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What is AWS Console?

January 25, 2020
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Amazon Web Services (AWS) includes over 175 different products and services, all of them geared to help you run your cloud computing environment. It’s quite an extensive catalog, including tools to help you manage, deploy, and maintain compute, online storage, cloud databases, networking, analytics, robotics, machine learning, Internet of Things, security, VR and AR, media, and application development, and mobile apps — to name but a few.

AWS Console is the primary point of control for all of the services you use, and it has the power to help you scale and manage your cloud computing environment. It’s a “one-stop-shop” that even provides access to the AWS Marketplace for finding and deploying more services and a way to view your services and any associated costs for using those services. And yet the console itself is easy to use and not overly complicated for new users.

As a way to cover what this tool and do for your business, this overview will start by explaining AWS itself and then the main core functions of the AWS Console.

AWS is actually a company and a product at the same time. A subsidiary of Amazon, the company started in 2006 and provides a host of services for cloud computing. In fact, AWS includes 175 different services, including 60 that are free to try and deploy in a real-world setting. The most popular services include Amazon Simple Storage Service (or S3) for object storage in the cloud and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) for virtual server access.

It would over-simplify AWS to say it’s just for apps, storage and servers. Companies use AWS for a wide variety of cloud computing functions, including code deployments, Big Data analytics, reliably running popular mobile apps, operating vast data lake projects and for data warehousing, and media streaming. If you name a random company, like Netflix or Uber, and wonder if they use AWS for their cloud computing needs, it’s a good bet they already do.

That’s why it’s interesting that AWS Console even exists because it should be far more complicated. Any company can sign up for AWS Console in a few minutes, then select the services to deploy and have them up and running a few moments later. This might explain the vast popularity of AWS and AWS Console — that there is all of this power and flexibility, a way to scale the computing performance of a company, and yet getting started is so straightforward. With competing cloud computing services, the on-ramp is much more complex.

AWS Console provides access to all of your users, service usage, cloud computing health, and monthly billing. When you need assistance with any service, you can generate a support ticket right from the app. AWS Console also allows you to deploy an API (Application Programming Interface) and keep track of the revisions and code deployments for apps.

Benefits of using AWS Console

The key benefit here is having one point of management and control for all of these services, in a way that almost seems unlikely in the age of technical complexity in the cloud. To say there is one interface you can use for adding and removing services, for seeing a deployment map for your IT infrastructure, for reviewing the costs for all services in one place almost seems impossible. The fact that AWS Console is so extensive and accessible to anyone to get started with cloud computing is a major advantage to using the product.

AWS Console provides a great degree of flexibility as well. You can choose the operating system you want to use, the services you want to deploy, and the level of security needed for your apps and data. AWS Console is designed for any company and removes much of the initial complexity, configuration requirements, and up-front costs associated with the cloud.

Once you dive into AWS Console, it’s also worth noting that there is extensive online support for every service, including a vast array of tech support material. Because AWS has become so popular with so many companies, there is a wealth of case study information, practical guidance, and advice for anyone who wants to deploy multiple services in the cloud.

Another interesting perk to using AWS Console is that it’s the same tool Amazon uses to run Amazon.com, which is a multi-billion dollar e-commerce operation. This means it’s reliable, secure, and operationally sound enough for one of the most-used web portals today.

What this all means for any business is that the compute power you need is accessible, available, and affordable to get started, and then allows you to scale up your services and take advantage of more and more AWS products as your needs evolve. In the end, any company can experiment with cloud services without the usual complexity and high costs.

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TechRadar – All the latest technology news

January 25, 2020
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AMD announced the Radeon RX 5600 XT back at CES 2020, and the pitch is solid: provide the ultimate 1080p gaming experience at a price that makes it competitive with the GTX 1660 Ti.

And that's the way it would have played out, at least until Nvidia decided to drop the price on the GeForce RTX 2060 down to $ 299 (£274, AU$ 539) to put the pressure on AMD. That's where the drama starts – but it only gets spicier from here.

Now, when we reviewed the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, it actually holds its own against the RTX 2060, even beating it in several tests. But, after we did our tests for the review, aftermarket graphics card manufacturers pushed out VBIOS (VGA Basic Input Output System) updates that enhanced performance even further. If that sounded like a whole bunch of nonsensical jargon, that's because it was – which highlights a major problem with the launch of the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT.

So, we thought it'd be a good idea to not only dive into the performance gains that we found when we updated the VBIOS of the Sapphire Pulse model of the Radeon RX 5600 XT we reviewed, but also dive into the often confusing world of aftermarket graphics cards. Our end goal is to help you make the right decision, so if you do buy a Radeon RX 5600 XT or any other graphics card, you can make sure you get one that doesn't ultimately disappoint you.

What's the deal with aftermarket graphics cards, anyway?

Imagine this: you're in a Best Buy and you walk into the computing section. You've always been tempted to get into PC gaming, and you heard a whole bunch of people tell you that you have to buy your own. When you look at the graphics cards, not only do you see AMD and Nvidia graphics cards, but there are other brand names on the boxes like EVGA, Sapphire, XFX or MSI.

For anyone that's just getting into the PC components scene, this can definitely be a point of confusion. So, here's the deal:

Both AMD and Nvidia design GPUs, or graphics processing units, which is how they've both have built their reputation (AMD also makes CPUs). And, while both Team Red and Team Green will produce their own graphics cards, they only typically tend to do so for the higher end of their respective founders stacks. For Nvidia, these graphics cards are called "Founders Edition," which right now are exclusively found with the GeForce RTX 2060 and above. AMD will also manufacture its own versions of its high-end GPUs, though right now it's limited to the Radeon RX 5700 and RX 5700 XT.

AMD and Nvidia both tackle these differently, though. Nvidia's Founders Edition cards feature premium coolers and are overclocked over the base spec, whereas AMD's cards are the basic spec. These are both the versions of the cards Nvidia and AMD will send us for review when a new GPU hits the market. For the most part, you can pick up these versions of the graphics cards, and you're pretty much guaranteed a good experience.

But, what about the lower end of the market?

Well, with more affordable graphics cards like the recently-released AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, both graphics card manufacturers will simply design the GPU, along with a general design for the board with power requirements, VRAM capacity, and so on. Everything else beyond the GPU, like the cooler design, BIOS, any additional overclock or lighting – that's all up to aftermarket graphics card manufacturers. Which is why you'll see so many different versions of every GPU.

Typically, when Nvidia or AMD announce a graphics card at, say, $ 300, that's going to be the base-level price. You will be able to find graphics cards at this price point, but they'll typically be very basic. You'll get the bare minimum base clock speeds, along with a cooler that will get the job done but won't leave a ton of room for overclocking.

You'll also find the same GPU in graphics cards that are much more expensive, too. These will typically have extremely beefy coolers with up to three fans and hefty overclocks that can see them perform much faster than the base-level spec, sometimes even seeing double-digit performance improvements.

What's the deal with the Radeon RX 5600 XT?

Seemingly in response to Nvidia dropping the price of the GeForce RTX 2060, AMD gave the green light to its aftermarket partners to release new VBIOS software, raising power consumption and performance to have a performance edge over Team Green's card.

So, there will be a small window of time where users may have to update the VBIOS of their own graphics cards. Because historically this has been a risky procedure, we reached out to Sapphire, the manufacturer behind the specific Radeon RX 5600 XT we reviewed and we were told "The good news is that cards on sale in NA have already been updated to the latest BIOS". There is a chance, though, that a card slipped through the cracks and didn't get the update. But, in those cases Sapphire is still recommending customers make the update.

For the specific model we reviewed, we were assured that "with the card having dual BIOS the chances of causing a non-repairable error is very limited." We did specifically ask whether or not the cards would be covered by warranty if the BIOS flash went wrong, however, and we didn't get a very assuring answer. Instead we were just told that if anyone has any concerns to just "contact regional support".

So, it seems like most of the Sapphire Pulse graphics cards that are out there either have the VBIOS already, or will be easy to update. And, of course, going forward, you won't have to worry about the whole VBIOS mess at all. But, the Sapphire Pulse is one graphics card in a sea of Radeon RX 5600 XTs.

Obviously, if there's a deluge of graphics cards out there, and only some of them are going to be updated with these new clock speeds and power targets, that would make it extremely confusing to consumers who are going to be jumping into the market for the first time. When we think of the people that would be going for a graphics card in this price range, there's probably a sizable portion that are just going to buy it right off the shelf at Best Buy for their first PC build.

This isn't the same enthusiast audience that would go for an RTX 2080 Ti, who we expect would relentlessly scan through product pages to make sure it has the highest clock speeds and most robust cooling.

To that end, we reached out to AMD for some clarity on this. Most importantly, we wanted to know if the entire Radeon RX 5600 XT lineup would be featuring this new VBIOS. AMD stopped short of confirming this is the case, instead telling us that "AMD has made the VBIOS update available to all its AIB partners. AIBs can choose to update select existing or upcoming RX 5600 XT models, depending on their respective product plans."

This basically tells us nothing. Of course AMD made the update available to all of its AIB, or aftermarket, partners. From the sound of it, though, this VBIOS update wasn't mandated for the 5600 XT lineup, which means that they won't all be created equal.

Over the next few months, then, we're probably going to see a vast majority of Radeon RX 5600 XTs out there with the new VBIOS that are absolute beasts. However, particularly right around the lower end of the Radeon RX 5600 XT pricing scale, it's possible that some of the graphics cards won't be rocking this new software.

Now, we have to be abundantly clear here. At TechRadar, we don't typically review a wide range of aftermarket graphics cards. There are simply too many of them, and we on the computing team simply don't have the bandwidth for that many graphics cards. As a general rule, if you want to be safe when buying a graphics card we've reviewed, you should go with the specific model we reviewed. We understand that there are a ton out there, and we definitely want to help if you have questions, so please reach out on Twitter or through email if you have any questions about any particular graphics card.

There are plenty of outlets out there, however, that do review a wide swath of graphics card for every GPU, like our friends over at Tom's Hardware. We urge you to make sure you read reviews of the specific graphics card you're looking at to make sure it's up to snuff.

Is the Radeon RX 5600 XT still worth getting?

Like we mentioned earlier, we tested the Radeon RX 5600 XT out of the box with the old VBIOS, so our star rating is entirely based on that basic VBIOS. Even if you get a basic Radeon RX 5600 XT, you can still expect a strong 1080p performer.

After hearing about all of this commotion surrounding the Radeon RX 5600 XT, we went back, flashed the new VBIOS onto our review sample and ran through all of our testing again, and we included the new numbers down below.

As you can see, after the new VBIOS, the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 5600 XT is now very comfortably ahead of the RTX 2060 in all tests except for Time Spy Ultra and Middle Earth: Shadow of War – and that's due to the limited 6GB VRAM. And, it's also important to keep in mind that the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 5600 XT is $ 289 (£269, about AU$ 420), rather than the $ 299 (£274, about AU$ 440) of the RTX 2060 Founders Edition.

Especially here in a couple months when all of the cards on the market have the new VBIOS and customers are no longer at risk of bricking their cards by flashing the wrong VBIOS, this performance advantage puts AMD in the lead. Nvidia still has the RTX feature, though, something that AMD's cards simply can't do right now, no matter the VBIOS.

So if ray tracing is a thing you're into, and it is very freaking cool, our advice is the same as what we came to in our review: buy Nvidia 100% of the time. But, if you just want raw performance and you're comfortable with potentially flashing the VBIOS, the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is potentially significantly faster and less expensive.

Of course, that recommendation comes with a meaty caveat. You should absolutely do some research into the Radeon RX 5600 XT model you buy. At the end of the day, we've only tested one, so we can only speak to that specific unit.

All the Radeon RX 5600 XT cards will be using the same GPU, however, so the variance isn't going to be like night and day. At the bare minimum, you should still be able to expect a passable 1080p experience, you just might not get as much as someone with a more expensive version of the card. So be wary, and again, feel free to reach out to us on the TechRadar computing team if you have any questions at all, and we'll be happy to give you some advice.

At the end of the day, the way AMD handled this launch was not great, and it wasn't very consumer-friendly. The fact that it is willing to launch out a VBIOS update last minute like this, potentially putting consumer's purchases at risk is not a good look. But we still don't think it's a deal breaker, and the Radeon RX 5600 XT is still a beast of a graphics card – just make sure you do your research before jumping in. In fact, we think that's good advice for any graphics card you buy, period.

TechRadar – All the latest technology news

January 25, 2020
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What’s new with Philips TVs in 2020? We’re only a short while into the year, but all the major TV brands have already started to showcase the latest sets to join their TV ranges – and while Philips didn’t make many announcements at CES 2020, the cat’s now out of the bag.

Yes, there are a number of new Philips TVs coming this year, from OLED beauties to more pedestrian (but still likely impressive) LCD sets. Philips is a company with great options, whether you’re buying on a budget or for the fanciest centerpiece television you can afford, and the sets announced so far look set to continue that tradition.

With the Philips OLED 804 now coming stateside, it looks like some big things are in the pipeline too. Given Funai currently licenses the Philips brand over in the US, it’s a welcome move that should bring some stiff competition to the nation’s TV market.

You can find every new Philips TV announced for 2020 below, with a rundown of the specs, processing and format support to expect from this year’s TV range. Make sure to check back every few weeks, though, as we’ll be adding new televisions as they’re formally unveiled.

Check out the small TVs and 40-inch sets that stand above the rest

New Philips TVs for 2020

Philips OLED 805 / 855 (available in 55, 65 inches): This pair of OLED TVs may differ in design – only the TV stand, really – but they should both offer the same level of high-end excellence. Philips’ OLED sets are largely spectacular, thanks in no small part to the three-sided Ambilight projection built in their frames – and this year’s cohort promises greater AI processing too.

These aren’t quite the flagship sets in the range, as the Philips 984+ (which launched in late 2019) is still the top dog for now. Expect Dolby Atmos audio and 50W speakers, though – with a release sometime in May. (Pricing not announced.)

Philips 9435 4K HDR LED (available in 55, 65 inches): Even as we drop down to LCD panels, this 4K HDR television still packs in a 50W 2.1.2 channel audio system – from Bowers & Wilkins – with upwards-firing drivers to make the most of Dolby Atmos content. Same Ambilight features as above. (Pricing / availability not announced.)

Philips 9235 4K HDR LED (available in 43 inches): 40W 2.1 channel speakers should still give this smaller 4K set something to shout about – while three-sided Ambilight should help too. (Pricing / availability not announced.)

Philips 8505 4K HDR LED (available in 43, 50, 58, 65, 70 inches): This Philips set is at the tail end of the premium range, or the top end of the mid-range, depending on your perspective. You’ll get the same three-sided Ambilight and P5 picture processor as the sets above, with a smaller 20W audio output from built-in speakers (no soundbar here.) The stand design varies between panel sizes, but you should get the same picture quality from the 43-inch to 70-inch model.

Philips TV 2020 technology

What marks out Philips TVs from the rest? The most eye-catching feature would certainly be Philips Ambilight: a projection technology that throws onscreen colors onto the wall behind your television, upping the ambience (hence the name) and making for a light-show you won’t get with Sony or Samsung TVs.

It has a good reputation for sound, too – though not through Philips own audio arm. The company collaborates with audio specialists Bowers & Wilkins for its high-end televisions, fitting them with dedicated Dolby Atmos soundbars to really hear those movie soundtracks or cheering crowds at their best.

Like most other TV brands today, Philips offers a range of LCD and OLED sets, with the latter panels saved for its more premium offerings.

Only quite premium sets have been announced so far, with every set listed above featuring the P5 Perfect Picture Processor, now in its fourth iteration. Last year’s chip was certainly impressive, but it looks like there’ll be an even bigger jump this year with the addition of AI processing / neural networks able to analyze millions of video clips and learn how to best display the content sent its way, fine-tuning the “source, color, contrast, motion and sharpness” for each frame.

A press release for Philips claims that, “By analyzing all elements of the content, frame by frame, the 4th Gen P5 reproduces a much more realistic, natural image that no longer feels like TV but creates images that closely mirror real life.”

Like Panasonic, Philips is agnostic towards HDR formats, and makes sure to support both the dynamic Dolby Vision and HDR10+ standards (unlike Samsung, which sticks only with the latter). You’ll also get the HLG (hybrid log gamma) broadcasting format, though these formats drop off when you get down to more affordable mid- or low-end sets.

Philips uses the Android smart TV platform across its TV range, with 2020 models getting the latest Android Pie (9.0) version. It’s the most common TV platform and the most unremarkable – though Android’s stability issues have generally improved over the past couple of years, thanks to updates from Google.

Perhaps most importantly though – depending on your priorities – we now know that every new Philips set this year will come with Disney Plus at launch, meaning you won’t have to wait around for a firmware update later in the year to bring the app to your television.

Philips 2019 4K OLED TVs

Of course, there are still plenty of Philips TVs released in 2019 you can still find on the market:

Philips OLED+984 Ambilight TV (available in 65 inches): The top-of-the-range TV for Philips in 2019, we loved the OLED+984 Ambilight TV when we reviewed it earlier this year. It's the ultimate high-end lifestyle 4K OLED. It does exactly what a flagship TV should, setting a high bar for image quality, audio and design, without significant compromises. It comes in just one size: 65-inches and costs £4499 / approx $ 5908 (about AU$ 8633).

Read more in our 5 star Philips OLED+984 Ambilight TV review.

Philips OLED+903 (available in 55, 65 inches): When we reviewed the OLED+ 903 earlier this year, we loved that it delivered punchy HDR pictures. Which at the time was better than any OLED TV we’d tested so far. The 55-inch model costs £2,499 / approx $ 3282 (about AU$ 4795). and the 65-inch model is £3,499 / approx $ 4596 (about AU$ 6713)..

Read more in our Philips OLED+ 903 review.

Philips OLED 854 and OLED 804 (available in 55 and 65 inches): We're looking forward to spending more time with these screens. Identical apart from stand differences (the 854 centrally mounted, the other with a pair of legs) these 4K screens will be available in 55 and 65-inch sizes.

They’re very similar to last year’s Philips OLED+ 903, except with one key omission – they lack the impressive Bowers and Wilkins sound system, opting for a Philips-own build instead.

Running Android TV, working with Alexa and Google Assistant and with all four of their HDMI ports HDR-ready, these Ambilight screens will be ones to watch for those looking top-notch OLED visuals.

For a deeper look at these screens, read our hands-on: Philips OLED 804 / OLED 854 review.

Philips 2019 4K LCD LED TVs

Though OLED TVs have become Philips’ showstoppers, the majority of its range still consists of LCD TVs. Though LCD can lack the richness of a well-tuned OLED TV, they shouldn’t be sniffed at in their own right – Philips has done some stellar work not only in the picture stakes, but also with audio, thanks to a partnership with Bowers and Wilkins.

Philips 8804/PUS 8804 (available in 50, 55 and 65 inches): One of the most promising LCD screens we’ve seen in a while. It’s 4K visuals are available in 50, 55 and 65-inch sizes, and will have the full house of HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Vision support, as well as Dolby Atmos sound. It’s also the only screen revealed so far this year from Philips to include that show-stopping Bowers and Wilkins sound system again.

For more info, read our hands-on review: Philips 8804 TV review.

Philips 9104/PUS9100 (available in 55-inches): If style is more important than sound quality, check out this TV. It’s another 4K LCD panel, but has been designed in conjunction with design house Georg Jensen, and has striking chrome finish aluminum feet. It too has standard HDR support covered but drops HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, only features Dolby Atmos audio passthrough, and will only come in a single 55-inch screen size. It has a three sided Ambilight though, so this may be one to check out for its aesthetic value.

Philips 7304 Performance Series/PUS7304 (available in 43, to, 55, 58, 65 and 70-inches): This is the TV Philips is pushing most heavily for this half of the year, which is nicknamed ‘The One’. Why? Because it’s ‘the one’ TV they think will suit most people, ticking lots spec boxes will aiming to come in at a mid-range price point.

The Ambilight 4K LCD screen will come in a range of size – 43, 55, 58, 65 and 70-inches – has the full suite of HDR options and features Dolby Atmos. For more information, check out our Philips The One first look impressions.

Philips 7504/PUS7504 (available in 50 and 55-inches): This TV looks set to be a similar screen, coming in 50 and 55-inch screen sizes, trading a less striking stand for beefier 25W 2.1 built in speakers. The One only has two-channel 20W speakers.

From here down the range of LCD Philips TVs, you lose access to the top-notch P5 image processing engine, instead being left with the Pixel Precise Ultra HD processing engine. They also run the SAPHI operating system, rather than the more versatile Android TV.

Philips 6814/PUS6814 (available in 43, 50, 55 and 65-inches), Philips 6704/PUS6704 (available in 43, 50, 55, 65 and 70 inches), Philips 6504/PUS6504 (available in 43, 50, 58 and 65 inches): The key differences here? The 6814 has a T-Bar centrally-mounted light finish stand with 3-sided Ambilight, while the 6704 has Ambilight, a dark frame finish and two feet supporting it. The 6504 looks pretty much the same as the 6704, but doesn’t have any Ambilight features.

Philips 2019 HD TVs

It says a lot about the dominance of 4K TV now that, not only is there only a single non-4K TV in Philips range this year, but it’s not even 1080p – just a 24-inch HD-ready 1366×768 screen.

Philips 4304: has no smart features, no HDR, and only two HDMI port ports. This is very much one for the kitchen, or a “my first TV” for the kids’ bedrooms.

TechRadar – All the latest technology news

January 25, 2020
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EA surprised many with the sudden announcement of Apex Legends back in February 2019, a free-to-play battle royale shooter that sees the publisher going toe-to-toe with genre mammoths PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Fortnite Battle Royale.

Developed by Respawn Entertainment and set in the Titanfall universe, Apex Legends is a squad-based battle royale shooter where teams of three go up against 57 other players to try to gather loot and be the last person (or squad) standing.

However, unlike Fortnite and PUBG, Apex Legends sees players take on one of eight classes, each represented by a unique character (imagine Fortnite mixed with Overwatch and you’ll be on the right track.)

Apex Legends is getting ready to wrap up its third season, Meltdown, and players are now looking ahead to the launch of Season 4, Assimilation, on February 4 2020.

If you're new to Apex Legends and looking to see what you're missing or you've dropped off the map for a while and you'd like to catch up on the latest, we're here to keep you up to date on what's fresh in Apex Legends.

Apex Legends review: the official TechRadar verdict

As we said in our full Apex Legends review:

"Truth be told, the Battle Royale movement has never quite grabbed me. I dabbled in PUBG and spent a dozen hours or so with Fortnite, yet nothing ever quite stuck the landing. Apex though, has got me hook, line and sinker. Featuring intuitive controls, an outstanding comms system and remarkable rogue’s gallery, Respawn has created what feels like the AAA outing for the genre."

Apex Legends update news

What's new? Respawn is gearing up for the anniversary of Apex Legends by revealing some of the changes that will be coming to Season 4.

Grand Soirée Event

Apex Legends' third Season is almost at an end and to celebrate this it's throwing a Grand Soirée. The event will run from January 14 until January 28 and will feature seven limited time modes as well as some new skins.

The seven limited time modes (some new and some old favorites will feature) are the real focus of this event and a new one will begin every two days with the schedule being as follows:

January 14 – 15: Gold Rush Duos
January 16 – 17: Live.Die.Live
January 18 – 19: Third Person Mode
January 20 – 21: Always Be Closing
January 22 – 23: Armed and Dangerous World's Edge
January 24 – 25: King's Canyon
January 26 – 28: Dummie's Big Day

As well as the modes, there's a new prize track. Each mode will have three challenges worth 1000 points and players will be able to unlock new weapons and skins as they collect points. Taking part in every mode won't be necessary to get all the points but those who do will also get a special badge. Those who are short of points can take part in a special bonus scoring weekend from January 17 to 20.

To really get into the spirit of the party, players will be able to visit the Direct Purchase shop where they can pick up special Art Deco accessories and some special legendary skins which will rotate through the event.

Apex Legends Assimilation

Season 3 of Apex Legends will soon be wrapping up and on February 4 2020 Season 4: Assimilation will begin.

So what can we expect? Well, in a recent Dev Stream Respawn gave us some insights into the new Legend, weapons and Ranked Series that are on their way.

New Legend

As with previous seasons, Apex Legends Season 4 will introduce a brand new Legend. This time, Forge is coming to the game. Described as the "exact opposite" of Season 3's Legend, Crypto, Forge is essentially a super-buff champion fighter with cybernetic enhancements. Respawn describes Forge as: "Confident yet humble, Forge uses his size, strength, and heavy-duty Shatter Gauntlets to batter his opponents into submission."

Forge is apparently sponsored by Hammond Robotics, a company already known by those familiar with the Titanfall universe.

Other than that, we don't know a huge amount about him just yet as his exact abilities are yet to be confirmed. Given his size and fighting skills, though, we're expecting Forge to be the kind of Legend who runs into the fray and gets up close and personal with his enemies. We're sure that his mechanical arm will come into play as well.

New Weapon

The Sentinel has been confirmed as the new weapon coming to Season 4 of Apex Legends. It's described as a powerful bolt-action sniper rifle which stands apart from other weapons of its ilk as it comes with a charge mechanic. In the dev stream, it was hinted that this mechanic will give players a little more decision making to do when making a shot and could provide some interesting gameplay.

Map Changes

In the Dev Stream above, it was confirmed that Season 4 will bring some map change to World's Edge but no specifics were revealed. It was teased that Hammond Robotics "might have something to do with" the alterations but nothing more was said.

Players have already started to notice (via GameSpot) that areas in the game are being marked out for future construction by Hammond Robotics, including an area between the Fuel Depot and Thermal Station.

Anniversary Event

As Season 4 is launching on the one year anniversary of Apex Legends, there's going to be a special event. According to Respawn, those who log into the game in the first week of Season 4 (that's February 4 to February 11) will receive an Anniversary Gift. this includes a Year 1 Origami Flyer charm, a Year 1 loyalty badge and 10k XP for your first match of the day for every day the event is running.

Battle Pass

It wouldn't be a new season of Apex Legends without a brand new Battle Pass.

Like the others, this Battle Pass will be brand new for the Season and will bring with it 110 levels to climb by completing daily and weekly challenges, with more than 100 exclusive items including Legendary Skins, Apex Packs, Loading Screens and Music Packs to earn.

Ranked League Series 3

Alongside Season 4, Ranked League Series 3 is also going to launch.

Ranked League Series 3 is expected to bring a few changes including Splits and a new tier: Master Tier.

As Respawn is seeing more players move into the upper echelons of the rankings to become Apex Predators, it's finding that it's getting harder to "showcase the skill between any two Apex Predators this season." As a result, a new tier, Master Tier, is being added between Diamond and Apex Predator.

Players will need to reach 10,000 RP to make it to Master Tier as was the case with Apex Predator. The Apex Predator Tier will now be exclusive to the top 500 players per platform, so players who reach Apex Predator Tier could find that they drop down to Master Tier if other players earn more RP than them. Respawn has said "We feel this should give more prestige to making and keeping your Apex Predator rank, while still keeping the tiers above Diamond very exclusive."

As far as Splits are concerned, after looking at the lengths of previous Ranked Series, Respawn has decided that Series 3 will be three months long, like Series 1, but that it will be divided into two Splits.

This means that Ranked Series 3 will essentially come with two parts, with Split 1 taking place on World’s Edge, while Split 2 will freshen things up by taking place back at King’s Canyon.

Split 1 is to take place between February 3 and March 23, and Split 2 will follow on from March 24 to May 5.

Soft resets will take place between each Split and Respawn has confirmed that "ranked rewards will be granted for the highest tier achieved in either split of the series, but exclusive animated badges will be granted if you can make it to the same tier both splits."

There will also be some new party restrictions as the game moves into the new Ranked Series. Players will find that once they get to Platinum Tier or higher, they'll only be able to party with players who have 1 Tier of difference from them. It's hoped this will keep matches more tight when it comes to higher skill levels.

As far as what's staying the same, players will still see soft resets take place going into the new series. So, "at the start of Series 3 everyone will be soft reset on their ranked position by 1.5 Tiers down. That means if you ended Season 3 in Gold II, you’ll be reset to Silver IV. Players in Platinum IV will be reset to Silver II, and Apex Predators will be reset to Platinum II." As previously said, the soft reset will also now take place at the beginning of each Split.

Entry RP cost to Ranked Series will also stay the same and there won't be any further changes to the scoring system.

Apex Legends tips and tricks

Apex Legends can be difficult to get to grips with. There are a lot of different characters each with their own abilities and skills, plus this battle royale arguably leans more heavily on strategy and teamwork than some of its competitors.

Get ahead of the pack with our selection of Apex Legends guides, designed to help you become a champion.

Apex Legends beginners: essential tips and tricks
Apex Legends characters: which Legend is best suited to your playstyle
Apex Legends solo: here's how to win without a good team
Apex Legends landing spots: here's where your Jumpmaster should touch down
Apex Legends loot map: here's where to find the best in-game gear

Apex Legends

How to download Apex Legends

Apex Legends can be downloaded for free from the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Origin Store or Apex Legends website. Simply search for the title, download the game and enjoy!

But do keep in mind that a good internet connect and subscription to either PS Plus, Xbox Live or Origin Access is required to play.

The good news is that Apex Legends is also coming to mobile in the future, following in the footsteps of Fortnite and PUBG.

Apex Legends roadmap – what's next?

Respawn Entertainment has shared the season roadmap for Apex Legends. Apex Legends Battle Pass seasons run for approximately three months. Currently four seasons have officially been announced:

Season One: March 19, 2019 until June 18, 2019.
Season Two: July 2, 2019
Season Three: September 2019
Season Four: December 2019

Apex Legends

Now that Season 4's launch date has been confirmed for February 2020, we're reaching the end of the known world for Apex Legends. No doubt, in the coming months, Respawn will establish and reveal its new goals for the game's second year.

Is Apex Legends coming to mobile?

Yes. In EA’s quarterly earnings report, the publisher announced that it’s looking at bringing the Respawn Entertainment-developed game to mobile platforms and to both South Korea and China.

“We’re in advanced negotiations to China and mobile”, EA’s CFO Blake Jorgenson stated, before later mentioning South Korea as another expansion point.

We shouldn't expect to see Apex Legends on mobile for at least a year, though. According to EA Chief Executive, Andrew Wilson, the game won't launch until the fiscal year 2021.

Read more: Apex Legends Battle Pass – price, release date and roadmap

TechRadar – All the latest technology news

January 25, 2020
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With so many broadband deals floating around now, it can be hard to know which ones to go for. Do you go for the fastest fibre plan? Or drop your costs with the cheapest ADSL? Or should you even be tempted by the many incentives on offer?

No matter what you need from your internet, we've made that search slightly easier by narrowing the competition down to the five most worth considering. And with options from Virgin, BT, Vodafone, Plusnet and the Post Office, you only have to deal with the big names.

We've listed these five top picks below for you to compare. Or, if we've wrongly guessed what you're looking for (sorry) then consult our guide to the best broadband deals to see everything all in one place.

Go fast with the best fibre broadband deals

Getting the speed you should be? Check with TechRadar's broadband speed test

TechRadar – All the latest technology news

January 25, 2020
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Look through our list of the best laptops games 2020 has to offer, and take your pick. If you’ve just bought a brand-new gaming laptop sporting the most powerful processor and the best graphics cards, it will most certainly be able to handle the most demanding games out there. And, it’s only right to test its gaming prowess by playing the top AAA titles on it.

Though even if you’ve only got a budget gaming laptop that can only see you through less graphics-heavy games, don’t worry. There’s also quite a few options out there for you. In fact, that’s what we’re here for.

From the best PC games like Far Cry 5 to the best indie games like Cuphead, and even beloved classics like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, we gathered all the best laptop games out there in one place. Whatever your play style, schedule and hardware, we’re willing to bet there’s something on this list that you’ll enjoy.

Once you’re looking for something meatier, check out our best PC games

CPU: 2 GHz
RAM: 4 GB
GPU: Intel HD 3000 or better

Whether he’s at LucasArts, Double-Fine or working in a new indie studio, veteran developer Ron Gilbert is certain to serve up a slice of veritable gaming gold.

The tradition of flawless output keeps going with Thimbleweed Park, a pixel art point ‘n’ click adventure that harkens back to the glory days of Maniac Mansion while weaving it together with a very modern eye for creativity.

It’s essentially a murder mystery graphic adventure, where FBI agents Reyes and Ray – who don’t in any way resemble another famous couple of fictional, UFO-chasing members of the Bureau – arrive in a sleepy town to investigate a murder most horrid.

The way it intertwines a truly clever story and a cast of unusual yet instantly memorable characters is something most games with far bigger budgets miss completely. Is it any wonder that it tops our best laptop games list?

CPU: Intel Core2 Duo E8400, 3.0GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+, 3.0GHz or higher
RAM: 2 GB
GPU: Geforce 9600 GT or AMD HD 3870 512MB

You might be turned off by the tremendous amount of challenge it poses, but we promise you that Cuphead is worth a shot. If you don’t already find its vibrant, whimsical art style delightful, then you might be convinced by some backstory of how it was made.

Cuphead is from indie developer Studio MDHR (short for Studio Moldenhauer), named for the two brothers who started the project, Chad and Jared Moldenhauer. In fact, the whole company is made up of family members and friends who sought out to finish their dream project.

Marija Moldenhauer, Chad’s wife, was responsible for the inking and clean up in this hand-drawn ode to 2D platforming classics like Mega Man and 1930s Fleischer cartoons like Betty Boop. And, if the 19 bosses aren’t enough for you, Cuphead is getting a major DLC next year featuring new bosses, areas and a new playable character.

CPU: 2 Ghz
RAM: 2 GB
GPU: 256 mb video memory, shader model 3.0+

If you’re obsessed with farming sims (and, considering how well the likes of Farming Simulator and Harvest Moon sell, there’s a few of you out there), then few games will get you jumping for agricultural joy more than the enchanting busywork of Stardew Valley.

Taking cues from the Harvest Moon games, Stardew Valley's top-down point of view and cutesy characters feel blended together seamlessly, making it one of the best laptop games available.

It doesn’t seem all that exhilarating, tending to fields, growing produce and raising livestock – but that’s the beauty of it. There’s a special kind of peace to the mundanity of Stardew Valley’s minutia as you expand your farm, catch some fish down at the river and even head into the village to strike up friendships (and maybe something a little more) with a cast of NPCs. Farming has never been so much fun or addicting.

CPU: Intel i5 Quad-Core
RAM: 4 GB
GPU: Intel HD 4000

In more than a few ways, we’re inclined to describe Night in the Woods as Life is Strange meets Bojack Horseman. The interactive dialogue bits are reminiscent of the former while the overarching themes of dealing with mental health issues ring true in the latter.

Night in The Woods itself was developed in Unity by Infinite Fall, the virtual studio comprised of coder and composer Alec Holowka and Twitter jokester slash illustrator and animator Scott Benson. Together, these two have designed not just a game, but a stunning world full of relatable characters that should hopefully resonate with you.

You take on the role of Mae, a cat who dropped out of college and recently returned to her hometown of Possum Springs. It’s a completely narrative-driven game, as modern point-and-click adventure games tend to be, with very few gameplay hooks that will hold your attention. So, if you’re into Telltale Games or Life is Strange, Night in the Woods might be the best laptop game for you.

Best of all, it will run fairly smoothly on integrated graphics, given that it has an attractive, but not highly demanding, art style. Surely, this is a title we’ll be talking about for years and years to come, even if it was snubbed at The Game Awards.

CPU: 1.2GHz
RAM: 512 MB
GPU: DirectX 8-compatible graphics card with at least 32MB of video memory

You might wonder whether Hotline Miami’s neon-drenched ultraviolence would exist if the film Drive had never been made, and while it’s hard to miss just how eagerly it doffs its bloody mask at the Gosling classic, the end result is an utterly magnificent little indie title and among the best laptop games to date.

With pixel art invoking that top-down look of Grand Theft Auto’s retro years, Hotline Miami indulges in its almost psychedelic violence. The concept is pretty basic: don on a mask (each one is styled on an animal and adds its own buffs, debuffs and unique abilities), enter a stage and coat the walls with the blood of your enemies.

Add buckets of neon, a synth soundtrack that will have you sewing a scorpion onto the back of a white jacket in no time and one crazy storyline to the mix, and you have a classic in its own right.

CPU: Intel Core i3-2100T @ 2.50 GHz / AMD Phenom II X3 B73
RAM: 4 GB
GPU: ATI Radeon HD 4850 or NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT

While it’s a 2018 title and has a reasonably massive following, your laptop’s integrated graphics can still run Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire. It has mostly the same forgiving system requirements as its predecessor, so if you are a fan of that game, you should be able to engross yourself in this best laptop game as well.

Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire drops players on the Deadfire archipelago and tasks them with hunting down a rogue god. And, just like its predecessor, it features rich storytelling and deep RPG gameplay that harkens to the days of Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights.

While all the backgrounds are in 2D and viewed from a top-down point-of-view, they’re still lovely to behold. Plus, the numerous spell effects will keep you bewitched as you work your way through the intense and tactical combat.

And, because it's coming from Obsidian, a studio known for making the best RPGs of all time, you can be confident that you’re getting an adventure, and one of the best laptop games, that’s worth every penny.

CPU: 1.5 GHz Core2Duo
RAM: 2 GB
GPU: OpenGL 1.4 or better

If somebody told you a game about working in a border control office would be one of the most addictive games ever, would you scoff and walk off shaking your head?

Well, you might give a little indie gem by the name of Papers, Please a chance. Set in a fictional take on the Eastern Bloc, you’re an immigration clerk tasked with processing refugees from a hostile neighbouring nation.

The core concept is simple: check each person’s documents against a clear set of rules, process those who meet the requirements and detain those with false papers.

The game is created to test your attention to detail, as well as the strength of your moral compass. Sometimes you’ll have to decide if specific sympathetic characters should be granted asylum, even if it goes against the rules.

The twist is good performance effectively feeds you family, while mistakes put their lives in danger. It’s dark, but engrossingly so.

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
RAM: 4 GB
GPU: Integrated GPU / NVIDIA GeForce 510

We all know how aggressive geese can be. Well, thanks to Untitled Goose Game, you can walk a mile in a goose’s webbed shoes. And, not just any goose – a crappy one at that. You can already tell how this slapstick-stealth-sandbox game is going to be just from the title, which is really more like a non-title.

If you enjoy causing mayhem, you’ll enjoy this game. As a goose, you’ll run around ruining people’s days by setting up pranks, stealing their stuff and just being really annoying. In fact, the more miserable the humans are, the better. So, you should be ticking off every objective in your ‘to do’ list, which include things like trapping a kid in a phone box, for example. What better way to let off some steam after that crappy day you’re also having?

CPU: 2GHz+
RAM: 3 GB
GPU: 512MB

Part role-playing game, part bullet hell shooter, Undertale is a game like no other. The fact that this remarkable game is the work of one man is impressive, considering the depth of consequence developer Toby Fox has built into Undertale’s world.

In the small boots of a child who’s fallen into a monster-filled world beneath the earth where only the quick thinking survive, you’ll encounter brutal bosses.

The fact you can befriend bosses as well as battle them changes the fabric of the story, and shows that it’s not just NPCs that offer crucial moments of dialogue. It’s a game of empathetic reflection, where your actions dictate how a boss or monster reacts to you.

Aggression leads to more powerful attacks against you, while avoiding retaliation will soften the blows. Strange and seductive in its own special way, Undertale is a curio definitely worth chasing and one of the best laptop games to play right now.

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon 64X2
RAM: 2 GB
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 100 series (512 Mb) or Radeon HD 3xxx or better

When it comes to CCGs (collectible card games), Hearthstone does a pretty impressive job of keeping you and your deck of animated cards entertained throughout – but what happens when you want something a little less innocuous? You give a CCG with a unique spin such as Chronicle: RuneScape Legends a gander.

Based on the classic lore of Runescape, Chronicle blends card-dealing with the 3D setup of a RPG. Cards represent real characters and enemies that appear across a 3D-rendered pop-up books.

Cards are played successively, with player characters facing each one (ranging from foes to curses to stat buffs), before facing off against one another at the end. It’s bizarre, brilliant and categorically worth your time.

Hey, it’s even got new single-player content when you don’t want to test your mettle against other users. Not too shabby for a low-spec CCG.

CPU: 2GHz
RAM: 1GB
GPU: Card with 128MB+ dedicated memory

FTL sounds like an ultra-hardcore game when you’re talking about it: a real-time strategic space roguelike. A roguelike is a game that makes you start from scratch when you die. However, FTL is actually perfect for pretty casual laptop gaming. You can even get it for iPad, in fact.

You tool up your star ship, recruit your crew and do your best not to get annihilated as you take an important message from one end of the galaxy to the other. Screenshots don't really give FTL justice, as all you see is a blocky graphic of your ship, not really its spacey surroundings.

However, it's the best laptop game for public play: nothing on-screen to make you feel too embarrassed or keep fellow passengers glued to your screen, if you play on train journeys.

CPU: dual-core 2GHz
RAM: 2GB
GPU: DirectX 9 compatible

Few games stay relevant as long as Skyrim. It should feel old and antiquated, but a mod scene has kept it relevant in the past half-decade. Being so old has also meant not as powerful hardware has been able to catch up with its real-life spec requirements.

It'll run pretty well on Intel Core-series processors from the last 2-3 years, and even plays pretty well on some recent Atom/Pentium CPUs on its lowest settings. If you have a real dog of a laptop, there's also a mod that'll cut down the settings even more than the game itself allows, called Ultra Low Graphics Mod. Imaginative naming.

It’s one of the best laptop games to date, and many agree – in case you've been locked in a cupboard for the past five years, Skyrim is a massive open-world RPG that won countless 'game of the year' awards when it was released back in 2011.

CPU: 1.7GHz dual-core
RAM: 2GB
GPU: Intel HD 3000 or newer

Remember the game that received millions and millions of dollars of funding on Kickstarter back when such things were unheard-of? That's Broken Age, the point 'n' click platform made by one of the people who came up with Monkey Island back in the 90s.

It didn't exactly and single-handedly revive the genre. However, it’s still a fun tale that is nowhere near as frustrating as most of the early 90s exploits, most of which are best viewed through a pair of rose-tinted nostalgia specs. From a distance.

You play as both male and female characters, skipping between chapters in their respective stories to make sure the narrative doesn't get stale. We're steering clear of spoilers, so we'll let you uncover it on your own.

CPU: 1.7GHz
RAM: 512MB
GPU: DX 8.1 compatible card

You might head straight for 2D games when you think of title that'll work with pretty modest hardware. However, some once-fancy 3D games work very well with non-gaming laptops. Valve's Source engine is especially good at working with less powerful GPUs, making classics like Half-life 2 play delightfully on modern integrated graphics hardware.

If you're not up for a thinking person's FPS like Half-Life 2, you might want to check out fantastic first-person puzzler Portal 2 instead. It is also based on the Source engine. Portal 2 takes the portal gun from Half-Life 2, which makes teleporting holes in walls, and makes a whole game out of it. It’s possibly one of the best games of all time, actually, and of course, of course among the best laptop games ever.

CPU: Intel Pentium D
RAM: 2GB
GPU: Intel HD

It's easy to think of Minecraft as retro in some way, but it's actually far more groundbreaking than some of the nay-saying haters would have you believe. It is not just for kids, either. Try it, you might just like it.

This world-building classic was never out to wow audiences with its Crysis-style graphics, but its highly scalable visuals let you tweak Minecraft to suit any machine. As well as being able to experiment with the draw distance and the few visual effects the game uses, you can alter the field of view as well.

Minecraft is also best-suited for laptop gaming, as you don't need to be very accurate with your cursor. This is handy if you're using a trackpad rather than a mouse.

CPU: 1.6GHz
RAM: 1GB
GPU: x1950 Pro, 7900 gt

Take 90s platform aesthetic, add a roguelike twist, a completely modern random level generator and a few RPG sprinkles to the mix, and you have Rogue Legacy. It's one of the most addictive indie games of the last decade – not to mention, one of the best laptop games.

You play as a knight type, leaping right into a castle full of nasties. When you die, and you will die, you return as one of that warrior's descendants. The castle will be different, as will the class of your character. While you have to start from scratch every time, you can unlock bonuses by collecting gold from chests in the castle.

This is the bit that makes it more accessible than a true roguelike game, where you really have to start from square one when you die.

CPU: 2GHz
RAM: 1GB
GPU: Nvidia HD 4450

Don't Starve is an outrageous little game where you wander around in a somewhat twisted nightmarish world, exploring and picking up supplies to try to survive, day by day. When the sun goes down, awful creatures start prowling in the shadows. If you don't build a fire, you're a goner.

You also have to eat to keep yourself healthy, and even your mental health deteriorates if you don't find out ways to pep yourself up.

There are some nice visual effects in Don’t Starve, but as a predominantly 2D near-top-down game, it's happy to work with all but the lowest powered laptops.

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo
RAM: 2GB
GPU: Intel HD 1000

If you don't mind tempting addiction in your laptop gaming, Hearthstone is a title not to miss. It is a little like nerd classic card battle game (and also video game) Magic: The Gathering, but much better-suited to quick, casual play.

Like many other modern casual games, however, you'll likely end up playing for a lot longer than five minutes. And it feels even more "right" on a laptop than a bulky desktop.

It's a Valve game and, like most Valve titles, fares extremely well on lower-end hardware. It officially supports the Intel HD 1000 integrated GPU, from way back in the Sandy Bridge generation half a decade ago.

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo
RAM: 2GB
GPU: Intel HD

Is Civilization the ultimate "PC" game? Many of us have spent a handful of full days working through Civilization's virtual recap of the ages of man, whether it was back in the 90s, or just last week. Civilization V has more of the laid-back vibe that previous Civ games, but that makes it more accessible if you're looking for something to kill 30 mins, rather than 3 hours.

It'll work on almost any Intel Core series laptop from the past five years, but if you find yours still isn't up to the task, don't forget Civilization IV. Despite being old, it still works fine on Windows 10 through Steam.

CPU: Core 2 Duo
RAM: 2GB
GPU: Intel HD 3000

EA gets a lot of flak. It was rated as the most despised company in America two years in a row, after all. However, it doesn't half know how to court a big audience. And that means making sure games like The Sims 4 work on just about everything.

This infamous lifestyle sim even has a "laptop" mode created for systems that can barely make it through the title screen of The Witcher 3. The game itself is very much business as usual: you slog through a virtual life, making bucks and designing living rooms. Or doing your best to torture some poor virtual peon by locking them in an inescapable toilet.

TechRadar – All the latest technology news

January 25, 2020
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It’s time to upgrade to one of the best 4K monitors on the market. UHD content is becoming more and more common in 2020. Not only do these monitors offer an incredibly immersive viewing and gaming experience, but they also give you more space when you’re doing a lot of creative work – whether that 3D design or video editing.

On top of that, 4K monitors are now more affordable than ever, even to budget buyers. In fact, they’re much cheaper than a 4K TV. When you purchase one of the best 4K monitors today, you’re not only getting excellent performance. You’re also getting it for a great price for it.

We gathered the best 4K monitors on the market right now, and put them on this list. So that you’ll spend less time shopping around and doing research, and more time enjoying beautiful content in 4K – whether you’re gaming, streaming movies or doing creative work.

We found the best ultrawide monitors on the market in 2020

The best 4K monitors at a glance

LG 27UD88-W
Philips Brilliance 328P
LG Ultrafine 24MD4KL
BenQ PD2700U
Monoprice 27" 4K UHD
Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ
ViewSonic XG2700-4K
AOC U2879VF
Acer Predator X27
LG 43UD79-B

When you’re looking for the best 4K monitor, you want to find something that’s affordable, but also has fantastic picture quality. It’s a balance that’s pretty rare, but the LG 27UD88-W hits it out of the park. Not only does this panel cover 99% of the sRGB color space, but it does so with an insane contrast ratio and a response time to display the best PC games as they should be seen. The best part? It does all this while maintaining a reasonable price tag. If you have the horsepower to drive the LG 27UD88-W, you should pick it up.

Read the full review: LG 27UD88-W

As both 4K panels and HDR technology become more ubiquitous, we’re starting to see more affordable monitors take on the market, and the Philips Brilliance 328P does just that. This 4K monitor combines a 4K VA panel with decent HDR performance at a price point that won’t force you to break open the piggy bank. Its brightness doesn’t quite reach its lofty HDR 600 rating, but at this price, it’s hard to complain. The Philips Brilliance 328P really is one of the best 4K monitors out there.

Read the full review: Philips Brilliance 328P

4K fans will find a lot to love in the LG Ultrafine 24MD4KL, especially if they’re photographers or videographers who need all that prime real estate and high resolution. From its 4K resolution and color accuracy, to its plethora of USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports and buttonless design, this 4K display is the perfect match for your Mac or ultrabook. And, despite those bizarrely thick bezels and high price tag, this display might be hard to resist.

Read the full review: LG Ultrafine 24MD4KL

If you’re on the market for one of the best 4K monitors for everyday computing and productivity, without all the fancy bells and whistles, you’ll want the BenQ PD2700U. This monitor doesn’t feature fancy Quantum Dot tech, or Adaptive Sync, it doesn’t even have USB-C input! But, when you get the BenQ PD2700U, you are getting a lot of pixels, which is all you really need. It’s not the cheapest 4K monitor on this list, but it’s color accurate, has plenty of desktop real estate, and will comfortably fit in any office environment.

Read the full review: BenQ PD2700U

Monoprice 27" 4K UHD — Monoprice 27″ 4K UHD’s IPS panel allows for extremely sharp image. (Image Credit: Monoprice)

You may not have heard of Monoprice, but this brand is behind some of the most affordable monitors out there right now. Its Ultra-Slim Aluminum monitor, for example, is hailed for its sleek, ultra-thin bezel design and ultra-wide viewing angles at 178°. This monitor isn’t particularly feature-rich – there are no built-in speakers, for example – but its IPS panel allows for extremely sharp image, FreeSync tech reduces screen tearing and Monoprice’s Pixel Perfect Guarantee gives it vibrant color performance. Plus, with two DisplayPorts and two HDMI ports, there’s plenty of connectivity on offer.

While 4K monitors are becoming more and more common, even without particularly powerful hardware, we still run into the kind of monitor that changes everything. The Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ is one of these. Asus has managed to craft a 4K gaming monitor with HDR and the kind of color support you see in professional displays – and render that all at 144Hz with G-Sync no less. There are only a few monitors out there that packs as many features as this Asus screen, and that’s why it’s one of the best 4K monitors. But, keep in mind, you’re going to have to pay for something this advanced – and we mean pay.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ

ViewSonic XG2700-4K boasts amazing picture quality, quick response time, accurate color performance and multiple ports. (Image Credit: ViewSonic)

If you’re looking for a 4K monitor for gaming, ViewSonic’s XG2700-4K is the perfect fit. It is not without quirks: the screen brightness could be higher, the red on black trim is an acquired taste, and it has no built-in speakers. On the other hand, you get amazing picture quality, quick response time, accurate color performance, multiple ports, and a versatile stand for multiple viewing angle options. Its most notable feature is AMD FreeSync to prevent tearing and ensure that your games are running smoothly. Of course, the picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture modes are also helpful because who doesn’t multitask nowadays.

IPS displays may offer better viewing angles and color representation, but a good TN panel makes for a much better gaming monitor, thanks to much faster response times, higher refresh rates and affordability. This is why the AOC U2879VF has a 1ms response time and a refresh rate of 144Hz for a low price. If you can forgive the restricted viewing angles, the occasional flickering at 144Hz, the absence of a USB port, and the ho hum color performance, this AMD FreeSync enabled monitor is for you.

Read the full review: AOC U2879 VF

If you have an absolute beast of a gaming computer – think two Nvidia RTX 2080 Tis in SLI – and you need a monitor that can keep up, you might want to take a look at the Acer Predator X27. Not only is it a 27-inch 4K monitor with HDR, but it also has a refresh rate of a whopping 144 Hz. If you have the horsepower, you can play games in 4K competitively without losing an edge to the person playing in 1080p. But, as you may expect from a spec sheet like this, it’s very expensive – but if you need the tech, it’s definitely there.

Read the full review: Acer Predator X27

The LG 43UD79-B’s features will more than make up for its flaws. (Image Credit: LG)

You’ll need a bigger desk with 43UD79-B’s hefty, 42-inch screen. Unfortunately this bigger than life screen might also be darker around the edges and a sluggish refresh rage. However, this 4K monitor’s other features will more than make up for its flaws. The screen split software, for one, allows for a range of screen configurations. This, coupled with its four HDMI inputs, a DisplayPort 1.2a port, and a USC-C port, will let you effortlessly run multiple devices at once. Along with its true IPS screen, color-rich display, and FreeSync compatibility, you might just be getting a bargain.

Looking for a more great gaming monitor? Check out our top picks
Or set up your living room with one of the best 4K TVs on the market

TechRadar – All the latest technology news

January 25, 2020
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If you’re looking for the best PC games to download and play, you’ve come to the right place. Especially now with Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2080 Ti and Super RTX graphics cards, as well as AMD’s Navi line, are out in the wild, there’s never been a better time to get in PC gaming.

There’s a remarkably massive catalogue of brilliant games for PC, starting with the best Steam games 2019, on offer, so you can play to your heart’s content and never run out of new games to play. The best PC games also cover a wide gamut of genres, from platformers and point-and-click adventures, to retro favorites and action-packed first-person shooters with eye-popping visuals. There are even co-op PC games that you can enjoy with friends. So forget about your PlayStations and Xboxes.

The sheer number of brilliant PC games will leave you wondering where to get started, so we made you a list to get you off to a great start. These are our picks for the best PC games of 2020. With the hours upon hours of gaming we’ve clocked in here at TechRadar, you can bet your life you’ll enjoy every single title on it.

The best new PC game: Halo: Reach

The direct prequel to 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved originally launched back on the Xbox 360, and now it’s come to the PC in a remastered form. This was the last Halo game that Bungie developed before it parted ways with Microsoft. So, in a way, it’s almost like a farewell or an ode. It’s as beautiful as one, too – with animations that look like moving paintings, colors that are vibrant and grittier graphics.

Of course, the gameplay is impressive as well, unsurprisingly as this is Bungie last hurrah and ithad to end it with a bang. The storyline is satisfying and engrossing. The characters are truly likeable. And, the enemies are clever and challenging, making your small wins even more gratifying.

Halo: Reach isn’t exactly a masterpiece, but it comes pretty close to one. And, if you’re looking for the best PC game that’s fresh from the over, this one’s hard to beat.

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is aging like fine wine. Even several years after it hit the streets, it’s still one of the most impressive open world games that’s ever existed – mixing Skyrim’s unapologetic scale with Grand Theft Auto V’s incredible depth. It’s such a jam-packed game, which is why it claims the top spot on our list of the best PC games in 2019. Staggering, beautiful and an absolute time sink – in a good way – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt isn’t just the best PC game of 2020 or among the best open world games on PC. It might just be one of the best video games of all time.

Check out our list of the best single player PC games

2. Dark Souls 3

While it's arguably not as hard as earlier titles in the series, From Software's Dark Souls 3 takes everything you like about the Souls series and improves on it by blending it with elements found in Bloodborne, the developer's more recent title for PS4.

We won’t sugar coat it: you’re going to die in Dark Souls 3, perhaps more than once. It takes patience to master its complex combat system, but it also plays fair, which makes it more approachable for casual players so they too can take part in its bleak, fantastical world. And, on the bright side, it’s much more optimized for PC than the first two games. Now that you can pick up Dark Souls: Remastered, and see where the apocalyptic series began, there’s never been a better time to link the first flame.

3. Control

It’s not hard to see why Control has taken the gaming world by storm. The creative team at Remedy Entertainment made sure to pack this title with plenty to love, paying very close attention to the intricate details. A deeply cinematic game, this action-adventure offers its players staggering visuals, inspired environment design and brilliant performances – not to mention, a deeply satisfying combat experience.

Control places you in the capable shoes of fiery-haired Jesse Faden. You’re tasked to seek out The Oldest House, a building in New York City that’s in a constant state of architectural flux and only appears to those who desire to find it, and locate your missing brother, all while heading the Federal Bureau of Control as its director and overseeing the containment of paranatural entities.

There’s nothing quite like Control on the market, and it makes it one of the best PC games to play right now.

4. Monster Hunter World

Monster Hunter is one of the biggest gaming franchises you’ve probably never heard of for years now. With Monster Hunter: World, the series broke into the mainstream and came to the PC (much to many gamers’ relief), and now, it’s one of the best PC games you can play to date.

Monster Hunter: World puts you in the shoes of a monster hunter, and you’ll hunt increasingly bigger and meaner monsters, strip them for parts, and craft bigger, badder armor. It’s a deviously simple gameplay loop that ends up being one of the most compelling and rewarding PC games you can play right now.

There’s an incessant onslaught of content in this game, and Capcom, the developers of this monster hunting hit, are committed to bringing a wealth of free DLC to the game – as well as a new frosty expansion in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. If you’re looking for an addictive, immersive and most importantly, fun game to play on your own or with all your closest friends cooperatively, Monster Hunter: World is the PC game of your dreams. There’s no doubt it’s one of the best PC games you can buy today.

These are the best co-op PC games of 2019

5. Red Dead Redemption 2

The newest release from Rockstar Games was an instant hit upon release. Red Dead Redemption 2 is an engrossing western following Arthur Morgan and his gang as they try to survive a fictionalized Wild West as outlaws on the run. However, the game is much more than just that.

Whether it’s getting lost in the story, following through on every side quest to its conclusion, or just bonding with your horse, RDR2 is one of those games where you can easily sink 50+ hours into and still have something to do. The gameplay is stellar, and the graphics are gorgeous. You can even run the game in 8K, if you have the hardware. Definitely give this a look if you haven’t already.

6. Sid Meier's Civilization VI

Sid Meier's Civilization VI is the most recent installment in the iconic turn-based strategy game, and it's without a doubt among the best PC games you can play to date. One of the things that make the PC the best platform for gaming on is the sheer breadth of different game genres on offer. And, what Civilization VI has to offer is its massive scope, despite the fact that it might seem slower paced next to the likes of Fortnite.

Spread your empire across the map and crush your enemies. You build up your empire from a simple settlement to a world power, and you can decide to do this through military might, technological supremacy or cultural influence. Since its launch in 2016, it has had two expansion packs that really cement this game as an epic entry in our best PC games list. Civilization VI: Rise and Fall released in February 2018, with Civilization VI: Gathering Storm following in February 2019.

7. Alien: Isolation

Set 15 years after the events of the first Alien film from 1979, Alien: Isolation is the suspense-filled game that fans of the franchise have long been waiting for. Playing the role of Amanda Ripley, daughter of Alien protagonist Ellen Ripley, your mission is to track down and retrieve the flight recorder of the Nostromo spacecraft from the first Alien film, which has been traced aboard the Sevastopol space station.

First and foremost a stealth game, Isolation intensifies the tension by giving you minimal weaponry. Its superb graphics shine on high-end PCs and brilliant AI helps ramp up the dread, leaving you shuddering at every corner. This and more make Alien: Isolation one of the best PC games 2019 has to offer.

Read: How the tech of Alien Isolation will scare you back into the 1970s

8. Overwatch

Overwatch, if nothing else, has considerably changed the landscape, moving it away from the norm of gray-ish cover shooters to the domain of competitive gaming. Its bright, vibrant colors are only made better by its endearing characters, each coming with their own compelling backstories, which, though non-existent in game, make for a collection of amazing webcomics and cinematics.

Overwatch is also one of the best PC games, owing to the fact that it runs beautifully on all kinds of different hardware. Sure, it’s a little older now. However, even in 2019, it’s the best PC game for anyone with a competitive streak. If you missed out on this game before, do yourself a favor – sign in to your Battle.net account and take Overwatch – not to mention, its colorful cast of characters – for a spin today.

9. Forza Horizon 4

Microsoft's racing series is only getting better with each release, and in many ways this spin-off has exceeded the main Forza Motorsport line as the best racing games on PC at present. They're definitely more fun, adding a dash of arcade fun to the strikingly recreated cars and race tracks we've come to expect from Forza.

Forza Horizon 4 is easily one of the best PC games you can buy today, and this entry brings the racing to the UK after having explored America, France, Italy and Australia in the previous three instalments of the franchise. Now, you can rip through charming villages, seaside towns and the city of Edinburgh by way of many miles of country roads and dirt tracks in between. It's fast, frantic and a lot of fun.

You can purchase Forza Horizon 4 through the Microsoft Store. It's also available as part of the Xbox Game Pass for PC, or you can buy the Xbox One version and get a download code for PC using the Xbox Anywhere feature.

10. Thimbleweed Park

Fans of classic point and click games such as Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle, which are some of the best PC games ever made, should add Thimbleweed Park to their must play list. Made by Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, two of the people behind PC classics Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion, Thimbleweed Park plays like a love letter to classic point-and-click adventure games.

From the splendid retro artwork, entertaining dialogue and perplexing puzzles, Thimbleweed Park deserves its place on our list of the best PC games, merging the best of old school PC game design with modern technology.

11. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

From Software is a household name when it comes to designing the best PC games. The minds behind the critically praised Dark Souls series have transported PC gamers to some of the most forsaken landscapes and through some of the most challenging yet rewarding gameplay. From Software is back at it once more, with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

Sekiro places you in the shoes of the Young Wolf, a shinobi tasked with rescuing his young master. The game will take you through 16th-century Japan, but things will get eerie and supernatural: this is From Software we’re talking about.

Don’t expect an easy time of it, however. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an awfully difficult game to master, and you’ll need quick reflexes to deflect enemy attacks, as well as to master stealth. You won’t be able to hide behind a shield all day, like you were able to in Dark Souls III.

Read: Is the MMORPG on the verge of extinction?

12. Minecraft

The phrase "build it, and they will come" rings truer than ever with Minecraft, the survival-based sandbox RPG that has now been bought more than 100 million times since its release in 2009. In it, you can construct your own worlds using resources you find in the wild, or discover existing ones created by other players online.

In Minecraft, you can either limit yourself to the numerous tools and blocks offered by the developer, Mojang, or you can install mods to truly capitalize on your investment. Moreover, sometime in 2019, you’ll be able to take part in the Super Duper Graphics Pack, an optional piece of DLC that offers more realistic lighting effects and textures to an already amazing game.

13. Doom

A crudely rendered first-person shooter series, Doom was as controversial as it was adored when it first took PC gaming by storm in the 90s. That’s due in large part to its cutting-edge depictions of gore and violence that only a computer could deliver. But just because Id Software's brainchild was a phenomenon for PC gamers in the ‘90s, that doesn’t mean that its premise and gore-fille gameplay doesn’t hold up.

Parents be damned, the franchise underwent a revival in 2016 with a fresh reset, aptly titled Doom, and it’s still proving to be among the best PC games years later. Although the multiplayer might not appeal to shooter fans regardless of age, the single player campaign will pit you against demons in Hell for a lengthy mission that is bloody satisfying, pun intended.

14. Fortnite Battle Royale

It’s possibly the biggest game in the world right now, so Fortnite Battle Royale is a natural shoo-in for this list. After all, it is a global phenomenon and among the best PC games to play right now if you like super-competitive online games. This is a game people keep coming back to, and that's mostly due to its addictive gameplay and regular updates from Epic.

Fortnite Battle Royale is actually a game mode for the Fortnite game, but this mode has become so popular, many people consider it a separate game in its own right. As with other Battle Royale games, the aim of Fortnite Battle Royale is to fight your way through an ever-shrinking map until you're the last player standing. While that might sound simple enough, there's a whole lot of depth to this game once you start playing.

15. Cuphead

Cuphead's 1930's animation aesthetics certainly makes this one of the most beautiful looking – and sounding – PC games on our list. Incorporating run-and-gun platforming with boss rush battles, it's also an extremely challenging game. But, that only means that it's even more rewarding to play.

With hand-drawn cell animation, watercolor backgrounds and original jazz soundtrack, Cuphead is unlike anything you'll play on PC. Just keep in mind that the steep difficulty curve may put people off. However, if you're willing to put in the work and hone your gaming skills, you'll be rewarded with one of the best PC games you’ll ever experience.

Going mobile? These are the best games you can play on your laptop

Gabe Carey and Bill Thomas have also contributed to this article

TechRadar – All the latest technology news

January 25, 2020
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You might think that having the best wireless routers isn’t necessary, but you’d be wrong. Especially if you’re a gamer battling opponents from all over the world, a remote worker who works from home or a parent with several kids at home sharing the family network, having a high-quality router is vital for your online connection.

You don’t want your router to be the bottleneck that’s keeping your internet service chugging along at a snail’s pace. A weak or intermittent connection is more than just frustrating. And, a wireless router that’s extremely reliable will ensure that you won’t get a bad connection in the middle of an intense game on PC, while working on a project with your team or when streaming Netflix on movie night.

As the options for wireless routers are extensive, we’ve put together a list of the best wireless routers on the market. We’ve tested these devices so you know they’re up to the task. So that when you’re ready to upgrade, you won’t have to spend a lot of time doing research.

Best wireless routers 2020 at a glance

Google Nest Wifi
Google Wifi
Asus RT-AC86U
Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500
TP-Link Archer C5400 v2
Netgear Orbi Pro
Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23
TP-Link Deco M9
D-Link Covr-C1203
Eero Home Wi-Fi System

Google kicks things up a notch in its Google Wifi line with its latest installment. Don’t get us wrong; the original Google Wifi is still among the best wireless routers today. However, if you’re all about the smart home life, then you’ll appreciate the pure genius of Google Nest Wifi. This wireless router takes the Google Wifi, gives it the capabilities of Google Home and wraps it all up in an even sleeker and more appealing package. It’s a mesh router and a smart speaker in one, all with the simplicity that Google Wifi is known for.

Read the full review: Google Nest Wifi

The days of traditional wireless routers are coming to an end; the age of the wireless mesh routers is here. Google Wi-Fi, alone, is proof that the mesh revolution is upon us, which means that you might be saying goodbye to the days when the only way to have wireless bliss was to install a number of wireless extenders. The idea of Google Wi-Fi is simple: purchase a set of points, put them in strategic places around the house and then scan a QR code. And, just like that, you’re connected anywhere you are in your home. It’s no surprise that this wireless mesh router claims the loftiest spot on our best wireless routers list of 2019, as it’s also the one that’s most effortless to set up and get going.

Read the full review: Google Wifi

If you’re well-acquainted with Asus, especially its gaming computers, then you likely have a general idea of what the Asus RT-AC86U brings to the table. This wireless router may look like the lovechild of Doritos and Mountain Dew, if they spent a night together in a router making machine. But, inside that kitschy gaming aesthetic is a wireless router that, for its price, effortlessly outclasses almost all of its rivals on the market. Even better, you’re also not paying a premium for a gaming device, so if you’re looking for a high-speed connection with an affordable price tag, the Asus RT-AC86U should be at the top of your list.

Read the full review: Asus RT-AC86U

The Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 might be pricey and lacks a broadband modem. However, this is still a router that delivers, especially on getting those pings down. Designed for homes with gamers in-house, it’s supercharged for your online gaming needs, keeping those high “ping” and latency rates down to deliver an excellent connection whether you’re playing Call of Duty or PUBG. If you’re willing to pay a pretty penny – and if you’re a serious gamer, you should be – this is one of the best wireless routers to consider.

Read the full review: Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500

This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Google Wifi.

Are you in the market for one of the best wireless routers of 2019 and don’t mind a quirky design. If a ‘90s-inspired sci-fi design sounds like it will fit right in your home, then the TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 might be the best wireless router for you. It’s not exactly the most modern-looking mesh router out there, but it’s unique in that it can bridge consumer and enterprise users by offering high-end functionality at a reasonable price point and with a relaxed setup. It’s peculiar looking, yes; however, if you’re scouring the market for a wireless router that can cover a mid-sized home, you can’t go wrong with this.

Read the full review: TP-Link Archer C5400 v2

If you need to bring your office’s networking into the modern age with one of the best routers of 2019, then you must seriously consider getting the Netgear Orbi Pro. It’s a modular Wi-Fi mesh router that takes some design and performance inspiration from its business-grade competitors. It’s on the more expensive side. However, if you’re running a business where you cannot afford any lags due to poor Wi-Fi, then it’s absolutely worth every penny.

Read the full review: Netgear Orbi Pro

When the Netgear Orbi hit the streets, it changed the wireless router scene. Then, in 2019, Netgear released the Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23, an economical alternative for casual users who don’t have a grand manor to cover. This makes it a worthy contender for the best wireless routers. Sure, it comes with fewer antennae and ethernet ports than its higher end counterpart. However, it does deliver more than enough to provide very solid network coverage. Plus, the small form factor means that it will have no issues blending in – not that you will feel the need to hide it.

Read the full review: Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23

The market is now flooded with wireless mesh routers, but it’s hard to complain when the level of coverage these wireless routers brings tops anything we’ve seen before. With devices like the TP-Link Deco M9, one of the best routers of 2020, we can see how they’re only getting better and better. By incorporating IoT smart home support, alongside industry standard speeds and coverage, the TP-Link Deco M9 is, without question, an excellent choice for a smart home supporter. Fair warning though, this router is a tad expensive. However, you’re also getting all these features and an outstanding performance in exchange.

Read the full review: TP-Link Deco M9

Ready to jump on the mesh wireless router bandwagon, but without breaking open that piggy bank? You’re in luck with the affordable D-Link Covr C1203. It’s one of the best wireless routers, if you want to upgrade and save at the same time. It offers comparable coverage to that of the Google Wi-Fi while also being affordable, and it also looks futuristic in a great way. It’s somewhat slower than Google’s legendary router, but it will still be fast enough for the typical user. It’s no surprise that the D-Link Covr C1203 gets our vote as one of the best wireless routers of 2020.

Read the full review: D-Link Covr-C1203

If you’re in the market for a wireless mesh router that gives you a lot of control over your network, then the Eero Home Wi-Fi system might just be the answer. It has a price more premium than that of your standard router, but it also gives users total control over their network while touting a secure connection through AI. Even better, the Eero Home Wi-Fi System comes with subscriptions to 1Password, MalwareBytes and Encrypt.me VPN, which should keep everyone linked to your network safe and secure.

Read the full review: Eero Home Wi-Fi System

Joe Osborne, Bill Thomas, Gabe Carey and Michelle Uy have also contributed to this article

Images Credit: TechRadar

We’ve also picked out the best best wifi extenders of 2020

TechRadar – All the latest technology news

January 24, 2020
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Owning one of the best Ultrabooks on the market is more than just about looking cool. Thin, light and elegant, Ultrabooks not only ooze sophistication in the design department; they also boast power as well – and a lot of it. That excellent combination of portability and power is what makes them a favorite among professionals, especially those who are always on the go.

The best Ultrabooks 2020 has to offer can handle a hefty workload despite their svelte form, thanks to the best processors and SSDs they hide within. In fact, they’re so powerful more creative professionals rely on them for demanding tasks like video editing and 3D design. What’s more is that these Ultrabooks tend to generally have a great battery life, so they’ll go a long way on a single charge.

If you’re ready to invest in one of the best Ultrabooks of 2020, this list is for you. We have gathered all the best ones on the market, each of which we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves so you know you can count on whichever one you choose.

If you’re a traveling professional, and you’re looking for the best of the best this 2020, then you will be hard-pressed to find anything that will rival the HP Elite Dragonfly. Garnering our coveted five-star rating, this laptop tops many of our lists this year, including the best Ultrabooks list. It’s no surprise, as it delivers a deadly combination of incredible features like a sublime keyboard and amazing speakers, raw power, portability, a beautiful design and a long battery life. Admittedly, it’s pricier than many of its competition; but if you’ve got the funds, it’s worth every penny.

Read the full review: HP Elite Dragonfly

For some years now, Huawei has been sitting in the shadows, biding its time to take on the best Ultrabooks. But now, their time in the limelight is here. Like the Huawei MateBook X Pro before it, the Huawei Matebook 13 packs a ton of powerful hardware into a gorgeous shell, all while offering it at a price that’s more than reasonable. Those discrete graphics are also worth a mention – the Huawei Matebook 13 may be one of the tiniest laptops out there to come with an MX150 GPU. It’s not hard to see why the Huawei Matebook 13 is the best Ultrabook right now.

Read the full review: Huawei MateBook 13

The Dell XPS 13 has been king of the Ultrabooks for years, and while it’s been unseated by the Huawei MateBook 13, it remains one of the Ultrabooks to beat in 2020. This time around, Dell has moved the webcam from the bottom of the display back to the top, fixing one of the biggest flaws that held back the XPS 13 for years. Add the updated internal components to the mix, and the Dell XPS 13 still makes the best Ultrabooks list – even in the face of tough competition.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13

Sometimes an Ultrabook arrives that totally changes everything. When the 2018 model of the Huawei MateBook X Pro hit the scene, it did just that. This beautiful Ultrabook brings high-end components into an elegantly designed package that puts even the MacBook Pro to shame. It really is one of the best Ultrabooks on the market, despite its successor’s attempts to best it with an Intel Whiskey Lake processor. It’s still the 2018 model that’s captured our computing cores.

Read the full review: Huawei MateBook X Pro

If an arresting Ultrabook housing 2-in-1 functionality and a ton of power satisfies what you’re looking for, it’s hard to find a better laptop than the HP Spectre x360. This slim and light Ultrabook isn’t just filled with the latest Intel Whiskey Lake processors and plenty of RAM. It also might just be the most exquisite laptop you can buy today. The HP Spectre x360 won’t just get you through your workload, but will also make you smart and stylish in the process – leaving no doubt that it’s well-deserving of its lofty spot on our best Ultrabooks 2020 list.

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360

The original Surface Laptop hit the market just about two years ago, and while it was a great Ultrabook, it was affected by relatively weak internals and Windows 10 S. Fortunately, Microsoft rolled out the Surface Laptop 2 in late 2018, offering quad-core processors and the full-fat version of Windows 10. It’s through these fundamental improvements that the Surface Laptop 2 is able to bring the purest Windows 10 experience to a laptop – not to mention, join the ranks of the best Ultrabooks available right now – at a price that won’t make you run in the opposite direction.

Read the full review: Surface Laptop 2

The Lenovo Yoga C930 has quite a few of the makings of the best Ultrabook – from an absurd 14.5 hours of battery life and dual Thunderbolt-enabled USB-C ports to internal components that will easily handle those daily productivity tasks. That’s without even considering it’s a 2-in-1 that offers form versatility so you can squeeze in some light gaming and movie-watching once you’re done working. It has a few cherries on top as well, specifically the integrated self-charging stylus and the fab speaker system.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C930

Razer has made quite a name for itself in the gaming world. Yet, with the Razer Blade Stealth, the green-themed manufacturer wants consumers to know that they’re more than just a company “for gamers, by gamers.” This Ultrabook will absolutely change your mind with its 13.3-inch, QHD+ beauty. You can no longer choose to get a 4K screen, but the performance this Ultrabook provides is more than worth the compromise – especially given how gorgeous the chassis is.

Read the full review: Razer Blade Stealth

Durability meets portability and performance in this slim laptop with a reasonable price tag. The Lenovo Yoga 730 isn’t the close-to-perfect machine many premium buyers may be in the market for, with a few less-than-favorable issues like heavier weight, average battery life and weak speakers. However, this laptop will easily take you through your weekly workload. Lenovo then rounds out that performance with a reliable keyboard and trackpad, sturdy hinges to go between tablet and laptop mode, and a display with thin bezels.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 730

There are so many exciting reasons why the HP Envy x360 (2019) should be on our best Ultrabooks list, and its sleek, stylish design is the least of them. This 13-inch 2-in-1 has a premium build quality, touts 9 hours of video playback and a performance that will tackle most of your schoolwork and projects with ease, all without burning a hole in your pocket.

Read the full review: HP Envy x360 (2019)

Michelle Rae Uy, Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article

Image credit: TechRadar

Looking for back to school gear? We’ve picked out the best deals for you

Best Ultrabooks 2020 at a glance:

Huawei Matebook 13
Dell XPS 13
Huawei MateBook X Pro (2018)
HP Spectre x360
Surface Laptop 2
Lenovo Yoga C930
Razer Blade Stealth
Lenovo Yoga 730
HP Envy x360 13 (2019)
Asus ZenBook UX310

TechRadar – All the latest technology news