Category: Technology

ASUS is leaning even harder into Copilot+PCs with it’s new Vivobook 14 and 16 at CES 2025. And unlike the laptops the company introduced last fall, this time ASUS is going all in on Qualcomm chips.

Just like the new ultralight Zenbook A14, both the Vivobook 14 and Vivobook 16 come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X chip, and in the case of both sizes of Vivobook, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. ASUS claims these new internals mean both laptops are 44 percent more performant than last generation Vivobooks and should last longer too, with a battery life of up to 19.8 hours.

Regardless of whether you buy the 14-inch or 16-inch laptop, you’ll get a 60Hz, 1,920 x 1,200 resolution display. Like past ASUS laptops, both Vivobooks will also use the company’s “AI Camera” which can detect when you’re not sitting in front of your screen and automatically dim the display to stretch battery life further, or lock your computer for added security. You’ll have plenty of options if you need to plug something in, including two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port and an audio jack.

ASUS imagines the draw of all this new hardware will be the AI features they enable, like Generative Fill and Erase for editing photos or Live Captions for automatically adding subtitles to the audio on your computer. A more powerful laptop that lasts longer is more immediately appealing, though.

Alongside the new Vivobooks, ASUS is announcing two new enterprise-focused laptops, the ExpertBook B5 and B3. Both laptops come with up to an Intel Core Ultra Series 2, up to 64GB of RAM and plenty of security features to keep your data safe.

ASUS hasn’t shared the availability or price of the new ExpertBooks. The ASUS Vivobook 14 and Vivobook 16 are available to pre-order now for $700 and $750, respectively. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/asus-brings-qualcomms-latest-chip-to-the-vivobook-14-and-16-173007085.html?src=rss 

The CES 2025 spotlight is firmly on electric vehicles on Tuesday, with the likes of Afeela (Sony’s and Honda’s joint venture) and others holding keynotes. Honda has its own dedicated keynote coming up and you can watch it right here. The automaker is continuing to showcase its 0 Series EVs after debuting two concept models at CES 2024. Next up is a look at two prototypes ahead of Honda starting to ship these vehicles in 2026.

What to expect at Honda’s CES 2025 press conference

Last year, we got a look at two Honda 0 Series concept vehicles — a sedan that the company called the Saloon and a minivan-style Space-Hub. Honda’s mantra for 0 Series development is “thin, light and wise,” and its CES 2025 keynote will focus on the latter.

Honda says it will unveil the 0 Series operating system and automated driving tech, while spilling the beans about the SoC that will power the EVs. In addition, it will reveal details about an energy service that it will roll out alongside the 0 Series vehicles.

The big draw of the keynote, however, will be the two prototype 0 Series EVs that Honda will show off. The company plans to start shipping those in 2026. A teaser image (above) indicates that it Honda has a sedan and a minivan or SUV ready to discuss.

Watch the Honda CES 2025 livestream

You can watch Honda’s CES 2025 press conference live below. The stream will start Tuesday, January 7 at 1:30PM ET.

Follow real-time CES updates on our liveblog

For a recap of the Honda event as well as other news coming out of Las Vegas this week, check out our main CES 2025 liveblog.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/honda-ces-2025-keynote-watch-honda-reveal-its-0-series-ev-prototypes-live-here-160037969.html?src=rss 

Lenovo has made history with its new Yoga Slim 9i laptop, which has an under-display camera similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold phone. In other words, the 32-megapixel camera is situated beneath the screen where you can’t see it, but it can capture video and images just fine. The Yoga Book 9i is also getting updated with a larger screen, an NPU and higher peak brightness.

Having an under-display camera lets device manufacturers use thinner bezels. In the Yoga Slim 9i’s case, Lenovo was able to achieve what it calls a world’s first: a 98 percent screen-to-body-ratio on a laptop, which the company claims is a world-first. Plus, the 4K120 OLED touch display measures 14 inches. Its PureSight certification includes 100 percent sRGB and Adobe RGB support. Additionally, the Yoga Slim 9i has a peak brightness of 750 nits, and supports VESA DisplayHDR True Black 600.

The Yoga Slim 9i is capable of handling AI tasks, thanks to an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and with a 48 trillion operations per second (TOPS) NPU. The 75WHr battery provides up to 17 hours of battery life. Graphics are handled by an uniform memory access Intel Arc GPU.

The Yoga Slim 9i can come with 1TB of storage and 32GB of RAM, making it a portable workhorse of a laptop. As for ports, there are two Thunderbolt 4 ports besides the charging-only USB-C port.

The latest Yoga Book 9i has also received several upgrades. The screen size has been increased from 13.3 inches to a full 14 inches, and the 400 nits brightness has been upped to 750 nits. The new model has a 94 percent screen-to-body-ratio, up a little over two percent from the prior generation. Plus, it now has AI capabilities thanks to new hardware.

Finally, we can take a brief look at the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition, a convertible laptop. The 14-inch 2.8K120 screen supports multi-touch and has a peak brightness of 1100 nits. It also has Smart Modes that let users customize the settings quickly. At 2.91 pounds, it’s easy to carry around for work.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lenovos-yoga-slim-9i-is-the-first-laptop-to-get-an-under-display-camera-160045339.html?src=rss 

Maingear is one of the original boutique PC makers that popularized water-cooled rigs more than 20 years ago. However, after focusing more on air-cooled systems over the past few years, at CES 2025 the company is returning to its roots with two stunningly-crafted machines in the Apex Force and Apex Rush.

Based on Phanteks’ NV9 case, the Apex Force is the unquestionable flagship in Maingear’s new 2025 lineup. It weighs upwards of 50 pounds and has pre-bent hardline tubes that have been angled 10 degrees to match the distinctive sloped design of its enclosure. It boasts not one but two separate cooling loops for its CPU and GPU with massive dual 420mm radiators, three 140mm fans plus another 65mm intake on the bottom to push all that hot air out.

But what I appreciate the most are some of the signature touches Maingear included to make maintaining the system easier, even for someone who may have zero experience with liquid-cooled setups. The Apex Force’s reservoir is entirely clear, which not only looks great but makes it easy to do a visual check on water levels. More importantly, Maingear installed two quick-disconnect fittings for the system’s pump and drain ports, so in the event you need to change out water or perform a repair, you can empty the desktop without risking splashing liquid on sensitive components. And of course, almost all of the PC’s components and even the color of its tubes, fittings and RGB lighting can be customized to your desire. The limit is pretty much the size of your budget.

Meanwhile, for those who want something a bit more compact (though that’s relative in this case), the Apex Rush represents a small step down to a rig based on a mid-tower case from Lian-Li (the O11 EVO RGB). Unlike the Apex Force, the Rush uses a single cooling loop that’s augmented by seven 120mm fans (with optional RGB) meant to create a positive pressure environment to ensure optimal airflow while also keeping dust out. In fact, Maingear is so confident about its fan arrangement, it didn’t bother to equip the Apex Rush with dust filters, claiming those would actually decrease thermal performance and cleanliness. And in a first for Maingear, this system can be configured with neoprene soft tubing with braided sleeves for anyone looking for an alternative to custom hard lines.

But for me, what elevates the Apex Rush line even over the Force is that alongside the standard models, Maingear will also release three themed variants. There’s a Miami Vice-inspired model, one with cyberpunk stylings and my favorite, a lucky cat-inspired option. Each one features automotive-grade paintjobs littered with hand-drawn art and they are absolutely gorgeous. There are tons of subtle details such as pictures with various textures within the same illustration, multiple gamer-themed easter eggs, plenty of RGB lighting and matched tubing to fit each version’s particular aesthetic. The custom Apex Rush rigs are truly works of art, though, as you’d expect from heavily configurable systems, they won’t come cheap.

That said, Maingear has yet to reveal official pricing for both the Apex Force and Apex Rush lines. However, the company says that due to high expected demand, anyone interested in one of these PCs should try to snag a spot in line with a fully refundable $100 deposit when reservations officially go live today on Maingear’s website.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/the-maingear-apex-force-and-apex-rush-might-be-the-most-beautiful-water-cooled-desktops-at-ces-2025-160050312.html?src=rss 

The price hikes for streaming services have already started for 2025. Discovery+ has announced its plans are increasing in price for all subscribers. The Discovery+ plan with ads will go up to $6 per month, from $5, while the ad-free plan will increase to $10 per month, from $9. 

No, an extra $1 monthly isn’t horrible, but $12 yearly, now that’s a meal’s worth of extra fees. The new fee tiers go into effect immediately for new subscribers. However, existing customers who pay through Discovery+ or the app store will pay more on their first bill after February 7. Any subscribers on promotional deals won’t have an increase until that period ends. 

Discovery+ previously increased the price of its ad-free plan in late 2023. At the time, it went up from $7 to $9 monthly. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/discovery-is-raising-prices-for-all-customers-160646636.html?src=rss 

The list of titles coming to Game Pass this month is a bit on the paltry side, aside from one massive exception. The original 1996 Diablo hits PC Game Pass on January 14, so those of us who have been living under a rock since Bill Clinton’s first term can finally see what all of the fuss is about.

What can I say about Diablo that hasn’t been said already? It’s the OG action-RPG that basically defined the genre. It’s a legitimate classic. There’s a reason why the franchise is still going strong deep into the 21st century. The battles are intense, the progression is satisfying and the character customization options are just as deep now as they were in the 1990s.

This isn’t the first time that the game has been re-released. Blizzard and GOG struck a deal back in 2019 to bring the title to the latter’s digital gaming marketplace. However, this is the first time it’s been free-ish, assuming a pre-existing PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

Diablo is, by a huge margin, the most notable Game Pass release for January, but it’s not the only one. The post-apocalyptic farming sim My Time at Sandrock will be available on January 8 and EA Sports UFC 5 will be playable on January 14.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/the-original-diablo-hits-pc-game-pass-on-january-14-161519350.html?src=rss 

Lenovo is already announcing one new handheld (or two depending on how you’re counting) at CES 2025. However, that isn’t stopping the company from looking ahead to its next portable gaming device by teasing an early prototype of the Legion Go 2.

Right off the bat it’s important to note that this successor to the original Legion Go is non-functioning and meant to be more of a design preview of Lenovo’s second-gen handheld instead of true first look. That said, the Legion Go 2 appears to share a number of features with its predecessor including detachable controllers, a large 8.8-inch display, a small touchpad on the right, a built-in kickstand and, if you look closely at the bottom, there’s even a toggle that allows the right gamepad to enter FPS/vertical mouse mode. So it’s clear this follow-up isn’t straying too far from the first model’s general blueprint.

Instead, it seems like Lenovo is focusing on making some small tweaks regarding the handheld’s ergonomics including more rounded grips and tapered sides along with a new circular D-pad as opposed to the cross-shaped component used on the previous model.

Additionally, Lenovo shared some early (but still unfinalized) specs which include a new Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip from AMD, support for up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB of SSD storage and a significantly larger 74Wh battery (up from 49.2Wh). This should deliver a noticeable boost in overall performance while its 8.8-inch OLED display is expected to feature very similar specs including 500 nits of brightness and a 144Hz refresh rate.

However, there are two important changes to the screen. The first is a slightly lower 1,920 x 1,200 resolution (down from 2,560 x 1,600), which might seem like a weird downgrade. But on a display this size, especially when paired with a mobile APU, the Legion Go 2’s new resolution should deliver a boost in terms of overall performance. The second important upgrade is the addition of VRR, so the screen can more easily adjust to match the framerate of whatever you’re playing.

Finally, just like before, the Legion Go 2 will be based on Windows 11, though this is one thing I think Lenovo should reconsider. That’s because after seeing the early positive reception for Legion Go S powered by SteamOS, I think it would be a wise move to offer support for Valve’s platform alongside the standard Windows model.

Unfortunately, Lenovo has not released official pricing for the Legion Go 2 just yet, but I expect it to cost around the same as the original model at launch (around $800). As for a release date, there’s nothing concrete there either, though the company said that it’s preparing to “bring this exciting innovation to life for gamers worldwide in 2025.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/lenovo-is-already-teasing-the-successor-to-its-flagship-legion-go-gaming-handheld-161852837.html?src=rss 

A little more than two years ago, Lenovo teased a concept laptop with a rollable screen that could expand and contract with the touch of a button. And now at CES 2025, the company has turned that idea into a reality with the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable.

Remarkably, Lenovo’s new device looks incredibly similar to what the company showed off in the past. The laptop features a flexible 14-inch OLED display that can unfurl itself to become a 16.7-inch panel at the push of a button. This effectively adds an extra 50 percent of screen space to the system without the need for any additional accessories or peripherals. Alternatively, you can use gestures to expand and contract the display for a truly touch-free experience. Though in my experience, that took so much longer you might as well use the dedicated key. Thankfully, brightness is more than sufficient at 400 nits while the OLED panel delivers rich, vibrant hues.

Just this functionality would be a feat on its own. However, to help maximize the potential of its rollable display, Lenovo added a custom set of multitasking features that allow you to add widgets to the expanded screen space or use it as a visual clipboard and a place to view frequently used docs. And when you’re doing something like sharing your view during a video call, you can use the extra display as a virtual monitor, so you have a clean desktop for presentations.

But to me, one of the most impressive things about the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable is that it’s not that much bigger or heavier than a traditional clamshell of a similar size. It weighs around 3.6 pounds and measures three quarters of an inch thick. Performance looks solid too, thanks to the inclusion of Intel’s Core Ultra 7 CPU, up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. And while its port selection is just OK, you still get two Thunderbolt 4 jacks and 3.5mm audio along with other handy features like Wi-Fi 7 and a 5-megapixel webcam with an electronic privacy shutter. So even with Lenovo’s focus on the laptop’s futuristic screen, you still get a pretty well-rounded machine.

Honestly, as someone who is always looking for more screen space while traveling (to the point where I often bring a portable monitor), I could see myself using the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 today as my primary work device. Its build quality feels a lot more solid than you’d expect and let’s not forget: the wow factor on something like this is hard to beat.

That said, the obvious downside is its cost, because with the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 expected to start at $3,500 when it goes on sale sometime later this spring, you’re paying a hefty premium to be on the very cutting edge of laptop tech. That means at least for now, systems like the Yoga Book 9i (which has gotten a couple of important updates for 2025) and ASUS’ Zenbook Duo are better choices for most people as they offer similar amounts of added screen space but for much less money. But if Lenovo can get the price down even a bit, it could open up another pathway for a new breed of transforming notebooks with deceptively small displays.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/the-thinkbook-plus-gen-6-rollable-is-a-crazy-concept-made-real-162813649.html?src=rss