Laptops - Page 14

The Razer Blade 18 has been announced and is available now. It's a portable gaming monster. It will arrive with two impressive display options: the world's first 18-inch 4K+ 200Hz display (3840x2400) or an 18-inch QHD+ (2560x1600) 300Hz Mini-LED display. Both feature low response times and DCI-P3 100% color gamut accuracy.

The 4K option is also touted as the world's first Thunderbolt 5-equipped laptop. It offers up to 120Gbps of bandwidth - tripling what's currently available. CPU-wise, it uses the top Intel Core 14th Gen i9-14900HX processor with a fully unlocked 175W NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU variant.

It's also thin, at just 21.99mm or 0.86 inches, and includes the latest Razer Blade advanced cooling system. The Razer Blade 18 (2024) also ships with DDR5 5600MHz Memory and Windows 11 Home.

We keep hearing about AI PCs, and some more info just dripped through on the topic - namely that such a device will have a hard requirement in terms of a dedicated key for Copilot on the keyboard.

The concept of the Copilot key was introduced by Microsoft back at in January 24, with the idea being that it's a dedicated key in the same vein as the Windows key, except obviously in this case tapping it summons the AI assistant.

Apparently having a Copilot key on the keyboard deck of your AI PC will be mandatory going by details Intel just shared as spotted by The Verge.

Apple has today released the macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 software update to the public, bringing with it no new features but a number of important bug fixes that are likely to be a big deal for those who suffered from those issues. One of those issues related to a bug that caused some USB hubs not to function correctly when connected to an external display.

Apple's new update is now available for download for free via the System Settings app on your Mac and it's currently rolling out to Apple's servers across the world. If you aren't yet able to download the new update it's important to try again later, with Apple's servers sometimes slow to update.

In terms of fixes, Apple says that the new macOS Sonoma software fixes an issue that caused some USB hubs to misbehave, with users having reported that they could no longer get their external display to work when it was connected to a Mac running macOS 14.4 via a USB hub.

You probably haven't missed that Microsoft just launched a new Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 for businesses, and consumer models are inbound - except they may come with a sting in the tail.

According to chatter on the grapevine, those consumer Surface devices will be the ones to carry ARM chips - specifically the Snapdragon X Elite, or a custom version of it tinkered with by Microsoft - whereas the business-targeted models revealed today have Intel Meteor Lake CPUs.

On X (formerly Twitter), well-known Microsoft leaker Zac Bowden was talking about the new Surfaces and somebody chimed in with a question about whether there will be an Intel option with the consumer Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6.

It looks like Honor is the first to market with a new laptop featuring 24GB of DDR5 memory, with its new MagicBook Pro 16 AI laptop teased on Geekbench. Check it out:

The new Honor MagicBook Pro 16 AI laptop features 24GB of LPDDR5X memory, versus the usual SO-DIMM memory modules. Inside, there are 8 individual memory chips, each packing 3GB for a total of 24GB of LPDDR5X-6400 memory. This is great to see, as 24GB of RAM is a fantastic step up from 16GB, and while it's not quite 32GB, it's once again, not 16GB. Great stuff.

We should see 12GB SO-DIMM memory modules in the near future, which will allow for up to 48GB of DDR5 memory as long as the laptop of choice has four DIMM slots, of course.

When Apple announced the new M3 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air laptops the company took the decision to keep the M2 13-inch model around as the new entry-level option, priced at $999. That meant that there was no space in the lineup for the older M1 MacBook Air with Apple choosing to discontinue it entirely. However, those who still want to pick up the older 2020 model still can, and it's at an incredible price from an unlikely source.

That source is Walmart, making this the first time that the MacBook Air has been available from the company as a first-party sale. There were third-party sellers offering the laptop via the Walmart website but this is a first for Walmart proper. But that isn't even the most interesting part here - that distinction goes to the price that buyers will pay. At just $699, the M1 13-inch MacBook Air is a bargain and one that might be enough to get more than a few people to switch.

Switching from Windows to macOS is of course easier to do when you can get your hands on a bargain laptop at this kind of price and that could be a real benefit to Apple here. But this special price could also prove to be just low enough to get any Intel stalwarts to upgrade from their older model to a new Apple silicon Mac for the first time.

When Apple released the new M3-powered 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops earlier this month it shared plenty of details about the new machines. We know that on the outside at least, not much had changed while the M3 chip was of course the big improvement on the inside. However, as people quickly began to notice when they started to receive their new laptops, there's also a big SSD speed boost to be enjoyed - specifically when you buy the entry-level 256GB version.

People who have been using the new M3 MacBook Air have noticed that the 256GB model is significantly faster when moving files around than the older M2 model with the same configuration. When Apple launched the 256GB M2 MacBook Air it was noted that its SSD file transfer speeds were hampered by the use of a single NAND chip whereas those with more storage had two chips, allowing for faster read and write speeds. Now, it seems Apple has gone a different route with the M3 version.

As confirmed by the iFixit video above, Apple has chosen to use two 128GB NAND chips rather than a single 256GB one for the M3 MacBook Air, allowing for read speeds of up to 82% faster and write speeds of up to 22% faster than the M2 version with the same amount of storage.

Apple's latest M3-powered MacBook Pro laptops are available in both 14- and 16-inch configurations and are undoubtedly the best MacBook Pros that the company has ever made. But there's no rest for Apple's engineers and plans were always going to eventually turn to what comes next in the never-ending need for more power. Now, a new report suggests that Apple is hard at work on getting its next MacBook Pro ready for its debut - although it isn't yet clear when we should expect that to happen.

Writing as part of a Q&A session, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple has started formal development of an M4 MacBook Pro machine, saying that he currently uses a 16-inch M1 Max MacBook Pro and will look to upgrade to the M4 once it is available. Information on what the M4 will have to offer is hard to come by right now, but it's possible that a chassis design change is in the cards given the lack of any tweaks in the last couple of generations.

Apple updated the MacBook Air to add M3 chips very recently but it could be some time before we see the M4 devices make their appearance. The current M3 MacBook Pro models start at $1,599 for the 14-inch laptop with an 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD but there are upgrades available. Additional RAM and more storage are all offered, while the top-of-the-range 14-inch model comes with an M3 Max with a 14-core CPU, 30-core GPU, 36GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD. The RAM and storage can also be upgraded here, but the starting price for that configuration is an eye-watering $3,199.

The Apple Car project first began as Project Titan way back in 2014 and it's struggled ever since. Apple finally took the decision to cancel the project recently in a move that meant finding a home for its 2,000-strong team. Now, more details about the ill-fated project have started to leak and it seems that Apple's much-vaunted silicon team was heavily involved.

Writing as part of a Q&A session Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has confirmed that Apple was working on bringing some serious processing power to an electric vehicle that was expected to offer self-driving capabilities among other things. The chip that would power the whole thing, Gurman says, was equal to about four M2 Ultras combined, and its development was almost finished when the project was canceled.

Gurman says that Apple's most important focus in terms of the Apple Car was on its AI brain which might explain why it was keen to use a chip that would theoretically be fourth times as powerful as anything that it has shipped in a Mac. The M2 Ultra currently powers the Mac Studio and Mac Pro, while an M3 Ultra is surely going to be unveiled later this year. The M2 Ultra is a highly capable chip and the idea of four of them bonded together could potentially make for interesting implementations in the future. Could such a chip one day find its way into a high-end Mac?

Apple's new M3 MacBook Air went on sale last week and it's quickly proven to be a fast, quiet, and capable machine. And as people are starting to spend more time with the new laptop in its 13- and 15-inch guises we're starting to learn more and more about it. And one of those things will be music to the ears of those who plan on buying the entry-level 256GB configuration.

That's because while previous versions of the 256GB model of MacBook Air have offered slower SSD performance than those with more space, things seem to have been changed up this time out.

The issue that was experienced with previous MacBook Airs surrounded a slower SSD performance due to Apple's decision to ship those machines with a single 256GB NAND chip. That meant that the storage was limited to how quickly that chip could process data in an attempt to read and write files. Those who chose the 512GB storage option or higher received a different configuration. Those buying 512GB for two 256GB NAND chips while those buying 1TB got two 512GB chips, and so on. Now, Apple's M3 MacBook Air has changed things for those buying the 256GB SSD - it comes with two 128GB NAND chips.

Rumors have been circulating about Apple releasing a foldable product for many years now, but in Apple fashion they have been officially airtight on the foldable situation, seemingly until a few hurdles of the new technology are overcome.

It was only late last month that reports surfaced that Apple has halted development on its rumored foldable iPhones, following reports that stated Apple was working on two iPhone prototypes that featured a similar design to Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip. These rumored iPhones were rumored to come with a severe thickness reduction, but engineers working on the projects were struggling to implement batteries as well as completely remove the dreaded crease that plagues all foldable devices currently on the market today.

Now, reports indicate that Apple hasn't completely given up on its foldable future as a new X post from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reveals a new "20.3-inch MacBook" is Apple's "only foldable product with a clear development schedule." Notably, this wasn't the only rumor to come out about a foldable laptop, as display expert Ross Young said on February 1, 2023, that he's heard about a 20.5-inch foldable notebook scheduled for 2025.

After months of rumors and a launch earlier this week, Apple has today made the M3 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air laptops available to buy which means that those who placed an order earlier in the week will have started to receive their notebooks today today. It also means that those who prefer to pick their new laptop up in-store can do just that.

Both 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air laptops are available to buy at a local Apple Store today with stocks also offered in various colors as well. The base configurations are also available but those who want to upgrade to a more powerful device will have to choose a built-to-order model which won't be available for immediate in-store collection.

In its base configuration, the M3 MacBook Air comes with an M3 chip with an 8-core CPU and an 8-core GPU paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You'll get two Thunderbolt / USB-4 ports which can be used for charging. Alternatively, the laptops also ship with a MagSafe 3 charging port as well. The 13-inch model comes with a 30W USB-C power adapter while those who choose the larger 15-inch model will get a slightly more capable 35W charger instead.

Apple might have just announced the new M3 MacBook Air with a starting configuration of 8GB of RAM and the 14-inch MacBook Pro might start with the exact same amount of memory, but the company has today come closer than ever to admitting that perhaps those machines should come with more - especially the MacBook Pro. And while the company hasn't come close to actually saying that, its actions have suggested that it is well aware of the situation.

That's after Apple decided to begin offering the 14-inch MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM as an in-store pickup option for those who want to buy the pro-level laptop with a pro-level amount of memory. Normally, those who wanted to buy a MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM would have had to place their order as a built-to-order model and wait for it to arrive.

The move now means that the 16GB 14-inch MacBook Pro is being offered as a standard option on Apple's website with a price of $1,999. That means that the same configuration will also be stocked in physical Apple Stores for the first time.

Apple finally announced the M3 MacBook Air in both 13- and 15-inch configurations earlier this week and the new tablets are now available for preorder. They'll begin arriving on the doorsteps of people who placed their orders early starting on Friday, March 8, and they should also become available in Apple Stores around the globe on the same day. But we don't have to wait that long to find out just how capable these machines are, with early benchmarks having already started to appear online.

As spotted by the folks at MySmartPrice, Apple's M3-powered MacBook Air has already popped up in the online Geekbench database of results which means that we can get a feel for how fast the new laptops are. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, these machines are just as quick as other M3 Macs that are already on sale.

The MacBook Air currently available in the Geekbench database is an M3 model with 16GB of RAM which manages a single-core score of 3,157 and a multi-core score of 12,020. The machine has the model identifier of Mac15,3 which suggests that it is a 15-inch model.

After rumors that Apple was going to make new product announcements this week, the company has seemingly come out the gate red hot with two new MacBook Air offerings, both featuring the company's latest M3 chip.

Apple has rolled out a refresh of its incredibly popular MacBook Air series, offering consumers a new 13-inch model and a 15-inch. Both of these new laptops feature the company's new M3 processor that will increase its performance compared to the previous model, and notably, is the same chip that is found in the entry-level MacBook Pro 14-inch. Surprisingly, Apple hasn't increased the price for either the 13-inch model or the 15-inch, with the 13-inch M3 starting at $1,099 and the 15-inch from $1,299.

As for design, Apple has kept the same design as the last generation for both of the variants, which isn't very shocking considering the 15-inch Air was only announced in October 2023. As per Apple fashion, the company directly compares these new variants against the M1 and even Intel-based Apple MacBooks, which were released 5 years ago.

Every year Apple announces new software for its many devices and platforms including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and this year surely, the Apple Vision Pro. You can add the Mac to that list as well, and it's the upcoming macOS software update that has been discussed in a new report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Writing in the weekly Power On newsletter Gurman said that Apple is of course working on the 2024 Mac software update but there is bad news for those who are hoping for big design changes this time out.

9to5Mac reported on the paywalled version of Gurman's newsletter in which he mentioned that while there are some notable changes expected in the upcoming iOS 18 iPhone software update, things are going to be different on the Mac. We can expect a new update this year, but Gurman says that Apple's work on notable design tweaks has only just started and that the bigger update won't be ready until 2025 or 2026.

If you're in the market for a new laptop and want to treat yourself to a new 14-inch MacBook Pro, doing so could now be cheaper than you first thought - especially if you're in Canada or one of a number of European countries. That's because the Apple Stores in those countries are now offering refurbished models for the first time.

The new move means that those in Canada, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK now have the option of buying a refurbished M3 14-inch MacBook Pro directly from Apple which makes buying cheaper than ever. And while these machines are indeed renewed rather than brand-new, the difference between the two is negligible.

Apple says that each of the MacBook Pros that it refurbished has been thoroughly cleaned and inspected to ensure that they work as if they were new and are in good condition. They're also backed by Apple's one-year limited warranty and those who want to add extra coverage can do so via the AppleCare+ program. Each laptop comes with all accessories and manuals as if it were new, although it will arrive in a plain white box rather than the normal retail one.

COLORFUL doesn't make any AMD products right now, with the Chinese company only pumping out NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards over the last few years... but that's about to change.

The company has just announced it is making a new gaming laptop that's powered by an AMD Ryzen CPU, with a new "MEOW" series gaming laptop to be announced on February 23. COLORFUL is teasing that it will be an "AMD AI PC" with a "GeForce RTX 40" series graphics card and part of its MEOW series of products.

COLORFUL is found in the laptop market with Intel processors, first debuting a laptop with an Intel 10th Gen Core CPU back in the day. But now ITHome is reporting that COLORFUL's new MEOW gaming laptops are named MEOW R15 24 and MEOW R16 24, which points to new 15-inch and 16-inch gaming laptops.

ASUS first showcased the new Zenbook Duo (2024) UX8406 at CES last month, where it immediately turned heads and garnered attention as a new one-of-a-kind device-a dual-screen laptop with a detachable keyboard designed to deliver a versatile and cutting-edge portable productivity experience.

It can be configured and used in multiple ways, with the ASUS Zenbook DUO having a traditional single-screen and keyboard setup that can also turn into two portrait displays in a book-like orientation with touchscreen functionality to a modern productivity setup with the dual screens and keyboard arranged to maximize comfort and use.

Hardware-wise, you've got the new AI-ready Intel Core Ultra 9-185H processor with Intel arc graphics, 1TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, and 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM. As for the displays, you're looking at two 14-inch ASUS Lumina OLED displays with a 2880x1800 resolution, 500-nit HDR peak brightness, 120Hz refresh rate, and 100% DCI-P3 color accuracy.

Although it sounds like an announcement perfect for CES, it looks like Lenovo is bringing a world first to the Mobile World Congress 2024 (MWC) in Barcelona later this month. It's a transparent laptop with a completely see-through display reminiscent of LG and Samsung's transparent displays showcased at CES 2024.

This news arrives via Windows Report, which includes images showcasing the stylish new device. In addition to a bezel-free look for the main transparent display, a transparent glass layer above the base features an illuminated keyboard.

There's no word on the specs or hardware configuration, but based on the desktop wallpaper, it's safe to assume it will be a Windows 11 device.