laptops

Microsoft and PC makers have stopped using the Copilot+ branding on new Windows 11 laptops, phasing out the label that was meant to mark AI-capable machines. Reports describe the AI PC branding as tarnished and quietly pulled back rather than formally retired, raising questions about how Microsoft will market AI features in future hardware.

Reports claim Apple is preparing a redesigned MacBook Pro that would feature an OLED display and a return of touchscreen functionality. If accurate, it would mark a significant shift for a laptop line that has long resisted touch input while moving away from LCD panels. Details on timing, pricing, and which models would be affected remain unconfirmed.

A blind MacBook Air M1 user cracked the display after lifting the laptop by its screen, but says being screenless is no problem because they rely on Apple's VoiceOver screen reader. The practical sticking point is QR codes, which normally require seeing the screen; they describe working around this without buying an external monitor, sparking discussion about accessible computing.

Actor Henry Cavill, best known for starring in The Witcher, is reported to be working with Google on a video game tied to the company's new Googlebook laptops. The announcement has drawn attention given Cavill's well-known passion for gaming and his role in the Witcher franchise, sparking discussion about what the collaboration could produce.

Early benchmarks of Apple's base M5 chip show it running Resident Evil Village at 1080p with frame rates between 42 and 63 FPS, falling short of Nvidia's RTX 4060 laptop GPU. Testing suggests only the higher-tier M5 configurations can compete with high-end mobile graphics cards, tempering expectations for base-model gaming performance.

Tech commentators are explaining that battery capacity and battery life are not the same thing. A large capacity figure, measured in mAh or Wh, does not guarantee longer runtime, since software efficiency, screen use and hardware demands also determine how long a device lasts. The discussion aims to clear up a common confusion for buyers comparing phones, laptops and other gadgets.

Liliputing's latest news roundup highlights three projects: the Banana Pi BPI-CM7, a new compute module for single-board computer builds; a so-called modern iPod, a portable media player inspired by the classic Apple device; and a homemade mini laptop built around an ATmega2560 microcontroller. The roundup collects DIY hardware projects and small PC news for hobbyists and tinkerers following the maker scene.

Amazon's October 2026 Prime Big Deal Days event is underway, with retailers and tech outlets publishing live coverage of the best discounts on gadgets, laptops, and smart home devices. Tom's Hardware is tracking the top tech deals throughout the sale, which is expected to run for 48 hours and drive a surge in online shopping ahead of the holiday season.

Lenovo has launched the Legion 5i, a gaming laptop featuring an OLED display, aiming to bring higher-quality visuals to the mainstream gaming market. The announcement highlights Lenovo's push to compete in the gaming segment, where OLED panels are increasingly seen as a premium differentiator. Further details on pricing, availability and specifications have not yet been widely reported.

Engadget has published a guide on improving laptop webcam quality, noting that built-in webcams are rarely impressive pieces of hardware but their shortcomings can be offset. The piece walks through practical adjustments users can make, such as improving lighting and tweaking software settings, to get a sharper, more flattering picture from the camera already in their machine.

A writer says they have replaced Grammarly with a locally run large language model, meaning grammar and style checks now happen entirely on their own laptop with no text sent to the cloud. The move highlights growing interest in offline AI tools that offer privacy, avoid subscription fees, and keep sensitive writing out of third-party servers.

Google's first Chromebook, the Cr-48, was never sold in stores and did not even carry the Chromebook name. The unbranded, plain black laptop was sent to testers as a pilot device ahead of the 2011 Chromebook launch, serving as a proof of concept for Google's browser-based computing vision. Tech commentators are revisiting the device and its role in shaping Google's later cloud-first laptop lineup.

A laptop owner traced two stubborn problems, large clock drift and broken suspend/resume, to an empty CR2016 CMOS battery on the motherboard. After replacing it, using a battery tab spot welder to attach nickel tabs to the new cell, both issues reportedly disappeared. The post is being shared as a handy troubleshooting tip for similar laptop faults.

Himax Technologies, the Taiwan-based display driver maker, has scheduled its third quarter 2026 financial results conference call for Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 8:00 AM EST. Investors will be watching for updates on demand for its display chips, which are used in smartphones, televisions, laptops and automotive screens, along with guidance on margins and revenue.

A device associated with Samsung's long-rumoured Googlebook laptop has shown up in a Geekbench listing, fueling debate over which specs are confirmed and which remain rumor. The benchmark entry suggests the hardware is in testing, but details such as processor, display and launch timing are still unverified, and neither Samsung nor Google has officially acknowledged the project.

A fresh round of tech discounts is underway, with the Google Pixel Watch 5 discounted by up to $138 and HP's OmniBook 3 laptop cut by $150. Belkin's 25W 3-in-1 magnetic charger for Android is also on sale, alongside the new Twelve South AirFly Drive wireless Android Auto adapter at $40, timed with Amazon's early fall Prime Day sale event.

Chipmaker Micron's boom, driven by surging demand for memory chips used in AI data centers, is filtering through to consumer prices for electronics. With memory suppliers prioritizing high-margin data center sales, everyday products like phones, laptops and PCs are becoming more expensive, and analysts warn the pressure on shoppers could persist as AI investment keeps absorbing chip supply.

A detailed review of the Lenovo Chromebook Plus is drawing attention, with the writer describing a renewed interest in Chromebooks ahead of Google's latest Chromebook announcements. The piece covers ChromeOS on ARM hardware from Lenovo, reflecting growing curiosity about how well these budget-friendly laptops now perform for everyday use.

Parents are voicing frustration over a familiar contradiction: children are told to get off their screens, yet schools increasingly require tablets and laptops for homework. The mixed message leaves families struggling to set limits on device use while still meeting school expectations. Many say they want clearer guidance from schools on separating educational screen time from leisure use.

DoorDash has moved its AI engineering agents from developers' laptops to Flux, a cloud-based platform that now handles around 130,000 automated tasks a month, including roughly 25,000 weekly code reviews. The system runs agents in isolated micro virtual machines and cloud sandboxes designed to keep autonomous code operations secure. The scale of deployment is drawing attention as one of the larger corporate examples of AI agents doing routine software engineering work.

Apple's MacBook displays are not meant to be covered by screen protectors, and doing so can actually damage the laptop. Because MacBooks close with almost no gap between screen and keyboard, a protector can transfer pressure or debris onto the display, risking permanent wear. Technology outlets and users are renewing warnings against the common accessory.

ASUS's 16-inch TUF Gaming A16 laptop, equipped with a Ryzen 9 processor and an RTX 5060 GPU, is being offered at a 10% discount. The machine features a 165Hz display aimed at smooth gaming performance, and Japanese gaming media are highlighting the deal for players seeking a capable mid-range portable gaming PC.

The open-source firmware project Coreboot has released version 26.09, adding support for the Framework Laptop 12 and introducing a new policy on AI-generated comments in code reviews. The release matters to users who want open firmware alternatives to vendor BIOS on recent hardware, particularly the modular laptop maker's latest device.