All posts tagged: laptop

System 76 Pangolin Pro Review (2026): Powerhouse Linux Laptop

System 76 Pangolin Pro Review (2026): Powerhouse Linux Laptop

Published by skeptic

I have similar feelings about the very large glass trackpad. For things like photo editing, the trackpad’s size is great, but I found my palms occasionally clicked the buttons at the bottom of the trackpad when I took a break from typing. It didn’t happen often, but I learned to be careful about where I put my palms. The 2-MP 1080p webcam is fine for casual use, chatting with family and friends, but if you do a lot of Zoom meetings in a professional context, you may want an external webcam. Also, open-source purists should note that Coreboot still does not support AMD Ryzen chips (or AMD does not support Coreboot, depending on how you want to look at it), so the Pangolin Pro does not use open firmware. Finally, the Pangolin Pro is easy to open up to replace or repair components. There are nine screws on the bottom of the chassis, and none of them are hidden under the rubber feet or other shenanigans. Unscrew them all, and the bottom lifts off, giving …

My laptop server charges itself only when needed thanks to Home Assistant

My laptop server charges itself only when needed thanks to Home Assistant

Published by skeptic

I’ve been using an old laptop as a home server for almost a year now, and honestly, it’s one of the best repurposing projects I have ever done. It runs Home Assistant, a dozen Docker containers, and powers a few AI models all while quietly humming away on my desk 24/7. The catch with running a laptop this way is that it stays plugged into the wall constantly, and that’s exactly the kind of activity that’ll demolish the lithium-ion battery over time. The fix? A $10 smart plug and a few Home Assistant automations. Related I replaced my $60 Raspberry Pi with a $5 ESP32 and my smart home never noticed Smaller board, same smart home. Sitting at 100 percent is the actual problem 300 to 500 cycles is the budget you’re burning through Lithium-ion cells degrade faster when they sit at very high or very low states of charge, and the sweet spot for longevity is generally between 20 and 80 percent. Leaving a laptop plugged in at 100 percent all day keeps the …

The Coolest Thing I Saw at IFA 2026: The Coolest, Quietest, Thinnest Laptop Concept

The Coolest Thing I Saw at IFA 2026: The Coolest, Quietest, Thinnest Laptop Concept

Published by skeptic

Some concepts on display at trade shows are simply bald attempts at garnering attention on a noisy and crowded show floor. And then there are others that provide actual glimpses into the future. Lenovo’s Project Aero falls into the latter category. (I’d put all of its rollable display concepts into the former: fun to see in action, but not something I’d look for in my next purchase.) There wasn’t much to the ThinkBook laptop used for Lenovo’s Project AeroBlade concept that would get you to stop and take notice. Other than being thinner and lighter than the typical laptop, it looked like a run-of-the-mill business ultraportable. And the Project AeroBlade demo wasn’t particularly compelling on the surface. The laptop’s screen didn’t magically expand at the press of a button to draw oohs and aahs. But under the hood, there was some tech that I hope moves from concept to reality before I need to buy my next laptop. Active cooling without fans (and their noise) The concept of Project AeroBlade is moving air in and out of …

AI, robots and the world’s lightest laptop – the best gadgets at Europe’s biggest electronics show

AI, robots and the world’s lightest laptop – the best gadgets at Europe’s biggest electronics show

Published by Sam Flores

While you will probably never need a dancing robot in your home, I did see one which purports to be a butler that takes care of housekeeping. Currently, I wouldn’t trust its claw-like hands pouring a glass of red wine anywhere near me, but while you wait for that tech to advance there were plenty of other home robots whose services I would engage. Both Dreame and Roborock have launched stair-climbing robot vacuum cleaners over the last year or so, and one even picks up stray, dirty socks. Dyson is bringing its UV lights to its robot range to better illuminate dirt, and it has developed triangular cleaning pads to reach right into corners. I also saw pool and window cleaning robots from brands including Ecovacs and Roborock, and Eufy and Mammotion’s robot lawnmowers continue to advance, clambering up steeper lawns than ever, and with edge-cutting technology to rival your strimmer. Mova’s mowers even had arms, showcased to dramatic effect with a choreographed fan routine set to music from a live DJ. Whether they can …

The Best Laptop Backpacks for Work, Travel, and Everything Between (2026)

The Best Laptop Backpacks for Work, Travel, and Everything Between (2026)

Published by skeptic

Though I’ve been working from home for the past 15 years, both freelance and full-time, this often means needing to be available 24/7, so I typically carry my laptop everywhere I go—including sports practices, day trips, and vacations. I have used many laptop backpacks in this time, and the dividing line between a work backpack that’s comfortable and fits seamlessly into your daily routine and one that’s aggravating at every turn is a fine one. If you’ve got limited closet space, it also helps if the backpack can pull double duty and be used for travel and/or hiking. The backpacks below are ones either I or another WIRED reviewer have used extensively in real life, taking on planes, hiking trails, vacations, and work trips. For more bag and backpack recommendations, Bag Check features WIRED staffers’ favorite totes, sleeves, and packs. For more portable gear, check out our guides to the Best Wireless Chargers, Best Bluetooth Trackers, and Best Travel Adapters. Updated September 2026: I’ve added the Paramount Daypack Lite 20L and the Navigator Backpack to …

Lenovo’s Project AeroBlade Fanless Laptop Takes Thin and Light to the Extreme

Lenovo’s Project AeroBlade Fanless Laptop Takes Thin and Light to the Extreme

Published by skeptic

Lenovo is well-known for its creative, if wacky, concept laptops, usually involving some sort of display trickery. But at the IFA Berlin 2026 consumer electronics trade show, the company showed a proof of concept that actually looks production-ready. The Project AeroBlade Concept laptop is built around a new active cooling technology from Frore Systems that uses air pressure—instead of fans, heatsinks, and large vents—to expel heat from the CPU. That means thinner laptop designs and quieter operation, and the space savings allow for larger batteries. According to Lenovo, it could reimagine how future high-performance laptops are designed. Under Pressure Photograph: Les Shu Photograph: Les Shu Lenovo is the first computer manufacturer to unveil a laptop that uses Frore’s AirJet Mini fanless air-cooling technology. Frore is known for its liquid-cooling tech that’s used in data centers, but the AirJet is designed for consumer computers. Dubbed the Lenovo Active Flow Thermal Solution, the AirJet module pulls ambient air that’s inside the laptop to create 2,000 Pascals of back pressure (around 124 miles per hour). This high-speed air …

Nvidia RTX Spark ‘Superchip’: The First AI PCs Are Here

Nvidia RTX Spark ‘Superchip’: The First AI PCs Are Here

Published by skeptic

Three months ago, Nvidia took the wraps off its RTX Spark “superchip” and a handful of future laptops that would use it. It felt like a consequential moment in the history of the PC, despite all the questions that remained. And now, as announced at the IFA 2026 tech show in Berlin, we’ve had our first hands-on look at one of these laptops, as well as some announcements around RTX Spark-powered mini desktop PCs. Demand for running agentic AI workflows like OpenClaw locally on your computer keeps rising, and these new PCs look like they are designed specifically to feed it. Nvidia Alternatives to the MacBook Pro Photograph: Les Shu Photograph: Les Shu The laptop in question is the Lenovo Yoga 9n 2-in-1, a 16-inch laptop with a 360-degree hinge. As I assumed it would, this thing looks incredibly premium, aiming to be a MacBook Pro competitor in every aspect. The OLED touch display has a sharp 2880 x 1800 resolution and a 120-Hz refresh rate. The whole chassis is surrounded by rounded metallic edges and some …

Acer Recommits to Repairability With New Vero 16 Laptop

Acer Recommits to Repairability With New Vero 16 Laptop

Published by skeptic

Acer is a brand closely associated with budget workhorse machines — the company largely manufactures laptops for entry-level gamers, students and office workers. It’s an admirable (and tough) niche to fill at a time when RAMageddon is inflating hardware component prices and even sub-$700 laptops feel like a dying breed. Maybe that’s why the company is continuing to throw its weight behind the right-to-repair movement with the fourth-generation Vero 16 revealed at IFA 2026. If you’re going to be shelling out more cash for a so-called “budget laptop,” it makes sense that you’d want it to stand the test of time. The repairable and upgradable Vero 16 is one way for the company to adapt to changing market conditions. While that more modular Vero design is one of the laptops Acer is positioning front-and-center at the show, its other clamshells certainly aren’t being ignored: Two new lightweight Swift laptops are making their debut at IFA 2026. The latest Vero 16 doesn’t look quite as distinguishable as its predecessor. Whether that’s a good thing is up …

Which Laptop Do You Rely on the Most? Help Us Find the Top Picks

Which Laptop Do You Rely on the Most? Help Us Find the Top Picks

Published by skeptic

Your laptop is like your personal command center. Whether you’re working from a coffee shop, hopping on a video call or working on creative projects, your laptop shapes how you get things done. You probably use a laptop every day, so we want to know your opinions about its performance, battery life and if the features are worth the price tag. Every month, we ask our readers about the tech and gadgets they use and swear by. This time, we want to know which laptop you rely on. You can take our 2-minute survey to share your experience with your device’s battery life, software, hardware and value. The top picks will make it into our roundup, so be sure to check back in a few weeks to see if your favorite made the list. Why we want to hear from you Anyone can visit a retailer’s website and check out a device’s specs, but that rarely tells the full story. How well it performs under your workload, how long the battery lasts and whether the …

Which Laptop Do You Rely on the Most? Help Us Find the Top Picks

Is Your Laptop Worth the Hype? Tell Us in Our Survey

Published by skeptic

I can’t even begin to imagine a world without laptops. They’ve basically become our personal command centers. Whether you’re checking your email from a coffee shop, hopping on a video call or working on creative projects, your laptop can make or break how you get things done. You probably use a laptop every day, so we want to know your opinions about its performance, battery life and if you think its features are worth the price tag. Every month, we ask our readers about the tech and gadgets they use and swear by. This time, we want to know which laptop you rely on. You can take our 2-minute survey to share your experience with your device’s battery life, software, hardware and value. The top picks will make it into our roundup, so be sure to check back in a few weeks to see if your favorite made the list. Why we want to hear from you Anyone can visit a retailer’s website and check out a device’s specs, but that rarely tells the full …