Having an Xbox Game Pass subscriptionis almost essential for Xbox owners. The service, which runs $10 to $15 a month, not only includes a large, ever-changing catalog of games to download and play, but also bundles access to online multiplayer services. Each month, Microsoft adds new games to the service, and in November, an indie hit is leading the pack.
If you’re on the fence about Game Pass, or just looking for some suggestions about what to play, below are some recent and classic favorites on the service.
Monster Hunter Rise first launched on the Nintendo Switch in 2021, but it’s now out on Game Pass for PC, Xbox consoles and Xbox Cloud Gaming. The latest in the action-RPG franchise is one of the easiest to pick up for new players while also having a catalog of giant monsters to takedown that longtime fans will enjoy.
Another long-running franchise out on Game Pass in January is Persona, in the form of Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden. Both games feature young heroes taking on demons, monsters and other evil beings that hide in the modern world. Subscribers can play either game on PC, Xbox consoles or Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Game Pass has evolved far beyond its Xbox-bound origins to become a subscription that delivers something for everyone who plays games, and now encompasses console and PC game downloads, access to online multiplayer services, a deal with gaming giant EA and a cloud-based service that streams games to nearly any device.
Microsoft offers several versions, but because of how the features are sliced up between them, only the $15-per-month Ultimate plan, with all the benefits detailed above, really makes sense. Read our Xbox Game Pass review.
Choosing a new password can be a daunting task. It can be hard to decide what to go for. Should you choose your pet’s name? Your favorite teacher from high school? You can’t be careless when it comes to passwords. You want your data protected and personal information secured, which means it’s risky to rely on weak passwords like simple number sequences or your name. Even though it may be easier to remember and use, it’s dangerous. The people looking to take your information are pros at password cracking, so you need to be diligent in defending your accounts. That’s where a password manager comes in.
Unless you want to constantly safeguard a hard copy list of all your passwords, you might want to consider a password manager. It can help you seamlessly oversee and handle all of your login credentials for any online account and maintain airtight password security. They’re also handy when it comes to autofilling forms and syncing your data across Windows PCs and Macs, iPhones, iPads, Android phones and more.
Editors’ note, Jan. 12, 2023: In December 2022, LastPass revealed that the breach it originally disclosed in August had eventually led to an unauthorized party gaining access to unencrypted user data and customer vaults containing even more data. This breach significantly undermines LastPass’s effectiveness as a privacy tool and consumer trust in the product. In light of the severity of this latest breach and given LastPass’s lengthy history of security issues, we have decided to remove LastPass from our list of recommended password managers at this time. If you’re a LastPass subscriber, take a look at CNET’s advice on what to do in the wake of the breach, or see the LastPass section below for more information. We will be conducting a thorough re-review of LastPass in the near future.
What is a password manager, and why do you need one?
A password manager is essentially an encrypted digital vault that stores secure password login information you use to access apps and accounts on your mobile device, websites and other services. In addition to keeping your identity, credentials and sensitive data safe, the best password managers also have a password generator to create strong, unique passwords and ensure you aren’t using the same password in multiple places. (Password generation really comes in clutch when you can’t come up with yet another unique password on the fly for the latest must-have app.)
With the constant news of security breaches and identity theft, having a unique password for each location can go a long way to ensuring that if one site gets hacked, your stolen password can’t be used on other sites. You’re basically using multiple passwords to create your own security features.
Plus, with a manager, you don’t have to remember the various other pieces of information, such as shipping addresses and credit card information. With just one master password, or in some cases a PIN or your fingerprint, you can autofill a form or password field. Some also feature online storage and an encrypted vault for storing documents.
All our best password manager picks come with either free versions or as a free trial — and typically let you securely store passwords for one device — although our pick for the best free manager can be used for syncing across multiple devices. And all handle hardware authentication through YubiKey.
Our best password security manager picks also feature subscription options that let you sync your secure password login information across devices, share credentials with trusted family and friends, and get access to secure online storage. And if transparency is important to you, several of our picks are open-source projects. We also look at what a password manager is, its security features and the basics of how to use one.
Note that these password manager services are independently chosen by our editors. We update this story periodically as new options become available or as prices change.
Free version can be used across unlimited devices and device types
Premium subscriptions start at $10 per year
Works with: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad. Browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, Vivaldi, Brave and Tor
Bitwarden leads the list of the best password managers for 2023 thanks to both its open-source roots and its unbeatable — and unlimited — free version. This lean encryption software can generate, store and automatically fill your passwords across all of your devices and popular browsers, including Brave and Tor, with competitive security strength.
Its free version lacks some of the bells and whistles of our other picks, but its premium versions are just as feature-rich. Just like its closest competitors, a Bitwarden premium subscription allows you to share passwords, logins, memberships and other items with trusted family and friends, use multifactor authentication through YubiKey and get 1 gigabyte of encrypted storage. Although it has fewer features than the premium version, Bitwarden’s free version also offers a one-to-one texting feature called Bitwarden Send which allows you to securely share login information with another person.
If you’re looking for a user-friendly free service with an excellent security reputation for password management, it’s hard to pass up Bitwarden, which made it into CNET’s Cheapskate Hall of Fame as the best free password manager. Plus it has a password sharing feature so you can share all your login info with another person. For $10 a year, you can add 1GB of encrypted file storage. And for $40, you can opt for the Families Organization plan, which allows for six individual accounts with unlimited sharing between them. Both subscription tiers come with a 30-day money back guarantee.
Works with: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chrome OS, Android, iPhone and iPad. Browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge and Opera
If you’re looking for a trusted password manager app to keep your login information private and secure, 1Password is the best password manager for the task, letting you access your accounts and services with one master password. It’s available for all major device platforms.
This nicely designed password manager lacks a free version, but you can check it out for 14 days before signing up. (Alas, that’s down from the earlier 30-day trial period.) An individual subscription runs $36 a year and comes with 1GB of document storage and optional two-factor authentication through Yubikey for additional security. A travel mode lets you remove your 1Password sensitive data from your device when you travel and then restore it with one easy click when you return, so that it’s not vulnerable to border checks.
Biometric authentication can be used to access your password vault on Mac and iOS operating systems, you can use Touch ID to unlock 1Password, and on iOS devices you can use Face ID as well. For $60 a year, you can cover a family of five and access password sharing, credit card information and anything else among the group with a single password manager app. Each person gets their own password vault, and it’s easy to control who you share information with and what they can do with it.
You can also create separate guest accounts for password sharing to share Wi-Fi connection passwords, for example, or home alarm codes with guests.
LastPass recently disclosed a November 2022 security breach that built on an earlier August breach. The incidents allowed “an unknown threat actor” to obtain unencrypted basic customer data (including names, email and billing addresses, phone numbers and IP addresses) along with encrypted files. While the latter files remain protected by users’ master passwords, the ongoing chain of incidents mean that existing LastPass customers — at the very least — should ensure their master passwords are secure, meaning they follow best practices when creating or changing passwords.
Previously, we had selected LastPass as our “best paid password manager.” However, because of the severity of these incidents, we’ve decided (as of late December 2022) to temporarily remove LastPass from our list of recommendations, pending a re-review of the service in early 2023. Potential customers and anyone who’s uncomfortable with LastPass’s continuing security challenges should take a close look at the alternatives presented elsewhere in this story.
Other free and paid options worth considering
Bitwarden and 1Password are solid, affordable (or free) password keepers, and in a straw poll of CNET staffers, they were about neck-and-neck in use. But if you find none of our recommended password managers works quite how you want, a handful of other apps are worth considering. These all have free versions available.
Dashlane
Dashlane
Offers limited free version (50 passwords on one device)
Base price beyond free: $60 a year
Works with: Windows, MacOS, Android, iPhone and iPad. Browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, Edge and Opera
Dashlane provides a simple and secure way to manage your passwords and keep other login information stored. Just for managing passwords, we like it as much as our picks, but the free Dashlane app limits you to one device and 50 passwords. The $60 Premium subscription is similar to plans from 1Password and LastPass. The $90 Family subscription allows for up to six individual accounts.
Offers limited free version (unlimited passwords on one device)
Base price beyond free: $35
Works with: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad. Browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, Edge and Opera
Keeper is another secure password manager that helps you manage login info on Windows, MacOS, Android and iOS devices. A free version gives you unlimited password storage on one device. The step-up version costs $35 a year and lets you sync passwords across multiple device options. For $75 a year, you can also get 10GB of secure file storage and dark web monitoring.
Works with: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chrome OS, Android, iPhone and iPad, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and Palm OS. Access via the web plus popular browser extensions. (Except for the official Windows, MacOS and Linux versions, KeePass for other platforms are unofficial ports.)
KeePass, another open-source software password manager, started on Windows but has since added native MacOS and Linux apps and has been ported using the same code base to Android and iOS. On the plus side, it’s totally free and endorsed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. On the other hand, it’s really for advanced users only: Its user interface takes a bit of fiddling to get all the independently built versions of KeePass to work together.
There’s been a shift in the market for VPN and antivirus software in the past few years. Many of the companies behind these software packages are expanding them to become wider software suites. Case in point: NordVPN now offers NordPass, a dedicated password manager.
We’re looking forward to giving NordPass a closer look as the password manager’s pricing and feature offering appears to have gotten significantly more robust and competitive since it was first introduced in 2019. ExpressVPN’s Keys is another password manager from a VPN provider we’re excited to review in the future, so check back as we update this story.
Norton also offers a password manager as part of its antivirus and identity theft packages. We haven’t specifically reviewed Norton’s password manager, if only because it doesn’t appear to have a feature set that beats any of our preferred options above. If and when that changes, we’ll check it out in more detail.
In the meantime, be aware that approximately 8,000 Norton Password Manager users were targeted in a credential-stuffing attack last December in which their full names, phone numbers and mailing addresses were potentially compromised. Users may have also had their vault data compromised in the attack. Though Norton said its internal systems themselves weren’t targeted or accessed in the credential-stuffing attack, the bottom line is that Norton customers’ personal information and passwords may have been stolen by an unauthorized party. The incident nonetheless serves as a reminder that password managers are attractive targets for cybercriminals — and that it’s more important than ever to create strong passwords and use a quality password manager to secure them.
Still need more info on what password managers are, and why they’re better than the alternatives? Read on.
How does a password manager work?
To get started, a password manager will record the username and password you use when you first sign in to a website or service. Then the next time you visit the website, it will autofill forms with your saved password login information. For those websites and services that don’t allow automatic filling, a password manager lets you copy the password to paste into the password field.
If you’re stuck picking a good password, a manager can generate a strong password for you and watch that you aren’t reusing it across multiple services. And if you use more than one device, you want a manager that is available across all your devices and browsers, so you can access your passwords and login information — including credit-card and shipping information — from anywhere through the manager app or its browser extension. Some provide secure storage so you can store other items too, such as documents or an electronic copy of your passport or will.
Take note: Many password managers keep the master password you use to unlock the manager locally and not on a remote server. Or if it’s on a server, it’s encrypted and not readable by the company.
This ensures your account stays secure in case of a data breach. It also means that if you forget your master password, there may not be a way to recover your account through the company. Because of that, a few password managers offer DIY kits to help you recover your account on your own. Worst-case scenario, you start over with a new password manager account and then reset and save passwords for all your accounts and apps.
When trying to avoid a weak password, a good password should be a long string of capital and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation and other nonalphanumeric characters — something that’s difficult for others to guess, but a snap for a password manager to keep track of. And despite what you may have heard, once you select a good complex password or passphrase, you don’t really need to change it periodically.
Can I use a web browser to manage my passwords and login information?
You can certainly use Chrome, Safari or Firefox to manage your passwords, addresses and other login data. You can even set up a master password to unlock your credentials within a browser. And while using an online browser’s password tool is certainly better than not using a password keeper at all, you can’t easily access your passwords and other login info outside of the browser or share login info with others you trust.
What about iCloud Keychain?
Through iCloud Keychain, you can access your Safari website usernames and passwords, credit card information and Wi-Fi network information from your Mac and iOS devices. This cloud storage option is great if you live in Apple’s world. But if you venture outside the Apple operating system and have a Windows or Android device or use the Google Chrome or Firefox browser, iCloud Keychain comes up short.
Can a password manager get hacked?
Even the best password managers can sometimes have security vulnerabilities and can sometimes even be hacked. However, a quality password manager will always be based on a zero-trust security model. This means that your master password along with all of your other stored passwords and data are encrypted at the device level and never accessible to the password manager or any other outside party. So even if a password manager did get hacked, an attacker would not be able to access the contents of your vault.
However, if someone did happen to get a hold of your master password, they could get access to your vault. Keeping your devices secure and enabling features like multifactor and biometric authentication can be a big help in mitigating the risk of that happening.
How do I set up a password manager?
Setting up a password manager is typically very straightforward and easy. First, you’ll need to choose the password manager that best fits your needs and create an account. As you’re setting up your account, you’ll need to set your master password. Make sure your master password is strong but memorable, and not one you’ve used elsewhere. Then, you can download the password manager’s app to your devices and the browser extension to the browsers that you use.
Once you’ve downloaded the apps and browser extensions, you can start filling your vault with passwords and other information. Most password managers offer a way to import your stored passwords from a .csv file, browser or other password manager. This makes it easy to get started instead of having to enter each username and password manually. Once you’ve got your passwords loaded into your vault, you’re all set. You’ll be able to go to your online accounts and have your password manager automatically fill in your login credentials without having to remember a single one.
Woot is giving you the chance to upgrade your Xbox gaming setup today only with $30 off the Elite Series 2 Core controller. Down to $100, this is the lowest we have seen Microsoft’s latest controller, though the deal expires tonight or when sold out.
The Elite Series 2 Core controller, unveiled in September 2022, is essentially a more affordable, trimmed-down version of its namesake Elite Series 2. As you’d expect, the two offerings share a bunch of features, like adjustable-tension thumbsticks, shorter hair trigger locks, wrap-around rubberized grips and 40 hours of rechargeable battery life — all things that can help serious players up their performance and stay in the game for longer.
The Core version, however, comes without the swappable paddles, thumbsticks and D-pad or the charging dock and protective case. If you decide you want all of those customization options down the line, they can be purchased separately in the Complete Component Pack, meaning you can get in the door for less with the Core model and spend the extra as you need it. Usually doing it that way would cost $10 more overall, but with the $30 you’d save today at Woot on the Core controller, it makes sense to nab the controller and components separately even if you’re already sure you’d want those added extras.
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Cybercriminals made off with the Social Security numbers and other personal information of about 35,000 PayPal customers after a December credential-stuffing attack.
According to a disclosure statement filed with the state of Maine, the attack occurred between Dec. 6 and Dec. 8 of last year and was discovered on Dec. 20. In addition to Social Security numbers, usernames, addresses, dates of birth and individual tax identification numbers also may have been compromised.
There’s no indication that any financial information was stolen, or that customer accounts were misused, PayPal said. The company’s payment systems were also not affected.
In a statement released to CNET, PayPal said it has contacted affected customers and offered guidance on how to further protect their personal information. The company also reset the passwords of all of the affected accounts and is requiring their users to set new ones the next time they log in.
PayPal is also providing those affected with identity theft monitoring services through Equifax for the next two years,
In a credential-stuffing attack, cybercriminals bombard online accounts with combinations of user names and passwords, often stolen in previous data breaches, in an attempt to access as many accounts as possible.
That’s a big reason why cybersecurity experts say consumers should always enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. The security measure requires a second form of authentication, like a fingerprint or a code sent to a user’s phone, in addition to a password, protecting a user in the event their password is compromised.
In addition, people should always use long, unique and random passwords for each of their online accounts. Those will be less likely to show up on the lists of passwords used to crack accounts in credential-stuffing attacks.
While some people still like to work out with full-size headphones, the majority of folks want a pair of wireless earbuds — and ideally, true wireless — for maximum freedom while working out. The truth is you can use just about any true wireless earbuds for working as long as they fit your ears securely and comfortably and are sweat-resistant and splash-proof.
But some wireless earbuds and headphones are better suited for working out than others. Sound quality is obviously an important factor, but so too is durability (added water- and dust-resistance) and design features like wing tips or ear hooks that keep the buds from falling out of — or falling off — your ears. Also, if you’re opting for a pair with noise-canceling capabilities, you’ll want some sort of transparency or awareness mode that allows you to hear the outside world as you’re working out.
I’ve included all kinds of workout earbuds and headphones on this list, including sport buds with both noise-isolating and open designs as well as bone-conduction headphones that leave your ears uncovered. I’ll update this list as new models are released.
Hot on the heels of the third-generation AirPods, Apple has another new set of earbuds, this time from its subsidiary audio company, Beats. Technically, the new Beats Fit Pro ($200) aren’t AirPods, but they’re built on the same tech platform as the AirPods Pro. Unlike Beats’ earlier and less expensive Studio Buds, the Beats Fit Pro include Apple’s H1 chip and have most of the AirPods Pro’s features, including active noise canceling, spatial audio and Adaptive EQ. I’d venture to call them the sports AirPods you’ve always wanted. And for some people, they might just be better than the AirPods Pro.
Not everybody can get a totally secure fit with the new AirPods Pro (2nd generation), but if you can, they make for great workout headphones for iPhone users thanks to their lightweight design and strong performance. They’re powered by Apple’s new H2 chip, which delivers more processing power while being more energy efficient, according to Apple. The new chip, combined with new low-distortion drivers, allows for improved sound that offers better clarity and depth. The noise canceling is also improved — Apple says the new AirPods have “double” the noise canceling of the original AirPods Pro. Additionally, the new AirPods add an extra hour of battery life, up from five to six hours with noise canceling on. Plus, a speaker in the case that emits a sound that helps locate your buds via Find My should they decide to hide from you.
Yes (IPX5 — protection against low-pressure water streams)
In the past, we’ve recommended Earfun’s AirPro SV and Air Pro 2 as excellent budget noise-canceling earbuds choices (they’re still good values). But the new-for-2022 Earfun Air S may be the best of the trio, with multipoint Bluetooth pairing and the latest Qualcomm QCC3046 chip with the aptX audio codec for Android and other devices that support it. They have the same 10mm wool drivers as the AirPro SV and feature surprisingly impressive sound for their modest price. They also work well as a headset for making calls with decent background noise reduction. The buds have an IPX5 water-resistance rating, which means they’re splash-proof and can withstand a sustained spray of water.
The new Soundcore Sport X10 have an interesting design with rotating swiveling ear hooks that flip up when you’re using them and flip down when you want to set them in their charging case, which has a smaller footprint than a lot of buds with ear hooks.
As long as you get a tight seal, they sound good, with powerful, punchy bass and good detail. They also have active noise canceling, which is effective though not as good as Sony’s or Bose’s noise canceling. They’re also fully waterproof with an IPX7 rating, which means they can be fully submerged in up to 3 feet of water for 30 minutes. Battery life is rated at up to 8 hours with an additional three charges in the charging case.
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The Sport True Wireless earbuds are essentially Sennheiser’s CX True Wireless earbuds with sport fins — for a more secure fit — and better durability. They have an IP54 rating that makes them splash-proof and dust-resistant. The CX True Wireless, rated IPX4, don’t offer dust resistance.
These aren’t noise-canceling earbuds but they do have an awareness mode that allows ambient sound to leak into the buds so you can hear what’s going on around you for safety reasons. They use Bluetooth 5.2 and have support for the AAC and aptX audio codecs. Battery life is rated at up to 9 hours at moderate volume levels with an additional two charges in the charging case (there’s no wireless charging).
Featuring clean and well-balanced sound with punchy bass, they sound very similar to the CX True Wireless and CX Plus True Wireless.
Yes (IPX5 — protection against low-pressure water streams)
Samsung-owned JBL has a couple of new sets of earbuds, the Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 that are surprisingly good. Both are equipped with the same 11mm drivers, six microphones, oval tubes and oval silicon tips. And they also combine a comfortable fit along with strong noise canceling, very good sound quality and voice-calling performance, plus a robust feature set, including multipoint Bluetooth pairing, an IPX5 splash-proof rating and wireless charging.
Aside from the design — the Live Pro 2 has stems while the Live Free 2 is pill-shaped — the biggest difference between the two buds is battery life. The stemless Live Free 2 are rated for up to seven hours, while the Live Pro 2 are rated for 10 hours.
The Live Free 2 fit securely in my ears and are smaller and superior to Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro, particularly in terms of comfort level. The buds are available in three colors.
Bose’s second-generation QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are not only about 30% smaller than their predecessors, but their case is about 40% smaller and truly pocketable. They feature best-in-class noise canceling and improved sound, thanks to Bose’s new CustomTune sound calibration system that customizes the sound for your ears. Voice-calling performance is also significantly better than that of the original QuietComfort Earbuds.
The other big change is to the ear tips. Bose has ditched its one-piece StayEar wing tips for a two-piece Fit Kit system that features separate ear tips and “stability bands” in three size options, giving you more flexibility to get a secure fit and tight seal. They really fit my ears securely and are splash-proof with an IPX4 rating.
With so many new wireless earbuds and headphones being released on what seems likely a weekly basis, it’s not easy for companies to differentiate their products in the marketplace. Skullcandy hopes its new voice-driven platform, Skull-iQ Smart Feature Technology, will do just that. Similar to the Apple AirPods’ “Hey Siri” feature, Skullcandy’s version allows you to say “Hey, Skullcandy” to issue hands-free voice commands without touching a button. Skull-iQ debuts on the sports-oriented Push Active (and $100 Grind Fuel), which will be firmware updatable via the Skullcandy App.
With their ear-hook design, they’re essentially a more affordable version of the Beats Powerbeats Pro and they actually fit my ears slightly better than the Powerbeats Pro (I’m not usually a fan of ear-hook style buds, but this is one of the better ones).
The Push Active True earbuds are equipped with Bluetooth 5.2, are IP55 splash-proof, have built-in Tile Finding Technology and are rated for up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge at moderate volume levels.
Thanks to their StayHear Max tips and secure fit, the Bose Sport Earbuds make good workout headphones. The Sport Earbuds are more affordable than Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds 2, but that newer model has better sound and excellent active noise canceling.
What makes these Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS buds special is that they sound surprisingly good for open earbuds — they’re pretty close to what you get from Apple’s AirPods 3 for sound. On top of that, they support Sony’s LDAC audio codec for devices that offer it. Not too many cheap open earbuds have good sound but these Soundpeats have good bass response and clarity. They’re also good for making calls and have a low-latency gaming mode.
So long as they fit your ears securely, they make for very good workout buds with an IPX4 splash-proof rating.
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Yes, the Beats Powerbeats Pro’s jumbo charging case is a notable drawback. But the combination of incorporating all the features that make Apple’s AirPods great while delivering richer sound quality and better battery life in a wireless workout-earbuds design that won’t fall out of your ear (seriously, ear hooks for the win!) ultimately is a winning proposition for earbuds for running. Just make sure you buy these running earbuds somewhere that has a good return policy in case you’re in the small minority that has ears that aren’t quite a match for the buds. Note that these earbuds are frequently reduced from $250 to $170 (and sometimes less for certain colors) — don’t pay more than that if you’re buying them.
Yes (IPX5 — protection against low-pressure water streams)
Over the years, JBL has put out some decent true-wireless earbuds, but nothing that really got me too excited. That’s finally changed with the arrival of the Samsung-owned brand’s new Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 buds. Both sets of buds — the Live Pro 2 have stems while the Live Free 2 have a pill-shaped design — offer a comfortable fit along with strong noise canceling, very good sound quality and voice-calling performance, plus a robust set of features, including multipoint Bluetooth pairing, an IPX5 splash-proof rating and wireless charging.
The Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 are equipped with the same 11mm drivers, six microphones, oval tubes and oval silicon tips. Aside from the design, the biggest difference between the two buds is battery life; the stemless Live Free 2 is rated for up to seven hours, while the Live Pro 2 is rated for 10 hours. The Live Pro 2 is available in four color options.
Yes (IP57 – Can Be Submerged for 30 Minutes Up to 1 Meter)
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offer improved noise canceling along with very good sound and voice-calling performance, plus support for high-resolution wireless audio streaming if you’re a Galaxy device owner with the right setup. That said, their biggest upgrade may be their new design and smaller size, which make them a better fit for more ears. Aside from their somewhat high price tag, their only drawback is that some of their key features only work with Samsung Galaxy devices. They’re fully waterproof with an IPX7 water-resistance rating.
Cleer’s Epic Arc buds are similar to Bose’s Open Sport Earbuds (see below) but are actually a little more comfortable to wear thanks to their swiveling hinge. Like the Bose buds, they rest on the top of your ear just above the ear canal and fire sound into your ears. They’re open so they let ambient sound in (that’s a plus if you’re a runner or biker and want to hear traffic), but their 16.2 mm drivers provide ample bass and volume. They don’t sound quite as good as the Bose Open Sport Earbuds but they’re pretty close.
I liked the case, which is a little big but pretty thin. While it has an integrated USB charging cable (that’s nice), like the Bose Open Sport Earbuds case it doesn’t have a rechargeable battery so it’s basically a dock for charging the earbuds, which are also available in black. Battery life is rated at up to 7 hours and they’re IPX5 splash-proof.
Some of these types of ear-hook-style earbuds have physical control buttons but these have touch controls. I found they worked pretty well but not great. The buds do have a companion app that allows you to upgrade the firmware and tweak the sound profile.
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AfterShokz changed its name to Shokz and released new ninth-generation bone-conduction headphones that offer slightly improved bass performance compared to the company’s earlier flagship model, the Aeropex (now called the Shokz OpenRun). That makes the OpenRun Pro the best bone-conduction headphones you can get right now, although they still can’t match the sound quality of traditional headphones.
Bone conduction wireless headphones don’t go on your ears — they actually deliver sound to your ear through your cheekbones. The big benefit of this technology as a safety feature for running is that, thanks to its open design, you can hear what’s going on around you — traffic noise in particular — while listening to music or having a phone conversation (yes, they perform well for voice calls). Plus, some race coordinators don’t allow runners to wear anything in their ears, which is where headphones like this come in handy.
Like the Aeropex, the OpenRun Pro have a lightweight, wraparound titanium frame and are rated for up to 10 hours of music playback and you can get 1.5 hours of battery life from a 5-minute charge (they have a proprietary charging cable instead of USB-C, which is unfortunate). I found them comfortable to wear but you may occasionally have to adjust them on your head to relieve potential pressure points. While they do offer a bit fuller sound with more bass — it’s an incremental improvement, not a huge leap forward — like other bone-conduction headphones these are strongest in the midrange where voices live so they’re very good for podcasts, talk radio, newscasts and audiobooks. A hard carrying case is included.
Note that Shokz makes other, more affordable bone-conduction headphones, including the OpenRun, if you don’t want to drop $180 on its current flagship model.
I liked Shure’s original Aonic 215 true-wireless earbuds, but they were buggy and Shure pulled them off the market. From a design standpoint, this Gen 2 version is essentially identical but not all the performance kinks have been smoothed out.
Weirdly, they’re kind of the audiophile equivalent of the Beats Powerbeats Pro. They have a hook that wraps around the top of your ear and they stayed in my ears very securely (even more securely than the Powerbeats Pro earbuds). And like that Beats model, they have a jumbo charging case. Even though it’s technically bigger than the Powerbeats Pro’s case, it doesn’t feel bigger, perhaps because it’s slightly thinner.
What’s interesting about them is that the Bluetooth module is detachable (they have a physical control button as opposed to touch controls, which I liked). As its name implies, the Aonic 215 True Wireless Noise-Isolating Earphones incorporates Shure’s SE215 buds, the $99 entry-level model in its line of earbuds that have detachable cables. But the modules, which can be bought separately for $230, are designed to drive any Shure earbuds that have a detachable cable, including the $1,000 SE846.
Headset performance has improved (they’re no longer mono but stereo for calls) and they now have an IPX4 splash-proof water-resistance rating. They have clean, well-balanced sound with nicely defined bass — but they just don’t have a ton of bass. I’d like to see them cost about $50 less, but they do make for good sports earbuds that you don’t have to worry about falling out of your ears.
Yes (IPX8 — can be fully submerged for long periods of time)
While the Tribit MoveBuds H1 only sound decent, not great, there’s a lot to like about them. They feel sturdy and are fully waterproof with an IPX8 rating. They also have very long battery life — up to 15 hours — and support Qualcomm’s aptX audio codec. Many Android smartphones offer aptX Bluetooth streaming.
Yes (IP55 — protection against low-pressure water streams)
AfterShokz’ entry-level OpenMove bone-conduction headphone lists for $80, though we’ve occasionally seen it drop below $70. It replaces the older Titanium model, which is still on sale (it also costs $80), and features some small design upgrades. I found it comfortable to wear and while it doesn’t sound great, it sounds relatively good for a bone-conduction headphone — again, keep your sound quality expectations in check or you’ll be disappointed. It’s very good for listening to podcasts, audiobooks and news broadcasts while you run.
This model charges via USB-C and includes a simple carrying pouch. Battery life is rated at up to 6 hours.
Yes (IPX5 — protection against low-pressure water streams)
The standard Master & Dynamic MW08 are on our best sounding true-wireless earbuds and best wireless earbuds lists. That model costs $300. This $350 MW08 Sport version sounds essentially the same and looks very similar but the exterior of the MW08 Sport buds are made of shatter-resistant sapphire glass (the MW08 uses ceramic). The case is also made of Kevlar fiber, making it durable and lightweight (the standard MW08’s is noticeably heavier). Lastly, in addition to the 5 sizes of silicone tips that come with the MW08, the Sport has two sizes of memory foam earphones that add some additional grip and help keep the buds in your ears (you do need to get a tight seal or sound quality will suffer).
They have active noise canceling (it’s good), a transparency mode so you can hear the outside world and a total of six microphones for noise canceling and voice calling. They’re expensive but they do sound excellent. The MW08 Sport are available in four color options. The case offers wireless charging and is also splash-proof, with an IPX4 rating.
The Bose Frames are one of those products you have to try to fully appreciate — or dismiss. The concept is you’re getting a decent pair of sunglasses with a pair of headphones that don’t actually go in your ears. Rather, integrated micro speakers in each arm direct a beam of sound to your ears. That design could be appealing to people who don’t like having headphones in or on their ears and it offers a degree of safety for runners and bikers who want their ears open to the world.
Bose has updated its line of audio sunglasses with three new models, including the Tempo sports model, which offers better sound and battery life than the more traditional-looking Tenor and Soprano. The Tempo has better specs all around, with USB-C charging and larger 22mm drivers. It delivers up to 8 hours of battery life.
Their sound is definitely improved from the original Frames. Bose says the Tempo sunglasses play “deeper and louder — loud enough for cycling at 25 mph — while [you’re] still able to hear traffic and your training partners.” They’re sweat-, weather-, scratch- and shatter-resistant, according to Bose and fit under most protective helmets. (I had no problem using them with a couple of bike helmets.) They also work really well for making calls, thanks to a new dual-microphone system. Optional lenses are available for $39 and you can order prescription lenses through Lensabl.
Yes (IPX5 — protection against low-pressure water streams)
Some people, particularly weightlifters, like to work out wearing full-size headphones, and the BackBeat Fit 6100 over-the-ear wireless headphones are a solid choice for both the gym and everyday use. The adjustable sport-fit headband has an IPX5-rated water-resistant and sweat-proof design, 40mm angled drivers and noise-isolating ear cups with an Awareness mode. Battery life is rated at 24 hours. They sound quite good and really stay on your head securely; you can adjust the tension in the headband, which is innovative and ideal for exercise headphones.
Alas, Plantronics has discontinued all its BackBeat headphones, but the good news is you can get them at a discount as they’re being phased out.
The DualSense Edge controller is the latest accessory for Sony’s PlayStation 5, and it offers a high degree of customization at an equally high price. The PS5’s default controller, the DualSense, got its name from its ultraspecific vibration functionality. The Edge is a pro-style controller that improves on that by allowing players more options to fine-tune their inputs and, as Sony explains, “craft [their] own unique gaming experience tailored to [their] playstyle.” However, this enhanced customization doesn’t come cheap.
While a typical PS5 controller will cost you around $70, the new DualSense Edge, which comes with some accessories, is $200. Alongside the controller itself, the box includes a carrying case with a pass-through window to allow for charging, a USB-C cable and a connector housing to secure it to the controller, plus two separate options for back paddles and two options for analog stick replacements.
The DualSense and DualSense Edge controller look very similar to one another at first glance. The controllers even weigh just about the same, with the DualSense coming in at around 281 grams while the Edge is slightly more at approximately 325 grams.
The Edge features a textured grip on the handles that helps the controller stay in your hands. It also has grooves on the trigger buttons, which is nice because you can more easily keep your fingers in the proper position. Textures and grooves aside, when the back buttons are removed, the controllers feel almost identical to use. The original DualSense has a notoriously short battery life, around 7 to 10 hours. From my brief testing, I’m disappointed to report that the Edge comes in at an even lower 5 to 7 hours. The included USB-C is pretty long so, fortunately, I could still play games while the controller charged.
More buttons, more options
Pro controllers give players more options for how the buttons and triggers register inputs. When connecting the controller to the PS5 for the first time, a welcome screen shows the different customization options from both a hardware and software perspective. On the hardware side, players can attach either half-dome (rounded and short) or lever (skinny and long) back paddles to the device. These paddles sit close to where the player’s middle or ring fingers rest and can be mapped to any other input on the DualSense Edge. First-person shooter fans often use these to keep their right thumb on the right analog stick so they can aim while still being able to jump or duck (an input often put on the X or O face buttons). While both paddles are comfortable to use, I prefer the half-dome option since it sits a bit further away and can’t be as easily pressed by mistake.
These back paddles are also a great accessibility feature. Players with low range of motion for any of the primary controller fingers (the thumbs or pointer fingers) can swap one of those inputs to the back of the controller where they might have an easier time pressing a button.
The next biggest hardware tweak is in the trigger buttons on top of the controller. Next to each trigger is a mechanical switch that adjusts how much the L2/R2 buttons can be pressed before registering a full push. Players can choose between three ranges of motion. Fans of twitch-based games often prefer shorter distances so they can press quicker and more often. For example, being able to shoot a gun more rapidly will give Call of Duty players an advantage. Microsoft’s Xbox Elite controller has similar options for its triggers and paddles.
Customizing the software
Customization options are set via the PS5 accessories settings screen, and the intensity and deadzone customization options are the most exciting. These menus can adjust how fast the input curves are for any of the controller’s analog inputs. For example, if you want to physically use the full range of the trigger buttons but want the controller to register that input more quickly, you can fine-tune that on a surprisingly granular level. This goes for the analog sticks’ movement, as well. In addition, you can adjust the deadzone (the center part of the stick where the controller registers no input) to be wider.
All of these software options can be saved into a user profile. The DualSense Edge features two Fn (function) buttons, located below the analog sticks. Holding either of them down and pressing any of the face buttons will let you toggle between four assigned profiles. It seems like a missed opportunity that both of these buttons do the same thing when held down and don’t have the ability to map different commands to each one. That said, being able to swap between profiles midgame was quite useful, especially when jumping between different games. For example, Fortnite and Overwatch have different crouch buttons, so using the same profile wouldn’t be helpful.
The DualSense Edge fills a hole that was missing from PlayStation’s portfolio. The controller feels good and offers new and more personal ways for any player to connect with a game, but its high price means it only makes sense for the truly dedicated.
This review is in progress, and we’ll update with additional impressions and a video later this week.
Microsoft announced Monday it has extended its partnership with OpenAI, the startup behind ChatGPT and Dall-E. It said in a blog post that this marks the beginning of the third phase of a multiyear, multibillion-dollar investment.
“In this next phase of our partnership, developers and organizations across industries will have access to the best AI infrastructure, models, and toolchain with Azure to build and run their applications,” Microsoft chairman and CEO Satya Nadella wrote.
Microsoft said it will increase its investments in the development and deployment of supercomputing systems to support OpenAI’s research. Microsoft also said it will deploy OpenAI’s models across its consumer and enterprise products.
“We are excited to continue our independent research and work toward creating advanced AI that benefits everyone,” Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, said, according to Microsoft.
OpenAI wrote in a separate blog post Monday that despite this investment it will remain a capped-profit company. The Microsoft investment “will allow us to continue our independent research and develop AI that is increasingly safe, useful, and powerful,” OpenAI wrote.
Microsoft and OpenAI’s partnership began in 2016 when OpenAI agreed to use Microsoft’s Azure cloud-computing software to run its artificial intelligence experiments. Then in 2019 Microsoft invested $1 billion in OpenAI to jointly develop new supercomputing tech.
Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to create some personal finance explainers that are edited and fact-checked by our editors. For more, see this post.
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Like clockwork, Samsung releases its new Galaxy S phones in the first quarter of the year. For 2023, that launch is set to happen on Feb. 1 during Samsung’s next event, where we’re very much expecting to see the Galaxy S23.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 range includes some of our top phones from 2022. The base S22 impressed as a more affordable option, the S22 Plus is a superb all-rounder while the all-powerful S22 Ultra blew us away with its stellar camera skills. We even gave the Plus and Ultra CNET Editors’ Choice Awards.
If Samsung maintains the pattern it’s followed for the last three generations, we can expect to see a Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra. We’ll know more on Feb. 1, but here’s what we’re expecting based on rumors, leaks and Samsung’s previous product launches. As for what we want to see from the Galaxy S23 lineup, longer battery life and more clever camera features are at the top of my list.
Galaxy S23 release date
Samsung will likely announce the Galaxy S23 series during its next Unpacked event on Feb. 1, which will take place in San Francisco. The event announcement follows previous leaks, including this report from Korean newspaper JoongAng Daily, suggesting an early February launch for the Galaxy S23. A Jan. 6 tweet by prominent leaker Ice Universe also claimed to show a Galaxy Unpacked teaser image with a date of Feb. 1.
Whether the phones are available in stores to buy that month is another matter, as global supply chains are still struggling and it’s possible that there may be a longer delay than usual. But Samsung is already offering promotions for customers in the US who want to reserve a phone early. You’ll get $50 in Samsung credit if you sign up to reserve one device or $100 if you ask to reserve two.
The S22 Ultra has had some fierce competition this year, including from Google’s Pixel 7 Pro.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Galaxy S23 models and sizes
We firmly expect Samsung to continue its strategy of launching multiple phone models, each with different specs and prices to appeal to a wide variety of people. Based on Samsung’s history, we’re confident we’ll see an entry level Galaxy S23 model, a step-up S23 Plus with a larger screen and the top-end S23 Ultra. It’s the Ultra that will pack the best tech, including extra cameras, the biggest display and almost certainly the S Pen stylus.
Samsung’s Unpacked event invitation also includes what appear to be three spotlights, which may be a subtle nod to three new incoming Galaxy models.
Samsung’s next Unpacked event is taking place on Feb 1. We’re expecting to learn about the Galaxy S23 lineup.
Samsung
Reputable leaker Ice Universe posted a detailed rundown of the sizes of the three upcoming phones (via GSM Arena), which put them almost exactly in line with the current sizes of the S22 lineup. As such, we don’t expect any notable differences in screen sizes of any of the range over the predecessors.
Those were 6.1 inches for the Galaxy S22, 6.6 inches for the S22 Plus and 6.8 inches for the S22 Ultra.
Galaxy S23 price
Assuming Samsung launches multiple models, the S23 range will come at three main prices. We don’t expect Samsung to stray from last year’s prices. For reference, the base S22 launched with a price of $800, while the Plus model started at $1,000 and the high-performance S22 Ultra debuted at $1,200 in the US last February.
The S22 range came in three sizes and we expect the S23 lineup will too.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Galaxy S23 cameras
The cameras look like they might be one of the key areas of focus for the new series. In a recent blog post, the head of Samsung’s mobile experience business, T.M. Roh, teased the camera improvements we can expect to see. “Our pro-grade camera system is getting smarter, offering the best photos and videos in any light among our Galaxy smartphones,” he wrote.
That’s likely to be especially true for the Ultra model, which is usually where Samsung’s biggest camera innovations can be found. We expected the S22 Ultra to include a whopping 200-megapixel image sensor, considering Samsung has launched two of these image sensors and they can be found in other phones. We didn’t see it on the S22 Ultra, but it seems likely that a 200-megapixel sensor will be one of the key bragging rights of the S23 Ultra. Ice Universe also predicts that the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s will have a 200-megapixel sensor. That seems especially likely considering Samsung just announced a new 200-megapixel image sensor for smartphones.
In our tests, the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s camera performed extremely well against both the Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Samsung’s product pages for these sensors boast improved resolution (obviously), but also improved low-light photography by combining sets of smaller pixels into larger individual ones that can capture more light. The S22 Ultra is already one of the best night-time camera phones, beating out the Pixel 7 Pro in our recent tests, so a further burst to its low-light prowess is exciting to hear.
That massive resolution will also help with the phone’s zoom skills, which are already impressive thanks to its 10x optical zoom lens. Recent rumors from Ice Universe suggest that the lens lineup will remain the same across all phones, but that extra resolution should help make zoom shots even more pin-sharp.
There’s a chance we might also see a slight change in the camera’s design, at least on the Galaxy S23 Plus and potentially the Galaxy S23. Rumors from reputable leakers Ice Universe and Steve Hemmerstoffer suggest that the new devices could have circular cutouts for the camera lenses that sit directly on the back of the device rather than on a camera module. The Galaxy S22 Ultra already has a camera like this, but Hemmerstoffer’s leak suggests this style could make its way to the Plus model as well.
Take a look at the photos of the Galaxy S22 Ultra alongside the Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 below to see what I mean.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra (left), Galaxy S22 Plus (middle) and Galaxy S22 (right)
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Galaxy S23 battery, processor and other specs
The Galaxy S23 range will almost certainly use the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. In previous years, Samsung used its own Exynos chips for its European models. But a recent Qualcomm earnings call suggested that Samsung will in fact be using Qualcomm’s silicon for every phone in the range.
As for other specs, we expect a minimum of 8GB of RAM on the base models, with 12GB being available on the S23 Ultra. Storage is likely to continue to start at 128GB, with higher capacity options being available at higher prices. And no, we don’t expect a return of the microSD card slot to expand the storage. Sad face.
Recent Federal Communications Commission certifications show that the base S23 will have a 3,900-mAh battery, a step up from the 3,700 mAh of the base S23, while the S23 Plus will also get a battery boost to 4,700-mAh. There’s no official figure for the Ultra model yet, but again Ice Universe suggests that it will have the same 5,000-mAh cell size as the S22 Ultra.
We’ll likely know more as Feb. 1 gets closer. But if the rumors turn out to be accurate, the Galaxy S23 lineup will probably be a modest step up from the Galaxy S22 family.
Editor’s note: Our testing of the 2023 MacBook Pro 16 is ongoing; we’ll update this review when we’ve completed our evaluation.
Apple’s 2023 update to its flagship MacBook Pro 16-inch line follows the company’s usual MO. It offers a modest refresh from the more significantly redesigned 2021 model; notably, upgrades to the latest generation of M2-class processors, Wi-Fi 6E and HDMI 2.1, which means support for displays up to 8K/60Hz and 4K/240Hz as well as variable refresh rates. The combination of the old and new enhances the veteran laptop’s chops as a powerhouse computer for creation and development work.
These updates add to the more significant noncosmetic changes introduced with the 2021 MacBook Pro 16: We see a return of the HDMI connector, SDXC card slot, MagSafe charging connector and function key row on the keyboard because buh-bye Touch Bar. There’s also a vastly improved 1080p webcam and, the biggie, a migration of the line to Apple’s own silicon for the CPU with integrated GPU.
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Like
Fast with solid battery life
Good, bright screen
Wi-Fi 6E and HDMI 2.1 support
Don’t Like
Heavy
That notch
I won’t apply the marketing kiss of death and call it a “mobile workstation,” but yeah, that’s what it is. And that’s the primary way to justify the price, especially for the $3,499 configuration we’re testing and the types of applications Apple highlights performance for. (Apple’s aiming for the market I tend to mentally classify as “people who create shows for Apple TV Plus, Disney and the like.”)
There’s a much easier case to make for gaming laptops at that price, but sorry, Apple, still no. And given the entry price of $2,499, there’s a big hole for recommendations of a big-screen Apple laptop, for people who just want to be able to see more but don’t need performance beyond a MacBook Air.
Furthermore, that base configuration includes only a 512GB SSD. The base M2 Pro processor with 12 CPU cores (8 performance and 4 efficiency) and 19 GPU cores delivers fine performance for a lot of photo editing — I’d probably go higher for, say, medium format work. If you’re performing tasks that require the outlay for the laptop, you likely need at least 1TB SSD, and would probably benefit from upping to 32GB RAM. That bumps the price to almost $3,100.
3 x USB-C/Thunderbolt 4, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio
Networking
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3
Operating system
MacOS Ventura 13.2
Weight
4.7 lbs/2.2kg
Going all-out with the configuration, with an M2 Max (12 core CPU/38 core GPU) 96GB memory and 8TB SSD will run $6,499, which is a lot to swallow and excessive for the components, at least on paper. It’s a little more annoying that it doesn’t support 128GB RAM, but 96GB is still more than the last model’s 64GB maximum. I suppose more memory will have to wait for the equivalent of an Ultra chip, though that never made it into a laptop for the M1 generation.
The nice thing, though, is that performance for Apple’s CPUs is consistent across the lines, meaning the same chip delivers roughly comparable performance in a similarly equipped Mac Mini as it does in a MacBook Pro. On one hand, It would be nice if you got better performance on more expensive hardware, but the consistency makes buying decisions a little easier.
As mentioned earlier, the design hasn’t changed since we first saw it in 2021, and hasn’t started looking old yet. I love the features Apple’s brought back, especially the dedicated function key row and SD card slot, and the screen seems to still be excellent, at least pending my formal screen testing.
I do have some nitpicks. The notch at the top of the screen bothers me, though not nearly as much as it does on the iPhone — there it’s functionally intrusive because you’re actually losing space to display necessary information, but here it’s just aesthetically annoying. And I’m probably in the minority on this, but I don’t like MagSafe power connectors and I never have. While I think magnets usually make everything better, with MagSafe the power cord disconnects more frequently than I need it to, like if I put it down on the bed when it’s plugged in. (A power corollary to that is I’m really ready for Apple to redesign its awful brick-with-plug that requires babying to remain in almost any outlet I’ve ever plugged it into.) Plus, despite the previous generation’s webcam upgrade, there’s still no Face ID support.
Apple has upgraded its HDMI connector to support HDMI 2.1 with variable refresh rate support.
Lori Grunin/CNET
I still have a lot of specialty testing to do — important aspects, notably the video editing and encoding performance, VRR over HDMI and the updated neural engine improvements — as well as several more battery test runs. But I do have a handful of observations based on what I’ve already run.
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9:37
I had some initial issues with Wi-Fi 6E, such as connecting to and staying connected to my router (an Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000E), but finally narrowed them down to a default. After I switched “wake for network access” in the battery settings from “only on power adapter” to “always,” it connected immediately and stayed connected. It’s been bulletproof ever since. I don’t know yet what impact that might have on battery life.
I generally get more reliable performance from 6E than 6, at least in my environment. For instance, a casual Speedtest run delivered a consistent 483Mbps download on 6E but an average 392Mbps on 6 (for 400Mbps service). The latter started higher but dropped partway through as well.
MacOS has two power settings for on-battery performance. The default leaves the system running at full power draw, as if it was plugged in. On that setting, you’ll get nearly identical speed to when it’s plugged in. But also, surprisingly, excellent battery life, about 19.5 hours on the one run I had time to perform. One could assume the lower power setting will increase that.
On the low power setting intended to run more quietly and for longer, single core performance dropped the most between power settings (no worse than Intel, though). GPU showed the least differential, though the tests I ran aren’t terribly stressful GPU tests. Multicore differences fell about where I expected, and I’ve yet to figure out what my web (HTML5, Javascript and WebAssembly) reveal. It does run notably cooler, which is a nice boon if you actually use it as a laptop on your lap. It’s also on the heavy side, but, unfortunately, that’s how these dense power laptops roll.
Unless you need every little speed increase you can get, you needn’t feel the FOMO if you’ve got the last-generation MacBook Pro 16. But if you didn’t jump onto the Apple Silicon bandwagon last go-round and don’t rely on any applications that will only run on the Intel processors, it’s probably smart to consider the upgrade this time around. As for more specific recommendations, that will require more specific testing. Stay tuned.
Originally published 9:00am ET Jan 23, 2023 and updated periodically.
Geekbench 5 (multicore)
Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro, 2023)
15,013
Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2023)
15,009
Apple Mac Studio (M1 Max, 2022)
12,871
Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021)
12,627
Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021)
12,259
Apple Mac Mini (M2, 2023)
9,003
Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, 2022)
8,592
Apple Mac Mini (M1, 2020)
7,758
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
Preliminary performance tests
Geekbench 5 (multicore)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M1 Pro 10/16, 2021)
12,259
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Max 12/32, 2021)
12,627
Apple Mac Studio (M1 Max 10/32, 2022)
12,871
Apple MacBook Pro 16 low power battery (M2 Pro 12/19, 2023)
13,420
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M2 Pro 12/19, 2023)
15,009
Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 12/19, 2023)
15,013
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
Geekbench 5 (single core)
Apple MacBook Pro 16 low power battery (M2 Pro 12/19, 2023)
1,510
Apple Mac Studio (M1 Max 10/32, 2022)
1,798
Apple Mac Mini (M2 8/10, 2023)
1,951
Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 12/19, 2023)
1,952
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M2 Pro 12/19, 2023)
1,966
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
Cinebench R23 CPU (multicore)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M1 Pro 10/16, 2021)
12,302
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Max 12/32, 2021)
12,365
Apple Mac Studio (M1 Max 10/32, 2022)
12,389
Apple MacBook Pro 16 low power battery (M2 Pro 12/19, 2023)
12,820
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M2 Pro 12/19, 2023)
14,803
Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 12/19, 2023)
14,814
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited
Apple Mac Mini (M2 8/10, 2023)
6,925
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M1 Pro 10/16, 2021)
10,264
Apple MacBook Pro 16 low power battery (M2 Pro 12/19, 2023)
12,264
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M2 Pro 12/19, 2023)
12,989
Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro 12/19, 2023)
13,048
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M1 Max 12/32, 2021)
17,640
Apple Mac Studio (M1 Max 10/32, 2022)
20,297
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
Default battery setting vs. low power battery setting
3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited
2.81%
Geekbench 5 Metal
7.43%
Geekbench 5 multicore
8.64%
Jetstream2 (Safari)
8.85%
WebXPRT 4 (Safari)
11.28%
WebXPRT 4 (Chrome)
11.55%
Cinebench R23 multicore
13.49%
Geekbench 5 single core
21.92%
Cinebench R23 single core
22.17%
Jetstream2 (Chrome)
23.21%
Note:
Shorter bars indicate a smaller percentage difference between the two settings
Configurations
Apple Mac Mini (M2, 2023)
MacOS Ventura 13.2; Apple M2 (8 CPU cores, 10 GPU cores); 8GB LPDDR5 RAM; 256GB SSD
Apple Mac Mini (M2 Pro, 2023)
MacOS Ventura 13.2; Apple M2 Pro (12-core CPU,19-core GPU); 16GB LPDDR5 RAM; 1TB SSD
Apple Mac Studio (M1 Max, 2022)
MacOS Monterey 12.3; Apple M1 Max (10 CPU ores, 32 GPU cores); 64GB RAM; 2TB SSD
Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021)
MacOS Monterey 12.4; Apple M1 Pro (10 CPU cores, 16 GPU cores); 32GB LPDDR5 RAM; 1TB SSD
Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021)
MacOS Monterey 12.4; Apple M1 Max (12 CPU cores, 32 GPU cores); 32GB RAM; 512GB SSD
Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2023)
MacOS Ventura 13.2; Apple M2 Pro (12 CPU cores, 19 GPU cores); 32GB LPDDR5 RAM; 1TB SSD
With millions of players around the world, Minecraft is one of the most popular games ever. And while outsiders might think it’s a casual game for kids, there’s plenty of depth for hardcore gamers. One of Minecraft’s best aspects is playing with your friends and building a world. And if you want to keep that world living on for as long as you want it to, you’ll need the best Minecraft server hosting service of 2023.
Using a dedicated server hosting provider for Minecraft is like using a web host. You pay a monthly fee to use a vendor’s servers, which can provide you with improved security, performance and the ability to apply modpacks for customized multiplayer experiences.
But with so many Minecraft hosting server options on the market, some better than others, you may want assistance in determining which is the best Minecraft server hosting option for you.
Which Minecraft hosting service will best optimize your Minecraft gameplay? There is Minecraft Realms, Mojang’s official server subscription service (available for Java and Bedrock editions). If you want more back-end control over your server — or modpacks and maps that aren’t available in Realms — you’ll need a modded Minecraft server. In that case, you may opt for a third-party server host that can provide sufficient bandwidth and control over your Minecraft world seed’s configuration and settings.
Below, we’ve reviewed some of the best Minecraft server hosting vendors, including Hostinger, Shockbyte and GGServers. We focused on service providers that offer 24/7 support and a variety of plan options.
CNET is in the process of updating our assessments of the best web hosting services. We periodically update this story to maintain accurate prices, but our overall rankings may change after we’ve been able to re-evaluate these services.
How we chose the best third-party Minecraft server hosts
Angela Lang/CNET
It’s important to note that we didn’t explicitly “test” the Minecraft hosting provider options on this list. Instead, we compiled a competitive overview based on a variety of factors, including third-party ratings and features offered by each hosting company. We’ve also weighted the rankings of these businesses by the Better Business Bureau and TrustPilot. With that data in hand, we split them into two tiers:
Best Minecraft hosting providers (top tier): These Minecraft host vendors all have a rating of A or higher from the nonprofit Better Business Bureau (except in cases when the companies are based outside of North America and not included in the BBB ranking system) and a rating of 4.0 or higher out of 5 from TrustPilot, a Danish consumer review site. All of the TrustPilot rankings are based on at least 1,000 user reviews. All of the vendors listed in our top picks also say they offer 24/7 support and modpack support.
Other Minecraft hosting options to consider (second tier): All of these Minecraft host vendors have TrustPilot ratings of 4.0 or above; however, those ratings are based on fewer than 1,000 user reviews. One — Nodecraft — has a D+ rating from the BBB. The others have either As or higher, or no BBB page due to location.
Important caveats: The Better Business Bureau is not affiliated with any government agency and does not rate companies outside of North America. To be BBB Accredited, companies pay a fee to the organization. TrustPilot, meanwhile, also offers a paid tier that provides companies more interaction with their user ratings. It also removed 2.2 million fake reviews in 2020.
A note on pricing: We’ve made every effort to verify that the prices listed here were accurate at the time of last publication. However, prices in this category are subject to frequent fluctuations and are also consistently subject to special offers and limited deals. Furthermore, many of the prices listed here reflect the monthly rates if you prepay for 12 months of service — or are limited-time introductory prices. Please check the vendors in question to verify pricing at any given time.
One of our top web hosting provider picks, Hostinger offers five different Minecraft hosting plans. All of its plans include mod support, full root access, DDoS attacks protection, free MySQL, automated backups and 99.99% uptime. Minecraft hosting features include Minecraft dedicated server, Multicraft control panel, Modpacks and plugins and low latency as the server location is deployed in globally connected Tier-3 data centers. The differences in pricing are due to different RAM and vCPU hardware options, starting at 2GB RAM and two vCPU Hardware for $7 a month and rising to 16GB RAM and eight vCPU Hardware for $78 a month.
Hostinger is based in Lithuania, so it does not have a BBB page (that organization only focuses on US-based businesses). However, it does have a TrustPilot rating of 4.5 out of 5 with more than 12,000 reviews.
Minecraft server hosting starting at less than $7 a month
MCProHosting offers nine Minecraft server host plans, ranging from $7 a month for 1GB RAM and 25 player slots to $75 a month for 32GB RAM and unlimited player slots. Every plan includes unlimited storage space, worldwide server locations and DDoS protection.
A big benefit of MCProHosting: You can try out its “Villager” plan free for seven days, or the step-up “Witch” plan for just $1 for the first month.
MCProHosting has an A- rating from the BBB, and a TrustPilot rating of 4.8 out of 5 with more than 5,000 reviews.
Minecraft server hosting starting at $2.50 a month
Shockbyte is a game server provider, offering 12 different Minecraft server hosting plan options, along with the ability to design a custom plan. Options range from $2.50 a month for 1GB RAM and 20 slots (the number of spaces on a game server available to players) to $40 a month for 16GB RAM and unlimited player slots. All plans include 100% uptime, DDoS protection, instant setup and a free subdomain name.
Shockbyte is based in Australia, so it does not have a BBB page. However, it does have a TrustPilot rating of 4.7 out of 5 with more than 7,000 reviews.
GGServers offers ten different Minecraft server hosting plans, each of which come with the option for standard or premium (which doubles the price).
Standard plans offer DDR4 2133 MHz RAM, 3.2-4GHz CPU, and 400MBps read/write SSD. It also costs an extra $2 a month to add on a MySQL database, or unlimited slots. You don’t get access to all nine server locations, either. Premium plans offer DDR4 2400 MHz RAM, 4.4-5GHz CPU, 2,500-plus MBps read/write SSD, and include the MySQL database, unlimited slots and all nine server locations worldwide. Both plan types include a free subdomain, DDoS protection and instant activation. Standard plans range from $3 a month for 1,024MB RAM and 12 player slots standard (or $6 a month premium) to $96 a month for 32,768MB RAM standard (or $192 a month premium).
GGServers is based in Canada and does not have a BBB page. However, it does have a TrustPilot rating of 4.5 out of 5 with more than 3,000 reviews.
ScalaCube is another game-specific server hosting vendor. There are eight paid plan options ranging from $5 a month for 1.5GB RAM, 2×3.4GHz CPU, 15GB SSD storage, 20 player slots and unlimited servers to $96 a month for 32GB RAM, 8×3.4GHz CPU, 320GB SSD storage, 600 player slots and unlimited servers. You’ll also find Minecraft Pocket Edition server hosting options, ranging from $0 a month for a basic server to $96 a month for 600 players. All Minecraft and Minecraft Pocket Edition plans include multiple servers, backup, DDoS support, and free web hosting, domain and MySQL.
ScalaCube is based in Estonia and does not have a BBB page. However, it does have a TrustPilot rating of 4.3 out of 5 with more than 3,000 reviews.
Other unofficial Minecraft hosting options to consider
The following Minecraft server hosts have slightly lower or fewer TrustPilot and/or BBB ratings than the ones above.
Hostwinds
Another of our top web hosting site picks, Hostwinds also offers Minecraft server hosting starting at $5 a month. It has an A+ rating from the BBB and is BBB Accredited, and its TrustPilot rating is 4.2 out of 5, though it has fewer than 1,000 reviews.
BisectHosting offers 20 different plans, each with an option for a budget or premium package. Budget packages start at $3 a month for 1,024MB RAM, unlimited NVMe SSD and up to 12 slots, and go up to $95.68 a month for 32,768MB RAM and 160 slots. Premium plans range from $8 a month to $159.68 a month, with the same amounts of RAM as their budget counterparts but with more locations, and free daily backups, modpack updates, sponge installation, dedicated IP address and unlimited slots. BisectHosting has a F rating from the BBB. However, it also has a TrustPilot rating of 4.5 out of 5 with more than 5,000 reviews.
Apex Hosting offers Minecraft Java and Bedrock Edition servers starting at $7.49 a month. It also includes a seven-day money-back guarantee. Apex Minecraft Hosting has an A+ rating from the BBB, and its TrustPilot Rating is 4.8 out of 5, though it has fewer than 600 reviews.
Sparked Host offers game and cloud hosting, with 13 different Minecraft server hosting plan options, starting at $1.50 a month. Though it’s based in the US, Sparked Host does not appear to have a BBB page. It does have a TrustPilot rating of 4.8 out of 5 with more than 1,000 reviews.
PebbleHost is home to both Minecraft and other gaming and dedicated servers. It offers budget, premium or extreme plans depending on your needs, starting at $1 per GB a month. PebbleHost is based in the UK and does not have a BBB page, but it has a TrustPilot rating of 4.8 out of 5 with more than 2,000 reviews.
