PC Magazine - December 2021

negative to this premium-priced favorite. If you’re going Razer Blade 15
to buy this elite gaming laptop today, it may as well be Advanced Model
the newest version. (Late 2021)

THE BLADE DESIGN: AS SHARP AS EVER PROS
In physical design, this Razer Blade 15 matches the Same premium, sleek,
model we reviewed earlier this year. As an internal and light all-metal
component and features update, its chassis and build build. Top-end
quality remain at the same superb level, a slim and performance in our
premium machine that stands out even among high- RTX 3070 configuration
end competitors. with 360Hz display.
Superior touchpad,
7KH %ODGH PHDVXUHV E\ E\ LQFKHV DQG upgraded 1080p
weighs 4.4 pounds, one of the lightest top-end gaming webcam. All models
rigs around. The new Alienware x15 is a hair thinner at include at least 1TB of
0.62 inch, but it’s heftier at 5 pounds. The Blade 15’s storage, a good fit for
all-metal design looks and feels great, setting the gaming.
benchmark for the category, especially as many
competitors use plastic builds. CONS
Pricey, especially as
With the build unchanged, I hardly need to mention configured. Chassis
that the touchpad remains one of the best on any gets quite hot in spots
Windows laptop, exceeded only by Apple’s solution for while gaming.
its MacBooks. The keyboard is less of a standout but is Diminished battery life.
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feedback (they’re a bit shallow), but there’s little room BOTTOM LINE
IRU FRPSODLQW $OLHQZDUH¶V ORZ SUR¿OH PHFKDQLFDO This modest update to
laptop keyboard, co-developed with keymaker Cherry, the premium Razer
has frankly spoiled us, but the Blade’s keys are good Blade 15 ups the ante
enough among non-mechanical solutions. The keyboard with a newer CPU and
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backlighting, which you can play with using the webcam. While the
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its GeForce RTX
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86% 7\SH $ SRUWV D 86% & SRUW ZLWK 7KXQGHUEROW deliver a top-end
support, the power port, and the headphone jack. On gaming experience.

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card reader. may make your

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few small improvements may make your experience better, but
better, but there’s no denying that the refreshed CPU is the refreshed
the main draw. CPU is the
main draw.
As mentioned, the Advanced Model now wears a more
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upgraded from 720p to 1080p. While neither of those
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they can be wiped away more easily. Our photographer
is no doubt grateful. Also, webcam images look much
better. The picture isn’t remarkably clear (in less-bright
environments, it’s slightly grainy), but the general
quality is noticeably sharper than a 720p camera still.

CONFIGURATIONS: FAST GPUS AND SCREENS As for the
GALORE GeForce RTX
Looking at the specs, let’s start with the display. There 3070 versus 3080,
are two panel options for this Blade 15: a full HD we’ve found
E\ SL[HO VFUHHQ ZLWK D +] UHIUHVK UDWH diminishing
and a QHD-resolution (2,560-by-1,440-pixel) panel returns with the
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resolution, it should be able to make use of its blistering 30-Series.
fast frame rate. We’ll see how it fares in the
performance section below.

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version of the Blade 15 Advanced Model is priced at
$2,299.99 with an Intel Core i7-11800H processor,
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attraction here, as the early 2021 models used 10th
Generation chips.

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The starting price for the Blade 15 Advanced Model is rather high, but it’s not
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sophisticated laptop that starts at $1,699.99. It’s a valid option for gamers who
are drawn to the general design but want a somewhat more reasonable price
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resolution display, but based on our extensive testing, 1440p and 4K resolutions
are still a challenge for even high-end GPUs, and if you really want to make the
most of a high refresh rate, good old 1080p is still arguably the smart choice.
QHD screens do look sharp, but our advice for laptop gaming when looking at
the results of demanding titles is often to dial it down.

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generally delivered more bang for the buck, nearly matching the average

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storage capacity across all but the cheapest models is also a plus; we’ve dinged
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today’s game libraries.
PERFORMANCE TESTING: A TOP-END GAMING SHOWDOWN
Below is a list of alternatives we’ll be pitting against the Blade 15 Advanced
Model, including the previous Blade 15 Advanced Edition. The Alienware x15 is
the most direct competitor, while the Alienware x17 is on paper the most potent
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ROG Zephyrus G14 shows what a smaller chassis (and AMD Ryzen chip) can
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Productivity tests: The main benchmark of UL’s PCMark 10 simulates a
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spreadsheeting, web browsing, and videoconferencing. We also run PCMark
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laptop’s storage.
Three benchmarks focus on the CPU, using all available cores and threads, to
rate a PC’s suitability for processor-intensive workloads. Maxon’s Cinebench

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open-source video transcoder HandBrake 1.4 to convert a 12-minute video clip
from 4K to 1080p resolution (lower times are better).

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Photoshop, which uses the Creative Cloud version 22 of Adobe’s famous image
editor to rate a PC’s performance for content creation and multimedia
applications. It’s an automated extension that executes a variety of general and
GPU-accelerated Photoshop tasks ranging from opening, rotating, resizing, and
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On average there isn’t much separating these systems, but there are some
valleys for the new Blade’s CPU performance (and not many peaks). The Razer
tends to blend into the pack rather than lead it in our processor tests, though it
does trend toward the end of the group in a few spots. The gap isn’t big, with
results largely falling in the same ballpark—good for media and content creation
tasks, but not in the tier of specialized pro machines. If this is your main
purpose, a specialized creator laptop or mobile workstation is recommended.

One result that does jump out here is the Advanced Model’s storage speed.

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latest Razer’s drive gets a noticeable jump on the rest. show the new
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which will help everyday use and gaming. Blade 15 is a great
enthusiast
Graphics and gaming tests: We test Windows PCs’
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8/¶V '0DUN 1LJKW 5DLG PRUH PRGHVW VXLWDEOH for both AAA and
IRU ODSWRSV ZLWK LQWHJUDWHG JUDSKLFV DQG 7LPH 6S\ competitive titles.
(more demanding, suitable for gaming rigs with
discrete GPUs).

In addition, we run three real-world game tests using
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simulation, open-world action-adventure, and
competitive esports shooter games respectively.
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and Ultra quality presets, the latter at Low and Ultra
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muscled out by the 17-inch Alienware x17 and trading blows with the x15, which
seems to have more raw graphics power based on synthetic tests. The earlier
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numbers are to be expected.

The x15 may have a slight performance edge and be minutely slimmer, but it’s
hard not to appreciate the fact the Blade 15 Advanced Model is noticeably
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UHDOO\ MXVW LQ 9DOKDOOD WKH 5D]HU SHUIRUPHG EHWWHU LQ ) DQG HVSHFLDOO\ 6LHJH
has us favoring the Blade. Both 15.6-inch laptops even hung close to the x17 in
the most demanding title, Valhalla.

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is a great enthusiast gaming machine for both AAA and competitive titles. Like
the Asus G14, it’s legitimately portable, but delivers a higher tier of performance
(one that, of course, you have to pay for).

Battery and Display Tests: We test laptops’ battery life by playing a locally
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display brightness at 50% and audio volume at 100% until the system quits. We
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their brightness in nits (candelas per square meter) at stamina, a marked
50% and 100% brightness. turn from the
above-average
The one downside to the new Razer is its drop in battery result of most
life, which is surprising. The 11th Gen processor Razer laptops.
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is set to reduce frame rate to 60Hz on battery power. I
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rate switch, but the Advanced Model always showed
subpar stamina, a marked turn from the above-average
result of most Razer laptops.

A WORTHY UPDATE
Briefer battery life aside, this is a welcome update to the
perennial-favorite Razer Blade 15. A new processor
adds a bit of pep, there are a load of fast and sharp
display options, the webcam is improved, and unsightly

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The Blade 15 is the same great-performing and still

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years. The diminished battery life hurts, and the price
remains lofty, but this is a premium product going up
against premium competitors. This relatively minor
refresh isn’t quite worthy of an Editors’ Choice award,

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and most portable high-end gaming laptops available.

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2021

REVIEWS

SOFTWARE & APPS

ESET NOD32
ANTIVIRUS

Starts at $39.99

EXCELLENT

ESET NOD32 Antivirus:
Way Beyond the Essential

An effective antivirus for the tech-savvy

BY NEIL J. RUBENKING

The core task for every antivirus utility is to exterminate any malware
infestations that took root before its installation and then maintain vigilance to
prevent any further attacks. Some products stick to those essential activities,
while others, like ESET NOD32 Antivirus, go quite a bit beyond them. Among
other bonus features, NOD32 includes a Host Intrusion Prevention System, a
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scores well in most tests, both lab tests and our hands-on tests, but it did turn in
a few poor scores. In addition, some of its advanced features may be too
complex for the average user.
HOW MUCH DOES NOD32 COST?
A NOD32 subscription costs $39.99 per year. Each additional license adds $10
per year. Kaspersky, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, Webroot, and quite a few

others come in at or near that $39.99 price for one ESET NOD32
license. McAfee costs $59.99 per year, but that lets you Antivirus
install McAfee protection on every device in your
household, including devices running Windows, PROS
macOS, Android, or iOS. It’s not immediately obvious, Some excellent scores
EXW D 12' VXEVFULSWLRQ R̆HUV LWV RZQ NLQG RI FURVV from independent labs.
platform security: You can use your licenses to activate Some good scores in
an installation of ESET Cyber Security for Mac, if you our hands-on tests.
wish. HIPS component
blocks exploits.
GETTING STARTED WITH NOD32 Comprehensive device
Just about every antivirus program includes the ability control.
to detect and remove potentially unwanted applications
(PUAs)—programs that, while not actively malicious, CONS
cause problems that outweigh any virtues they may Poor score in our
have. Some default to removing these PUAs, while hands-on malware
others leave them alone by default. NOD32 makes you blocking test. Device
actively choose whether to remove PUAs during control is too complex
installation. I enabled PUA detection, and I advise you for most users.
to do the same. Ransomware
protection isn’t
The main window includes plenty of white space, along effective in testing.
with a picture of ESET’s blue-eyed cyborg mascot. To
launch a scan or an update, you can use either the left- BOTTOM LINE
side menu or a pair of large blue panels near the bottom In lab tests and our
RI WKH ZLQGRZ ,I WKHUH¶V D FRQ¿JXUDWLRQ SUREOHP WKH own hands-on tests,
green security banner changes color. When NOD32 ESET NOD32 Antivirus
needs your attention—to show the results of a earns some impressive
completed scan, for example—you see the number of scores. It also packs
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beyond the antivirus
Like Norton AntiVirus Plus, NOD32 gives you a ton of basics, such as exploit
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\RX GRQ¶W KDYH WR SDJH WKURXJK DOO WKRVH RSWLRQV WR ¿QG control.
the one you want—you can just start typing in the
search box. This may not even be an issue, though,
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optimal security.

MOSTLY GOOD LAB RESULTS
Three of the four independent testing labs I follow include NOD32 in their

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are especially grueling. Out of a dozen products tested, only ESET, Bitdefender,
and Norton pass both this lab’s tests in the latest round.

Experts at AV-Test Institute examine antivirus products for three important
criteria. Protection is important, naturally, but so is a low impact on

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program’s usability. Antivirus tools can earn up to six points each for
Protection, Performance, and Usability, for a maximum score of 18. Any
antivirus that earns at least 17.5 points is named a Top Product. More than half
the products in this lab’s latest test earn a perfect 18 points. Another quarter of
the products, ESET
among them, take 17.5
points.

At AV-Comparatives,
testers don’t assign
numeric scores. A
product that passes any
test receives Standard

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that go beyond the
minimum passing score
can take Advanced or

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In the three tests from
this lab that I follow,
NOD32 takes one
Standard, one Advanced,
and one Advanced+
rating. Bitdefender is the
only product with
Advanced+ in all three.

For each product that receives scores from at least two labs, my scoring
algorithm maps all the results onto a 10-point scale and generates an aggregate
lab score. ESET’s 9.3 aggregate score is decent, though not up to the 9.9 score it
held when last reviewed. Among products tested by all four labs, Kaspersky
Anti-Virus is the big winner, with an aggregate score of 9.9.

UNUSUAL SCAN CHOICES
I timed a full scan of my standard clean test system and found that NOD32
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average of 66 minutes. During that initial scan, NOD32 also optimizes for
subsequent scanning, marking known good programs that don’t require
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drive you mount. From the custom scan menu you can scan memory, boot
sectors, or any local or network drive.

The boot sector scan I mentioned also triggers NOD32’s UEFI scanner. UEFI
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of the antique BIOS. The UEFI scanner also runs in the background, making
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have no way to trigger its protection for testing purposes. Firmware protection
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control over your computer. One aim of the stringent security requirements for
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NOD32 can actively scan the WMI database. WMI (Windows Management
Instrumentation) is best known to programmers as a source of system
information. For example, my boot-time performance test for security suites
queries WMI to get the start time of the boot process. The WMI scan looks for
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data. Likewise, the Registry scan checks for such references and embedded
malware throughout the Registry. As with the UEFI scan, we have to take these
activities on faith, as there’s no easy way to test them.

MIXED MALWARE PROTECTION SCORES
I’m always happy to have results reported by the independent labs, but not
every product makes it into those reports. Even when results are available, I still
run hands-on malware protection testing to see the product’s defenses in action.

When I opened the folder containing my current collection of malware samples,
NOD32’s real-time protection gave them the once-over. But it eliminated only
32% of them at this point. That’s uncommonly low—most products score in the
80s or better. Adaware Antivirus Free impressively eliminated 90% of this same
sample collection on sight, though it came up short in other areas.

Notably, NOD32 recognized less than half of the ransomware samples on sight.
Of a dozen other products whose real-time protection wipes out known threats
on sight, eight eliminated all the ransomware samples on sight and four
eliminated all but one.

Continuing the test, I launched the remaining samples. Clearly, the antivirus
applies a tougher standard to programs that are about to launch. It prevented
quite a few samples from launching at all. That included all the remaining
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samples as PUAs, and I chose to delete all of those. In other cases, it caught a
malware component during the installation process.

NOD32 detected 89% of the samples one way or another. But the fact that it let
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dismal 7.9 points, even worse than the 8.3 points it scored in my previous
review. Tested with this same sample set, Malwarebytes managed 100%
detection and a perfect 10 points. McAfee came close, with 100% detection and
9.9 points. Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus detected 99% and scored 9.8.
NOD32’s score in this test is the lowest of any product tested with the current
sample set. That result doesn’t line up at all with its many excellent lab test
scores. When my results don’t jibe with the labs, I give the labs more weight.
It takes me quite a while to collect and analyze a new set of malware samples, so
those necessarily stay the same for months. To check a product’s protection
against the latest in-the-wild threats, I start with a feed of malware-hosting
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URL in turn and note whether the antivirus prevents access to the URL,
eliminates the malware payload, or utterly fails to detect any threat.

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websites, NOD32 functions below the browser level. That means it can extend
its protection to any internet-capable app. In testing, NOD32 blocked the
browser’s access to 86% of the malware-hosting URLs. For most of these
URLs, it displayed a red warning page. In a few cases it displayed a yellow

warning of potentially dangerous content—I counted these as successful
detections, too. The antivirus eliminated another 10% of the threats during the
download process.
NOD32’s total score of 96% protection is good, but 10 products scored even
better in their latest malicious URL test. Bitdefender, McAfee, and Norton top
this list, all with a perfect 100% protection score.

DECENT PHISHING PROTECTION
It’s possible to spot phishing scams if you’re alert, but having help from your
antivirus means you’re protected even when your eyelids are drooping.
To start the phishing test, I collect reported frauds from websites that track
such things, making sure to include some that are so new they haven’t yet been
analyzed and blacklisted. Phishing sites are ephemeral, and the very newest
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each suspected URL in a browser protected by the product under test and
simultaneously in instances of Chrome, Firefox, and Edge protected only by the
browser’s built-in phishing detection.

If a URL doesn’t load properly in any of the four test When last tested,
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phishing site—meaning it’s trying to steal login
credentials—I also toss it. Analyzing those that remain 93% of the
gives me a clear idea of the product’s phishing- verified frauds.
protection skills.
This time it
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IUDXGV 7KLV WLPH LW VFRUHG KDUGO\ GL̆HUHQW ,W GLG hardly different.
beat all three browsers—Edge, in particular, had a really It did beat all
bad day—but others have scored much better. Ten three browsers.
products currently score 96% or higher, including
F-Secure, McAfee AntiVirus Plus, and Norton, all three
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I tested ESET Cyber Security for Mac with the same set
of samples and found its behavior didn’t track with that
of the Windows-based product at all. In fact, macOS
ESET caught just 10% of the phishing frauds. When I
asked about the same problem during my previous
review, my company contact explained that “we have an
issue with some scanning related to some https links,”
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still working on it.

It’s clear from the Windows version’s score that ESET
has the technology to do a good job detecting phishing
frauds. I hope that technology will make its way into the
Mac edition.

ESET HOME
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one device. Even the simple antivirus reviewed here can
protect multiple Windows or macOS devices. A central
hub to manage all your installations is more important
than ever. That’s where ESET Home (formerly My
ESET) comes into play.

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main application. You can also simply navigate to home.eset.com from any
browser. Once you log in, you can view all your licenses and protected devices.
For each license, it shows the total number of devices, the number in use, and
the number still available. Right from this dashboard, you can open a license
and add protection to the current device or send an email link.

Shifting to the devices view, you can quickly see whether any of your devices
have security issues. You can get details on any problems, but to do anything
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one odd limitation, though—at present, protected macOS devices don’t show up
in ESET Home.
The online dashboard is also the spot to manage the parental control, password
management, and anti-theft components. But those components aren’t part of
this standalone antivirus.

HIPS BLOCKS EXPLOITS
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see this component in action, I hit the test system with 30 exploits generated by
the CORE Impact penetration tool. The HIPS detected and blocked many of
these attempts to exploit security vulnerabilities.

None of the exploits penetrated security, since the test system is fully patched.
NOD32 detected and blocked 35% of the attacks, identifying most of them using
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52% last time I ran this test on ESET. Kaspersky and Bitdefender detected 84%
and 74% respectively in their latest exploit tests.
RANSOMWARE PROTECTION
According to ESET, NOD32’s ransomware protection has been beefed up in this
latest edition. It falls under HIPS in settings, meaning I could test it by turning
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then tested a dozen real-world ransomware samples. The results weren’t pretty.
One of the samples didn’t try any chicanery; without ransomware behavior, the
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proceeded to do their dirty deeds without a peep from NOD32, as did one whole
disk-encrypting sample. Four more got caught after launch by NOD32’s scan for
active malware in memory.

That leaves exactly two samples detected by ransomware protection. This
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suspicious way. It didn’t mention ransomware. Denying the activity saved the
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took it down.

As with ransomware protection layers in other antivirus products, NOD32’s
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protection layer could use another round of enhancements.

COMPREHENSIVE DEVICE CONTROL
NOD32’s Device Control is a feature more suited to business settings than to
consumer use. Out of the box, this feature is disabled. To enable it, you must
reboot the system. With Device Control active, you can prevent the use of a wide
variety of device types, while making exceptions for trusted devices. Among
other things, Device Control can prevent anyone from stealing data by copying
WR XQDXWKRUL]HG H[WHUQDO GULYHV DQG KHDG R̆ LQIHVWDWLRQ E\ 86% EDVHG PDOZDUH

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password-protect settings so nobody can mess with the lists. However, even
when password protection is active, any user can whitelist a new, unknown
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prevent others from adding exceptions. Note, though, that this is G Data’s top-
tier mega-suite. ESET puts device control in its basic antivirus. It’s an excellent
bonus feature for an entry-level product.

The Device Control system in NOD32 is the most The Device
elaborate of any I’ve seen. You can create rules for a Control system in
wide variety of devices, including card readers, imaging
devices, and Bluetooth devices, as well as more NOD32 is the
traditional external drives. Each rule sets an action for a most elaborate of
device type, an individual device, or a group of devices. any I’ve seen. You
Available actions include blocking use of the device,
opening it in read-only mode, or allowing full read/ can create rules
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warn that policy limits access to the device, and that
accessing it despite the warning will be logged. of devices.

USEFUL SECURITY TOOLS
Device Control isn’t the only feature that takes NOD32
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page of tools to enhance your security experience. Some
are useful to all; others require a technical mindset.

Several of the tools give you views of what NOD32 has
been doing for you. The Security Report displays
statistics on how many applications, web pages, and
other objects NOD32 has scanned, along with a world
map showing the current malware situation. You
can peruse logs of malware detections, HIPS events,
and more.

Bringing up the Running Processes list shows you every If a NOD32 scan
process running, with a lot more information than detected and
you’d get just by looking at Task Manager. Drawing removed
from ESET’s LiveGrid analysis system, it reports the
reputation, number of users, and time of discovery for malware, but you
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activity, may be more useful to a tech support agent
who’s examining your system remotely. The same is got malware on
WUXH RI WKH OLYH ¿OH V\VWHP DFWLYLW\ JUDSK the system, run

Soon after installation, you should download ESET’s a scan from
SysRescueLive tool. This tool runs from a bootable DVD this tool.
or USB, meaning Windows-based malware is powerless
to resist it. If a NOD32 scan detected and removed
malware, but you still think you’ve got malware on the
system, run a scan from this tool. Malware that requires
this aggressive tool can be seriously persistent and can
interfere with regular antivirus, which is why you want
to download it before you run into any such trouble.

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rescue disk to handle the most persistent malware.
Bitdefender one-ups the bunch, though. Its Rescue
Mode lets you boot to an alternate operating system
without the need to create a disk.

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ransomware replaces your desktop wallpaper with a ransom note, even before
attempting encryption behaviors that might trigger an antivirus reaction.

Everybody should run the SysInspector tool right after installing NOD32. This
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Registry entries. The report alone might be valuable to a tech support agent, but
the key is SysInspector’s ability to compare two reports and tell you what
changed. If you run into any kind of system problem, comparing the current
status with a no-problem baseline should give you a clue as to the cause.
Even if you always get someone else to help you out of computer jams, you
should still run a baseline SysInspector report. Your tech-savvy niece or remote-
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GOOD FOR TECHIES
Independent lab test scores for ESET NOD32 Antivirus are mostly excellent,
with a few that are merely good. Its scores in our own hands-on tests range
from poor for basic malware protection to very good for phishing protection and
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deleting malware and preventing new attacks. If you’re tech-savvy enough to

use it, the Device Control system is the most comprehensive we’ve seen. In that
case, you should consider ESET NOD32: It’s a worthy contender.
If that doesn’t sound like you, consider our Editors’ Choice antivirus tools,
which pack plenty of more typical security features along with award-winning
protection. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus and Kaspersky Anti-Virus consistently
earn top scores from the independent testing labs. McAfee AntiVirus Plus
doesn’t score as high, but it protects every device in your household. Webroot
SecureAnywhere AntiVirus scores high in our hands-on testing, and it’s the
tiniest antivirus around.

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2021

REVIEWS

SOFTWARE & APPS

SNK vs. Capcom:
The Match of the
Millennium

$7.99

EXCELLENT

SNK vs. Capcom: The Match
of the Millennium (for PC):
Rich Fighting Game

Potent pocket fighting on PC

BY JEFFREY L. WILSON

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individual buttons.
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PDWFKHV ZLWK RQH FKDUDFWHU 7DJ YV PDWFKHV ZLWK BOTTOM LINE
LQ PDWFK FKDUDFWHU VZDSSLQJ DQG 7HDP D .LQJ RI Featuring a large cast
of characters from two
popular fighting game
universes, the re-
released SNK vs.
Capcom: The Match of
the Millennium delivers
robust fisticuffs in an
adorable package.

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CAN YOUR PC RUN SNK VS. CAPCOM: THE MATCH OF THE
MILLENNIUM?
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PUNCHING ABOVE ITS WEIGHT SNK vs. Capcom
has many features
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controller support.

PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION I SUBSCRIBE I DECEMBER 2021

FEATURES

You need only one list this holiday season when you’re buying tech gifts.
Here’s PCMag’s annual collection of the 101 most exceptional products tested
and rated by our experts in the past year.

Another unusual year is almost at an end. machines. We eliminated others because

Our New York City–based testing lab they’re dying breeds (so long, compact

remained mostly closed in 2021 because cameras). But the categories are

of the pandemic, with our analysts and primarily the same ones you’ve read

editors making the occasional brave foray about here every year since 2013.

into the city to use our specialized testing
equipment. But for the most part, we’ve This list takes into consideration every
hunkered down at home, testing laptops, product we reviewed from November 1,

phones, graphics cards, cameras, and WKURXJK WKH ¿UVW ZHHN RI

dozens of other kinds of products. November 2021. Across the 101 products,

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Now it’s time for our toughest job. The earned our Editors’ Choice award. The

problem with reviewing so many rest earned ratings of at least four—

products—over 2,000 each year—is excellent.

trying to choose the absolute best. This

year, after much deliberation, we 2QH ¿QDO QRWH 5HPHPEHU WR VKRS HDUO\

whittled down the list to 101 top products this season. The chip shortage and
shipping backlog are going to make
and services across 15 categories.
holiday shopping even more stressful

<RX¶OO ¿QG D IHZ QHZ VXEFDWHJRULHV LQ than usual. To reduce some angst, keep

growing areas. For one, we expanded last this story close by as you shop, whether

year’s new category of smart home gym online or in brick-and-mortar stores. It’s

equipment to include smart treadmills, WKH SHUIHFW ZD\ WR ¿QG DQ DPD]LQJ WHFK

smart stationary bikes, and smart rowing gift for your loved ones—or yourself.

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1 ULTRAPORTABLE
DELL XPS 13 OLED (9310)
$1,699.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

Some things never change, but the XPS 13 does! Dell isn’t content to let this
perennial favorite ultraportable laptop rest on its laurels. New this year: a
breathtaking 3.5K OLED screen with a sky-high 100,000:1 contrast ratio. It’ll make
anything you’re doing feel a bit more cinematic, with inky blacks and colors that
pop. Computing power is excellent too, with your choice of 11th-generation Intel
“Tiger Lake” processors.

2DESKTOP REPLACEMENT
DELL INSPIRON 16 PLUS (7610)

STARTS AT $1,399.99; $2,939.99 AS TESTED EDITORS’ CHOICE
Complete with a gorgeous 16-inch display and excellent graphics and
computing performance, the compact Inspiron 16 Plus is a worthy desktop
replacement. It’s capable of handling everything from simple productivity tasks
to today’s most graphically intensive games. Wrap all of that up in a package
that costs less than $1,000, and you’ve got yourself a value unlike any other.

3BUDGET LAPTOP
MSI MODERN 14
$449.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

Who says a budget laptop has to feel cheap? The MSI Modern 14 bucks the
trend of underwhelming low-cost systems by delivering one of the most
impressive inexpensive 14-inch machines of this year or any year. Sporting a
lightweight chassis, a classy design, and plenty of ports, the MSI Modern 14 is
easy on your wallet but feels significantly more premium than its competitors.

4 CHROMEBOOK
ACER CHROMEBOOK SPIN 514
$599.99

Many of the best laptops are expensive, but sometimes all you need is a reliable
workhorse to get schoolwork done or browse the web. Enter the Acer
Chromebook Spin 514: a versatile, affordable 2-in-1 convertible notebook that
runs Google’s Chrome OS. Its AMD Ryzen processor gives it an edge over other
Chromebooks, turning it into a peppy, attractive, and useful addition to your
tech collection.

5GAMING LAPTOP
ACER PREDATOR TRITON 300 SE
$1,399.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

We review quite a few gaming laptops each year at very different price levels, so
picking the absolute best is difficult. The Acer Predator Triton 300 SE earns that
crown this year thanks to achieving a sweet spot on price, power, and portability.
Its Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU and 14-inch 144Hz display are packed into a
slim 3.75-pound chassis, delivering on the concept of real gaming on the go
without breaking the bank. Entry-level and high-end options are out there, but
this is one of the best values for the mainstream gamer.

6BUSINESS LAPTOP
LENOVO THINKPAD X1 CARBON GEN 9
$2,197.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE

As the world has shifted work from our offices into our homes, the business laptop
has become more important than ever. And for our money, the cream of the
crop is the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 9. Lightweight and flawlessly
engineered with exceptional battery life and a world-class keyboard, this is one
of the best laptops on the market, period—and easily the best business laptop of
2021.

7APPLE LAPTOP
APPLE MACBOOK PRO 14-INCH
$1,999.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE

This new 14-inch laptop is the MacBook Pro creative professionals have been
waiting for. If you’re upgrading from a 2015 MacBook Pro or earlier, you’re in for a
treat: This is a seriously powerful computer, thanks to its Apple M1 Pro processor. It
doesn’t skimp on ports, either, with a full-size HDMI connector and an SD card
reader to choose from. Package that into a compact, good-looking chassis, and
you’ve got the best MacBook Pro yet.

8CONVERTIBLE 2-IN-1
HP SPECTRE X360 14
$1,699.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

When Rob Base said, “It takes two,” he probably wasn’t talking about a two-in-
one convertible laptop. But one look at the HP Spectre X360 14 would definitely
prove his point. This part laptop, part tablet earned an Editors’ Choice award
thanks to its gorgeous OLED touch screen, elegant eye-catching design, and
lively performance. Couple that with a handy rechargeable pen and a carrying
sleeve, and you have the best premium convertible laptop on the market.

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9 DETACHABLE 2-IN-1
MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO 8
$1,099.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

When the best gets better, it almost picks itself. Microsoft’s Surface line has
inspired other Windows 2-in-1 tablets, but the latest version of the original is still
best in class. The new Surface Pro 8 boasts a sleeker design with a larger screen,
updated components, a sharp 1080p webcam, and other enhancements that
make it both a good tablet and an extra-portable laptop. The keyboard is still
sold separately, and the entry price isn’t as sweet as it was before, but the
Surface still leads the way for detachable 2-in-1s.

10TABLET
APPLE IPAD (2021)
$329.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

Apple’s tablet line has long been plagued by one “problem”—the base-model
iPad is very, very good, so it can be hard to justify the more expensive iPad Air
and Pro units. The 2021 iPad has a far better front-facing camera than previous

models, reflecting our new Zoom-centric world. Otherwise, it’s a bit faster, with a
little more storage and a slightly better display. That’s more than enough to keep
it ahead of the competition in its $329 price range.

11EBOOK READER
AMAZON KINDLE PAPERWHITE (2021)
$139.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

Amazon’s newest Paperwhite is bigger, better, and faster than the previous
model. It’s a great value for a waterproof, flat-front ebook reader using a super-
sharp 7-inch E Ink panel. It’s still well balanced and doesn’t feel too big for one-
handed reading. Its Carta 1200 screen, with its color-changing front light, is easier
on the eyes than ever. For this Paperwhite, Amazon brought the right
technologies together at the ideal price.

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12ANDROID PHONE
GOOGLE PIXEL 6 PRO
STARTS AT $899.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE

Google’s first Pixel phone with its own Tensor chipset, the Pixel 6 Pro delivers ultra-
premium performance at a price that’s $200 lower than its major competitors
from Samsung and Apple. The 6 Pro has nearly endless battery life and
spectacular cameras, and as a Google phone, it’s always on the cutting edge
of Android versions and Google’s AI-powered software experiences. With the
Pixel 6 Pro, you get more for less, and that makes it a winner.

13iOS PHONE
APPLE IPHONE 13
$799.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

Of the eight iOS phones on the market this year, the iPhone 13 gives the most
people what they want: much better battery life than the iPhone 12 at a
reasonable size and price. The advantages of the more expensive “Pro” iPhones
this year appeal more to serious smartphone photographers, making the iPhone
13 the “everyone phone.”

14BUDGET PHONE
SAMSUNG GALAXY A32 5G
$279.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

The Samsung Galaxy S32 5G sets a new standard for what to expect in
smartphones priced at less than $300. Its MediaTek Dimensity 720 chipset gives
the A32 sprightly performance and 5G support that will work with new networks
for years to come, and the camera quality is surprisingly good for a phone in this
price range.

15VOICE PHONE
SUNBEAM F1
$195.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE

The Sunbeam F1 has the most thought-through software of any voice phone
we’ve seen recently. A small Midwestern startup, Sunbeam puts privacy first,
knows group texting is important to voice-phone users, and includes useful
features such as speech-to-text and an on-screen keyboard option in a flip
phone. Sunbeam really pushes things forward while stopping short of making an
awkwardly shaped smartphone.

16HOTSPOT
NETGEAR NIGHTHAWK M5
$699.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE

The Netgear Nighthawk M5 is the vanguard of the next generation of 5G, known
as C-band. By the middle of 2022, this device will work on all three major US
carriers at speeds in the hundreds of megabits per second—no other hotspot
can claim that. With an Ethernet port and external antenna ports, it’s poised to
capture the best signal and distribute it by any means necessary. Its high price is
its only drawback, but carriers will probably sell it for less.

17 CELLULAR NETWORK
T-MOBILE
T-Mobile won its first Fastest Mobile Network award in 12 years for its

amazing mid-band 5G network. Now available to 185 million Americans, this is
the first widespread 5G network with a distinct difference from 4G. A 5G

connection on T-Mobile will likely have double or triple the speeds of a 4G link.
Although Verizon’s millimeter-wave is faster, it’s still available to only a tiny
number of people. T-Mobile is poised to expand mid-band further in 2022, putting
Verizon and AT&T on notice.

1 8 SMARTWATCH
APPLE WATCH SERIES 7
$399.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

The Series 7 is Apple’s most attractive and durable wearable yet. It offers all the
health, safety, and lifestyle features of its predecessor but with a larger display
that’s easier to read, improved dust protection and crack resistance, and a
redesigned charging system that takes less time to juice up. Though a minor
update from the Series 6, the seventh generation’s refinements make an already
outstanding smartwatch more practical for everyday tasks such as reading and
responding to texts, checking the time when your wrist is down, tracking your
outdoor activities, and monitoring your sleep.

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19FITNESS TRACKER
FITBIT CHARGE 5
$179.95 EDITORS’ CHOICE

The Fitbit Charge 5 offers more bang for your buck than any other fitness tracker
we’ve tested. In addition to the excellent workout and sleep-tracking features of
its predecessor, this version boasts an electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor that
measures small electrical changes in your skin’s sweat level to track your body’s
response to stress, along with an electrocardiogram (ECG) app that checks for
signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heart rhythm that can lead to blood
clots, stroke, heart failure, and other serious complications. The Charge 5 sports
an AMOLED color touch screen and a metal case, design upgrades that make it
a wearable you actually want to wear.

20SMART TREADMILL
PELOTON TREAD
$2,495.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE

With a compact yet roomy design, an attractive and responsive touch screen,
outstanding software, and new safety features, the Peloton Tread is the best
smart treadmill, especially for small spaces. Given its massive library of well-
produced, entertaining classes featuring top-notch trainers, popular music, and
fun social features, there’s virtually no risk of the Tread turning into a glorified
clothing rack. What with climbing the leaderboard, monitoring your metrics,
swapping high fives with other users, saving tracks to your music-streaming
account, and listening to your instructor’s stories and words of encouragement,
the workouts fly by and leave you excited to get going again, day after day. If
you’re in search of that elusive runner’s high, the Peloton Tread delivers.

21SMART STATIONARY BIKE
SOULCYCLE AT-HOME BIKE
$2,500.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE

Featuring a sleek and sturdy steel frame with a 21.5-inch touch screen, the
SoulCycle At-Home Bike’s heart-pumping, inspirational classes will have you
sweating as you work to master choreography moves while simultaneously
spinning the pedals beneath your feet to the beat of the music. Whereas the
Peloton Bike+ motivates you through metrics and competition, SoulCycle offers a
more meditative, dance-focused experience. Both bikes give you access to a
range of floor-based workouts to supplement your cycling sessions, but as an
added bonus, the SoulCycle At-Home Bike also supports Disney+ and Netflix.

22ROWING MACHINE
AVIRON ROWER
$2,199.00

Are you looking for a full-body workout that won’t bore you? Check out the
Aviron Rower. Featuring a 22-inch display offering arcade-style games,
competitions, and YouTube, this smart rowing machine successfully combats
workout boredom. You’ll probably row longer than planned as you break down
walls of bricks, run from zombies, race Olympians, and compete against other
members of the community. The Aviron offers a smooth and comfortable ride,
with a higher seat than most of the competition, so you can easily get on and
off, and the dual-resistance system can adjust itself. For those motivated by
gaming and racing, the Aviron is one of the most engaging smart home gym
machines you can buy.

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23SMART PLUG Another winner
WYZE PLUG from Wyze, the
$14.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE
Coming from a company that consistently churns out Wyze Bulb
affordable yet excellent smart home products, it’s no Color is the
surprise the Wyze Plug is one of our favorite smart plugs. most affordable
It’s easy to install and lets you control whatever you plug smart color bulb
into it with your phone and voice. The Wyze plug has a we’ve tested.
built-in Wi-Fi radio, supports Alexa and Google voice
commands, and works with other Wyze products and
loads of third-party smart devices using IFTTT applets.
When you want to add connectivity to a basic
device—a lamp, space heater, humidifier, or even a
Christmas tree—the Wyze Plug is a smart bet.

24SMART LIGHTING
WYZE BULB COLOR
$34.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

Another winner from Wyze, the Wyze Bulb Color is the
most affordable smart color bulb we’ve tested. You can
control it from your phone without a hub or with your
voice via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It offers
ample smart features for the price, including support for
custom scenes, device-triggered automations,
scheduling, and sleep routines that help you gradually
wind down at night and wake up in the morning. You
simply won’t find a better smart color light bulb for a
lower price.

25ROBOT VACUUM
SHARK IQ ROBOT SELF-EMPTY XL R101AE
$599.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE

The whole point of using a robot vacuum is to cut down on your housework, but
most need to be emptied and cleaned often, adding at least one chore to your
list. A lower-maintenance option, the Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL R101AE works
quickly and efficiently, rarely gets stuck, and has a large dustbin in its base station
that needs to be emptied only about once a month. You can control the robot
from your phone or with your voice and set up cleaning schedules so it goes to
work when you want. The vacuum maps your home as it cleans, so you can send
it to specific rooms and create virtual no-go zones, features you don’t get with
similarly priced competitors. It’s also a compelling option for pet owners thanks to
a self-cleaning brush roll and enough power to suck fur from carpeting.

26SECURITY SYSTEM
ADTEC COMMAND
STARTS AT $59.99 PER MONTH EDITORS’ CHOICE

If you’re looking for a professionally monitored smart home security system that
offers virtually everything you need for maximum protection, ADT Command is
worth its premium price. What sets this system apart is not just that everything
works—you’re also getting an unparalleled level of customer service, with
multiple ways to contact human support, no matter what your problem is, and
near-immediate response times. Its hardware options are plentiful, software tools
are sophisticated, and white-glove Gold service is the best in the business.

27SMART SECURITY CAMERA
ARLO PRO 4 SPOTLIGHT CAMERA
$199.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

The wireless Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera is a high-resolution, weather-resistant
security camera that not only captures motion-triggered video but also casts a
bright light on whatever is moving around on your property. It delivers detailed 2K
video with color night vision and provides accurate and intelligent motion
detection. Perhaps best of all, it installs in minutes and doesn’t require a hub and
wiring. The Pro 4 provides a safe way to see what’s going on outside of your
home without having to leave the comfort of your couch.

28VIDEO DOORBELL
EZVIZ DB1C WI-FI VIDEO DOORBELL
$99.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

Any video doorbell worth its salt lets you see who’s at the door before you open
it, but you usually have to pay a premium for extra features such as intelligent
alerts, third-party integrations, and a high-resolution camera. That isn’t the case
with the Ezviz DB1C, a smart doorbell that offers Ultra HD video, dual-band Wi-Fi,

cloud and local video storage, voice control, and lots of third-party support for
just $99. It performed flawlessly in testing, delivering bright, colorful video during
the day, crisp black-and-white video at night, and accurate alerts.

29SMART AIR PURIFIER
DYSON PURIFIER COOL TP07
$549.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

Poor indoor air quality can cause or exacerbate a host of issues, from
headaches to asthma. The Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 can help. It excels as both an
air purifier and a fan while taking up minimal floor space. And it features Wi-Fi
connectivity, so you can remotely control it from your phone or with your voice.
You’ll be amazed by the Cool TP07’s ability to detect the slightest hint of smoke
or odor and turn on automatically, even from across the house.

30SMART AIR CONDITIONER
HISENSE 350-SQ. FT. WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER
$279.00

If you’re looking for a smart AC to cool off small to medium-size rooms, the
Hisense 350-sq. ft. Window Air Conditioner is an excellent choice. It’s easy to
install and responds quickly to voice, app, and remote-control commands—and
most important, it works quickly and quietly. This Hisense AC also costs less than
many 8,000-BTU models, making it a top choice for smart cooling on a budget.

31SMART DISPLAY
AMAZON ECHO SHOW 8 (2ND GEN)
$129.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

Smart displays come in all sizes, from bedside clocks to huge screens. The Echo
Show 8 fits nicely in the Goldilocks zone between those ranges, striking a great
balance between value, features, and audio/video power. The second-
generation model is similar to the first, but a new, much higher-resolution camera
makes video chatting and home security monitoring even better.

32SMART SPEAKER
SONOS BEAM (GEN 2)
$449.00

The Sonos Beam isn’t the biggest or most powerful soundbar, but it’s one of the
most feature-packed. The second-generation model uses Sonos’ multi-room
speaker ecosystem for plenty of audio mix-and-match potential (within Sonos’
catalog, of course) and features your choice of either hands-free Amazon Alexa
or Google Assistant voice control, while a new audio processor enables
surprisingly immersive Dolby Atmos spatial audio.

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33OLED TV OLED might be
LG OLED55C1PUB a fancier and
$1,799.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE slimmer TV
display
LG’s organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel technology,
technology continues to be among the best on the but don’t
market, and its latest OLED TV demonstrates just that. At
$1,799.99, the OLED55C1PUB is expensive but not discount LED-
absurdly so, and its fantastic contrast and best-in-class backlit LCDs.
color performance justify the price. Add a sleek design
and a smart TV platform that supports your choice of
Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant and has Apple
AirPlay, and you have a very appealing TV.

34LCD TV
SAMSUNG 55-INCH CLASS QN90A
NEO QLED TV

$1,799.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

OLED might be a fancier and slimmer TV display
technology, but don’t discount good, old-fashioned
LED-backlit LCDs, especially with Samsung’s extensive
engineering behind them. The $1,799.99 55-inch QN90A
Neo QLED TV is just as expensive as LG’s C1 OLED TV, but
it’s also just as technically impressive. Its panel is one of
the brightest we’ve seen while still offering incredibly
dark black levels, and its colors are wide and accurate.

35MEDIA HUB
AMAZON FIRE TV STICK (3RD GEN)
$39.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

4K media streamers are great for 4K TVs, but they’re overkill for 1080p HDTVs (and
most were refreshed back in 2020). If you have an older HDTV, the third-
generation Amazon Fire TV Stick is your best bet. For $39.99, it provides easy
access to Amazon’s content as well as the biggest media-streaming services out
there. It also lets you use Amazon Alexa voice control through the remote,
providing even more useful features, including smart home control.

36SOUNDBAR
ROKU STREAMBAR PRO
$179.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

The Roku Streambar Pro is the same device as the Roku Smart Soundbar that
came out in 2019, but it offers a better remote with features including a
headphone jack for private listening and a finder feature that beeps to help you
locate it in the couch cushions. It also puts out some strong sound for just $179.99;
you can easily expand it to a full surround system with a subwoofer and still
spend less than $600 total.

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37SPEAKER
JBL CHARGE 5
$179.95 EDITORS’ CHOICE

JBL continues to build on its Charge series of Bluetooth speakers with the Charge
5, the best one yet. It’s a bit larger than a tall beer can and can put out
surprisingly powerful sound for its size. The waterproof design is now dustproof,
too, so you can take it from the sand to the surf with confidence.

38EARPHONES
SONY WF-1000XM4
$279.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

Sony is giving Bose a run for its money in active noise
cancellation (ANC) and sounding great to boot. The
WF-1000XM4 true wireless earphones are pricey at
$279.99, but they block out most outside noises while
pushing deep bass and crisp highs with ease.

39BUDGET EARPHONES The Anker
ANKER SOUNDCORE LIFE P3 Soundcore Life
$79.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE P3 earphones do
an admirable job
You don’t need to spend a lot of money for true wireless
earbuds with good sound and even ANC. The Anker of reducing
Soundcore Life P3 earphones cost only $79.99, and they distracting
do an admirable job of reducing distracting noises while
offering some strong bass in the process. They don’t noises.
sound as good or block out as much as high-end models
from Bose and Sony, but they also cost less than a third
of the price of either.

40HEADPHONES
BOSE QUIETCOMFORT 45
$329.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE

Apple and Sony are catching up, but Bose is still a slight
step ahead in over-ear noise cancellation. The $329
QuietComfort 45 headphones are the company’s most
impressive ANC model yet, blocking mid- and high-
frequency sounds almost as well as low-frequency ones
(which are the easiest to dampen). They don’t offer
granular adjustments as Sony does or fancy microphone-
based audio tweaks as Apple does, but they don’t need
to when they work this well.

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41FULL-FRAME CAMERA
SONY A1
$6,499.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

Sony’s full-frame camera won us over with its stacked sensor tech and a fast
readout design that supports autofocus and Raw mode at 30fps to capture the
most fleeting actions. Its smart focus system recognizes people, birds, and many
animals. Imaging is second to none, with 50MP for stills, 8K video, and 4K slow
motion. This is a real pro camera, with a stabilized sensor and magnesium build,
and it’s backed by nearly a decade’s worth of lens releases.

42APS-C CAMERA
FUJIFILM X-S10
$999.95

At around $1,000 (without a lens), the Fujifilm X-S10 sits in the middle of the pack
in market position, but it’s not far behind last year’s winner, the Fujifilm X-T4, when
it comes to performance. The X-S10 puts its 26MP X-Trans sensor on a 5-axis
stabilizer, records 8-bit 4K video, and has a front-facing LCD for vloggers. We
really love Fujifilm’s excellent in-camera film simulation options, as they succeed
in giving digital images the texture and feel of film photos—no need for
Instagram filters.

43PRIME LENS
SONY FE 50MM F1.2 GM
$1,999.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

The Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM is a premium entry. At around $2,000, it’s worth every
penny. It gathers more light than the more run-of-the-mill F1.4, making it a better
fit for blurrier backgrounds and even lower-light imaging. This one isn’t any bigger
than F1.4, setting itself apart from the F1.2 primes for Canon and Nikon cameras.
Even with the smaller size, Sony’s optics are tack sharp, even at maximum
aperture—it’s one of the best 50mm lenses we’ve ever used, and that includes
exotic entries from Leica and Zeiss.

44ZOOM LENS The GoPro Hero
SIGMA 150-600MM F5-6.3 DG DN 10 Black is as
SPORTS tough as you
want, can go
$1,499.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE
underwater to
Sigma’s made-for-mirrorless update to one of its best SLR 33 feet without
zooms is our favorite zoom lens this year. The 150-600mm
F5-6.3 DG DN Sports is a lens with plenty of appeal for a case.
everyone from birders to sports photographers. At 4.6
pounds, it’s reasonable to carry for a hike, and its all-
weather design means you can use it for your visit to
Yellowstone even if you should end up getting
drenched—and it’s a pretty decent macro lens as well.
It’s available for L-mount cameras from Leica,
Panasonic, and Sigma and in Sony E-mount.

45ACTION CAMERA
GOPRO HERO10 BLACK
$399.00 AS TESTED EDITORS’ CHOICE

This year’s GoPro Hero10 Black builds on last year’s
redesign. It looks just like the Hero9 but comes with
welcome updates, including the best stabilization we’ve
seen, faster frame rates to record slower slow-mo,
excellent touch response, a smoother front display, and
more. It is as tough as you want, can go underwater to
33 feet without a case, and is small enough to mount
anywhere. The Hero10 Black comes bundled with a year
of GoPro’s useful cloud service for $399, but it costs $100
more if you don’t want to subscribe. The pricing is a little
weird, but the camera is great.

46DRONE
DJI AIR 2S
$999.99

The DJI Air 2S is a quadcopter with a high-quality 1-inch
sensor camera. Its remote control works with your
smartphone to fly the drone and control its camera,
which is mounted on a three-axis gimbal for smooth,
stable video. The Air 2S records video at up to 5.4K
resolution, snaps 20MP stills, and includes HDR and flat
color profiles for video editing pros. It has a load of safety
features too, including a sensor that warns you when
manned aircraft are nearby, obstacle avoidance
sensors, and a battery that delivers half-hour flight times.

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47ALL-IN-ONE DESKTOP This perky
APPLE IMAC 24-INCH reimagining of
$2,028 the iMac design

The first major iMac redesign in years landed over the is available
summer, and it’s a stunner. Built for the work-from-home in multiple
era, this perky reimagining of the classic iMac design is colors with
available in multiple colors with matching peripherals. It’s
extraordinarily thin, offers excellent webcam quality, and matching
comes with a snappy Apple M1 processor. It’s your new peripherals.
go-to for everyday home computing, which is more
“everyday” now than ever before.

48BUDGET DESKTOP
ACER ASPIRE TC-895-UA91
$429.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

The Acer Aspire TC-895-UA91 represents the elusive
affordable do-it-all budget desktop. Its Core i3 processor
ensures quick performance for everyday tasks and light
office work, and it’s filled with modern ports and features
(a USB-C port, an SD card slot, Wi-Fi) that are not
guaranteed in a desktop at this price. It’s all wrapped up
in a straightforward and compact plug-and-play tower
and is a more-than-fair value.

49COMPACT DESKTOP
INTEL NUC 11 EXTREME KIT (“BEAST
CANYON”)

$1,350.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE
A PC powerhouse at shoebox size—need we say more?
Intel’s NUC models are usually tiny low-power boxes for
easy tasks, but this one lives up to its Extreme name. It

can manage a seriously high power ceiling, as our Core
i9 and GeForce RTX 3060 build showed. This is a rare
small-form-factor PC with the performance of a full
desktop. There are no pre-configured builds, only bare
bones, so there is DIY work to be done. But the case’s
modular design makes adding components a breeze.

50GAMING DESKTOP
LENOVO LEGION TOWER 5I (2021)
$949.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE

As impressive as pricey boutique and DIY desktops can
be, the best gaming desktop of the year is one most
shoppers can actually afford. The 2021 Lenovo Legion
Tower 5i delivers a six-core CPU and Nvidia GeForce GTX
1660 Super GPU for under $1,000, making it a perfectly
capable machine for mainstream gamers at a very
attractive price. It even has a see-through side panel,
not a given at the price, as well as some customizable
lighting. This isn’t a high-end powerhouse (how could it
be for $949?), but it’s an attainable, well-put-together
desktop for consistent 1080p gaming.

5 1 BUSINESS/DESKTOP
WORKSTATION
DELL PRECISION 3240 COMPACT

$3,047

What’s the only thing better than a blistering-fast
workstation? A tiny blistering-fast workstation. The Dell
Precision 3240 Compact we reviewed is a flamethrower
for demanding workloads, packing an Intel Xeon
processor and Nvidia Quadro RTX 3000 GPU. There are
lesser configurations, of course, since it starts at just $839,
but it more than proved itself capable as a serious
workhorse. All that power in a small rectangle, with
professional features such as ISV certification and an
array of ports, is hard to turn down.

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52GRAPHICS CARD
NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3070 TI FOUNDERS EDITION
$599.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is yet another in the company’s growing stable of
stellar graphics cards that, despite supply-chain woes, are reasonably priced by
the manufacturer to bring 4K gaming to the masses. The RTX 3070 Ti deftly
straddles the line between high-quality AAA 4K play and high-refresh 1080p
competitive multiplayer action. Actually finding one may be an Indiana Jones–
like quest, but lucky purchasers will get a whole lot of power for not a whole lot of
money (at least, at Nvidia’s asking price).

53HIGH-END CPU
INTEL CORE I9-12900K
$589.99

After a bunch of merely iterative years stuck on 14nm lithography, Intel has finally
regained its mojo in desktop gaming with the Core i9-12900K and its new dual-
faceted “performance” and “efficiency” core design. This chip is the most
powerful consumer-level CPU the company has released to date, scorching
previous generations in Intel’s lineup while also giving AMD’s stellar Ryzen 5000
Series a run for its money. The chip runs a little hot under the collar at times, and it
requires a whole new motherboard platform, but it puts out a heck of a lot of
power for content creation and after-hours play alike.

54MAINSTREAM CPU
AMD RYZEN 5 5600G
$259.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE

In a world where graphics cards are worth their weight in gold (not really, but
shortages make it seem that way), more PC gamers are turning to integrated
graphics solutions to bridge the gap. Luckily for them, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
exists. This punchy processor can often power many popular titles in lower

resolutions and quality levels at 60fps or more. It may not be the best choice for
4K monitor owners, but anyone who plays their favorite titles at 1080p and
doesn’t want to shell out for a video card should get the power they need from
the Ryzen 5 5600G.

5 5 MOTHERBOARD
ASUS ROG STRIX Z590-I GAMING WI-FI
$369.99

This year’s top mainboard is a compact Mini-ITX design from Asus for Intel’s 11th
Generation “Rocket Lake” CPUs. Mini-ITX motherboards have long been
constrained by their nature: their board size. But the ROG Strix Z590-I Gaming Wi-
Fi has an innovative design—with a main PCB and a small, daughterboard-like
secondary extension board—that helps to overcome the small surface area. Its
overall feature set is on par with many larger motherboards, just with slightly
fewer ports. And if you’re looking to overclock on a Mini-ITX build, this board
should give you a successful launch.

56PC CASE
HYTE REVOLT 3
$249.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE

Like our motherboard selection, our 2021 case pick goes small. The Revolt 3 from
Hyte (a new sub-brand of venerable PC maker iBuypower) doesn’t quite
revolutionize the Mini-ITX case market—we’ve seen a few compact-footprint
designs like it—but its price and helpful design elements make it a standout
option for small-system builders. Tearing down the case is exceedingly easy, with
side panels held on by magnets instead of screws, and the vertical design
supports long graphics cards. Add to that some clever cable-management
features, a built-in headphone holder, and a handy handle, and you have
one of the best small PC cases of this or any year. And it takes up almost no
desk space.

57INTERNAL SSD
ADATA XPG GAMMIX S70 BLADE
$159.99 EDITORS’ CHOICE

With blazing sequential read and write speeds—the fastest of any SSD we’ve
tested—the XPG Gammix S70 Blade is a powerful PCI Express 4.0 internal SSD with
NVMe support. Unlike most of its high-performance ilk, the S70 Blade can fit into a
(PCIe 4.0-compatible) laptop’s M.2 slot, thanks to a thin but effective graphene
heat spreader. It even works with the Sony PlayStation 5. Perhaps best of all, the
S70 Blade is modestly priced for an elite performer.