If you’re waiting for GPU prices to drop so you can finally finish building your gaming PC, know that this may be a bad decision. NVIDIA may abandon plans to launch new consumer graphics cards in 2026, a first for the company in 30 years, amid never-before-seen GPU trends. The cause lies in the global shortage of GDDR7 memory and the company’s decision to prioritize artificial intelligence over gaming. According to Tom’s Guide, Nvidia has canceled the “kicker” project, which would have been the RTX 50 series Super line. These updates usually bring improved hardware, so the lines benefit from…
Author: Amelia Scott
Technology can sometimes seem quite disposable. We tout the latest gadget as the next big thing, only to forget about it a year after the next iteration launches. Add to that cheap products that sometimes feel like they were designed to fall apart so you can buy them again, and it really seems like technology doesn’t last as long as it used to. There are many cool gadgets worth purchasing on a budget, but none of them are unlikely to last decades of use. And with so many digital devices coming with a marketing strategy of planned obsolescence, everything seems…
Many consider MacBooks to be the pinnacle of laptops, and for good reason. Apple laptops are designed to last a long time. In fact, they’re on our list of reliable computers that you won’t have to replace for at least five years. MacBooks also receive major software upgrades every year, improving overall usability and performance. If you’re already immersed in the Apple ecosystem with an iPhone, an iPad, and a pair of AirPods, MacBooks make sense. They can increase your productivity by working seamlessly across devices. But even though MacBooks are quite capable machines, they are not without their drawbacks…
High-end headphones aren’t hard to find, but there are a dizzying number of audio manufacturers vying for the top spot. Brands like Bose and Sony are renowned for producing some of the best noise-canceling headphones, with unrivaled battery life and versatile companion apps that elevate your favorite music and podcasts. So you might be surprised to learn that neither Bose nor Sony won Consumer Reports (CR) laurels for audio quality. Instead, that honor went to Apple’s AirPods Max 2. CR headphone tests evaluate everything from tonal accuracy and bass reproduction to overall volume and soundstage. After analyzing the AirPods Max…
Delihayat/Getty Images For beginners, choosing a quality turntable can be a little confusing. Although the visual differences and cartridge types are generally easier to understand, the distinction between belt-drive and direct-drive turntables is much vaguer. To put it bluntly, one is not necessarily better than the other. The best vinyl player brands offer both variants, and you can fine-tune them according to your preferences and budget. The debate has raged for almost as long as audiophile-grade technologies have existed. Browse any Reddit thread, and you’ll quickly learn that every consumer has their own ideas about which guy reigns supreme. To…
Apple’s Mac computers are the company’s only products that still have a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you can continue to use your favorite headphones and earbuds by simply plugging them into the side port on your Mac or MacBook. However, not everyone knows that USB-C headphones also work on Mac and MacBook. This is likely because every time you plug your wired USB-C headphones into your Mac, the audio output doesn’t automatically switch to them, leading some people to believe the Mac doesn’t support USB-C headphones. Luckily, to use your USB-C EarPods, AirPods Max, Beats Studio Pro, or any other…
High-end headphones should deliver sound quality that makes you feel like your $300 was well spent. They should also support advanced features like spatial audio, hi-res playback, and EQ customization. Over the past few years, audio experts have turned to Sony’s WF-1000XM line, and for good reason. Wireless earbuds like the Sony WF-1000XM6 and even the older WF-1000XM5 are flagship in-ear headphones that many audiophiles prefer over the Apple AirPods Pro 3 and Pro 2. In a comparison of the Sony XM6, AirPods Pro 3, and Bose QC Ultra earphones, PCMag actually chose the AirPods as best overall, but favored…
The legendary Marshall amplifier brand is quite transparent for a modern manufacturer. The company, based in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, UK, is known for producing its own equipment in England. However, Marshall also has a factory in Vietnam, which it says is “a replica,” and many Marshall-branded Bluetooth speakers and headphones are made in China. With only two amplifier manufacturing sites, Marshall’s ownership became a bit complicated. From its inception in 1962 until 2023, it was owned by the Marshall family, founded by Jim Marshall. Jim, also known as “The Father of Loud” and “The Lord of Loud,” died in 2012…
Mikkelwilliam/Getty Images The current PC landscape is dominated by a handful of powerful players, with few other recognizable brands, creating an incredibly competitive market. Some of the best desktop computer brands today are Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, and Apple. Alternative but still widely recognized brands include ASUS, Acer, and MSI. These companies make computers in many forms, with all-in-one desktop units and feature-rich mini PCs joining the ranks of traditional tower PCs as popular options over the years. But these brands are not the only ones contributing to the evolution of personal computing. Today’s computers are faster, sleeker, and more…
Vladyslav Lehir/Shutterstock If you’ve ever seen an orange dot on your MacBook’s desktop, know that it’s there on purpose. In addition to your desktop providing options for accessing apps from the dock at the bottom of your screen, your Mac’s top menu bar also displays a variety of information and quick commands, including ways to quickly access Wi-Fi, the clock, your Siri assistant, and more. However, you may also see colored dots in your menu; they constitute a security measure. Added in macOS Monterey, this feature is similar to the black dot on your iPhone screen. Your MacBook will display…