Author: Admin

Have you ever wanted to watch a video on a streaming service, like Netflix or Hulu, but discovered the video isn’t available in your country? This is called geo-blocking and while it can be annoying, there’s a way around it.

Streaming services aren’t the only places you might run into geo-blocked content. A few examples of geo-blocking include online stores restricting sales to certain regions and state governments blocking access to services like WhatsApp or Twitter.

Here’s how geo-blocking works and what you can do to get around these restrictions.

What is geo-blocking?

“Geoblocking restricts access to online content based on the user’s geographical location,” said Peter Yu, the director of Texas A&M University’s Center for Law and Property.

You can think of geo-blocking in terms of school districts. If you live within a certain community you can send your child to particular schools and have access to that district’s resources. When online content is geo-blocked, you can access content specific to your “school district” but not others.

How does geo-blocking work?

Your public IP (internet protocol) address makes geo-blocking possible. An IP address is a unique numerical label attached to a device on the internet or a local network. This address makes it possible to send and receive information online — without it, you wouldn’t be able to read this article right now.

Your IP address also holds information about your geographic location because it’s determined by your router, not the device you’re using to browse the internet. For example, if you connect your phone to your home network, you will have a different IP address than if you connect your phone to your work network.

The location information in your IP address can help ensure that if you travel somewhere you can access, or are blocked from, area specific content.

How can I bypass geo-blocking?

A VPN, like ExpressVPN, SurfShark and NordVPN, can allow you to bypass geo-blocking wherever you are. VPNs can disguise your IP address to make it look like it’s coming from another country or region.

Read more: Best VPN Service of 2023

A VPN redirects your traffic through a server in another region, and your IP address will reflect that server’s location. That also means that you have to choose a VPN server from another region in order to get around geo-blocking.

So if you want to watch a US Netflix show while traveling abroad, you can use a VPN to connect to a US server.

While you might be tempted to use a free VPN, we strongly advise against that. Many free VPNs compromise on performance and usability and limit the amount of data you can use. Some free VPNs are even loaded with malware and sell your personal data.

A 2018 Top10VPN investigation into free VPN apps found that about 86% of free VPN apps for Android and iOS have unsatisfactory privacy policies. The investigation also found that some free VPN apps lack transparency while others explicitly share user data with Chinese authorities.

When choosing a VPN, you should look for critical privacy features, like DNS leak protection, obfuscated servers and a kill switch.

Read more: How to Pick the Right VPN for You

Will I get in trouble for accessing geo-blocked content?

Using a VPN to access geo-blocked content isn’t illegal — unless using a VPN is illegal in your country — but it could lead to other ramifications.

Using a VPN to access geo-blocked content could violate a streaming service’s user agreement, and your account could be terminated or suspended. You could also face legal trouble if you use a VPN to access content that is illegal in your region.

We advise reading through terms of service before using a VPN with any app, game or other service. Also, remember that illegal activity is still illegal, even if you’re masking your location with a VPN.

What I’m wearing looks like sunglasses, but they’re actually projecting a monitor in front of me. I’ve been living with Xreal’s Air AR glasses, which can connect to various devices through USB-C, or with some additional accessories, any HDMI device for an on-the-go style monitor experience.

In a world of VR headsets and more advanced mixed reality headsets like Apple’s Vision Pro, there are also a number of smaller glasses that can both project virtual augmented reality effects onto the real world or double as portable and somewhat useful display glasses. (TCL has developed a few versions of its own display glasses over the past few years too.)

You could use one of these devices with game consoles, phones and even computers. Here are some of the best and worst ways to use these glasses, so you can determine if they can take your gaming or productivity to the next level, and know about the limitations.

Product Specs

The Xreal Air glasses look very similar to a pair of sunglasses. They weigh 80 grams and feature two 1080p OLED panels, one for each eye. All the computing is done in a wide-brimmed part embedded at the top of the glasses. The image is projected down toward an angled lens before being bounced forward onto the front lenses. They aren’t actually filling all of the lens with your image but just what’s inside this section of it. That display, however, looks sharp and crisp, and text is easily visible. It looks like the display floats a few feet away from you in the space you’re in.

The glasses’ arms have three degrees of movement to help them sit more comfortably on your head. Unfortunately, you can’t adjust the length of the arms, and there’s no way to bend them into a slightly different curve. On my head, the arms actually pinched inward a little too much and didn’t sit on my head as comfortably as I’d have liked.

Each arm has a built-in speaker placed just in front of your ear. The right arm also has a power button, and two buttons to adjust how transparent the image appears. A proximity sensor placed above the nose pads detects when someone is wearing the glasses so that they’ll turn on and off when needed. One of the main downsides is that the glasses don’t have a built in battery, so you will always need to use them tethered with a connecting cable to whatever device you’re displaying through. This keeps the glasses small but not wireless.

The Airs do come with an angled USB-C cable to help wrap the cord behind your ear and down below to whatever you’re plugging into. The glasses also come with a carrying case, including room for that cable, a cleaning cloth, and a shaded plastic cover that protects the lenses and helps you see the displays better in bright light, blocking the transparency in case you need that for better immersion. Otherwise, if you’re in a bright room, the image can get washed out and difficult to see, even at the highest brightness level.

The Xreal Air glasses and these accessories cost $379, which at least isn’t terribly expensive.

Steam Deck

Hands down, my best gaming experience with the Xreal Air glasses was playing with a Steam Deck. Simply plug the glasses’ USB-C cable into the Deck, and the display moves over.

From there, you can keep the Steam Deck in your lap or connect a separate controller and move the Deck off to the side. Laying flat on the couch or in bed, staring up at the ceiling with the display projected in front of me, was really awesome. In fact, the Air’s 1080p display is actually better than the Deck’s native 800p screen. If you’re taking this on the go (like in an airplane for example), and you don’t want people hearing the audio coming out of the glasses’ speakers, you can connect your own headphones to the Deck and be fully immersed.

Xbox/Playstation

In order to connect any device that uses HDMI out, you need Xreal’s separately sold HDMI adapter. This little device costs $59, and it also needs to be charged. The adapter has USB-C in on one end and HDMI in on the other. This lets you plug the glasses into it while plugging your game console into the other with an HDMI cable. With this, you can easily set your console up on a desk or maybe your night stand and enjoy some gaming outside of the living room, like laying down in bed. It’s also a really nice way to take your console with you on the go and, as long as you have a single outlet to power the device, use it much more portably. If you’re like me and you often bring game consoles with you when traveling, maybe you move around often for work and spend a lot of time in hotel rooms, or you’re just someone who doesn’t want to transport around a monitor for your gaming, these glasses can really come in handy.

This setup will work the same with pretty much any device that connects to a monitor via HDMI, but let’s talk about using the Nintendo Switch when it isn’t docked.

Switch Play: Not as easy

Unfortunately, using these glasses with a Nintendo Switch isn’t as seamless as it is with the Steam Deck. The Switch doesn’t support video out through its USB-C port: it needs a dock in order to send the video to a display. There are plenty of third-party docks out there that are smaller and more portable than the dock that comes with your Switch, but then when docked, the Switch still needs to use a power adapter. At that point, the portability advantage that the Switch has pretty much vanished. Simple answer: gaming glasses won’t work with your Switch the way you expect they might.

Phones/iPhone

Of course, you can use these glasses for more than just gaming. If your phone or tablet supports USB-C, then you can plug it into the bottom and have the display floating in front of you. This is great if you’re traveling and want to watch a movie or some media on a monitor larger than your phone’s screen.

It works with an iPhone too, but you’re going to need some adapters: Apple’s Lightning to Digital AV Adapter, which lets you connect your iPhone to an HDMI cable, plus Xreal’s HDMI adapter. That’s a lot of dongles, but it works.

Computers

The Xreal Air glasses can also be used as an external monitor for a computer or laptop. Just like the Steam Deck, you can plug the glasses right into a USB-C port and the computer will detect them like a second screen. With the 1080p displays, text is sharp enough to read, so I’m happy to report you could actually get some work done with these.

These Air glasses feel like a good first step into where I’d like to see this tech go. Being able to project my games and media up onto a larger screen in front of me is very cool: I absolutely loved lying in bed, controller in my lap, playing games up on my ceiling. However, the number of caveats every scenario I set up required made it more of a hassle than I’d like, especially at the glasses’ high price. I wish I could just plug this right into a Switch, and there are too many cables: using it with my phone requires this little brick of cables to hang off my head. The future of display glasses needs to be wireless and far better interconnected.

This is one of the best times of the year for bargain hunters. Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner, with plenty of early bargains that you can already shop right now. And Amazon isn’t the only one offering savings. Plenty of other retailers are offering sales and deals of their own, including the Amazon subsidiary Woot. The online retailer is currently offering some solid bargains on a small selection of LG earbuds, speakers and refurbished TVs, with some items discounted by as much as 56%. These deals are only available through July 7, and there’s a good chance they could sell out before then, so we’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later.

If you don’t mind a refurbished model, this sale is a great chance to save some serious cash on an LG C2 Series TV, which we named the best high-end TV for 2023. It features a dazzling 4K OLED display with self-lit pixels for stunning contrast, and is equipped with an a9 Gen5 AI processor that automatically improves the look and sound of all your content. Right now you can snag a refurb 55-, 65- or 77-inch model from $850, saving you up to $800 compared to the usual price. Just note that it doesn’t include the stand, so you’ll need to get that separately or mount the TV to a wall.

There’s more than just refurb TVs on sale, too. If you need a new portable speaker so you can take some tunes on your summer adventures, you can snag this LG XBoom Go for just $50, which is $50 off the usual price. It’s equipped with Meridian audio tech and features 20 watts of power, as well as built-in LED lights that sync with your music, 18-hour battery life and an IPX5 water-resistance rating.

Or, if you’re in the market for a new pair of true-wireless earbuds, you can grab a pair of these LG Tone Free T60Q buds for $80, which saves you $100 compared to the usual price. They feature Hi-Fi audio, hybrid active noise cancellation and three built-in microphones for clear audio on voice calls. They also boast an IPX4 water-resistance rating so they’re protected against sweat and splashing, and the charging case has a built-in UV-C light to kill bacteria.

Novak Djokovic and Elena Rybakina will be out to defend their titles on the hallowed grass courts of the All England Club, as the world’s best players get set for two weeks of top-tier tennis at Wimbledon 2023.

The third grand slam tournament of the year could see a changing of the guard, with bright young stars such as 20-year-old World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and Italy’s Jannik Sinner hoping to unseat Djokovic in the men’s tournament.

Poland’s Iga Świątek and Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka are, meanwhile, both strongly backed to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish — the women’s tournament trophy — for the first time.

Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch Wimbledon live wherever you are in the world.

Wimbledon 2023: Where and when is it?

Wimbledon 2023 takes place between Monday, July 3, and Sunday, July 16, at the iconic All England Club in south-west London. Play usually begins at 11 a.m. BST local time each morning (6 a.m. ET, 3 a.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 8 p.m. AEST in Australia), continuing through the afternoon and sometimes well into the evenings.

A full schedule for this year’s event can be found further down.

How to watch Wimbledon 2023 online from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view Wimbledon locally, you may need a different way to watch the world’s greatest grass-court tennis players — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Australia, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

Livestream Wimbledon 2023 in the US

Linear TV coverage of Wimbledon this year will be split across ESPN (which, crucially, is showing both the men’s and women’s finals), ESPN 2 and ESPN 3/ABC. However, for tennis fans in the US, the best way to watch the tournament will be via ESPN Plus, with the streaming service providing the most comprehensive coverage across the two weeks of the tournament.

Most live TV streaming services offer a free trial or discounts during the first month and allow you to cancel anytime. All require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.

Livestream Wimbledon 2023 in the UK for free

Tennis fans in the UK will be delighted to hear that the BBC is once again showing the entire tournament across free-to-air channels BBC One, BBC Two and the Red Button.

That also means you can livestream all the action from the green sward of SW19 on BBC iPlayer.

Stream Wimbledon 2023 in Australia for free

Tennis fans Down Under can watch comprehensive live coverage of Wimbledon on free-to-air channel 9Gem. That also means you’ll be able to watch the action online via the network’s streaming service 9Now.

For dedicated tennis fans, pay-TV service Stan Sport is livestreaming every match on every court, ad-free.

Stream Wimbledon 2023 in Canada

Comprehensive live coverage of Wimbledon 2023 will be available in Canada via TSN. Cord cutters can watch via the network’s streaming service TSN Plus.

Wimbledon 2023: Men’s and women’s singles full schedule

• Monday, July 3: 1st round
• Tuesday, July 4: 1st round
• Wednesday, July 5: 2nd round
• Thursday, July 6: 2nd round
• Friday, July 7: 3rd round
• Saturday, July 8: 3rd round
• Sunday, July 9: 4th round
• Monday, July 10: 4th round
• Tuesday, July 11: Quarterfinals
• Wednesday, July 12: Quarterfinals
• Thursday, July 13: Women’s semifinals
• Friday, July 14: Men’s semifinals
• Saturday, July 15: Women’s final
• Sunday, July 16: Men’s final

Quick tips for streaming Wimbledon 2023 using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming the tennis action live may vary.
• If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
• If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.

What’s the best Fire TV Stick?

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is far and away the best Fire TV Stick that Amazon makes. It launches apps quickly, and navigating around feels fast and smooth, thanks to its robust processor. It also comes with Dolby Vision support and Wi-Fi 6 for faster streaming.

Amazon has pushed aggressively into the streaming market, producing an array of Fire TV-branded streaming devices. We’ve tested and reviewed them all — as well as others from Roku, Google, Apple and more — and found that we tend to like Roku products best for their easy use and their platform-agnostic approach. Roku’s menus don’t favor one streaming service (like, for example, Prime Video) over others. That said, Amazon’s Fire TV devices are highly capable too, especially if you want Alexa voice integration.

Amazon’s range is robust and runs the gamut from the basic Fire TV Stick Lite to the midrange Fire TV Stick 4K Max to the top-tier Fire TV Cube, as well as a bunch of models in between. If that sounds confusing, don’t worry. Our guide to the best Fire TV streaming device will help you pick out the right model for you.

Read more: Best 4K TV for 2023

Best Fire TV Sticks of 2023

How we test Fire TV devices

Every Fire TV Stick we review receives hours of hands-on testing. Typically, this involves installing the device on multiple TVs, evaluating the setup process, adding popular streaming channels and using the product as if it were our own. We use all of the major features available and note how they stack up against other Fire TV models in the company’s lineup. To do this, we hook up multiple Fire TV streaming devices to the same TV so we can switch back and forth easily to compare the experiences.

The metrics we use to rate a device include hardware design, distinctive features that differentiate models, remote capabilities and design, overall ease of use, effective layouts and design, search capabilities, privacy settings, the number of apps and their performance and the overall speed and reliability of the system.

The USA take on Trinidad and Tobago in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday, knowing that a win or draw will be enough for them to advance to the quarter-finals of the Gold Cup.

The USMNT come into this clash on a high after their 6-0 hammering of Saint Kitts and Nevis on Thursday — a match that saw FC Dallas forward Jesús Ferreira claim a hat-trick.

Sunday’s fixture is likely to be a much tougher proposition for the hosts, however, as they face the side that famously beat the USA on home soil in 2017 to prevent them from reaching the 2018 World Cup finals.

Trinidad and Tobago have never ventured further than the group stages of this tournament, but a shock win here would put them through to the quarter-finals for the first time.

Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game live wherever you are in the world.

USA vs. Trinidad and Tobago: When and where?

The USA take on Jamaica at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Sunday, July 2. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET local time, 4 p.m. PT (12 a.m. BST in the UK and 11 a.m. AEST on Monday, July 3 in Australia).

How to watch the USA vs. Trinidad and Tobago game online from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view the game locally, you may need a different way to watch — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

Livestream the USA vs. Trinidad and Tobago game in the US

Saturday’s game is on Fox. If you don’t have the channel as part of your cable lineup, it can be streamed via Sling TV, as well as other more expensive streaming TV services.

Livestream the USA vs. Trinidad and Tobago match in the UK

Broadcast rights in the UK for this game are with Viaplay, with kick-off set for 12 a.m. BST in the early hours of Monday morning.

Livestream the USA vs. Trinidad and Tobago match in the Canada

If you want to stream this Gold Cup clash live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to FuboTV Canada.

Can I livestream the USA vs. Trinidad and Tobago game in Australia?

There is currently no confirmed broadcaster for this key Gold Cup match Down Under.

The only alternative is to use one of our best VPN services as described above, set your location to a country on this page that is broadcasting and go from there. Just be aware that most paid streaming services will require a credit card based in the country the service is from.

Quick tips for streaming CONCACAF Gold Cup 2023 using a VPN

• With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming Gold Cup matches may vary.
• If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
• If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
• And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.

With Prime Day on the horizon, set to kick off on July 11, several retailers have announced competing sales of their own, which means budget-conscious shoppers looking to snag a good deal will have plenty of chances to save. Walmart Plus Week will launch the day before Amazon’s big event, but you’ll have to be a Walmart Plus member to take advantage of early savings. The sales will open up to everyone the next day. However, with all of the early deals springing up at various retailers, there’s no need to wait — you can save on these early Walmart Plus Week deals right now.

We’ve rounded up some highlights from the sale. And be sure to check back often, as we will continue to update this list as we get closer to the official kickoff and more items see massive discounts.

Best early Walmart Plus deals on tech

More early Walmart Plus Week deals on tech:

• JBL Flip 6 portable waterproof speaker: $100 (save $30)

• Beats Studio3 wireless W1 headphones: $169 (save $181)
• Zagg Pro universal stylus: $50 (save $20)
• 32-inch Onn HD Roku TV: $98 (save $46)
• Acer 23.8-inch HD IPS monitor: $98 (save $31)
• MSI GF63 15.6-inch gaming laptop: $599 (save $200)
• 58-inch Hisense 4K Roku TV: $268 (save $70)

Best early Walmart Plus deals on home and outdoors

Best early Walmart Plus Week deals on home and outdoors:

• Shark Navigator Lift-Away upright vacuum: $159 (save $19)
• Kenmore 32-inch smart charcoal grill with meat thermometer: $298 (save $52)
• Greenworks 40V 21-inch self-propelled lawnmower: $374 (save $75)
• Magic Bullet Mini 14-ounce compact blender: $25 (save $10)
• Tineco S10 ZT cordless stick vacuum: $199 (save $39)

What to expect during Walmart Plus Week

What sales are kicking off during Walmart Plus week? Here’s what you can expect:

• Save $200 on a 65-inch LG Nano 80 4K TV, bringing the price to $498
• Save $200 on a V8 Origin Plus Dyson cordless vacuum, bringing the price to $250
• Save $160 on a 75-inch Vizio MQ6 4K TV, bringing the price to $698
• Save $130 on a 65-inch TCL 5-Series 4K TV, bringing the price to $398
• Save $50 on Samsung’s Buds Plus True wireless earbuds (in black), bringing the price to $49

Apple may soon add a new feature to its AirPods that will allow users to perform examinations on themselves for potential hearing issues and check their body temperature, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported Sunday.

The hearing-test feature will play different tones and sounds through the AirPods to determine how well a person hears, Gurman reported. The feature would be similar to the Apple Watch ECG app, which checks for heart problems, he noted, possibly making other hearing-aid apps irrelevant.

Apple already has two features, Live Listen and Conversation Boost, which can essentially turn AirPods into on-demand hearing aids. But, as noted by Bloomberg, these features aren’t approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Apple is also working on a feature that will measure your temperature through your ear canal, Gurman writes. The reading from the ear canal is considered more accurate than temperatures taken from your wrist, which the Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra models collect while users sleep.

Apple has reported been tinkering with using AirPods to take the temperature of wearers for several years. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2021 that Apple was working to bring a thermometer and blood pressure tool to a future Apple Watch and also at how to use the iPhone to detect depression and cognitive decline.

But you may have to wait awhile for the temperature and hearing checks. The new health features may not arrive on AirPods for several months or even years, Gurman reports.

The company is also planning to offer less expensive AirPod models and transition to USB-C charging ports, Gurman wrote.

Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

When shopping for a budget laptop, compromises must be made. Then the question quickly becomes, in which areas are you willing to make concessions for a lower price? The cut corners usually start with forgoing a solid metal chassis for a creaky plastic enclosure and a bright, vivid and high-resolution display for one that’s dim and dull. They likely end with a CPU that’s a generation behind the times along with a meager memory allotment and an undersized SSD. And it’s possible you’ll end up with a clacky keyboard without backlighting and a middling touchpad, too. The Asus VivoBook 15 forces you to make many of these compromises, but its plastic body looks classier than that of most budget laptops and doesn’t creak.

The biggest draw for the VivoBook F1502ZA I tested might be its 512GB SSD, though. That’s double the capacity usually on offer at this price. It’s currently on sale for $599 at Asus. The 8GB of RAM is standard for the price but for only $50 more at Amazon you can double it to 16GB of RAM, which will keep Windows working smoothly. Amazon also sells a model with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for $700, which might be the best value of the available VivoBook 15 configs. We like the fit and finish of the smaller and slightly pricier HP Pavilion Aero 13 and HP Pavilion 14, but the VivoBook 15 offers a roomier display for budget buyers. If getting the biggest display for your buck is your chief concern, however, then we’d steer you toward the 17-inch HP Laptop 17. And among 15-inch budget models, the Acer Aspire Vero is sturdier and more stylish.

Configuration as reviewed

Geekbox	Asus VivoBook F1502ZA
Price as reviewed	$599
Display size/resolution	15.6-inch, FHD 1,920×1,080 16:9 aspect ratio, 60Hz refresh rate, 250 nits
CPU	1.7GHz Intel Core i5-1240P
Memory	8GB DDR4 3,200MHz RAM
Graphics	128MB Intel UHD Graphics
Storage	512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
Networking	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) (Dual band), Bluetooth 5.3
Operating system	Microsoft Windows Home 22H2

Our Asus VivoBook 15 (model F1502ZA-DS52P) is currently available at Asus for $599, which is $101 less than the regular price. It features an Intel Core i5-1240P CPU, 8GB of RAM, integrated Intel HD graphics and a 512GB SSD. A generation behind Intel’s current series, the Core i5-1240P is a member of Intel’s 28-watt P series that’s the middle child between the more efficient 15-watt U series and more performance-oriented 45-watt H series. It features Intel’s hybrid architecture with performance and efficiency cores; it has four performance cores, eight efficiency cores and a total of 16 processing threads. The 15.6-inch display has a full-HD resolution (1,920×1,080 pixels) and a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio. While midrange and premium laptops have switched to a 16:10 or 3:2 screen ratio for more vertical workspace, most budget models are still 16:9. The display is rated for a paltry 250 nits of brightness, and our tests sadly confirmed this figure.

In labs testing, the VivoBook15 finished at the back of a pack of laptops that feature similar specs — two of the competing models feature 12th-gen Core i5 CPUs like the VivoBook15, while another features a previous-gen AMD Ryzen 5 5000 series processor. We also included Asus’s pricier Asus VivoBook 16X OLED laptop, which features a 12th-gen Core i7 part. Two of the four competing systems feature 8GB of RAM, and the other two offer 16GB of RAM. All rely on an integrated GPU. With the exception of a positive Cinebench score, the VivoBook15 finished last among this group, and by considerable margins on Geekbench, 3DMark and our battery drain test. You can find better budget performance and battery life elsewhere.

Cool blue

At first glance, the VivoBook 15 looks like a step up from the usual budget fare. Part of its appeal is the gun-metal blue color of the plastic shell, which looks a bit more dressed up than a typical silver or dark gray enclosure. The plastic chassis is fairly solid, with just a little flex felt in the keyboard deck and lid behind the display. I’ve experienced creakier budget laptops.

The VivoBook 15 has a weak display hinge — a dead giveaway of a budget laptop — and any movement causes the screen to wobble. The hinge is able to rotate 180 degrees so you can lay the display down flat. I still have yet to encounter a scenario where I need to have my laptop resting horizontally and would gladly sacrifice the 180-degree flexibility for a firmer hinge.

The display may be wobbly, but the keyboard feels solid. The keys offer deep travel and snappy feedback for a pleasant typing experience. You also get a number pad, and its presence doesn’t result in any annoyingly shortened keys. One oddity to the keyboard we’ve seen with previous VivoBooks is the striped Enter key. There’s white-and-black striping along its bottom edge to maybe spice up the design or perhaps act as an aid for locating the key. Regardless, it’s a key that, I’d argue, is the last key other than the spacebar you need assistance in finding and would prefer Asus skip the distracting striping in the future.

The keyboard offers backlighting, which is a useful feature found on most laptops but not always a given on budget models. And it’s three-level backlighting so you can get the level just right depending on ambient lighting.

The touchpad looks and feels undersized, which is a common issue on laptops with widescreen 16:9 displays. A laptop with a taller 16:10 display not only provides more vertical space on the screen itself but also results in a wider wrist rest below the keyboard, which means more room for the touchpad. Though undersized, the touchpad offers smooth, accurate gliding and firm click response. It also features a fingerprint reader in the upper-right corner for easy, secure logins — another bonus at this price.

At 3.8 pounds, the VivoBook15 is of average heft for its size, which is all you can ask for in a budget laptop. It’s a few ounces lighter than the more solid-feeling Acer Aspire Vero, which weighs an even four pounds. If you are looking for a more portable budget model and are willing to sacrifice some screen real estate, the 14-inch HP Pavilion 14 weighs 3.2 pounds, while the 13-inch HP Pavilion Aero 13 weighs just two pounds.

The VivoBook 15’s 15.6-inch, 1080p display is rather dull. It’s a 250-nit panel that our testing confirmed to be no brighter than its rating. Colors lack punch, and the limited contrast ratio means details are quickly lost in the brightest and darkest areas of an image. It’s no worse than a typical budget laptop’s display, but it’s certainly no better.

The 720p webcam above the display was actually a pleasant surprise. Most laptops today outside of the budget class feature 1080p cameras that result in crisper, better-balanced images. There was some noise evident, but images weren’t nearly as grainy as those of most 720p cameras. Colors and skin tones looked accurate, too. And the webcam has a physical cover you can slide across the lens to protect your privacy when you aren’t using the webcam, which is most of the time.

The speakers offered no such pleasant surprise. The audio output is tinny and muddy. Keep headphones handy for music playback. And you might want them when watching movies and shows since it’s hard to hear dialogue clearly.

The VivoBook 15’s ports are almost all located on the laptop’s right side, where you’ll find a USB Type-C port, two USB Type-A ports, an HDMI 1.4 port, a combo audio jack and the power connector. A lone USB 2.0 Type-A resides on the left side next to a cooling vent. A couple of notes on the USB ports: the USB-C port lacks Thunderbolt 4 support, and the two USB-A ports on the right offer faster USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectivity versus the slower USB 2.0 port on the left. All in all, the VivoBook15 offers solid connectivity among budget laptops, but you miss out on the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard. The VivoBookoffers Wi-Fi 6 wireless networking.

There are no deal-breaking misfires with the VivoBook15, and we do appreciate getting a 512GB SSD, which is spacious for the price. And we like the affordable upgrades that double the RAM and SSD that are available at Amazon. Plus, it’s one of the better-looking budget laptops you’ll find. However, the dull display and weak speakers quickly remind us that the VivoBook15 is, indeed, a member of the budget category. HP has a number of budget models in a variety of sizes that we like better, and we prefer the unique and eco-friendly Acer Aspire Vero among 15-inch budget models.

Geekbench 5 (multicore)

Asus VivoBook 16X OLED 7,984Acer Aspire 5 A515 7,254Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 7,202HP Laptop 17 5,880Asus VivoBook F1502ZA 5,087

Cinebench R23 (multicore)

Asus VivoBook 16X OLED 12,385Asus VivoBook F1502ZA 10,813Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 8,181Acer Aspire 5 A515 8,144HP Laptop 17 7,098

3DMark Wild Life Extreme

Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 2,543Acer Aspire 5 A515 2,407Asus VivoBook 16X OLED 2,133HP Laptop 17 1,720Asus VivoBook F1502ZA 1,238

PCMark 10 Pro

HP Laptop 17 5,781Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 5,331Asus VivoBook 16X OLED 5,282Acer Aspire 5 A515 5,272Asus VivoBook F1502ZA 5,059

Online streaming battery drain test

Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 697HP Laptop 17 530Asus VivoBook 16X OLED 454Acer Aspire 5 A515 420Asus VivoBook F1502ZA 343

System configurations

Asus VivoBook F1502ZA-DS52P	Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-1240P; 8GB DDR4 3,200MHz RAM; 128MB Intel UHD Graphics; 512GB SSD
Asus VivoBook 16X OLED F1603ZA-DS74	Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.3GHz Intel Core i7-12700H; 16GB DDR4 3,200MHz RAM; 128MB Intel Iris Xe Graphics; 512GB SSD
Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1	Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 1.3GHz Intel Core i5-1235U; 8GB DDR4 3,200MHz RAM; 128MB Intel Iris Xe Graphics; 512GB SSD
HP Laptop 17	Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 2.3GHz AMD Ryzen 5 5625U; 8GB DDR4 3,200MHz RAM; 512MB integrated AMD Radeon Graphics; 256GB SSD
Acer Aspire 5 A515	Microsoft Windows 11 Home; 1.3GHz Intel Core i5-1235U; 16GB DDR4 3,200MHz RAM; 128MB Intel Iris Xe Graphics; 512GB SSD

Short answer: Yes. Amazon’s annual Prime Day event is a great time to pick up your first 3D printer or expand your collection.

While there are always budget options for 3D printers, Amazon’s Prime Day — July 11 and July 12 — is the best time for you to jump into the hobby. Major brands like Elegoo, Anycubic and FlashForge often have significant savings on the most popular printers and big discounts on the stock they’re trying to clear.

While there are some generous discounts on Prime Day, make sure the savings you are getting are real. More than one company raises its prices on or just before Prime Day only to reduce it back down and call it “savings.” It’s a dirty practice, but one we’re constantly aware of.

In addition to making recommendations, we track the prices of these products as well to offer the best advice for Prime Day. Our 3D printer deals page will have the latest verified deals, so keep your eyes out in the coming weeks.

Which 3D printer should you buy on Prime Day?

There are a lot of major 3D printer brands that will likely cut prices this Prime Day, and which model you buy will depend on what type of 3D printer you need. Most of the sales will center around the more common FDM printers — these create 3D prints from rolls of plastic filament, rather than liquid resin — so you’ll see the biggest discounts there.
Anycubic and Elegoo have recently refreshed their lineups so you can expect to see discounts on their previous-generation 3D printers and smaller discounts on the latest ones. I’m hoping that we see a discount on the Anycubic Kobra 2, as it is one of the best fast 3D printers available right now.