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Best Free Antivirus for Windows 2024

By admin January 6, 2024

Best Free Antivirus for Windows 2024, I tested heaps of free antiviruses against thousands of Windows malware files, both old and new. I didn’t only look at each antivirus’s malware protection capabilities, but also its reputation for safeguarding user privacy, its ability to integrate with recent versions of Windows, and its user interface.

But it’s important to keep in mind that every free antivirus has limitations. That’s why I always recommend investing a little bit into premium antivirus software that includes protection against all types of malware — with extra features like a virtual private network (VPN), dark web monitoring, and a password manager (Norton 360 has all of these features, is ranked as the best antivirus software for 2024, and is very affordable).

That said, it’s better to use the best free antivirus than no antivirus at all! I found several good free antivirus programs that offer improvements over Windows’s built-in protections, as well as features that aren’t included in Windows Defender at all.

1. Norton — Best Overall Windows Antivirus in 2024

Norton is my favorite Windows antivirus on the market — and while it doesn’t currently have a free plan, it offers a risk-free 60-day money-back guarantee, which gives you 2 months to try it out and see if it’s right for you. It has an advanced malware engine, a wide range of additional features, and affordable plans that cover up to 5 devices across all operating systems.

Norton provides perfect malware detection against all known and emerging cyber threats. In all of our tests, it was able to identify every malware sample, from simple ones like viruses to sophisticated threats like spyware. It also has excellent phishing protection, a smart firewall with tons of customization options, and online banking and shopping protection.

2. Bitdefender Antivirus Free for Windows — Lightweight With Advanced Malware & Web Protections

Bitdefender Antivirus Free for Windows is one of the best free antiviruses out there — its malware scanner scored a 100% detection rate during my tests. Moreover, Bitdefender uses a cloud-based scanner, which means most of the detection and analysis doesn’t take place on your PC, reducing its system impact. I didn’t notice any slowdowns on my computer even during full system scans.

Bitdefender also provides excellent anti-phishing protection. During testing, it blocked many fake websites that had evaded detection from the built-in protections on the Chrome and Firefox browsers, as well as the anti-phishing tools of other antiviruses. Out of all the brands on this list, only Bitdefender and Norton had perfect anti-phishing results.

One downside of the free version of Bitdefender is its lack of extra features. It offers some of the most effective malware, web, and real-time protections on the market, but that’s about it. Bitdefender’s premium plans are where you’ll find all of the extra features, including multi-layer ransomware protection, online banking protection, a VPN, device optimization tools, a password manager, parental controls, and much more.

Best Free Antivirus for Windows 2024

3. Panda Free Antivirus for Windows — Good Virus Protection With Decent Extras

Panda Free Antivirus for Windows is lightweight, secure, and easy to use — during my tests, Panda’s antivirus scanner detected significantly more adware, spyware, and ransomware files than Windows Defender. Panda’s real-time protection also performed really well, blocking most of the malware files I tried downloading to my PC.

One reason Panda is a good choice for Windows users is its Rescue Kit, which allows you to download a bootable version of Panda to a USB drive and then use the USB drive to clean an infected PC and get it up and running again. Very few antiviruses offer this feature, and I’m very happy that Panda includes it in its free version!

The Free plan also includes dark web scanning, and while it only scans your email address, I was happy to see that it sends you an alert when there is a new breach (and you don’t have to check manually for breaches like you do with some competitors).

Additionally, I like that Panda has a gaming mode in its free antivirus — whenever you’re playing a game or watching a video in full screen, Panda automatically suspends notifications. That said, I prefer Norton for gaming, as it doesn’t cause any slowdown, allowing for smooth and uninterrupted gaming.

Panda’s free antivirus also comes with a secure (but limited) VPN. It provides fast connection speeds, but it only lets you connect to 1 server and has a data limit of 150 MB per day — this is a big improvement over Avira’s 500 MB per month, but it’s still not nearly enough data for streaming or file sharing. If you’re interested in unlimited streaming or torrenting, you’ll need a better VPN (check out our list of the best antiviruses with VPNs here).

4. TotalAV Free Antivirus — Most Intuitive Free Antivirus

TotalAV Free Antivirus provides excellent virus and phishing protection — during my tests, TotalAV’s cloud-based malware scanner detected and removed more malware samples than most antivirus programs, successfully identifying even very tricky ransomware and cryptojacking files.

TotalAV’s phishing protection is also very good. It uses a huge blacklist to identify known phishing sites as well as an AI-powered phishing detection system to detect new threats. In my testing, the anti-phishing tool scored a near-perfect detection rate, stopping me from entering more malicious sites than Chrome’s native phishing tool. Out of all the antiviruses on this list, only Norton and Bitdefender blocked more risky sites than TotalAV.

TotalAV is also the most intuitive free Windows antivirus on this list, with easy-to-use and easy-to-understand features and functions inside a minimalistic, well-designed dashboard. I had no problems navigating TotalAV’s dashboard, and I found it very simple to access and use all of the provided tools. If you’ve never used an antivirus before, TotalAV may just be your best option.

That said, TotalAV’s free Windows plan lacks vital features. The biggest drawback of TotalAV Free Antivirus is that it doesn’t have real-time protection, meaning you won’t get notified if a malicious file attempts to make changes to your PC in real time.

5. Malwarebytes Free — Minimalistic Virus Scanner

Malwarebytes Free is a good choice for users looking for a simple antivirus that they can install and forget about. Its virus scanner uses a virus database as well as heuristics to catch all types of malware. It performed pretty well in my tests, detecting around 90% of the malware files I hid on my PC. However, it did miss a few well-hidden files that competitors like Norton and Bitdefender detected.

Apart from the scanner, you also get a browser extension that protects against a wide range of threats, including malware, ads and trackers, scams, and PUPs. One of the things I like the most about this extension is that all of the protections are turned on by default, so there’s nothing for you to do (but you can easily turn off one or all of the protections).

Malwarebytes’s browser extension blocked most risky sites I tried to visit, scoring a 90% phishing detection rate. However, the extension wasn’t as accurate at blocking ads — I visited dozens of sites filled with ads, and Malwarebytes blocked only around a third of them.

Malwarebytes performs the basic function of detecting and removing malware efficiently — however, its free version lacks real-time protection, a crucial component for preventing malware intrusion in the first place. What’s more, features like Wi-Fi protection, a firewall, system tune-up tools, and a password manager aren’t available even in the premium plans. If you just need the basics, Malwarebytes is fine, but it’s pretty barebones compared to top competitors like Norton and Bitdefender.

For real-time protection, you can upgrade to Malwarebytes Premium, which provides coverage for up to 5 devices and starts at TRY1,200 / year. Malwarebytes Premium + Privacy also adds a decent VPN for TRY840 / year. Both of Malwarebytes’s premium plans are covered by a generous 60-day money-back guarantee. Additionally, Malwarebytes Free includes a 14-day free trial of Malwarebytes Premium, allowing you to test the paid features without any risk.

6. Avast One Essential — Effective Antivirus With Nice Privacy Tools

Avast One Essential is fairly comprehensive for a free Windows antivirus. It’s actually one of two free antiviruses offered by Avast — the other, Avast Free Antivirus, is basically identical to AVG’s free antivirus. Avast One Essential comes from the company’s newest product line and offers more free features, including a VPN and PC speedup tools. I found it easy to use and was pleased to see that it detected 100% of the malware samples I tested it on.

I like that it encourages users to review their overall online security via the Privacy Advisor. After I ran my first scan, the app automatically suggested I review my privacy settings on various websites and provided links and clear instructions on how to do so.

Avast One Essential comes with a built-in VPN, but it isn’t ideal. You can’t change servers on the free version, and the provider doesn’t have a no-logs policy. Still, it’s nice that it operates within the same app as the antivirus and lets you use up to 5 GB of data each week (which is more than the other free VPNs on this list).

There’s also a powerful firewall that monitors inbound and outbound traffic and blocks malicious connections. Other security features include effective web protections (it blocked almost every malicious site I visited) and Network Inspector, a tool that scans for vulnerabilities in your Wi-Fi connection. I did find the interface a bit cluttered though, and somewhat less intuitive than competitors like TotalAV.

7. Avira Free Security for Windows — Advanced Cloud-Based Malware Scanner With System Cleanup

Avira Free Security for Windows has a solid anti-malware engine and operates fully in the cloud. This makes Avira fast, lightweight, and easy on system resources. During my testing, Avira’s anti-malware engine detected all of the malware files I previously downloaded to my computer, and I liked that I was able to run CPU-intensive programs during scans with almost zero slowdown.

Avira is also user-friendly — its display is very easy to navigate with all features clearly listed. It comes with many excellent extra features too. These include:

• Safe Shopping browser extension.

• Privacy & performance optimizer.

• VPN (500 MB monthly limit).

• Password manager.

• Game booster.

• File shredder.

The Safe Shopping browser extension is really good — it blocks suspicious phishing sites, web trackers, and unwanted advertisements, and you can download it for Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and Edge. The extension also automatically recommends links to better deals when shopping online. I was actually able to find a lot of good deals, but it didn’t work 100% of the time (still pretty good though!).

I’m also a fan of Avira’s privacy and performance optimization tools — they cleaned out my cookies and junk files, and also fixed hidden privacy settings that were leaking personal information on the web. But unfortunately, Avira’s best optimization tools are locked behind a paywall.

8. Kaspersky Free — Good Range of Free Features

There’s currently no reason to suggest that Kaspersky poses a threat to home users. You can read more about our decision to keep Kaspersky on this list here.

Kaspersky Free is good at detecting and removing malware — like Norton and Bitdefender, it caught 100% of the malware samples on my PC when I tested it. And unlike TotalAV, Kaspersky’s free plan comes with real-time protection, which also performed well in my tests.

I really like Kaspersky’s display, which makes it easy to access various security scans and settings. Everything is clearly labeled, well-organized, and complemented by helpful tips.

It also comes with a few extras — including:

• VPN (300 MB daily limit).

• Password manager (5 entries limit).

• Data breach monitoring (only 1 account).

• Basic system cleanup tools.

• Virtual keyboard.

Kaspersky’s free VPN automatically connects to the closest server and offers 300 MB of data per day. While this is more daily data than Panda, it’s still not enough for streaming or other data-heavy tasks. And Kaspersky’s free password manager only saves a total of 5 entries — this includes both logins and sensitive documents (like credit cards or passport details). Norton‘s password manager is also free, but it allows you to store an unlimited number of passwords on an unlimited number of devices.

9. AVG AntiVirus Free — Solid Malware Scanner With File Protections

AVG offers a decent free antivirus that’s easy to use and has some nice features. It’s basically identical to Avast Free Antivirus — they’re owned by the same company and feature more or less the same underlying technology. It’s pretty distinct from Avast One Essential, though.

The virus scanner works well — it detected 100% of the malware samples on my PC. What’s more, you can run 5 types of scan. The Deep Scan worked quite well, but the quick-running Smart Scan missed a few items in my test. You can also scan specific folders and external devices or run a boot scan. There’s an option to run a performance scan to tune up your PC, but you can’t do anything with it on the free version.

AVG comes with several features that, though standard, will help protect your files. The File Shield successfully issued a warning when I tried to open up a malware-infected file. I then used the quarantine tool to prevent the files from doing any damage to the rest of my machine.

You get added protection from Behavior Shield, a tool that scans for malware that isn’t listed in databases. It actively scans apps for suspicious activity. If any is found, the program is automatically blocked.

10. ZoneAlarm — Effective Malware Scanner With a Free Firewall

ZoneAlarm offers a free and effective antivirus solution complete with a firewall. It’s easy enough to use and has good customer support options, even if you don’t have a premium subscription. It also comes with real-time protection and automatic updates, which is pretty cool. However, it’s Windows-only on all but the most expensive plan, and it lacks extra features like a VPN, optimization tools, and a password manager.

During my tests, ZoneAlarm detected all of the malicious files I downloaded onto my PC. The scan took about an hour and provided a report about the threats it neutralized — however it wasn’t nearly as detailed as I’d like it to be. The scan also slowed down my PC quite substantially. If you have an older device, you’re probably better off with a cloud-based tool like Bitdefender.

That said, the inclusion of a firewall on the free app is ZoneAlarm’s best feature. It offers inbound and outbound protection, ensuring your network remains safe from hackers and other threats. It worked well when I simulated a network attack. The free firewall is included with the antivirus and is also available as a standalone product.

Yes, You Already Have a Free Antivirus on Your PC, but It Isn’t Good Enough

Your Windows computer already comes with Windows Defender (some newer Windows 10 and 11 computers call it “Windows Security” or “Microsoft Defender”) — which, as we saw in our full review, is a decent free antivirus. But the problem with Windows Defender is that it’s rarely updated, it doesn’t include additional internet security protections, and it frequently has vulnerabilities that don’t get fixed (sometimes for several years!).

Plus, Windows Defender consistently ranks below the top antivirus scanners in our independent lab testing. That’s why I always recommend keeping your PC as safe as possible with third-party antivirus software.

All the free antiviruses listed here are better than Windows Defender. The free downloads on this list are from top-notch cybersecurity companies that are offering their premium antivirus protection for free. These are some of the top antivirus and anti-malware engines in the world — and our independent lab tests have confirmed that these antivirus engines are much stronger, faster, and better than Microsoft’s Windows Defender.

Some of the free programs on my list feature extra cybersecurity protections. Avira Free Security for Windows is particularly generous with its free offerings, but even Avira’s free plan has some annoying limitations that don’t exist on its paid plans.

In general, cybersecurity companies try to entice you with their free products, but they’re ultimately looking to convert you into a paying customer. If you’re looking for the best protection for all of your devices, you’ll need to pay for premium antivirus software. Unfortunately, there’s no way around this. However, if you’re just looking for a simple free malware scanner with a couple of decent web protections that can improve on Microsoft’s Defender, then any of the products on this list will be good enough for you.

Free Antivirus vs. Paid Antivirus

Free antiviruses like Bitdefender and Panda are pretty good, and they offer decent protection. But free antivirus software doesn’t come with all of the extra features needed for complete online protection — you’ll need a premium antivirus to stay 100% safe.

Premium antiviruses are way better, as they come with all of the internet security protections you need to stay as safe as possible online. And I’m not just talking about anti-malware protection here — extras like a VPN (to ensure you’re anonymous online), a password manager (to protect your sensitive data, including financial information), and parental controls (to make sure your child is protected on the internet) all contribute to complete cybersecurity protection.

Together with a malware scanner, these tools are crucial to building a good online defense against hackers, scammers, and predators — it’s incredibly difficult to achieve the same level of security only using free antivirus software.

Top antiviruses like Norton even offer up to $1 million in insurance coverage for cases of identity theft (US customers only), making it worth the relatively low yearly cost of a paid subscription.

What’s more, paid antiviruses also include better customer support, so you know you can get help removing malware, accessing a feature, or solving any other issue with your antivirus at all times. Free antiviruses, on the other hand, don’t include live chat and phone support, so the only way to get assistance is to read a knowledge base, post a question on a forum, or send a ticket.

Overall, if you want complete online protection, consider a paid antivirus (most of which are low cost, especially with our promotional coupons and discounts). You can read more about paid antiviruses for different operating systems here.

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Best Data Recovery Software in 2024

By admin January 6, 2024

Best Data Recovery Software in 2024, You don’t want to be caught off guard when you lose an important file. Instead, you want to have reliable data recovery software already installed on your system, and this article is here to help you pick the best solution for you.

Our Data Recovery Software Selection Criteria

Here are some of the critical aspects that delineate top data recovery software from the competition.

• Performance & Versatility: A common issue with a lot of these recovery apps is that the rescue tools support very limited file types. A recovery app becomes resourceful when it supports the restoration of a wide range of file types; so, you can confidently restore deleted photos, videos, music files, and other more specific file types, such as XLS, DOC, or PDF files. Another unpleasant realization is that most of your programs do not support the recovery of files from external storage devices such as external HDD, memory cards or USB flash drives. This is quite inconvenient as the major chunk of data loss these days occur on external or portable storage devices. We favored versatile data recovery software with high performance, supporting various file types, file systems, and recovery from external storage devices, while maintaining a high recovery rate.

• Scanning Speed: Time is something nobody has enough of these days. You can’t expect users to spend the whole day waiting for the scanning and recovering processes to finally get their hands on something urgent. Good-performing data recovery software generally has options for high-speed scanning. And some even come with customized scanning while targeting a specific file for recovery. We preferred data recovery software with fast scanning speeds, offering high-speed and customizable scans for targeted file recovery, thus saving time and increasing efficiency.

• File Preview & Recovery Chances: Another important feature is to preview files that have already been identified. Also, the recovered files need to be in their original quality. Reliable data recovery applications also display the recovery chances of each file. We gave preference to data recovery software with file previews, original quality preservation, and displayed recovery chances for informed decision-making.

• User-Friendly UI: There’s no use in having the world’s best data recovery app if it can only be operated by the team behind it. A simple interface and ease of use are essential to any app. A lot of recovery programs feature flashy icons and supposedly high-tech features that are rather useless. The end-user often only needs a well-defined interface that delivers the goods, period. We prioritized user-friendly data recovery software with a simple interface, removing flashy elements, for easy end-user operation.

Now that you know what makes an awesome recovery program, let’s move on to the ranking.

Top 10 Best Data Recovery Software

1. Disk Drill Data Recovery (Windows & Mac)

Disk Drill is one the best data recovery software for Windows and Mac because of its ability to effortlessly recover lost or deleted data from all internal and external storage devices, regardless of their file system.

✅

Pros:

• Supports hundreds of file formats

• Powerful recovery capabilities

• Lost partition search

• Data protection and backup features

• Intuitive user interface

• Recovers up to 500 MB of data for free (Windows)

• Ability to mount scan results as a folder

❗️

Cons:

• No phone support

• Average scan speed

• Limited support for Linux file systems

Download Disk Drill

User Experience

Developed by the data recovery experts at CleverFiles, Disk Drill is the best choice for professional and casual home users alike, providing an exceptionally polished experience and best-in-class data recovery results. The latest version of the software can recover data in more than 400 file formats from a variety of storage devices and file systems using its advanced scanning algorithms.

Data recovery with Disk Drill is an intuitive process that doesn’t require any expert knowledge. You can filter scan results to find a specific file and preview it before recovery directly inside Disk Drill. If you need to shut down your computer, you can simply pause the scan and resume it later.

The free version of Disk Drill can recover up to 500 MB of data (on Windows), and it provides enhanced data protection with its Recovery Vault and Drive backup features (which makes Disk Drill a backup and recovery tool at the same time). Both of these features are just as easy to use as the data recovery portion of Disk Drill because they share the same polished user interface. Another important aspect of Disk Drill is its ability to recover data with original file names and folder structure.

Users who would like to enjoy unlimited data recovery can upgrade to Disk Drill PRO for just $89.00 and activate it on up to 3 computers. Lifetime upgrades can be purchased for $29 to reliably recover data even on future versions of Windows and macOS.

On top of that, when you buy Disk Drill you actually get two for one. For example, your purchase of Disk Drill PRO for Windows automatically gets you a version for macOS.

Despite the word PRO in its name, the paid version of Disk Drill is just as easy to use as the free one, so even inexperienced home users with no expert knowledge shouldn’t feel intimidated by it.

🔗

If you’re interested in using Disk Drill, check out our full review to learn about its features and performance. We also conducted an analysis of its safety and security, which you can find on our website.

Versions / Licensing:

• Disk Drill Basic: Free

• Disk Drill Pro: $89

• Disk Drill Enterprise: $499

System requirements: Windows 7 SP1+, 44 MB of storage space / Mac OS X 10.8.5+, 22 MB of storage space

Supported languages: English, Arabic, German, Spanish, French, Turkish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Dutch, Polish, Brazilian, Portuguese, European Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Chinese, Hindi

Supported file systems: NTFS, NTFS5, FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, EXT3/EXT4, HFS, HFS+, APFS

2. R-Studio (Windows, Mac, and Linux)

This comprehensive data recovery software solution is geared toward more experienced users who are able to appreciate its extensive options and powerful features.

✅

Pros:

• Advanced features for data recovery professionals

• Available as a bootable ISO image

• Disk sanitization feature

❗️

Cons:

• Not suitable for non-technical users

• Doesn’t display results during scan

• Can preview only a few file formats

Download R-Studio

User Experience

Whereas most data recovery products on the market target regular home users, R-Studio is intended primarily for professionals who already understand the ins and outs of data recovery. It provides support for all commonly used file systems and partition layout schemes and handles even damaged or deleted partitions.

Instead of guiding users through the recovery process step by step, R-Studio gives them the freedom to start multiple data recovery jobs at the same time in separate tabs. Recovered files can be sorted by their extensions, creation time, modification time, access time, and other parameters. You can preview many supported file types or view files using the built-in hex editor to assess their integrity or perform partial recovery.

When buying R-Studio, make sure you get the right version. The least expensive version of R-Studio ($49.99) can recover data only from the FAT, exFAT, and Ext2/3/4 file systems. To also recover data from NTFS, ReFS, HFS+, APFS, HFS, and UFS, you need to purchase the $79.99 version.

System requirements: Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP/2000 or Windows Server 2019/2016/2012/2008/2003 / Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard or newer / Any kernel 2.6+ Linux distribution capable of installing .rpm or .deb packages

Supported languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Portuguese, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, and Japanese

Supported file systems: NTFS/ReFS, FAT/exFAT, Ext2/Ext3/Ext4, HFS+/APFS/ HFS/UFS

3. PhotoRec (Windows, Mac, and Linux)

PhotoRec has powerful file recovery capabilities and support for a wide range of platforms. Whether it’s a digital camera or a traditional hard drive, PhotoRec has you covered as long as you’re able to figure out how to use it.

✅

Pros:

• Compatible with all major operating systems

• Recovers about 300 file families

• Support for many file systems

❗️

Cons:

• Intimidating for beginners

• All files are automatically recovered during scan

• Unable to restore file names and folder structure

Download PhotoRec

User Experience

Judging by its name, you might think that PhotoRec can recover only image file formats, but that’s not the case at all. In reality, this open-source data recovery software can recover more than 480 file extensions (about 300 file families) from hard drives, memory cards, CD-ROMs, USB flash drives, and other storage devices.

PhotoRec is known for scaring inexperienced users away with its text-only user interface, but we found the data recovery process to be reasonably self-explanatory. Sure, beginners could benefit from even more handholding, but that’s what the official documentation is intended for.

In terms of performance, PhotoRec can measure up to many paid data recovery software applications. It uses a non-destructive data recovery method, which prevents it from writing to the same storage device the user is about to recover from. In certain cases, PhotoRec can successfully recover even fragmented files scattered all over the place.

Versions / Licensing: Free and open-source

System requirements: Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP, Windows Server 2016/2012/2008/2003 / Any recent version of macOS / Linux kernel 2.6.18 or later

Supported languages: English, Catalan, Chinese, Czech, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish

Supported file systems: FAT, NTFS, exFAT, ext2/ext3/ext4 filesystem, HFS

4. Recuva (Windows)

Recuva is a small freeware program you can use to recover pictures, music, documents, videos, or any other types of files on your hard drive, memory cards, floppy disks, iPod or MP3 player, or USB sticks.

✅

Pros:

• Low price

• Free version available

• Preview screen

❗️

Cons:

• Can’t recover as many files as high-priced rivals

• The interface is rather outdated

• Limited support of restoring the original folder trees and file names

Download Recuva

User Experience

We like Recuva for its low cost, its clear interface, and its ease of use, but it only recovered two-thirds of the deleted files on my test drive, and that kind of performance may not be good enough in a crisis. The reason why Recuva performs poorly compared with the top 3 listed in this article is simple: it doesn’t support many file formats.

The lackluster file format support may not matter to you if all you want to do is recover files saved in a format that is supported by Recuva. What will matter to you, in either case, is the tool’s usability, which is rather good thanks to its clean interface design and integrated preview screen.

It’s clear, however, that Recuva’s user interface comes from the Windows XP era (Recuva was released during the transition period from Windows XP to Windows Vista). The latest major Rucuva update (v1.53) was released in 2016, and the software has received only minor improvements since then. Fortunately, it still works fine on all recent versions of Windows.

Versions / Licensing:

• Recuva Free: $0

• Recuva Pro: $19.95

System requirements: Windows 10, 8.1, 7, Vista, and XP

Supported languages: Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Azeri (Latin), Bosnian, Brazilian Portuguese (Portugues do Brasil), Bulgarian, Catalan (Catala), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Croatian, Czech (Ceský), Danish, Dutch (Nederlands), English, Estonian, Finnish (Suomi), French (Français), Georgian, German (Deutsch), Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian (Magyar), Italian (Italiano), Japanese, Lithuanian (Lietuviu), Norwegian, Polish (Polski), Romanian (Romana), Russian, Serbian (Cyrillic), Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish (Espanol), Swedish (Svenska), Turkish (Türkçe), Ukrainian, Vietnamese.

Supported file systems: FAT, exFAT, and NTFS

5. Data Rescue (Windows & Mac)

Simplicity is what Data Rescue is all about, but its steep price makes it prohibitively expensive for most home users, the demographic that would ironically most appreciate its clean and simple user interface.

✅

Pros:

• Clean and simple interface

• Can duplicate a potentially failing drive onto a healthy drive

• Automatically determines a set of RAID configurations

❗️

Cons:

• Unnecessarily complicated multi-step recovery process

• Expensive

Download Data Rescue 6

User Experience

Data Rescue is a somewhat confusing data recovery software application because its clean and simple user interface (the main screen features just three large buttons with colorful icons and detailed descriptions) suggests that its target are regular home users, but its steep price tag and website tell a completely different story.

A single license (which can be used by one user on an unlimited number of systems) costs $399.00 a year. That’s more than twice as much compared with what most other competing data recovery software applications charge for a lifetime license.

If you can afford to pay such a large amount of money for Data Rescue, you can look forward to fast scan and recovery speeds, improved RAID recovery, and additional disk tools for byte-to-byte disk copies and secure file deletion.

Versions / Licensing:

• Data Rescue 6 Demo: Free

• Data Rescue 6 Standard: starts at $19 (pay for the files you want to recover)

• Data Rescue 6 Pro: $399 per year

System requirements: Windows 7 or later or macOS 10.12 or later, secondary storage location, internet connection

Supported languages: English

Supported file systems: FAT, FAT32, exFAT, ext2, ext3, HFS+, APFS, and NTFS

6. Wondershare Recoverit (Windows & Mac)

One of the best data recovery programs in its price range, Wondershare works flawlessly with a wide range of storage devices, including camcorders, hard drives, memory sticks, and USB flash drives.

✅

Pros:

• Supports many file formats

• Sleek design and great usability

• Compatible with Windows and Mac files systems

❗️

Cons:

• Can recover only up to 100 MB of data

• Preview feature limited to a handful of file formats

• Many duplicates in scan results

Download Wondershare Recoverit

User Experience

The company behind this data recovery software has been around for many years, and it has successfully earned the trust of millions of home users and many large companies. Recoverit is its flagship data recovery product, and it boasts support for over 1,000 file formats and all commonly used file systems, including NTFS, FAT, HFS+, and APFS.

Just like all other software applications from Wondershare, Recoverit is really easy to use, and we had to go through just three simple steps to recover our files. During the last step, we were able to preview recovered files before retrieving them with a single click.

The only problem is that the free version of Wondershare Recoverit can recover only up to 100 MB of data. That’s not much considering that a single high-resolution picture taken with a modern smartphone can easily have around 5 MB.

Versions / Licensing:

• Wondershare Recoverit Essential: $59.95 a year

• Wondershare Recoverit Standard: $69.95 a year

• Wondershare Recoverit Advanced: $79.95 a year

System requirements: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP (either 32-bit or 64-bit) or Windows Server 2016, 2012, 2008, 2003 / macOS 10.9- 10.15

Supported languages: English, Japanese, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Dutch, Korean

Supported file systems: NTFS, FAT32, FAT16, exFAT, APFS, encrypted APFS, HFS+, encrypted HFS, HFSX

7. DiskGenius (Windows)

DiskGenius is an all-in-one data recovery and partition management solution aimed at professional and home users alike. You can use it to solve many unpleasant disk problems and try it for free before spending money on one of the two paid versions.

✅

Pros:

• Combines data recovery and partition management

• Is able to virtualize Windows into a VMware virtual machine

• Disk cloning functionality

• 30-day money-back guarantee

• Free version available

❗️

Cons:

• Doesn’t have the most intuitive user interface

• Jack of all trades but master of none

Download DiskGenius

User Experience

Partition and data loss issues often go hand-in-hand, which is why the people behind DiskGenius decided to create an all-in-one data recovery and partition management solution that lets you recover lost data from deletion, formatting, RAW drive, partition loss, OS crash, and many other data loss situations.

While the user interface of DiskGenius is nothing to write home about, the actual data recovery process is simple and boils down to just three steps. First, you select a partition or drive, then you scan for lost data, and, finally, you preview all listed files and select those that you want to get back.

DiskGenius comes with several extra features that even several times more expensive products don’t include, such as the ability to recover data directly from VMware, Virtual Box, or Microsoft Virtual PC images. It also includes a hex editor that facilitates the analysis of raw disk data, but it’s unlikely that regular users would ever take advantage of this feature.

System requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10, Small Business Server 2011/2003/2008, Windows home server 2011, and Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016 (both 32bit and 64bit)

Supported languages: English, Japanese

Supported file systems: NTFS, FAT32, FAT16, exFAT, EXT2, EXT3, and EXT4

8. Stellar Data Recovery (Windows & Mac)

Stellar Data Recovery is a professional-grade data recovery software for Windows and Mac that can deal with completely crashed and unbootable systems that many lesser applications of its kind would deem unrecoverable.

✅

Pros:

• Support for a wide range of storage devices

• Easy to use

• Useful preview feature

❗️

Cons:

• Relatively expensive

• Slow scan and recovery speed

• Glitchy store device selection

Download Stellar Data Recovery

User Experience

Previously known as Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery, this data recovery software supports NTFS, exFAT, and FAT (FAT16/FAT32) formatted hard drives, SSDs, USB flash drives, memory cards (including SD cards, MicroSD cards, CF cards, etc.), and other commonly used storage devices.

You can choose from two different versions intended for professional usage: Professional ($79.99 for one year or $99 for a lifetime license) and Premium ($99.99 for one year or $149 for a lifetime license). The former version is slightly cheaper because it doesn’t include any video or photo recovery capabilities.

Except for the missing recovery features, the two versions are identical and equally easy to use. Recovered files can be sorted according to their type or displayed in a tree view, which is useful for locating a specific folder.

System requirements: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista & XP / macOS Catalina 10.15, Mojave 10.14, High Sierra 10.13, 10.12, 10.11, 10.10, 10.9, 10.8 & 10.7

Supported languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish

Supported file systems: NTFS, exFAT, FAT(FAT16/FAT32), HFS, HFS+, ext2, ext3, ext4

9. TestDisk (Windows, Mac, and Linux)

Designed to recover lost partitions and make non-booting disks bootable again, TestDisk is an excellent solution to many desperate data loss scenarios, but its text-only user interface puts it out of the reach of many users.

✅

Pros:

• Capable of recovering many different filesystems and partition schemes

• Broad operating system support

• Free and open source

❗️

Cons:

• Lacks an intuitive graphical user interface – command-line only

• Repairs damaged partitions and file systems but not files

Download TestDisk

User Experience

If you’ve accidentally and permanently deleted an important file, and you desperately want to get it back, TestDisk isn’t the right choice. This open-source data recovery application doesn’t focus on individual files but entire file systems and partitions. It can fix partition tables, repair boot sectors, and do many other things to restore access to lost files.

It’s true that TestDisk can undelete files from FAT, exFAT, NTFS, and xt2/ext3/ext4 file systems, but this functionality is tucked away inside the advanced menu, where most regular users never go. Besides, recovering individual files with TestDisk is extremely cumbersome because you can’t preview files before recovery.

But despite its shortcomings, such as the lack of an intuitive graphical user interface, TestDisk remains one of the best data recovery software solutions for Windows, Mac, Linux, and several other operating systems.

Versions / Licensing: Free and open-source

System requirements: Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP, Windows Server 2016/2012/2008/2003 / Any recent version of macOS / Linux kernel 2.6.18 or later

Supported languages: English, Catalan, Chinese, Czech, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish

Supported file systems: FAT, exFAT, NTFS, and xt2/ext3/ext4

10. EaseUS Data Recovery (Windows & Mac)

EaseUS has managed to garner a great deal of positive feedback across a wide spectrum of users, and our experience with its data recovery features has been similarly positive, which is why it deserves a place on this list.

✅

Pros:

• Reliable data recovery performance

• Lets users sort and filter deleted files

• Makes data recovery accessible to anyone

❗️

Cons:

• Includes unrecoverable files alongside recoverable files

• Previews only files that are smaller than 100 MB

• Doesn’t accurately display remaining scan time

Download EaseUS Data Recovery

User Experience

EaseUS Data Recovery is a tried and tested data recovery software for Windows and Mac. Its developers have successfully made the complicated process of data recovery simple and accessible to anyone. There are no menus with multiple layers and options that require a lengthy manual to decipher what they mean.

When you begin data recovery with this software application, you’re first asked to select a location to scan, such as your hard drive or USB flash drive. You can also select a specific folder, including the Recycle Bin. Then, you simply click the Scan button and wait for EaseUS Data Recovery to find your files.

If your budget is tight, you can purchase EaseUS Data Recovery for just one month. However, we recommend you get a lifetime license for $149.95 to enjoy unlimited free upgrades.

System requirements: Windows 2000 or newer / macOS 10.15 ~ 10.9

Supported languages: English, German, Japanese, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Swedish, Danish, Korean, Russian, Norwegian, Polish, Hungarian, Arabic, Turkish, Indonesian

Supported file systems: FAT (FAT12, FAT16, FAT32), exFAT, NTFS, NTFS5, ext2/ext3, HFS+, ReFS

Honorable Mentions

Are you still hungry for more data recovery software? Then take a look at our selection of try-worthy applications that didn’t make it into the top 10.

• Windows File Recovery: Developed by Microsoft for its Windows operating system, Windows File Recovery, is a command-line tool capable of recovering permanently deleted files that are no longer present in the Recycle Bin. We just wish it delivered better recovery results and came with an optional graphical user interface.

• MiniTool Power Data Recovery: If you can live with an outdated user interface and a limited set of features, then the free version of MiniTool Power Data Recovery deserves a download from you since it works well in all kinds of data loss situations.

• Undelete 360: Last updated in 2017 for Windows 7, Undelete 360 is an outdated data recovery application that has yet to become obsolete. You can use it to recover all Windows-supported storage devices with a few simple clicks, and it even lets you preview files before recovery.

• Wise Data Recovery: If you want to recover data from an older version of Windows, then Wise Data Recovery is a solid choice. Just keep in mind that you may experience serious issues when using it on Windows 10 and newer.

• SysTools Data Recovery Software: The long list of features and the highly technical language the official website of this data recovery software uses to describe them should be enough to tell you that this isn’t the most user-friendly software in the world.

• Remo Data Recovery Software: Because of how dependable Remo Data Recovery Software is, it has received many positive reviews from professional reviewers and real users alike. We just with the Windows application was more polished.

• Zero Assumption Recovery: Also referred to as ZAR Data Recovery, this Windows software supports Windows FAT, NTFS, Linux ext/2/3/4, and XFS file systems, and you can download it free of charge from its official website.

• TogetherShare Data Recovery Pro: You can try the full version of TogetherShare Data Recovery Pro without risking anything thanks to the 30-day money-back guarantee. The last version of the software even supports Windows 11.

• Lazesoft Windows Data Recovery: What’s great about Lazesoft Windows Data Recovery is the free price tag. What’s not so great is its terribly outdated user interface and limited file system and file format support.

• iBoysoft Data Recovery: iBoysoft Data Recovery doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking in terms of features, design, and performance, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you’re looking for an instantly recognizable alternative to established data recovery solutions, then this software is worth looking into.

• GetDataBack Pro: Developed by Runtime Software, GetDataBack Pro excels in the HDD data recovery department but could use improvements in terms of being a more well-rounded and user-friendly program. Despite not being as popular as other data recovery software, it is a suitable choice for intermediate and expert PC users looking for a powerful recovery tool.

• Ontrack EasyRecovery: As a rebranded version of Stellar Data Recovery, Ontrack EasyRecovery offers similar performance, and its free version allows you to recover up to 1 GB of data without paying. Although not among the best data recovery apps, it supports all major file types and is cross-platform, making it a versatile option that’s worth trying. The biggest downside is its expensive annual subscription, which can be a deal-breaker for some users.

• DMDE: Featuring an expansive set of features aimed towards professional users, DMDE stands out for its broad operating system support, even dating back to Windows 98. But despite its technical prowess, DMDE’s complexity can be overwhelming for beginners, with an unintuitive scanning process and complex scanning results.

• AnyRecover Data Recovery: By striking a balance between user-friendliness and data recovery capabilities, AnyRecover Data Recovery positions itself as an attractive alternative to the leading data recovery software applications. If only it didn’t fall short in recovering data from some file systems during deep scans and offered more extra features, it could have made it into our top 10 list.

• Tenorshare 4DDiG: This app’s user-friendly interface makes data recovery a breeze, so it’s a solid choice for regular home users who find complicated software intimidating. Just know that Tenorshare’s ease of use outweighs its data recovery capabilities, especially when it comes to recovering files with their original names intact.

• Cisdem Data Recovery: Though it’s a clone of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, Cisdem deserves the attention of anyone seeking a well-rounded data recovery solution. With fast scan times, a user-friendly interface, and excellent support for various file formats, it makes for an accessible tool for users at all levels of tech-savvy. However, its lifetime license is quite pricey, costing $149.95, and the monthly subscription ($69.95/month) can quickly end up being even more expensive.

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Software

Best Data Recovery Software for Mac 2024

By admin January 4, 2024

Best Data Recovery Software for Mac 2024, Macs are beloved for their sleek design and high-tech capabilities, particularly among creatives across various fields. Yet, like any other computer, they are not immune to data loss, a situation that can be incredibly distressing for users.

To address this concern, we have delved into the world of data recovery software tailored for Mac. In this article, you’ll find insights that will guide you in selecting the ideal solution to restore your valuable data, ensuring you’re well-prepared for any unforeseen data loss scenarios.

Key Criteria for Selecting Mac Data Recovery Software

There are many data recovery solutions from which to choose when data loss strikes your Mac. Several factors may influence which one you choose to use to recover your lost data. Here are some things to consider when naming your selection.

• Functionality: The most important aspect of recovery software is its ability to get your lost files back. You should choose a flexible solution that allows you to recover data from multiple types of storage devices and restore the file types that interest you.

• Ease-of-use: You will likely use data recovery software under less than optimal conditions. Losing data is stressful and you don’t need to increase the tension by using software that requires you to use arcane commands. Look for a tool that makes it easy for you to recover your lost files and folders.

• Reliability: You may only have one chance to recover your lost data so you want to use a tool created by reliable developers. It’s a good idea to check out some reviews of the products under consideration to see which ones have a proven track record of success with high recovery rates.

• Price: There is a wide range in the pricing of Mac data recovery solutions. You can obtain freeware solutions or commercial applications. In most cases, a paid/freemium solution will offer more functionality and ease of use than free alternatives.

In order for you to gain a better understanding of the situation in the Mac data recovery software market, we have prepared a diagram with interesting statistics for you.

The data for this chart was sourced from Google Ads and represents the average number of monthly searches in English worldwide. We combined various instances of writing the names of the same software (e.g., “easeus data recovery mac”, “easeus data recovery wizard for mac”, “easeus for mac”).

Stellar Data Recovery has restricted access to similar data in Google Ads for their brand. According to third-party services, the popularity of the brand (query) “Stellar Data Recovery (for) Mac” is approximately 500 queries per month. While R-Studio for Mac has numerous monthly searches, we did not include them all, as “R-Studio for Mac” can also refer to RStudio, an integrated development environment (IDE) for the R programming language, not just data recovery software.

Top 10 Best Data Recovery Software for Mac

So, here’s an overview of ten of the best data recovery software solutions for Mac. We’ve included paid, freemium, and freeware data recovery applications for your Mac or MacBook.

1. Disk Drill for Mac

Disk Drill is a comprehensive data recovery tool that makes it easy for anyone to restore accidentally deleted files and folders.

Pros:

• Intuitive and user-friendly interface

• Runs natively on M1/M2 devices

• Simple yet effective recovery procedure

• Scan results can be mounted as a virtual disk

• Recovers all lost or deleted files, even from an emptied Trash

• Advanced scanning algorithms

• Support for over 400 filetypes

• Market-leading RAW file scanner

Cons:

• No phone support

• The free version only provides file previews

Download Disk Drill

User Experience

Disk Drill simplifies the data recovery process, making it easy for anyone to recover their lost and deleted data. With just a few clicks, you can select the disk for recovery and start scanning the device for recoverable files and folders. Quick or deep scans can be employed to control the recovery and locate the maximum number of items to be restored.

Effective filters help control the scanning and recovery process by allowing you to focus on the files that matter. Scans can be paused and resumed at any time to make it more convenient to recover your lost data. When the scan is complete, the results can be mounted as a virtual disk, streamlining the recovery process.

The inclusion of the free data protection tools Recovery Vault and Guaranteed Recovery helps you keep your valuable information safe and furnish a simplified recovery method if you accidentally deleted a protected file. The tool is a comprehensive data recovery and protection solution that keeps your files and folders secure.

Free limits: You can preview all recoverable files with the free version of Disk Drill.

Price: $89.00

OS version: Disk Drill supports all versions of the Mac operating system from macOS X 10.5 to macOS Ventura.

2. R-Studio for Mac

This product was developed for data recovery professionals and includes many features that are not usually required for individual use.

Pros:

• Windows Explorer type interface

• Can repair damaged RAID arrays

• S.M.A.R.T. disk monitoring tools

• Recover any file type from any disk-based storage device

Cons:

• Designed for professionals and may be too complicated for average users

• Features can be hard to locate

Download R-Studio

User Experience

R-Studio is a full-featured recovery application that is suitable for professional use. It has an impressive number of features that, in some cases, may over-complicate the recovery process for inexperienced users. The advanced capabilities of the tool include the ability to repair damaged RAID implementations and perform network data recovery. Excellent documentation is available that covers all types of data recovery situations.

You can preview recoverable files with the demo version before making a financial commitment and the application provides a wealth of advanced features. At times, it can be hard to locate specific features in the tool’s interface. It’s worth the effort if you need access to its hexadecimal editor or disk copy module. R-Studio provides an excellent recovery application tailored to the needs of professionals and advanced computer users.

Free limits: File preview of recoverable files is available for free.

Price: $79.99 for the basic version

OS version: macOS X 10.5 through macOS 12 Monterey.

3. iBoysoft Data Recovery for Mac

iBoysoft Data Recovery is a versatile recovery tool for Mac that lets you get back lost and deleted files from a wide variety of storage devices. The application can help you address a Mac that won’t boot or recover files lost from an emptied Trash bin. You can also obtain a version of the software for the Windows platform.

Pros:

• Free 1 GB data recovery

• Compatible with M1 and T2 Macs

• Quick and Deep scans for optimal recovery results

• Free scan and preview of recoverable files

• Scan results can be saved and reloaded

Cons:

• The license model is expensive

Download iBoysoft Data Recovery

User Experience

Recovering data with iBoysoft is simple enough that any Mac user can perform the activity. The software uses a three-step process that scans a device, previews recoverable data, and lets you choose which files you want to recover. A free download lets users recover 1 GB while they test-drive the product.

The tool supports over 1000 different file types and can recover just about any type of data deleted from your Mac. Virtually all disk-based storage devices are supported including SD cards and external USB drives. This software solution can help users recover from multiple data loss scenarios including formatted disks and emptied Trash bins. It offers a simple tool with professional-grade recovery functionality.

Free limits: 1 GB free recovery with the free version of the tool.

Price: A monthly license is $89.95 and a yearly license is $99.95

OS version: macOS all versions, including macOS 13 Ventura.

4. Data Rescue for Mac

Data Rescue 6 is a paid data recovery solution for Mac that supports the newest versions of macOS and machines running the M1/M2 chip.

Pros:

• View previous scan results

• Clone drives to avoid hardware failures

• Quick and deep scan options

• A secure erase tool to protect sensitive data

• A single license provides Mac and Windows support

Cons:

• No phone support is offered

• A professional license is expensive

Download Data Rescue

User Experience

Data Rescue 6 for Mac is a commercial data recovery tool that enables new users to preview recoverable files and folders for free. The solution supports the recovery of hundreds of file formats including all popular types found on your Mac. Users can recover data from all types of disk-based storage devices including internal drives, SD cards, and external disks.

You can clone your hard drive with the software to protect valuable data from hardware failure. Quick and deep scanning options let you control recovery and help locate hard-to-find items. Users can store up to 15 scans for historical comparison. Data Rescue 6 also provides virtual RAID support to assist with recovering data from a failing RAID configuration.

Free limits: Scan and preview recoverable files.

Price: Standard license $79/Professional license $399

OS version: macOS 10.12 through macOS 13 Ventura.

5. PhotoRec for Mac

This freeware recovery tool is compatible with all versions of Mac operating systems and provides a command-line user interface.

Pros:

• Free and unlimited recovery

• Support for Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems

• Wide-ranging filesystem support

• Supports recovery of many different filetypes

Cons:

• Command-line interface

• Files are recovered with generic names and need to be renamed

Download PhotoRec

User Experience

Users who are not intimidated by a command-line interface will find PhotoRec to be a valuable piece of freeware. It supports all versions of the Mac operating system as well as Windows and Linux systems. The tool supports an impressive array of file types and filesystems, making it ideal for a variety of data recovery scenarios.

The menu-driven, command-line interface does require some knowledge of the underlying system that more intuitive applications keep hidden from users. This can make the tool hard to operate for inexperienced computer users. Another drawback of this tool is that files are recovered with generic names, forcing users to review and rename them after recovery is completed.

Free limits: unlimited free recovery.

Price: Freeware

OS version: all latest versions of macOS are supported.

6. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard for Mac

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard provides user-friendly file recovery software for Mac systems.

Pros:

• The tool provides users with an extensive knowledge base to assist their recovery efforts.

• An easy-to-use and intuitive interface makes it possible for anyone to successfully recover lost data.

• This MacBook recovery software produces good recovery results.

Cons:

• The tool can be slow when recovering large files.

• Lack of data protection tools.

Download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard

User Experience

Recovering files with EaseUS is a simple process that anyone can perform with a few clicks. Select the device to be scanned and the tool will return a list of recoverable data that it can restore. The results can be filtered in multiple ways to make it easier to find the specific files that interest you.

The tool can be a little slower than other paid solutions which could be an issue when recovering a large amount of data. While this may be annoying to some users, the recovery results themselves were very good. A little patience may be required when using this too, but in the end, you should be satisfied with the recovery results.

Free limits: The free tool can preview recoverable files on Mac and restore up to 2 GB of data.

Price: $89.95

OS version: Supports all versions of the macOS operating system.

7. Wondershare Recoverit for Mac

Pros:

• Supports recovery of over 1000 file types

• Supports over 2000 types of storage devices

• 95% successful recovery rate

• Quick and deep scan options

• Repairs corrupted videos

Cons:

• Limited free recovery

• An expensive yearly license is required

Download Wondershare Recoverit

User Experience:

Wondershare Recoverit is a commercial data recovery solution for Mac that supports a wide variety of storage devices and file formats. The tool features a simple user interface that makes it easy for anyone to recover accidentally lost and deleted data. Just a few clicks and you can start recovering lost files and folders.

Recoverit offers users a quick and deep scan option. Usually, it’s best to try a quick scan first and reserve the deep scan for when your files can’t be found. Deep scan performs a signature-based search that may be necessary to recover from drive corruption of formatting. This tool can also repair corrupted videos in various formats including MOV, ACI, and MP4.

Free limits: Free recovery of up to 100MB.

Price: Individual $79.99-$139.99 per year.

OS version: macOS 10.10 through macOS 13 Ventura.

8. Stellar Data Recovery for Mac

Stellar Data Recovery provides a complete macOS data recovery software solution that can recover lost files due to accidental deletion, formatting, or drive corruption.

Pros:

• This Mac recovery software can be used to retrieve files from virtually any portable disk-based storage device that you can connect to your machine.

• Any file extension is potentially recoverable when using this software.

• A nice online guide helps inexperienced users recover their lost data.

• The software can be used to repair corrupted video and image files.

Cons:

• Your Mac needs 8GB of RAM to fully utilize this tool’s features.

• Repairing corrupted images or video files requires the premium version of the tool.

Download Stellar Data Recovery

User Experience

This file recovery software is easy to use and provides advanced functionality that can help recover long-lost files. It’s designed to recover lost files for all users from novices to experienced Mac owners. The tool supports all major file formats and can recover data on virtually any type of disk-based device.

The personal version of the tool is most suitable for recovering internal system files. If you want to recover lost files from USB drives or other storage devices, you should look into the premium versions of this recovery software. The premium tool also can repair corrupt videos and photos. All in all, this file recovery software solution for macOS provides a satisfactory data recovery experience.

Free limits: The free tool can preview recoverable files on Mac and restore up to 1 GB of data.

Price: $79.99 for the personal version, $99.99 premium version, and $149 for the technician version of this macOS data recovery software.

OS version: Supports all versions of the macOS operating system.

9. Mac Free Any Data Recovery

This file recovery software for Mac is an all-purpose tool that retrieves lost data in many different situations.

Pros:

• A 90-day money-back guarantee protects your investment.

• The tool offers free lifetime upgrades.

• Advanced search options are included to make it easy to locate lost files.

• Multi-language 24/7 customer support is provided to resolve issues with the software.

Cons:

• The trial version is only equipped to perform quick scans which may not locate lost data.

• The user interface is not as streamlined as other paid solutions.

Download Mac Free Any Data Recovery

User Experience

The user interface of this Mac recovery software is a little harder to navigate than some competing products. This can make it hard for new users to locate some of its features so they can efficiently recover their lost data. Once users get comfortable with the interface the tool is not difficult to use.

Many different types of files can be recovered with this tool including video and audio formats not found in some other solutions. The recovery performance is good, and files are recovered reasonably quickly. You can use this solution to recover files from your internal hard drive as well as from all types of disk-based storage devices.

Free lifetime updates and a 90-day money-back guarantee are very nice features of this software solution. One potential issue is that payment is conducted through a third-party processor which may discourage some users from purchasing the tool.

Free limits: The trial version of this Mac recovery software can be used to restore up to 2 GB of data.

Price: $59.99 for one computer, $119.99 for unlimited computers.

OS version: Supports all versions of the macOS operating system.

10. DiskWarrior

Pros:

• SMART monitoring to display drive health

• Developed specially for Mac operating systems

• Multiple support options including email and phone

• Patented preview feature to view repaired files before changes are made

Cons:

• Not suitable for individual file recovery

• No free trial is offered

• It does not support Apple File System (APFS) disks

Download DiskWarrior

User Experience:

Disk Warrior is a tool designed to prevent and resolve directory damage to your Mac that can lead to inconsistent performance and instability. The solution rebuilds a disk by recovering data from the original directory. The new directory is optimized for improved performance.

DiskWarrior focuses exclusively on creating error-free directories to recover lost files and prevent disk errors. The tool supports SMART monitoring and can be configured to automatically check drive health so you can address issues before being faced with a hardware failure. DiskWarrior ships on a flash drive that can be used to rebuild the directory of your Mac’s startup disk.

Free limits: No free trial available

Price: $119.95 plus shipping for the included flash drive

OS version: OS X 10.8 – macOS 13 Ventura

Honorable Mentions

We chose to exclude the following software solutions from our list of reliable data recovery tools. While they may work for you, we suggest that you stick to our recommended products for the best recovery results.

• M3 Data Recovery – iBoysoft was previously a white label clone of M3 recovery software. Recently, M3 has become an affiliate of iBoysoft and iBoysoft has now replaced it as the name brand of this recovery solution.

• Ontrack – We did not include this solution on our list of recovery products since it appears to just be a clone of Stellar data recovery. It may also be a dead project that will not offer updates in the future.

• Minitool – The Mac version of Minitool has become Stellar Data Recovery which is why we did not include it as a recommended product. We recommend you go directly for Stellar’s solution if you want to try this recovery tool.

• Recuva for Mac – There is no Recuva for Mac. Clicking on the download link for this product gives you a DMG file that contains the Wondershare data recovery tool. We tend to stay away from applications that use this kind of misleading advertising. The original Recuva is only available on Windows.

• iCare Recovery Data Recovery – When you try to download the iCare Data Recovery solution, you are redirected to Stellar data recovery software. We suggest if you want Stellar, you should go directly to their site rather than using a clone product.

• Safe365 Data Recovery – This program appears to be a clone of EaseUS data recovery software. While it has serviceable data recovery capabilities, you should stick with the original EaseUS product rather than this copy.

• Magoshare Data Recovery Enterprise – If the user interface of this tool looks familiar, it is because this solution is a white label clone of EaseUS data recovery software.

• Card Rescue – You might only get one shot at recovering your lost files. We found the recovery capabilities of this tool lacking as it did not do a good job of getting our files back and are not recommending it to our readers.

• iSkysoft data recovery – We chose not to include iSkysoft because it is simply a clone of Wondershare RecoverIt. In all cases, we prefer to use the original product instead of a renamed clone.

• Softtote – Softtote is a paid tool that offers 1GB of free recovery. The solution provides limited support for new versions of macOS. The tool only supports a limited number of file formats which may make it unsuitable for your recovery situation. The free version of the tool lets you recover as many BMP, JPG, PNG, TIF, or MP3 files as you wish.

• Lazesoft Mac Data Recovery – Lazesoft Mac Data Recovery is a free tool that has not been updated since 2014. You may experience issues when using the tool on modern operating systems. You should exercise caution if you are attempting to recover valuable data. Users can recover lost data from an iPod with this tool. The preview function lets you see what is recoverable while a scan is running.

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Application

Best Funny Faces Apps 2024

By admin December 26, 2023

Best Funny Faces Apps 2024, With the world moving from physical to virtual platforms, social media has taken over the way we communicate. Almost everyone is active on social media accounts. You can add beautiful backgrounds, make funny faces, and other effects to make it visually appealing.

In this blog, we will focus on Best Funny Faces apps that offer an easy and creative way to make expression-filled faces. With these applications, you can easily create funny faces, post them, and share them directly on your Social media accounts.

These apps use advanced technology, and editing tools along with a lot of emotes and filters.

So without wasting any time let’s dive into the world of crazy and goofy faces with these best funny faces apps for iPhone and Android.

Best Funny Faces Apps For iPhone and Android in 2024

Pick a picture and make them funny with the below-mentioned crazy face apps.

1. Funny Face Effects

Our first pick on the list of funny faces apps is this superb application. The app is fully compatible with the Android platform and can make you look fat, ugly, and bald in a matter of seconds.

• Use it to add a huge smile to your face.

• You can also use it to stretch, warp, and distort the overall appearance of your face with the help of your fingers.

• It can also be used to import pictures from the photo gallery of your Android device.

• With this funny faces app, you can also post your edited faces directly on social media.

Download for Android

2. Face Swapper

Create high-res face swaps with AI right on your phone with Face Swapper by Icons8. Make a new version of yourself, troll your friends, or anonymize your photos. With this tool, you can create funny pics in just a few taps.

• Exchange faces with your pets, cartoon characters, and even historical figures.

• Preserves the size and quality of the original image.

• Swaps faces of up to 1024px in size. That’s the max size of a face, not of a photo. And that’s the largest resolution on the market.

• Try new hairstyles, body types, and professional looks.

Download for iPhone

Use Online (https://icons8.com/swapper)

3. HeyPhoto

Did you forget to smile for the camera? Are you hyper-cautious about protecting your identity online? With HeyPhoto, you can edit your face for free in literal seconds. Modify gaze, identity, age, smile, or gender by simply dragging a slider.

• Just drag a slider and get stunning results with the original quality preserved.

• HeyPhoto is free for everyone, no subscriptions are required.

• It doesn’t crop your pictures, resize them, or downgrade their quality. You reap precisely what you sow.

• HeyPhoto will not make your picture grainy, blurry, or weirdly zoomed in.

Use online (https://hey-photo.com/)

4. YouCam Fun

Another popular funny faces app for your iPhone is YouCam Fun. The app equally works well on Android devices and is highly popular for its class-apart functioning. The app comes in a handy design in a size of 109MB for iOS and 66MB for the android platform.

• Turning a normal face into funny and goofy ones is incredibly easy with YouCam Fun.

• You can use it to add filters to any pictures saved in your photo gallery or click one in real time.

• As soon as you launch the app, I will detect your face and start applying filters to it.

• The straightforward and simple interface adds to its easy working.

Download for Android and iOS

5. Face Changer Camera

Developed by Visionsapp, Face Changer Camera is another silly face app that you can pick to design and create awesome faces. The tool works well on both iOS and Android platforms.

• It has a massive collection of filters including live and artistic effects.

• It comes with straightforward working, all you need to do is, click or browse a photograph, open the app, add filters and it’s done.

• Face Mask, Face Wrap, Face Puppet, Face Sticker, and Chin Face are few of its well-known offerings.

• Apart from this, you can also blend two faces using its Face Blend feature using this top-rated funny faces app.

Download for Android

6. Banuba – Funny Faces App

Another best funny faces app that you can pick to make funny faces is Banuba. The tool has a humongous collection of filters and effects.

• The lightweight tool which comes in an 80MB size for Android devices and iPhones and is available in a small size of 165MB.

• Enjoy applying dozens and dozens of funny and goofy filters with Banuba.

• With this crazy faces app, you get class-apart selfies and video experience.

• Use your creativity and innovative ideas to create cheek-aching hilarious faces.

• Banuba is also available in a premium plan which offers advanced features and editing effects.

Download for Android and iOS

7. Faceswap

Face swap is another impressive funny face app that you can use to edit your facial expressions. The tool has several filters to add that can fit your face without any hiccups.

• Numerous facial effects include weird looks, animals, Halloween, and celebrities.

• Theme Photo, photo swap, live stickers, motion swap, classic collage, and photo retoucher are a few other functions of this good funny faces app.

• It is a free app and enjoys a rich user base.

Download for Android

8. Face App

Face APP is one of the most popular funny face apps that one can use to make funny faces. It comes with a lightweight design and enjoys more than 100 million downloads.

• It uses an AI feature that adds a realistic effect to your photographs.

• The most recent addition is its old-age selfie filter.

• Its basic version has around 21 filters. However, you can also go for its Pro version to enjoy 28 fun filters.

• It can also be used to swap gender, change age, alter hair color, add a smile, beard, or mustache, and even add makeup.

Enjoy an array of fun-filled and incredible tools to give your face a new design and take Hollywood-ready selfies and pictures.

Download for Android and iOS

9. Cupace

Superlative Funny faces apps for Android offer a variety of innovative and funny features. If you are looking for a straightforward and lightweight application then Cupace can be a good pick. It offers an incredible way to copy and paste different faces on each other.

• It comes with several exciting features and allows you to cut a face from any given image. You can, later on, choose to paste on a different image.

• For accurate results, it also has a magnifying tool.

• The cropped face is saved in the Face Gallery for further use.

• With Cupace you can also add text to your photo.

Download for Android

10. Snapchat

Next on our list of best funny faces apps for iPhone and Android smartphones is Snapchat, an incredible face swap app that enjoys worldwide popularity and fan following. It has a plethora of filters to offer along with various other useful and fun-filled features.

• With this versatile application, you can change the entire way you look.

• It gives you an easy option to express yourself with the help of filters, editing effects, lenses, and Bitmojis.

• Apart from this, you can video chat with 16 friends at a given point in time.

• The images that you click using Snapchat can be shared with your friends within seconds.

Download for Android and iOS

11. Face Warp – Funny Photo Editor

Face Warp – Funny Photo Editor as the name suggests this photo editor application allows you to warp the image of your face in any desired direction. Undoubtedly it is the best funny face filter app available to both Android and iPhone users. With more than 1,000,000 installs on the Google Play store, it is one of the top free funny face apps on the internet.

• Face Warp allows users to create an ample number of funny content from their selfies.

• The application converts a normal image into an animation to make it more cool and funny.

• With the help of the pinch-zoom feature inbuilt in the application, users can perfectly work on the minute details of the image.

• The app comes with an auto mode that randomly makes changes to the user’s image and provides the best results.

Download for Android and iOS

12. Facelab – Face Editor & Beauty

Facelab – Face Editor & Beauty is the app that makes funny faces out of the users’ selfies. The app allows users to perform things like makeup, reshape and retouch the image to make it more attractive, beautiful and funny. Facelab comes with the in-app purchase which unlocks the premium and advanced features.

• One can easily perform all types of modifications on an image to make it more funny and hilarious.

• The app allows users to work upon every single part of the face separately.

• Use various stickers and 3D filters available on the application free of cost.

• With the help of face masks offered by the software, users can change the selfies to look old or young in age.

Download for iOS

13. FaceOver Lite

The last on our list of best funny faces apps is FaceOver Lite. It is a brilliant app and has a bottomless ocean of Fun Face Photo effects. The application is powered with straightforward and clean working and can effortlessly replace any part of your image with another part.

Simply crop,cut, edit, copy and paste different image parts to add life to your boring images and selfies.

Download for iOS

14. Face Swap Live

The next one on our list of best funny faces Apps for iPhone is Face Swap Live. The application has some remarkable filters and stickers to make your pictures funnier. Also, it has the option to add these filters to your video call camera. To add motion to your pictures use Gifs, doodles, and text edits to create funny videos. The app enables users to add filters to pictures without any extra effort. Apart from general feature the 3D filters enable users to swap faces with images available online.

The following are the notable features of Face Swap Live:

• Add GIFs, doodles, texts, and other fun elements to your pictures.

• Edit your camera image of video chat with stickers and incredible filters.

• Mask mode can customize your images with hats, glasses, and other fun elements.

• 3D filters and swapping faces from images online

• Replace your boring messages with funny filter images.

Download for Android

15. Helium Funny Face Editor

Let us introduce you to the Helium Funny Face Editor. It is a popular choice for the best funny faces applications because of a plethora of live face filters, an inhaled helium face present in the face mask library, an interesting lip-sync, and the following remarkable features.

Availability of more than 30 sound effects

• Option to mix or add multiple filters

• Lets you add audio/visual effects to your current photos or videos

• Allows you to change the density of an effect during recording

• Robot, Bear, Chipmunk, Violin, and many other voice effects

• Video and voice speedup/slowdown tool

• Boasts a flash to help you record videos in the dark

• You can save the video to camera roll or share it on social networks

Download for iOS

The above-mentioned best funny faces apps are undeniably the most popular and feature-rich applications that one can currently find in the market. Pick one as per your requirement to create funny, goofy, and amazing faces, swap faces, apply stickers, and ass filters.

Check your creativity with these funny face apps for Android and iOS smartphones. If you think that we have missed out on a funny face, selfie and face maker app, then please drop in the comment section below.

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Featured

Best Online Games For PC 2024

By admin December 26, 2023

Feeling bored enough? Then, this post can help you a lot. The post explains the best online games (free and paid). Pick the ideal one and enjoy!

From a college student to an adult, online games are liked by everyone and offer perfect rescue from a stressful day.

More than the unparalleled graphics and stunning action scenes, what we love the most about these games is the game itself. These games are available in multiple genres and styles which are suitable for all ages. But with hundreds and thousands of choices, it can be a nerve cracking task to decide which game you want to pick for your PC.

Keeping in mind the multiple offerings, here we have compiled a properly researched list of some of the best online games for PC. Most of our picks are free of cost, but we have also included few paid games for those who don’t mind spending a few bugs on gaming.

Well, without any further delay, let’s take a look at the top free and paid online games for PC.

Best Online Games For PC That You Can Play For Free

1. Valorant

Price: Free

Platform: Microsoft Windows

Valorant by Riot Games is a next-gen 5v5 character-based shooting game. The availability of heroes across the distinct game modes including Spike Rush, Deathmatch, and Unranked makes it worth trying.

In the game, there are several agents and weapon skins which incentivize gamers to stick around, & experience intense competition from other players. You also have the option to buy some Valorant Points in order to skip the queue and access shiny skins and agents. The game is one of the best multiplayer video games that you can play.

Download

Best Online Games For PC 2024

2. World of Tanks

Price:- Free

Platforms:- Android, macOS, PS4, PC, Xbox One or Xbox 360

World of Tanks is one of the mighties games that the online gaming industry has ever seen. The game is based on complex game mechanics, battlefield, and exciting tank simulators.

The game features two teams playing against each other. It is all about beating your opponent with an unmatchable strategy and using the right tanks and machines. You get access to around 10 tiers, each containing hundreds of vehicles and containers ranging from hulking heavies to speedy scouts.

All-in-all World of Tanks has everything that can keep your excitement levels high. PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PS4 are the few platforms where you can play this incredible game. Moreover, World of Tanks is one of the best free online games.
Download

3. Fortnite

Price:- Free

Platforms:- Windows 7, 8, 10, and Mac OSX Sierra

Fortnite is one of the best online PC games that you can play. The game offers very interesting gameplay supporting amazing graphics that might interest you. Just like PUBG or Call of Duty you enter a battlefield where you need to survive on an island. Apart from that, you get new things in the game which you won’t find in any other battle royale game.

While paying you can easily harvest resources and build a structure that can help you in surviving the game. The game does not just require killing others but you need to use strategy for building new resources and using them. You have to gather resources while playing the game which makes it unique and interesting.

Overall the game is super exciting and has new addons which make it more interesting to play. You should definitely try this game as it doesn’t disappoint. You can even find many Fortnite alternatives, so if you are bored of looking at the same graphics then you can play other similar games.

Download

4. Neverwinter

Price:- Free

Platforms:- Xbox One, PC, PS4

If you are a fan of Dungeons and Dragons, then NeverWinter is the right choice for you. The masses love this free to play online PC game because of two main reasons.

First: It comes from the highly popular series of online games: The incredible Neverwinter Series.

Second: It is based on challenging Dungeons and dangerous dragons, a modified and advanced version of its D&D 4th edition.

Packed with amazing locations, action-focused combat, and a potent battleground, Neverwinter is a perfect pick for D&D lovers. It has an enjoyable MMORPG and can seamlessly run on PS4, PC, and Xbox One platforms. It is one of the best online games for PC that you can play absolutely free.

The most beautiful thing about this game is that you get to access all features without shelling out a single penny.
Download

5. World of Warships

Price:- Free

Platforms:- macOS, Windows, PS4

If you liked playing World of Tanks, then choose World of Warships to experience a wet battlefield. The game is based on fighting navies and offers interesting tactics with welcoming and straightforward controls.

In comparison to other games, it is more engaging than the Total Wars, more profound than the Pirate games, and far more approachable than Silent hunter. World of Warships is one of the amazing free online games for computer.
Download

6. Star Trek Online

Price:- Free

Platforms:- Windows, MacOS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4

Battle with dangerous aliens, control the starships, train pangalactic professionals and explore the hidden tassels of the galaxy with this best online game for PC. This MMO game gives you a chance to show the world that you are no less than Picard.

Each play is like a full episode of a show and is packed with the best pieces of thrilling experience. If you are a true Trekkie, then Star Trek Online is the game for you.

Download

7. Dragalia Lost

Price:- Free

Platforms:- Android, iOS

Dragalia Lost is based on the tale of a fallen kingdom, which is fighting to save and restore it. The game comes with all the basic free-to-play features, including a stamina meter, random pulls for heroes, etc.

It comes with sleek boss battles, delving RPG dungeon, and adequate controls that help you manage potent abilities on your fingertip, and smoothly execute end-minute dodges. It belongs to the Action RPG genre and can be enjoyed on iOS and Android devices.

Download

8. Among Us

Price:- Free

Platforms:- PC, Mobile, Playstation 5/4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch

Among Us is a great game which you can play with your whole group. The game can be played with four to fifteen players. Out of all the players, three will be randomly chosen as imposters in every round. Apart from this, the map will be chosen randomly out of the four maps.

At the beginning of the game, crewmates will be given a task to complete on a particular map. The task can include fixing wires, maintenance, and downloading data like works. On the other hand, the imposter is given fake tasks to help them blend with their crewmates. Though the imposter cannot perform the task they can help other crewmates in the task. The end goal of the imposter is to kill crewmates. After each player is dead they become a ghost.

All in all, this is a great game that requires team effort and presence of mind. You can’t find the imposter if you fail to catch them lying or not performing. With the increasing popularity of the game, many other developers have also created Among Us alternatives.

Download

9. Rift

Price:- Free

Platforms:- Windows

This subscription-based fantasy MMO has gained a lot of popularity post its updation. The improved and updated game offers new raids, new world events, new zones, and a furious pace. You don’t have to spend a penny to enjoy this stunning gameplay and explore its beautiful and colorful world. With the massive list of exciting features and unmatchable gameplay, it’s not a bad deal at all.

Download

10. SMITE

Price:- Free

Platforms:- Xbox One, Windows, macOS

Similar to Dota 2 and League of Legends, SMITE also features a team of players who are trying to battle and get into their opponent’s base. Each unit consists of 5 players. It uses a third-person perspective to portray the gameplay rather than showing the battleground view. Also, it does not use any fantasy characters but features different players playing the role of mighty Smite Gods.

If you are fond of playing online games on your PC, then SMITE can be a good pick for you.

Download

11. Pinball FX3

Price:- Free

Platforms:- Microsoft Windows

Who doesn’t know about Pinball? Everybody loves it and has played it at some or the other time. It is developed by Zen Studios and offers several simulated pinball tables to its players. It uses a primary scoreboard for informal competitions. With its three-dimensional graphics, multiple themes, and a higher level of challenges, it creates a new unforgettable gaming experience.

No matter what you are, this game has enough to offer to all age groups and can run on Switch, PS4, PC, and Xbox One platform. Pinball FX 3 undoubtedly deserves a spot on our list of best online games for pc.

Download

12. Runescape

Price:- Free

Platforms:- Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, Java, Linux

Ever wondered why this oldie is still so popular? It continually improving MMORPG is the reason behind it. It offers a number of challenges to its user, which are enough to keep the excitement levels high. It’s a multiplayer role-playing fantasy game and is developed by Jagex.

Competing, fighting, quests, and mini-games are few of its prominent offerings. It is fully compatible with PC’s and is entirely free of cost.

Download

13. Guild Wars 2

Price:- Free

Platforms:- Microsoft Windows, macOS

If you are looking for the best MMO, then this free game is the best pick for you. As a player, you get a lot to do; you can either help a burning village, take part in zone events where you need to get involved with other players to form a team, and defeat the boss.

With this base game, you have a lot to do.

Download

14. Pokemon Masters

Price:- Free

Platforms:- iOS, Android, Windows

Who doesn’t like Pokemon, from TV cartoons to online PS games, it’s everywhere. The game is based on an island The island of Pasio, where players are seen battling for improving the powers of their pokemon. The game is built specially built for mobile phones but can easily be customized to run on computer systems as well.

Download

15. Clash of Clans

Price:- Free

Platforms:- Android, iOS, Windows

Unlock the power to win over nasty clan leaders and goblins. The game allows you to raise an army, guide your tribe, plan your defensive actions, and much more. It offers an ultimate mix of quick and rigorous battle with slow and strategic planning. You can either choose to join an existing clan or form your group to fight against your enemies.

Enjoy a limitless combination of troops, heroes, and spell with this impressive online PC game.

Download

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Computer

The best gaming PCs for 2023

By admin December 25, 2023

The best gaming PCs for 2023, Dell, Origin, Lenovo, and more ,If you’re looking for one of the best gaming PCs, you’re spoiled with options. We review dozens of gaming desktops each year from brands like Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Alienware, and we’ve rounded up the only gaming PCs you should consider this year.

Our top pick is still the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i due to its balance of price, features, and performance, but we have several other options. Here are the best gaming desktops we’ve reviewed so far.

Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Lenovo Legion Tower 7i

The best gaming PC you can buy

Why you should buy this: It’s a reasonably priced gaming PC with flagship hardware, and it’s fully open for upgrades.

Who it’s for: PC gamers who want a high-end experience in 2023 and the possibility to upgrade in the future.

What we thought of the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i:

The Lenovo Legion Tower 7i is proof that buying a prebuilt gaming desktop doesn’t have to mean sacrificing quality. It packs in Nvidia’s RTX 4080 along with an Intel Core i7-13700KF processor, offering some of the fastest hardware you can buy today, and it performs as well as its spec sheet would suggest.

In our review, we found that the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i was a hair faster than a custom PC with the same components, so you’re not leaving any performance on the table by going prebuilt. You’re free to swap out components, too. Unlike desktops from Alienware and some other vendors, the Tower 7i uses standard-sized parts so you can swap out whatever you want.

That’s all great, but the real reason we’re recommending the Tower 7i is its price. The configuration we reviewed, which comes with an RTX 4080 and Intel Core i7-13700KF, runs $2,900. That’s expensive, but it’s only a few hundred dollars more than if you bought all the parts yourself and pieced them together on your own. And for that upcharge, you’re getting a year of Lenovo’s Legion Ultimate support, which includes next-business-day repair, as well as a 24/7 support contact.

Since our review, Lenovo has released some cheaper models as well. You can now get the machine for around $2,050 with an Intel Core i7-13700KF and RTX 4070 Ti GPU.

The best gaming PCs for 2023

It’s easy to recommend the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i in 2023, but it still has one problem. Lenovo advertised 5,200 megatransfer per second (MT/s) memory, but it’s only set up to run at 4,400 MT/s out of the box. That can lead to lower performance in some select applications, but thankfully, you can crank up the memory speed in a couple of clicks.

.Image used with permission by copyright holder

Origin Neuron

The best custom gaming PC

Why you should buy this: The Origin Neuron comes with excellent build quality and highly customizable components.

Who’s it for: Gamers looking to customize their own PC without getting into building.

What we thought of the Origin Neuron:

There’s no shortage of PC builders that use components you can buy and put together yourself, but Origin still manages to stand out. You can buy and build an exact replica of the Origin Neuron, but Origin’s careful attention to detail, deep customization options, and excellent support make an argument not to.

Corsair owns Origin, so the Neuron comes fitted with Corsair components across the board. That’s a good thing in this case, as Corsair makes some of the best PC fans, power supplies, and RAM modules you can buy. All of these first-party components give the Neuron a cohesive feel, free of software conflicts that could mess up your RGB lighting.

You can build the machine exactly how you want, too. Origin offers the latest CPUs from AMD and Intel, as well as the latest GPUs from Nvidia and AMD. Beyond that, you can tweak everything else — power supply rating, memory speed, you name it.

The Neuron is more expensive than a mainstream PC like the Omen 45L. That extra money buys you better build quality, more flexibility, and some modern furnishings. Out of all of the custom PC builds you can buy, the Origin Neuron is our favorite.

.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Alienware Aurora R16

The best Alienware gaming PC

Pros

• Much smaller than previous versions

• Cool and quiet during operation

• Several configuration options

• Competitively priced

Cons

• Alienware Command Center is a bit annoying

• CPU lacks integrated graphics and overclocking support

Why you should buy this: It’s an Alienware gaming PC built for the everyday gamer

Who’s it for: PC gamers who want a lot of flexibility in their build and don’t need to service their PC.

What we thought of the Alienware Aurora R16:

Alienware has a reputation problem, but the new Aurora R16 attempts to fix that. It’s the first time Alienware has abandoned the angular Aurora design we’ve seen for the past several generations, instead relying on a smaller mid-tower chassis that’s just as powerful, but takes up a lot less space.

It comes in cheaper, as well. Part of the reason Alienware desktops have a bit of a bad name is their price, but the Aurora R16 starts at just $1,300 for an Intel Core i7-13700F, RTX 4060 graphics card, 16GB of DDR5 memory, and a 1TB SSD. You can scale that up with the same processor, memory, and storage, but with an RTX 4070 Ti, for $1,950.

Alienware upgraded the internals a lot, but it’s the exterior of this machine that stands out. It’s around half the size of the previous version, all without compromising power or thermals. By the end of the year, Alienware says it will be its fastest desktop ever, packing up to an RTX 4090.

.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Acer Predator Orion 7000

The best high-end gaming PC

Why you should buy this: It’s a fantastic and upgradeable high-end desktop that will hold up for years.

Who’s it for: Enthusiasts that want a great starting point to upgrade their gaming PC in the future.

What we thought of the Acer Predator Orion 7000:

The Acer Predator Orion 7000 is a gaming PC in every sense of the phrase. Its design screams that with bright RGB fans and an aggressive design that makes it clear this is a machine built for gaming. Thankfully, it has the performance and thermals to back up its clear design influence.

It packs last-gen components, but they’re still powerful. You can score up to an Intel Core i9-12900K and RTX 3090 graphics card, and we expect a next-gen upgrade soon. Acer just recently updated its Predator laptops, so a desktop makeover should come soon.

Even this model holds up well in 2023, though. The components are still very powerful, and the design of the case makes quick work of all the heat these high-end components can spit out.

.Image used with permission by copyright holder

Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast

The best mini gaming PC

Why you should buy this: It’s smaller than a book and comes with enough power to run the latest games at 1080p.

Who’s it for: Gamers who need a tiny PC that packs a lot of punch.

What we thought of the Intel NUC 12 Enthusiast:

Intel’s NUC PCs have always been focused on performance in the smallest size possible, but the NUC 12 Enthusiast reaches even further. Powered by mobile Intel Arc Alchemist graphics, the machine can run the latest games at 1080p, and it’s smaller than the size of a book.

It’s not a stretch to say that the NUC 12 Enthusiast makes you forget you’re using a mini PC. It puts up desktop-like performance in a package smaller than some laptops, and it comes with all the trimmings you’d expect out of a full-size rig. That includes expansive connections, including USB-C, Thunderbolt, and plenty of USB 3 ports.

The included stand is great, too. You can sit the NUC 12 Enthusiast upright on your desktop, but you can also pop it off the stand and lay it down on its side. And if you’re looking to maximize space, you can even mount the stand to a wall and hide the PC behind your monitor.

.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Falcon Northwest Tiki

The best gaming PC for the living room

Why you should buy this: It’s smaller than a gaming console and packs high-end PC hardware.

Who’s it for: Living room gamers looking for a high-end gaming PC that doesn’t take up a lot of space.

What we thought of the Falcon Northwest Tiki:

The Falcon Northwest Tiki is the perfect small-form-factor gaming PC. Just like the Talon, the Tiki stands out with exceptional build quality, clear attention to detail, and support that puts major PC manufacturers to shame. It’s expensive, but Falcon Northwest makes every penny feel worth it.

For size, the Tiki is the smallest gaming PC you can buy fully configured. But Falcon Northwest doesn’t sacrifice performance in the process. You can cram in up to a 16-core Ryzen 9 5950X as well as a full, fat RTX 3090. You can also add up to 8TB of NVMe storage, which is insane considering the Tiki’s size.

Usually, a smaller size comes at the cost of thermals and noise, but not with the Tiki. It manages to stay cooler and quieter than many mid-sized desktops (read our Asus ProArt PD5 review for an example of bad thermals on a desktop).

Falcon Northwest is one of the few boutique PC builders left, and the Tiki is a perfect showcase for what that model can achieve. It’s an exception PC overall, and it’s even more impressive considering it’s smaller than a PlayStation 5.

.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Dell XPS Desktop (8960)

The gaming PC for remote workers

Why you should buy this: The Dell XPS Desktop 8650 doesn’t look like a gaming PC, but it comes with the right hardware to run the latest titles.

Who’s it for: Remote workers who need a professional PC during the day and a gaming PC at night.

What we thought of the Dell XPS Desktop 8960:

If you want to pick up a gaming desktop, but you’re not interested in learning about upgrading or tricking it out with RGB, the Dell XPS 8960 Desktop is a great option. It’s a stealth gaming PC that looks like an office desktop on the outside, but hides some of the most powerful components you can buy inside.

You can’t upgrade major components in the Dell XPS Desktop, which is almost always a downside. But you can at least trick out this PC with up to an Intel Core i9-13900 and Nvidia RTX 4080. You can even configure it with liquid cooling.

Configurations start as low as $750, with the first configuration with a discrete graphics card coming in at around $1,100. You’re giving up all of the trimmings that make a gaming PC look like one, but if you’re content to recycle your PC and upgrade a few years down the line, that’s not a big deal.

Although the XPS Desktop can fit into any office setting, we’re recommending it specifically for remote workers. You might not want to ask your boss to bill an RGB-ridden gaming behemoth; the XPS Desktop is much more reasonable, and it still has enough muscle for gaming after hours.

.Image used with permission by copyright holder

NZXT Streaming Plus BLD Kit

The best DIY gaming desktop

Pros

• Powerful

• Inexpensive

• Includes all the tools you need to build your own PC

Cons

• PC building isn’t for everyone

• Limited customization options

Why we chose this: The NZXT BLD Kit allows you to dip your toes into building a custom gaming PC and save some money in the process.

Who’s it for: Hobbyists who want to get into building PCs but don’t know where to start.

What we thought of the NZXT BLD Kit:

NZXT has a different approach to gaming desktops. Instead of shipping you a prebuilt machine, you get all of the components, tools, and an instruction manual to build the PC yourself. And don’t worry – you get all of that at a discount compared to getting a machine already built for you.

The BLD kits offer great value, and NZXT has several available. We’re recommending the Streaming Plus kit, which comes fitted with an eight-core Ryzen 7 5700X processor, an Nvidia RTX 3070 graphics card, and 16GB of RAM. Overall, the kit is about $200 than shopping for the cheapest parts yourself, rather than the anywhere from $500 to $1,000 that brands usually charge as a building fee.

If you can’t be bothered, NZXT also offers its custom BLD program. Unlike most system builders, NZXT charges a flat $110 building fee. Otherwise, you’re paying the exact same price for the components that you would if you bought them individually.

PC building isn’t for everyone, but NZXT’s BLD program offers a cost-effective and simple way to get into the hobby.

NZXT Streaming Plus BLD Kit

The best DIY gaming desktop

.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

MSI Aegis RS 12

The best gaming PC for beginners

Why we chose this: It’s a no-fuss, powerful gaming PC that won’t break the bank.

Who’s it for: PC gamers who want a powerful PC and don’t need to mess around with upgrades.

What we thought of the MSI Aegis RS 12:

The MSI Aegis RS 12 is a perfect gaming PC if you don’t need to mess with upgrades. You can upgrade it, but its poor cable management and lack of a case don’t lend themselves well to DIY tweaks. Thankfully, you don’t need to make them. There’s a lot of power under the hood of the Aegis, and at a reasonable price.

The last time we looked at the machine, it was sporting Intel’s 12th-gen processors, but MSI has recently updated it with Intel 13th-gen CPUs and Nvidia RTX 40-series GPUs. You can pack in up to an Intel Core i7-13700KF and Nvidia RTX 4080, along with 32GB of RAM.

What’s surprising is the price. That configuration could easily run $4,000 or more with other brands, but MSI charges around $3,000 – near the same price as building your own. If you jump down to an RTX 4070 Ti, you can save almost $1,000, too.

On top of that, MSI includes a sold gaming keyboard and mouse in the box. They aren’t top-tier peripherals, but they’re more than enough to get beginners started with PC gaming.

.Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

CLX Hathor

The best dual gaming PC

Pros

• Beautiful design and build quality

• Two PCs in the size of one case

• Flagship hardware support

Cons

• Very expensive

• Dual PCs aren’t required for most people

Why we chose this: It’s a monster gaming PC that pulls double duty.

Who’s it for: Streamers who need a dual PC setup but don’t have the space for two PCs.

What we thought of the CLX Hathor:

What’s better than one monster gaming PC? Two, obviously. The CLX Hathor is insane, packing two full PCs into a single case. One if a high-end gaming rig fit with one of the latest CPUs from AMD or Intel, along with one of the latest graphics cards from AMD or Nvidia. The second is an Intel NUC that pull lightweight duty so you don’t have to bog down one machine.

CLX allows you to customize just about every aspect of the PC, as well. There are the core components like your GPU, CPU, and RAM, but you can even tweak your cooler, multiple storage options, and even customize the Lian Li case the PC ships in.

It’s an excellent PC, assuming you need all of the power it offers. The Hathor starts at $4,100, and it only goes up from there. This is a high-end PC for high-end streamers, who need a secondary PC holding the work of streaming so your main PC can focus on gaming.

CLX Hathor

The best dual gaming PC

Frequently Asked Questions

PC vs. laptop for gaming

While you can play on the go with a gaming laptop outfitted with a discrete graphics card, a gaming desktop will deliver more flexibility, power, and performance for serious gamers. With more space inside a desktop tower, thermal management is generally better, which leads to stronger graphics and processing performance without the fear of throttling.

Another benefit of going with a desktop is that there is more space to perform upgrades in the future, so you can add more memory or storage, swap out your graphics card, and upgrade your motherboard and processor down the road. When shopping for a gaming desktop, you should look for key features like upgradability, expandability, and support for the latest protocols, like Thunderbolt 3, which could help extend the life of your investment.

What’s the best gaming PC for beginners?

The best gaming PC for beginners is the HP Omen 30L or 45L. These two machines live in the same family, and the 30L is slightly smaller than the 45L. We recommend them for beginners because they come with the latest, most powerful components, they’re readily available, and they’re easy to upgrade.

For configurations, you want to pay attention to the GPU and CPU. For beginners, we recommend the Nvidia RTX 3060 for 1080p gameplay, paired with either an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel Core i5-12600K.

Gamers will also want to have enough RAM — we suggest at least 16GB of memory — and fast storage. Moreover, taking the dual-drive route means you don’t need to invest in an expensive solid-state drive with large storage. This allows you to pair a more modest-capacity SSD with a larger hard drive to store all the large media libraries for your game.

Can gaming PCs be used for work?

Most definitely. Manufacturers like HP recognize that gamers don’t just play games — office workers want to stay entertained during their downtime, too. All that’s needed to play games is a capable processor, a strong enough discrete graphics card, and enough memory to keep the entire system running smoothly.

If you’re looking to save money by using one desktop for gaming and for your productivity tasks, you’ll want to choose a PC or one of the best laptops with more understated aesthetics that will blend in better with your office decor. Once you have the right PC selected, just pick out a few games and have fun.

Is PC gaming dying?

Absolutely not. With sales of general-purpose desktops stagnating in recent years, manufacturers like HP and Lenovo are investing more resources into their gaming brands to fuel growth.

With new hardware features supported on gaming PCs — from VR and augmented reality to real-time ray tracing — developers will have plenty of new technologies to leverage in order to tell visually engaging stories through their games.

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Featured

The full history of Samsung Galaxy Smartphones

By admin December 24, 2023

The full history of Samsung Galaxy Smartphones, The Galaxy S is the handset that kick-started Samsung’s journey along the path to world smartphone domination. Announced in March 2010 and released in June, it packed in some of the most impressive specs available at the time. Its 1GHz ARM Hummingbird processor coupled with 512MB RAM and the most powerful graphics processing of any smartphone made it a spec-fiend’s number one choice.

At 9.9mm thin (positively obese by today’s standards), it was also the thinnest smartphone in the world, with a 5MP camera and 0.3MP selfie cam to boot. While its 4in 800 x 400 display sounds archaic by today’s standards, it was still a Super AMOLED affair, making the Apple iPhone 4’s screen look positively washed out in comparison. Oh, and let’s all take a moment to appreciate how horrible TouchWiz 3.0 looks skinned over Android Eclair. Shudder.

Samsung Galaxy SII – 2011

This is it folks. This is the handset that really put Samsung on the map. The 8.49mm-thin Galaxy SII received rave reviews, with many critics labelling it the best smartphone in the world, evs.

The Galaxy SII helped push Samsung ahead of Apple in smartphone sales, and it deserved the praise. Its superb Super AMOLED Plus screen was miles ahead of the competition, as Samsung ditched the Pentile matrix for a regular RGB matrix display. In English, that means that it was even sharper than the Original Galaxy S’s screen, while maintaing its true blacks and rich colours.

It was also the most powerful phone in the world at the time, beating out the likes of the Motorola Atrix with its dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor and 1GB of RAM, along with up to 32GB of internal storage and expandable memory support – all of which helped to run Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

An 8MP rear camera (with 1080p video recording) and a 2MP front-facing snapper rounded off the rest off the impressive spec sheet, while NFC – a real rarity back then – and MHL support for multimedia playback finished off the mighty feature list.

The full history of Samsung Galaxy Smartphones

Samsung Galaxy S III – 2012

The Galaxy SIII is where it all went horribly wrong for Samsung. Wait, did we say “horribly wrong”? We meant to say “incredibly well”. Like, really, massively, unbelievably well. The quad-core beast was once again the most powerful handset in the world at the time of its release, and its 1080p screen was a joy to behold. Samsung packed more bells and whistles into TouchWiz than a hoarder at a… bell and whistle factory.

The usefulness of some of these features, such as screen-on eye-tracking and picture in picture (PIP), were debatable, but the very fact it could do so much without stuttering was testament to the incredible hardware beneath its glossy plastic shell.

No, the SIII wasn’t as pretty as its iPhone 4s rival, but that didn’t stop it from outselling Apple’s poster child. Throw in an impressive 8MP camera and 8.5 hours of non-stop video playback, and it’s clear to see why the Galaxy SIII jumped straight to the top of Stuff’s Top 10 smartphone list.

Samsung Galaxy S4 – 2013

Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9505 4G Black – smartphones (Single SIM, Android, MicroSIM, EDGE, GPRS, HSPA+, Bar)

£80.00

Launching with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the 7.9mm Galaxy S4 was Samsung’s fastest-selling handset ever, with a whopping 20 million units sold in the first two months. The phone landed with plenty of power beneath its plastic shell, in the form of Qualcomm’s mighty Snapdragon 600 processor and 2GB of RAM. The full HD AMOLED display made its return, and the rear camera received a healthy bump up to 13 megapixels.

But despite being a solid handset and receiving plenty of praise, Samsung also received criticism for bloating up Android with not only the cartoonish UI of TouchWiz, but a pile of (debatably useless) features that increased the size of the OS and reduced the amount of available internal storage.

Samsung Galaxy S5 – 2014

The Galaxy S5’s launch was the first occasion in which people’s love affair with Samsung began to falter slightly. Unveiled at MWC in Barcelona, the handset’s band aid-like plastic rear was met with criticism, especially as the premium metal HTC One M7 had already demonstrated that Android handsets could match Apple for build quality.

Predictably the insides were faster and the camera was as impressive as ever, but Samsung was once again criticised for filling up the Android OS – in this case 4.2 KitKat – with more bloat. In a time that Sony’s Xperia handsets were reaping praise for their minimal interference with Google’s OS, Samsung’s TouchWiz, with all of its clunky features, had begun to look far too podgy and ugly in comparison. The S5’s slightly flakey fingerprint sensor (which required an annoying swiping action) and gimmicky heart rate scanner didn’t help matters either.

Still, it was a solid flagship nonetheless, shipping 10 million units in just 25 days, making it Samsung’s fastest-ever-shipping smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge – 2015

Simply put, Samsung smashed it in 2015 when it released the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. The plastic had finally been banished, and was replaced with lovely premium metal and glass. The handset felt as good as the iPhone and HTC One M9 in the hands, and the S6 Edge, with its curved display, was a thing of beauty. The camera was superb, and until its successor came out, it was the best smartphone camera we had ever tested.

The once niggly fingerprint scanner had become lightning fast and worked just like Apple’s Touch ID home button, with no pesky swiping gesture required. Even TouchWiz was toned down considerably, with a large amount of bloat removed, and an all-new, flatter design introduced.

The power of Samsung’s own octa-core processor blew the competition out of the water, and its 2K Super AMOLED display was the best we’ve ever seen on a smartphone. It’s still fantastic today. The only major gripe – and a deal breaker for hardcore Android fans and media hoarders – was the axing of the removable battery and, even worse, microSD card slot. But overall, the Galaxy S6 was an absolute stunner of a handset.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge – 2016

Samsung Galaxy S7 SM-G930F 32GB 4G Gold – smartphones (Single SIM, Android, NanoSIM, GSM, HSPA+, LTE)

£199.00

Unveiled at MWC in February 2016, the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge were (naturally) Samsung’s sleekest, sexiest, most powerful handsets to date. While their designs appear almost identical to the existing S6 and S6 Edge, their backs have been rounded off to make for a more comfortable, grippy shape, and the protruding camera lens is now almost flush. The premium metal and glass build remains, this time with the addition of IP68 water resistance, along with the return of the microSD slot (hooray!)

Both handsets retain Samsung’s excellent 2K Super AMOLED display, though the Edge’s screen has increased from 5.1 inches to 5.5 inches, which has resulted in larger, more useful Edge Apps. Samsung also improved the camera by increasing the sensor size and aperture, as well as implementing dual-pixel autofocus – all of which resulted in more light being absorbed – hence better shots in low light conditions – and sharper shots when snapping moving subjects.

With Qualcomm’s powerful Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM and larger batteries in both, they were Samsung’s best handsets yet. Well, until 2017 rolled around.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus – 2017

Unlike Apple’s iPhone 6/6s/7, Samsung didn’t revisit the same basic design for a third time: the Galaxy S8 went for something bold and new, and Samsung’s gamble paid off. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus offer striking silhouettes, with a taller-than-usual 18.5:9 curved Infinity Display that covers nearly the entire face of the phone, with minimal bezel on the top and bottom and almost nothing on the sides. And no, there’s no more flat-screened edition.

It’s a fabulous display again, of course: a 2960×1440 Super AMOLED screen in 5.8in and 6.2in sizes, depending on the model. The fingerprint sensor’s new placement on the back is clunky, unfortunately, but it’s the rare knock against an otherwise fabulous handset.

Inside, of course, the Galaxy S8 has plenty of power, packing an Exynos 8895 processor (or Snapdragon 835 in some parts of the world) with 4GB RAM to play with, while the TouchWiz skin over Android 7.0 Nougat is even more usable and less annoying than ever.

Again, Samsung has a brilliant camera here: it’s only a 12-megapixel sensor, but advanced image processing abilities take a lot of the blur and noise out of shots. It actually snaps three photos when you tap the button, and then creates one oft-brilliant final product.

Gear VR support returns, of course, along with the new DeX Station, which lets you use the Galaxy S8 as the brain for a desktop computer-like experience using an external monitor.

It’s heavy on style, heavy on perks, and certainly staggering in price – but if you want the best of the best in the smartphone world right now, it’s the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus – 2018

Samsung stuck to its guns with the Galaxy S9 series, on the design front at least. Practically identical to their S8 predecessors, the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus retained their smooth, organic, pebble-like curves and minimalistic side bezels, making for a premium, comfortable experience.

Standout features (at least, at the time), included 3D avatars in the form of AR emoji, which, if you’re being honest, probably saw next to no use. The S9 did, at least, have a far more useful feature in the form of a dual aperture main camera, which let users switch between f/1.5 and f/2.4 on the fly. How’s that for flexibility?

Samsung Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, and S10e – 2019

The S10 range landed with five models in total — the regular Galaxy S10, the larger S10 Plus, the more affordable S10e, and a model with 5G support thrown in for good measure.

The design was, once again, pretty familiar, marking the last time Samsung could have probably gotten away with the same rounded look without fearing criticism for playing it too safe.

Tantalising specs in the S10 range included a groundbreaking in-display UltraSonic fingerprint sensor (rear scanners be damned), along with a triple-camera setup, and a punch-out selfie cam for a sleeker front appearance.

Samsung Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus – 2020

Samsung decided to spare us all the unsymmetrical eyesore of S13-19 monikers back in 2019 when it skipped straight from S10 to S20. After years of teasing near-bezelless screens, the S20 range was the first time that we saw Samsung almost eliminate them for good — thanks to that clever punch-out selfie cam.

The predictably vibrant OLED display also saw a notable bump up to a 120HZ refresh rate, while the rear triple-camera setup serves up more photographic flexibility. The slightly larger Galaxy S20 Plus offers similar specs, albeit with a little more screen real estate and a slightly larger battery.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra – 2020

The Galaxy S20 Ultra ushered in a new no-compromise flagship category for Samsung which made headlines with a large 120Hz 6.9in display, a huge 108MP camera, and a whopping 10x optical zoom.

The latter is a genuinely useful feature for getting more detailed shots of distant subjects, though the 100x Space Zoom turned out to be more of a pixellated mess. You can’t defeat the laws of physics, after all.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE – 2020

Despite being marketed as a more budget entry point into the S20 range, the Galaxy S20 FE won plenty of praise for blending core Samsung features and slick design, in a package that spared your bank account.

With a crisp, flat display, formidable camera performance, and the power of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 processor, it made for a very tempting alternative indeed. And let’s not forget the eye-catching plastic rear, which landed in a plethora of pleasing pastel hues.

Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus – 2021

At first glance, the Galaxy S21 and larger S21 Plus appeared to be downgrades. After all, they landed with plastic rears, and not the absolute best battery life around.

Dig a little deeper though, and you’ll see that their launch prices were a little less than those of their predecessors. Camera performance delivered too, but it’s the unmatched style and head-turning colours that made the S21 and S21 Plus stand out from the crowd.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra – 2021

The Galaxy S21 Ultra still houses one of the best overall smartphone cameras you’re likely to use today, with superb shots in all lighting conditions, with detailed zoom on offer as well.

Galaxy Note fans can also use a (non-bundled) S Pen for doodling and note taking, while the ultra-adaptive screen blends a maximum 120Hz refresh rate with battery-sipping cleverness, letting it ramp the refresh rate up or down accordingly.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE– 2022

Launching later than expected, the S21 FE landed in January 2022. Resembling its S21 siblings (minus a rear camera housing that matches that of the main body), it remains a handsome handset that cuts features down in a few areas to help make the price tag more palatable.

With a 120Hz display though and plenty of Samsung tricks going for it, it remains a strong budget-minded option.

Samsung Galaxy S22 and S22 Plus – 2022

The S22 and S22 Plus resemble their predecessors, although their Gorilla Glass Victus Plus construction makes for a hardier improvement.

Super-fast OLED screens and more than capable cameras are, as expected, also present, although the cream of the imaging prowess is reserved for the higher-end Galaxy S22 Ultra, as (which should come as no surprise by now).

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – 2022

The Galaxy S22 Ultra landed as the first true Note successor, thanks to the inclusion of the S Pen, which (mercifully) can be stored inside the handset itself, rather than being lost down the side of the couch.

Super-fast internals, a large 6.8in screen, and a headline-grabbing 108MP camera made the S22 Ultra the handset to beat. That is, at least, until its Galaxy S23 successor came along.

Samsung Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus – 2023

Samsung Galaxy S23 5G Dual SIM Android Mobile Phone, 256GB, SIM Free Smartphone, Black

Powered by the mighty Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and 8GB of RAM, these are, unsurprisingly, two of the most powerful phones Samsung has ever made. The larger S23 Plus features 45W fast charging (versus the slower 25W charging of its sibling), but both have the same 50MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP telephoto (complete with 3x optical zoom), for snapping quality pics.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – 2023

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G Dual SIM Android Mobile Phone, 256GB, SIM Free Smartphone, Green 3Y Extended Manufacturer Warranty

As predicted, Samsung’s latest and greatest flagship is the most powerful and feature-packed one yet. With a largely unchanged design (although the rear camera housing has slimmed down), it’s the combination of tech that makes it shine.

From a beautiful, bright screen, to a camera setup that’s capable in almost any situation (thanks to a 10x optical zoom lens and a huge 200MP main sensor), the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is shaping up to be a contender for one of the best phones of 2023.

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Mobile

The History of iOS, from Version 1.0 to 17.0

By admin December 24, 2023

The History of iOS, from Version 1.0 to 17.0, A complete view of the operating system that launched the smartphone revolution

iOS is the name of the operating system that runs the iPhone and iPod touch. It’s the core software that comes loaded on all devices to allow them to run and support other apps. iOS is to the iPhone what Windows is to PCs or macOS is to Macs.

Below you’ll find a history of each version of iOS when it was released, and what it added to the platform. Click the name of the iOS version, or the More link at the end of each blurb, for more in-depth information about that version.

See our article What is iOS? for a lot more on this innovative mobile operating system and how it works.

iOS 17

Apple announced iOS 17 at the June 2023 WWDC, with a public rollout to take place in Fall 2023.

One of the most notable updates to iOS 17 is the change from, “Hey Siri!” to, “Siri,” as well as the ability to give Siri back-to-back commands,

iOS 17 includes upgrades to Phone, FaceTime, and Messages, which also features an all-new Stickers experience. AirDrop has been upgraded to include NameDrop to allow for easy contact sharing. Journal is an entirely new app that provides an intuitive journalling experience based on your photos, locations, contacts, music, podcasts, and more.

In addition, iOS 17 offers a fullscreen experience called StandBy, which is similar to Nightstand Mode on Apple Watch. While you’re charging the phone, you can put it into landscape mode to display the time and other information on a minimalist, easy-to-read display.

iOS 16

iOS 16 was announced at 2022’s WWDC in June. It rolled out to consumers in Fall 2022.

Updates include new Messages features, SharePlay availability in FaceTime and Messages, and upgrades for Apple Wallet including Apple Pay Later and Apple Order Tracking.

iOS 16 also featured an Apple Maps redesign and new features, such as cycling, lookaround, and multi-stop routing. The iOS upgrade also offers improvements to Spatial Audio that allow for the personalization of audio on AirPods.

The History of iOS, from Version 1.0 to 17.0

iOS 15

Apple Inc.

Support ended: n./a
Current version: 15.5, released May 16, 2022
Initial version: 15.0, released Sept. 24, 2021

Much like iOS 14, iOS 15 is more of a collection of improvements to the iPhone platform than it is a themed release. Generally speaking, iOS 15 moves forward a number of important things Apple has been working on for a number of releases: Increases security and privacy, blocks more ad tracking, improves Siri and the camera app, and much more.

Some of the biggest steps forward are influenced by the recent remote-work trend. Features in that area include improvements to FaceTime audio, support for FaceTime conferencing on the web and Android, improvements to the Messages app, and more.

Key New Features:

• FaceTime received numerous improvements aimed at improving the experience of using the app and expanding the audience for it, including:

1.SharePlay allows people on a FaceTime video call to watch video or listen to audio together, and share screens

2.Spatial Audio brings Apple’s more-natural, 3D audio experience to improve the naturalness of FaceTime sound

3.Enhanced Mic Modes allow you to isolate your voice from background noise to improve audio quality

4.Portrait Mode brings this terrific still-photos feature to video to blur your background

5.Cross-Platform support allows you to invite anyone to a FaceTime call with a link and for them to join from a web browser or Android devices.

• Focus adds a set of smart notification and communication s settings based on what you’re doing at that moment.

• The Photos app gains major improvements such as:

1.Live Text lets the app detect text inside your photos and convert it to text that can be copied and pasted, or phone numbers that can be tapped to call

2.Visual search lets you search within the Photos app for text embedded your photos.

• In keeping with Apple’s ongoing commitment to user privacy, iOS 15 adds:

1.App Privacy Report lets you know what permissions each of your apps has, how often it accesses your data, and what third-party domains the app has contacted.

2.Mail Privacy Protection blocks tracking pixels, hides your IP address from marketers, and blocks the connection of your data from email with other data sources.

3.On-device Siri means that Siri recordings are no longer sent to or stored in the cloud. Siri works completely on your iPhone, and now works offline.

• Support for the iCloud+ service that adds new Homekit and VPN-style features.

• Notifications scheduling and summary.

• Improved driving directions in Maps.

• A redesigned experience and features for managing tabs and groups of tabs in Safari.

• Better ways to find content shared with you and to share medical data from the Health app with your family.

Dropped Support For:

• iPhone 6 series. All iPhone models from the 6S series and up are supported.

• 6th Gen. iPod touch. Only the 7th Gen. iPod touch is supported.

iOS 14

Apple

Support ended: n/a
Current version: 14.6, released May 24, 2021
Initial version: 14.0, released Sept. 17, 2020

There’s no single major change or theme to the changes introduced with iOS 14. Instead, iOS 14 is a collection of numerous small and medium-sized changes to the user interface, features, and overall ease of use that add up to making the experience of using an iPhone even better.

Maybe the most notable changes are around customization, thanks to the addition of Homescreen Widgets, the ability to choose default apps in some cases, and improved privacy controls.

How to Change the Color of Apps on iOS 14

Key New Features:

• Homescreen Widgets for customized home screens and shortcuts.

• Smart Stacks that deliver different Homescreen Widgets at different times of the day based on your habits.

• Set third-party apps as default for email and web browser apps.

• App Library, a new way of organizing apps and keeping your home scree neat

• App Clips

• Picture in picture mode

• Improved privacy features to block tracking online.

• Built-in language translation for 11 languages.

• Spatial audio for AirPods delivers surround sound, along with other AirPods improvements.

• Design changes allow phone calls and FaceTime calls to take up less space on the screen and allow you to do other things at the same time.

• Numerous improvements for group texts in iMessage, including threaded replies and mentions.

Dropped Support For:

• None. iOS 14 supports the same set of devices as iOS 13

iOS 13

Apple Inc.

Support ended: n/a
Current version: 13.7, release Sept. 1, 2020.
Initial version: 13.0, released Sept. 19, 2019

Perhaps the biggest change introduced with iOS 13 is that the OS no longer runs on the iPad. That’s due to the release of iPadOS (which begins with version 13). That’s a new OS dedicated to the making the iPad a more useful productivity device and a potential laptop replacement. It’s based on iOS 13 and has many of the same features, but also adds iPad-specific items.

Beyond that, iOS 13 shores up some core features, including launching apps faster, unlocking devices with Face ID faster, and overhauling pre-installed apps like Reminders, Notes, Safari, and Mail. Maybe the most obvious new feature is the Dark Mode, but the changes range much wider than that and further bolster the already-strong OS.

Key New Features:

• System-wide Dark Mode

• Sign In With Apple user account system

• New privacy and security options

• New Portrait Lighting options

• Look Around, a Google Street View-style feature for Apple Maps

• New, improved Siri voice

• Overhauled stock apps like Reminders and Notes

Dropped Support For:

• iPad (due to the release of iPadOS)

• 6th Gen. iPod touch

• iPhone 6 series

• iPhone 5S

iOS 12

Apple Inc.

Support ended: n/a
Current version: 12.4.8. It was released July 15, 2020
Initial version: It was released on September 17, 2018

The new features and improvements added in iOS 12 aren’t as extensive or revolutionary as in some previous updates to the OS. Instead, iOS 12 focused more on making refinements to commonly used features and on adding wrinkles that improve how people use their devices.

Some of the key features of iOS 12 included improvements to Siri like Siri Shortcuts, enhanced Augmented Reality with ARKit 2, and giving users and parents ways to monitor and control their device use with Screen Time.

Key New Features:

• Grouped Notifications

• Screen Time

• ARKit 2

• Siri improvements, including Siri Shortcuts and multi-step actions

• Memoji, a personalized kind of Animoji

Dropped Support For:

• N/A

iOS 11

Apple Inc.

Support ended: n/a
Current version: 11.4.1. It was released on July 9, 2018
Initial version: It was released on September 19, 2017

iOS was originally developed to run on the iPhone. Since then, it’s been expanded to support the iPod touch and iPad (and versions of it even power the Apple Watch and Apple TV). In iOS 11, the emphasis shifted from the iPhone to the iPad.

Sure, iOS 11 contains lots of improvements for the iPhone, but its major focus is turning the iPad Pro series models into legitimate laptop replacements for some users.

This is done through a series of changes designed to make iOS running on iPad a lot more like a desktop operating system. These changes include all new drag and drop support, split screen apps and multiple workspaces, a file browser app, and support for notation and handwriting with the Apple Pencil.

Key New Features:

Dropped Support For:

• iPhone 5C

• iPhone 5

• iPad 4

• iPad 3

iOS 10

Apple Inc.

Support ended: 2019
Current version: 10.3.4. It was released on July 22, 2019
Initial version: It was released on Sept. 13, 2016

The ecosystem Apple built around iOS has long been referred to as a “walled garden” because it’s a very pleasant place to be on the inside, but it’s hard to gain access. This was reflected in the many ways Apple locked down the interface of iOS and the options it gave to apps.

Cracks began to show in the walled garden in iOS 10, and Apple put them there.

The major themes of iOS 10 were interoperability and customization. Apps could now communicate directly with each other on a device, allowing one app to use some features from another without opening the second app. Siri became available to third-party apps in new ways. There were even apps built into iMessage now.

Beyond that, users now had new ways to customize their experiences, from (finally!) being able to delete built-in apps to new animations and effects to punctuate their text messages.

Key New Features:

Dropped Support For:

• iPhone 4S

• 5th gen. iPod touch

• iPad 2

• 1st gen. iPad mini

iOS 9

Apple, Inc.

Support ended: 2018
Final version: 9.3.9. It was released on July 22, 2019
Initial version: It was released on Sept. 16, 2015

After a few years of major changes to both the interface and technical foundation of iOS, many observers began to charge that iOS was no longer the stable, dependable, solid performer it had once been. They suggested that Apple should focus on shoring up the foundation of the OS before adding new features.

That’s just what the company did with iOS 9. While it did add some new features, this release was generally aimed at solidifying the foundation of the OS for the future.

Major improvements were delivered in speed and responsiveness, stability, and performance on older devices. iOS 9 proved to be an important refocusing that laid the groundwork for the bigger improvements delivered in iOS 10 and 11.

Key New Features:

• Night Shift

• Low Power Mode

• Public beta program

Dropped Support For:

• N/A

iOS 8

Apple, Inc.

Support ended: 2016
Final version: 8.4.1. It was released on Aug. 13, 2015
Initial version: It was released on Sept. 17, 2014

More consistent and stable operation returned to iOS in version 8.0. With the radical changes of the last two versions now in the past, Apple once again focused on delivering major new features.

Among these features was its secure, contactless payment system Apple Pay and, with the iOS 8.4 update, the Apple Music subscription service.

There were continued improvements to the iCloud platform, too, with the addition of the Dropbox-like iClould Drive, iCloud Photo Library, and iCloud Music Library.

Key New Features:

Dropped Support For:

• iPhone 4

iOS 7

Corbis News / Getty Images

Support ended: 2016
Final version: 7.1.2. It was released on June 30, 2014.
Initial version: It was released on Sept. 18, 2013

Like iOS 6, iOS 7 was met with substantial resistance upon its release. Unlike iOS 6, though, the cause of unhappiness among iOS 7 users wasn’t that things didn’t work. Rather, it was because things had changed.

After the firing of Scott Forstall, iOS development was overseen by Jony Ive, Apple’s head of design, who had previously only worked on hardware. In this version of iOS, Ive ushered in a major overhaul of the user interface, designed to make it more modern.

While the design was indeed more modern, its small, thin fonts were hard to read for some users and frequent animations caused motion sickness for others. The design of the current iOS is derived from the changes made in iOS 7. After Apple made improvements, and users became accustomed to the changes, complaints subsided.

Key New Features:

Dropped Support For:

• iPhone 3GS

• iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, 3rd gen. iPad, and iPad 2 couldn’t use all features of iOS 7

iOS 6

marco_1186 / Flickr

Support ended: 2015
Final version: 6.1.6. It was released on Feb. 21, 2014
Initial version: It was released on Sept. 19, 2012

Controversy was one of the dominant themes of iOS 6. While this version introduced the world to Siri — which, despite being later surpassed by competitors, was a truly revolutionary technology — problems with it also led to major changes.

The driver of these problems was Apple’s increasing competition with Google, whose Android smartphone platform was posing a threat to the iPhone. Google had supplied the Maps and YouTube apps pre-installed with the iPhone since 1.0. In iOS 6, that changed.

Apple introduced its own Maps app, which was badly received due to bugs, bad directions, and problems with certain features. As part of the company’s efforts to solve the problems, Apple CEO Tim Cook asked the head of iOS development, Scott Forstall, to make a public apology. When he refused, Cook fired him. Forstall had been involved with the iPhone since before the first model, so this was a profound change.

Key New Features:

• Apple Maps

• Do Not Disturb

• Passbook (now Wallet)

Dropped Support For:

• None, but iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPad 2 couldn’t use all features of iOS 6

iOS 5

Francis Dean / Getty Images

Support ended: 2014
Final version: 5.1.1. It was released on May 7, 2012
Initial version: It was released on Oct. 12, 2011

Apple responded to the growing trend of wirelessness, and cloud computing, in iOS 5, by introducing essential new features and platforms. Among those was iCloud, the ability to activate an iPhone wirelessly (previously it had required a connection to a computer), and syncing with iTunes via Wi-Fi.

More features that are now central to the iOS experience debuted here, including iMessage and Notification Center.

With iOS 5, Apple dropped support for the iPhone 3G, 1st gen. iPad, and 2nd and 3rd gen. iPod touch.

Key New Features:

• iCloud

• iMessage

• Notification Center

• Wireless syncing and activation

Dropped Support For:

• iPhone 3G

• 1st gen. iPad

• 2nd gen. iPod touch

• 3rd gen. iPod touch

iOS 4

Ramin Talaie / Getty Images

Support ended: 2013
Final version: 4.3.5. It was released on July 25, 2011
Initial version: It was released on June 22, 2010

Many aspects of the modern iOS began to take shape in iOS 4. Features that are now widely used debuted in various updates to this version, including FaceTime, multitasking, iBooks, organizing apps into folders, Personal Hotspot, AirPlay, and AirPrint.

Another important change introduced with iOS 4 was the name “iOS” itself. As noted earlier, the iOS name was unveiled for this version, replacing the previously used “iPhone OS” name.

This was also the first version of iOS to drop support for any iOS devices. It was not compatible with the original iPhone or the 1st generation iPod touch. Some older models that were technically compatible were not able to use all features of this version.

Key New Features:

Dropped Support For:

• Original iPhone

• 1st Gen. iPod touch

iOS 3

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images News

Support ended: 2012
Final version: 3.2.2. It was released on Aug. 11, 2010
Initial version: It was released on June 17, 2009

The release of this version of iOS accompanied the debut of the iPhone 3GS. It added features including copy and paste, Spotlight search, MMS support in the Messages app, and the ability to record videos using the Camera app.

Also notable about this version of iOS is that it was the first to support the iPad. The 1st generation iPad was released in 2010, and version 3.2 of the software came with it.

Key New Features:

• Copy and paste

• Spotlight search

• Recording videos

iOS 2

Jason Kempin / Getty Images

Support ended: 2011
Final version: 2.2.1. It was released on January 27, 2009
Initial version: It was released on July 11, 2008

One year after the iPhone became a bigger hit than almost anyone projected, Apple released iOS 2.0 (then called iPhone OS 2.0) to coincide with the release of the iPhone 3G.

The most profound change introduced in this version was the App Store and its support for real third-party apps (rather than web apps). Around 500 apps were available in the App Store at launch. Hundreds of other crucial improvements were also added.

Other important changes introduced in the 5 updates iPhone OS 2.0 included podcast support and public transit and walking directions in Maps (both in version 2.2).

Key New Features:

• App Store

• Improved Maps app

iOS 1

Apple Inc.

Support ended: 2010
Final version: 1.1.5. It was released on July 15, 2008
Initial version: It was released on June 29, 2007

The one that started it all, which shipped pre-installed on the original iPhone.

This version of the operating system wasn’t called iOS at the time it launched. From versions 1-3, Apple referred to it as the iPhone OS. The name shifted to iOS with version 4.

It’s hard to convey to modern readers who have lived with the iPhone for years how profound a breakthrough this version of the operating system was. Support for features like the multitouch screen, Visual Voicemail, and iTunes integration were significant advances.

While this initial release was a major breakthrough at the time, it lacked many of the features that would come to be closely associated with the iPhone in the future, including support for real third-party apps. Pre-installed apps included Calendar, Photos, Camera, Notes, Safari, Mail, Phone, and iPod (which was later split into the Music and Videos apps).

Version 1.1, which was released in Sept. 2007 was the first version of the software compatible with the iPod touch.

Key New Features:

• Visual Voicemail

• Multitouch interface

• Safari browser

• Music app

FAQ

• How can I see the version update history of an iOS app?

Go to the App store, select an app, and tap Version History. There, you will see all updates for the app, plus the date of each update.

• How can I get notifications about new versions of iOS apps?

To receive notifications about new versions of iOS apps, you must turn off automatic updates on your iOS device. Go to Settings > App Store > turn off App Updates. When you turn off automatic updates, the App Store is forced to notify you that an update is available for your iOS app.

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The best smart speakers for 2023

By admin December 20, 2023

The best smart speakers for 2023, Smart speakers are an integral part of any smart home, often serving as the brains of the entire operation. Beyond pumping out impressive audio or giving you updates on the morning news, smart speakers can listen to voice commands before passing out instructions to the rest of your gadgets. Functionality varies widely by product, making it important to find the best smart speaker for your setup.

Thankfully, it’s hard to pick a dud in today’s loaded marketplace. Whether you’re an Apple loyalist, a Google enthusiast, or an avid user of Amazon Alexa, just about every big tech company is churning out incredible smart speakers. But if you need some help narrowing down all your options, here’s a look at the best smart speakers of 2023.

Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Sonos Era 100

The best smart speaker

As the successor to the Sonos One (our previous best smart speaker), it should come as no surprise that the Era 100 is just as easy to recommend. Everything that made the Sonos One popular has been improved with the Era 100 – including sound quality, usability, and the addition of native Bluetooth support.

The Sonos Era 100 produces booming sound thanks to its twin angled tweeters, a woofer that’s 25% larger than the Sonos One, and custom waveguides that help send noise to all corners of your room. It also features a faster processor, which results in better performance when giving it commands.

Interacting with the device is more streamlined than it was on the Sonos One, which used gestures and touch controls on the top of the device. For the Era 100, you’ll get simple buttons for everything from volume controls to track selection.

It’s still expensive (typically retailing for $249), but there’s no doubt it’s a premium smart speaker that should appeal to even the most discerning audiophile.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sonos One (Gen 2)

The best smart speaker (Runner-up)

The second-generation version of the Sonos One is even more user-friendly, with an updated design that adds touch controls and incorporates Bluetooth 5.0 for a variety of connection options. Its core features still remain, however, including the ability to choose between Alexa or Google Assistant and to link with other Sonos speakers through Wi-Fi to fill the room with even more sound.

The speaker’s far-field microphone array effortlessly hears voice commands from across a room, even when music is playing. If you have qualms about privacy, Sonos claims that muting the microphones is done via hardware, ensuring that when the mic indicator light is off, the speaker is definitely not listening. With AirPlay 2, you can stream any audio from an Apple device directly to the speaker or to any other Sonos speaker in your home.

But our favorite aspect of this model is simply the fact that it’s a Sonos speaker. The Sonos wireless whole-home music system remains the very best we’ve ever tested. It has support for almost every major music streaming service, and it’s all controlled from an app on your phone, tablet, or PC. Not only is the app full of great features like Apple Music playlist compatibility and the ability to group multiple speakers, but these features are also remarkably easy to use.

Thanks to Sonos’ partnership with Ikea, there’s also a growing ecosystem of cool third-party devices that can be used to control the Sonos One and any other Sonos speakers in your home. The Sonos One (Gen 2) is a fantastic speaker and a great way to smarten up your home.

The best smart speakers for 2023

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Clock

The best budget smart speaker

The 4th-gen Amazon Echo Dot already upgraded the design to an orb that matched the larger flagship Echo and greatly improved the sound of the speaker — but Amazon outdid itself with the 5th-gen model and the host of smart features it contains.

Alexa is fully supported, of course, and those little speakers do an incredible job of filling a small space with sound. The clock version (not necessary but nice) is especially well-suited for an office desk or a bedside table — and onboard controls include privacy switches among other benefits. Plus, as is tradition, there are kid versions of the speaker, this time with owl and dragon skins.

Amazon also added even more useful technology to the 5th-gen model, including a higher-resolution display, and new accelerometer and temperature sensors to provide more information about your surroundings. There’s a new chip also for tap-based controls (all the better for an alarm clock), and it now has Eero tech built in, allowing it to connect with an Eero router to help extend it

The most appealing part about the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) with Clock is its price. At $60, it’s easy on just about any budget — meaning you can buy multiple units without forking over a huge sum of money! And who doesn’t like that?

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Amazon Echo (4th Gen)

The best smart speaker for Amazon Alexa

The larger, spherical design of the 4th-gen Echo doesn’t just look cool and modern. It also packs a set of speakers specializing in 360-degree sound designed for larger areas, filling spaces with tunes or other audio while listening for voice commands from across the room.

Of course, it’s a wonderful centerpiece in the living room if you’re planning to entertain guests, like a speaker in the kitchen for music, and so on. Other features like a 3.5mm auxiliary jack, Bluetooth, and stereo pairing round out its audio features. When it comes to controlling the smart home, the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) can be used to turn off lights, check up on calendar appointments, and order pizza.

Meanwhile, it can also monitor your home while you’re away by sending you notifications if it hears the sounds of smoke alarms with Alexa Guard. You’re getting a rich smart speaker in terms of performance, and features with the Amazon Echo (4th Gen).

John Velasco / Digital Trends

Google Nest Audio

The best smart speaker for Google Assistant

Google Nest Audio plays to a wide range of people because it brings that perfect mixture of intelligence and raw power.

What’s apparent is that it’s a substantially beefier speaker than the Google Home — aided by its 19mm tweeter and 75mm mid-woofer. The result is a Google Assistant-powered smart speaker that roars with incredible power. There’s no denying that it’s far more equipped at playing music than its successor, just because it’s 76% louder and has a 50% boost in bass.

You can also pair it with another Google Nest Audio for stereo sound, plus you can group multiple speakers in other rooms to play your tunes everywhere — while being harmoniously in sync. The best part of Nest Audio is that you’re not paying a fortune for premium audio with its $100 sticker price. It’s affordable, packs all the intelligence of Google Assistant, and even delivers impressive sound.

John Velasco / Digital Trends

Apple HomePod Mini

The best affordable smart speaker for HomeKit

Apple certainly learned how tough it can be to complete in the smart speaker space. While its HomePod faced stiff competition when it launched, its sibling in the HomePod Mini fared much better. Part of that reasoning is that the HomePod Mini was cheaper, while still offering excellent audio performance.

Apple users will appreciate the HomePod Mini in the home because Siri can be leveraged on the speaker to accomplish a number of things, such as turning on the lights, unlocking the door, and much more. When it comes to audio, there’s still a lot of power behind its compact design — but what’s impressive is its ability to adapt to whatever it’s playing. For example, if you’re watching a movie on your television and using the HomePod Mini as your audio source, it’ll tune the audio accordingly so that dialogue won’t be drowned out by the sound effects in the background.

Speaking of home theater experiences, you can achieve that by pairing two HomePod Mini speakers together. In fact, you’d be surprised by how well it sounds compared to a traditional soundbar.

Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

The best smart speaker for TV

Even the best TVs typically have lousy sound quality due to their tiny built-in speakers, which makes soundbars an attractive option for many. However, there are a lot of soundbars and not all of them are as smart as the modern home theater needs. That’s where this excellent iteration of the Sonos Beam steps up.

A compact and well-styled bar, it can easily fit under the smallest of TVs on either a console or on the wall using the optional bracket. Like every Sonos product, it has impressive sound quality for its size and can become part of a much larger multiroom audio system. The Gen 2 model is further improved with the addition of Dolby Atmos, an important part of home entertainment audio these days. The Sonos app lets you stream from virtually every music service on the planet and it does an excellent job managing your private music collection, too.

But the reason we’ve chosen the Beam for this roundup is its smart speaker chops. With the ability to run either Google Assistant or Alexa as its voice assistant, it can serve as the hub for a host of home automation commands. It can translate spoken commands for Google Assistant or Alexa into signals that control your TV. “Alexa, turn on Bedroom TV,” will do just that. Other commands, like “Alexa, turn the volume up on Bedroom TV,” work well too, as will similar commands for Google Assistant. You can also control the speaker with an app, or use it with Apple AirPlay 2.

Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Bose Portable Home Speaker

The best portable smart speaker

You already know that we love the Sonos One for its ability to let you choose your preferred voice assistant. The Bose Portable Home Speaker gives you that choice too, plus a built-in rechargeable battery, carry-handle, and Bluetooth so you can take it with you anywhere you go.

Though considerably more expensive than the Sonos One, the Bose is the ideal choice for people who demand absolute flexibility. When at home and connected to your Wi-Fi network, the Portable Home Speaker is a full-fledged smart speaker that lets you talk to Alexa or Google Assistant. Using your voice to control music playback via Spotify works like a charm, but the Bose app gives you additional options like multiple speaker groupings. The app isn’t as good as the one Sonos provides, but as long as you don’t intend to build a whole-home music system using Bose speakers, we doubt you’ll mind.

While you shouldn’t let it fall in the pool, the speaker is protected from small amounts of water thanks to its IPX4 rating, so you need not fear the occasional unexpected rain shower.

Apple users will love the AirPlay 2 integration which lets you stream any audio — be it music from your favorite streaming service, or the soundtrack from a Netflix movie — directly to the speaker when connected to Wi-Fi. When on the road (or if you’re an Android user) the Bose Portable Home Speaker’s Bluetooth connection lets you keep the tunes going. With 12 hours of battery life between charges, those tunes can go on for most of a day.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Amazon Echo Studio

The best smart speaker for 3D sound

Though it bears a resemblance to the Apple HomePod with its cylindrical shape, the Echo Studio is, in fact, an entirely new breed of smart speaker. It’s still an Amazon Echo, which means that you get all of the benefits of being able to issue voice commands to Alexa to control everything from your music to your thermostat. But when it comes to audio, the Echo Studio is in a class of its own.

With the launch of the Amazon Music HD streaming service, Amazon is now a leading source of top-quality music. The service offers CD-quality audio and hi-res audio, as well as immersive 3D music tracks via Dolby Atmos Music, and Sony 360 Reality Audio. And for now, the Echo Studio is the only speaker on the planet that works with all of them.

CD-quality and hi-res audio are fairly easy to understand: They’re the best versions of stereo audio you can get. Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio are different. These two new formats expand your music into something far wider, deeper, and immersive — which is why we refer to them as 3D. The Echo Studio not only projects these formats around a room the way they were meant to be heard, but it also reinforces the sound with a clean and powerful bass response we simply didn’t expect from a speaker at this price.

The Amazon Echo Studio may not please all audiophiles — it tends to muffle some midrange sounds for stereo sound — but it is nonetheless a superb value and (at the moment) a unique smart speaker that leads a growing movement. Also, note that Amazon announced an update for Echo Studio firmware in 2022 to give it Amazon’s own spatial audio processing, designed to improve clarity compared to standard audio. You’ll need Amazon Music Unlimited to use it, but it’s a notable upgrade to the Studio’s sound options.

Zeke Jones / Digital Trends

HomePod 2023

The best smart speaker for HomeKit

If you love HomeKit but need something with a bit more power than the HomePod mini, consider opting for the new Apple HomePod. It offers all the same functionality as its smaller sibling, but thanks to its larger footprint, the HomePod is capable of producing loud, room-filling sounds. Inside the device, you’ll find a high-excursion woofer and an array of beamforming tweeters, which is just a fancy way of saying the HomePod sounds fantastic.

Another perk of the HomePod is its ability to optimize its sound for any room. Using Room Sensing technology and Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, you can rest assured your smart speaker is pumping out the best possible sound at all times. And if you want to fill your entire home with great sound, HomePod supports multiroom audio through AirPlay. It’s not cheap at $300, but no doubt you’re getting your money’s worth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I buy an Alexa smart speaker or Google smart speaker?

That depends on which ecosystem you like and use most. Both have their benefits and drawbacks, and both work with the most popular streaming services. Alexa tends to work with more smart devices, but this is becoming less of a factor with time. If you’re undecided, pick a smart speaker that gives you a choice like the Sonos One.

Do smart speakers help the visually impaired?

Yes, they have a lot of functionality that doesn’t require buttons, making smart speakers great for visually impaired people. They are particularly useful when paired with smart devices around the home that can be controlled via voice. Even without smart devices, these speakers can help make schedules, read the news, look up information, plan events, provide recipes to cook meals, and lots more — really putting the “assistant” in voice assistant.

Do smart speakers have an AUX input?

Some smart speakers, like the Marshall Stanmore II Voice, have 3.5mm inputs. If you need an AUX input, we recommend making sure the speaker has one before purchasing.

Can I use smart speakers to listen to FM radio?

No, most smart speakers do not have an FM tuner. If you want to listen to the radio, your best bet is to play an internet radio station on these speakers. Some services do turn FM channels into internet stations you can listen to on smart devices, like myTuner Radio.

Do smart speakers usually have a battery?

It’s not common. Batteries are more common on simpler Bluetooth speakers designed more for portability. If you want to take your smart speaker with you on the go, we recommend making sure it has a built-in or add-on battery (like the Bose Portable Home Speaker).

Do smart speakers need Wi-Fi?

Yes, smart speakers generally need Wi-Fi to set up and use. You can access some features with Bluetooth, but a Wi-Fi connection is still needed for the smart speaker to operate.

Are smart speakers always listening to me?

Yes and no. After some initial hiccups, smart speakers typically work like this: The mics are always listening for their wake word, like, “Hey, Alexa.” But they don’t recognize or record anything else. Once they do hear the wake word, they listen to the speech after it to interpret the request. That command is typically recorded, but settings in apps like Alexa allow you to stop the speaker from storing the command in the cloud, or make sure it’s deleted soon afterward. Smart speakers also come with physical mute buttons that will shut down the mics entirely if you don’t want them on.

Can children use smart speakers?

Today’s smart speakers have voice profiles so each person in the family can create their own profile with their own preferences. You can also use apps to set controls, such as disabling any music with profanity, etc. That being said, there have been cases of kids using smart speakers to order things online (100 gallons of ice cream, etc.) or otherwise getting into trouble, so it’s a good idea to limit what they can do.

Can all my devices work with a smart speaker?

Compatibility has long been a problematic part of smart platforms that power smart speakers and other devices. In past years, it’s been a tug of war between brands to get third-party smart devices to support their own voice assistants and apps, so you may have a device that works on Alexa but not with Google Home, and so on. Alexa has generally done the best with third-party support, followed by Google, then Apple’s HomeKit and Home app.

That’s starting to change and change quickly. The big three smart brands, along with a wide variety of other tech companies, banded together and created a new smart home protocol to work on all their platforms, called Matter. These days, you can look for the Matter logo or check to see if your devices are backward compatible with Matter and rest easy. Older devices, however, may still have limited compatibility, so you may have to do some extra research.

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The best Apple HomeKit devices 2023

By admin December 20, 2023

While not as widespread as Google Home or Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit remains one of the most popular smart home ecosystems of 2023. The software plays well with iOS devices, and several other gadgets such as smart lights, smart locks, thermostats, and cameras can be controlled using the fancy technology. If you’re looking to build your smart home around Apple’s ecosystem, here are the best HomeKit devices available today.

Locks

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HomeKit doesn’t have the largest selection of smart locks, but that doesn’t really matter when you have something as well-rounded as the Aqara Smart Lock U100. Not only does it offer full HomeKit support, but you’ll even gain access to Apple home keys — allowing you to unlock your door with your iPhone or Apple Watch. There’s also the standard keypad for entering a passcode, along with a fingerprint sensor that can store several dozen fingerprints (so your whole family can enter the home without worrying about forgetting their password or smartphone).

A physical key is included for emergency access, and the smart lock is designed to run for up to eight months before you’ll need to replace its batteries. Other standout features include “Do Not Disturb Mode,” auto-locking, and an IP65 rating to help it withstand whatever nature throws its way.

The Schlage Encode Plus is another solid option. This lock includes all of the latest HomeKit features, including Apple home key support. Of course, you still have access to a physical key lock and touchscreen support. The Encode Plus also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant while having full HomeKit and Siri support. The lock is pretty expensive at $299, but if you want a lock with all of Apple’s secure HomeKit features and a host of other features, Schlage’s Encode Plus is currently your only route.

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is still a great choice for one of the best smart locks and makes it possible for you to do things like track who is coming and going, give access to specific people, or lock and unlock your door remotely. Plus, it attaches to your existing deadbolt, so you don’t have to get a new set of house keys. In addition to being compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, it’s also compatible with Apple HomeKit, too. You can check out our full review of the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock.

Don’t want to have to worry about a house key? Yale Assure Lock uses a touchscreen keypad. If you upgrade your Yale Assure Lock (models YRD246 or YRD256) with a Yale iM1 Network Module, it’ll be compatible with Apple HomeKit. The module typically costs somewhere in the $50 range, and it’ll let you control the lock with voice commands and more. Read more about the Yale Assure SL lock in our full review.

You could also spring for the Yale Assure Lock 2, which comes in a variety of designs — including a few models that give you remote access to your front door via Wi-Fi. Our review found it to be a premium smart lock that’s more than worth its hefty price tag. If you’re deep into the Apple ecosystem, consider springing for the Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus with Apple Home Keys, as it works not just with HomeKit, but also supports Home Keys — allowing you to unlock your door with a tap of your iPhone or Apple Watch.

The best Apple HomeKit devices 2023

Lighting

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Now your favorite Hue products work with your Apple devices. You can adjust dimming, change colors in certain rooms, sync your lights, set scenes, and more. The Philips Hue Starter Kit is a great way to get started with smart lighting.

Lifx A19 LED Bulbs are another great HomeKit-compatible option. Delivering 1,100 lumens, they’re about as bright as a 75-watt incandescent bulb. However, they’re energy-efficient at only 11 watts, and they have a 22-year lifespan. With 16 million color options and no hub required, Lifx A19s offers a lot in a compact-sized bulb, including the Candle Color, the first smart LED bulb that can emit multiple colors of light at once.

The Nanoleaf Essentials Matter A19 Smart Bulb boasts full HomeKit support, and it even works with Matter. It’ll give you access to millions of different colors, a simple smartphone app, and a quick setup process. Consider giving it a look if you need something that works not just with Apple HomeKit, but other smart home platforms you may have running in your house.

If you want something a little bit different, Nanoleaf’s Light Panels are triangular smart light panels you can shape into whatever design you like. Connect them to Apple HomeKit to activate different scenes. There’s even a rhythm add-on, so your panels and music will work in sync. If you’re looking for a less expensive way to add some color to your space, another great option is the Lifx Z, a HomeKit controllable Multi Color LED Light strip. The ribbon comes in at 6.6 feet, and additional extensions can be added on for greater flexibility.

Switches and smart plugs

Wemo

Don’t have a smart light but want to tell “Hey Siri, dim the bedroom light?” The WeMo Smart Light Switch lets you voice-control your lights, set your lights on a schedule, and optimize them based on the bulbs you’re using and prevent flickering. With Apple HomeKit, you can tell Siri to turn the lights off for bedtime, or you can have it set the lights to brighten in the morning. The Lutron Caseta Smart Lighting Dimmer Switch is also compatible with HomeKit, and you can even install the switch without a neutral wire.

Another option is to go with a smart plug, which lets you control devices you plug in (think lamps, holiday lights, or even appliances). The Wemo Smart Plug with Thread from Belkin lets you control a plugged-in device with your voice or phone when connecting it to Apple HomeKit. This edition with Thread support allows for a faster and more reliable connection.

For an even smaller version, you may prefer the Pure Gear PureSwitch, which offers app control, timers, and energy management options for anything you plug in. If you want to replace an entire outlet (both top and bottom) then check out the Connectsense Smart Outlet 2. You’ll also get a lot of information about how much energy your devices are using, through the Connectsense app. This plug also works with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Thermostats

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Ecobee released its Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium and Smart Thermostat Enhanced models in 2022. Seeing that the Ecobee 4 was our previous choice for the best thermostat, it’s easy to give the crown to the new generation. The model sports a new design and the Ecobee’s Smart Thermostat Premium has Siri fully built-in and is HomeKit-compatible. It still works with Google Home and Amazon Alexa, as well. The new radar sensor and air quality monitor take the advancements and convenience up a level. If you want something a bit more affordable, the Ecobee Lite still has a lot to offer. The Lite works with HomeKit and other smart home systems, but it doesn’t have Alexa built into the thermostat.

Honeywell’s Lyric T6 Pro thermostat is HomeKit-compatible as well, and it’s a very cost-effective option. The T6 Pro is an upgrade to one of our old top choices, Honeywell’s Lyric T5. It has features like geofencing, scheduling, and smart alerts. Adaptive auto-recovery makes it so the thermostat knows how long it takes to heat or cool your home to your desired temperature at specific times, and the thermostat can also auto-change from heat to cool.

Otherwise, if you are more interested in a minimal approach — a thermostat that appears to disappear into your wall — you’ll want to take a look at the ; variations are available for both baseboard heating and in-floor heating. Minimal doesn’t mean simple, however, as the Mysa includes a smartphone app to monitor your energy usage and set up a heating schedule.

Cameras and security devices

Daven Mathies/Digital Trends

Logitech’s Circle View is a smart choice if you’re focused on personal privacy with features such as an electronic shutter. It’s weatherproof, easy to set up, and has some pretty decent free features, like 24-hour cloud storage and smart alerts with snapshots. It also has an impressive view radius of 180 degrees. Some of the more advanced features, like person detection and motion zones, require a paid subscription (after a 10-day free trial).

Eufy also has a range of affordable indoor and outdoor cameras that work flawlessly with HomeKit Secure Video. Another great part is that you don’t need a subscription to use these cameras either. Check out Eufy Indoor Cam 2K , Indoor Cam Pan & Tilt 2K, and Floodlight Cam 2 Pro to get the best of the company’s offerings. Keep in mind that if you want to stream a HomeKit-enabled camera remotely, you need a HomePod Mini, an Apple TV 4K, or Apple TV (4th generation).

Apple HomeKit supports other security devices outside of just cameras. Eve and Aqara create complete lines of various sensors to place around and monitor your home. For example, Eve has a door and window sensor, a motion sensor, and a room sensor that monitors temperature and air quality. Aqara also has low-cost sensors, including a water-leak sensor, temperature and humidity sensor, and a vibration sensor, to name a few. Sensors like those or the can add extra home security while also making it possible for you to do things like have the lights turn on when your door opens.

Your options for video doorbells are limited with HomeKit, but the Logitech Circle View Wired Doorbell is a solid option. It’s a bit pricey at $200, but it offers secure storage that’s encrypted before getting backed up to iCloud, rich notifications that alert you when an animal, vehicle, or person is detected, and it supports customizable motion zones. It’s also a rather sleek device, featuring a design that’s all black and with a footprint smaller than most other video doorbells on the market.

A/V devices

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Whether you’re a music fanatic or cinephile, you can use an Apple HomePod mini to expand your at-home A/V experience. For starters, the HomePod mini is an excellent way to listen to your favorite playlists. The speaker’s sound is surprisingly room-filling for its size and includes Thread connectivity to help with your other smart home accessories. Purchase multiple HomePod minis, and you can pair them together to create 360-degree stereo sound.

If you’re willing to drop a bit more cash, you can snag the new HomePod 2023 for $299. It offers everything found in the HomePod mini, although you’ll be treated to radically improved audio. Thanks to its larger footprint, the HomePod manages to pack in a high-excursion woofer, a beamforming array of five tweeters, and supports Spatial Audio and Room sensing to optimize its performance regardless of where you place it. In other words, the HomePod is a massive upgrade over the HomePod mini and is perfect for creating room-filling sound.

Alternatively, Sonos, has a plethora of products that all have Airplay 2 and are HomeKit-compatible. You can purchase the Sonos One, Sonos Beam, Sonos Amp, or the Sonos Ray soundbar and Sonos Roam portable speaker. The new Sonos Era 100 is another great option, as it’s built with support for AirPlay 2, and you can use Siri to play Apple Music through the Home app.

For home-theater hounds, the fourth-gen Apple TV 4K is a fantastic way to bring HomeKit to your media cave. The streaming device delivers crystal-clear 4K HDR and features Siri support. In cases where you may need a smart bridge to control your HomeKit devices, the Apple TV can do that.

Bridges

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Even though there aren’t a lot of smart home systems that require bridges, they can be crucial in some cases. As you might expect from their name, bridges connect the Home app and HomeKit with a particular brand’s devices, guaranteeing compatibility. They are essential for people who want to increase the functionality of their favorite brands.

For instance, let’s look at the Wemo Bridge. It links the Home app and the Belkin Wemo brand, increasing compatibility between devices such as the Wemo Switch, Insight Smart Plug, LightSwitch, and Dimmer.

The advantage of this is that your older Wemo devices will work with your system again. The Apple TV 4K is also a terrific, trustworthy bridge for HomeKit devices.

Stay tuned for Matter

CSA

Matter, a new interoperability standard for smart home gadgets, has already started rolling out to select devices — and more are expected to follow in the coming months. In fact, the company recently revealed the new HomePod — which comes with full Matter support. Apple is one of the biggest companies on board with the technology, meaning HomeKit devices should soon be compatible with any devices that support Matter. In other words, the small HomeKit catalog will grow much larger once Matter updates are pushed to some of today’s hottest devices. A variety of Google and Amazon products have already been updated, so keep your eyes peeled as more manufacturers jump on board throughout 2023.

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