Stories by Ben Patterson

LIFX adds a new filament light, smart switch, and candle bulb to its smart lighting portfolio

The Wi-Fi smart bulb maker has also given its mobile app a top-to-bottom makeover.

Samsung’s Galaxy Book Flex α: A slim QLED-packing 2-in-1 with a 'palatable' price tag

Set to make its debut at CES 2020, the $830 Galaxy Book Flex α cuts a few corners compared to the pricier Flex 13, but not when it comes to its quantum-dot display.

Dell’s Cinema Guide could help you find something great to stream on your laptop

Can’t decide on a movie or TV show to stream? Dell’s upcoming search app for streaming video services could be the answer.

HP Pavilion x360 14m-dh0003dx review: A sturdy 2-in-1 with dependable quad-core performance

This sleek convertible laptop has what it takes in terms of day-to-day performance, although we wish it had a bigger battery.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 6 14 (2019) review: A solid, bargain-priced 2-in-1 saddled with iffy battery life

Lenovo's IdeaPad 6 14 packs a quad-core CPU and a full-HD touchscreen into a 2-in-1 form factor. Its battery and display could be better, but for just $500, you’re still getting a lot.

Lenovo IdeaPad S340-15IWL review: Peppy quad-core performance, but a cheap display

This bargain-priced laptop puts up impressive performance numbers, but make sure to get one with an IPS display rather than the iffy TN variety.

LG rolls out firmware update enabling G-Sync compatibility for its 2019 OLED TVs

LG’s B9, C9, and E9 OLED sets are getting the G-Sync update, which promises buttery gaming performance provided you’re using the right GeForce graphics card.

Hands-on with HP’s new Spectre x360 13: Shrunk down and supercharged with Ice Lake

Boasting a 10th-gen Ice Lake CPU under its hood, the HP Spectre x360 is nearly an inch less deep than its predecessor, while its slimmed-down top bezel features a 2mm IR webcam.

Acer Aspire 5 (A515-43-R19L) review: A budget AMD Ryzen 3 workhorse with middling battery life

There’s a lot to like about this inexpensive Ryzen 3-powered Acer Aspire 5, but its middling battery life is tough to overlook.

HP’s Elite Dragonfly 2-in-1 packs enterprise-class features into a stylish, sliver-thin shell

The HP Elite Dragonfly is a 360-degree convertible laptop that fits the most important enterprise features into a sliver of a package, and it’s got a cool name to boot.

HP S430c 43.4-inch Curved Ultrawide monitor: This eye-popping 4K display controls two PCs at once

The 43.4-inch HP S430c Curved Ultrawide monitor puts dual-monitor setups to shame, and its ability to control two devices with a single mouse and keyboard will make you the envy of the office.

Netgear sets a $700 price tag (ouch) for its upcoming Orbi Wi-Fi 6 mesh network system

The future is now as far as Netgear’s latest Wi-Fi mesh network system is concerned, with the Wi-Fi 6 Orbi RBK852 slated to land in stores next month.

Fitbit Versa 2 hands-on: Alexa, OLED, and an always-on display make a compelling upgrade

With on-board Amazon Alexa, an AMOLED display, and Fit Pay for the base model, the Versa 2 looks like it’s ready to go toe-to-toe with the Apple Watch.

Acer Aspire 5 A515-54-30BQ review: A dual-core laptop that's slim, light, and priced to move

It won’t win any speed records, but the slim Acer Aspire 5 A515-54-30BQ makes for a compelling bargain-priced laptop all the same.

Hands-on: Samsung’s Galaxy Book S debuts with the Snapdragon 8cx

Samsung's Galaxy Books S made its surprise debut at Samsung's Unpacked 2019 event, sporting the Snapdragon 8cx CPU and a sliver of a design, less than a half-inch thick.