2020-10-18

Which Mac Laptop Is Best For Graphic Design

What Mac Laptop Is Best For Photo Editing
Best Mac Graphic Design Software
Which Mac Laptop Is Best For Coding
Best Computers For Graphic Design
Are Gaming Laptops Good For Graphic Design
Best Laptops For Gaming And Graphic D…

This is a lightweight machine laptop for graphic design made for portability. Its core i7 processor and discrete NVIDIA GeForce 840M graphics card make the laptop one of the best graphic design laptops in the market. The best laptop for graphic design should consist of a powerful and fast processor because that will play the major part. Equally important is a graphics card, but that is reserved mostly for those who word on 3D graphic designing. Here are the top 10 best laptops for Graphic Design in 2018 1 – Apple MacBook Pro Not everyone is comfortable using Windows, maybe because they have been fans of Apple and iOS since the beginning. The Best Windows Graphic Design Software of 2018 We've been testing graphic design software for the past eight years. This year we spent over 50 hours comparing programs to find the best of the best.

Welcome to our pick of the best laptops for graphic design in 2019. If you're a graphical designer and looking for a new laptop, then this list will help you choose the right PC for your needs.

When looking for the best laptops for graphic design work, there are a number of things you should take into consideration. For a start, you'll want to make sure you have a laptop that offers enough power to handle graphically-intensive applications.

To ensure that the new laptop can do this, you'll need a device with a powerful modern processor (such as Intel's 8th generation CPUs), and preferably a discrete graphics card as well from Nvidia or AMD.

The best laptops for graphic design will also feature impressive screens that don't just show off your work in the best possible light, but reproduce colors accurately while also making sure you don't get eye strain after working on them for long periods of time. The best laptops for graphic design should also be thin and light to enable you to take them with you while you travel.

So, whether you want a macOS device or a Windows machine, read on for our pick of the best laptops for graphic design.

1. Apple Macbook Pro with Touch Bar 13-inch 2018

The best Macbook Pro ever is the best laptop for graphic design

CPU: Quad-core Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch, (2,560 x 1,600) IPS | Storage: 128GB – 2TB PCIe 3.0 SSD

The best Macbook Pro ever

Expensive

Apple is renowned for making excellent products for creative professionals, and the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar 2018 is the best laptop for graphic design. It's also the best MacBook Pro that Apple has ever made. It comes with the Touch Bar, which is a thin OLED display at the top of the keyboard which can be used to scan your fingerprint to log in, or offering up app-specific shortcuts. It's got a stunning screen and powerful innards that will run pretty much any graphic design application with ease.

Read the full review:Apple Macbook with Touch Bar 13-inch (2018)

2. Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch)

The most powerful 2-in-1 laptop in the world

CPU: Intel Core i5-7300U - Intel Core i7-8650U 1.9GHz | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620; Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 (2GB GDDR5 VRAM) | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 3,000 x 2,000 (267 ppi) PixelSense display, 3:2 aspect ratio | Storage: 256GB – 1TB SSD

Very good battery life

Pricey

With the Surface Book 2 (13.5-inch), Microsoft has crafted one of the most powerful 2-in-1 laptops in the world, and a device that rivals Apple's best when it comes to laptops for graphic design. The Surface Book 2 has some powerful enough components to handle most day-to-day tasks, and if you go for a model with a dedicated graphics card, then you'll easily be able to run your graphic design apps on it. The keyboard detaches from the screen, so you can use it as a tablet, and it runs a full version of Windows 10, which makes it an excellent alternative to the MacBook Pro above if you want to stick with Microsoft's operating system.

3. Dell XPS 13

New and improved for 2019

CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) – 4k (3840 x 2160) | Storage: 256GB – 1TB SSD

Centered webcam

Beautiful optional 4K display

Expensive

The Dell XPS 13 (2019) is one of the best laptops ever made, and it's an ideal laptop for graphics design. It comes with a stunning 4K display and 8th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors. Meanwhile, the bezel-less ‘Infinity Edge’ display means your digital designs remain the focus of attention.There’s also a wide range of customization options, so you can really make the Dell XPS 13 the best laptop for your needs.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13

4. 13-inch MacBook Air (2018)

CPU: Dual-core Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 617 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch, 2,560 x 1,600 Retina display (backlit LED, IPS) | Storage: 128GB – 1.5TB PCIe 3.0 SSD | Dimensions: 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.61 inches (30.41 x 21.24 x 1.56cm; W x D x H)

Small, lighter design

A bit underpowered

Yet another Apple laptop has made it onto our list of the best laptops for graphic design. This time it's the latest version of the MacBook Air. Now thinner, lighter and with a Retina display for the first time, it’s easily the best MacBook Air we’ve ever used for graphical design. That new Retina display, with wide color gamut and high resolution, makes your graphical work absolutely shine, and with 8th-generation processors, more RAM and faster SSDs and an affordable price, this really is one of the best laptops money can buy right now for digital artists and graphical designers. We just wish that these were full-fat U-series quad core chips, rather than the Y-series dual-core fanless processors. Still, this means that you’re going to easily get all-day battery out of this thing, which makes it one of the best Macs for travel.

Read the full review:MacBook Air 2018

5. Dell XPS 15 2-in-1

CPU: Intel Core i5-i7 | Graphics: Radeon RX Vega M GL Graphics with 4GB HMB2 Graphics Memory | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD

Impressive power

Kind of expensive

Last year’s Dell XPS 15 was already one of the best laptops you could buy for graphic design, but with 2018's convertible Dell XPS 15 2-in-1, it has just got even better. Not only can it switch between tablet and laptop modes, it also packs a new Intel Kaby Lake G-series CPU featuring ‘discrete-class’ Radeon graphics. This means that this laptop packs serious power when it comes to graphic design.

6. Apple MacBook 12-inch (2017)

CPU: Intel Core M3 1.2GHz - Intel Core i7 1.4GHz | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 12-inch, (2,304 x 1,440) IPS 16:10 | Storage: 256GB – 512GB SSD

Updated processor

Still only one USB-C port

Last year's MacBook is yet another tempting offering from Apple for graphic designers, with another gorgeous design that the company is know for. Apple has updated the processors with Intel's 7th-generation Kaby Lake range, which means you get improved performance and longer battery life without sacrificing the thin and light design of previous MacBooks. While the MacBook 2017 is not designed as a pure productivity machine, like the more powerful and versatile MacBook Pro it's still one of the best laptops for graphic design in the world right now thanks to being a super slim and light MacBook that you can take anywhere without even noticing the weight, and being a powerful showcase for macOS High Sierra.

The best laptop 2018: our pick of the 15 best laptops you can buy this year

The search for the best laptops for graphic design can feel like a never ending task if you embark on it alone. Fortunately, we've taken on the hard work for you and created this one-stop shop of information. Whether you're on a tight or limitless budget, and whatever your specialism may be, our useful guide has the perfect option for you.

Best laptops for graphic design: Top 5

01. Microsoft Surface Book 2
02. Lenovo ThinkPad P1
03. Dell Precision 3540
04. MacBook Pro (2018)
05. Huawei MateBook X Pro
Read on for more information on each of our picks

With all the options out there, it's understandable if you feel unsure of where to start. If that's the case, scroll to the bottom of this article and you'll find handy pointers on what to look for when choosing a laptop for graphic design.

Our overall pick for the best laptop for graphic design right now, taking into account its features and price, is the Microsoft Surface Book 2. Aside from being an excellent all-round laptop, it also doubles up as a ridiculously good tablet. And as a bonus, there are some great deals around on the versions that have a lower spec.

However, we understand your budget might not stretch to that high end option. If so, Dell’s new Precision 3540 (number 3) may be the right laptop for you. It’s an affordable quad-core laptop designed for graphics work, with some tasty options such as discrete AMD graphics and a FullHD display. And LG’s recently launched Gram is not only the lightest 17-inch laptop in the world, it’s also more than capable of top-end graphic design work. We were so impressed with it when we reviewed it that it has earned its own spot in our pick of the best laptops for graphic design.

If you can hold out a couple more weeks for a new laptop, it might be worth bookmarking our best Prime day deals page to see if the machine you've chosen is discounted. If not, you'll find the best prices right now on this page.

Prefer working on a desktop PC or Mac? Then take a look at our pick of the best computers for graphic design. And if battery life has you worried, then you may want to check our list of the best power banks available.

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01. Microsoft Surface Book 2

The Surface Book is the ultimate laptop for graphic design

CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15-inch PixelSense (3240x2160) | Storage: 256GB - 1TB SSD

Doubles as a tablet

Expensive

Microsoft's Surface Book 2 is an incredible 2-in-1 laptop – even in its lowest spec option. If you're a designer who draws as well, this is the best laptop for graphic design you can get. It’s fast and immensely powerful, thanks to Intel’s quad-core Coffee Lake Core i7-8650 processor and 16GB of RAM. And it boasts an impressive battery life, plus a stunning, crisp display with superb colour accuracy.

It’s also incredibly versatile: use it as a graphics, video or photo-editing workstation on the go, or as a sketchbook. Just detach the screen and use it as a tablet with the Surface Pen (which doesn't come included, our one gripe) or buy the innovative Surface Dial and have an intuitive way of controlling your creative tools. Even better, flip the screen around, reattach it and you can use it to draw at a more natural angle.

Too expensive? If you can cope with less screen real estate, the 13-inch Surface Book 2 is significantly cheaper, with a similar core specification and only slightly less impressive overall performance. For even cheaper, Microsoft's original 13-inch Surface Book remains a ridiculously accomplished laptop, with a smaller price tag. But if you've got the cash, the Surface Book 2 is an utterly fantastic laptop for graphic designers.

Also read: Microsoft Surface Book 2 review

02. Lenovo ThinkPad P1

This amazing laptop is well worth the hefty pricetag

CPU: Intel Core i5, Core i7, Core i9 or Xeon | Graphics: Nvidia Quadro P1000 / P2000 | RAM: 8GB-64GB | Screen: 15.6' Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) | Storage: 256-4TB SSD

Fantastic screen

Oodles of performance

The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 is one of the most powerful Windows laptops around, and is aimed squarely at high-level content creators. It gives you the option of an Intel Xeon processor and a professional-grade Nvidia Quadro P2000 graphics, up to 64GB of memory and has all the ports you could need (two USB 3, two USB-C Thunderbolt 3, an HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort and SD card reader). This machine sports a slick design, with a slim chassis and a 4K display with 100% AdobeRGB coverage. The screen alone makes it a joy for creative work, but with all the performance it offers too, the ThinkPad P1 is a seriously good laptop for graphic designers.

03. Dell Precision 3540

The best laptop for graphic design if you're on a budget

CPU: Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel UHD 620 / AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 2GB | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 15.6-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) | Storage: 256GB SSD

Large 1080p display

Which Mac Laptop Is Best For Graphic Design

8GB RAM may be limiting

Dell’s new 15.6-inch Precision 3540 has a specification that can handle even the most advanced features in tools such as Photoshop and Lightroom. It has an Intel Core i5 quad-core processor with a 1080P display and an entry-level discrete AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 2GB graphics card, which will help with 3D and anything that uses OpenCL. A 256GB fast M.2 SSD, 8GB of system memory and support for Thunderbolt 3 round off a package that’s priced incredibly well as an entry-level computer for visual design.

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04. MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (2018)

The latest MacBook Pro doesn’t disappoint

Processor: Intel Core i7-i9 | Graphics: Radeon Pro 555X-Radeon Pro 560 with 4GB of GDDR5 memory | RAM: 16-32GB | Screen: 15-inch 1920x1200 IPS display | Storage: 256-4TB SSD

Very powerful

Expensive

Apple is back on great form with its 15-inch MacBook Pro 2018 with Touch Bar. If you need sheer power – and have the cash – this is one of the best graphic design laptops you can get. The new Macbook Pro offers a substantial upgrade over previous versions. Aimed at creative professionals, this is the most powerful MacBook device ever created, with more RAM, a choice of 8th-generation Intel Core processors (that Apple claims make it up to 70 per cent faster than the MacBook Pro 2017) and better discrete graphics cards. It also comes with blisteringly fast SSDs and a quieter keyboard.

On the downside, there are just four USB-C ports and one headphone jack port, so you’ll need an adapter if you want to plug in an Ethernet cable or legacy hardware. And while the screen is absolutely gorgeous, 4K would have been nice. Nevertheless, the Apple MacBook (2018) gives you the CPU and memory horsepower to make mincemeat of large files and complex tasks – and it absolutely looks the part too.

What Mac Laptop Is Best For Photo Editing

05. Huawei MateBook X Pro

Design and performance to rival the mighty MacBook Pro

CPU: 8th generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 , Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.9-inch 3K (3,000 x 2,080) | Storage: 512GB SSD

Fantastic display

No SD card slot

Huawei may not be the first name that springs to mind when considering the best laptops for graphic design, but with the Huawei MateBook X Pro, the Chinese company has proved it has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the biggest names in the laptop market. This is a gorgeously designed laptop with a stunning screen (albeit with a rather odd aspect ratio), and it comes packed with cutting edge components that allows it to perform brilliantly, and a battery life that runs rings around many of its rivals. It has a design and performance that rivals the mighty MacBook Pro. Also, it runs Windows 10, so you can install all the digital art apps you're used to using.

Read: Our sister site TechRadar’s Huawei MateBook X Pro review

06. HP ZBook Studio G4 DreamColor

Power meets portability – the G4 has repeatedly proven that it's a fantastic laptop for graphic design

CPU: Intel Xeon CPU | Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro M1200 | RAM: 32GB | Screen: 15.6-inch 3840x2160 | Storage: 512GB SSD

Excellent screen

Relatively slim for power

If you’re looking for all-out power, check out the rip-roaring HP ZBook Studio G4. The top-end model isn’t cheap, but it packs incredible specs including a 15.6-inch 4K DreamColor display that can easily be colour calibrated, a blazing-fast Core Intel Xeon CPU, 32GB RAM, a 512GB SSD and NVIDIA Quadro M1200 dedicated graphics with 4GB VRAM. If you like to connect up your favourite peripherals and monitors, then there’s also a healthy range of ports – it features a Gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI port, a legacy VGA connector, SD card reader, one USB 3.0 port, and two USB Type-C (Thunderbolt 3) ports. Oh, and let's not forget the Bang & Olufsen speakers in case you want to crank up the tunes while you work.

At just over 2kg (4.6lbs), it won’t break your back carrying it around, and it’s pretty thin at 18mm. If you're worried about security, then you'll be glad of the built-in fingerprint reader and the optional (and extremely fast) HP Z Turbo NVMe PCIe SED (self-encrypting drive) SSDs.

07. Dell XPS 15

A stunning laptop with a top-notch display

CPU: Intel Core i5 | Graphics: GeForce graphics | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 15.6' FHD 1920x1080 Anti-Glare 100% sRGB InfinityEdge display | Storage: 1TB HD/32GB SSD

Amazing screen

Slim and light

The Dell XPS 15 is a truly stunning laptop – and now that the 2017 version has been replaced by the Dell XPS 15 (2018), it's much more affordable, too. For your money, you get the virtually borderless InfinityEdge display at Full HD resolution, a Core i5 CPU, 8GB RAM and a 1TB HD and 32GB SSD. Spec it up a little (or a lot, actually) and you can have a 4K display with multi-touch, turning it – with the help of the Dell stylus – into a portable sketchbook. 15.6-inches of UHD definition (3,840 x 2,160) equals a lot of pixels, making for some incredibly sharp images.

Depending on the complexity of the projects you'll be working on, you can pump the Intel HD Graphics 630 GPU up to an impressive Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050. We can't imagine what you could possibly be designing that the latter wouldn't be able to handle. If you don’t need a 15-incher, look to the XPS 13, which is perhaps the perfect blend of power and portability.

08. Huawei MateBook 13

The best laptop for graphic design if you're on a budget

CPU: 8th-gen Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 , Nvidia GeForce MX150 2GB GDDR5 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 13-inch 1440p (2,160 x 1,440) | Storage: 256GB-512GB SSD

Relatively affordable

Optional Nvidia graphics

If you aren’t willing or able to fork out the high sums demanded by the most high-end laptops, but you don’t want to compromise on performance, the Huawei MateBook 13 is made for you. Huawei has sensibly built a mid-range MacBook clone that delivers the goods when it comes to processing, so is perfect for students and anyone on a budget. That means ultra-responsive Photoshop performance that can be used for any demanding graphics task you throw at it. With a bright 1440p screen, portable design and Nvidia graphics, it’s not much of a compromise in other areas either.

09. Apple MacBook Air (2018)

The new MacBook Air is perfect for portable graphics work

Processor: 8th generation Intel Core i5 – i7 (dual-core / quad-core) | RAM: 8-16GB | Screen: 13.3' 2,560x1,600 Retina display | Storage: 128GB - 1.5TB SSD | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 617

Best Mac Graphic Design Software

Lightweight and slim

Pricier than original Air

After a much-needed refresh, the MacBook Air (2018) has had a few choice updates that make it a real winner for graphic design work. Although it’s not quite the powerhouse the MacBook Pro is (or some high-end Windows laptops), it now has a bright Retina display, which is a great upgrade over the dated screen in the old Air and better for working with graphic design software. The processor is much faster and will cope with Photoshop, Illustrator, and so on with ease. But Apple has sensibly ensured the Air is as portable as ever, with a seriously lightweight design that makes it a great choice for graphics work on the go.

10. HP ZBook X2

HP's stunning 2-in-1 option takes on the Surface Book 2

CPU: Intel Core i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro M620 with 2GB dedicated GDDR5 graphics memory | Memory: 32GB RAM | Screen: 15-inch 1920x1200 | Storage: 512GB SSD

4K multi-touch Dreamcolor display

Bulky

Created specifically with creatives in mind, the HP ZBook X2 packs a serious amount of power, and with it a pretty hefty price tag. But if money is no issue and you're contemplating abandoning a desktop or laptop as a primary creative tool, the HP ZBook X2 deserves a look. It boasts some seriously impressive designer-focused specs, including a stunning 10-bit, 100% Adobe RGB, 4K multi-touch UHD dreamcolour display and extra ports to keep you well connected.

It also comes pre-installed with Adobe's Creative Cloud desktop application for easy access, and sports a fully detachable Bluetooth keyboard so you can switch from laptop to tablet whenever inspiration strikes. That's all backed up with the power of an Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB RAM – double that of its Microsoft rival – and NVIDIA Quadro graphics.

However, power requires more juice, so battery life on the ZBook2 is shorter than some of the other laptops featured in this list. It's also heavier than some of its competition, which isn't ideal when you're on the go. That said, while the X2 doesn't come cheap, it's still a serious option for designers looking to liberate themselves from a desktop without compromising on apps and performance.

11. Microsoft Surface Laptop 2

Microsoft’s touchscreen bargain is sleek, light and powerful

CPU: Intel Core i5 - i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB - 16GB | Screen: 13.5-inch PixelSense (2,256 x 1,504) | Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB SSD

Touchscreen sketching with optional Surface Pen

Lovely new black colour scheme

Too few ports for its size

The Surface Laptop 2 is Microsoft's follow up to its popular original laptop, and once again the company has created a very good laptop for graphic design students. Microsoft has boosted the hardware of the Surface Laptop 2, making it an even better proposition for people looking for the best laptop for graphic design for their needs. As with its predecessor, even the lowest-end model is powerful enough to run Photoshop and Illustrator on a daily basis, and the fact you can use the optional Surface Pen to draw directly on screen makes it even more appealing. It no longer comes with Windows 10 S Mode as default either, instead you get the full Windows 10 experience, which means you can install Creative Cloud apps and other programs easily.

Read: Our sister site TechRadar’s Surface Laptop 2 review

12. LG Gram 17'

A highly capable 17-inch laptop that’s amazingly light and portable

CPU: Intel Core i7-8565U (quad core, 4.6GHz Max Turbo Boost) | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 17-inch WQXGA (2560x1600) | Storage: 512GB SSD

Which Mac Laptop Is Best For Coding

Amazingly light

Limited upgrade options

The LG Gram 17 is a high-spec silver laptop built from a strong and light alloy. 17-inch laptops that are actually capable of serious design work are usually too big, heavy and bulky to be considered portable – but LG has well and truly bucked this trend with this machine. It weighs an impressive 1.34kg, which is comparable to many 13-inch models, and it measures just 1.7cm at its thinnest point, again impressive for a 17-inch laptop. Expect all the performance you’ll need for heavy duty Photoshop edits and effects, all the while looking sumptuous on its 2560x1600 WXGA IPS screen that has 99% sRGB colour coverage. At time of publish, it wasn't yet available in the UK.

Best Computers For Graphic Design

Today's best graphic design laptop prices

Are Gaming Laptops Good For Graphic Design

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Best Laptops For Gaming And Graphic D…

Laptops for graphic design: What to look for

So how do you pick the best laptop for your graphic design work? Clearly you'll be guided by what you can afford, which is why we have the best options for all budgets here. But there are a few other things to consider too.

One is power versus portability: you need something that’s thin and light enough to throw in your backpack, but also powerful enough to run your suite of creative tools. You also need to decide whether macOS or Windows is right for you. The former used to be the staple of creative professionals, but it really doesn’t matter what platform you use these days.

Whatever your preferences, each of the machines here will give you all the power and performance you need to hit the ground running with your latest, greatest project.

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2020-10-18

Best Keyboard And Mouse For Mac

Labels for Windows and Mac keyboard shortcuts are good for users with all kinds of mainstream PCs, and the ability to pair the keyboard and mouse with three devices (either with Logitech's USB Unifying Receiver or Bluetooth) make this set the most flexible, versatile set by far. The basic design of the keyboard is very similar to Apple’s own keyboards, with a slimline design and aluminium casing, and a handy pair of USB ports for plugging in a mouse and other devices.

Don't wait to get one of the best keyboards until your old one finally dies on you. If your keyboard is starting to show its age, collecting dust or just not giving you want you need from it, you might want to think about picking up one of the best keyboards now. The benefits to comfort, speed and reliability you gain with one of the best keyboards easily pays the price.

Believe us when we say that once you use one of these keyboards, you'll never look back or even want to. Whether you’re writing a term paper, chatting with friends or playing the best PC games, the best keyboards can make life so much easier. The best keyboards aren’t all about getting work done, after all: the best gaming keyboards can make your off time better, too.

If you’re on the market for the best keyboard for work, play or something else entirely, you've come to the right place. You won’t have to worry about breaking open the piggy bank, either. Not only do many of the best keyboards prioritize value over price, but we’ve also included our price comparison tool to help you find the best deal.

Here are the best keyboards we’ve tested and reviewed over the last year.

1. Roccat Vulcan 120 Aimo

Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: Yes | Switches: Roccat Titan Switches

Beautiful design

Expensive

It has become the norm for keyboard manufacturers to implement their own custom keyboard switches, and Roccat – with the Vulcan 120 Aimo – is no different. While this keyboard is primarily marketed as a gaming keyboard, its Titan Switches are tactile enough to be satisfying, while still bouncing back quickly enough to be comfortable to type on for extended periods. And, we’d be remiss to not mention the looks – the Vulcan 120 Aimo looks like a science fiction keyboard, we love it.

Read the full review: Roccat Vulcan 120 Aimo

2. Corsair K83 Wireless Entertainment Keyboard

Interface: Bluetooth | Keyboard backlighting: Yes | Switches: Corsair Ultra-low Profile Scissor

Keys feel great

Small trackpad

If you have a home theater PC, you might be frustrated by the lack of keyboards that explicitly appeal to your use case. Luckily, there’s a keyboard for you – the Corsair K83 Wireless is a fantastic entertainment-focused keyboard. Not only is it light and portable, it also has a bevy of entertainment functions that’ll make life easier in your living room. And, with its wealth of connectivity options, including Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless through a dongle, you can use it with many different platforms. However, it’s not great at gaming, so keep that in mind.

Read the full review: Corsair K83 Wireless

3. Topre Realforce 104UBS Silent variable

Interface: Wired | Switches: Topre electrostatic capacitive silenced (30, 45 and 50 grams)

Smooth typing action

Typing can feel 'sandy'

As long as you don’t mind missing out on some of that signature ‘thock’ sound that’s associated with regular Realforce keyboards, opting for a silenced model like the 104 UBS offers some solid benefits. Hitting the 104 UBS’s keys produces sound on par with a membrane keyboard, so it’s going to be great if you work in a busy office or a shared bedroom. The ‘dampened’ feel of Topre’s silenced switches can feel kind of like typing on sandpaper compared to a non-silenced board, but we found that it’s worth the trade-off if you need a quieter keyboard.

This product is only available in the US and UK. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the .

We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices

4. Filco Majestouch-2 Tenkeyless

Built like a tank and compact

Interface: Wired | Switches: Cherry MX (Brown, Blue, Black, Red)

Solid build quality

No media functions

Filco's keyboards tend to be built like tanks, and the Majestouch TKL is no different. This space-saving mechanical keyboard features a compact tenkeyless design that has less than 1cm of space between the edge of the keys and the keyboard. Its durability doesn't simply allow it to stand up well to knocks and scrapes – it has a positive impact on its typing feel too. You can hammer away on it at speed, even bottoming out to your heart's content, and the Majestouch 2 will take every bit of punishment.

5. Logitech Craft

Interface: Wireless | Switches: Scissor switch mechanism

Weighty, solid construction

Expensive

We’ve seen all kinds of keyboards over the years here at TechRadar, from stylish tenkeyless keyboards to RGB-laden gaming behemoths, but something has always been missing – a focus on creatives. Thankfully, with the Logitech Craft, this is no longer the case. Not only is this a sturdy, tactile and attractive keyboard but it also features a unique dial on its top left corner, which will help creatives expedite their workflow. This dial’s utility will vary depending on the application, from simply controlling the volume on the desktop, to changing levels in various tools in Photoshop. If you spend a lot of time creating content on your PC, the Logitech Craft is one of the best keyboards you can buy today.

Read the full review:Logitech Craft

5. PFU Happy Hacking Professional 2 (HHKB2)

Interface: Wired | Switches: Topre electrostatic capacitive (45 grams)

Incredibly portable

Key layout not for everybody

The PFU Happy Hacking Professional 2 has somewhat of a cult following in the keyboard scene, and it’s not hard to see why. This keyboard is aimed at coders, but it’s fantastic for all you writers out there, too. It forgoes traditional arrow keys, instead making use of function keys and key combinations to get that stuff done. It will take a minute to get used to, but once you get that out of the way the small size is a huge benefit, as you’ll be able to take it anywhere you go. Plus, that sweet ‘thock’ sound of the Topre switches is a wonder to behold.

This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Das Keyboard Prime 13

We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices

6. Microsoft Modern Keyboard with Fingerprint ID

Beauty meets security

Interface: Bluetooth | Keyboard backlighting: No

Flawless style

Expensive

You just need to look at Microsoft’s Surface devices to know that they’re kind of killing it when it comes to design, and the Microsoft Modern Keyboard with Fingerprint ID takes things to a whole new level. If you’re running Windows 10, and you’re into the Surface aesthetic, this is easily one of the best keyboards out there. Not only does it feel great, but it also features biometric security, by including a discrete fingerprint scanner right next to the “Alt” key. It is an expensive device, but as with everything Microsoft, you can be sure you’re getting what you’re paying for.

Read the full review: Microsoft Modern Keyboard with Fingerprint ID

7. Leopold Fc660c

Interface: Wired | Switches: Topre electrostatic capacitive (45 grams)

Compact, but with arrow keys

Heavier than HHKB2

Leopold's Fc660c is more portable than the Realforce 87u, but less so than the lighter and more compact HHKB2. However, the Fc660c benefits from its extra heft and feels like the more solid board. Despite having the same 45 gram actuation force as the HHKB2, the Leopold's keys feel slightly weightier - somewhere nearer to 50 grams. It results one of the most satisfying 'thock' sounds on a Topre board.

This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the HyperX Alloy Elite

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8. Unicomp Classic 104

The ultimate keyboard for typing nostalgia

Interface: Wired | Switches: Buckling spring

Snappy buckling spring switch

Can lead to tired fingers

Remember those old IBM Model M keyboards? Well, that’s what the Unicomp Classic 104 seeks to emulate. Available in both USB and PS/2 versions, it uses a buckling spring switch that takes more effort to press than just about every other modern switch. You’re rewarded for this hard pressing with a tactile response that feels like the classic mechanical keyboards of old, along with a noise that will drive everyone around you mad.

9. Das Keyboard Prime 13

Mixing minimalistic style with premium quality

Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: White | Switch type: Cherry MX Red or Brown switches

Cherry MX switches

Pricey

Some keyboards just ooze class, and the Das Keyboard Prime 13 is one of them. Its features a solid aluminum top panel for added rigidity and a very minimalistic look. With Cherry's MX Red or Brown switches under the keycaps, you're given a choice between linear and non-linear offerings with a range of actuation points.

It's a great option for media enthusiasts thanks to side lit media control and the inclusion of white backlighting is another bonus. It's not the most affordable keyboard on our list, but if you're looking for something a little bit more premium, Das is the way to go.

10. Logitech K780

A great option for mobile device owners

Interface: Wired | Keyboard backlighting: No

Pairs to three devices

AA, rather than rechargeable battery

With its latest keyboard, Logitech is targeting smartphone and tablet owners who prefer to use their device while sat at a desk. And, if you were a fan of the predecessor, the K380, the Logitech K780 should be right up your alley, especially with its added number pad. This keyboard still has the ability to pair with three devices using Bluetooth or wireless, so you can swap between all your gadgets on the fly. And, thanks to its comfortable rounded keycaps, it’s still a pleasure to type on. The keyboard’s base is the star of the show, however, as it can hold mobile devices up to 11.3mm thick in an upright position. This places them within arms’ reach to make anything from replying to WhatsApp messages or reading a digital magazine easier than ever.

How to determine the best keyboard for you

It goes without saying that if you demand the look and feel only mechanical switches can provide, rather than those that are slim and stealthy, we suggest perusing our best gaming keyboards round-up instead.

Gamers prioritize the actuation that clicky feeling mechanical keyboards bring, whereas traditional home and office users are more about practicality. That said, the sheer magnitude of sound produced by a lot of mechanical keyboards is offputting to some. For those folks, we have some membrane keyboards to recommend as well.

Image Credit: TechRadar

Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article

No matter how great your overall Mac experience is, you can always improve it, and finding the best keyboard that suits your needs perfectly is an excellent way to start. When you find and buy such a keyboard, you’ll certainly wonder why you didn’t get it before. Same as many other Mac accessories, a good keyboard can really make a difference – you won’t be frustrated when typing, and you will increase your productivity. In this article, we are going to talk about the top best Mac keyboards, so keep on reading because you may find the one perfect for your needs.

See also: How to find the best mouse for Mac

What to consider when choosing a keyboard?

Browsing through the sheer number of best Mac keyboards available online may change the common notion that Apple doesn’t support third-party accessories. While the manufacturer is capable of making the most premium peripherals such as the newly launched Magic Keyboard, Air Pods and the unique Apple mouse, there are so many third party manufacturers ready to aid your usage scenario.

Apple follows a specific design pattern whereas you can get a similar, completely new experience from a Logitech keyboard or a cheaper alternative with additional features. The best part is that they make it pure white with a matte finish so that it easily syncs with the design aesthetics of your Mac setup at home or at the office.

Before we list some of the best Mac keyboards, let’s see the things you should consider.

Ergonomics

If you are spending hours working on your computer every day, your hands should be in a natural position when you are typing, which means you need to choose a keyboard with such a design. There are many great keyboards that come with the adjustable tilt and height and with such keyboard, you won’t feel any pain in joints after hours of work and you will feel comfortable when typing.

Type of keys

There are many laptop-style keyboards for Mac, and all of them look wonderful. However, many people simply don’t like these type of keyboards as it may feel strange when typing. If you are one of those people, the keyboard with the raised keys a much better option.

Wireless or wired keyboard?

You will have to decide if you want a keyboard with or without a cable. Wired keyboard is a much better option for gaming because with such a keyboard you will avoid lag issues that may occur sometimes. If you don’t like cables, wireless keyboard for which you need the USB port on your computer is the perfect option for you but don’t forget that you will need the batteries. Also, wireless keyboards are usually more expensive.

Features

Many keyboards today come with additional function buttons and media features buttons such as page up and down, volume up and down, browser button, mute button, just to name a few. If you don’t like such options, don’t worry, there are many awesome keyboards with just the standard QWERTY keys.

Best Mac Keyboards

The cheapest wired full-size keyboard

Mac allay Full Size USB Wired Mac Keyboard

After having spent thousands of dollars for your Apple Mac setup, you may probably want to save some money on your replacement keyboard. Although your mileage may vary, this is the cheapest full-size keyboard you can find for your Mac. The white design seamlessly syncs with your Macintosh and the full sized design allows you to get more things done, especially with the numeric pads being ideal for people in accounting.

The designers have implemented 15 Apple-specific shortcut keys to easily access all repeatedly used functions such as cut, copy and paste. There are also dedicated buttons to pause, play, increase or decrease volume in your iTunes. It is a wired keyboard and the low-profile key doesn’t produce any noise when you type.. For people who are largely addicted to Bluetooth, this may sound a bit off. However, if you are not interested in replacing batteries and like to keep it plugged in, this feature becomes useful.

Why should you buy this keyboard?

The full-sized keyboard includes a numeric keypad, making it easy for people into accounting to get things done faster.
It is USB wired version which ensures that you don’t have to worry about replacing batteries again.

See it on Amazon

Best Apple Keyboard

Apple Wired Keyboard with numeric keypad

If you don’t want anything but Apple, this ultra-thin keyboard is a perfect choice. It has a beautiful and stylish design, built-in USB ports, and low profile keys. To can access many different Mac features such as eject, volume, screen brightness, fast-forward, rewind, just to name a few. For many users, this is unquestionably one of the best Mac keyboards.

While there are so many amazing choices available, the Apple-designed Magic Keyboard for Mac is without a doubt the best product you could buy. The third party manufacturers do offer a similar white design with a compact footprint and some additional features like Solar charging that may not be available in the original version. It continues to stand out as the best made possible keyboard with Apple’s robust build quality.

The keyboard uses a scissor mechanism behind each key providing it more stability and posture when you type continuously. The key travel is very less that keeps it silent at all times and provides a precise typing experience with no wrist or finger fatigue. The built-in rechargeable battery lasts at least for a month before it needs to be recharged. This is a full-sized keyboard from Apple providing you the numeric keypad that is integral for accounting work.

Why should you buy this keyboard?

The Magic keyboard is made by none other than Apple that provides you brand assurance and design aesthetics.
The battery life is excellent and, it being a full-sized keyboard sweetens the deal.

See It On Amazon

Best Compact Keyboard For Mac

Anker® Ultra Compact Slim Profile Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard

Many users prefer wireless keyboards, and if you are one of them this beautiful, slim keyboard may be exactly what you have been looking for. It deserves to be on the list of the best Mac keyboards for several reasons. It is a lightweight keyboard, intuitive and very comfortable for typing. If you are not using the keyboard for half an hour, it will go into the power saving mode automatically. It is not only the perfect keyboard for your Mac, it is also compatible with iOS devices, Android, and Windows. Its price starts from $25.

Anker has meticulously designed this Bluetooth keyboard and they have come out with flying colors in making it ultra compact and slim. The Bluetooth keyboard doesn’t have a numeric keyboard and is so small that it occupies only two third of the space occupied by a traditional keyboard. Powered by a large 800mAh battery, it can run for nearly six months even if you use it for two hours non-stop daily.

Using a keyboard without a break is very difficult which confirms that it should easily last months and the Bluetooth is designed to automatically connect with the last device it was paired with. The Anker compact keyboard is also compatible with a range of Bluetooth devices including Mac, PC, Windows, iOS and Android. You can use it easily with your iPhone, Mac or an Android phone. Anker has also ensured that it is easy to type on this device with low-profile matte keys with the frame being sturdy in order to last long.

Why should you buy this keyboard?

The best compact keyboard that you could buy for your Mac
The battery life is reliable and lasts months on a single charge

See It On Amazon

A Mac keyboard with mechanical switches

Azio Mk-Mac Wired USB Backlit Keyboard with Brown K-Switch

Have you ever heard of a mechanical keyboard for the Apple Mac? If you haven’t, this Azio MK-Mac keyboard should put you on track. Mechanical key switches are popular among gamers and typists in the world of Windows computers. For Mac, it is a concept unheard of. But for the enthusiasts out there who want the best of OS X and input choices, Azio has an option. They have managed to retain the pure white color and used white backlights for the keyboard bringing it on par with any Mac-friendly keyboard out there.

While the product featured here is the USB wired model, you can also find the MK Mac BT with a Bluetooth setup for a slightly higher price. The keyboard features tactile brown k-switches which are non-clicky and doesn’t make too much noise. The MK-Mac Wired USB keyboard is exclusively designed for Mac with all Apple specific button layout including hotkeys for easy access. It also has a dedicated volume control wheel which should make analog lovers happy as you can increase or reduce volume on your iTunes music playback at will.

Why should you buy this keyboard?

Mechanical switches for Mac is a unique feature that sets this keyboard apart from the competition.
Azio has also maintained the Mac key layout and provides a physical volume control button enhancing the analog experience.

See it on Amazon

Best Mac Keyboard With Modern Design

Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch K811 Keyboard For Mac

Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch Keyboard with Bluetooth technology is specially designed for Mac. It has bright backlit keys for typing in a dark room. battery life is excellent. It is slim, compact and it has a beautiful, modern design. It can be used for iPad and iPhone as well. It provides enjoyable typing experience.

Logitech is primarily a peripherals manufacturer for Windows PCs but they are not giving up on the world of Mac and Apple devices. The Logitech Easy-Switch K811 is the best Mac keyboard you will ever need if you have already invested heavily into Apple’s ecosystem of devices. The Easy-Switch name comes from an actual switch found on this keyboard which allows you to seamlessly change between your Mac, iPad or iPhone to keep typing without interruptions.

The Bluetooth keyboard provides a solid range of up to 30 feet which allows you to keep it connected to multiple devices in the vicinity. The keys are all backlit, facilitating you to type in the dark and it also includes a rechargeable battery. The USB cable can be used to recharge it which should theoretically last at least a month of daily usage. Logitech has designed a unique keycap for the K811 which enables it to be whisper-quiet when typing and it also sports a Mac layout to let Apple fans use it seamlessly on familiar grounds.

Why should you buy this keyboard?

Logitech’s unique and useful easy switch technology allows you to change the connection between a Mac, iPhone or iPad easily. A must-have for people with multiple Apple devices.
Quite keys that are comfortable yet don’t make any noise during long typing sessions.

See It On Amazon

Other models worth buying

Best Ergonomic Keyboard For Mac

Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000

Best Third Party Keyboard And Mouse For Mac

This model has a cutting-edge design, and some of the key features are intuitive Zoom Slider, customizable hotkeys, and improved number pad. Typing on it is a pure pleasure, so if you want a keyboard from Microsoft, feel free to go for this one.

See It On Amazon

Best Wireless Keyboard For Mac

Logitech Wireless solar keyboard K750 for Mac

Best Gaming Keyboard And Mouse For Mac

If you like wireless keyboards, you will love this keyboard! Rely on the light instead of the batteries, because any light source will keep this keyboard charged. It delivers an enjoyable typing experience – you will type quieter, and faster. It has ultra-thin design and it comes with a familiar Mac layout.

See It On Amazon

Best Mac Keyboard For Fast Typing

Das Keyboard Professional Models S for Mac

It comes with ultra-sensitive tactile response meaning to type much faster with ease. Das keyboard has two-port USB 2.0 hub – you can connect USB compatible devices or charge your iPhone. There are Mac function keys included: play/pause, next and previous track, volume up and down, mute, brightness up and down, sleep etc.

See It On Amazon

Best Cheap Keyboard For Mac

Macally 103 key full-size USB keyboard

Best Keyboard And Mouse For Mac

This keyboard could be the right one for you since it is an inexpensive substitute for Apple keyboards. It comes with Mac OS X features and shortcut keys and LED indicator for power, Num lock and caps lock. Macally keyboard delivers outstanding typing experience thanks to the low-profile responsive keys. The price of this keyboard is under $15.

See It On Amazon

Best Keyboard And Mouse For Mac

Best Apple Keyboard With Long Battery Life

Matias Laptop Pro Keyboard for Mac

It is compact and easy to pack with great 1,600 mAh battery. The Mac-friendly function keys allow you to control the volume, brightness, and more. It connects to Android, iPad, PCs and other Bluetooth devices. It also has a great design.

See It On Amazon

Bottom line

Logitech Mac Keyboard Mouse

A whole lot of new products have arrived and choosing the best Mac keyboards could be a difficult choice right now. If you have a good idea of your expectation, it should be much easier to choose one. The Logitech keyboard uses an unconventional solar power while Anker offers the most compact keyboard you could find. There’s even a keyboard with mechanical switches and another one that connects with every Apple device. Pick your preferred one and enhance your Mac experience

These are some of the top best Mac keyboards you can get. When choosing a keyboard, don’t forget to consider the things we have mentioned at the beginning, such as ergonomics, type of keys, features, and so on. We have listed different types of keyboards here so that every person can find a perfect fit!

2020-10-18

Best Photo Calendar Template For Mac

Calendar Template
Numbers Templates For Mac Free

Many calendar templates are available for use in Excel. A template provides a basic calendar layout that you can easily adapt for your needs.

WindowsmacOSWeb

You can download calendar templates with useful and creative themes when you click File > New in Excel .

2018 Calendar Templates for Mac Pages / Apple iWork Download the landscape layout printable 2018 monthly Pages calendar template with US holidays. The template features large box grid where adding custom events into the day boxes of this Apple iWork document becomes an easy task. Shutterfly creates a calendar that has very good photo quality. The color, exposure, dynamic range and clarity is very good, and did the best job in balanc ing our diverse collection of photos.

Select Search for online templates, type calendar, and select the magnifying glass .
Click on a template that you are interested in and then click Create.



Which version of Excel are you using?

On the File menu, click New from Template.
On the rightmost-side, in the Search All Templates search box, type Calendar.
Pick a calendar template you want and click Create.
You can easily apply your own look to a calendar. Calendar templates are formatted by using themes that enable you to apply fonts, colors, and graphic formatting effects throughout the workbook with just a click. On the Page Layout tab, under Themes, select from dozens of built-in themes available in the Themes gallery or find options to change just the theme fonts or theme colors.
Important: Formulas exist in all cells that display a date, as well as in those cells in the date rows that appear blank. These formulas enable the calendar to update automatically. If you manually change the data in those cells, the calendar will no longer be able to update automatically.

Tip: You can also search for other calendar templates online. Downloaded templates are placed in a temporary folder on your computer. You may want to save a template to a different location immediately so that you can easily find it again later. To quickly find all calendar templates that are available on Office.com or on your computer, in the Excel Workbook Gallery search box , type calendar.

You can easily apply your own look to a calendar. Calendar templates are formatted by using themes that enable you to apply fonts, colors, and graphic formatting effects throughout the workbook with just a click. On the Home tab, under Themes, select from dozens of built-in themes available in the Themes gallery or find options to change just the theme fonts or theme colors.

Important: Formulas exist in all cells that display a date, as well as in those cells in the date rows that appear blank. These formulas enable the calendar to update automatically. If you manually change the data in those cells, the calendar will no longer be able to update automatically.

Create a single-page yearly calendar

Important: Formulas exist in all cells, including those cells that appear blank. These formulas enable the calendar to update automatically. If you manually change the data in the cells, the calendar will no longer be able to update automatically.

On the File menu, click New from Template.
In the left navigation pane, under TEMPLATES, click Time Management.
Double-click the One Page Calendar template.
Excel opens a new sheet that is based on the single-page yearly calendar template.
Click the cell that displays the year, and in the pop-up list that appears, select the year that you want.
When you make a selection, the calendar sheet automatically updates.
Note: To change the available years in that list, edit the data on the Lookup List sheet.
Save the workbook.

Create a multi-sheet monthly calendar

The multi-sheet calendar workbook contains twelve months in one workbook, making it handy for personal planning or for referring to dates for any year. You can add your own custom text in the taller cells beneath each date cell.

On the File menu, click New from Template.
In the left navigation pane, under TEMPLATES, click Time Management.
Double-click the Multi-Page Calendar template.
Excel opens a new workbook that is based on the multiple sheet monthly calendar template.
Click cell K1, and in the pop-up list that appears, select the calendar year that you want.
When you make a selection, the calendar sheets for all months in the workbook automatically update.
Note: To change the available years in that list, edit the data on the Lookup List sheet.
Click any taller cell in the calendar, such as the first available taller cell where you see 'Sample Text', and add your own information.
Note: If you change the year of a calendar that contains custom information, the custom information that existed in the calendar does not change cell location when the dates change.
Save the workbook.

Calendar Template

Share your calendar

When you're finished, print it out or share it online. You can do this with the calendar still open in Excel for the web. No need to save it first (that's already done for you).

Print it

To print it, press Ctrl+P, and click Print to see a preview. Click Print again to print the worksheet.

Tip: To print all the sheets in the template, click on each sheet tab and print them one at a time.

Numbers Templates For Mac Free

Share it

To share it online, send a link:

Near the top of the screen, click Share.
Under Share, click Get a Link.
Under Choose an option, click View only.
Click Create Link.
Click on the web address to select it, and then copy and paste it into an email, message, or post.

Tip: If you have a blog or website, you can embed a view of your calendar there.

Need more help?

You can always ask an expert in the Excel Tech Community, get support in the Answers community, or suggest a new feature or improvement on Excel User Voice.

Best Internal Blu Ray Burner For Mac Pro

There was a list of M-Disc compatible burners made by one of the M-Disc manufacturers, including if they would burn M-Disc Blu-Rays and DVDs, or just DVDs. Lemme try to find it again. I'm getting a 17' MacBook Pro in the next few months. I am having an internal blu ray burner in it. The 12mm standard slim drives will work, right?

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

The Rundown

Best Overall: Pioneer BDR-XD05B at Amazon, “Slim and lightweight Blu-ray writer that offers a great experience in a design that’s just 8.2 ounces.”
Runner-Up, Best Overall:Pioneer BDR-XS06 at Amazon, “Offers fast write speeds alongside an auto quiet mode to reduce noise.”
Best Splurge: OWC Mercury Pro at Amazon, “It’s capable of writing M-DISC DVDs and M-DISC Blu-rays, but it can also burn and play regular Blu-ray Discs.”
Best Write Speeds: ASUS BW-16D1X-U at Amazon, “This beautifully designed device is packed with features and is more powerful than most external Blu-ray drives.”
Best Budget:MthsTec Ultra Slim at Amazon, “Supports speeds up to 10x faster (5Gbps) over USB 2.0 (480Mbps) and no AC adaptor or drivers are required.”
Best for Macs: Sea Tech at Amazon, “A plug-and-play package that’s just 15.2 ounces and measures 8 x 7.4 x 1.9 inches.”
Best Design:Pioneer BDR-XU03 at Amazon, “Works with BDXL discs, Blu-ray discs and is backward compatible with DVD and CDs.”

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Pioneer BDR-XD05B

4.6

Released in 2015, Pioneer’s BDR-XD05B is a clamshell-designed (opens from the top) slim and lightweight Blu-ray writer that offers a great experience in a design that’s just 8.2 ounces. Measuring 5.24 x 5.24 x .58 inches, the XD05B offers premium and proprietary features such as PowerRead and PureRead to assist in the delivery of smoother playback of both DVDs and CDs. The Pioneer will handle write speed at 6x for a Blu-ray on one quad-layer BDXL disc that can store the equivalent of around 27 DVDs.

The inclusion of Auto Quiet mode allows for the reduction in disc rotation speed to reduce noise. It switches between both quiet and performance modes depending on your needs. Pioneer includes CyberLink software for Windows, which allows for Blu-ray playback. Unfortunately, the BDR-XD05B is only compatible with Windows software leaving Mac fans to look at alternative options for Blu-ray writing and playback.

Runner-Up, Best Overall: Pioneer BDR-XS06

Best Internal Blu-ray Burner Drive

The Pioneer BDR-XS06 external Blu-ray writer is a solid piece of technology that offers fast write speeds alongside an auto quiet mode to reduce noise. Auto quiet mode assists in noise reduction while listening to music or watching movies, as well as when setting it too high for faster data transfer.

Measuring 5.31 x 5.31 x .71 inches and weighing 5.6 ounces, the Pioneer is powered solely by USB connection via a computer. The drive itself supports BDXL format with storage for more data in the form of 156 percent more capacity than a 50GB dual-layer Blu-ray disc.

The inclusion of Toast Lite Software allows quick and easy burning from a Windows or Mac computer, although Blu-ray playback requires the separate purchase of additional software. Both portable and fast, the Pioneer offers 6x BDR on single and dual-layer discs as well as 4x max write speed on BD-R triple and quad-layer discs.

Best Splurge: OWC Mercury Pro 16X Blu-ray, 16X DVD, 48X CD Read/Write solution

If it’s speed you crave, the OWC Mercury Pro delivers, reaching write speeds up to 16X. It’s capable of writing M-DISC DVDs and M-DISC Blu-rays, but it can also burn and play regular Blu-ray Discs.

Housed in a single piece of aluminum, this drive has a sleek, but solid design and impressive build quality. On the back, you’ll find access to the USB 3.0 (backwards compatible with USB 2.0), power and Kensington lock slot connections. Along with the drive, you get applications including Smile DiskLabel and ProSoft Data Backup for Mac and NovaBackup for PC. While they aren’t the latest and greatest versions, they will serve you well nonetheless.

Best Write Speeds: ASUS Computer International Direct ASUS BW-16D1X-U

Measuring 9.6 x 2.5 x 6.5 inches, this beautifully designed device is packed with features and is more powerful than most external Blu-ray drives. The Mac- and Windows-compatible device can write up to 16X with BDXL support that supports data storage up to 128 GB. Using USB 3.0 technology, it enables data transfer rates up to 10 times faster than those offered by a USB 2.0 connection. On top of that, it doesn’t just read and write to Blu-ray discs; it also reads and writes to both DVD and CD optical media discs.

But what sets this drive apart from others? It comes equipped with CyberLink Power2Go8 software designed to streamline the burning process and protect private files, plus professional data backup software to ensure all your precious files are backed up sufficiently.

Best Budget: MthsTec Ultra Slim

The MthsTec Ultra Slim external Blu-ray player and DVD burner combo drive offers up a fantastic value (and a host of features). It weighs 10 ounces and measures 5.9 x 5.6 x 0.6-inches, making it par for the course in the Blu-ray external drive world. Fortunately, its size hides its extensive feature set.

Connecting to a computer via USB 3.0, the MthsTec supports speeds up to 10x faster (5Gbps) over USB 2.0 (480Mbps) and no AC adaptor or drivers are required. Overall write speed is set for a standard 6x (plus an 8x DVD-Max write speed), which means the MthsTec is backward compatible with older technology.

Best for Macs: Sea Tech

While all the Blu-ray external drives support Windows 7 to Windows 10 software, Mac support is a little more hit and miss. Realistically, Apple doesn’t officially support Blu-ray playback, but there are a host of third-party applications that do. As a CD/DVD unit, the Sea Tech aluminum external USB Blu-ray writer super drive is a plug-and-play package that’s just 15.2 ounces and measures 8 x 7.4 x 1.9 inches.

Released in 2012, the Sea Tech remains as perfectly viable today as it was back then, thanks to updated third-party software that provides a great viewing experience on both Apple desktops and laptops. Additionally, the Sea Tech provides support for M-Disc, which offers years of reliable data storage and playback. Write speed on the Sea Tech is an average 6x, while Blu-ray playback is a standard 2x speed. Unfortunately, there’s no auto-quiet feature to reduce the internal noise while playing or writing a disc, but that’s a worthy tradeoff for a drive that’s 100 percent compatible with Apple’s computer line.

Best Design: Pioneer BDR-XU03

Slightly expensive for its standard feature set, the Pioneer BDR-XU03 price is best understood when you consider the magnesium body design that’s both futuristic and functional. Capable of standing both vertically and horizontally, the BDR-XU03 weighs 8.6 ounces and measures 5.2 x 5.2 x .5 inches. Along with a 6x writing speed, there’s support for additional features such as auto-quiet mode, as well as USB 3.0 for faster data transmission between a PC and the Pioneer itself.

The BDR-XU03 works with BDXL discs, Blu-ray discs and is backward compatible with DVD and CDs. Additionally, Pioneer includes support for PureRead to help minimize sound glitches during music playback, which provides an error-free audio performance and even helps during movie playback. And if you have a green thumb, it's even eco-friendly because the smaller design also means reduced power consumption.

Tested by

How We Tested

Our reviewers spent six hours testing one of our readers' favorite external Blu-ray drives. To get the most comprehensive feedback possible, they connected it to their laptops to see how it handled everything from playing movies to burning discs. We asked our testers to consider the most important features when using this drive, from its speed to its design. We've outlined the big takeaways here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.

What to Look for in an External Desktop Blu-ray Drive

Writing and rewriting - The most basic Blu-ray drives are only useful for playing Blu-ray movies. If you want to burn your own Blu-ray discs, look for one that’s capable of writing or rewriting. Drives that can both write and rewrite Blu-ray discs are more flexible, but rewritable Blu-ray discs can’t store as much information as regular ones.

Compatibility - There are two compatibility issues to look out for with an external Blu-ray player: port type and operating system. Blu-ray players that support USB 3.0 transfer data faster, but that doesn’t help if your computer only has USB 2.0 ports. In that same vein, some external Blu-ray drives only work with Windows, others only work with Macs, and some can be used with both.

Speed - If you only want an external Blu-ray drive to watch movies, speed isn’t a big concern. But if you want to rip Blu-ray movies to your hard drive or burn your own Blu-ray discs, a faster drive will save you a lot of time.

Test Results: Pioneer BDR-XD05B (Best Overall)

4.6

What We Don't Like

Electronic open/close button didn’t work consistently
Not as compatible with Macs

External Blu Ray Burner

One of our testers summed up this external desktop Blu-ray drive as a “fast, flexible Blu-ray and DVD drive that has a few speed settings and also burns disks.” Our reviewers also liked that it was quiet: “The speed and quiet rotation definitely set it apart from the cheap external DVD drive that I used in the past,” one person said. While not necessarily a negative, our testers warned that this drive requires a more extensive setup with Mac machines. One reviewer also reported that its electronic open and close button didn’t work consistently.

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2020-10-18

Best Flight Simulator For Mac 2017

Be ready to fly with the best flight simulator 2017 in recent years. I hear you ask the microsoft flight simulator 2017 release date. Prepared infrastructure in 2016 and in recent months, resulting in the flight simulator x 2017 market, 2016 has managed to stand out brakarak technology rivals far behind. X-Plane is the most powerful and accurate flight simulator available for personal computers, but it doesn’t just run on Windows; the version of X-Plane sold here at X-Plane.com runs on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. In fact, X-Plane is developed primarily on Macs. In the past, we’ve called the Mac our secret weapon. DCS, best feel of flying with detailed physics, but the game is unfinished in terms of damage model and visibility for WWII planes. Gun effects, smoke and so on so forth is really poor, and this affects how you fly and pull the trigger. These effects are even less detailed than what you got with Combat Flight Simulator.

LevelSkip»

What is a flight simulator or flight sim? While you could say it's a video game, it is also so much more than just that. With so many options these days, it can be hard to decide what flight simulator, combat sim, or flying games to buy. You certainly can't always rely on advertisements. You can, however, rely on my opinion. I have nothing to gain by reviewing and recommending what I consider to be the best value flight simulators for your money that you can get right now.

Strike Fighters 2 and Expansions

Strike Fighters 2 and its expansions cover a vast period of time, and give access to the best planes on both sides of some of the major conflicts in recent history.

This small team actually deserve more publicity, so please check them out. They are supported by a wonderful community of 'modders' that create everything from scenery, to planes and entire campaigns.

Note: For a fully updated review and tons of great screen shots from the Flight Simulators series, check out my extended article on Strike Fighters 2.

SF2 Expansion Pack 1

New Features

Mission Editor
1956 Campaign set in Cold War Europe
All 3 original campaigns updated with new aircraft

New Aircraft

Lightning F.1/2/3/6
Hunter F.1/2/4/5
F-100A/C Super Sabre
Yak-23 (AI only)
Canberra B.2/6 (AI only)

Bonus Features

If you have Strike Fighters 2 merged:

Lightning F.53 (player flyable)
Canberra Mk.20 (AI only)

If you have Strike Fighters 2 Expansion Pack 1 merged:

MiG-15 (AI only)
Additional skins for C-47 and Spitfires
Meteor F.8 and Mystere IV units in 1956 Campaign

Also, stop the presses! Because:

TK and the team at Thirdwire have just release the hotly awaited F-14 based Strike Fighters 2 North Atlantic combat Flight Simulator. I have not had time to buy or play this one yet, but judging from the feedback in the official forums, it's going to be pretty popular.

Player Flyable Aircraft

F-14A Tomcat
A-7E Corsair II

Player Flyable Aircraft

F-100D Super Sabre
A-4B/C/E/F Skyhawk
F-4B/C/D/E/J Phantom II

SF2 Vietnam

F-100D Super Sabre
F-105D Thunderchief
F-4B/C/D/E/J Phantom II
F-8C/D/E/H/J Crusader
A-4C/E/F Skyhawk
A-7A/B/C/D/E Corsair II

SF2 Europe

A-7D Corsair II
A-10A Thunderbolt II
F-100D Super Sabre
F-105D Thunderchief
F-4C/D/E/F/M Phantom II
F-15A Eagle
Harrier GR.1/3
Hunter F.6/FGA.9

SF2 Israel

A-4E/F/H Ahit
F-4E Kurnass
F-15A Baz
F-16A Netz
Kfir C1/C2
Mirage IIICJ Shahak
Nesher

SF2 Expansion Pack 1

Mystère IVA
Meteor F.8
P-51D Mustang

Video: Strike Fighters 2 Vietnam

Video: The First Day of Six Days War, Strike Fighters 2 Israel

IL-2 Sturmovik

This one is huge! With IL-2 Sturmovik, we'll go back a few years in to World War II and some that never left the prototype stage. So, it's almost entirely prop-driven planes, with a few early jet and rocket examples. Its sequels—Forgotten Battles, the Ace Expansion Pack, Pacific Fighters, and 1946—all contain 347 aircraft, with over 250 of them flyable ones.

The best thing about this sim is that even though it's an oldie, the community has kept it alive through mods and new campaigns. The number of planes keep increasing with new maps all the time.
Some of the biggest mods are truly works of art. It would be a crime not to look at Ultrapack, Dark Blue World, and HSFX. These not only add new planes, campaigns, and maps, but they can also dramatically improve the slightly aging graphics—beyond all imagination!
You can mod in a smaller way by visiting 'Mission4today' and registering. There, you'll find patches, many user-generated missions, and even full story scripted campaigns.
Where can you get it? While it may sound like it's going to cost a fortune, you can purchase it from STEAM for under 10 euros! Or, if you need the security of a physical disk rather than a digital download, try Amazon.

This truly is one of the greatest flight simulators you can buy for your money.

Video: IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 Trailer

IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad / Moscow

More recently, the creators of WWI simulator Rise of Flight released IL-2 Battle of Stalingrad, closely followed by the Battle of Moscow. Cheap they are not, but the value represented is amazing!

Graphically, this is s stunning title. What I love about BOS is that it caters for newer players as much as the hardcore simmer crowd. There is a robust and lively multiplayer element as well.

As you might expect from the titles, there are predominantly German and Russian planes on offer here. Air to ground and air to air are both represented and a full mission editor is included in the deal.

The campaigns are simply brilliant in my opinion. There are so many small details that show a real love of the genre and indeed the history of these battles. Truly a next generation combat flight simulation, you owe it to yourself to jump headfirst into this great sim.

Time For a Montage

IL-2 Glory

Best Flight Simulator For Pc

Lock on Flaming Cliffs 2, DCS Black Shark, DCS Black Shark 2, and DCS A-10C Warthog

Below are some brand new, up-to-date, modern sims!

DCS and Eagle Dynamics are the new ones to watch out for in the world of combat flight simulators.

These are somewhat more 'hardcore' sims — as in they are going to take a lot of time to master. However, they both have an easier arcade mode to get you going. Also, graphically, they are absolutely astonishing! Both are so much more worth your money than certain other sims.

Over the past couple of years, we have also been treated to DCS Black Shark, DCS Black Shark 2, and Lock on Flaming Cliffs 2.

Black Shark covers helicopter warfare from the Russian perspective and lets you fly the Kamov KA-50 attack helicopter. It's rough, tough, low, and slow, but this thing handles like no other! Black Shark 2 is also now available, improving on the original in every way. Expect a full review soon.
Flaming Cliffs 2 gives you access to the A-10 Warthog (one of my favourites!), the F-15 Eagle, Su-27, Su-33, Su-25, Su-25T, MiG-29 and MiG-29S. A10-C is the third sim available right now — it is an extremely accurate simulation of the latest generation A-10.

Video: 'Edge' Black Shark, Air Combat Simulation: DCS

Video: Flaming Cliffs 2, (look how far we've come)

Flaming Cliffs 3

Flaming Cliffs 3 has just been released in beta form as the follow up to Flaming Cliffs 2. It is improved in every way possible. However, this also comes at a premium to those who have tried every version.

This is now no longer a stand-alone simulator. Rather, it has been fully integrated into the DCS world. It's a full combat simulation that allows control of land and air assets, and is also in a multi-player facet! Is it worth the expense? I think so.

Video: Flaming Cliffs 3

DCS World 2.0

DCS World is the latest update the the DCS series and my goodness there is a lot to cover! Think of it as a Hub of sorts, into which all the DCS modules you choose to purchase integrate. As of the time of writing there are no less than 22 modules in total, including some duplicates. Also available is the Nevada test range, adding hundreds more square miles to fly around in.

Add to this additional mission and campaign modules and you really do have a lifetime of flying to absorb yourself in.

The DCS World 1.5 edition is free and includes the Su-25T and TF-51D aircraft and a huge swathe of Georgia to fly around and blow stuff up in. That said, this is really quite hardcore, especially the additional modules. At around 50 bucks a pop, the modules are not cheap. Perhaps best to pick one or two and really learn the fly the plane and learn the systems!

Almost forgot to mention, there are different generations of warplane and helicopter here, representing the 1940's right up until modern day aircraft!

Rise of Flight

Rise of Flight is all about old school WWI bi- and tri-planes and also contains amazing damage model and graphics. There's also a feeling of really flying that many other sims are lacking and would kill to achieve. Best of all, there is a 'free to play' model in place now, so you can try it before you buy. They have recently added a career mode, field mods (think new sights and so forth), and you can buy and add on as many or extra planes as you wish, or none at all.

You do need to invest some serious time to get the most out of this sim, and, of course, a fairly powerful PC. I would also recommend a decent joystick with throttle, I personally use a Saitek X52, which is available from Amazon.

The multiplayer version is vibrant, but somewhat hardcore. A lot of practice is needed before venturing into the online battlefields.

Video: Rise of Flight: Multiplayer Dogfight

IL-2 Cliffs of Dover

IL-2 Cliffs of Dover, or CLOD for short from here on in. Where to start with CLOD? Well, it's a Battle of Britain era sim, raging across the southeast part of Britain—across the channel and into Northern France. You get to fly from both sides of this epic battle.

This is was a controversial title at launch. The game was released in a completely unfinished state and few if any PCs were strong enough at the time to get more that 10 frames per second, rendering the game unplayable to most folk. However, with much thanks and gratitude to the community this game has gotten a whole new lease of life. A recent patch made CLOD Windows 10 compatible and the guys over at ATAG (the air tactical assault group) have released no less than 4 community patches that completely and utterly re-invigorated the game and made it a firm favourite of mine.

Combat Flight Simulator Mac

It's cheap enough, available on Steam and with the free community patches and even re-written campaigns, this combat simulator finally deserves a place in every armchair pilots library!

Video: IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover

Wings of Prey

Wings of Prey is a flight simulator set in various theaters in World War II. This is the PC version of IL-2 Sturmovik 'Birds of Prey.'

In terms of the plans you can fly, there are the usual suspects, and some slightly more unusual ones as well.
The campaign takes you from the White Cliffs of Dover, to the Mediterranean, into Russia, and then through the invasion of Germany. This means that you get the pick of the best planes the Allies had throughout the war.
It has an 'Arcade' mode, which gives you unlimited ammo, makes it easier to shoot stuff. It also doesn't punish you with blackouts or red outs.
There are a couple of other settings, so you can tinker with it and get the set up just right for your experience.
You also get a number of planes to crash and burn with and get shot down in. So, it's not a case of 'Oh, bugger. I got shot down 25 minutes into a mission and now I have to start again.' Unless of course, you want it to be. In which case, go for the simulator setting!

Falcon BMS

Wow! Talk about value for money. This one if a FREE add on to the existing Falcon 4 combat flight simulator. Graphically, this one is amazing, it has a great illusion of speed, and my oh my, is it chock full of complicated flight systems to learn!

I have only had it a few days, and it has already impressed me enough for me to throw my support behind it fully. Remember, these guys are the heroes of the community, doing so much, and asking nothing in return!

Only thing to bear in mind is you will need the original Falcon 4 to play.

Falcon BMS 4.32

In Closing

Thanks for reading to the bottom! There is a lot of (hopefully) useful information here, and I try my best to keep it regularly updated.

Best Flight Simulator For Mac 2017 Keyboard

Please remember to support the people who make the magic. Flight simulators are not as popular as they used to be. I accept that. However, if those of us who like to fly support the right people, then it can continue. All I have done in this article is give my opinion on who to support, who not to support, and why they do or don't deserve it.

Please make sure you money goes to the people intent on keeping our hobby alive. Regardless, I hope you enjoyed my opinion on the best combat flight simulators!

Free Flight Simulator For Mac

Paul you should buy Clod on Steam it works well on 10 and now with DX11. Team Fusion has put together a good sim with much more on the horizon.
Many squads from old 46 and other sime shave found a home in the 1940 era simulation . It is not easy to learn but very rewarding once you get the hang of everything and Every squad out there will be glad to help you along. Great community and Strong support. Our squad TWC has a site you can visit with a forum and videos of actual game play www.twcclan.com. This this Simulation is in its second infancy with much more to come. Best 24 bucks you could spend for what you get! Salute: Fatal
I have Windows 10. Found an OLD MS Combat Flight Sim, Europe Series in a box in the garage. Windows 95, 98 and NT 4.0 compatible. Can't get it to function and would LOVE to fly again. Seems the program will load but won't support a Thrustmaster T-Flight Stick X. Should I find someone to beat it into submission or should I spend the $$ on a new Combat Flight Sim that will work on W-10 and support the joystick? And, if a new game is suggested (and I prefer the WW-II theater) is the IL-2 OK for a novice and old fart who is NOT computer savvy?
Thanks, Michael. I really enjoyed the read through your review. Need to get back to having some fun.
Nice list !
It's also important to know which sim has VR support :
DCS World
Il-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad/Moscow/Kuban
IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover (soon with DX11 support)
can you tell me the price - and whether it is windows 10 compatible?
dcs has the a10c
also some servers will have the a10a which is used in flamming cliffs
Dan - get DCS on Steam - you can then get add ons. it is from the same makers of lock-on.
I was hooked on JANES USAF back in the day when I had a Win-XP machine. I now have Win10 and can't find any decent flight sim that has a relatively modern jet fighter in it. I particularly loved flying the A-10 against ground targets. Win10 compatibility is key. I know that Lock-On will not even boot up for me on Win10. (Bummer.) Any advice to offer?
Would it be possible to put links to these games? I didn't see any and I'm especially interested in CLOD that will run on Windows 10. I'm finally getting a powerful enough computer where I think these will run and I want to make sure I get the one that has the patches (or patches available). This would really be appreciated!
How is Warbirds doing these days? My favorite sim by far 15-20 years ago, with an amazing community.
DCS products are very buggy and inaccurate with the only exception of Ka-50. Every update causes more bugs than those that tries to solve.
Rise of Flight got biased and the crew nerfed a whole bunch of rotary engined planes to please the inline engines crowd. Some planes were ludicrous nerfed to the point of not being flying worthy. Don't waste your time with this game it unless you are not serious about competition, history and honesty. And they nailed the last nail to their coffin with it. The servers just emptied after. They did not take it seriously and not only disrespected the players who favored rotary engined planes, but they disrespected the legend those planes carried with them over the war.
DCS, best feel of flying with detailed physics, but the game is unfinished in terms of damage model and visibility for WWII planes. Gun effects, smoke and so on so forth is really poor, and this affects how you fly and pull the trigger. These effects are even less detailed than what you got with Combat Flight Simulator. It is a very good simulator for sightseeing and getting to know the plane. I have a few modules and never really got hooked by it because I am into dogfight. They don't seem to care about these issues and the game is already almost a decade old, so it will die with these problems.
Il-2 BOS has so many problems that would not fit in this post. No wonder its servers are always empty besides the Russian ones. It seems it did not impressed the US and Western Europe markets.
In fact, besides Cliffs of Dover that I never played (due to the bad rep), there is really no good combat flight simulator for piston driven planes out there. Who knows, maybe in the future.
Digital Integration's Tornado. But only if you (1) enjoy 1993 flat-shaded polygon graphics; (2) relish spending 1 to 2 hours planning a multi-plane coordinated mission, using the best Mission Planner ever, and 20 minutes flying the mission; (3) don't have a super rig PC to fly all those scrumptious flight sim games listed above by MM. Frankie 'TornadoMan' Kam.
Been out of the sim world for some time.Just wondering if any of these new games give hard kills when you shoot.The one thing I hated about Il2 was that you could sit behind a Lagg3 pumping 20mm into it and they would just keep on and on.Also unless you flew in auto mode you could NEVER catch up with any other aircraft including the other 109's in your squad.
It would REALLY be nice which of these actually run on Windows 10, 8 etc etc.......
DCS World, Flaming Cliffs 3 and Falcon Top! The rest is arcade
I'm looking to find out what the best flying games are. I noticed there are a lot of games and a lot of opinions. I'm looking more towards arcade style games though, with multi-player LAN or split-screen (no online only). The following is a list of what I came up with thus far with a few sims added to make a more rounded collection. What would you consider to be the best arcade style flying games?
Ace Combat 4 (aka Distant Thunder)
IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 (V4.13.2) (SIM) (or BIRDS/WINGS OF PREY CE for ARCADE)
Crimson skies: High Road to Revenge
Secret weapons over Normandy
Falcon 4.0: Allied Force + BMSv4.33U1 (SIM)
Snoopy Flying Ace
DCS: A-10C Warthog + Black Shark 2 (HARDCORE SIM)
CFS3 FirePower + Wings Over Flanders Fields (SIM) (turn all the realistic settings off for ARCADE)
These are some other games that could also be on the list:
AeroWings 2: Air Strike (SIM)
Birds of Steel (SIM/ARCADE)
Warhawk
Flight Simulator X GE (SIM)
Airfix Dogfighter
Warthunder
World of Warplanes
Tom Clancy's HAWX
Aces High. Extremely hard to master and a great community.
Hello, Well I must saythat if you have not played Cliffs of Dover with the Team Fusion Mod you are missing outon one of the best sims out there.
Given the fact that it is a small theatre, the joy it gives flying multiplayer in large bomber formations being protected by fighter wings is a treat.
Up to 100 people playing at the same time, team speak for your squadrons, cannot get more real than that.
I have read so many content on the topic of the blogger lovers but this post is actually a nice post, keep it up.
Aces High. Realism and extremely good aircraft modeling. Hard to master but very satisfying.
Long Live Falcon 4.0 BMS
Aces High II. It's a great game. Right now it's having a graphics overhaul. I can't wait to see it when it's complete.
S Coogan
i am very good at flight sim. but i got a combat joystick yesterday and i want to know what is the most accurate flight sim is.
CLOD or Cliffs of Dover has been modded so heavily that it is currently KING of the WW2 flight sims.
I would LOVE you to try out version 4.0+ and review that! http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/ is a good place to start
Personally I would recommend Aces High2.
By HiTech creations.
Open sandbox multi player hundreds on line fighting each other,taking bases,fighting in ground vehicles over vast terrains.
Amazing flight models for a vast choice of WW2 aircraft. Its difficult to begin with but any thing good always is.
It has a great community of worldwide souls from all walks of life.
if you want to pit your wits against other human foes in WW2birds this game is for you.
Try it . I bet you'll like it and it's free for practising and then free for 2 weeks in the main arenas.then a monthly fee which is great value for money.
I don't know why it's been overlooked in this review because it out classes all the other games listed above.
See you in the skies
Salute JimmyC
It is not a plane, but the best one ever made is ' Janes Longbow 1 and 2'
The best flight simulator is Tom Clancys H.A.W.X.
Free multiplayer driving and flight simulator. Explore realistic locations, drive around and meet people. Built with Google Earth API.
hi what about
J.A.S.F - Janes Advanced Strike Fighters?
thanks
Andreas and those of you interested in a real simulation PC driven only true physics true hit boxes and damage modeling air combat simulator, then look no further than Cliffs of Dover. I am not a salesman but it is $10 and there is no jump into instant action you must spend time just learning to get a plane in the air. Combat pilots learn to fly first.I bet a full 95 out of 100 of you reading this won't get in the air your first honest try, for it is a simulation first and a combat simulator second.Wonderful support from the community and many squads to join in and fly like it was done in 1940 no icons no moving maps wind turbulence all the effects and beautiful to fly and when you think your ready put on your big girl pants and come get some in the axis vs allies server ::S::
I am surpriced that you didn't mention War Thunder? easily the best Flying Sim ever!
How come OFF (Over Flanders Fields) was left out. Unlike Rise of Flight, OFF got the WW1 air war story line right historically plus great planes and scenery.
I have both flaming cliffs 2 and il2 1946, but if I had to pick, it would be 1946 for sure. The modding community is great, and it's free multiplayer. I would guess that I have about 400 fly able aircraft. Deffinantly the best sim I have ever owned.
cliffs of dover WWII with the new team fusion mod...brillant
Try out this one guys, im sure that you you will not be disappointed http://storify.com/AirWaspTornado/new-wwii-tactica...
I am looking for any (real) flying sim with a great online experience, be that airplanes from today or the WW2 era.. I am happy with WT but I do feel that there's something missing and that they may be a bit off when it comes to realism, like you just said. Any help here will be much appreciated and to me, online combat is very important, going back to fighting AI just won't cut it for me.
Regards,
Andreas (AceRevo @ Warthunder)
You guys should check out Star Citizen. A AAA PC space sim with dogfighting that is being entirely funded by crowdsourcing!
Hi people !
really good site ! Nice an civilized discussion and excellent reviews. Thanks !
OH, and Total Air War 2. Free. I don't run it quite as often as I used to, but that's worth checking out, as well. Flaming Cliffs is cool, but never really holds my attention as much as the study sims.
Fixed Wing:
Falcon BMS... Fantastic. You could get everything you want here. Perfect stereoscopic. Great avionics. Flight model that is among the best.
DCS A-10... Don't have it, but haven't heard anything bad about it.
And Janes FA-18 still has what it takes and might eventually get 32bit color support.
Helo:
DCS Blackshark 2... strange channel damping characteristics and quirky yaw, but best flight model for a combat helo sim.
Comanche Gold. Dumbed down and miniaturized version of everything, but doesn't do anything terribly wrong.
LB2 is too glitchy on modern systems and the rockets don't work right. Not really worth it, unfortunately. Fun if you have a lot of time to blow and you don't mind CTDs and losing your game. Shallow but inoffensive modern AC/AH flight model.
And then EECH is waaay down on the list, in spite of all their avionics and eye candy mods. The flight model is terrible on it, possibly worse than on the original release, and the terrain is a spoofed 2D format that can't do stereo. Arneh's wheel suspension is notable, though. EE2 fixes the graphics but keeps the terrible flight model. It's amazing that even with the source code being available, no one has ever improved the root coding of the flight dynamics.
All good stuff but I like World War II online to be honest. It has something none of these games have, and that is you can fly axis and allied fighters, bombers, and transport aircraft, in an immersive compbined arms fight, against ground units, against other fighters, providing CAS/CAP in a very large map (europe). Most flight sims are sandbox, and may offer some limited multiplay, but nothing like what an MMO can deliver. So for me it's still World War II online in terms of simulators.
You missed the best combat flight simulator there is: Aces High 2. Its multiplayer and its costs 15 a month but its aircraft are modeled on the real flight characteristics of ww2 planes. It is addictive and hard but satisfying. There is a free 2 week trial.
If you're reading this…you should try Flightgear for FREE :) Helpful tutorials available at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Helpful-Tutorials-fo... as well to help you get started!
Strike Fighters looks delicious. I always had some interest in IL2 and MS Flight Simulator X. However, my mid range PC doesn't allow me to enjoy it the way i want to.
Thanks for a great article, ill certainly keep these titles in mind.
I'll second your opinion. I made the mistake of falling for the ProFlightSim ad, and then found out they were just re-packaging FlightGear. Not only that, but their '4 bonuses add up to more than $530 in retail', are all free downloads on the internet. I'm in the process of getting a refund right now...
Thanks for the advice and the warning! Plenty of cheaper options by the looks of it

2020-10-18

Best Bible App For Mac

Youversion Bible App For Mac
Best Bible App For Mac
Online Bible For Mac
Best Bible App For Windows
Best Bible App For Mac
Bible Software For Mac

The Bible is the most read book in the world, and tiny Bibles with microscopic text have always been popular because of their portability. But, now, today, thanks to ultra-portable devices like the iPhone and iPad with their awesome Retina displays, and apps like Olive Tree's BibleReader, the Bible is more portable and easier to read than ever.

If you search for Bible in the App Store, you will be flooded with an overwhelming amount of app choices, from good to bad to just plain different. There are so many that it's almost impossible to figure out which one to get. So I went on the hunt for the perfect Bible app. It had to gorgeously rendered, packed with features, highly customizable, and run perfectly smooth. And I kept coming back to Olive Tree's BibleReader for iPhone and iPad.

Olive Tree BibleReader is a universal app for the iPhone and iPad, but I will be using screenshots of the iPad for this review. The iPhone version has the exact same features as the iPad version.

This ranking is based on a metascore aggregation of other ranking lists and offers the best of the best in study apps. From free apps to those that cost a few dollars, you’ll find the perfect app for your specific study needs. Pastors who want Bible software is a niche market and fewer of those pastors will buy a program like BibleWorks due to their failure to offer a mobile app and because of the following reasons No Native Mac App – the company’s Mac app is a WINE port. Accordance Bible Software is a powerful Bible study tool for Windows, Mac, iOS & Android. Whether you are a pastor looking for a sermon prep tool, a scholar studying biblical languages, or a serious Bible reader wanting to go deeper, Accordance can take you to the next level!

Youversion Bible App For Mac

The integrated in-app store

Included in all of the Olive Tree Bible apps is an integrated store where you can buy more books including other version of the Bible, commentary, reference materials, devotionals, and more.

All books that you purchase will be synced to your Olive Tree account so that you can download them to another device at no additional cost or re-download them if you accidentally delete them or need to restore your iPhone or iPad.

Split screen UI

One of the really neat features of BibleReader is that you can split your screen into two panels. If you're using BibleReader in portrait, the screen will split horizontally, and when in landscape, it will split vertically. In each panel, you can have any of the books you have in your Olive Tree Library.

Here's a few different situations that one may find the split screen to be useful:

While at church, your pastor has one main passage that he's covering, but also references other verses. You can use one panel for the main passage, and the other to browse to the other verses.
You want to compare two different versions of the Bible side-by-side -- basically converting BibleReader into a parallel Bible.
You want to read another book, like a devotional, while having your Bible open to reference at the same time. Or maybe the Bible is the main book you want open, and you want to have easy access to a reference book.

If you don't want the split screen, you can simply slide the one you don't want off the the screen. This is also nice in case you want the split screen, but not the entire time. You can keep your secondary book open in the second panel, but keep it hidden until the moments you need it.

You also have control of where on the screen you want the split to take place -- it doesn't have to be directly down the middle.

Navigation

It's no secret that Bibles are huge and that people don't typically read them from front to back like other books. Often times, someone is looking for a specific book, chapter, or even verse in the giant book, so having a good navigational system is extremely important for a Bible app -- and Olive Tree has nailed it with BibleReader.

The 'Go To' button at the upper-left of the screen is how you navigate to a specific section of the Bible. Tapping it will pop up a menu that lists all the books of the Bible in chronological order. You can also pull it down to discover a search field that allows you to type in the verse. It does recognize abbreviations, so, for example, '1 Cor 13:4' will take you to 1 Corinthians 13:4. You can also choose to see the books of the Bible displayed as a grid with their abbreviations.

Another trait that most Bible's have are superscripts that reference other relevant verses. In a printed version, you would check the bottom of the page to check the reference, then flip to the verse. With BibleReader, you simply tap the superscript and a list of all the verses associated with the nearby superscripts will appear. Tapping on one of the verse references will navigate to that verse right inside of the popup. It's very cool. You can then either read it in the popup, or choose to have it opened in the main or split window.

Highlights, underlines, and notes

People love marking up their Bible with highlighters, underlinings, and notes -- BibleReader lets you do all these things.

To select a verse, you simply tap on the verse number. Or if you want more or less than one verse, tap your finger on a word to select it, then drag the handles to extend your selection. You then see a popup of choices: copy, highlight, note, bookmark, or share. These choices are pretty self explanatory.

Highlights in BibleReader are so much cooler than with physical highlighters. You can choose for your highlights to have a traditional look, or you can customize the intensity, color, and highlighter style. For underlining, you can have the underline look like it was made with either a thin highlighter or with a pen. You can do this every time you add a highlight, or you can create your favorite looks and save them for quick access.

When you create a note, a little note icon will be placed in front of your selection as an indicator of there being a note present. Tapping the icon will popup the note.

Customizations

One of the great features of Olive Tree's BibleReader is that its look is very customizable. The default look is very traditional and easy to read, but if you want to change the font type, size, color, or background, you can. Want the words of Jesus to be in something fun like pink or green? Not a problem!

You can set different customizations for each of the three different window types: main screen, split screen, and popup.

Which version?

Olive Tree has many different Bible versions available in the App Store and making a decision on which one to buy can be a big overwhelming if you don't know which version you want, or if you're interested in more than one version. The good news is that since each app allows you to sync your Olive Tree library, it ultimately doesn't matter which one you choose.

If you are only interested in a specific version, I recommend just buying that one as it will be the quickest way to get it on your iPhone or iPad.

The most confusing part of the available apps is that it isn't clear what the difference is between the free Bible+ version and $0.99 BibleReader version. BibleReader includes the ASV, KJV, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, and Jamieson, Faucett, and Brown Commentary. Bible+ comes with ASV and KJV and the Matthew Henry’s concise commentary is available for free in the integrated store. The Jamieson, Faucett, and Brown Commentary is also available, but not free. So, to sum it up, the main difference is that BibleReader comes with The Jamieson, Faucett, and Brown Commentary.

The other difference is, of course, what it will be named on your Home screen. For example, since I purchased NIV BibleReader, the icon on my Home screen is called NIV BR.

The fact that there are so many apps is confusing and overwhelming. If you're at a loss, I recommend just downloading the free version and browsing the in-app store for what you want to purchase.

Best Bible App For Mac

The Good

Content is stored locally to your iPhone or iPad, so an internet connection is not required
Highly customizable
Lots of highlighter and underlining options
Two pane UI is very convenient.
Keep notes and customizations synced between devices
Universal for iPhone and iPad

The Bad

Too many apps to choose from. Would be less confusing for users if there was only one app.

The bottom line

Olive Tree's BibleReader is a fantastic Bible for your iPhone and iPad. The Bible has always been one of those books that I wanted to continue to read in print because of how much marking-up I like to do and I always thought it felt more personal. Since discovering BibleReader, it's the only Bible I ever read. I even bring my iPad to church and make notes and highlights into the app while my pastor gives his sermon. And not to brag or anything, but I can also navigate to verses faster than anyone else with BibleReader on my iPad.

Bible+, Free - [Download Now](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bible?at=10l3Vy&ct=UUimUdUnU14065YYw /id332615624?mt=8&at=10l3Vy&ct=d_im)

BibleReader, $0.99 - Download Now

NIV BibleReader, $9.99 - Download Now

All Olive Tree Bible Apps - App Store dev page

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Screenshots

Description

Designed for deeper Bible study, join over 4 million users on “The Bible Study App.” Learn from great scholars through thousands of resources including commentaries, maps, and dictionaries all available off-line. If you like to highlight Bible verses, take notes, bookmark passages and have everything sync to all your devices, then this is your Bible Study App.
OVER 4 MILLION HAPPY BIBLE+ USERS
'I highly recommend you give Bible+ a try.' - ZDNet.com
'I feel confident investing in Bible+.' - About.com
'I love this app! The direct linking to reference material, notes, bookmarks, etc. makes this even better than my favorite printed bible.' - iPad user
CLOUD SYNC
Sync your Bible study resources, bookmarks, notes, Scripture verse highlights, and book ribbons between any device with Bible+.
POWERFUL RESOURCE GUIDE
With our one-of-a-kind Resource Guide, you can perform powerful searches through your entire Library of Bibles, Bible commentaries, Bible dictionaries, and more.
OFF-LINE BIBLE STUDY
Your library, notes, highlights and all of the app features are stored on your device so that you have full functionality when you are offline or in airplane mode.
FAST VERSE NAVIGATION
With our unique 3-touch Verse Chooser, you can navigate quickly and easily to the exact Bible verse you want.
SPLIT-SCREEN BIBLE STUDY
The split-screen view allows you to open two books at once to compare Bible translations, view your study notes while you read the Bible, or follow along with a commentary while you study Scripture.
PERSONAL BIBLE STUDY
* Bookmark verses
* Highlight words and passages
* Take notes that can be tied to Bible verses (like margin notes in your paper Bible)
* Organize your Library of Bible resources
* Tag anything to find it quickly later
* Leave a book ribbon on a page in order to pick up where you left off
* Select and copy text from any Bible or book in your Library
HUNDREDS OF BIBLE STUDY RESOURCES
The Olive Tree collection of Bible study resources is constantly growing and offers over a hundred FREE resources and over a thousand titles available for purchase.
POPULAR BIBLE VERSIONS
* NIV, NKJV, ESV, NLT, NASB, The Message, Amplified, HCSB, NCV, Complete Jewish Bible, JPS Tanakh
* Best-selling study Bibles: ESV Study Bible, NLT Study Bible, NIV Study Notes, and more
* Bibles with deuterocanonical books: NABre, NRSV and RSV
* Non-English Bibles: Reina-Valera, Traduccion en lenguaje actual, Dios Habla Hoy , Luther Bibel 1984,
Schlachter, and Elberfelder, Louis Segond, and more.
* Original language Bibles: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (Hebrew Old Testament), Greek New
Testament (NA27), UBS-4, Septuaginta
* Strong's Dictionaries, and KJV and NASB with Strong's Numbers
* Commentaries and Study Tools: Dake’s Study Notes, Jamieson, Fausset and Brown (FREE); Matthew
Henry's Concise Commentary (FREE); Expositor’s Bible Commentary; Vine’s Expository Dictionary

What’s New

This update contains a quick fix for the split window. Other than that, it's small bug fixes like usual around here!
Are you enjoying the app? We'd love to hear your thoughts in a review.

4.2K Ratings

Love it on my phone, tablet and laptop

This app works on all my devices and I use it every day. I love the reading plans, Bible Translations and study resources (love the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge). Great app to use for linking translations to Greek and Hebrew using Strong’s Concordance. Love the notes available like Dake’s.
Update: January 31, 2018 - I read a review where the reviewer said the resource window was slow to update on the Mac OS X version. I use this app on my MacBook Pro (maxed out memory for better performance in general) and I’m not seeing what I would call “slow” response in the resource window updates as I change verses. I use the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge regularly and find the response to be very good as I scroll through verses and click on the TSK cross references to read the related verses. I also use Strongs and commentaries where I get the same good response. It’s not instantaneous, but the updates happen in under 2 seconds. Performance can be affected by other apps open at the same time and the amount of available memory. I do have to watch one particular website (LinkedIn) in Safari - if that is open then CPU utilization is high and performance degrades. I would suggest using “Activity Monitor” (you’ll find this app in APPLICATIONS/UTILITIES) to see what is using resources if you experience performance issues.

Excellent Structure - It’s What You Make It!

Over the years I have tried numerous Bible Study Programs, lots of them. Some cost hundreds of dollars. But even the most expensive isn’t as versatile and buildable as this one. They provide you with the basic program and you can build it to be exactly what you want it to be. Yes, there are many in App purchases that can be made - but there is a wide assortment from which to choose. You can spend very little and have an excellent quick access study tool, or you can build it as you go into a complete research tool on a scholarly level. It is what you make it to be! I have a very thorough program set up now, that helps me greatly in my graduate and post-graduate studies. And I can always add more to it if I want to keep building it. It is a very valuable study tool where I can have a room full of research books without the physical shelves to have to file them on. It’s all on my computers. I can access it on my desktop, laptop, iPad, or even my iPhone from anywhere! It’s like having my study with me at all times. If you’ll give it a try, I’m sure you’ll see that it will enhance your Bible studies in an awesome way.

Good but needs a refresh… STILL.

Its been nearly 18 months and no update for the MAC/PC version? Love the app its just that the improvements seem to be a bit slow in coming at present. The ios version is stellar these days - the Mac version is good but could use a bit of a refresh maybe.
UPDATE - Still no real change in the MAC version to date. In particular, when I change verses, the resource window is slow to respond. Also, if I search for a word or phrase, there should be a way to move that search to the main window but instead I have to retype the reference in on the main window. The non iOS version just isnt as elegant and smooth to use as its mobile counterpart. I use my MacBook and my iPads evenly so theres a clear distinction on UI, ease of use between them. Love the iOS version and tolerate the MAC version at the moment. Hoping for a refresh soon.
UPDATE TO THE UPDATE - STILL STILL no real change. It’s functional enough but the same issue continues: You do a search and its a side window thing! Changing versions, using the resource guide etc. are all MAIN window functions predominately but the minute you do a search you have this wrangling to do if you want to research deeper. Just feels convoluted. I’d switch to a different app but I’m heavily invested in their ios versions so here I stay, for the meantime.

Online Bible For Mac

Information

Size

74.7 MB

Compatibility

OS X 10.10 or later, 64-bit processor

Age Rating

Rated 4+

Best Bible App For Windows

Price

Free

Best Bible App For Mac

Supports

Bible Software For Mac

Family Sharing
With Family Sharing set up, up to six family members can use this app.

2020-10-18

Best Mac Apps For Students

Study Apps For Students
Best Mac For College Student
Best Mac Apps For Elementary Students
Best Mac Apps For Students

How to Choose a Laptop to Last Through School

If you're a student, a laptop is as essential as your textbooks and school ID—and not just because of your school work. It should also be able to handle your big extracurricular activities: keeping up with your social networks, streaming movies, listening to music, posting photos, gaming, video chatting with the 'rents back home. And of course, the best laptops for college students need to last for the long haul, preferably through four years of undergrad and maybe a year of grad work.

Lucky for you, we have a bunch below that fit that description perfectly—and since most of them are below $1,000, they won't drain your savings account. Here are the basics you should keep in mind while looking for a laptop for college.

First Off: Research Your College

The first, and most important, thing to do is check with your school for specific system requirements. They may have hard-and-fast hardware recommendations. (Or not.)

Some colleges and universities want their students equipped with Windows-based laptops, to cut down on software incompatibility issues or to keep technical support concentrated on one platform. Others don't care which operating system you use, whether it's Windows, macOS, or even Linux if you're a hard-core type. Some institutions have on-site computer repair centers that service only laptops purchased from the university or an affiliated computer store on campus; using one of these facilities, the turn-around time will be much quicker than if you were to send it overnight to the original manufacturer.

Also note that most schools offer price breaks for particular vendors and include extensive software bundles, which can shave off a good amount from your laptop purchase. So you might want to look into the campus store as a first shopping destination, before you hit your local superstore or favorite online seller.

Keeping It Light: Why Weight Matters

Study Apps For Students

Not every student will agree, but depending on how far you'll haul it every day, a big-screen notebook may not be such a good idea.

It's nice to have a mini home theater in your dorm room or play the latest games in big-screen 1080p glory, but a 6-pound-plus laptop with a 15-inch or 17-inch screen will be a chore to haul across campus while you're running from class to class. You're better off with something that's light: If screen size matters less to you than convenience, a super-thin ultraportable might be the way to go.

For most people, a maximum 13- or 14-inch widescreen panel is ideal, as it will make room for other items in your backpack and minimize the weight burden. Depending on your tolerance level, a smaller display works as long as you understand that full webpages and productivity applications will involve more scrolling, and fonts will appear smaller than they do on larger screens, assuming the same resolution and zoom level.

The Best Note Taking Apps for Students. Thorin Klosowski. It has a consistently improving interface on Windows and Mac, and mobile apps on Android and iOS. Sometimes the best notes app is no. But deciding which Mac is the best for students can be tricky. Some of this depends on what type of student you are, and of course your budgetary arrangements will be a significant factor.

Essays, research papers, and chatting online with your classmates will take up most of your computing time, so a full-size keyboard and a comfortable touchpad are crucial. Also know: When you venture smaller than a 13-inch-class laptop, you run the risk of not getting the same typing experience. The easiest way to ensure that you have the best keyboard is to stop by a brick-and-mortar store and spend some time typing on prospective choices of different size classes.

If you do decide to buy a smaller, less expensive laptop, it's probably worth investing in a standalone keyboard you can keep at home or in the dorm for when you need to do a lot of typing. A desktop monitor you attach via HDMI could be a nice complement, too.

How Much Power Do You Need?

Laptops offer a wide selection of processors across both budgets and usage cases—you can choose one that maximizes performance, or one that favors battery life. Or you can select one that plays to both strengths: Intel's latest 'Kaby Lake R,' 'Coffee Lake,' and 'Whiskey Lake' Core CPUs (all various forms of 8th Generation Intel processors) confer the benefits of both power and battery efficiency.

If you desire all-day battery life, and spend almost all of your time in a web browser, you might want to consider going with a Chromebook. These typically run on low-powered processors (Intel Celeron and Pentium chips, in most cases), but these CPUs suffice for the kinds of workaday online tasks that Chromebooks excel at. (More about Chromebooks in a bit, below.) If performance, on the other hand, ranks high on the list, a Windows 10 or macOS machine with an Intel Core i5 or Core i7 CPU gives you the most oomph.

Note that not all Core i5 and i7 chips are created equal. The ones ending in 'H' or 'HQ' are the highest-performance chips, typically found in larger gaming-focused and power-user laptops, while the ones ending in 'U' are efficient, low-power CPUs meant for use in thinner, more portable machines. More performance means more heat generated, which generally means the more substantial the chassis and supporting gear needed to cool the chip.

If you like playing games in your downtime, you might want to splurge on a more expensive gaming laptop. Most general-purpose machines, especially at under-$800 prices, won't have the kind of discrete graphics chip (GPU) necessary to make the hottest AAA game titles look good and play smoothly. But if you hunt around a little, you can find gaming laptops these days starting at around $700 with a decent Nvidia GeForce GTX or (less commonly) AMD Radeon RX GPU for playing games at 1080p and moderate or better settings. (See our guide to the best cheap gaming laptops for lots more about budget GPUs, and about how to buy just enough gaming machine for your needs.) A powerful GPU can also help in certain high-end and scientific applications that can benefit from GPU acceleration, but, like a high-powered processor, they also feast on the battery.

The good news is that, in most other cases (unless, say, you're an architecture major with a heavy reliance on CAD software), integrated graphics solutions should suffice for the day-to-day tasks you'll face. This is the graphics silicon built into the processors of most budget and midrange laptops. Today, that overwhelmingly means some form of Intel integrated graphics: Intel HD Graphics, Intel UHD Graphics, or Intel Iris or Iris Plus graphics. Our reviews will detail their comparative performance levels, but none is a match for even a moderate dedicated GPU.

Storage Solutions: SSDs Are Tops

With the increasing prevalence of cloud storage and web applications, having plentiful local storage space is somewhat less vital now than it used to be, but you should still make sure that your laptop meets your needs. If you plan to install a lot of programs or want to hang on to lots of large media files, you'll need 500GB of space or more. If you don't foresee needing all that local storage, or are content with leaving a lot of your work online, you can get by with a laptop with less space.

Whichever way you go, remember that storage affects speed, too. If you go with a hard drive because you get more storage for less money, know that it will be noticeably slower than a snappy-feeling solid-state drive (SSD). The higher cost and lower capacity of a faster SSD is a trade-off that some students are willing to make. We strongly recommend SSDs for laptops that are carried around campus a lot, since they are impervious to drop damage. Plus, they are a lot faster than hard drives and give a laptop a much snappier perceived feel.

The good news is that by plugging an external hard drive into one of your laptop's USB ports, you can add more space whenever you need it. Although you probably won't have to do this unless you're a video junkie or an aspiring filmmaker, it's a good option to have.

Gamers may want to take an altogether different view. With many AAA game installations topping 40GB or 50GB each, a small SSD can get eaten up fast. You'll want to think about that before you buy a machine, say, with a 256GB SSD alone, or at least be prepared to swap games on and off the drive as you complete them.

Best Mac For College Student

Battery Life: How Long Must It Hold Out?

A sizable battery can be your biggest ally on a day filled with classes and extracurricular activities. A few school-oriented laptops come with multiple battery options. Most, though, have only one—and it's not removable.

In this case, figure out where battery life ranks in the grand scheme of things. If removable batteries are an option (increasingly they are not, alas), it might be a good idea to get a second one, or a larger 'extended' one if available, at the time of purchase. The more 'cells' the battery contains within a given model line, the better the battery life.

A big battery can mean some heft, but the weight gain is well worth it if it means leaving the system unplugged from dawn until dusk. This is where our reviews come in especially handy; we've tested every laptop that passes through our labs for battery runtime with nonstop video playback, so you can get a good idea of relative endurance between models.

What About Chromebooks?

In the past several years, we have seen a strong push by Chromebook manufacturers into the education market. Chromebooks themselves have gone from being glorified netbooks running the Chrome OS to laptops that are still web-centric but have a relatively full feature set. If, like many schools, the one you're attending puts its coursework in the cloud, a Chromebook can offer you much of the functionality of a regular laptop, and it may deliver longer battery life.

It will also likely cost you a lot less than other types of notebooks. Chromebook prices typically run between $200 and $300 (although higher-end models can go for as much as $1,000). Just be sure you have ready access to constant, stable Wi-Fi, as there is scant local storage on these systems, and you have to plan ahead to use them effectively offline.

PC gamers, of course, won't find much use for one of these laptops; they only run Chrome OS apps and (in the case of most recent Chromebooks) Android apps from the Google Play store. But a Chromebook can also be a good, inexpensive second laptop you carry around campus to take notes, while your beastly gaming rig (or desktop gaming PC, for that matter) hangs back at the dorm or at home.

(In the market for a Chrome OS laptop? We've rounded up today's best Chromebooks.)

Consider a Hybrid: 2-in-1s for School

In recent years, a new category of laptop has emerged. Hybrids, also known as 2-in-1s, are capable of functioning as traditional clamshell-style laptops when you need them to, but can transform into tablets when that's a more convenient form for what you're doing. Some (generally called convertibles) sport a folding design that flips the keyboard out of the way, usually by rotating all the way around its hinge. Others ('detachables') allow you to dock a tablet/screen portion of the PC with an accessory keyboard for laptop-like functionality.

A budget 2-in-1 might be just what you need to fill a number of roles. One thing to be mindful of: If you are considering a detachable 2-in-1 design, make sure the keyboard base is included in the price. In some cases, it is; in others, it is an added-cost accessory that will bump up the price, sometimes by more than you'd expect.

See How We Test Laptops

What About Windows 10 S Mode?

You probably won't run across Windows 10 S Mode in your shopping travels, but it's good to know what it is, since it's most often encountered in education environs. Microsoft's new student-centric version of its operating system is a locked-down version of Windows, aimed at preventing malware from being inadvertently downloaded. It's compatible with any app in the Windows Store, but it doesn't allow third-party Windows programs unless you convert your laptop to full Windows 10 Home or Pro. You can easily switch to the full version of Windows 10 using the Microsoft Store app, but a fee may apply, depending on your device, and you won't be able to go back to Windows 10 S once you convert. Also, this version of the OS supports only the Edge browser.

Windows 10 S Mode comes preloaded on portables like the Microsoft Surface Laptop (a $999 ultraportable model with a target placed firmly on the backs of Apple's line; the newer Surface Laptop 2 ships with straight-up Windows 10) and the consumer versions of the Microsoft Surface Go.

A Word on Warranties

Almost every laptop you might buy today is backed by at least a one-year warranty on parts and labor. Extended warranties are also available, but whether they're worth it depends on who you are as a user.

For starters, know that the standard warranty doesn't cover accidents that stem from a spilled drink or a drop on concrete. Most manufacturers sell accident coverage as a separate plan, on top of extended warranties that supplement a standard one, so you might end up spending close to $300 for three years of coverage. Apple offers a maximum extended warranty of three years ($250), while some makers of Windows laptops will offer up to four years.

In our opinion, if the warranty costs more than 15 percent of the total laptop price, you're better off spending the money on backup drives or services that minimize downtime in case something does go awry. Of course, you can't put a price on peace of mind. In rare instances, the logic board or the display—the most expensive pieces of a laptop—can fail and cost you in repairs half of what the laptop is worth. Faulty components usually break down during the first year; anything after that is probably more about regular wear and tear.

Ready for Our Recommendations?

So, what's the best laptop to get for school? True, there are ever more choices on the market today, and slogging through them can be daunting. No worries, though: We did the work for you. Scroll or swipe down to check out the hottest laptops to grace the dorm room, college classroom, and campus quad for this school year.

Best Mac Apps For Elementary Students

For more general factors to look for when shopping, check out our overall top laptop picks, as well as our favorite budget notebooks. And for more shopping advice for school, visit our Back-to-School Tech Guide.

Best Laptops for College Students Featured in This Roundup:

Dell XPS 13 (9380) Review

MSRP: $899.99
Pros: Compact and classy. Beautiful rose-gold-and-white color scheme. 4K touch screen. Two Thunderbolt 3 ports plus USB-C.
Cons: No HDMI or USB Type-A ports. 4K display isn't the best for battery life. Loaded models get pricey.
Bottom Line: Dell moves the webcam to where it always should have been, fixing one of the very few faults of the drop-dead gorgeous, highly capable XPS 13. Earning our highest recommendation and a rare five-star rating, the XPS 13 (9380) is, indisputably, the best ultraportable laptop you can buy.
Read Review
Acer Predator Helios 300 (2019) Review

MSRP: $1199.99
Pros: Unbeatable gaming performance for the price. Solid build. 144Hz display. Good port selection. Seamlessly integrated component monitoring and boosting.
Cons: 256GB of storage restrictive for gaming. Brief battery life.
Bottom Line: Performing like a pricier machine without skimping on build quality or features, Acer's 2019 Predator Helios 300 delivers excellent value. It's our new top pick among entry-level gaming laptops.
Read Review
Apple MacBook Pro 13-Inch (2019) Review

MSRP: $1299.00
Pros: Thin, light, and stylish. Excellent trackpad. Long battery life. Brilliant display. Two Thunderbolt 3 ports.
Cons: Relatively expensive, even in starting config. Limited connectivity for peripherals in lower-end models. Polarizing keyboard lacks vertical travel.
Bottom Line: The 13-inch MacBook Pro is Apple's best ultraportable laptop, thanks to stylish looks, an excellent touchpad, and long battery life.
Read Review
Asus VivoBook S15 S530UA Review

MSRP: $699.99
Pros: Thin, light design. Slender bezels. Hinge with lifting action works well. Plenty of ports. Comfy keyboard. Fingerprint scanner.
Cons: Poor webcam quality. Awkward touchpad.
Bottom Line: A svelte laptop with thin bezels, lots of color options, and a unique hinge design that keeps it running cool and quiet, the Asus VivoBook S15 is a winner for students and casual buyers alike.
Read Review
HP Chromebook x2 Review

MSRP: $599.99
Pros: Elegant detachable design. Spiffy screen. More lap-friendly than tablets with kickstands. Strong performance and battery life.
Cons: Expensive. No backlit keyboard. Mediocre cameras.
Bottom Line: It could use a $50 or $100 price cut, but HP's pioneering Chromebook x2 detachable joins Google's $999 Pixelbook as the elite of the Chrome OS field.
Read Review
HP Envy 13 (2019) Review

MSRP: $749.99
Pros: Low price. Sleek metal styling. Handsome 4K touch screen.
Cons: No HDMI or Thunderbolt 3 port. Not suited for gaming despite discrete graphics.
Bottom Line: If you can live without a Thunderbolt 3 port, you'll find HP's Envy 13 a stylish alternative to 13.3-inch ultraportables costing hundreds more.
Read Review
Lenovo Yoga 730 (13-Inch) Review

MSRP: $799.99
Pros: Thin and light. Comfortable keyboard and touchpad. Two Thunderbolt ports. Quick charging. Good everyday computing performance.
Cons: Slightly bulky in Tablet mode. Screen bounces in Laptop mode. No SD card slot.
Bottom Line: The Lenovo Yoga 730 convertible laptop is a small but worthy iteration on its already-excellent predecessor, with better computing performance and a subtle redesign.
Read Review
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 Review

MSRP: $999.00
Pros: Compact, trim design. Superior build quality. Exceptional battery life. Sharp touch display.
Cons: Limited selection of ports. Performance isn't quite as fast as some competitors. Touchpad clicks are loud.
Bottom Line: Much the same as the original, Microsoft's Surface Laptop 2 remains a sleek ultraportable with a top-notch build, a stellar screen, and a very long-lasting battery. Add a port or two, and it would be a superstar.
Read Review
Acer Nitro 5 (2019) Review

MSRP: $879.99
Pros: Solid 1080p gaming and a giant display at a low price. Room for storage expansion. Decent webcam.
Cons: Lackluster screen. No SD card slot or Thunderbolt 3 port. Hard-to-read keyboard.
Bottom Line: For less than $900, this 17.3-inch version of Acer's Nitro 5 bargain gaming rig plays top games at top quality settings at close to 60fps. Its screen is merely adequate, but the laptop as a whole is a great value.
Read Review
Apple MacBook Air (2019) Review

MSRP: $1099.00
Pros: Thin, sleek, and light. Excellent design and build quality. Large, accurate touchpad. Very long battery life. Fingerprint reader.
Cons: Humdrum performance on benchmark tests. Very short key travel on a polarizing keyboard. Limited port selection. No touch screen.
Bottom Line: The 2019 edition of Apple's MacBook Air is cheaper and has a slightly richer feature set than its solid predecessor, making it a decent ultraportable for buyers who won't perform many resource-intensive computing tasks.
Read Review

In the last few months we focused on getting DEVONthink 3 ready for prime-time and so it had become a bit quiet around DEVONthink To Go. Today, version 2.7.2 has passed Apple's review.

Best Mac Apps For Students

Our maintenance release brings the sync mechanism on par with DEVONthink 3, makes its handling of indexed items consistent to the Mac, and brings back the sync status sheet. Change the stacking order of PDF annotations and, finally, view highlight annotations added with DEVONthink on the Mac. If you're a Bookends user you can now link to items stored in your favorite references manager using the Bookends URL scheme. (more)