Cale Hunt
Senior Commerce Writer
93 articles published since July 01, 2021
About Cale Hunt
Cale has been testing and reviewing laptops, PC hardware, and accessories for more than six years, with hundreds of reviews to his name. He is a multi-platform user with no real staked allegiance, though he does have a soft spot for Windows laptops and PC gaming.
Best Prime Day deals on power banks and chargers: 32 best sales on Anker, Ugreen, and more
Amazon's Prime Day is a perfect time to save big on a key charging accessory for phones, laptops, and beyond
Amazon's Prime Day is finally here, and the two-day sales event is a great time to save on everything tech related and beyond. A popular category that I always keep an eye on during Prime Day are chargers and power banks. These accessories seem to be a shoo-in for deep sales every year, and that holds true again for 2023.
HP E45c G5 review: A true dual-screen solution in one monster monitor
HP's E45c G5 is a 44.5-inch super ultrawide that's designed to be the only office monitor you'll ever need
HP's E45c is a 44.5-inch monitor that's designed to fill the role of dual 1440p (QHD) monitors with few compromises. It's built for home and office work, accommodating the hybrid lifestyle that many have fallen into in the past few years. The E45c goes beyond the ultrawide norm, offering a 32:9 aspect ratio and a dual QHD (DQHD) resolution that works out to a crisp 5120 x 1440 pixel count.
Best mini-LED laptops in 2023
It's hard to beat the mini-LED displays in these killer laptops.
The best laptops with a mini-LED display can deliver a picture that goes beyond laptops using standard IPS panels, allowing you to get a better picture without using an external monitor. Mini-LED laptops aren't just for playing video games though; they can also be a huge boon for creators, developers, editors, and other professionals who need deep contrast and many local dimming zones for more accurate color. Mini-LED screens aren't quite as good as OLED when it comes to color and contrast, but mini-LED tech does allow for more brightness as well as lower response times and higher refresh rates. These laptops don't come cheap, especially because they're usually paired up with cutting-edge performance technology for gaming or professional work. If you're ready to make the upgrade, I've collected the best of the best mini-LED laptops that you can buy right now.
Best gaming chairs in 2023
From ergonomic to big-sized chairs, we're going to take a look at some of the best gaming chairs you can buy for your setup right now
The best gaming chairs all share a few core features that can take your gaming experience to the next level. You want to place comfort as the number one priority, as many gaming sessions go longer than expected. This includes cushioning, overall design, materials, and adjustability. You also want something durable and stylish that fits your gaming room as well as your body type. A great gaming chair will let you enjoy the rest of your setup; you can spend all the money you want on buying the best gaming monitor or gaming mice, but having to constantly shift around to get comfortable will pull your head out of the game.
Best laptops for developers and software engineers in 2023
Need a new laptop for some serious programming and development? These are the ones to get, whether you want Mac, Windows, or ChromeOS.
The best laptops for developers and software engineers can handle a workload over and above what's generally expected from a standard PC. Gone are the days of programmers having to sit in front of a huge desktop PC with a bunch of high-end monitors. Some still do, but a powerful laptop with a high-res display provides a portable workstation that can go anywhere you go. The best laptops for the job let you code anywhere, at any time.
Display technology is always improving, and mini-LED monitors are slowly catching on as an alternative to OLED. The best monitors with mini-LED technology have accurate color reproduction across gamuts, outstanding brightness and contrast thanks to local dimming zones and HDR support, high refresh rates, and a modern design. These screens, in most cases, don't come cheap, but they can transform the way you work and play.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga (Gen 8) review: A business convertible without compromises
The convertible ThinkPad X1 Yoga has now entered its eighth generation. Is it worth the high asking price?
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga, now in its eighth generation for 2023, can be viewed as the convertible counterpart to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. It's one of the most premium laptops that Lenovo has to offer, with an eye-watering starter price that doesn't get any more reasonable as you add performance and features.
Best workstation laptops in 2023
These laptops have the performance, features, and displays to tackle specialized industry work.
The best workstation laptops are designed to deliver a computing experience approaching desktop levels while remaining mobile enough to work practically anywhere. Creators, designers, developers, engineers, scientists, and many other professionals use these laptops for heavy tasks in specialized software; they're built to accommodate the need for high-end processor (CPU) and graphics card (GPU) performance, as well as color-accurate and high-resolution displays. Many even come with Independent Software Vendor (ISV) certifications, proving that the laptops can optimally run the most popular and demanding industry apps. Let's take a look at the best workstation laptops out there today to help you get the right hardware for the job.
Best accessories for Lenovo Yoga 7i (2023)
Help your Yoga 7i reach its full potential with these worthwhile accessories.
The best accessories for the Lenovo Yoga 7i (2023) are designed to help the convertible laptop hit its full potential. From docking stations to monitors to chargers, grabbing one (or a few) accessories can positively alter the way you use your laptop. Lenovo's Yoga 7i (2023) is a more affordable alternative to the amazing Yoga 9i, our top pick when it comes to the overall best laptops available today, and it's available in 14- and 16-inch sizes to better suit your needs. We've been sure to collect some great hardware that will work with both sizes for this great Lenovo laptop. Here are the best accessories for Lenovo's Yoga 7i (2023).
HP Dragonfly Folio G3 vs. Lenovo Yoga 9i (2023): Which high-end laptop is for you?
Two high-end laptops go head to head to figure out which one is best for you
HP's Dragonfly Folio G3 is an impressive premium business laptop with a pull-forward design that changes the rules for convertible laptops. The Lenovo Yoga 9i (2023) is a more traditional convertible laptop with a lid that rotates around 360 degrees, and it's undeniably packed with high-end features including a soundbar hinge and strong performance. It's so good that we chose it as the overall best laptop available to buy today, but HP's Dragonfly Folio G3 has a lot to offer, too. Let's take a look at where these laptops excel, where they have some weak points, and, ultimately, how they compare to help you pick the right device.
Best external monitors for Dell XPS 17 in 2023
Check out some of the best external monitors for the Dell XPS 17 to increase your screen real estate and expand your productivity
The best external monitors for the Dell XPS 17 can turn it into a multitasking powerhouse thanks to all the extra screen real estate. While the XPS 17's monster built-in display is exceptional in its own right, having a great monitor or two on a desk will absolutely alter your workflow for the better.
Best 4K laptops in 2023
Don't compromise on your laptop's display with these great 4K options.
The best 4K laptops on the market today range from premium convertible devices designed for everyday use to powerful workstations for specialized work to gaming PCs with outstanding performance and a slick design. Many modern laptops have made the move to a taller aspect ratio — 16:10 or, more rarely, 3:2 — boosting the number of pixels on the display. But 4K resolution, whether it's with a boosted pixel count or not, delivers the same crisp image that's ideal for anyone who wants the best picture possible. We've put together this list of great laptops with a 4K display to help you find exactly what you need.
Best chargers for HP Dragonfly Folio G3 in 2023
Having a backup charger or power bank is never a bad idea for professionals on the go.
The best charger for your HP Dragonfly Folio G3 — or at least the most convenient charger — is likely the one that comes with your laptop. HP did a nice job putting together a compact 65W AC adapter with braided six-foot USB-C cable and another meter of length for the power cord section. However, chargers can become damaged or lost, you might want a backup while you travel or for the office, and some setups might require something with extra charging ports to handle your laptop and your accessories. Then there's the option of picking up a power bank to have on hand for times when you're chasing a deadline while away from any AC outlets. We've put together this collection of the best chargers for the HP Dragonfly Folio G3 to help you get the right power setup for your laptop.
Best upgradeable laptops in 2023
Take a look at these great laptops that you can upgrade yourself after purchase
The majority of the best laptops available today have been slimmed down to the point that internal hardware is no longer modular. Components like solid-state drives (SSD) and especially memory (RAM) are often soldered right to the motherboard along with the processor (CPU), making it difficult or entirely impossible to upgrade anything once the device leaves the factory. This can seriously harm the lifespan of a laptop, especially if you, say, opted for a beefy CPU that no longer has enough RAM to keep up with modern software demands. The good news? All hope is not lost. There are still some great upgradeable laptops on the market, and we've collected them here to help you find the right one.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (Gen 11) review: Still finding ways to improve the best business laptop
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is better than ever as it enters its 11th generation.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is Lenovo's flagship premium business ultrabook, sitting at the top of the best Lenovo laptops alongside the convertible ThinkPad X1 Yoga. The X1 Carbon is now in its 11th generation, and Lenovo has truly refined the look, feel, and performance of this device. This is the laptop I always recommend first to busy professionals, with a caveat concerning the high price.
Best docking station for HP Dragonfly Folio G3 in 2023
Extend your Dragonfly Folio G3's connectivity potential with these awesome Thunderbolt 4 docks
The best docking stations for the HP Dragonfly Folio G3 can take one of the two native Thunderbolt 4 ports and expand it to include everything from USB-A to HDMI to SD card readers and beyond. Adding a dock to your laptop is a surefire way to improve productivity, as you won't be scrambling to find the proper adapter when you need to use a new accessory. Everything you need is usually built right into the dock, and all you're required to do is connect one cable to your laptop to unlock the extra connectivity.
Lenovo Legion Y32p-30 review: A high-performance 4K gaming monitor that can fill multiple roles
The Legion Y32p-30 is a killer gaming monitor, and it also has features that help with a work-from-home setup.
4K gaming has become more popular as PC hardware gets more powerful, and the best 4K gaming monitors have kept stride to accommodate a more satisfying high-res gaming experience. Lenovo's Legion Y32p-30 gaming monitor was announced in late 2022, with a focus on hybrid use for gamers who also work from home. Shelling out upwards of $750 just to have some fun isn't always possible, but combining your monitor purchase into one that handles work and gaming? That's easier to swallow.
Best SSDs in 2023
From 2.5-inch SATA drives to more advanced M.2 NVMe drives, these are the best solid-state drives you can buy right now.
The best solid-state drives (SSDs) have evolved a lot over the years, and you can now reliably find great storage with more capacity, faster transfer speeds, and lower prices. SSDs are available in a bunch of different shapes and sizes, and they use different technology to communicate with your PC. This can make buying the right drive a bit of a challenge. Whether you're shopping for PCIe 4.0, PCIe 3.0, M.2, SATA, or something portable that you can carry around with you, we've put together this collection of the best SSD storage you can buy today.
Best portable SSDs in 2023
A portable SSD is a smart investment if you often deal with lots of data. Here are the best.
The best portable solid-state drives (SSD) provide a convenient and speedy solution to a lack of storage on your favorite devices. Great SSDs are usually more expensive than hard-disk drives, though they have no moving parts for a slimmer build and tend to be quite a bit faster. When buying a portable SSD, you'll generally want to focus on drive speed, connection type, capacity, price, and durability. Incorporating these considerations into your final purchase should land you a great SSD that will help you transfer, store, and even secure your most important data. Here are a bunch of the best portable SSDs on the market right now to help you buy the right drive.
Best laptops for writers in 2023
These laptops have great keyboards, but that's only the start.
The best laptops for writers are more than just a comfortable keyboard and a bright display. Many of the usual indicators when buying a laptop — features like long battery life, suitable amount of overhead processing power, and sleek design — still apply, but there's a careful balance between getting something you need and overspending on unnecessary features. I've put together this guide of laptops for writers that I've personally used or that we've reviewed here on XDA. All picks have a keyboard that won't distract, they all have modern performance hardware, they have clear displays that won't hurt the eyes, and they fit into a range of different budgets. Whether you're a writer by trade or by hobby, these laptops will suit your needs.