When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. There are lots of tech bargains to be found this Prime Day -- from laptops to USB-C docks, monitors, and more. This year's sales event, which officially runs from June 23 to June 26, can be an opportune time to pick up some new gear at a good price. The sales have already started, so there's no need to wait. You'll need to be a Prime member to take advantage of (most of) the sales, though!

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Amazon Prime Day may be around the corner, but many of the best discounts have already begun. These are the best laptop deals I've found (so far). I've been spending the past few months digging into laptop pricing, and one thing is incredibly obvious here. Laptops are getting wildly expensive, thanks in part to the rising cost of RAM .

PCWorld tested the Acer Swift Go 16 AI featuring AMD's new Ryzen AI 7 445 processor, which delivers strong performance and runs quietly under load. The laptop demonstrates midrange performance comparable to Intel's Meteor Lake but suffers significant performance drops when unplugged from power. This Ryzen AI 400 series chip represents AMD's focus on steady, reliable computing rather than flashy features, though 3D graphics capabilities remain limited. I'm just going to say it: 2026 is the most exciting year for productivity laptops ever. I've been covering the chip market dating back to the winter of 1994.

We've trawled the depths of Amazon to find the best deals on gear we've tested. Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner. This year the deals officially kick off June 23 and ru through midnight Friday, June 26, but there are already some good early deals going on. Whether you need a new laptop, an Alexa speaker, or some noise-canceling earbuds, you can shop today. Microsoft just announced an update to the Surface line, and yes, it'll be slightly faster, but it's also significantly more expensive, especially with this deal happening now.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. The Asus ProArt PX13 is a relatively affordable laptop that targets creative professionals. Despite a few compromises, it hits the mark. The Asus ProArt PX13 is a relatively affordable laptop that targets creative professionals. Despite a few compromises, it largely hits the mark.

Microsoft has officially abandoned plans for a Surface gaming laptop, with Corporate VP Brett Ostrum confirming the company won't enter this market segment. PCWorld reports that Microsoft believes the gaming laptop market is already healthy with existing partners, preferring to support the Windows ecosystem rather than compete directly. Instead, Microsoft is focusing on Project Helix, which aims to merge console and PC gaming experiences, potentially creating new Xbox hardware innovations. For years, consumers have wondered if Microsoft would ship a gaming laptop. We have an answer, at least from the Surface side of the house: No. Brett Ostrum, the corporate vice president of Surface Devices at Microsoft, told PCWorld that Microsoft doesn't feel obligated to ship a gaming laptop with the Surface brand attached. It was a timely question, as Microsoft is navigating the role of Surface devices in this new era of budget laptops -- dictated by the Apple MacBook Neo and the Dell XPS 13 -- versus the stratospheric prices Microsoft charged for the recent Surface Laptop and Pro for Business .

Microsoft launches Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8 with Snapdragon X2 processors, starting at $1,499 and $1,599 respectively, marking significant price increases from previous models. PCWorld reports Microsoft's strategy focuses on premium Windows-on-Arm devices rather than competing across all price points like other PC vendors. The new Surface models feature improved graphics performance, enhanced webcams, and long battery life, positioning Microsoft to compete directly with Apple's premium laptops. The Microsoft Surface premium: for years, laptop buyers have criticized Microsoft for charging more and delivering less. Now Microsoft is preparing to ship the Surface Laptop 8 as well as the Surface Pro 12 with Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 processors inside.

PCWorld reports on Intel's Project Firefly initiative, which aims to bring premium laptop features like all-metal construction and fanless design to budget-friendly devices. The project centers on Intel's new Core Series 3 'Wildcat Lake' processor, engineered with cost-reduction technologies and simplified motherboard designs to make laptops more affordable. Major manufacturers including Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, and Asus will ship these reimagined mainstream laptops targeting students and small businesses. People everywhere are talking about Apple's cheaper MacBook Neo laptop. Now Windows is preparing to retake the mainstream laptop market with Project Firefly, inspired by smartphone design.

I played the ultimate game of strategy on a variety of smart chess boards to find the best for online and in-person matches. Playing chess can be challenging, fun, and at times frustrating. Garry Kasparov called the game "mental torture." With virtually limitless possibilities, chess offers unparalleled depth, and you could easily fill a library with books on how to play it. The internet has opened up a wealth of potential competitors, and smart chess boards enable you to play anyone online or off, not to mention dabble in a variety of chess programs.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. The Ugreen Maxidok combines Thunderbolt 5, DisplayPort 2.1, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, and an M.2 slot for SSDs up to 8TB. I put this premium docking station through its paces to see if it really delivers in everyday use. The Ugreen Maxidok 17-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 docking station is currently one of the most technically comprehensive Thunderbolt 5 docks on the market. It delivers the full bandwidth of 120Gbps, supplies the laptop with up to 140 watts, and combines this with 17 ports as well as an M.2 slot for an internal SSD upgrade.