Tabla de contenidos para August 2025 en APC

Our Labs this issue tackles “everyday” laptops, and for most people that means something reasonably fast and well-priced, but also that’s a delight to use and is something you look forward to firing up. My own choice for such a machine has long been the Microsoft Surface Pro X, which is powered by the company’s second (and first decent) Arm processor. I’ve been daily driving this little wonder since it came out in 2019, which is a personal record for any of my tech (not including my Brother laser printer, which is ageless). After six years of having the Surface Pro X perched on my lap for several hours almost every day, and being taken out and about to meetings and media events, I wanted to move up to the…

A few weeks ago, I filled up my 2013 BMW R1200R bike at a petrol station. I was a little surprised at the bill of $75.48, which seemed high even though the tank was nearly empty. The pump said it was around 22 litres. A friend was riding with me too, and mentioned later in the pub that his bill was also higher than he expected. I have been playing with Perplexity AI and have a Pro subscription. I fired it up and asked, “What is the fuel tank size on a 2013 BMW r1200r motorbike?” It immediately replied: “The 2013 BMW R1200R motorbike has a fuel tank capacity of 18 litres. This is confirmed across multiple reputable sources, including official manuals and motorcycle specification databases. Some sources also note…

PRICE $530 WEB www.dell.com Dell’s play in the more premium sound space is the WL7024 headset, a mostly-wireless set of headphones sold at a price that puts them into the conversation with established players such as Sony, Sennheiser, Apple or Sonos. Dell’s pitch for the WL7024 is a little different, however, because like so many of its peripheral plays, it’s mostly focusing in on the business market. As such, there’s more focus on their productivity sides than on more audiophile level interests in terms of music or gaming quality. The WL7024 have a two-tone grey look that’s intended to convey a professional look, with softer fabric covering the rear of each headphone cup. That leaves the front as plastic, but this is also functional, serving as a touch sensitive area…

PRICE $1,797 from aus.com The Asus Zenbook A14 is proof that you don’t need to spend a fortune for a stylish thin and light laptop. In fact, signs of having been built to a budget are few and far between. Its shell is made from Ceraluminium, which is what Asus calls aluminium treated with a sort of matte ceramic coating. It’s very compact at 317 x 214mm and a mere 15.9mm thick. And at just under 1kg, it’s ludicrously light. The Ceraluminium is wear-, scratch- and smudge-resistant, and the construction as a whole feels solid and surprisingly tough. Despite being so slim, the Zenbook still crams in two USB-C 4 ports, an HDMI 2.1 output and a 3.5mm audio jack on the left-hand side, with a single USB-A 3.2 Gen…

PRICE $2,999 from hp.com HP revamped its laptop branding last year, with its OmniBook range now stretching across home and business, budget and premium. We tested the stylish OmniBook Ultra Flip earlier on, and now it’s the turn of the plain OmniBook Ultra. It costs $3,000 for the 16GB/1TB version. Most importantly it packs the same AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 CPU. A quick look at our test results will tell you that it doesn’t always beat the Qualcommand Intel-based competition, but it’s close to the top of each benchmark. What’s more, it steams ahead on 3D graphics performance and is the only laptop on test that will happily run most games. It isn’t a fully fledged games machine, but if you’re looking for one laptop that can do it…

PRICE $702 from acer.com 2023’s Chromebook Plus 514 was at the crest of the initial wave of Chromebook Plus devices, and now returns with updated internals: farewell AMD Ryzen 3 7320C, a big welcome to Intel’s Core 3-100U. In other respects, changes are limited. It’s slightly smaller, with a footprint of 316 x 227mm, while the two-tone plastic lid has been switched for aluminium. There’s some flex here, but nothing major, and the mostly plastic chassis passes a few of the MIL-STD-810H tests for durability. Acer has been reasonably generous on connectivity, with two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports on the left-hand side plus a single USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 connector, and a second USB-A port on the right-hand side along with an HDMI output. Wireless connectivity is even better…

Chromebook Plus with Gemini launched in May 2024 with a limited range of AI features, including generative AI wallpapers and Magic Editor for Google Photos. This allows you to delete unwanted objects, much as you can on a Pixel phone. Naturally, Google has added more AI features since. The strongest additions are “Help me write”, “Help me read” and Live Translate. “Help me write” provides access to Gemini’s text-generation features. Click inside a text box, an email message or a Google Doc, and you’ll be prompted to let Gemini help, and all you need to do is offer basic instructions and context, click Create and you’re away. “Help me read” puts Gemini to use in summarising. Select some text in a document or web page, then right-click and pick “Summarize…

Chromebooks can’t run all of our regular benchmarks, and even Snapdragon X Copilot+ PCs baulk at running PCMark 10. As a result, we’ve focused on cross-platform and browser-based tests. Geekbench 6 provides a good idea of single-core and multicore performance, plus GPU horsepower (in Geekbench 6 Compute). We’ve also experimented with the Geekbench AI benchmark, testing both GPU and NPU AI performance, and listing the best result for each machine. WebXprt 4 gives a solid indication of performance in web-based applications, while Basemark 3 and JetStream cover a selection of workloads and push multitasking performance. We’ve also used the multitasking test we usually run on Chromebooks, running a 4K video in the background while running the Basemark 3 and JetStream benchmarks simultaneously. We report the JetStream 2.2 result. 3DMark simulates…

MWAVE THERMALTAKE GENESIS V3 $1,159 tinyurl.com/APC548tt This system’s included GTX 1650 is rather old now, however at this price it keeps making a case for itself compared to others with only iGPUs for graphics. That gives this system better gaming chops, to the tune of over three times the GPU horsepower. However, the 4GB frame buffer size will severely limit you in modern titles, possibly even preventing you from launching them. So long as you’re playing easy to run titles at 1080p, this will get you going and do a reasonable job. The CPU is more than adequate for the GPU pairing and the rest of the build is very Zen3 era with everything you’d expect to see and no sticking points. CPU AMD Ryzen 5 5500; COOLER Thermaltake UX200…

PRICE Free PLATFORM PC WEB tinyurl.com/APC548flay In this damned good adventure game, you play as a man enduring torment in Hell. A man who has had his skin flayed off, so every step he takes in the course of puzzle-solving is an exquisite agony. Another way this skinless chap differs from most adventure game protagonists is that he can’t think or speak, at least at first. While it’s not long before a demon grants him the ability to comment on the items you examine, it’s a little while longer before the flayed man regains his tongue, something that gives this point-and-click a very different flavour from its brethren. It’s something I’ve never really considered in the genre, but I’m used to the protagonist talking to me as I try to…

Download these APC exclusives free from: www.apcmag.com/exclusives ASCOMP PC INTERNALS PE ANALYSES YOUR SYSTEM AND MONITORS YOUR DRIVES – RELIABLY AND IN REAL TIME. Discover PC Internals, the powerful Windows software for analysing your entire PC hardware and system components. PC Internals gives you a detailed overview of your processor, RAM, drives, graphics cards, and many other system areas – ideal for tech enthusiasts, gamers, IT professionals, or anyone wanting to monitor their PC’s performance. A special highlight is the built-in drive monitoring. It shows SMART data, temperature, and SSD lifespan, helping you detect issues early and act in time. In the Professional Edition, PC Internals automatically notifies you of critical values via Windows notification or email. ASHAMPOO BACKGROUND REMOVER 2 AI-POWERED BACKGROUND REMOVAL WITH FILTERS, UPSCALING & EXPORT OPTIONS.…

The latest 60-series graphics cards have been out from both AMD and Nvidia for a little while now, and they’re expected to sell the most units for both overall series cards this year. But unlike the 70-series, it seems 60-series stock levels have remained decent with only a handful of models sold out – meaning prices likely won’t go any higher than they currently are. Prices unfortunately are still historically quite high, especially for 60-class products that typically would’ve been well below $500 in years prior. The increasing cost of new manufacturing nodes, AI demand for chips and inflation makes for a triple whammy that has these costing what should’ve been 70-class money not long ago. Nvidia’s variants still command a price premium, however with AMD’s 9000 series fast closing…

PRICE $199 WEB netgear.com In the past 18 months we’ve seen a succession of Wi-Fi 7 routers from Netgear. The latest arrival is the cheapest model yet, and it aggressively inexpensive. As you’d expect, the hardware you get for that money is decidedly cut down compared to the premium model. Where the RS700 boasts a top speed of 11.5Gbits/sec on its 6GHz radio, the RS100... well, actually it doesn’t have a 6GHz radio at all. For this budget router, Netgear has stuck with a classic dual-band design, with 2x2 MIMO and a top speed of 2.9Gbits/sec on the 5GHz band – considerably slower than many Wi-Fi 6 routers we’ve tested. That’s not the only compromise. The RS100 doesn’t support the fat 320MHz channel width that was introduced with Wi-Fi 7,…

PRICE $119 WEB anker.com Anker’s neat Power Bank has a generous capacity, provides plenty of power, and comes with a handy built-in USB-C cable so you never have to hunt for one before heading out. It also has two ports beside this – one USB-C, one USB-A. The two USB-C connections can hook up to a power adapter to charge the power bank itself or to pass its charge on to other devices. The USB-A port is for outbound charging only. While it can deliver 87W across all its ports, it can only supply 65W maximum from one of its USB-C options. That should be enough to charge most modern USB-C-equipped laptops and still leave 22W in reserve for charging or supplying power to other devices from its remaining ports.…

PRICE $1,449 WEB samsung.com Samsung’s past Edge phones were notable for their curved screens which wrapped round the sides. This new model has a regular flat display, and instead distinguishes itself with a strikingly thin build. It’s a feat of design and engineering, but it comes at a steep price in terms of cost and trade-offs. Despite being 31% thinner than the Galaxy S25 Ultra and 29% lighter, it feels solid thanks to its metal frame and Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 display covering. It also has the same IP68 rating as the S25 Ultra. The 6.7in AMOLED screen is 0.2in smaller than the Ultra’s, which makes it easier to use one-handed, especially as Samsung has kept the bezels slim. It looks sharp, with rich colours, a 120Hz refresh rate and…

Google Docs and Sheets are two of the world’s most widely used productivity applications. There are two very good reasons for that: they’re free, and they’re easy to use. That doesn’t mean they’re light on features, however. Tucked away in their menus (and in Sheets’ library of formulas) are some powerful tools that go far beyond what you’re likely to come across in casual use. On these pages we’ll reveal the best hidden features in each application: put them to use, and you’ll be working faster, with fewer mistakes and better results. DOCS Type less with automatic text replacements You may have noticed that when you type three dots in Google Docs, they get turned into a single ellipsis symbol. Similarly, typing “(c)” or “TM” gives you a copyright symbol…

PRICE $1,398 from acer.com When it launched last year, the Acer Swift 14 AI had the makings of a compelling Copilot+ PC but for one thing: its price. Manufacturers could get away with a $2,000 asking price on a top-spec model, but not on a midrange performer using Qualcomm’s lower-end Snapdragon X Plus chip. Luckily, it’s a different story now that the Swift 14 AI is widely available for around $1,000 to $1,400. In fact, at that price it’s an absolute bargain. For a start, you’re buying a premium-feel aluminium body in an understated dark metallic shade. It looks great and feels robust, with a 323 x 226mm desktop footprint and a weight of only 1.4kg. It’s slim, too, measuring under 15mm at its thickest point. With two USB-A 3.2…

PRICE $2,609 from lenovo.com The Yoga Slim 7x has been a fixture on our A-List since Lenovo launched it last year, so it’s no surprise to see it triumph in this month’s Labs. Its price wobbles depending on promotions, but look at what you get for the money: a fantastic 14.5in OLED screen, a gorgeous slimline chassis and one of Qualcomm’s high-end Snapdragon X Elite CPUs. It’s the Copilot+ PC to beat. Let’s start with the design. With a body that’s under 13mm thick the Yoga Slim 7x more than earns its name, while the 1.3kg weight makes it one of the lightest laptops in this Labs. Yet it feels surprisingly robust, with MIL-STD-810H certification for durability. The rather lovely inky blue finish with matching blue keyboard and trackpad is…

PRICE $TBC from acer.com The new Chromebook Plus 516 takes over from the Chromebook Plus 515 as the big-screen option in Acer’s Chromebook lineup, bringing in faster Intel Core CPUs and an additional inch of screen size. Unsurprisingly, it’s a whopper, measuring 359 x 253 x 19mm and weighing 1.7kg. It feels rock solid, but there’s no ignoring the bulk, even with Acer’s clever sculpting. However, the bigger screen and ergonomic advantages more than compensate if you spend your working life bound to a desk. In an ideal world the screen would be the Plus 516’s biggest selling point, but some compromises have been made. The 1,920 x 1,200 resolution looks blocky when stretched over a 16in diagonal, while colour reproduction is sub-par, with the IPS panel covering only 61%…

PRICE $498 from hp.com HP’s convertible Chromebook Plus might not have the cute 12.2in form factor of the Acer Chromebook Spin 312, but it has several practical advantages, including a faster Core i3 N305 CPU and double the 4GB of RAM. It’s still not a star performer, thanks to the processor’s dated Alder Lake-N architecture, and the scores across our benchmarks are substantially lower than on the new Acer devices, both in our single-core and multithreaded tests. However, it makes the Chromebook Plus x360 a better option than the Acer for basic browsing and light office use. The laptop itself looks and feels as dated as the CPU, with a chunky 323 x 210 x 20.4mm body that’s big on silver plastic, though it looks nice enough when closed. It’s…

In 2024, Microsoft and Google went big with AI rebrands, but Stuart Andrews wants more. Last year Microsoft and Google firmly latched the AI bandwagon to their laptops. Copilot+ PCs integrated AI features into Windows, while Google boosted its Chromebook Plus laptops with its all-new Gemini. Neither have wowed me. The positives for Copilot+ PCs are more to do with battery life and performance than its local AI features. If anything, it’s the silicon that stars, and Qualcomm’s Arm-based chips in particular. Early Windows on Arm compatibility issues have improved, but not disappeared: missing hardware drivers and poor games support remain an issue. Still, there’s no hiding from Qualcomm’s impact. This month I tested fast Windows laptops with gorgeous screens at prices that were unthinkable even two years ago. Then…

WINDOWS 10 & 11 Get quick links to Windows update information FullUpdatesHistoryView is a new tool from NirSoft that shows all the updates ever installed on your PC. One hidden option is to right-click an update in the list then select ‘Open Information URL In Web Browser’ (see screenshot below). This takes you to the official page for the update (usually on Microsoft’s site) providing details to help you understand what it contains. To download FullUpdatesHistoryView visit tinyurl.com/APC548nir then click the link at the bottom. It triggers a Windows SmartScreen warning but it’s completely safe to use, so click ‘More info’ then ‘Run anyway’. WINDOWS 11 Move pinned apps by right-clicking You can now move pinned apps in your Start menu by right-clicking them and selecting one of three options:…

PRICE Free PLATFORM PC WEB plasmastarfish.itch.io/pack The mirror image of Unpacking, Pack is a little game about cramming your possessions into a suitcase, focusing purely on the puzzle aspect of making sure everything fits, and there is no overflow. Pack improves upon the physical inventory concept by not allowing items to overlap. As you drag them into the suitcase one by one, they have to occupy their own little space in it and not get too close to the edge or to each other. It’s a satisfying process, if occasionally a maddening one, as sometimes pixel-perfect precision is required. Yes, it is a bit unrealistic that you can’t stack your possessions on top of each other, and I wish you could rotate them, but Pack’s rendering of physical space is…

In June Microsoft laid off 9,000 employees, with large swathes of the company’s Xbox division caught up in the slaughter. Casualties include the whole of The Initiative – a studio formed in 2020 to develop a Perfect Dark reboot – the cancellation of Rare’s Everwild, and big cuts to ZeniMax Online Studios, resulting in the cancellation of an in-development MMO. Even studios like Turn 10, which is responsible for Xbox’s jewel-in-the-crown Forza series, reportedly had around half of its workforce shorn off. This follows a brutal 2024 for Xbox’s workforce, with thousands losing their jobs across Activision-Blizzard and ZeniMax Media (Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks, though the latter was quickly purchased by Krafton). It looks like a company desperate to course correct, but the truth is that Microsoft as a…

PRICE $50.98 WEB iniushop.com We love power banks and use them every day to ensure the many devices we carry stay charged. There are loads of compact models available that are perfect for carrying day to day, but many struggle to keep up with fast charging the latest phones and gaming consoles. And that’s where the Iniu P50-E1 comes in. At 83 x 52 x 26mm (112ml), it’s very compact and the 160 gram weight won’t weigh you down. It has a 10,000mAh capacity (37Wh) – enough for about two phone charges (depending on the phone), or it can give a 70Wh laptop an extra 40% or so charge. The P50 stands out from other compact power banks thanks to the 45W output. It’s aimed at those who want super-fast…

PRICE $299 WEB logitechg.com The new Logitech G522 Lightspeed is here to deliver a premium gaming headset experience at an affordable price. This headset ticks all the right boxes. It delivers crystal clear sound that puts you right in the middle of a game, and can last up to 70 hours with its RGB lighting disabled. The headset’s lightweight and flexible design also makes it easy to wear during extended gaming sessions. It also offers three connectivity options and a removable microphone. A gaming headset can have the best audio and last for dozens of hours, but if it’s not comfortable to wear, then we’re looking elsewhere. This isn’t a problem with the G522 Lightspeed, as it’s one of the most comfortable headsets we’ve tested. The dual-layer memory foam ear…

WHAT YOU CAN DO • Reset your PC and remove all the data stored on it• Shred your deleted data to make it impossible to recover• Erase your phone or tablet with a factory reset• Wipe your Wi-Fi password from an old router• Restore your wireless printer to factory settings• Delete personal information from your smart TV Most of us have a drawer or cupboard containing old phones, tablets, laptops and other devices we no longer use. We don’t usually hang on to them for sentimental reasons, but because we’re not entirely sure what to do with them. Many of us hoard our old tech because we don’t know how to erase our personal information. Why risk hackers and nosy parkers gaining access to your data, when you can leave…

PRICE $1,999 from asus.com While it’s easy to be enthralled by the latest ultra-slim, ultra-light laptops, the Vivobook S15 is a great example of the advantages a larger model brings. Not only does it have a big, 15.6in OLED screen that’s perfect for either productivity or entertainment, it has a more spacious keyboard, a numeric keypad and more connectivity than rival Copilot+ PCs. If it’s not the most exciting device on test, it’s easily one of the most usable and versatile. It’s also one of the best built, with a solid aluminium shell for protection. Despite its large 353 x 227mm desktop footprint, it’s only 14.7mm thick and 1.4kg in weight, so not too much of a handful if you’re carrying it around all day. There’s no give in the…

PRICE $2,399 from dell.com Dell pitches the 14 Plus as a lightweight AI laptop for small businesses and creatives, and in most respects it’s right on the mark. With a choice of 200-series Intel Core Ultra 7 and Ultra 9 CPUs, it has the NPU performance for Copilot+ AI applications, plus the integrated Intel Arc graphics to run local AI apps and accelerate some video and design tools, or even handle basic gaming. The 14in screen might not be OLED, but it has the high resolution and colour performance less demanding creative users will require, and at 1.55kg it’s reasonably light, though not in the same league as the sub-1kg Asus Zenbook A14. It’s a well-built laptop, even if the design is rather pedestrian. It’s fashioned mostly from silver plastic…

PRICE $TBC from samsung.com This is the undoubted star of this month’s Chromebook lineup, thanks to a killer combo of speed, screen and style. It takes its cues from the brand’s premium Galaxy Book line, with an all-aluminium body and distinctive inky blue for the base and lid. At just under 12mm thick and 1.2kg in weight it’s thinner and lighter than a 15.6in laptop has any right to be. The construction is solid so you won’t have any concerns carrying it around in a bag all day. Usability is just as good. The keyboard action is light but with clicky tactile feedback, and it’s easy to forgive a few quirks about the layout, such as the small cursors and thin numeric pad. This is also one of the first…

PRICE $TBC from acer.com In many ways, the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 feels like something of a step back to the days when Chromebooks were seen as secondary devices or school PCs, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s compact, inexpensive and versatile, with a 360° hinge that allows it to be used as a small laptop, a chunky tablet or in a tent configuration. At 289 x 204 x 19.9mm, it takes up barely any room in a bag or backpack, and is small enough to use on a train or busy coffee shop. At 1.29kg, it’s light but pleasingly robust. What’s more, its 12.2in screen is surprisingly capable. A glossy surface adds reflectivity but also helps boost contrast, and while the maximum 302cd/m2 brightness isn’t stellar it’s…

PRICE $1,499 from msi.com MSI’s 15.6in laptop packs in an impressive spec for its budget price, with an Intel Core 7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a large Full HD display. A couple of years ago it would have been hard to beat on bang for buck. However, the arrival of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X CPUs has mixed things up, and now the Modern 15F1MG faces stiffer competition. It’s a solidly built if plastic-heavy laptop, with a 359 x 236mm desktop footprint and a weight of 1.7kg. Sure, it’s hefty, but that translates to decent ergonomics, with a wide keyboard, large touchpad and a comfortable typing position. The chiclet keys are backlit and the layout straightforward, with well-sized Shift and Ctrl keys, separate cursors and even a slim numeric pad. The…

Find the best deals on new gear at getprice.com/au Premium laptops Apple MacBook Pro M4 ONE OF THE BEST LAPTOPS THAT’S EVER BEEN MADE. This M4 update to the already brilliant MacBook Pro line is an easy recommendation, so the big question becomes do you choose the 14in version or 16in. But whatever you choose should last for years, and look great while it’s doing it. From $2,499, apple.com/au THE ALTERNATIVES ASUS ZENBOOK A14 This affordable and super-slim laptop with a 14in OLED panel has all the performance most people need at a very competitive price, and it boasts fantastic build quality. $1,999, asus.com APPLE MACBOOK AIR M4 If you don’t need the all-out power of the Pro, this is a brilliant, cheaper alternative despite the unchanged chassis and screen.…

ONLYOFFICE Add ‘Confidential’ and ‘Approved’ stamps to your PDFs Version 8.3 of OnlyOffice, released in February, lets you add stamps to your PDFs to mark them as confidential, approved, received and more. Insert a PDF into the PDF Editor then click Comment at the top followed by the Stamp dropdown menu (1 in our screenshot above). Now pick the stamp you want. The first four options include the PDF’s author (ie, you) and the date 2. You can move the stamp anywhere on the PDF 3, then resize it by dragging the corner squares. MICROSOFT EXCEL Add green ‘progress’ ticks to your spreadsheets You can add ticks to your spreadsheet to illustrate progress in a task or correct answers to a question – or anything else you think is appropriate.…

ANDROID & iOS Chat with Meta AI in WhatsApp Meta has added its AI assistant to WhatsApp in Australia, almost a year after it launched the feature in the US. You may already have received a welcome message from Meta AI in your Chats list, and have a new Meta AI button – which resembles a blue-and-pink circle – in the bottom-right corner of the app. Although the message says ‘Meta AI is an optional service’, it’s currently impossible to remove the feature from WhatsApp. Coupled with the placement of its button directly above the ‘New chat’ button, where it’s easy to tap accidentally, it’s unsurprising that many WhatsApp users have complained about Meta AI being foisted on them. To try the new feature, either reply to the welcome message…

PRICE Free PLATFORM PC, Linux WEB mikeklubnika.itch.io/fused-240 The power of the jump cut is still largely underutilised in games. Was nothing learnt from Thirty Flights of Loving? But at long last, here’s another narrative-focused adventure that utilises jump cuts to devastating effect. The difference is that this time the effect is to induce horror. Fused 240 is an impressive work of body horror that imagines a world in which humans have been merged with automobiles. You, the player, are right there with the car-bound protagonist. The half-car is only able to move by alternately rocking backwards, and leaning forwards on an extendable claw, and you achieve this by tapping F and N on your keyboard, F and N, over and over. It’s a firmly linear game – in fact, you’ll…

Old games, new perspectives RELEASE 1997 DEVELOPER Xatrix Entertainment PUBLISHER Interplay Productions LINK tinyurl.com/4dswjd2y Let me set the scene. The year is 1997 and the first FPS golden age is in full swing. Following Doom’s genre-defining release in 1993, a whole host of other boomer shooters have poured forth into the burgeoning genre, and many of them are following the same technical and creative formula that id Software had pioneered. 2D sprites in basic 3D worlds, gated by access keys and statically placed monsters, were the name of the game. The environments, guns and monsters changed aesthetic, but the basics remained the same. And in just three years following Doom’s release, a huge wave of new FPS games had been launched on PC from other developers using this formula, including…