Sunday 31 March 2019
Half of Huawei's flagship phones could be foldable in two years, says CEO
Although it was beaten to the punch by the Samsung Fold (and the Royole FlexPai if you're feeling charitable), Huawei threw down a major gauntlet earlier this when it unveiled its Mate X foldable handset, delivering what is arguably the most appealing folding smartphone design to date.
Now, it appears the company is going all-in when it comes to foldable smartphones, with Huawei CEO Richard Yu offering some refreshingly frank comments about the technology in a new interview with GSMArena.
When asked about how many foldable devices it could have in its stable over the next few years, Yu said "I think that on a flagship level in two years, half of our devices could be foldable."
A smaller foldable phone is in the works
- Huawei Mate X's selfies are a game changer for photos
- Samsung Galaxy Fold video shows it's ready to bend thousands of times
- Apple could be considering a folding iPhone, new patent reveals
Of course, the CEO is more than aware of how expensive its first attempt at the technology is, stating that "folding phones are just in the beginning and the market share is small, they cost a lot and it's very expensive to produce such devices."
However, Yu believes that the cost will reduce significantly over time. "I think in two years foldable phones will have a similar price to current flagship phones," said Yu.
Revealing that his primary handset at the moment is the still-in-development Huawei Mate X, Yu also discussed the just-announced P30 Pro, stating that "In the future we can make a foldable phone sized in half of this one [P30 Pro], we have plans for a smaller foldable phone."
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Apple Music may soon get Chromecast support in Android app
When it comes to streaming services and smart home compatibility, there’s no doubt going to be conflicts between the major players and their respective products, but the latest rumors suggest that gap could be closing.
Investigations into the code for Apple Music’s Android app conducted by 9to5Google have found several specific mentions of Chromecast support for Apple’s music streaming service. While this isn’t a guarantee it’ll come soon, or indeed at all, it’s the best indication of compatibility we’ve had yet.
Naturally, with both Google and Apple having their own competing music streaming services and smart home platforms, this kind of compatibility doesn't come easily for either tech giant.
- Apple HomePod holds just 4% of the smart speaker market
- Apple Music hits 50 million subscribers
- Apple Music is rolling out to even more Echo and Fire TV devices
If we do see the Android version of Apple Music become available to stream via Chromecast, this would likely allow phones to cast music from Apple's platform to Google Home devices, Android TVs and other Chromecast-connected tech, although this is just a matter of speculation at this point.
While Apple launched its music service for Android back in 2015, the Google-made operating system hasn't been high on its priority list and it has, only in recent months, added some basic functionality, such as tablet support.
Thankfully, this has resulted in a string of compatibility updates, such as support for Amazon's Echo range of speakers in the US as well as a wider roll-out to other Amazon smart devices.
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March Madness live stream: how to watch the 2019 Elite Eight games online from anywhere
Things are getting very tense indeed as we go in to the Elite Eight round of the 2019 March Madness, which continues to build towards the National Championship game on Monday, April 8. And with TechRadar’s handy guide, you can make sure you get a 2019 March Madness live stream from wherever in the world you are.
How have your brackets for the 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament held up so far? 68 teams entered and now only 8 remain - we sure hope you didn’t pick any First Four teams!
Duke and Michigan State won their Sweet Sixteen games in the East division to move onto the Elite Eight while Virginia and Purdue did the same in the South division. In the West division, Gonzaga and Texas Tech easily triumphed in their latest March Madness games to move onto the Elite Eight while Auburn and Kentucky walked away victorious from their close games in the Midwest division.
March Madness 2019 has reached its final stages as the Elite Eight are set to battle it out for a place in the Final Four. During the third and final week of the tournament, each region’s winners will compete for a place in the National Championship to see who will be this year’s NCAA champion.
Whether you’re a student trying to watch your college’s team play, an alumni rooting for your alma mater or just a fan of the sport of basketball, we’ll show you how to live stream March Madness 2019 online from anywhere in the world.
- Soccer fan? Also check out our guide on how to watch the Champions League
How to live stream March Madness 2019 from outside your country
If you live in the US and want to know how to catch all of the games, then keep scrolling and we’ll tell you your best 2019 March Madness live stream and viewing options. There's even a service for you if you live elsewhere in the world.
But if you discover that your chosen broadcaster from your home country is geo-blocked then we can suggest a clever alternative (and no, it doesn’t involve finding some dodgy feed on Reddit). Using a VPN - or Virtual Private Network - you can change the IP address to one in a different state or country which does have the stream so that you can live stream March Madness 2019 from anywhere in the world. The process is very straightforward…
How to watch March Madness 2019 in the US
If you live in the US and want to watch all 67 games in the NCAA tournament, then you’re in luck as there are plenty of ways to watch.
While you could watch the games on television, you can also do so from the NCAA’s own March Madness Live app. The app and accompanying website will show all 67 tournament games with a 3-hour free preview that will let you watch games airing on TBS, TNT and truTV. However, once the time limit is up, you’ll have to login using the credentials from your cable provider. One thing to note is that any games shown on CBS, which is free over-the-air, won’t count against the 3-hour time limit.
If you have a cable subscription and would prefer to watch March Madness on your TV, truTV will show all of the games in the First Four, CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV will show the first and second rounds, CBS and TBS will show the regional semifinals and finals and CBS will show the Final Four as well as the national championship.
Don’t want to pay for a premium cable subscription to watch March Madness? Don’t worry as there are a number of streaming services that give you access to CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. To make things easier for you, we’ve listed some of our favorite options below.
And don't forget about our handy little VPN trick if you're outside the US when you try to watch and find that your preferred broadcaster's coverage is geo-blocked.
Your options to live stream March Madness 2019 online
One streaming service worth considering to watch this year's tournament is Sling TV. The company is currently running a promotion where new users can get 40% off its Sling Orange and Sling Blue packages for the first three months. Basically this means you can watch March Madness 2019 on Sling TV for as little as $15 per month during the tournament. Don't want Sling? Then these other options are worth a look, too.
PlayStation Vue $44.99 per month - PlayStation Vue's basic Access package offers over 45 channels including ABC, TNT, ESPN and ESPN2. A 5-day trial to Playstation Vue is also available to help you get started.
DIRECTV NOW $50 per month - DIRECTV NOW gives users all the channels needed to watch the NBA and loads of other sporting events. Use DIRECTV NOW’s 7-day trial to test out the platform for yourself.
YouTubeTV $40 per month - YouTubeTV gives you access to TNT, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN.
Hulu with Live TV $40 per month - Hulu with Live TV includes ABC, TNT, CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN.
- Also check out the best sports streaming sites and services for cord-cutting in 2019
Worldwide March Madness live stream with ESPN Player
March Madness is a phenomenon that doesn't necessarily translate that well globally. But if you want to know what all the fuss is about or you're a US expat wanting to catch the college basketball, then ESPN Player has you covered.
It's available in the UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia and comes at a cost of £9.99/€11.99 for the next month (or £69.99/€79.99 for a whole year to get additional content from ESPN).
That gets you live and on-demand coverage of every game from the 2019 March Madness, available on desktop and mobile devices.
March Madness: what is it and how does it work?
We can't imagine you will have landed on this page if you don't already know the answer to these questions. But just in case...
Over the course of three weeks, college basketball teams from across the US will play 67 games in total to decide which team will be crowned champion. The tradition dates all the way back to 1939 when there were just eight teams participating in the competition.
March Madness begins with Selection Sunday where 32 teams will gain automatic entry as a result of winning their respective conferences and the remaining teams will be picked by a selection committee. Besides learning which teams will play in the tournament, Sunday will also be the first day the bracket will be officially released to the public. The eight teams are divided into four regions and they are then seeded from one to 16 with the top team from each region earning the top seed.
The NCAA tournament then enters the first round where the number one seed will face the number 16 team and the rest of the teams will be matched accordingly with low seed teams facing off against high seed teams. During the second week, the remaining teams will advance to the Sweet Sixteen and then the Elite Eight. Each region’s winners will then head to the Final Four during the third and final week of the tournament where they’ll compete for a place in the national championship to see who will be this year’s winner.
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Facebook looking to restrict livestreams, open to more regulation
It's not been an easy couple of years for Facebook in terms of user privacy and data security and everything else, but the giant social network seems determined to start sorting out at least some of its problems.
TechCrunch reports on an open letter published by Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, in which she says the platform is "exploring restrictions" for limiting who can launch livestreams.
The letter comes in response to the terror attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, which was streamed live over Facebook by the perpetrators.
- A Facebook bug exposed private photos
- Track your usage of social media
- Facebook is testing a new interface
Facebook is ready to support the grieving community in New Zealand, Sandberg says, and will be taking further steps to address hate speech on its platform – although she didn't go into too much detail about what that would involve.
Increased regulation
In a separate op-ed in the Washington Post, Facebook founder and Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg says governments and regulators should take on more of a role in policing social networks.
Zuckerberg is calling for new laws in four separate areas, reports the BBC: harmful content, election integrity, privacy and data portability.
"Lawmakers often tell me we have too much power over speech, and frankly I agree," Zuckerberg writes, saying that the responsibility of restricting hate speech is too much of a challenge for individual sites and apps to tackle alone.
Zuckerberg wants to see a code of conduct that all social media networks must abide by, tighter restrictions on how political parties can campaign online, and new rules for protecting the privacy of users as they move their data between services.
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The Sega Genesis Mini gets a release date and a price
We've known for some time now that Sega was planning on releasing a Genesis Mini retro console, but up until now details have been thin on the ground. We do now finally have a release date for the box: September 19.
Kotaku reports that the announcement was made on stage at Sega Fes 2019. The Sega Genesis Mini will hit stores in the US for $79.99 – that's roughly £60 or AU$115, though we don't have the official international pricing yet.
The US version of the console is going to differ from the device sold in Japan, which will be take the Mega Drive name like the original console (Genesis was a rebadging done for the US market).
- Play Sega Classics on the Amazon Fire TV
- Check out the Black Shark 2 gaming phone
- Celebrating the Sega Genesis at 30
Apparently the US version of the retro gaming box will come with three-button controllers that connect via USB. The Japanese version is set to ship with six-button controllers. Again, there's no news on which version will hit Europe or the rest of the world.
Games, games, games
We know some of the 40 games that'll be bundled with the box too: Altered Beast, Castlevania: Bloodlines, Comix Zone, Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine, Ecco the Dolphin, Gunstar Heroes, Shining Force, Sonic The Hedgehog, Space Harrier II and ToeJam & Earl will be included in the US.
In Japan the line-up includes Sonic 2, Puyo Puyo 2, Shining Force, Castlevania Bloodlines, Powerball, Gunstar Heroes, Comix Zone, Rent-a-Hero, Space Harrier II and Madou Monogatari Ichi (some of which were originally Japanese exclusives).
Finally, Sega did say that the M2 studio behind some of its retro game reboots would be taking care of software development on the Genesis Mini.
Sega follows both Nintendo and Sony in releasing a retro version of one of its classic consoles, but we'll have to wait until September to see if there's enough built up nostalgia for the launch of the Genesis/Mega Drive Mini to be a hit.
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Saturday 30 March 2019
Orioles vs Yankees MLB live stream 2019: how to watch today's baseball from anywhere
Spring training is over - regular season MLB baseball is finally back! And in New York today sees the Yankees take on the franchise from nearby Baltimore. With a huge Opening Day win for the Yankees, the Orioles will be looking to strike back quickly on the first Saturday of the 2019 regular season. Find out who will win with an Orioles vs Yankees live stream today.
It's now been 10 years since the Yankees last won a World Series and their players and fans alike will be desperate to go back to the top of the MLB tree. Aaron Judge will be the man with so many hopes on his shoulders, and he didn't disappoint on the Opening Day with three runs from two hits in a convincing win.
Orioles fans may feel like they have a long season ahead after their only 2018 All-Star shortstop Manny Machado left for the San Diego Padres. And the 7-2 defeat in game one of the Yankee Stadium series won't have lifted their spirits one iota.
Keep reading to see the best ways to get an Orioles vs Yankees live stream. As you'll see, it's available via the ESPN+ subscription service (which comes with a 7-day free trial if you haven't tried it before). And we'll also tell you how to catch it even if you're not in the US this weekend.
- Want to watch college basketball, too? Here's how to get a March Madness live stream
How to watch Orioles vs Yankees in the US for FREE
- Check out our guide to all the best sports streaming sites
Live stream MLB baseball from outside your country
If you've been looking forward to this opening day match-up but now find yourself abroad, you'll find that your coverage will be geo-blocked. Annoying for sure, but not the end of the road...as you can try using a VPN to change your IP address to a US server and watch as if you were back at home.
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New remote and gamepad tipped for the Nvidia Shield TV
The Nvidia Shield TV was one of the first Android TV boxes to hit the market and it remains one of the best. Nvidia has continued to push a steady stream of updates out for the device, and it looks like another is in the pipeline.
XDA Developers reports that the Shield's latest code refers to a controller called "Stormcaster" and a remote called "Friday", which may be replacements for the current input devices that are available for the Shield TV.
The Shield TV box got a refresh in 2017 but the controller and remote remain the same as they were back in 2015 when the box first appeared (you get the remote included and the gamepad is an optional extra).
- We're ready for Apple TV+
- Nvidia develops AI systems too
- Samsung shows off its new TVs
That means these devices are overdue an upgrade and it looks as though new hardware might be imminent. There might even be a whole new Nvidia Shield TV box on the way.
"Active vs inactive"
The names mentioned in the code don't tell us too much about these input devices, apart from what type they are. Both connect over Bluetooth, apparently, with USB another option on the gamepad controller.
An Nvidia spokesperson gave a statement to XDA Developers which reads: "It's fairly standard practice for various concept codenames to appear in codebases. Those references remain even when it becomes unlikely that the concept ever goes into production."
"We can't comment on which codenames refer to product concepts that are active vs which ones are inactive, as it can be fluid. However, I can confirm that none of the codenames below refer to products that have launched publicly."
So make of that what you will. If you already have an Nvidia Shield TV, you might soon have some new accessories to pick from, and if you don't, you might soon have another reason to make a purchase.
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This incredible Mate 20 Pro offer beats all Huawei P30 Pro deals out there
With all the Huawei P30 Pro hype we've seen this week, it's been easy to forget about all of the other brilliant Huawei phone deals out there. Well we certainly haven't forgotten about Huawei's other flagships yet, and through a little bit of digging, we found a Huawei Mate 20 Pro deal that leaves P30 Pro prices in its wake.
Yep, this ridiculous Mate 20 Pro offer could well change your mind from grabbing those P30 Pro deals you've been coveting. Coming in at a tiny monthly cost of just £24 and upfront spend of just over £100, we've never seen the Mate 20 Pro this cheap. It doesn't even scrimp on data or have some convoluted clause to justify the price.
This contract is so cheap in fact, that the nearest P30 Pro deal to it will cost you £400 more over the two years. So it's probably a bit of a no-brainer.
You can see this deal in full below, but we wouldn't hang around too long as you'll be kicking yourself if you miss out on this kind of value. If for some reason this tariff doesn't quite fill your needs, try our mobile phone deals guide for all of the other options.
This brilliant Huawei Mate 20 Pro deal in full:
- Decided Huawei isn't for you? Check out the best of Samsung phone deals or iPhone deals or if you want to see the best of everything: mobile phone deals
Why is the Mate 20 Pro so good?
We currently rank the Huawei Mate 20 Pro as the third best phone in the world - let us tell you why. With one of the fastest processors of any Android device, a almost unrivalled battery life, a powerful triple camera set up and world first features like in-screen fingerprint scanning - this is an impressive phone.
In fact, the only issue we've usually been able to come up with is the price, which isn't even a factor you need to worry about with this deal.
Read our full Huawei Mate 20 Pro review
Compare this with the best P30 Pro deals:
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Valve unveils its own virtual reality headset: the Valve Index
There had been whispers that Valve was working on its own virtual reality headset, having previously launched VR kit in partnership with HTC, and now those rumors have turned into a real product: the Valve Index.
However, the name is just about all we know about the new VR headset for now. Valve has put up a teaser site inviting you to "upgrade your experience" and listing May 2019 as what we assume is a launch date.
We get one pretty good look at the headset, but for now the price and specs aren't clear. At least with Valve's track record it should know what it's doing with the new hardware.
- Our hands-on with the HP Reverb
- Steam is getting a fresh new look
- VR really needs spherical displays
Unfortunately there's no sign of the Half-Life game that some insiders were suggesting might be revealed alongside a VR headset from Valve – though maybe Valve is just waiting until May to give us the details.
Guessing game
It's certainly a busy time for new VR headset launches, with the Oculus Rift S and the Oculus Quest about to go on sale, and the HTC Vive Focus Plus coming on April 15 as well.
There's more choice than ever for discerning consumers but it means the Valve Index is going to be up against some stiff competition when it sees the light of day. Presumably it'll run the same SteamVR game and apps store as the HTC models.
What seem to be two sensors can be seen at the side of the Valve Index case and previous reports suggest the headset will come with a wider-than-normal field of view. Expect a lot of these information gaps to get plugged in May.
We'll be bringing you all the news of the Valve Index launch when it happens, but in the meantime, you might want to hold off on that VR headset purchase.
Via Ars Technica
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These incredible discounted EE phone deals come to an end on Monday
Do you want a top of the line flagship? Want the UK's fastest 4G speeds? Don't want to pay full price for your new mobile phone deal? If any or all of these questions are answered 'yes' by you then you're going to love these price cut offers from Mobiles.co.uk.
With the help of some handy voucher codes, you can currently knock £20 or £25 off top Android and Apple flagships. This includes the iPhone XR, Samsung Galaxy S10 and Google Pixel 3.
This isn't some deal to make incredibly expensive contracts ever so slightly cheaper, these vouchers cut the prices of EE phone deals that were already some of the best offers available on these devices.
So if you're interested in saving some cash on your new tariff, scroll down to see these deals in full. But you will have to hurry, these voucher codes will be gone by Monday, April 1 at 6am. Or if you would rather compare them to what else is available, check out our mobile phone deals page
These EE phone deals in full:
- Compare these to the best iPhone deals and Samsung phone deals
The best deals on these devices no matter the network:
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Friday 29 March 2019
Hackers publish details on critical Magento flaw
The Magento e-commerce platform could soon face a number of attacks after hackers publicly released code that exploits a critical vulnerability in its systems which could be used to plant payment card skimmers on sites that have not yet been updated.
PRODSECBUG-2198 is the name of the SQL injection vulnerability that attackers can exploit without the need for authentication.
Any hacker that can obtain user names and crack the password hashes protecting these credentials could theoretically exploit the flaw to take administrative control of administrator accounts. Upon gaining access, they then could install backdoors or any skimming code they choose.
- How are consumers protecting themselves against online fraud?
- Phishing scams account for half of all fraud attacks
- Pointing to the future: the next step in fraud prevention
This method was tested by a researcher at the security firm Sucuri who managed to reverse-engineer a recently released official patch to create a working proof-of-concept exploit.
Card skimming
Competing gangs of cybercriminals have spent the last six months trying to infect e-commerce sites with card skimming malware to steal users' payment details. They employed known exploits as well as zero-day vulnerabilities to accomplish this and such a vulnerability in Magento's e-commerce platform will likely be exploited due to the fact that over 300,000 businesses and merchants use its services.
Lead malware intelligence analyst at Malwarebytes, Jérôme Segura explained the severity of the situation to Ars Technica, saying:
“There is no doubt threat actors are either actively reversing the patch or waiting for a proof of concept to exploit this flaw at scale. When it comes to hacked Magento websites, Web skimmers are the most common infection type we see because of their high return on investment. As a result, we can expect another wave of compromises in light of this newly found critical vulnerability.”
When the proof-of-concept code was published, comments in the code revealed that it could also be modified to obtain other information from Magento's database such as admin and user password hashes. It was also discovered that the vulnerability has existed in Magento since version 1 of its software. This means that all Magento sites that have not installed the latest update are potentially susceptible.
The company's developers recently disclosed and patched a number of vulnerabilities including PRODSECBUG-2198. There is a stand-alone patch for this vulnerability but since the other flaws also pose a threat, it is recommended that all customers upgrade to Magento Commerce or Open Source 2.3.1 or 2.2.8.
Via Ars Technica
- We've also highlighted the best ecommerce platform
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Whoops, Google might have leaked the new Nest Hub Max smart speaker
Whoops, Google might’ve just leaked the new Nest Hub Max, a new smart speaker that has a 10-inch HD screen, a built-in Nest security camera and stereo speakers.
The description for the new smart home hub appeared for a brief moment on Google’s Connected Home section of its storefront before it was spotted by Android Police, who was kind enough to take screenshots of the product before Google scrambled all the information.
According to the information Android Police found, the speaker looks like the evolution of the Google Home Hub: The Nest Hub Max will have a larger display, a built-in security camera and stereo speakers - giving it a clear edge on the smart home hub released last year.
Before today, there wasn’t even a rumor of this device floating around (at least, as far as we know) and was something Google was likely hoping to save until its annual Google IO conference in June.
Then again, maybe it was just several intricately detailed typos in a row? ...Nah, probably not.
- In the market for a home hub? These are the best smart speakers in 2019
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AirPower canceled: Apple says wireless charging mat wasn’t up to standards
We've been checking for the Apple AirPower release date every day, but there's no more need to do that anymore, as Apple has canceled the project altogether.
AirPower, the wireless charging mat Apple revealed a year and a half ago, first showed up at its iPhone X launch event. That was September 12, 2017, or 563 days ago.
It promised to Qi charge three devices at once anywhere you laid them down on the mat. So you could simply drop your iPhone XS Max, AirPods 2019 and Apple Watch 4 onto the mat and juice them up without plugging in any cables.
However, over the last 18 months, we haven't heard much about the AirPower mat, except for a smattering of rumors that the company was having trouble with quality control. In the meantime, other companies like Belkin and Samsung announced wireless chargers that could charge two devices at once.
Today, Apple spoke up about its long-delayed AirPower in an email statement sent to TechRadar and other media outlets:
“After much effort, we’ve concluded AirPower will not achieve our high standards and we have cancelled the project," said Dan Riccio, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering.
"We apologize to those customers who were looking forward to this launch. We continue to believe that the future is wireless and are committed to push the wireless experience forward."
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The best Windows tablets 2019: all of the top Windows tablets reviewed
The best Windows 10 tablets are getting better by the minute. Not only are they great for watching Netflix or playing some casual games, but because of their lightweight designs and powerful components, they’re among the best 2-in-1 laptops you can buy. It’s easy to see why they’re so universally praised as being the best of both worlds.
This is all thanks to the versatility of the best Windows 10 tablets. From thin and light showstoppers like the Acer Switch 5 to power hungry behemoths like the Surface Pro 6, the best Windows tablets have something for everyone. Plus, anyone looking for a cheap Surface device will love the fact that the Surface Go offers a great Windows tablet experience at a lower price than its Pro counterparts.
However, there are so many Windows tablets out there these days, making it hard to find one that’s truly worth your time. That’s why we’re here, though, and we’ve found the best Windows tablets and listed them all here. And, because we’ve tested all of them ourselves, you can be confident that all of these Windows tablets will be worth your time and money.
Microsoft’s Surface Pro lineup has a reputation for being the ideal of what other Windows tablets should strive for – and the Surface Pro 6 is no different. It doesn’t bring anything especially new to the table, but it iterates in a meaningful way, with more powerful hardware and a new black color option. You still won’t find the Surface Pen or Type Cover in the box, but that’s just the reality we have to live with these days. Either way, it’s the best Windows tablet you can buy today.
Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro 6
A budget Surface device has been demanded by users for years, but the wait is finally over. The Microsoft Surface Go is simply the best Windows tablet for anyone that wants to work on the go. Thin, light, portable and elegant without costing a fortune, Microsoft has packed in everything they could in a device at a low price point. And, if you’re a student, or just someone that wants to consume some media while traveling, you can’t go wrong with the Microsoft Surface Go – you can even play some of the best laptop games on an airplane.
Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Go
If you need a Windows tablet with the versatility of the Surface Pro, but you don’t have a lot of cash to spare, the Acer Switch 5 is an excellent choice. You’ll lose a bit in screen resolution and sound quality, but you're saving hundreds of dollars for comparable power. The Acer Switch 5 is one of the best Windows tablets for any students or professionals that need to get stuff done on the go, while sticking to a budget.
Read the full review: Acer Switch 5
The Samsung Galaxy TabPro S features a quick Intel Core processor, and it’s a beautiful 12-inch tablet that manages to be thinner and lighter than almost anything else on the market. It rocks this gorgeous AMOLED panel that you won’t find on any other Windows device, plus a pair of high-quality speakers that sound better than they have any right to. The keyboard might rub you the wrong way, but if you’re just looking for a tablet to consume media on, you can’t go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy TabPro S.
Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy TabPro S
- 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 Microsoft Surface Go
The HP Spectre x2 was originally created to be a budget version of the Surface Pro. However, HP has redesigned this Windows tablet to vie for Microsoft’s premium crown. In many ways, we have to admit it succeeds. The HP Spectre x2 rocks a 7th-generation Kaby Lake Core i7 processor at a lower price point – it even looks cooler. It gets better – the Active Pen and keyboard come with the HP Spectre x2, which is more than can be said for the Surface Pro.
Read our full review: HP Spectre x2
- Images Credit: TechRadar
- Want more choices? Check out our list of the best laptops 2019
Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article
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The best Ultrabooks 2019: top thin and light laptops reviewed
The best Ultrabooks won’t just be able to get work done, but they’re also a status symbol of sorts. Just think about it: you’re sitting at a coffee shop, where everyone is either using a Chromebook or some big and bulky laptop relic. Then, you whip out an Ultrabook – a thinner, lighter, faster and more attractive laptop, rocking the best processors and SSDs on the market.
These thin and light beauties are as much about portability as they are about sheer horsepower. The best Ultrabooks won’t freeze up on you when you’re trying to get an important project done, or run out of battery on a short flight. You don’t have to worry about any of that.
That’s why we took the time to find the best Ultrabooks on the market right now. From household names like Dell and HP, to brands you might not have heard of like Huawei, these thin and light beauties will get you through your work day in style. Plus, we tested and reviewed all these Ultrabooks ourselves, so you can be confident you’re getting your money’s worth.
For a few years now, Huawei has been lurking in the shadows, ready to take on the best Ultrabooks, and its time has finally arrived. Like the Huawei MateBook X Pro before it, the Huawei Matebook 13 packs in a ton of powerful hardware into an attractive shell, while keeping the price low enough for anyone to afford. Plus, we have to mention those discrete graphics – it may be one of the smallest laptops out there to pack 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 the best Ultrabook for years, and while it’s been dethroned by the Huawei MateBook 13, it remains one of the Ultrabooks to beat in 2019. This time around, Dell has moved the webcam from the bottom of the display to the top, fixing one of the biggest problems faced by the XPS 13 for years. Add in the updated internals, and the Dell XPS 13 is still one of the best Ultrabooks out there – even if some of the competition has caught up.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 13
Sometimes an Ultrabook comes along that completely changes the game. And, the 2018 model of the Huawei MateBook X Pro 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. There is a 2019 model, with an Intel Whiskey Lake processor, but the 2018 model is still where it’s at.
Read the full review: Huawei MateBook X Pro
The original Surface Laptop launched nearly two years ago, and while it was a great Ultrabook, it was held back thanks to relatively weak hardware and Windows 10 S. Thankfully, Microsoft launched the Surface Laptop 2 in late 2018, bringing quad-core processors and the full-fat version of Windows 10. Its through these core improvements that the Surface Laptop 2 is able to bring the purest Windows 10 experience on a laptop, at a price that won’t make you gasp.
Read the full review: Surface Laptop 2
Few Ultrabooks are as brilliantly designed as the Lenovo Yoga 920, a 2-in-1 laptop that’s as illustrious to look at as it is to use. In contrast to its nearest competitors, such as Microsoft’s Surface Book 2, it’s also a far less expensive endeavor. For the modest price you pay, you’re getting a gorgeous, all-metal finish that can be flipped inside out for extended functionality. It also houses the latest 8th-generation Intel processors, just in case speed was a concern.
Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 920
From the moment your eyes meet the HP Spectre 13, you’ll be impressed by its sheer beauty. HP has taken the already luxurious Spectre and dialed the design up to eleven with gold trim and packed it with internal specs that blow the competition out of the water. One of the first Ultrabooks rocking an 8th-generation Kaby Lake Refresh chip, the 2017 Spectre 13 more than doubles the CPU performance of most of its competitors. This added performance comes at the cost of battery life, but clocking in at just under 6 hours – the battery life is still passable.
Read the full review: HP Spectre 13
Razer has been known as a gaming company for years now, but with the Razer Blade Stealth the green-themed manufacturer wants to dispel that. If you’re not convinced, this Ultrabook might change your mind by turning into a 13.3-inch, QHD+ beauty. You can no longer upgrade to 4K, but the performance this Ultrabook offers is more than worth that compromise – especially given how beautiful the chassis is.
Read the full review: Razer Blade Stealth
When you’re shopping for an Ultrabook, it’s rare to find a manufacturer that manages to think of everything, but for what it’s worth, HP did almost exactly that with the Spectre x360. It’s a 2-in-1 convertible laptop, which by itself makes it a bit of a niche product. Still, for those right-brained users out there, the HP Spectre x360 comes bundled with a Windows Ink compatible stylus, unlike the vast majority of hybrids. That would mean very little if the HP Spectre x360 didn’t have great sound and visuals – and it definitely does.
Read the full review: HP Spectre x360
Anyone familiar with Apple’s thinnest and lightest laptop would be wise to compare the Asus ZenBook 3 to the 12-inch MacBook. The similarities are obvious, but one look at the specs and the differences stand out too. Adorned with the choice of a U-series Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, the ZenBook 3 is awfully powerful considering it’s less than half an inch thick and weighs two pounds. The port selection is sparse, but ultimately it’s well worth the sacrifice.
Read the full review: Asus ZenBook 3
- 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 Huawei MateBook X Pro
It’s no secret that Apple neglected the MacBook Air – at least until the MacBook Air 2018 launched – but, in some cases a Windows Ultrabook can be just as good. Take the Asus ZenBook UX310UA, for instance. With still-good 7th-generation Intel Kaby Lake processors, a 178-degree viewing-angle QHD+ display, a USB-C port and an aluminum build, it’s still one of the best Ultrabooks out there, even after all this time.
Read the full review: Asus ZenBook UX310
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Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article
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The best portable laptop battery chargers and power banks in 2019
If you’re looking for an effective way to charge the best laptops on the go, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve gathered up the best portable laptop battery chargers and power banks, looking at the easy and portable ways to charge your laptop right now.
When you go out shopping for a battery charger, it’s important to find one that stores enough power to top up – or even recharge – your laptop’s battery when its running low. The best laptop battery charger should mean you’ll never have to frantically search for a power socket when working while traveling – even if you are using that stylish Ultrabook with the tiny battery.
You won’t have to worry about getting stranded in the middle of nowhere when you buy one of the best portable laptop chargers. With these convenient devices, you can make sure you can always get your work done – no matter where you are.
With the Mophie Powerstation AC, high power output is the name of the game. This portable laptop battery charger is able to power a 15-inch MacBook Pro. Meanwhile, the USB-C port is rated at 30W with a USB-PD label, meaning its one of the few batteries capable of fast charging an iPhone X or iPhone 8.
If you have a newer laptop, and find yourself running out of juice throughout the day, the Omni 20 USB-C might be for you. Not only does it have an insanely high capacity, but it also allows charging of multiple USB-C devices simultaneously. So, if you’re working and you need to charge your Nintendo Switch and a mobile device, you go for it. Plus, the Omni 20 also serves as a USB hub, clearing out some extra storage space in your bag.
- 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 Mophie Powerstation AC
The PowerAdd Pilot Pro2 doesn’t just come with 10 connectors that cover most of the laptops on the market today, but it’s backed by a two-year warranty. That means you can use the 23MAh/85Wh capacity without worry. The Pilot Pro2 is also light enough to carry around wherever you go, coming in under 560g. The only thing that holds it back is that it doesn’t have any USB-C connectors, so if you have a modern Ultrabook or MacBook, you may want to go elsewhere, otherwise you’ll have to carry a separate power supply to keep the battery charger backed up.
As technology marches forward, new laptops need less power to function. This is especially ture for high-end laptops like the MacBook Pro, HP Elite x2, Huawei Matebook Pro X or the Dell XPS 13. For all of these devices, and more, USB-C is king – the RAVPower uses this revolutionary connector to deliver up to 30W of power, which should be plenty for the best Ultrabooks. You can recharge it using a 30W wall charger that can also be used to power compatible laptops – very handy, indeed.
The MaxOak MacBook Charger is a perfect example of a laptop battery charger that goes the extra mile to make sure that it matches the expectations of its audience. This portable laptop charger has all the hallmarks of an Apple device, without the logo – but that’s what those Apple stickers are for – with a matching brushed aluminum finish.
It’s the second most capacious portable laptop battery charger on this list, but its huge amount of juice comes with a catch – it carries so much power that at least one airline has outright banned it, so bear that in mind if you plan to use this charger while traveling. It’s also pretty heavy at almost 1kg and will cater to most MacBooks, but nothing else.
The Qi Infinity Upgraded Powerbank is the only product here that targets Microsoft’s popular Surface lineup by offering the appropriate DC output voltage. It comes with a generous five ports, four of which will let you charge other 5V devices (which includes anything from other power banks to tablets and smartphones). But, what’s really interesting here is the addition of fast charging through Qualcomm’s Qi tech. You’ll be able to charge the new MacBook as well, but no traditional laptops that rely on a 19V DC output. Just keep in mind that with a capacity of 35Ah, it might not be allowed on some airlines.
- This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and australian readers, check out a fine alternative in the RAVPower RP-PB058
The K2 is the world’s second highest mountain and it is fitting – to some extent – that MaxOak named this battery after that lofty peak. After all, at 50Ah, this is the biggest battery on our list and one that is also the heaviest of the lot. It supports laptops up to 60W (3A, 20V) as well as fast-charging.
Note that it takes up to eight hours to charge the battery and that can only be achieved via a proprietary charger. Sadly, it doesn’t carry a USB Type-C connector – which makes it useless for newer laptops – and you won’t be able to lug it around on the plane (as with the previous two peripherals, the massive capacity here may mean it’s banned on some flights).
Sandberg's Powerbank is neither the cheapest nor the most powerful around. However, it does come with a couple of features that make it a rather enticing option. It outputs a number of voltages (12V, 16V, 19V and 20V), automatically choosing the right one depending on the device which is connected.
This portable laptop battery charger also features two USB ports, and they’re hardwired to output 5V. You’re also supplied with 12 different charge tips, but if you have an Ultrabook that needs a USB Type-C port for charging, you’ll be out of luck. It also features a premium brushed aluminum finish, with bright blue LED status lights that clearly indicate the amount of juice left, or how close the battery is to full charge.
- This product is only available in the UK and Australia at the time of this writing. US readers, check out a fine alternative in the MaxOak K2.
If you are looking for a versatile laptop charger, then do consider this RavPower offering. It is by far the most expensive model on our list, but this Reddot award winner carries a feature that no one has replicated till now. It has an AC output that can deliver up to 100W of power – yes, this could even power a TV if needed.
Note that you will probably need an adaptor (there’s one bundled) because the power bank can only accommodate two-prong plugs. You will be able to take it on a commercial flight, but you will not be able to recharge it via USB.
Dell sells the Power Companion with various battery capacities. It is more compact than the RAVPower models, and the unit looks like a Dell power brick that charges your laptop. When you're at your desk, you can daisy-chain to recharge the Power Companion and your Dell laptop by connecting your Dell charging brick to the Power Companion, and then connecting it to your notebook.
Dell's Power Companion is a far sleeker battery pack if your office relies on Dell Inspiron, Latitude, XPS or Venue laptops and tablets, with the added benefit that it has extra USB ports should you need them.
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