA cores on the RTX 3090, combined with a boost clock of 1.70GHz and 24GB of GDDR6X memory.
Nvidia’s RTX 3090 graphics card. Nvidia
Nvidia is labeling the RTX 3090 a “Big Ferocious GPU” (BFGPU). The card will occupy three slots and include a silencer to make it up to 10 times quieter than the existing Titan RTX graphics card. Nvidia says the RTX 3090 will also be up to 50 percent faster than the Titan RTX, and will require a 750-watt power supply. The card itself is expected to utilize around 350 watts of power.
While the RTX 3090 clearly promises big power, it’s also huge in physical dimensions, too. The card measures 313mm in length, compared to 285mm for the RTX 3080. It also occupies three slots compared to the more common two, meaning PC builders will have to consider which type of case to slot this into.
Nvidia only just announced this card alongside the RTX 3080, so we’re waiting to hear exactly what type of performance we can expect to see in regular games with and without ray tracing. Given the big promises of 8K gaming, this could be the card we’ve been waiting for to really push 4K gaming into higher frame rates and more reliable performance.


theverge--2020-09-02--Lucid Motors says its electric sedan can hit a quarter-mile in under 10 seconds, smashing Tesla’s re

Lucid Motors says its electric sedan can hit a quarter-mile in under 10 seconds, smashing Tesla’s record

Lucid Motors has been making a lot of bold claims in the lead-up to the September 9th unveiling of its first all-electric sedan , the Lucid Air : longest range , fastest charge , biggest battery .
But today , the Newark , California-based company is truly laying its cards on the table with its claim to have built one of the quickest production cars ever made .
Not just one of the fastest-accelerating electric cars , mind you .
One of the fastest-accelerating cars , period .
How fast ?
We already know that the Lucid Air can sprint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seconds and will have a top speed of 200 mph .
But thanks to Lucid ’ s 1,080 horsepower , dual-motor configuration , the company now claims the Air can run a quarter-mile in 9.9 seconds “ on a consistent , repeatable basis.
” “ it is the only electric sedan able to achieve a quarter-mile time under 10 seconds ” “ To date , it is the only electric sedan able to achieve a quarter-mile time under 10 seconds , ” the company said .
To be sure , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But in the world of high-performance vehicles , that fraction makes all the difference .
To put that in perspective , the Dodge Charger , one of the fastest cars on the drag strip , can make the quarter-mile in 9.65 seconds — and that ’ s only with the help of a 6.2-liter V8 engine .
The Lucid Air is only a smidge slower than some of the fastest ( and most expensive ) hypercars in the world , like the Ferrari LaFerrari ( 9.8 second quarter-mile ; $ 1.4 million price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9.8 second quarter-mile ; $ 845,000 ) , and Bugatti Veyron Super Sport ( 9.7 second quarter-mile ; $ 2.4 million ) .
The Lucid Air is expected to cost somewhere between $ 60,000 and $ 100,000 , depending on the trim level , which would make it quite the bargain if you ’ re shopping for performance .
But after a certain point , these are just numbers on a screen , right ?
All this speed and horsepower starts to get a little abstract , and that abstraction can be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just ask Richard Hammond , who is very lucky to have walked away from the burning wreckage of the hellaciously fast electric Rimac Concept One ( 9.1 second quarter-mile ) while shooting his television show The Grand Tour in 2017 .
Lucid has been teasing its eye-popping performance specs for several years now .
Back in 2017 , the company claimed to have hit 217 mph on its test track — a milestone that soon became moot after removing the vehicle ’ s speed-limiting software and taking it for a breezy summer drive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compare to the Tesla Model S P100D , which has already earned the reputation as the quickest EV on the market with an impressive 0–60 mph sprint in 2.9 seconds ?
Hard to say , since there doesn ’ t seem to be much information out there about Tesla ’ s top speed without its speed-limiting software that keeps it to 155 mph .
In fact , most luxury automakers limit their high-performing models to the same speed , thanks to a “ gentleman ’ s agreement ” between Mercedes-Benz , Audi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reduce the number of fatalities on the Autobahn .
Tesla Model S performance in “ cheetah stance ” can do a quarter-mile in 10.4 seconds Recently , Tesla achieved a new record with its Model S performance , sprinting a quarter-mile in 10.4 seconds thanks to the new “ cheetah stance ” update .
That ’ s mind-meltingly fast , but still not as quick as the Lucid Air .
( Lucid appears to have raced the Air against a Tesla , according to a fleeting glimpse in the video posted above @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the race in its press materials . )
There is an obsession among electric car manufacturers with horsepower and how many seconds it takes to run to 60 mph or a quarter-mile .
( Jalopnik had a good piece on this a few years ago . )
It could reflect an insecurity among EV makers about whether their cars can stand up to the muscle cars and Ford F150s that have squatted in the frontal cortex of the American car buyer for decades .
They worry whether their EVs are too quiet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to appeal to these consumers .
This leads to an over-emphasis on performance , which might appeal to some buyers despite the day-to-day impracticalities of city driving .
Lucid ’ s advances in performance , range , and charging times aren ’ t surprising given its history .
The company was founded in 2007 as battery maker Atieva , originally focused on being more of a supplier in the budding world of electric vehicles than a carmaker .
One of its battery customers was Formula E , with Lucid going on to supply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the electric racing series .
What better stress test for your power-delivery system than high-speed performance racing ?

Lucid Motors has been making a lot of bold claims in the lead-up to the September 9th unveiling of its first all-electric sedan, the Lucid Air: longest range, fastest charge, biggest battery. But today, the Newark, California-based company is truly laying its cards on the table with its claim to have built one of the quickest production cars ever made.
Not just one of the fastest-accelerating electric cars, mind you. One of the fastest-accelerating cars, period.
How fast? We already know that the Lucid Air can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and will have a top speed of 200 mph. But thanks to Lucid’s 1,080 horsepower, dual-motor configuration, the company now claims the Air can run a quarter-mile in 9.9 seconds “on a consistent, repeatable basis.”
“it is the only electric sedan able to achieve a quarter-mile time under 10 seconds”
“To date, it is the only electric sedan able to achieve a quarter-mile time under 10 seconds,” the company said. To be sure, it’s just a fraction under 10 seconds. But in the world of high-performance vehicles, that fraction makes all the difference.
To put that in perspective, the Dodge Challenger, one of the fastest cars on the drag strip, can make the quarter-mile in 9.65 seconds — and that’s only with the help of a 6.2-liter V8 engine. The Lucid Air is only a smidge slower than some of the fastest (and most expensive) hypercars in the world, like the Ferrari LaFerrari (9.8 second quarter-mile; $1.4 million price tag), Porsche 918 Spyder (9.8 second quarter-mile; $845,000), and Bugatti Veyron Super Sport (9.7 second quarter-mile; $2.4 million). The Lucid Air is expected to cost somewhere between $60,000 and $100,000, depending on the trim level, which would make it quite the bargain if you’re shopping for performance.
But after a certain point, these are just numbers on a screen, right? All this speed and horsepower starts to get a little abstract, and that abstraction can be a little dangerous if not handled correctly. Just ask Richard Hammond, who is very lucky to have walked away from the burning wreckage of the hellaciously fast electric Rimac Concept One (9.1 second quarter-mile) while shooting his television show The Grand Tour in 2017.
Lucid has been teasing its eye-popping performance specs for several years now. Back in 2017, the company claimed to have hit 217 mph on its test track — a milestone that soon became moot after removing the vehicle’s speed-limiting software and taking it for a breezy summer drive at 235 mph.
How does this compare to the Tesla Model S P100D, which has already earned the reputation as the quickest EV on the market with an impressive 0–60 mph sprint in 2.9 seconds? Hard to say, since there doesn’t seem to be much information out there about Tesla’s top speed without its speed-limiting software that keeps it to 155 mph.
In fact, most luxury automakers limit their high-performing models to the same speed, thanks to a “gentleman’s agreement” between Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and BMW a number of years ago to reduce the number of fatalities on the Autobahn.
Tesla Model S performance in “cheetah stance” can do a quarter-mile in 10.4 seconds
Recently, Tesla achieved a new record with its Model S performance, sprinting a quarter-mile in 10.4 seconds thanks to the new “cheetah stance” update. That’s mind-meltingly fast, but still not as quick as the Lucid Air. (Lucid appears to have raced the Air against a Tesla, according to a fleeting glimpse in the video posted above, but it made no overt mention of the race in its press materials.)
There is an obsession among electric car manufacturers with horsepower and how many seconds it takes to run to 60 mph or a quarter-mile. (Jalopnik had a good piece on this a few years ago.) It could reflect an insecurity among EV makers about whether their cars can stand up to the muscle cars and Ford F150s that have squatted in the frontal cortex of the American car buyer for decades. They worry whether their EVs are too quiet, too sustainable, and too eco-friendly to appeal to these consumers. This leads to an over-emphasis on performance, which might appeal to some buyers despite the day-to-day impracticalities of city driving.


theverge--2020-09-02--Fold, Flip, or Duo: the hows and whys of folding phones

I ’ m currently reviewing the Microsoft Duo and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 — they ’ re sitting on my desk right now next to another folding phone , the Galaxy Z Flip .
All three represent different ideas for how to make a folding phone and all three are prohibitively expensive .
Even if at the end of my reviews I have to go hunt down the socks they knocked off , I think it ’ s incredibly unlikely I would tell you to buy either of them — or the Flip .
That doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harshly judge anybody who does buy one of them .
That ’ s because these super expensive phones belong to a category that the smartphone industry has been trying to break into since before the iPhone : luxury products .
Vertu once made a name for itself by encrusting bog-standard phones with diamonds and calling them luxury products , but the new folding phones are something else .
I ’ m putting this newsletter out a little later than usual so that it can coincide with a Processor video ( finally , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I take a look at these three categories of folding phones and argue that each has a different purpose .
Samsung itself figured out that luxury is the way to position the Z Fold 2 this year .
Last year , it convinced itself it was creating a future for everybody and spun a narrative around the original Fold that was classic gadget futurism .
It fell apart just like the original Fold ’ s screen .
This year , the company isn ’ t pretending that the Z Fold 2 is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ god , because at $ 2,000 it would be insulting to do so .
Simply saying these are luxury products in the same vein as handbags , watches , or designer clothing doesn ’ t quite work , though .
For one thing , those other products hold their value much better than consumer electronics .
For another , they don ’ t usually promise to do more than their regular-priced counterparts — they ’ re just the same things , made with higher quality and with an exclusive brand attached .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is luxury automobiles .
Like folding phones , they offer a mix of better quality and more features while fundamentally being the same thing : a car .
I ’ m dwelling on it because it ’ s the only way for me to put these prices in a context that makes sense .
It also helps me make the case that you should pay attention to these phones even if you won ’ t buy them .
The stories these phones tell are stories about where tech companies hope phones are heading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where tech companies would like to drive them .
If you ’ re curious about the Duo and the Z Fold 2 themselves , what I can tell you is that my initial impression is the hardware on both is well made but for different reasons .
The Duo is almost impossibly thin for a device that has two screens and all the usual parts of a smartphone .
The Z Flip 2 has a glass screen and a refined hinge that makes the whole thing feel a lot less slapdash than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s rushed-out revision ) .
That ’ s actually about all I can tell you .
Microsoft has told reviewers that they can ’ t share anything beyond bare hardware impressions until the review embargo lifts , and I simply haven ’ t had more than a day with the Z Fold 2 .
The properties they share are ( pardon the pun ) twofold .
First , the main reason to spend the money on them isn ’ t functionality but luxury .
Second , they ’ re trying to kick off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Fold , the Duo , and the Flip all have very different ideas for what that trend will actually be .
I don ’ t know if all of them will be able to coexist or if one will win out in the same way rectangular glass slabs became the default of the 2010s .
But until a company gets serious about bringing the price down , I ’ ll keep calling folding phones luxury devices .
At the end of the day , the thing that makes something a luxury is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
┏ Apple will soon release two Apple Watches and a new iPad Air : report .
I ’ ve been wondering when Bloomberg would drop its annual tease of Apple ’ s fall hardware event .
Mark Gurman and Debby Wu lay out all the new stuff : four iPhones with 5G , two Apple Watches , and a bezel-less iPad Air .
It ’ s going to be a busy fall !
┏ Samsung ’ s Galaxy Z Fold 2 will launch on September 18th for $ 1,999.99 .
┏ Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,999.99 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 .
┏ The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and S7 Plus will be available on September 18th .
┏ Nvidia announces new RTX 3080 GPU , priced at $ 699 and launching September 17th .
Hope you keep your PC in an area with good airflow : ┏ Nvidia ’ s new RTX 3090 is a $ 1,499 monster GPU designed for 8K gaming .
Tom Warren is right , this thing is a beast : ┏ Bang & Olufsen ’ s $ 800 noise-canceling headphones copy the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Headphones .
Chris Welch : ┏ Sonos patent gives possible first look at unannounced headphones .
Jon Porter rounds up a bunch of rumors you might have missed .
Good luck to Sonos on this part , though , because it seems highly unlikely : ┏ Asus Zenfone 7 Pro review : fun flipping cameras with a bulky phone attached .
As I ’ ve mentioned before , last year ’ s Zenfone was a surprise hit .
As Jon Porter notes in his review , the sequel gets almost everything right except @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live up to that flippy camera .
┏ The Zendure SuperTank Pro is a great travel charger for optimists .
Chaim Gartenberg on a gadget few will get since travel is so restricted , but is nevertheless cool .
If I hadn ’ t just got a huge battery in case of power outages , I might look at this : More from The Verge ┏ Biden campaign launches official Animal Crossing : New Horizons yard signs .
Super fun scoop from Makena Kelly : ┏ Trump ’ s ban on Chinese drones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaked memo .
┏ Apple and Google announce new automatic app system to track COVID exposures .
Russell Brandom :

I’m currently reviewing the Microsoft Surface Duo and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 — they’re sitting on my desk right now next to another folding phone, the Galaxy Z Flip. All three represent different ideas for how to make a folding phone and all three are prohibitively expensive. Even if at the end of my reviews I have to go hunt down the socks they knocked off, I think it’s incredibly unlikely I would tell you to buy either of them — or the Flip.
That doesn’t mean, however, that I would harshly judge anybody who does buy one of them. That’s because these super expensive phones belong to a category that the smartphone industry has been trying to break into since before the iPhone: luxury products. Vertu once made a name for itself by encrusting bog-standard phones with diamonds and calling them luxury products, but the new folding phones are something else.
I’m putting this newsletter out a little later than usual so that it can coincide with a Processor video (finally, some brand synergy!). In it, I take a look at these three categories of folding phones and argue that each has a different purpose.
You are reading Processor, a newsletter about computers, software, and tech by Dieter Bohn. Dieter writes about consumer tech, software, and the most important tech news of the day from The Verge. You can read an archive of Processor newsletters here and subscribe to all of The Verge’s great videos here! Subscribe
By subscribing, you are agreeing to receive a daily newsletter from The Verge that highlights top stories of the day, as well as occasional messages from sponsors and / or partners of The Verge.
Samsung itself figured out that luxury is the way to position the Z Fold 2 this year. Last year, it convinced itself it was creating a future for everybody and spun a narrative around the original Fold that was classic gadget futurism. It fell apart just like the original Fold’s screen. This year, the company isn’t pretending that the Z Fold 2 is a phone for everybody — and thank god, because at $2,000 it would be insulting to do so.
Simply saying these are luxury products in the same vein as handbags, watches, or designer clothing doesn’t quite work, though. For one thing, those other products hold their value much better than consumer electronics. For another, they don’t usually promise to do more than their regular-priced counterparts — they’re just the same things, made with higher quality and with an exclusive brand attached.
The go-to analogy for this kind of gadget is luxury automobiles. Like folding phones, they offer a mix of better quality and more features while fundamentally being the same thing: a car.
I’m dwelling on it because it’s the only way for me to put these prices in a context that makes sense. It also helps me make the case that you should pay attention to these phones even if you won’t buy them. The stories these phones tell are stories about where tech companies hope phones are heading — or to continue the car analogy, where tech companies would like to drive them.
If you’re curious about the Duo and the Z Fold 2 themselves, what I can tell you is that my initial impression is the hardware on both is well made but for different reasons. The Duo is almost impossibly thin for a device that has two screens and all the usual parts of a smartphone. The Z Flip 2 has a glass screen and a refined hinge that makes the whole thing feel a lot less slapdash than the original (or the original’s rushed-out revision).
That’s actually about all I can tell you. Microsoft has told reviewers that they can’t share anything beyond bare hardware impressions until the review embargo lifts, and I simply haven’t had more than a day with the Z Fold 2.
The properties they share are (pardon the pun) twofold. First, the main reason to spend the money on them isn’t functionality but luxury. Second, they’re trying to kick off the next big trend in smartphones.
The Fold, the Duo, and the Flip all have very different ideas for what that trend will actually be. I don’t know if all of them will be able to coexist or if one will win out in the same way rectangular glass slabs became the default of the 2010s.
But until a company gets serious about bringing the price down, I’ll keep calling folding phones luxury devices. At the end of the day, the thing that makes something a luxury is that you don’t need it.
Gadget news
┏ Apple will soon release two Apple Watches and a new iPad Air: report. I’ve been wondering when Bloomberg would drop its annual tease of Apple’s fall hardware event. Mark Gurman and Debby Wu lay out all the new stuff: four iPhones with 5G, two Apple Watches, and a bezel-less iPad Air. It’s going to be a busy fall!
┏ Nvidia announces new RTX 3080 GPU, priced at $699 and launching September 17th. Hope you keep your PC in an area with good airflow:
At the heart of this new GPU is an updated thermal design. Nvidia has created a new pennant-shaped board for its RTX 3080, combined with a new cooling shroud. The new cooling solution is designed to improve airflow and overcome some of the constraints of the cooling solutions that exist on the RTX 2080 today. It includes a dual fan setup that is designed to improve airflow by more than 55 percent, with promises of much quieter and more efficient cooling. Nvidia is using a bracket exhausting front fan, with a flow through rear fan.
┏ Nvidia’s new RTX 3090 is a $1,499 monster GPU designed for 8K gaming. Tom Warren is right, this thing is a beast:
While the RTX 3080 will ship with 10GB of G6X memory, the RTX 3090 ships with a huge 24GB of G6X memory. Nvidia is promising that the RTX 3090 will be capable of 60fps gaming at 8K resolutions. This new flagship card is more akin to Nvidia’s Titan series and will ship on September 24th priced at $1,499.
You can get a stellar pair of headphones for much, much less than that, but the audio specialist is hoping to leapfrog Sony, Bose, and other headphone makers in craftsmanship and sound quality. With their lambskin ear pads (with memory foam inside), aluminum frame, and leather headband, these certainly look the part of top-end, premium headphones. With the H95 headphones, Bang & Olufsen also copied one of the best things about Microsoft’s Surface Headphones: the dial controls.
┏ Sonos patent gives possible first look at unannounced headphones. Jon Porter rounds up a bunch of rumors you might have missed. Good luck to Sonos on this part, though, because it seems highly unlikely:
The patent shows a couple of designs that look similar to other over-ear headphones from the likes of Sony and Sennheiser. It also mentions support for multiple voice assistants via wake words, as well as Sonos-specific features like integrating with an existing multi-room speaker setup.
Reviews
┏ Asus Zenfone 7 Pro review: fun flipping cameras with a bulky phone attached. As I’ve mentioned before, last year’s Zenfone was a surprise hit. As Jon Porter notes in his review, the sequel gets almost everything right except the important part: quality photos that live up to that flippy camera.
┏ The Zendure SuperTank Pro is a great travel charger for optimists. Chaim Gartenberg on a gadget few will get since travel is so restricted, but is nevertheless cool. If I hadn’t just got a huge battery in case of power outages, I might look at this:
It has the exact same capacity as the previous model at 26,800mAh / 96.48Wh battery (the maximum that you can legally take on a commercial flight according to Federal Aviation Administration rules), but it’s upgraded the ports considerably. Instead of a USB-C / USB-A split, the SuperTank Pro fully embraces the future with four USB-C ports along with higher and more consistent power output.
More from The Verge
┏ Biden campaign launches official Animal Crossing: New Horizons yard signs. Super fun scoop from Makena Kelly:
The Biden-Harris campaign released four sign designs for players to download, featuring the official Biden-Harris logo, Team Joe logo, the “Joe” Pride logo, and an image of aviator sunglasses shaded in red, white, and blue. Players will be able to access the designs in-game by scanning the design QR codes through the Nintendo Switch Online app.
┏ Apple and Google announce new automatic app system to track COVID exposures. Russell Brandom:
Under the new system, participating health departments will assemble a configuration file, allowing them to set their risk scores, redirect users to their specific health department website, and modify the recommendation for users who have been exposed. Once the configuration is complete, iOS and Android can automatically generate the necessary software, although the two operating systems handle the task differently. In Android, the configuration file will automatically generate a custom Android app, while iOS will incorporate the settings into its OS-level contact system. The iOS version will be built into iOS 13.7, which is set to deploy on Tuesday. Android is planning to deploy the system later this month to all users with Android 6.0 or higher.