The Pixel 7 series may be the latest and greatest phones in Google’s flagship lineup. However, if you don’t want to drop a huge amount of money on a phone right now, there’s a fantastic deal on the Pixel 6A. Right now at Amazon, you can snag an unlocked model of this budget-friendly Pixel phone for just $299, which saves you $150 compared to the usual price.
This deal matches the all-time best discount we’ve seen on this model that doesn’t require a trade-in or lock you into an installment plan. There’s no set expiration, but chances are a deal this good won’t last for long. Get your order in soon if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.
Sporting a 6.1-inch OLED display, Titan M2 chip, Google Tensor processor, Google’s Android operating system, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, this budget phone certainly delivers a lot of bang for the buck. That’s why we’ve named it the best Android phone under $500 on the market right now.
Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
The 12.2-megapixel camera may be a step down from the camera on the Pixel 6. But it’s still a great camera for the price, and it comes equipped with tools including the Magic Eraser, Motion Mode and Portrait Mode.
This phone can last over 24 hours on a single charge, depending on how you use it. The battery is adaptive and learns which apps you use the most, which can save you power by not wasting your battery life on the ones you rarely use. This phone is IP67-rated water- and dust-resistant, so your phone should be safe in most environments and conditions.
Another great feature this phone offers is Live Translate, which will help you translate signs, live video captions and private chats and messages in up to 55 languages. At $299, this is a solid phone worth checking out.
Get your next phone for the best price.
Set price alerts on your favorite models with the CNET Shopping extension and get notified when prices drop.
If you’re in college or will be going in the future, the most important tool you could have is a reliable laptop. It can be incredibly difficult to get by without one. Taking notes and writing essays is so much easier with a laptop as opposed to pen and paper. So when you start looking for a laptop, what are some of the things you should consider? You’ll need a laptop with strong battery life as well as something that’s light enough to carry around all day, from your commute to class and back. You don’t have to break the bank, either. A basic, entry-level laptop will cover you for general classwork, but the more you’re able to spend, the longer it will likely last you — important if it needs to last you four years or more.
With the supply chain issues and chip shortages we’ve seen over the last few years, you might think it’s hard to get your hands on a decent budget-friendly laptop for school. However, it’s still possible to find laptops and two-in-ones with the latest processors from AMD and Intel, which help performance and battery life over previous generations. It’s a great time to shop, too, with Black Friday and other holiday sales happening right now.
What’s the best laptop for college?
Right now, Apple’s MacBook Air M1 is the best laptop for most students. (The M1 Air happens to be $200 off right now for Black Friday, too.) But if that doesn’t meet your needs, we’ve rounded up several college laptop picks that will serve most students well in school and beyond. The majority of our picks for the best college laptops run between $500 and $1,000. If you’re looking for a more affordable laptop — or if you’re open to an alternative to Apple’s MacOS and Microsoft Windows
— we recommend checking out the best Chromebooks for students
(just make sure any software you need for classes is supported). On the flip side, if you’re searching for a more powerful laptop, or a gaming laptopthat doubles as one for college, we have some suggestions for those, too. So if you’re ready to upgrade your tech, keep reading our list of the best laptops for college.
Despite the availability of the bigger and better M2 MacBook Air, the M1 MacBook Air (one of the first to switch from Intel to Apple silicon) is sticking around and that’s a good thing. Apple’s entry-level laptop is still our go-to recommendation for a MacOS laptop for basic everyday use. It has great performance and long battery life — up to 18 hours — and is a solid choice for school and entertainment anywhere.
Like the previous Mac laptop models, the M1 Air has Apple’s Magic Keyboard,Touch ID, a Force Touch trackpad anda 13.3-inch Retina display. If you’re a college student, it’s hard to go wrong with the new MacBook Air.
HP packed a lot of value into the Aero 13: Eye-pleasing magnesium-aluminum chassis, strong processing performance, long battery life, a bright, colorful display and a weight of just 2 pounds (0.94 kilograms). Amazingly, considering all that it offers, it has a regular starting price of less than $800 but it’s regularly on sale for less than $700. Read our HP Pavilion Aero 13 review.
Gateway was known for low-cost desktops and laptops in the 1990s. The brand was revived in 2020 for a new lineup of laptops and tablets sold exclusively through Walmart. We tested the 15- and 14-inch models and the latter is our pick. The Intel Core i5 processor provides reliable performance despite being paired with cheaper components. The keyboard is comfortable but not backlit and the touchpad isn’t the most precise. Also, the built-in fingerprint reader is hit-or-miss. Still, it has lots of ports so connecting a mouse or an external display isn’t an issue and the full-HD display is decent, too, all things considered. Plus, the battery lasted a couple of minutes shy of 10 hours on our streaming video test. The 2021 model is still available at a significant discount compared to the 2022 model released in July with a 12th-gen Intel Core i5 processor. New or old, both are good deals.
Acer’s Spin 513 is an update of sorts to one of the best Chromebooks from 2021, the Spin 713. It’s a two-in-one convertible Chromebook with a 13.5-inch display that has a 3:2 aspect ratio. The extra vertical space means less scrolling when you’re working. The screen size is also close to that of letter-size paper, making it comfortable for notetaking in tablet mode with a USI pen. Compared to the 713, it drops a couple of noncritical features like an HDMI output in favor of a more affordable price. It has amazing battery life, though, and a sturdy fanless design, making it silent — perfect for quiet classrooms, lectures or video calls.
This thin, 3-pound convertible is a solid choice for anyone who needs a laptop for office or schoolwork. The all-metal chassis gives it a premium look and feel, and it has a comfortable keyboard and a responsive, smooth precision touchpad. As a two-in-one, you can use it as a laptop or tablet and it supports pen input with Lenovo’s optional Active Pen. It also has a physical shutter for its webcam that gives you privacy when you want it. And it has a long battery life to boot at 12 hours, 45 minutes in our tests. The latest version with 12th-gen Intel processors starts at $999 (although you can find it on sale for less). However, 2021 models with 11th-gen Intel processors are great performers, too, and can be found at a discount.
If you need a hand keeping your workout routine on track, a fitness tracker may be able to help. These wearables from Fitbit, Apple and others can help motivate you by showing you how much progress you’ve made, as well as some areas that could use some improvement. They’re also packed full of helpful fitness features to help you track workouts and health metrics, monitor your sleep patterns and even let you know when you should be taking a rest day. So read on if you’re looking for the best fitness tracker 2022 has to offer.
There are dozens of dedicated fitness tracker options to choose from — from the classic fitness-tracker watch design (including the much-loved Fitbit) to shoe insoles with activity-tracking features to the famous smartwatch, the Apple Watch. We’ve rounded up six of our favorite trackers based on price, form and function. Each of them requires a mobile app to track your progress and some let you see phone notifications on your wrist.
Fitness tracking is great for keeping you motivated, but remember that not even the most advanced activity tracker will do the work for you. Still, no matter your health and fitness goals
, any one of the activity trackers here will help you achieve peak performance. We’ll be testing and updating this best fitness trackers list periodically. If you’re looking for more smart features and advanced fitness insights, make sure to check out our list of best smartwatches for 2022 with recommendations for the top Garmin, Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch and Polar wearables.
The Charge 5 improves on earlier Charge models by adding a color screen and an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) app on top of the already-strong fitness and sleep tracking Fitbit is known for. There’s a built-in GPS so you can track outdoor workouts without your phone, plus a blood oxygen sensor. With the recent addition of a new Daily Readiness Score, the Charge 5 can also tell you if your body is up to taking on a workout, or if you should take a rest day. But many of Fitbit’s most useful features, like this score, are only available as part of Fitbit’s $10-a-month Premium service. Without a Premium subscription you can still use the Charge 5 for fitness and health tracking, it just won’t give you the most in-depth metrics and trends over time. The battery should last you at least four full days and it’s compatible with iPhone and Android.
If you’re looking for a fitness band that’s discreet (and more affordable), you may consider the Fitbit Luxe. You won’t get the built-in GPS or mobile payment options, but it has health and fitness tracking essentials, including heart-rate monitoring, automatic workout detection and a detailed sleep analysis.
This fitness band is also the closest thing to jewelry that I’ve worn so far, especially if you pair it with the Gorjana link bracelet. You can also swap out the bands for more traditional silicone ones if you’re worried about sweat or using it to track swims. The biggest downside is that for some people, the screen and text may be too small to read without a lot of effort (or glasses).
For around $50, the Mi Band 7 is the best value fitness tracker on this list. It has a large color AMOLED touchscreen, 24/7 heart rate and sleep tracking. Battery life is also great, with about six days of use before needing to charge. The main downside is that heart-rate tracking for intense workouts does tend to be spotty and some features like contactless payments are not available in the US.
These $300 smart insoles can turn any old running shoe into a high-tech tracker, giving you more fitness tracking information about your run than any wrist-based tracker we’ve ever tested. Each insole has 16 sensors that detect the pressure you’re putting on your foot with every step you take. Together with the app and trackers, they can measure everything from step length to foot strike balance to give you real-time feedback on how to reduce injury or improve your time.
The Series 8 may be a little more sophisticated, but the $249 Apple Watch SE has everything you need in a fitness tracker with added smartwatch features. Not only does this Apple Watch keep tabs on your health and activity like the rest of the trackers on this list, this fitness watch also gives you access to dozens of fitness apps like Strava, Nike Training Club and Apple’s own Fitness Plus, to guide you through any type of workout.
If you’re not quite ready to give up the look of a traditional wristwatch, but want something with smart features, consider the Garmin Lily. This is a tracker designed for smaller wrists and has a cool pattern etched in the background of the watch that gives it a unique look when the monochrome screen is on or off. Despite its tiny footprint, it doesn’t skimp on all the important features you’d expect, including blood oxygen, sleep tracking and 24/7 heart-rate monitoring. Unlike some of the other trackers on this list, the Lily doesn’t have any onboard storage for music, or built-in GPS.
The third-generation Oura Ring is a set-and-forget wearable. Put it on like a regular ring and in the background it will track your sleep, skin temperature and heart rate. Soon, it will also be able to read blood oxygen levels and measure your heart rate during a workout. Unlike earlier models of the Oura Ring, this version requires a $6-a-month subscription — without it you’ll just get access to a daily readiness score. We haven’t fully reviewed the Oura Ring yet as some of its key features are still to launch, but it’s worth including as it’s a completely different design to all the other options on this list.
Google could be ready for a lot of football. According to a report Tuesday night from The Wall Street Journal, the search giant is in “advanced talks” to acquire the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket. The report says that a deal could be announced as soon as Wednesday.
The NFL declined to comment. Google did not immediately respond to a CNET request for comment.
If the deal does come to fruition, Google would be taking over the Sunday Ticket rights from DirecTV, which has been the exclusive home of the package since 1994. The satellite provider has paid the league over $1.5 billion annually in recent years for Sunday Ticket, often using the NFL games as a way to lure and retain subscribers.
The Journal reports that the Sunday Ticket package would be available to stream as an add-on either through YouTube TV, Google’s $65-per-month streaming TV service, as well as through YouTube Primetime Channels. Announced in November, the latter service is Google’s way of offering premium content from providers like Starz, Showtime, Epix and Paramount Plus directly on YouTube.
It is unclear what Google might charge for Sunday Ticket. For a full season, DirecTV has previously priced the service at roughly $300 for the base Sunday Ticket service, or $400 for a “Max” version that included extra channels like RedZone.
Unlike the Amazon deal, which streams its games on Amazon-owned Prime Video and Twitch platforms, Sunday Ticket does not stop you from watching your local CBS or Fox Sunday broadcasts on TV.
As an out-of-market option, it allows for watching games that are being broadcast in other parts of the country but are not necessarily on your local stations. If you live in Miami, for example, and the Chargers game against the Broncos isn’t airing on your local CBS affiliate, you can watch it on YouTube through Sunday Ticket.
Like DirecTV, YouTube TV is a live television service and offers all the major local channels including ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC as well as the NFL Network. While Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV won’t let you get the games that air on streaming services like Amazon or ESPN Plus, it could make Google’s television service a go-to destination to stream nearly all the NFL action you want.
If you’re an Android user and you don’t want your device or apps to give away your geolocation data around the clock, it’s a good idea to use a reliable and well-tested VPN, or virtual private network. Will having a VPN eliminate all your privacy concerns? Probably not. But the best Android VPN will offer you whole-device protection so that Google can’t see your geolocation, your internet service provider can’t view your browsing history or app use, and your other apps’ owners can’t see what you’re doing outside of their app. And that kind of protection is enough to keep you from being low-hanging fruit in an era of constant surveillance and a growing risk of data breaches.
The most recent trend reports show that Android-specific VPN downloads accounted for about 75% of the mobile VPN surge over the past few years. Over 480 million mobile VPN apps were downloaded around the globe in just 12 months between 2019 and 2020, or 54% more than the year before, according to research firm Top10VPN. While free services accounted for 84% of all mobile VPN downloads, we recommend you avoid using a free Android VPN whenever possible and instead stick with a tried-and-true paid VPN. It’s not about promoting premium services; it’s about safety. In the murky world of VPNs, you truly do get what you pay for.
But if you’re on a tight budget or you just need a temporary VPN on your Android device, we advise you to test-drive one of our recommended providers with a 30-day money-back guarantee. It’s not the same as a permanently free VPN, but most premium VPN providers are more than willing to give you a sample of their goods to prove their service is worthy of a long-haul annual subscription.
While CNET’s directory of the best VPN services ranks these apps and others by how well they held up during the testing and evaluation process, this list specifically focuses on the mobile offerings of each VPN provider. CNET regularly tests and evaluates new VPN apps — so be sure to check back here as new contenders emerge. Here are the best Android VPN options we’ve tested.
Latest tests: No leaks detected, 2% speed loss in spring 2022 tests
Network: 3,000-plus servers in 160 locations across 94 countries
Jurisdiction: British Virgin Islands
Price: 5 simultaneous connections for $13 per month, $60 for six months or $100 for a year (current discount: 3 months free). 2-year subscriptions available.
Despite battling major upheavals through the end of 2021, ExpressVPN clinched our Editor’s Choice Award for best VPN in 2022. One of the two largest providers globally, the VPN titan has been in business since 2009 and once again aggressively raised the industry bar for service transparency this year.
In the past year, ExpressVPN increased its independent third-party audit count, published details about its TrustedServer deployment process, joined the i2Coalition to call for improved VPN industry ethics, and released an open source Lightway encryption protocol.
After a setback in 2020, ExpressVPN is again currently in first place as the fastest VPN we’ve tested. While most VPNs will cause you to lose half or more of your normal internet speeds, ExpressVPN caused us to lose just 2% of speeds in our 2022 speed tests. It also unblocks Netflix and other streaming services more reliably than most other VPNs, and seamlessly surpasses geo-blocking for access to international gaming servers and torrenting sites.
Lightway’s flexible nature allows it to take on both TCP and UDP connections, seamlessly balancing speed and stability. It’s a brilliant choice for a default protocol on Android devices, since it’s so responsive to varying connection types and strengths.
All of our top-rated VPNs have wide compatibility across platforms and operating systems, but ExpressVPN’s collection of setup guides, detailed FAQs and troubleshooting articles give it a clear advantage for users. So do its round-the-clock customer support and its no-questions-asked, 30-day money-back guarantee.
While you can get a better month-to-dollar bargain with ExpressVPN’s two-year subscription, we don’t recommend anyone purchase any two-year VPN subscriptions at this time due to overall market volatility. ExpressVPN’s best plan offers five simultaneous connections for $100 a year (which includes three extra months, for a limited-time deal totaling 15 months of service). You can also opt for a $13 monthly plan, or pay $60 for six months.
Latest tests: Zero data leaks and 19% internet speed loss in fall 2022 tests
Network: 3,200-plus in 99 countries
Jurisdiction: Netherlands
Price: Unlimited connections for $48 for the first year (then $60 annually) or $13 per month. 2-year subscriptions available.
Surfshark boasts an impressive suite of privacy and security features, unlimited simultaneous connections, easy-to-use interface and expansive global network. And it’s still significantly cheaper than most of its competitors. That’s what helped Surfshark earn CNET’s Editors’ Choice for Best Value VPN in 2022.
Along with standard VPN features such as a kill switch and DNS leak protection, some of the more notable Surfshark features include camouflage mode (which hides the fact you’re using a VPN), split-tunneling, NoBorders mode (which lets you use Surfshark in regions where VPNs are restricted) and multihop VPN connections. You’ll also get access to Surfshark’s CleanWeb technology, which blocks ads and malware and helps you avoid phishing attacks.
One innovation we’re excited to see Surfshark roll out over the next year is its Nexus network, which connects the VPN’s entire network of servers together and allows you to choose multiple servers to route your connection through. The functionality is somewhat similar to Tor, but Surfshark says it’s faster. With its Dynamic MultiHop, IP Randomizer and IP Rotator functions, the Nexus network can give you a few extra layers of protection while you use the VPN — which can be particularly beneficial to users with critical privacy needs.
Surfshark says it doesn’t log any user activity. And although no-logging claims are virtually impossible to prove with 100% certainty, German cybersecurity firm Cure53 declared Surfshark’s security to be “solid” in its 2021 security audit of the VPN. Surfshark says a new audit is forthcoming by the end of this year.
As of February 2022, both Surfshark and NordVPN have the same corporate parent (Tesonet), but Surfshark said it is legally bound not to share any information between the entities that would go against its privacy policy or terms of service. We didn’t find any language in either document that would indicate Surfshark has any obligation to share user data with its parent company or any sibling companies, which include NordVPN.
Surfshark rates consistently as one of the fastest VPNs available, which is why we were surprised that one of the only issues we had with Surfshark came in our speed test. While it still ranks as one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested — with an internet speed loss of just 19% — we were disappointed with the inconsistent speed results we got to certain locations. Speeds to Europe and Singapore were erratic (dipping as low as 9Mbps to Singapore), while speeds to New York were slower than speeds to the UK and even Australia. Surfhark is in the process of significantly expanding its server network, now offering more than 3,200 servers in 99 countries. The continued expansion of its server network could potentially help bring some more consistency to the VPN’s speeds.
In our tests, Surfshark had no problems unblocking Netflix and Amazon Prime Video content, but we did run into a fair bit of trouble accessing Disney Plus. After testing various servers in the US and other countries where Disney Plus is available, we were finally able to access the content when we connected to a server in Boston. You may need to test a few servers yourself before gaining access to Disney Plus content with Surfshark.
Surfshark offers cheaper introductory prices that jump after the first billing cycle. Even so, Surfshark manages to keep its prices lower than most other VPNs — helping it earn CNET’s Editors’ Choice for Best Value. The yearly plan starts out at $48 for the first year, then jumps to $60 for any additional years of service. If you opt for the two-year plan, you’ll pay $60 up front for the initial two years combined, then $60 per year for any additional years. Surfshark’s monthly plan stays constant at $13 a month. If you’re not satisfied with the service for any reason, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Latest tests: No leaks detected, 13% speed loss in summer 2022 tests
Network: 5,600-plus servers in 84 locations across 59 countries
Jurisdiction: Panama
Price: 6 simultaneous connections for $12 per month or $60 for a year (current discount: 3 months free). 2-year subscriptions available.
NordVPN is one of the most recognized brands in the VPN field. Part of that brand recognition is based on its distinct, straightforward design. Nord’s app for Android is just as easy to interact with as its desktop VPN client, with a similar design. It poses no learning difficulties for a first-time user looking to move from desktop to mobile.
Just as the desktop client does, Nord’s app opens to a familiar blue-scale landing-screen map where users can opt to either select a country, connect to the fastest server automatically or browse specialty servers like Onion over VPN, Double VPN or those optimized for P2P. Nord gets bonus points for its split-tunneling feature, which allows you to select other apps that you don’t want to run through your encrypted VPN connection.
The VPN service provider offers a generous simultaneous connection count, with six connections allowed through its network — nearly all other providers offer five or fewer. NordVPN also offers a dedicated IP option, for those looking for a different level of VPN connection. NordVPN offers a kill-switch feature and the ability to VPN into Tor. We detected no privacy leaks during tests, and found its speeds to be reliably fast.
NordVPN’s pricing structure is similar to that of its sister company Surfshark, but its longer-term plans are more expensive. A two-year plan carries an introductory price of about $79, but that price increases to a little under $100 annually for each subsequent year of service. However, we don’t recommend committing to a single provider for more than a year at a time, given how fickle the VPN industry tends to be. If you opt for the yearly plan, you’ll pay $60 for the first year of service, then just shy of $100 a year for any additional years. NordVPN’s monthly plan is a dollar cheaper than Surfshark’s, though, at $12 a month. And like most other VPN services, NordVPN offers a full 30-day money-back guarantee in case you’re not satisfied with the service.
While NordVPN has lived on our top VPNs list for a long time, we moved it to the penalty box in October 2019 to re-evaluate the recommendation after a report emerged that one of its rented servers was accessed without authorization in 2018. Nord’s actions following the discovery included — eventually — multiple security audits, a bug bounty program and heavier investments in server security.
While we would have preferred if Nord had self-disclosed the issue much earlier, the fact that the breach was limited in nature and involved no user-identifying information served to further verify that NordVPN keeps no logs of user activity. As a result, Nord remains on our list as a recommended vendor.
Latest tests: DNS leaks detected, 58% speed loss in spring 2022 tests
Network: 2,000-plus servers in 75 locations across 52 countries
Jurisdiction: United States
Price: Unlimited connections for $11 per month, $16 for 3 months ($30 quarterly after the first 3 months) or $48 for a year ($90 annually after the first year).
A big win for IPVanish is its fun, configurable interface, which makes it an ideal client for those who are interested in learning how to understand what a VPN does under the hood. With its newly redesigned app for Android, IPVanish manages to pack the same extensive suite of digital knobs and dials into a refreshingly clean mobile interface to impressive effect.
If you want to do some precision tuning to your VPN connection, the IPVanish VPN is a solid bet. With a bevy of switches controlling things like the kill switch, split tunneling, VPN protocol and LAN connection allowance, IPVanish is an app for the methodical tech tweaker who enjoys having exact control over their mobile internet traffic.
Its multiplatform flexibility is also ideal for people focused on finding a Netflix-friendly VPN.
While IPVanish isn’t the fastest VPN, the 58% speed loss we measured in our most recent speed tests is about on par with most VPN providers. However, we noticed that IPVanish’s Quick Connect feature doesn’t always connect you to the best available server, so you may need to optimize your speeds by connecting manually to a server showing a lighter load. In IPVanish’s Android app, you can check the current load of each server by tapping on Locations, selecting Cities and tapping the number next to each city.
IPVanish’s yearly plan is on sale now at $40 for the first year. However, the plan more than doubles in price to the regular $90 annual rate for any subsequent years of service. You can also choose a quarterly plan that starts at $13 for the first three-month period and increases to $30 for each three-month billing period afterward. IPVanish’s monthly rate is priced at $11 a month, which is about on par with other providers’ month-to-month rates.The provider offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, but only if you get the yearly plan — which could be a disappointment to anyone who bought a monthly subscription and decided they didn’t like the service. That said, the company gets kudos for allowing unlimited simultaneous connections. We also liked its connection kill-switch feature, which is a must for anyone serious about remaining anonymous while surfing.
Thanks to its impressive performance, speed and usability, ExpressVPN is CNET’s current top pick for the best Android VPN. It isn’t the cheapest, but it’s the fastest of all the VPN options right now. Surfshark is a close second among the Android VPN picks and offers a simple and effective app. NordVPN, the third-best option, is a die-hard heavy hitter that costs more than Surfshark but less than Express. While it doesn’t offer quite as many server locations as the others, NordVPN’s network is constantly getting faster and more secure, and is easily the most reliable service we’ve tested. Rounding out the group, IPVanish is a solid choice for beginners.
What is a mobile VPN?
A mobile VPN is a VPN that’s optimized for use on mobile devices. The best VPN providers we’ve tested all offer excellent mobile apps that work well on Android as well as iOS devices. Using a mobile VPN can also yield faster speeds than desktop VPNs since they generally require less processing power and have a smaller memory footprint. Check out CNET’s other mobile-specific VPN guides below for more information on mobile VPNs. They’re updated regularly with new information as we continue to test VPNs, so check back often.
We don’t recommend using a free VPN because they’re risky to use. Free VPNs typically make money by selling user data, and some have even been found to be riddled with malware. What’s more, free VPNs are often slow, enact usage and data limits, offer a minimal selection of servers and are generally less secure than paid VPNs. Check out CNET’s list of the best cheap VPNs if you want to find a budget-friendly, premium VPN.
Can you get in trouble for using a VPN?
Unless you’re in a country like China or Iran where VPN use is banned or illegal, you don’t have to worry about getting into any legal trouble just for using a VPN. In most countries, using a VPN is perfectly legal. But if you’re in a country where VPN use is restricted, you’ll need to connect to an obfuscated server. Doing so will disguise your VPN traffic as regular HTTPS internet traffic, so authorities won’t know you’re using a VPN in the first place.
What are the downsides to using a mobile VPN?
There are a handful of disadvantages to using a mobile VPN, but they depend on a few key factors: your usual geographic location, your choice of VPN provider, the quality of your phone’s mobile service and the relative processing speed of your phone.
Slower speeds: VPNs can slow down your typical browsing speeds by as much as half of their typical pace. We’ve speed-tested the VPNs we recommend, however, and routinely update them so you can find the fastest speeds if you’re concerned about a slowdown. Check out our list of the fastest VPNs we can find.
Dropped connections: If you live in an area with poor mobile data speeds or internet service connection quality, you’re going to notice that a VPN may cause you to drop your internet connection more often. You can prevent that by switching from a UDP-based protocol (like Wireguard, used by Surfshark or NordLynx from NordVPN) to a TCP-based protocol. The trade-off is that UDP is generally faster, while TCP is generally more stable. If you’re an ExpressVPN user, we recommend switching to Lightway in the settings menu. It’s a custom encryption protocol which blends UDP speed with TCP stability for a much more seamless experience.
Some sites will be inaccessible: Some sites rely on your IP address to verify your identity and let you use their services. A VPN hides your IP address. If those sites can’t identify you, they may not let you in. Other sites like Netflix, frequently fight VPN user access and will block you from accessing their services if they detect your VPN. Few VPNs are able to circumvent Netflix’s blockade, but we test each VPN for streaming ability and report the results in our full reviews. So if streaming on mobile is important to you, be sure to check the full review before you commit to a subscription.
What does my ISP see when I’m connected to my VPN?
Your ISP will see that you’re connected to a VPN, but it will not be able to see any of your internet activity like the websites you visit or browsing history since your traffic is encrypted. It will also see things like the IP address of the VPN server you’re connecting through, the timestamps when you’re connected and the amount of data transmitted. You can connect to an obfuscated server, if offered by your VPN, to hide your VPN use from your ISP.
Can a mobile VPN make me totally anonymous online?
No VPN can make you totally anonymous online. There seems to be a common misconception that VPNs can make you anonymous, but don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security when using a VPN. Online anonymity is virtually impossible to achieve, given the size of the average person’s digital footprint. VPNs are great for protecting your privacy and keeping your data safe from snoopers online, but you cannot count on your VPN to give you absolute online anonymity — even if it claims it can.
If you just purchased a new Pixel 7 or 7 Pro phone, you’ll want to adjust a few settings. Your Google Pixel can feel more efficient, functional and suited to your needs by making a few minor changes. You can, for example, change the color palette on your home screen to match your favorite hue, as well as save storage space and battery life.
Google launched the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro in October, and both phones include a refreshed design, face unlock, the new Tensor G2 processor and improved cameras. But many of these settings options below should also be available on older devices too, including the Pixel 6 lineup.
Follow the steps below to learn more about how to get the most out of your new Pixel.
Turn on themed icons to make your icons match your wallpaper
One of the biggest features that debuted in 2021’s Android 12 update is Material You, which customizes the software’s color palette to match your wallpaper. To give your app icons a colorful refresh, long-press any empty space on your Pixel 7’s home screen. Then tap Wallpaper & style and make sure the switch next to Themed icons is toggled on. Now app icons on the home screen should match your wallpaper. You’ll notice that some elements within certain apps — like the keyboard in Messages and Gmail’s Compose button — will have colored accents that match your wallpaper, too.
You can make is so that your app icons match you phone’s wallpaper.
Screenshot by Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Unlock your Pixel 7 just by looking at it
Google’s Pixel 7 and 7 Pro both support face unlock, unlike last year’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. If you own a Pixel 7 and haven’t set it up yet, you can do so by launching the Settings menu and tapping Security. Tap Face and fingerprint unlock and enter your PIN. From there, choose the Face Unlock option to register your face to your phone.
Google cautions, however, that your phone can be unlocked by someone who looks like you, such as a sibling, when using this feature. As such, the Pixel 7’s face unlock functionality is meant just for quickly unlocking your phone rather than authenticating payments and other transactions. That makes it significantly different than Apple’s Face ID, which creates a depth map of your face by “projecting and analyzing thousands of invisible dots,” according to Apple’s support page.
You can unlock the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro with your face.
Screenshot via Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Use Quick Phrases to dismiss an alarm or phone call without saying, ‘Hey, Google’
We’ve all been there. It’s 6 a.m., your alarm starts blaring and you barely have the energy to reach for your phone. Google makes this a little easier on the Pixel lineup by enabling you to pause or dismiss an alarm by simply saying, “Snooze” or “Stop” without requiring the “Hey, Google” trigger phrase. You can do the same for phone calls by saying “Answer” or “Decline” without having to grab your device.
To turn this on, open the Settings menu and choose Apps. Then, select Assistant and tap Quick phrases. You should see options for alarms and timers and incoming calls. Tap the switch next to each one to enable this feature.
This feature lets you dismiss alarms and answer calls without using the “Hey, Google” wake phrase.
Screenshot by Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Have Google Assistant wait on hold for you and transcribe automated phone menus
Tired of waiting on hold? Try using Google’s Hold For Me feature, which has Google Assistant wait on hold and then notify you when a customer representative becomes available. If you don’t want to remember which number to punch the next time you’re sitting through automated voice prompts, you can also turn on Direct My Call. This transcribes automated menus so that you don’t have to remember which number to press to get directed to the correct extension. Direct My Call should work even faster on the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, since Google says these phones may show some transcriptions before they’re even spoken.
Both of these features are accessible from the Pixel’s phone app. Hold For Me works on the Pixel 3 and later, while Direct My Call is available on the Pixel 3A and later. Open the Phone app and tap the three dots in the top right corner to get started. Choose Settings and you should see Hold for Me and Direct My Call under the Assistive section.
The Direct My Call feature seems promising, but it only works for toll-free numbers in English right now. That can make its transcriptions a bit confusing since many automated phone menus typically read options in Spanish, too.
Google Assistant can transcribe automated menus for you when calling toll-free numbers, but only in English.
Screenshot by Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Choose whether you want to extend battery life or boost performance
Google’s Pixel phones can optimize battery life depending on how you use your phone. While that’s a useful perk, there may be times when you’d prefer to turn this feature off so that you can get better performance out of your device. You can turn this setting on or off anytime by opening the Settings menu, choosing Battery and tapping Adaptive preferences.
You can optimize your Pixel’s battery based on your phone usage.
Screenshot by Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Turn on Smart Storage to avoid running out of space
If you take a lot of photos and videos, you know how precious your device’s storage space can be. As one way to deal with that problem, you can choose to have your Pixel phone automatically delete old photos to free up space. If you enable this feature, your Pixel device will erase photos backed up to your Google Photos account that have been on your device for 60 days if your phone’s storage is less than 25%.
To turn this on, open Settings, choose Storage and tap Free up space. Then tap the menu icon in the top left corner and select Settings. Toggle the switch next to Smart Storage.
Google’s Smart Storage feature automatically deletes old photos to save space.
Screenshot by Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Use Storage Saver to optimize your Pixel’s photo and video storage
If you want to save space, there’s another option: Enable Storage Saver on your Pixel device. This changes settings that use large amounts of storage, such as saving RAW images as JPEG and recording videos in 1080p instead of 4K. If you care more about saving space than having the best resolution possible, you might want to try this.
Launch the Camera app and tap the settings icon in the top left corner. Then, tap More settings and select Device storage. Toggle the switch next to Storage Saver.
The Pixel can also change certain media settings to optimize storage.
Screenshot by Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Customize what happens when you press the volume key while taking photos
You can use the volume button to snap a photo, adjust the zoom or control the audio volume on your Pixel device. Open the Camera app, press the Settings icon and choose More settings. Then, choose Gestures and select Volume key action to choose your preferred option.
You can customize the volume key on the Pixel 6.
Screenshot by Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Make sure your Pixel’s screen automatically switches orientation when needed
Few things can be more annoying than having your phone stuck in portrait mode when you’re holding it in landscape mode to watch a video. Avoid this on your Pixel phone by opening the Settings menu, choosing Display and tapping Auto-rotate screen. You can also choose to turn on face detection to make autorotate more accurate. Google says images used in face detection are never stored or sent to the company.
Make sure your Pixel switches its screen orientation when you want it to.
Screenshot by Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Identify songs playing nearby on the lock screen
Ever heard a song playing at a restaurant and wondered what it’s called? Google Pixel devices can recognize songs and display the name of the song and artist on your phone’s lock screen. Open the Settings menu, choose Display and tap Lock screen. Press Now Playing and toggle on the switch next to Identify songs playing nearby.
Your Pixel phone can display the track title and artist for songs playing nearby.
Screenshot by Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Choose whether you want smoother scrolling or longer battery life
Certain Pixel devices can boost their refresh rates to enable faster scrolling and smoother animations, which makes the software generally feel more responsive. The Pixel 7 can bump its refresh rate up to 90Hz like the Pixel 6, while the Pixel 7 Pro can go up to 120Hz just like the Pixel 6 Pro. But since this feature increases battery usage, there are times when you might want to turn it off.
To access this option, open the Settings menu and choose Display. Scroll down to Smooth Display and toggle the switch to turn it on or off. This feature isn’t available on the Pixel 6A.
You can choose to increase the screen’s refresh rate or maximize battery life on your Pixel phone.
Screenshot by Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Add captions to videos, podcasts and phone calls
Google’s Live Caption feature generates captions for media playing on your device, and it works on older Pixels dating back to the second-generation model. It’s an accessibility feature, and it can also be useful for times when you’re stuck without headphones and need to hear the content of a video or podcast in a public setting. To turn this on, press the volume button and tap the Live Caption icon, which looks like a speech bubble. Just remember that using Live Caption can use additional battery resources.
Google’s Live Caption technology captions audio playing on your device.
Screenshot by Lisa Eadicicco/CNET
Edit your quick settings to easily access shortcuts
Pulling down from the top of the screen will launch the quick settings menu. Tap the pencil icon to edit this menu and add the settings you use most often. Google offers a wide variety of options ranging from battery saver to enabling and disabling the microphone and accessing alarms. Here you’ll find staples including airplane mode, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
These are just a few of the many settings shortcuts available on the Pixel.
Lenovo can be counted on to announce at least a few outside-the-box devices at CES. But before the annual tech show kicks off Jan. 5 in Las Vegas, the company has unveiled some more run-of-the-mill updates to its commercial and consumer computers and accessories.
On the commercial side, Lenovo will update its ThinkPad X1 Carbon laptop, X1 Yoga two-in-one and sub-2.2-pound X1 Nano laptop with the “very latest generation of up to Intel Core i7 processors with Intel vPro.” The X1 Carbon and X1 Yoga will also support up to 64GB of LPDDR5 RAM. They’ll also have improvements to privacy and presence detection, posture warning and eye wellness alerts, webcam enhancements like auto-framing and background blur and OLED displays with settings designed to reduce energy consumption.
There will be a lot of sustainability messaging from PC makers this year, and that includes Lenovo. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 has a palm rest made from 90% recycled magnesium and the bottom cover is 55% recycled aluminum, while the X1 Nano Gen 3 features 90% recycled magnesium hybrid in the palm rest and bottom cover. Retail packaging is made from 100% bamboo and sugarcane fiber.
The new X1 models are expected to ship in April with prices starting at $1,649, approximately 1,360 or AU$2,480 converted.
Lenovo also announced new commercial monitors including the ThinkVision P49w-30, an ultrawide 49-inch display expected in June and starting from $1,699. There are also some new desk accessories coming, the most interesting of which is the Lenovo Go Desk Station with Webcam.
Lenovo Go Desk Station with Webcam.
Lenovo
The Go Desk Station looks like a desk lamp but is much more and potentially a great solution for someone with limited desk space. The light is on a rotatable arm and at the opposite end of the light is an arm with a 4K webcam attached. The design lets you easily brighten your work area or your face while using the webcam. The light’s brightness and color temperature are adjustable, too.
The lamp’s base has a built-in USB-C hub with a 135-watt power input that can pass through 65 watts of power to a laptop. There’s an HDMI 2.0 output also to connect to a monitor. There’s even a retractable shelf in the base with a 15-watt Qi wireless charging pad. It’s expected to be available in March for $329.
Lenovo
For consumers, Lenovo announced updates to its IdeaPad Pro 5/5i and Slim 5/5i laptop line. Both models are available in 14- and 16-inch sizes, however only the 16-inch versions will be available in the US. Like the ThinkPads, these will have the latest Intel Core processors or AMD Ryzen processors, and the Pro models have the option of next-gen Nvidia discrete graphics. Other updates include improved displays including OLED options and dynamic refresh rates up to 120Hz; full-HD webcams; and larger touchpads.
The 16-inch IdeaPad Pro 5i is expected to ship in May starting at $1,500. The 16-inch IdeaPad Slim 5/5i is also expected in May starting at $650 for AMD models and $750 for Intel.
Lenovo also announced a new mini desktop PC, a budget two-in-one 12-inch Chromebook and the Tab M9, a 9-inch HD tablet running on Android 12 available sometime in Q2 and starting at $140. You can read more about all of Lenovo’s CES 2023 announcements on its news site.
Amazon agreed to settle two European Union antitrust cases that alleged mistreatment of its third-party retailers, the European Commission said Tuesday. However, the e-commerce giant won’t pay a fine. Instead, for the next seven yearsit’ll follow EU antitrust rules by changing business practices that regulators say disproportionately harm third-party sellers on the platform.
“Today’s decision sets new rules for how Amazon operates its business in Europe. Amazon can no longer abuse its dual role and will have to change several business practices,” Margrethe Vestager, executive vice president in charge of competition policy, said in a statement.
The Commission, which is the EU’s executive branch, found in 2020 that Amazon “distorted fair competition” on its platform by using third-party sellers’ nonpublic data to compete against them, the statement said. The e-commerce platform’s criteria for its buy box and Prime program also “unduly favors” its own retailers or retailers that utilize its logistics and delivery services, the Commission found.
Amazon agreed to provide third-party retailers with an equal opportunity for being selected as a default option for the platform’s buy box. It will also stop using nonpublic data from the independent sellers on its marketplace and set nondiscriminatory practices for retailers’ products to qualify for Amazon Prime.
Amazon is required to follow the Commission’s final guidance for seven years.
“We are pleased that we have addressed the European Commission’s concerns and resolved these matters,” a company spokesperson told CNET via email. “While we continue to disagree with several of the preliminary conclusions the European Commission made, we have engaged constructively to ensure that we can continue to serve customers across Europe and support the 225,000 European small and medium sized businesses selling through our stores.”
Gone are the days when you had to tether your phone to an outlet to charge. Thanks to wireless charging technology, the best phones around can stay juiced up over those long car rides. No matter if you’re using the latest iPhone 14 or the Samsung Galaxy S22, you’ll want to use one of the best wireless car chargers out there during your next road trip. Don’t be misled, though.
Wireless charging doesn’t mean there aren’t any wires involved — you’ll still need to connect the charger to your vehicle. But once it’s set up, all you need to do is pop your phone in and out when you want to juice up. If you’re looking to add one of these handy charging phone mounts to your car, check out our roundup below for some of the best options on the market right now.
Note that each wireless charger in this buyer’s guide is compatible with any wireless charging-enabled mobile phone, whether it’s an iPhone, a Samsung Galaxy, a Google Pixel or any other Qi-enabled phone. And if you’re attached to your phone case — so long as it isn’t super thick — you can leave it on and still charge your phone. Most of these chargers even double as a phone holder with an adjustable arm.
We update this list periodically when new wireless charging technology comes to market.
iOttie’s “autosense” automatic clamping wireless car charger with a phone mount is one of the best out there. While it’s fairly pricey, we’ve seen some nice discounts on it recently. The Auto Sense Automatic Clamping Qi Charging Car Phone Mount is available in a dashboard mount version or a CD and vent clip version (I tried the dashboard wireless charging mount). This wireless car charger mount has a nicely designed telescoping arm, a strong suction cup, and the wireless charging mount feature is compatible with most phone cases. You get 7.5-watt charging for an iPhone and 10-watt for Android phones, which is considered fast wireless charging.
This Qi wireless charger comes with a dual charging USB cigarette lighter adapter. My only gripe — and it’s a small one — is that the included cable is Micro-USB and not USB Type-C. Once this Qi charger is plugged into the wireless car charging mount you can basically forget about it, but if the cable accidentally becomes unplugged (which does happen), it’s easier to plug in a USB-C cable for phone charging, especially when you’re driving.
If you don’t mind going with a no-name brand like ZeeHoo, its wireless car charger has most of the features you want for phone charging, including autoclamping, a secure suction cup that can be installed on your car’s air vent, windshield or dashboard. It has USB-C and up to 15-watt fast charging for Android phones that support it (iPhones are capped at 7.5-watt charging). This upgraded version has a sleeker design than the original (see below) and it costs about $20 less than the iOttie above. However, this wireless charger doesn’t come with a cigarette lighter adapter — only a USB-C cable.
This wireless car mount charger is one of the more popular generic wireless car chargers with an autosensing telescopic arm, and the original version I tried worked well overall, attaching securely to my car vent mount and giving my smartphone or QI enabled device a quick charge. I liked that the wireless car charger came with both a phone mount for my car’s air-vent mount (if you want just the air-vent mount, there is an air-vent only version that costs $30).
Note that to get fast charging, you will need a power adapter that supports it (not included).
ZeeHoo’s original wireless car charger with autoclamping remains a good value at around $30. Aside from some cosmetic improvements on the upgraded version, the biggest difference is that this one has up to 10-watt fast charging for Android phones instead of 15-watt fast charging (iPhones are capped at 7.5-watt charging for both chargers). Like the upgraded version, this wireless charger doesn’t come with a cigarette lighter adapter — only a USB-C cable — and to get fast charging, you will need a power adapter that supports it (not included).
If you want to go with a little more discreet-looking wireless charger, a magnetic mount phone charger is a good choice. The iOttie iTap 2 Wireless is available in versions with air-vent, CD slot and dashboard car suction mount. I tried the air-vent version, which has a locking mechanism on the air-vent clip that keeps the charger suction mount securely attached to the vent. Note that this mount isn’t MagSafe compatible.
For your wireless phone charger to work with a magnetic car suction mount, you either need a case with some metal built into it (which I have) or you can attach one of the included slim stick-on metal plates to the back of your phone (stick it toward the bottom so it doesn’t interfere with the wireless charge circuitry in the middle of it). You can even cover the plate with your phone case, but make sure the case isn’t too thick or your phone won’t stick to the charger mount.
The iOttie iTap 2 magnetic wireless car charger mount includes a dual USB car charger that has an extra USB port for charging a second device. The included cable is a Micro-USB cable, not USB-C, which doesn’t have accelerated charging capabilities. I tested it using an iPhone 11 Pro, which stayed on the charger securely, but for larger phones, it would probably be better to go with one of the wireless charger options above.
Mophie’s Snap Plus 15W Wireless Charging Vent Mount is a magnetic mount that comes with an integrated USB-C cable (the charging puck is removable from the mount but the cable is integrated into the puck). It also comes with a cigarette lighter adapter and a magnetic ring you can stick onto the back of phones that aren’t MagSafe-enabled, including Android models. I tried it with a MagSafe charger case on my iPhone 12 Pro and the phone stuck well to the mount. That said, the magnet isn’t super-strong and I wouldn’t recommend this for heavier phones like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. But overall it’s an attractively designed accessory.
It can wirelessly charge Android models at up to 15-watt speeds, but with iPhones wireless charging tops out at 7.5 watts.
ZealSound’s Qi-Certified Car Charge Slim Pad Station Dock may not be the most elegant wireless charging solution, but this wireless charging pad can be placed anywhere you want and has a grippy bottom and guard rails to keep your phone from flying off the pad when you brake or accelerate suddenly or make a sharp turn. It offers up to 10-watt charging for compatible Android phones. For iPhones it charges at 7.5 watts. A cigarette-lighter power adapter is included.
If you’ve already got Apple’s MagSafe wireless charging puck, this Spigen mounting accessory is a good option for bringing it into your car. As I said, the MagSafe wireless charger isn’t included. Nor is a USB-C cigarette lighter adapter. But at less than $20, this is a fairly affordable magnetic mounting accessory.
Note: Just make sure to get the right cigarette lighter adapter with it to get the maximum 15-watt charging speeds. Also, since this relies on the magnets from the wireless charging puck for your phone to stick to it (MagSafe case required if you are using a case) this isn’t recommended for the larger iPhone 13 Max Pro as it’s more likely to slip off the mount — especially if you hit a bump — because of its weight.
OK, so this isn’t a wireless charger, but a lot of the wireless car chargers on this list don’t include a cigarette-lighter power adapter, so I thought I’d throw this on the list at the end. I originally had an Aukey power adapter on this list, but it’s out of stock and this low-profile Ainope mini fast USB Car Charger offers even faster charging (up 24 watts) and costs less. It has both a USB-C and USB-A port so you can charge two devices at the same time, but to get 15-watt wireless charging you’re going to be better off charging one device.
Note that to get the fastest wired charging for iPhones, you’ll need to use a USB-C to Lightning cable. That cable is not included.
With a wide variety of different keyboards on the market, it’s important to find a model and style that’s been designed to suit your needs. Gamers will want a mechanical keyboard that’s optimized for speed and responsiveness, while those who often work on the go will want a compact model that’s easy to throw in a backpack. But no matter what style of keyboard you’re looking for, it’s important to find one that fits your budget, too.
Whether you’re after a fully customizable mechanical keyboard with fun keycaps or something that can connect to a few devices and easily switch between them, we have you covered. We’ve scoured the internet to find all the best keyboard deals that are out there right now and broken them down into a few sections to make it easier to sort through so you can find the keyboard that suits your needs at the best price.
Bluetooth wireless keyboard deals
Get the best price with CNET Shopping.
Love shopping online but don’t have time to compare prices or search for promo codes? Our CNET Shopping extension does that for you, so you always get the best price.
If you’re in the market for something portable or just a basic keyboard, these deals are for you. From keyboards that connect to multiple devices at once to ultracompact and portable ones, there are Bluetooth keyboard deals here for everyone.
This is a multidevice Bluetooth keyboard, meaning that you can program it to easily connect to and switch between three different Bluetooth devices. With it, you can connect to your phone, tablet and PC if you want — switching between them is the work of a simple button press. It works with Mac, Windows, Chrome, Android, iPhone, Apple TV and more. It’s a small keyboard but offers up to two years of battery life before you need to swap them out.
If you want a keyboard with a great design and a bunch of nice features but is easy to move around, this Microsoft Designer Compact Keyboard may be the one for you. It has a low-profile design, an input key for easy access to symbols, emoji and more, as well as the ability to connect to three devices.
While it’s primarily designed to work with Windows (it comes with only a Windows key, there’s no Mac key option), you can connect it to Mac, Android and more with ease.
The first thing you’ll notice about this keyboard is the different layout. It’s a split ergonomic keyboard designed to position your wrists and forearms in a more natural position. The number pad is separate from the keyboard, which gives you some freedom as to where to place it in your workspace, since this layout takes up more space. While it’s an older keyboard, it’s still a great one to consider. Read our Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard review.
If you have a Mac, it doesn’t get much better than the Magic Keyboard. It was named one of our overall favorite keyboards for 2022, and is designed to pair and work seamlessly with iOS devices. It’s completely wireless, and our reviewer was impressed by its long-lasting battery. This deal is on the full-size model, with includes the numeric keypad.
You’re receiving price alerts for Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad
Mechanical keyboard deals
They click and clack, but mechanical keyboards are extremely popular among gamers and PC enthusiasts alike. They can be customized to no end, but you can get started with a great basic keyboard before diving into the world of creating your own, swapping switches and buying endless new keys.
The Alloy Elite 2 is one of our favorite gaming keyboards on the market in 2022. It’s a full-size wired keyboard that has a durable solid steel frame and a light bar with unique RGB effects. It’s equipped with HyperX pudding keycaps and red mechanical switches and has three onboard memory profiles so you can easily switch between game types.
This gaming keyboard features hybrid high-performance Mecha-Membrane switches that provide the tactile feedback of a mechanical key press on a comfortable, soft-cushioned membrane switch that is suitable for gaming. It supports up to 80 million clicks, and Razer Hypershift allows for all keys and keypress combinations to be remapped to execute complex commands. It also includes RGB lighting and a magnetic wrist rest to align perfectly and offer plush comfort during extended gaming sessions. There is even a digital volume wheel for easy adjustment of audio levels right from your keyboard.
This gaming keyboard has a simple, minimalist design that features seven media keys and a dedicated game mode key that will allow you to enable or disable certain keys while gaming. And you can customize it to your needs. It also features a detachable textured palm-rest, so you can use it as needed, as well as RGB lighting and keys with a 50-million-click lifecycle and 100% antighosting with 104-key rollover on USB.
The BlackWidow V3 Mini Hyperspeed is one of our favorite gaming keyboards on the market for 2022. It’s a 65% mechanical keyboard, and one of the few of its size that’s equipped with both Bluetooth and lag-free 2.4GHz wireless. It also boasts a battery life of up to 200 hours, and is equipped with ultra-smooth Razer yellow mechanical switches. This keyboard is a solid value even at full price, so it’s a bargain when you can find it on sale.
This mechanical keyboard has O-Ring sound dampeners and backlit keys with white LED lighting. It also features Razer Hypershift, which allows for all keys and keypress combinations to be remapped to execute complex commands. It supports up to 80 million clicks. Its tournament-ready tenkeyless design and detachable USB cable make for a portable keyboard for gamers on the go.
Logitech is well known for quality PC accessories and the company’s mechanical keyboards are no different. The G Pro mechanical keyboard features GX Blue Clicky Switches, RGB backlighting, USB passthrough, programmable macros and much more. It’s great for those looking to get into mechanical keyboards without spending too much and who want to take their gaming to the next level.
You’re receiving price alerts for Logitech G Pro mechanical keyboard: $83
Keyboard-mouse bundle deals
If you’re in need of a mouse and a keyboard, sometimes you can get the best deal by bundling the two into one purchase. This does limit the available models, but at these prices, odds are you won’t mind.
This highly rated pair of wired gaming accessories can help bring your skills to the next level without spending a ton. The keyboard has a gaming membrane inside and is spill-resistant just in case things get crazy and your drink goes toppling over. The wired mouse has an adjustable DPI up to 6,200 and offers seven programmable buttons, all of which are tested for up to 20 million clicks.
This is more than a keyboard and mouse bundle, but they’re both great options for gamers. The bundle comes with a mouse pad and gaming headset as well as the Apex 3 keyboard and Rival 3 wireless mouse. At this price, the kit is one you’ll want to check out.
You’re receiving price alerts for SteelSeries Ultimate gaming bundle: $142
Get the best price with CNET Shopping.
Love shopping online but don’t have time to compare prices or search for promo codes? Our CNET Shopping extension does that for you, so you always get the best price.
