Category: Buying Guides

Apple is known for designing its products to support each other. This can be seen in how integrated their products are with each other, which manifests clearly in Apple’s native tracking application, Find My. Find My allows you to track all compatible Apple devices signed into your iCloud account and included in your Family Sharing setup.

Another feature that takes advantage of Apple’s excellent cross-device integration is Universal Control. This feature lessens the time you take switching between your Apple devices. For example, you’re working on your MacBook, and you need a file from your iPad. You can simply drag and drop the file you need using your MacBook’s trackpad to navigate your iPad. What’s better is that Universal Control isn’t limited to two devices, but three.

With notable features making Apple gadgets easier to use, it’s time you find additional devices and accessories that’ll complete your Apple ecosystem. Here are five products we recommend:

1. 16-inch M1 Max MacBook Pro

The M1 Max is currently Apple’s most powerful processor, with 10-cores of CPU power and a GPU with up to 32-cores. The beefy Apple silicon is made even more powerful by 64GB of unified memory, making it a good MacBook for heavy video rendering and software development tasks.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro is built to be compatible with Apple’s latest integration feature, Universal Control, so that you can work between your other compatible devices without a problem.

2. iPad Pro 12.9-inch

Apple’s latest addition to their iPad Pro line are the 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Both come with up to 2TB of storage but differ in size, display quality, and battery capacity.

The iPad Pro 12.9-inch is powered by Apple’s M1 chip, which you’ll also find in their latest generation of MacBook Airs. The M1 chip has an 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores. In addition, it has an 8-core GPU with up to 16GB of RAM.

The 12-9-inch iPad Pro is fully compatible with Universal Control, so you can conveniently include it in your productivity arsenal and have no issues transferring what you need.

3. iPhone 13 Pro Max

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is Apple’s fastest iPhone, with the A15 Bionic chip and the Pro camera system with Telephoto, Wide, and Ultra Wide modes. It’s also 5G capable, making it fast enough to connect to the internet and support your online tasks without an issue.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max is fully compatible with Universal Control, so working alongside your iPad and MacBook is made extremely convenient.

Lastly, it’s compatible with Apple’s MagSafe accessories, making charging up this smartphone a hassle-free experience.

4. Apple Watch Series 7

The Apple Watch Series 7 currently has the biggest display out of all Apple Watch models released in the previous years. This made it an even more competent smartwatch because users who aren’t fans of smaller displays benefit from its upgraded viewable area.

The retina display also has an always-on feature, so you don’t have to repeatedly tap on your watch to see the screen.

5. MagSafe Duo Charger

As Apple continues to develop MagSafe-supported devices, the MagSafe Duo Charger becomes even more relevant. It allows you to conveniently charge your compatible iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, and other Qi-certified devices without the trouble of plugging into a charging port.

With the MagSafe Duo Charger, you can just lay your device on top, and you’ll get the juice you need for your devices.

Every year, we get thinner, more powerful, and of course, more expensive computers. Manufacturers are racing to be the first in new designs and capabilities so they can capture the hearts of consumers. Whether you use a computer for office-purpose or gaming — there is a perfect computer out there for you.

Brands have been in this game for so long, that they already know what we want and need.

If you’re in the market for your next computer, the holiday season is the perfect time to score the best deals on your next machine. Holiday shopping isn’t all about small gifts now — it’s about time we treat ourselves (or our loved ones) to a new shiny gadget.

Don’t worry, we’re not going to bombard you with sponsored brands and models of computers that came out this year. In this article, we’ll list the best computers based on what type of user you are. A gamer, a casual user, or a professional? We have a computer recommendation for you.

Ready to score your next computer? Read below and take your pick:

1. MacBook Air

The first one in Apple’s line of computers to run without Intel, the MacBook Air M1 hits the sweet spot from every possible angle. From its known portability because of how light it is compared to the MacBook Pro and non-Apple computers, it’s also one of Apple’s most popular laptop models.

Compared to other Macs, the Macbook Air is not expensive. It’s light, has many features, and is easy to use. You’ll see students use MacBook Airs often because they can take it anywhere without breaking their backs and banks.

Of course, we know you’d love to know the techy stuff about the Air M1. Click here for all the technical specifications you could want.

Looking to buy the MacBook Air M1? Weigh your needs first. What will you be using it for? Do you do photo and video editing often, are you planning to use it for gaming? 

If you answered those two questions with a yes, then you’re better off with a MacBook Pro or a Windows gaming laptop since both can better handle those tasks. 

2. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15

Interested in a computer for gaming? Let’s look at the computer that’s best capable of running the latest titles. 

A good example of a modern title is Ubisoft’s action-adventure first-person shooter, Far Cry 6. It’s a hardware-demanding game and, as a gamer, I know you’d want nothing but the smoothest gaming experience. Especially with a title that’s as immersive as Far Cry 6.

That’s why ASUS’ ROG Zephyrus G15 would be the perfect computer option for you.

Its base model is powered by the RTX 3050 GPU (exclusive to laptops) with the Ryzen 9 5900HS the processor. 

With a base processing speed of 3.1 GHz, you’ll have enough juice to launch your games faster and keep up with fast-paced titles like Riot Games’ first-person shooter Valorant.

Of course, a beefy GPU and a fast processor are nothing without a top-of-the-line display panel. With the Zephyrus G15, you get a 15.6-inch 1440p display. 

If you play a lot of first-person games, you’ll be satisfied with the display’s 165Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time.

Worried about colors and sync? The display panel is IPS and AMD FreeSync-enabled. No dead colors and screen-tearing. Only the best gaming experience possible.

Is this laptop only for gaming? No, it can be used for a wide variety of tasks.

It’s powerful enough to run hardware-demanding software used in photo and video editing, so you can’t go wrong with the Zephyrus G15.

3. MacBook Pro

Are we talking high-end photo and video editing? We can’t forget 2021’s MacBook Pro.

Apple’s October event introduced the remodeled MacBook Pro. The 2021 line added the 13-inch Pros to the MacBooks family. 

The base model, MacBook Pro 13”, still has the M1 chip from the Air M1. The processor revamps start when you look at the 14” and 16” models. They’re powered by the upgraded M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, which sports up to 10 cores of processing power.

When it comes to graphics, the new Apple chips boast up to 32 cores of display processing.

Since storage is a big factor for photo and video editors, we’d like to highlight that the maximum configurable storage for these new MacBook Pros goes up to 8TB. Depending on the usual size of your work, this might be enough. If not, an external storage drive is always an option.

Despite the upgrades on hardware, the new MacBook Pros remain light. The base model weighs 1.4kg. The heaviest is the 16” model, which weighs 2.1kg.

4. Dell XPS 13 2-in-1

If there’s anything I’ve learned in technology, it’s that brands will find a way to combine things that make consumers happy.

Remember when tablets became popular? Today some of them are powerful enough to function like computers, but not so much that they can replace computers.

That’s how 2-in-1s came to be. Just a few years back we couldn’t imagine folding a laptop backwards without breaking it. Today, laptop screens can be rotated 180 degrees.

If you’re into the quirky features 2-in-1s have, Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is a great pick. It’s powered by an 11th Generation Intel Core i5 CPU and an Intel Iris Xe GPU. The processor is good enough to handle day-to-day office tasks and browsing, but when you want to play modern titles using this 2-in-1, you won’t have an ideal gaming experience.

When it comes to the XPS 13’s display, you get a 13.4-inch touch panel. Unlike traditional laptops, its display can be used in a variety of ways. Turn and spin (carefully) to your comfort and you can rely on it to keep working when you do so.

Storage-wise, it has a PCIe NVMe SSD. SSDs are known to be faster than HDDs by a mile. And being in a PCIe lane with NVMe further shoots this convertible laptop’s storage speed ahead of HDDs.

Weight is a big factor for laptop fans. To guide you, this one weighs 1.32kg. A pretty common weight for modern Windows laptops.

Takeaways

Depending on what you want a laptop for, you’ll be better off with a MacBook or a Dell laptop. It all really depends on what you’re planning to use the laptop for. 

If you’re not the best when it comes to computers, sales representatives at computer stores will be more than glad to assist you with finding the best computer for you. 

Just tell them what you intend to use the computer you’re looking for and they’ll be ready with suggestions.

Whatever your choice ends up being, we wish you happy holiday shopping!

We’ve all noticed that many people gain immense popularity through live streaming content on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and others.

Live Streaming has become so popular that almost every social media platform out there allows users to stream content live.

If you’re looking to become an “online streamer” or are just interested in exploring this part of the digital world, it’s crucial to find the best equipment possible without breaking the bank. 

So before you run out and buy some fancy camera equipment, we’ve rounded up the best live streaming phones for you to consider:

1. iPhone 13 Pro Max

Aside from being a flagship product of California tech giant Apple, iPhones are known to have excellent camera quality. Every new model that comes out has an upgraded camera that makes your photos and videos look even more professional.

2021’s iPhone 13 line is no exception. The best model out of the three variants, the iPhone 13 Pro Max, boasts a 12 megapixel (MP) camera system that comes with unique features such as telephoto, wide, and ultrawide lens.

The picture quality can capture videos up to 1080p without high-dynamic-range imaging (HDR). The smartphones of today can take pictures at a quality level never seen before. So you don’t need to spend $5,500 on a new camera when a smartphone can capture high quality images, fit in your pocket, and not completely break the bank.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max also offers HDR video recording with Dolby Vision that can capture up to 4K at 60 fps. Talk about sharp and lag-free videos! Worried your live stream might be shaky? This smartphone’s camera has cinematic video stabilization for videos with 720p to 4K.

2. Huawei P30 Pro

Of course, Apple has competitors that are doing their best to compete with Apple’s high quality products. One such company is Huawei. With their P30 Pro, you get triple lenses equipped with Superzoom, 40MP sensor camera, and 20MP wide-angle lens.

You don’t have to miss a thing with this unit’s brilliant camera. They coupled its high-quality camera with a big screen, so you can see everything that’s happening!

Today’s phones boast excellent battery capacity and Huawei made sure not to forget this feature in the Huawei P30 Pro. This beefy battery capacity of 4200 mAh will make sure your live stream does not suddenly end without allowing you to say goodbye to your viewers.

Plus, you’ll have no problem live streaming videos in low-light with this phone. Huawei cameras are known for performing well even in bad lighting conditions.

You can record up to 4K at 30fps with this well-rounded Android-powered unit. What’s more, it costs significantly less than Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro Max.

So if you’re looking for a high-quality and affordable (at least when compared to the 13 Pro Max), Huawei’s P30 Pro line is worth looking into.

3. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra, released January 2021, can’t be left out. It’s currently Samsung’s best smartphone camera, with a 108Mp rear camera and 3 other rear lenses that have up to 12MP of clarity. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra will take your live streaming to the next level.

Worried about the resolution of your livestream video with this phone? You don’t have to be. It can take up to 8K at 24fps! That’s the highest resolution on our list, and if you love razor-sharp videos, the S21 Ultra is definitely for you.

If you want to ensure your live streams have high-quality and are lag-free, then you can record 4K at 30fps videos without a problem.

The length of your stream shouldn’t be a problem with Samsung’s newest phone. It has a 5000 mAh non-removable battery that can let you stream videos for as long as your heart desires.

All in all, it may not be as cheap as our Huawei P30 Pro contender, but the price increase is definitely worth paying for if you want high quality livestream videos.

4. Google Pixel 5

If you don’t follow tech news, you might not be aware that Google isn’t just a search engine. It’s also a smartphone manufacturer — and a good one at that.

While the competition in the smartphone market is tough, Google surely benefits from its household popularity. Their smartphones have undeniably high quality standards, and that shows with the Google Pixel 5.

The Google Pixel 5 is a lightweight and comfortable smartphone with an ultrawide 16MP main camera. You can record up to 4K at 60fps with this Google smartphone. That quality will allow for clear livestream videos, especially if you want all the details in the frame captured perfectly.

It also has a 4080 mAh battery that will ensure that your livestream sessions are not cut off too soon.

Google may not be the first brand that pops in your mind when you think of the best smartphone cameras, but they’re worth a look.

5. OnePlus 8 Pro

One of the Chinese tech company’s most well-rounded and popular smartphones, the OnePlus 8 Pro, packs a powerful main camera that lets you shoot at 48MP or 12MP.

It also has a 119-degree field of view, which should be wide enough for your wide-capture livestream video. We know this is important when you want to stream landscapes.

You also don’t have to worry about the battery capacity of the OnePlus 8 Pro. It has a 4510 mAh battery that offers wireless charging! If that beefy battery isn’t enough for your livestream and interactions with your viewers, then the wireless charging feature should help.

What else should you consider when looking for a phone for live streaming?

Aside from the image quality of your live streams, one thing you also have to consider is the size of the screen, storage space, and battery capacity.

Battery capacity

There are numerous smartphones out there packed with cameras powerful enough to produce lag-free clarity, but in order to produce those kinds of videos to your viewers, battery life takes a hit.

So in looking for a smartphone for live streaming, it’s important to consider the battery capacity of the cell phone you want to use and if they offer convenient charging features such as fast and wireless charging.

We all know it’s not easy to livestream if you constantly have your phone plugged into a power bank or a wall socket.

Storage

If you’re streaming on a social media platform, you might think storage isn’t a factor for the device you’re using to live stream. But it actually is.

Your phone needs to store temporary data or you may also want to save your live stream in real-time so you can play it back for review, edit it for another video, or to save for future use.

Since your videos will be high quality, that means they’ll take a lot of space on your smartphone. That’s why you need a large storage capacity or you could run the risk of losing a recording when the cell phone’s free space runs out. 

Screen size

Another thing that’s notable with today’s popular smartphones is the screen size. With every release, the viewing area gets larger and larger. 

But not every phone with an excellent live streaming camera comes with decently sized screens.

You need your screen to see what you’re currently showing in your livestream and to also see what your viewers are saying in the comments section. If you’re not using another phone to view comments and reactions, you definitely need a smartphone with a big screen for streaming content.

Takeaways

We all see thousands of people sharing their daily lives online. There are people who prefer perfectly curated photos, videos, and there are the ones who like to stream content live.

The best phone for streaming with good resolutions can vary depending on what your other needs are aside from sharp image quality. Your budget, activity, and the content you want to stream will be major factors in searching for the perfect phone for live streaming.

Don’t grab the phone that only has the highest MP. You might risk suffering from mediocre battery life, small screen size, and small storage capacity that’ll make your live streaming experience difficult.

Look for a smartphone that has the right balance of image quality, battery life, and storage space. Make sure to look around for brands that sell phones with the specifications perfect for your needs and don’t be afraid to try new brands!

Who knows? You might find the live streaming community’s next best smartphone for livestream videos.

Now that many companies have transitioned to part-time or full-time remote work environments, you’re probably wondering what computer you should get yourself to help you work better. You might also use a computer for hobbies like gaming, drawing, recording podcasts, or editing videos.

But the problem lies in picking between a Mac and a Windows PC. It’s an age-old rivalry, Mac versus Windows PC. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, but when you line the two up, which comes out on top? 

There is a laundry list of specs and subtle differences between the two computers, but today we’ll be focusing on three: Design, Repairs, and Portability.

What do you need a computer for?

When selecting between different types of ANYTHING, it’s important to consider what the needs are and what computer is best suited to your preferences. 

In this case, it’s a computer you’ll use for your day-to-day work.

There are different employees with different needs, especially when you’re in an industry that needs specific hardware and software to be taken properly.

If you work with hardware-intensive software like Adobe’s Premiere Pro, Photoshop, CorelDRAW, and others, you’re bound to buy something that can run these programs without an issue.

But if you mostly use Microsoft Office and your browser for research and writing, you’re better off with something that meets basic spec requirements. Something that can run 2 to 5 tasks without lagging.

Now decide

After making a mental list of what you’ll need in a computer or what you want to use it for, the choice should be easy. If you’re not good with computers, it’d be best to consult with co-workers or your supervisor/boss.

In the Mac spectrum, there are high-spec MacBooks that are upgradable but come with hefty sales, upgrade, and repair prices. The upside to the price of Mac computers is that many users tend to stick with one Mac product at a time for YEARS.

You’ll see people using the same Mac computer for 3 to 5 years before getting themselves a new one. That says a lot about quality, right?

For Windows PCs, you can rely on variety and affordable prices. There are thousands of brands (both good and bad) producing Windows-based PCs at ideal prices for you. Top those prices with upgradability, and you’ll be using a pretty decent unit for 1-3 years.

The downside to Windows PCs, however, is that they tend to encounter more hardware and software issues than Macs. There are driver issues, errors you don’t know how to fix, slower operating speed due to decaying parts,lack of storage, and many other issues.

But because Windows PCs have more flexibility when it comes to upgrades, it means they’re easy to repair when they encounter issues. Repairs for them are also not as expensive and wallet-draining as Macs.

There are millions of repair tutorials on the internet that Windows fans follow when their PC starts acting up. Plus, upgrade and replacement parts are easier to purchase.

Design

If you’re a computer user who cares about how a computer looks, then you’re good to go with Macs. They’re sleek, light, and have designs that are recognizable to anyone. The Apple logo is probably the only thing on there, and that’s a nice addition when you’re into minimalism.

With Windows PCs, there are units with great designs, but they usually come with steep price tags that are similar to Apple pricing. It’s also not easy to find an affordable PC that boasts less weight and a sleek design.

Simply put, if you like looking at a sleek unit, Macs are great options.

If you want to combine price and performance minus the good design, look into getting yourself a Windows PC.

But if you want capability, upgradability, and good looks, check out high-end Windows PCs. 

Macs: 1 PC: 0

Repairs

No device lasts forever without encountering issues. That’s why customization is a good plus for people who love to tinker with their computers, and are good for computer repair shops.

Macs are notorious for being expensive when they break and getting them repaired can cost a large amount of money depending on the issue. 

The sophisticated but un-customizable engineering of Macs made them difficult to repair, and quality replacement parts are hard to find and expensive to purchase.

But with Windows PCs, there are brand-name upgrade and replacement parts in the market that consumers can simply order and get delivered to their doorstep.

They can even repair their Windows PC at home if they know enough about it and are confident. But if you don’t want to risk it, there are computer repair shops that will be more than willing to repair your PC and upgrade it to help you maximize its features.

Macs: 0 PC: 1

Portability

Some businesses have gone with a part-time remote work schedule. That means anything that’s light and designed for portability is a good thing for your lifestyle. You’d want to be able to continue your work wherever you may be. This is where Mac’s portability puts it above Windows PCs.

Mac computers are light, slim, and easily slip into backpacks and even most handbags. The chargers are also easy to carry because of their simple design.

But for Windows PCs, it’s difficult to find an affordable unit that has decent specs and is portable. Most of them are made to be affordable to the masses, and that’s what’s good about them. But you don’t want to lug a heavy computer around campus. 

So if you want to be able to take your computer with you anywhere you go, a Mac is a great pick. 

Macs: 1 PC: 0

The verdict

Now that we’re at the end of this article, here’s the points tally:

Mac: 2
Windows PC: 1

But that doesn’t mean you should automatically opt for a $1300 MacBook.

You should also consider if that price will give you what you need for work and leisure. Macs are for creative activities and portability, while Windows PCs are for upgradability and high-performance activities like gaming.

If you know a lot about computers and already have specs in mind, it’ll be a no-brainer to find a PC that will suit your tech needs.

Just keep your budget, lifestyle, and computing needs in mind while you’re browsing. You should be ready to invest in a good PC once you know what you need and how much you want to spend.