If you’re looking for a cheap laptop or a mammoth saving on a premium portable computer, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve scoured the web for savings and rounded up all the genuine deals in one neat place.

You’ll find we’ve covered everything from budget browsing machines to high-performance powerhouses, so you’ll no doubt find something here to match your needs.

We’ve highlighted a selection of the latest deals that we’ve sniffed out, and if you scroll further down, we've rounded up some of our favourite laptops in a dedicated buying guide.

• Keep your devices safe from cyber attacks and save money at the same time with our round-up of the best antivirus deals and discounts in Australia.

Best laptop deals this week

Laptops & ultrabooks

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (7th Gen) | i5 / 8GB / 512GB SSD | AU$2,436.75 (RRP AU$3,249; save AU$812.25)

This may be from Lenovo’s range of business-focused laptops, but that hasn’t stopped our colleagues over at Laptop Mag from recommending it as the best Lenovo laptop available today. It’s incredibly light, yet manages to be durable as well, and the 1080p display on this model means you’ll get nearly 10 hours of battery life. Available directly from Lenovo with just over AU$800 saved.View Deal

Dell Inspiron 15 5000 (5593) | i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD | AU$1,574 (RRP AU$2,099; save AU$525)

Inside this machine you’ll find Intel’s latest 10th-gen i7 processor, teamed up with 16GB of system memory and 512GB of solid-state storage. Exactly the kind of specs that’ll make using this laptop a breeze. The discount on this well-specced machine dropped to 40% off during EOFY sales, but if you missed out in June, it’s now discounted by 25%.View Deal

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 | 20% off

Each configuration of the Surface Laptop 3 has been discounted by 20%, and it’s one to consider if you’re looking for a machine with all-day battery life. You’ll have your pick from a variety of eye-catching colours, and processors are available in i5 or i7, all Intel’s latest 10th-generation. Available directly from Microsoft.View Deal

Dell Vostro 15 3000 (3591) | i7 / 8GB / 512GB / MX230 | AU$1,359 (RRP AU$2,139; save AU$780)

This 15-inch laptop has been designed for work, but there’s a discrete graphics card that will help when it comes time to switch off. While the MX230 isn't a powerful GPU, it will run some basic gaming when you require a little distraction. This laptop was down to AU$1,215 during EOFY, and while it’s marginally more now, the 36% discount sees a cool AU$780 slashed off the RRP.View Deal

Dell Latitude 7400 | i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD | AU$2,513 (RRP AU$5,983; save AU$3,470)

Time to get down to business? The Dell Latitude 7400 is one impressive machine, and now you can save 57% on this workhorse. To keep your day running smoothly, you’ll have an 8th-generation Core i7 processor on your side, plus 16GB of memory and 512GB of solid-state storage. You’ll comfortably power through the day thanks to a long battery life which Dell promises will last up to 13 hours. Head directly to Dell to make it yours.View Deal

2-in-1s

Further price drop: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 (7390) | i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD | AU$2,324 (RRP AU$3,099; save AU$775)

This is Dell’s premium XPS 13 machine in a versatile chassis. This particular configuration has Intel’s latest 10th-gen Core i7 chip inside, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. It’s also got a lovely 13.4-inch Full HD touchscreen display. If you want top-of-the-line specs in a flexible laptop, this one is hard to beat. Best of all, it’s now 25% off from Dell’s online store.View Deal

Microsoft Surface Pro 7 | 20% off

The Surface Pro 7 is Microsoft’s most powerful Surface tablet to date, and each configuration is discounted by 20%. Configurations start with an Intel Core i3 and go up to an i7, with various blends of system memory and solid-state storage available. Go to Microsoft to pick yours up with a decent packet saved.View Deal

Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 | i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD | AU$3,572 (RRP AU$7,132; save AU$3,560)

The Latitude line is Dell’s range of premium business laptops, and practically all of them come with a high price tag to match. However, this machine is steeply discounted by 49%, saving you a solid AU$3,560. This workhorse has a slightly older 8th-generation i7 processor, but it’s got 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD. It’s lightweight, flexible and has an all-round sleek design. Save yourself a packet when you pick it up from Dell.View Deal

Dell Latitude 5300 | i7 / 8GB / 256GB | AU$2,438 (RRP AU$4,868; save AU$2,430)

It might have an older 8th-gen Core i7 processor under the hood but don't underestimate this 13-inch Latitude 2-in-1. With ExpressCharge support that adds 80% juice in an hour and Wi-Fi constantly running in the background, it's designed for the busy professional constantly on the move. And, to make this even better, there’s 49% off the device directly from Dell.View Deal

Microsoft Surface Pro X with Type Cover and Slim Pen | AU$2,199 (RRP AU$2,578.95; save AU$379.95)

While it’s technically a tablet, this can easily be converted into a 2-in-1 with the Type Cover that’s conveniently bundled into this deal. It’s also the thinnest and lightest from the Surface range to date, so is worth your consideration if you’re a frequent traveller and portability is what you’re after. It also has the neat feature of Windows Hello facial recognition – just look at the tablet’s webcam and you’ll instantly be logged on. Available from the Microsoft Store with a Type Cover and Slim Pen bundled in and a decent packet saved.View Deal

Gaming

Razer Blade 15 Advanced Model | i7 / 16GB / 512GB SSD / RTX 2070 | AU$3,779 (RRP AU$4,599; save AU$820)

Our colleagues over at PC Gamer recommend this Razer Blade 15 as the best gaming laptop you can buy today, and you can now save a huge packet on this dream machine. It’s housing a 9th-gen Core i7 CPU, and an RTX 2070 GPU. Despite that, it’s also one of the longest-lasting premium gaming laptops we’ve got our hands on. Last month it was steeply discounted, with AU$1,000 slashed from the RRP. While it’s bumped up slightly, you can now save AU$820 from Amazon.View Deal

Alienware m15 R1 | i7 / 8GB / 256GB SSD | AU$2,771 (RRP AU$3,299; save AU$528)

Get your game on with a top-notch GPU under the hood working alongside a 9th-gen i7 CPU. There's 8GB of system memory as well, and a 16% discount on this 15-inch gaming laptop. While it's not quite the great discount we were hoping for, you still save over AU$500 on a powerful device.View Deal

Lenovo Legion Y540 (15) | i7 / 16GB / 1TB HDD / GTX 1660 Ti | AU$1,949.25 (RRP AU$2,599; save AU$649.75)

If RGB keys are too flashy for your tastes, then consider this Legion Y540. Inside is a 9th-gen Intel Core i7 chip, matched with 16GB RAM and a 1TB HDD. An Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti handles the graphics, while Dolby Atmos sound will pull you further in when you’ve got your headphones on. The Legion Y540 has a white backlit keyboard, and a full numerical keypad. Head directly to Lenovo to get your hands on it.View Deal

• Find great bargains and compare Australian prices on the latest tech at Getprice.

We'll keep on updating the list of deals as and when we find them. Below, you'll find up to date prices on TechRadar's favourite laptops, so keep an eye out for those savings.

The best deals on our favourite laptops

Over the years we've reviewed plenty of laptops, and as a result, we've seen what to avoid and what to jump on when there's savings to be had. We'll keep track of the prices of some of the best we've seen so that you can snatch up a bargain when they do show up. Check out the prices below and see if anything has dropped enough to spark your interest.

(Image credit: Future)

Our favourite overall laptop: Dell XPS 13 (2020)

Dell's latest Ultrabook is simply the best laptop in the world

CPU: 10th generation Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) – 4K (3,840 x 2,160) | Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD

Gorgeous design

Excellent battery life

Lackluster audio

Expensive

Saying that we’re very happy with Dell’s XPS 13 is a huge understatement. At first glance, its slim profile and small frame don’t give away the powerful performance and gorgeous 13-inch display inside. Typically, you’d have to weigh up portability and performance, but the XPS 13 has managed to strike a fine balance between the two. Sporting Intel’s latest 10th-generation chips, much-improved battery life and barely-there bezels, the starting price of the newest iteration of the XPS 13 is a tempting proposition. We’re so chuffed with it that it’s still our favourite Ultrabook, and has taken the top spot as the best laptop overall.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 (2020)

(Image credit: Future)

Our favourite gaming laptop: Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED

The original designer's laptop gets an OLED upgrade

CPU: Intel Core i7 9750H | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 (8GB GDDR6; MaxQ) | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 15.6-inch, 4K (3,840 x 2,160), 60HZ, AMOLED, Gloss | Storage: 512GB SSD

4K HDR OLED screen

RTX GPU and 9th-gen CPU

Sleek with better thermal management

Reasonably priced

Max 60HZ refresh rate

Unfortunate webcam placement

It’s true, the Aero 15 range from Gigabyte is aimed at creatives. However, it’s also an attractive option for gamers – with powerful internals, a brilliant display and a sleek chassis – so we think it’s one of the best-value gaming machines Australians can get their hands on. The 2019 model boasts a 15-inch 4K HDR screen, which is ideal whether you’re looking to buy for high-resolution on-the-go gaming or its intended creative use. Under the hood it’s also got the option of the latest Nvidia RTX series GPUs and 9th-gen Intel Core CPUs.

Read the full review: Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED

(Image credit: Future)

Our favourite 2-in-1: Lenovo Yoga C930

A 2-in-1 laptop experience with little to no compromise

CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i7-8550U | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 13.9” UHD (3,840 x 2,160) IPS Glossy Multi-touch with Dolby Vision | Storage: 1 TB PCIe SSD | Connectivity: 802.11 AC (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 4.1 | Camera: 720p HD Camera

Strong build quality

Robust feature set

Excellent battery life

Weak graphics performance

This premium portable 2-in-1 has a lot to love: a strong build, excellent battery life and a robust feature set. It has a 360° hinge, so can easily be converted from a conventional clamshell to a handheld tablet. There’s also the addition of Dolby Atmos speakers, cleverly built into the rotating hinge, so you’ll have superb sound whichever way you use it. The screen too is vibrant, though the graphics performance could leave some wanting. Still, with an 8th-generation chip, it’s a solid all-rounder for the 2-in-1 crowd.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga C930

(Image credit: Acer)

Our favourite student laptop: Acer Aspire 3 15-inch

A Chromebook for schoolwork, and then some

CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i3-10110U | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080; non-touch) | Storage: 128GB

Great value

Lightweight

Limited to Chrome OS

If you’re looking for a student laptop, chances are you’re shopping on a budget. If that’s the case, our go-to bang-for-buck pick is the Acer Aspire 3 15-inch laptop. It’s a Chromebook, which means it runs on Google’s Chrome OS and is ideal for those with a reliable internet connection who want a laptop to browse the web and complete coursework online. The battery life isn’t the best, but if you don’t mind keeping your charging cable with you during the day, it certainly offers excellent value for money.

(Image credit: Future)

Our favourite Apple laptop: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)

The best MacBook Pro ever

CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7 – i9 | Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5300M – Radeon Pro 5500M | RAM: 16GB – 64GB | Screen: 16-inch Retina display with True Tone | Storage: 512GB – 8TB SSD

Stunning 16-inch screen

New and improved keyboard

Expensive

Limited to four Thunderbolt 3 ports

If you’re firmly placed in the Apple ecosystem, or you’re a Windows user thinking about converting, then we think the 2019 version of the MacBook Pro is the best Mac you can buy. It has a generous 16-inch display, and while that may spell a bulky laptop for other brands on the market, Apple remains true to form with this svelte machine. It’s got the latest and greatest components under the hood, rounded out with high-quality speakers and a much better keyboard than older models.

Read the full review: Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)

If you're after some more further info on the best laptops, check out some of our other dedicated articles:

• The best laptops in Australia
• Best gaming laptops
• The best ultrabooks
• Best business laptops
• Best 2-in-1 laptops

Watch the video below for the top 7 things to consider when buying a laptop. 

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When Saudi Arabia's PIF chipped in $1.5 billion into Jio Platforms on June 18, Mukesh Ambani, India's richest man who helms it, had stated that it marked the end of his company's current phase of induction of financial partners.

But in just around twenty days, Jio Platforms has again managed to bring in another marquee name into its fold.

Intel Capital, the investment arm of the American chipmaker Intel, is to put in $253.5 million (Rs 1,894.50 crore) into Jio Platforms at an equity value of Rs 4.91 lakh crore and an enterprise value of Rs 5.16 lakh crore. 

Intel Capital’s investment will translate into a 0.39% equity stake in Jio Platforms on a fully diluted basis. Intel Capital joins the list of big names who have recently invested in Jio Platforms, taking the total investment amount to more than $15.5 billion (Rs 117,588.45 crore).

With this deal, Reliance Industries has so far divested 25.09% of its stake in Jio Platforms.

Before this investment, Jio Platforms had raised $15.2 billion (Rs 115,693.95 crore) from eleven  leading global investors including Facebook, Silver Lake (1 and 2), KKR, Vista Equity Partners, General Atlantic, Mubadala, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, TPG,  L Catterton and PIF.

One of the aims of this divestment run of Reliance Industries --- to see it become debt free --- has already been achieved.

• Over 1200 Kirana stores join hands with JioMart, Facebook pilot program
• Jio Mart to sell smartphones and electronics
• WhatsApp as an e-commerce platform gets unveiled

(Image credit: Jio Platforms)

Hope for 'digital transformation'

Intel Capital invests globally in innovative companies with a focus on disruptive technology areas like cloud computing, artificial intelligence and 5G – opportunities where Jio is also innovating and investing for growth. 

In a press release, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, said, “We are extremely delighted to deepen our ties with technology leaders that embody our vision of transforming India into a leading Digital Society in the world. Intel is a true industry leader, working towards creating world-changing technology and innovations. Intel Capital has an outstanding record of being a valuable partner for leading technology companies globally."

Wendell Brooks, Intel Capital President, said, “Jio Platforms’ focus on applying its impressive engineering capabilities to bring the power of low-cost digital services to India aligns with Intel’s purpose of delivering breakthrough technology that enriches lives. We believe digital access and data can transform business and society for the better. Through this investment, we are excited to help fuel digital transformation in India, where Intel maintains an important presence.”

Since 1991, Intel Capital has invested US$12.9 billion in more than 1,582 companies worldwide, and 692 portfolio companies have gone public or participated in a merger.

Jio Platforms, with more than 388 million subscribers, has made significant investments across its digital ecosystem, powered by leading technologies spanning broadband connectivity, smart devices, cloud and edge computing, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, augmented and mixed reality and blockchain. 

You can read about about the entire list of investors and why they are investing in Jio Platforms here.

• Microsoft, Google, Amazon planning a major FB-like foray in India?

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Headphones have flooded the market, and it’s difficult to know which ones to pick – especially if you’re a first time buyer. Here, we’ll help you weigh up whether you should buy top-of-the-line, or if a cheaper set will suffice.

While it’s tempting to buy a set of super cheap headphones, it’s worth remembering that they are inexpensive for a reason. But as you’ll see below, getting your hands on a decent pair of headphones doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Especially when you have us to do the digging for you.

To save you the time and effort, we’ve put together this dedicated guide to the best bargains on great-sounding headphones. We constantly monitor major Aussie retailers to bring you the most worthwhile deals on a variety of sets – from in-ear buds to noise-cancelling cans from the most popular brands – so check out our continually updated list below to discover the best current headphones deals in Australia.

• Find great bargains and compare Australian prices on the latest tech at Getprice.

Over- & on-ear headphones

Sony WH-1000XM3 | AU$346.30 (RRP AU$449; save AU$102.70)

The best headphones your money can buy are now available for less, thanks to Allphones’ on eBay. The hype surrounding these over-ear cans from Sony is real – the sound quality is excellent and the noise cancellation is best-in-class. They also boast a whopping 30-hours of battery life. It’s been a little while since we’ve seen a solid discount on these headphones, so AU$102 is a pretty sweet deal. Head to eBay store and use the code P15LIGHT. Available in both black and silver.View Deal

Bose QuietComfort 35 II | AU$330 (RRP AU$449; save AU$119)

If you’re a loyal fan of Bose, the always popular QuietComfort 35 II has seen a decent discount on eBay. These headphones have superb sound and top-notch noise cancellation – perfect for commuters. As the name suggests, they’re a dream to wear as well. If you fancy the silver pair, head to Allphones on eBay and use the code P15LIGHT at checkout.View Deal

Sony WH-CH710N | AU$219 (RRP AU$349; save AU$130)

Sony’s best known set of headphones are the stellar WH-1000XM3, but they come with a suitably premium price tag. This more affordable offering from Sony has good sound quality and noise-cancelling tech, though they aren’t quite up to scratch with Sony’s top tier offering. That said, if you don’t want to drop AU$350 on a set of headphones, these could make for a worthwhile alternative. Available from The Good Guys with AU$130 saved.View Deal

In-ear headphones

Beats Powerbeats Pro | AU$266 (RRP AU$349; save AU$83)

The Powerbeats Pro are our favourite fitness ‘buds for a number of reasons, not least because they’ve got a hook which fits around your ear to help keep them in place while you’re working up a sweat. And a little perspiration is something they can withstand, with an IPX4 sweat-resistant rating. Jump on the official Allphones eBay store and enter the code P15LIGHT at checkout to snag them for less.View Deal

Sony WF-1000XM3 | from AU$265 (RRP AU$319; save up to AU$54)

These are Sony’s true wireless ‘buds and they’re just as exceptional as their over-ear siblings. Sony managed to squeeze active noise cancellation and a great battery into these earbuds – no small feat. If you’re ready to cut the cord, the silver set is discounted on Amazon.View Deal

Jabra Elite 65t | from AU$149 (RRP AU$249; save up to AU$100)

These excellent true wireless 'buds have been discounted on Amazon for a very long time, although they had dropped as low as AU$143 a while back. While this isn't as great a deal at just a few dollars more than its lowest offer, these 'buds are a great bargain for the comfortable fit and brilliant bassy sound quality.View Deal

Jabra Elite Active 65t | AU$179 (RRP AU$279; save AU$100)

This is the workout version of the Jabra Elite 65t. With that in mind, these true wireless ‘buds have a built-in motion sensor to track your steps and an IP56 rating which promises to resist sweat while you’re busy getting the blood pumping. These in-ears have great sound quality too, as we’ve come to expect from Jabra.View Deal

Bose QuietControl 30 | AU$299 (RRP AU$449; save AU$150)

Looking for active noise cancellation without feeling the weight of a set of cans on your head? Then Bose's QC30 Bluetooth 'buds might be what you're after. You get the brand's signature sound quality and a neckband design that offer more security than true wireless headphones. You'll get up to 10 hours of battery life per charge and save a very decent AU$150 on these premium 'buds when shopping on Amazon.View Deal

The best deals on our favourite headphones

To help you decide which headphones work best for you, we’ve decided to put together a little buying guide with a list of our favourite recommendations. 

The headphones you’ll find here have tons of features to help you to get the most out of your music, or any other form of audio-visual entertainment you prefer, however you like to listen to it.

(Image credit: Sony)

Our favourite overall headphones (and noise-cancelling too): Sony WH-1000XM3

The cans that can do everything

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 254g | Cable length: 3.94 ft | Frequency response: 4Hz-40,000Hz | Drivers: 40mm | Driver type: Neodymium | Sensitivity: 104.5 dB / mW (1 kHz) | Impedance: 47 ohm | Battery life: 30 hours | Wireless range: 10m

Outstanding noise cancellation

Fantastic sound quality

30-hour battery life

Mediocre call quality

The Sony WH-1000XM3 noise-cancelling headphones are the best you can buy – for now, anyway. They’re very much in line with what we’ve seen from Sony in the past two years, and with this model the electronics giant has managed to improve on some already fantastic sets. The noise cancellation these headphones have can beat anything Bose has to offer with ease. That’s because Sony has dedicated time to perfecting audio playback and its noise-cancelling technology. However, their crown could soon be handed over, as rumours of a Sony WH-1000XM4 release date have been circling. We’ll see what 2020 brings.

Read the full review: Sony WH-1000XM3

(Image credit: JBL)

Our favourite budget headphones: JBL Tune 750BTNC

Quality noise-cancelling over-ears for a pocket-friendly price

Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 220g | Cable length: N/A | Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz | Drivers: 40mm | Driver type: N/A | Sensitivity: 95dB | Impedance: 32 ohms | Battery life: 15 - 22 hours | Wireless range: 30ft (10m) | NFC: No

Good sound quality

Strong active noise cancellation

No waterproofing

Average battery life

JBL is a name you’ve probably heard in the affordable audio space. The brand consistently puts out good quality speakers and headphones with an even better price tag to match. Our previous pick on this list was the JBL Live 650BTNC, but there’s now a worthy successor to take their place – the JBL Tune 750BTNC. These noise-cancelling headphones sound great, look great, and they’re comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Maybe some might miss waterproofing and a few minor features but, at this price, it might be foolish to complain.

Read the full review: JBL Tune 750BTNC

(Image credit: Steve May)

Our favourite true wireless earbuds: Sony WF-1000XM3

The true wireless headphone jungle has a new noise-cancelling king

Weight: 70g | Frequency response: 20Hz - 20kHz | Drivers: 6mm | Driver type: Dome Type | Sensitivity: N/A | Impedance: N/A | Battery life (charging case): 18 hours | Wireless range: 30ft | NFC: Yes

Efficient noise cancellation

Inconspicuous looks

Great fun to listen to

Not suitable for sports

It’s still rather rare to get ANC in wired earbuds at all, yet Sony has managed to squeeze best-in-class noise cancellation tech into these ‘buds that have cut the cord – and that’s no small feat to achieve. And then there’s the battery life – Sony has even managed to pack above-average battery life in here, offering up to six hours of playback on a single charge of the ‘buds alone. And then there’s more to go in the charging case as well. While the WF-1000XM3 won’t offer the same level of noise cancellation that you’ll find in their over-ear counterparts mentioned above, they offer a sleek form factor, and an alternative for those who don’t enjoy carrying around full-sized cans.

Read the full review: Sony WF-1000XM3

(Image credit: Apple)

Our favourite workout earbuds: Beats Powerbeats Pro

Impressive-fitting workout ‘buds from Beats

Weight: N/A | Battery life: 9 hours | Heart rate monitor?: No | On-ear controls?: Yes

Good sound

Immaculate fit

Case is fairly bulky

Limited noise isolation

If you’re looking to amp up your fitness routine with an energetic soundtrack, our top pick would be the Beats Powerbeats Pro. These true wireless earbuds fit comfortably on and around the ear, thanks to their close-fitting hook design, and they don’t seem to ever fall out – important when you’re in the middle of a workout. They also have an IPX4 sweatproof rating, a long battery life of nine hours on a full charge and sound fantastic whether you’re in the gym or at home. What’s not to love?

Read the full review: Beats PowerBeats Pro

If you're after more information on headphones in different form factors, take a look at some of our other dedicated audio articles:

• Best headphones: Your definitive guide to the latest and greatest audio
• Best earbuds: earphones and in-ear headphones for any budget
• Best on-ear headphones: our pick of the best supra-aural cans
• The best wireless headphones: our pick of the best ways to cut the cord
• Best noise-cancelling headphones: our top picks for travel and commuting

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Dell has announced a new work station in India under the Precision series. The all-new Precision 5550 is a mobile work station which is meant to handle extreme workload. 

The Dell Precision 5550 comes with a 105% larger touchpad as compared to the previous generation, IR camera at the top of the bezel and blue light sensor. 

• Best Laptops under Rs 30,000
• Best laptops under Rs 40,000
• Dell XPS 13 (2020) review

Dell Precision 5550 specs

(Image credit: Dell )

The work station comes with an infinity edge display on a bezel-less design. You get a 15.6-inch screen with 16:10 aspect ratio, 92% screen to body ratio, 500 nits brightness, and Gorilla Glass protection. You can choose between a Full HD+ and an Ultra HD+(4K) screen. The 4K variant is touch-enabled. 

On the internals, the Precision 5550 comes in multiple options with up to 10th gen Intel processors, Xeon and Core i9, with up to 64GB DDR4 2933 MHz RAM and up to 2TB M.2 SSD. For graphics, you get up to NVIDIA Quadro T2000 4GB GDDR6 GPU. As far as the connectivity is concerned, there is Intel Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. 

Port options on the machine include 1 x USB 3.2Type-C, 1 x SD card slot, 1 x universal audio port, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port with Thunderbolt 3 and Power Delivery, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port with Thunderbolt 3. There is also a fingerprint scanner integrated with a fingerprint scanner. 

For audio, there is a dual integrated speaker and dual integrated noise-cancelling digital array microphones powered by MaxxAudio Pro by Waves. You also get IR webcam. The Dell Precision 5550 weighs 1.84Kgs and comes with 90W/120W AC adapter depending on the model you choose. 

For the operating system, you get to choose between Windows 10 Pro, Home, Ubuntu, and RedHat 8.3.

Pricing and availability

 

The Dell Precision 5550 workstation starts at Rs1,29,999 and GST will be applicable on all the models. It will be available in online and offline markets soon. 

• Dell XPS 2020 to launch in India on July 8

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Originally scheduled to hit movie theaters in October 2021, the cinematic version of Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical, Hamilton, has enjoyed the fastest of fast-track releases and is now available to stream on Disney Plus. The record breaking, Pulitzer Prize-winning show is a visionary take on the "ten-dollar Founding Father without a father" - and more cultural phenomenon than Broadway hit. Everyone's home can be the room where it happens today, so don't throw away your shot - here's how how to watch Hamilton online and stream it with Disney Plus right now.

How to watch Hamilton online

Disney Plus is the one and only place to watch Hamilton online today. Fortunately, it's super affordable - Disney Plus costs just $6.99/£5.99 a month, making it cheaper to stream Hamilton than rent other major movie releases.

After much anticipation, Hamilton has now hit all of Disney Plus' markets - including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and many more. The movie of the show was shot at New York's Richard Rodgers Theatre in 2016 and features the production's original cast, which is headlined by Miranda himself playing Alexander Hamilton. Scroll down for full details of the original Hamilton cast that won 11 Tony Awards - Broadway's equivalent of the Oscars.

There are loads of great 4th of July sales going right now, but the release of Hamilton to Disney Plus priced at $6.99/£5.99 a month might just be our favorite offer. The film carries a PG-13 rating in the US, which is roughly equivalent to a 12A in the UK. This means it will muffle two of the three F-bombs that feature in the original song lyrics, to make it family-friendly and suitable for Disney Plus audiences. 

But even if you've seen the show performed live, as this writer has, you won't notice the difference. Popular numbers like My Shot, Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down) and Satisfied are every bit as mesmerizing as they are in the flesh and the production carries all the same swagger and potency it does on the stage.

Don't delay - your home is now officially the room where it happens, so here's how to watch Hamilton online and stream Lin-Manuel Miranda's epic musical on Disney Plus right now.

• Read more: 7 ways to prepare for Hamilton

How to watch Hamilton online: stream the musical on Disney Plus now

Anyone is countries that now have access to Disney Plus - North America, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, most of mainland Europe and more - simply need to head to the Disney Plus website to sign up for the service. After that, Hamilton is sure to be front and center of the platform from July 3 - and if for some strange reason it's not, a quick search will deliver the goods.

As well as being the exclusive home of Hamilton, there are loads of other reasons to check out Disney Plus - a fantastic (and fantastic value) streaming service with loads of great content. It features every Simpsons episode ever made, all your favorite Pixar flicks, the latest  Marvel movies, and the complete Star Wars canon - all for just $6.99/£5.99 a month.

It really is something of a bargain, considering how much you get - and how much of it can't be found anywhere else. Better still, you can save 15% if you sign up for an annual subscription, or for the ultimate value, take advantage of a combined bundle that includes ESPN+, Hulu and Disney Plus for the outrageously cheap price of just $12.99 a month. 

There's so much included, you might forget cable TV ever existed - and yes, you really can have it all for the price of an appetizer! 

(Image credit: Walter McBride/WireImage)

Hamilton cast: who stars in the Disney Plus movie?

As we've mentioned, the movie version of Hamilton now available for streaming exclusively on Disney Plus features the original cast of the show. Hamilton first debuted off-Broadway in 2015 before being moved to the Richard Rodgers Theatre - an iconic venue that was the perfect home for Miranda's masterpiece.

• Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton
• Daveed Diggs as Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson
• Leslie Odom Jr. as Aaron Burr
• Christopher Jackson as George Washington
• Jonathan Groff as King George
• Renee Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler
• Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton

Read more:

• Head to our Disney Plus guide for all the information you need
• All the best Disney Plus movies and shows to watch today
• Read our Disney Plus review for an in-depth look at the service

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Intel said on Friday it will invest $253.5 million in Jio Platforms, joining a roster of high-profile investors including Facebook and Silver Lake that have backed India’s top telecom operator in recent months.

The chipmaker’s investment arm said it is acquiring a 0.39% stake in Jio Platforms, giving the Indian firm a valuation of $65 billion. Intel Capital is the 12th investor to buy a stake in Jio Platforms, which has raised more than $15.5 billion by selling a 25% stake since April this year.

“Jio Platforms’ focus on applying its impressive engineering capabilities to bring the power of low-cost digital services to India aligns with Intel’s purpose of delivering breakthrough technology that enriches lives. We believe digital access and data can transform business and society for the better. Through this investment, we are excited to help fuel digital transformation in India, where Intel maintains an important presence,” said Wendell Brooks, Intel Capital President, in a statement.

The announcement today comes weeks after Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man and who controls Reliance Industries — the parent firm of Jio Platforms — suggested that Saudi Arabia’s PIF $1.5 billion investment on June 18 in his digital empire had marked the “end of Jio Platforms’ current phase of induction of financial partners.”

In a statement today, Ambani said he was excited to “work together with Intel to advance India’s capabilities in cutting-edge technologies that will empower all sectors of our economy and improve the quality of life of 1.3 billion Indians.”

More to follow…

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The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) has arrested 746 career criminals after intercepting millions of encrypted text messages.

The messages were sent through a subscription-based phone system called EncroChat which costs roughly $1,994 per month. For that price, the criminals received a customized Android smartphone which had its GPS, camera and microphone functionality physically removed. 

While these devices ship with Android and have numerous encrypted messaging apps installed on them, they also have a secure secondary operating system and can be wiped by entering a PIN thanks to a self-destruct feature.

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Up until recently, EncroChat had customers in 140 countries before its network was hacked by French police. The police deployed a “technical device” to penetrate EncroChat communications after they discovered that some of its servers used to were hosted in the country.

Infiltrating EncroChat

As reported by Motherboard, EncroChat users received a text message in June warning that law enforcement agencies had taken over part of the company's infrastructure and were trying to hack into its encrypted messaging system.

At the time, the person who ran the service's email address explained to the news outlet that it would have to shut down, saying:

"We fully understand the inconvenience and frustration this decision has caused our customers. Our main priority has always been our customers integrity and security, and when we no longer can guarantee that, we have no other choice than to shut down the service even if it destroys our business."

Back in May, the company received a number of complaints that EncroChat phones were no longer wiping correctly when the self-destruct feature was activated. This was because law enforcement had managed to install malware on one of its X2 devices that was designed to avoid detection, disable the phone's factory reset feature, record the screen lock password and clone application data.

Although EncroChat has now been shut down and many of its customers have been arrested, other encrypted phone providers will likely surface to fill the gap left by the service.

• Keep your devices protected online with the best antivirus software

Via The Verge

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Global electronic waste, discarded products with a battery or plug, will grow by 38% from 53.6m metric tonnes (mt) in 2019 to 74.7m mt by 2030, fuelled mainly by higher consumption rates of equipment, short life cycles and few options for repair.

In real terms, the electric and electronic waste in 2019 is equivalent to the weight of 350 cruise ships that have the size of the Queen Mary 2.

According to the UN’s Global E-waste Monitor 2020, the growth in 2019 is up by 21% in just five years and doubling in 16 years by 2030, making e-waste as the world’s fastest-growing domestic waste stream.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director for Telecommunication Development Bureau at International Telecommunication Union (ITU), said that it highlights the pressing issue of e-waste management in today’s digitally connected world.

“Monitoring e-waste streams will contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and tracking the implementation of the ITU Connect 2030 Agenda. The report serves as a valuable resource for governments to improve their global e-waste recycling rate by developing the necessary/needed/required e-waste policies and legislation,” he said.

According to the report, Asia, which includes the Middle East also, generated the greatest volume of e-waste in 2019 — about 24.9 mt, followed by the Americas (13.1 mt) and Europe (12 mt), while Africa and Oceania generated 2.9 mt and 0.7 mt respectively.

(Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future)

Environmental and health issues

Only 17.4% of 2019’s e-waste was collected and recycled, which means that gold, silver, copper, platinum and other high-value, recoverable materials conservatively valued at $57b - a sum greater than the gross domestic product of most countries - were mostly dumped or burned rather than being collected for treatment and reuse.

With the recycling rate of 17.4%, potential raw material value of $10 billion can be recovered from e-waste, and 4 mt of secondary raw materials would become available for recycling.

Statistics on e-waste collected and recycled are based on data reported by countries.

In per capita terms, last year’s discarded e-waste, a health and environmental hazard containing toxic additives or hazardous substances such as mercury,  averaged 7.3 kilos for every man, woman and child on earth.

Nikhil Seth, Executive Director at United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) & UN Assistant Secretary-General, said that far more electronic waste is generated than is being safely recycled in most parts of the world.

“More cooperative efforts are required to make aware of this increasing issue and take appropriate countermeasures to supplement by appropriate research and training,” he said.

In rich countries, there are large migrant workers that reuse or repair donated used-EEE from the richer households, but this is unique within the region.

Antonis Mavropoulos, President, International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), said that e-waste quantities are rising three times faster than the world’s population and 13% faster than the world’s GDP during the last five years.

“This sharp rise creates substantial environmental and health pressures and demonstrates the urgency to combine the fourth industrial revolution with a circular economy. The fourth industrial revolution either will advance a new circular economy approach for our economies or it will stimulate further resource depletion and new pollution waves,” he said.

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HP 14-DK1003DX - $239.99 at Best Buy
(roughly £190/AU$350)
This exceptionally affordable HP laptop from Best Buy contains the AMD Athlon Silver - a processor found in only very few other laptops. It also comes with a range of freebies to sweeten the package, like free antivirus and cloud storage. If you don't mind the antiquated display resolution, it's well worth a punt.View Deal

You won’t find this laptop on HP’s own website, but the 14-DK1003DX - a Best Buy exclusive at $239.99 (roughly £190/AU$350) - has an intriguing quality that not many have picked up on.

The machine is one of very few business laptops to come with an AMD Athlon Silver processor. Athlon was the iconic CPU brand that helped drive the company forward the beginning of this century and has been in limbo for about a decade. It's now back and (surprise, surprise) is powered by AMD’s Zen+ architecture.

The Athlon Silver 3050U has not yet been tested, but we know it's similar to a Ryzen 3 3200U (with two cores and two threads) and a GPU that has one fewer compute units. Its GPU, the Radeon RX Vega 2, should be more powerful than anything else found in this price range.

• Check out our list of the best mobile workstations out there
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The rest of the specification is adequate for the price: there’s 4GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD (not eMMC), a 14-inch display, Windows 10 Home in S Mode (which can be upgraded to Windows 10 Home), a 3-cell Lithium-Ion battery, a Gigabit Ethernet port, Wireless AC Wi-Fi and a webcam.

Reviewers say the memory is upgradable, so you should be able to pop in a second 2.5-inch solid state drive. There are also a few unexpected freebies, including a touchpad with real buttons, a 6-month subscription to Webroot Internet Security with Antivirus for three devices (worth $29.99), McAfee LiveSafe and 25GB of Dropbox cloud storage for a year.

Perhaps the only major sore point is the fact the screen resolution is a measly 1366 x 768 pixels. That's the kind of resolution that belongs to the early 2000’s and there’s no reason for this lapse in quality today - especially considering most entry level smartphones are now full HD.

• Here's our list of the best workstations on the market

Bear in mind

• Unfortunately, BestBuy does not deliver globally, so non-US customers will have to use a specialist parcel-forwarding service to take advantage of the deal.
• If you've managed to get hold of a cheaper product with equivalent specifications, in stock and brand new, let us know and we'll tip our hat to you.

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Apple had unveiled the macOS Big Sur at the WWDC event last month with the focus being on its redesigned interface and several new features. Now, reports are suggesting that the operating system could have a feature that would enhance the pace at which it installs software updates onto the devices. 

Mac users have long found the updates to be a tedious process that keeps their device inaccessible till the software update gets completed. The time taken for these updates could take between 30 minutes to more than an hour depending on its size. On Macs that are operating the macOS Catalina, the system takes time to prepare and install the updates once the system boots up, which further delays the process. 

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How will this work?

A report on 9to5Mac says though Apple has not detailed how the updates would be installed once the macOS Big Sur arrives, the process could be similar to how iOS tackles these updates. The system first prepares the updates and gathers the relevant files before it auto-reboots the iPhone. This means that the waiting time during the boot process is considerably less. 

There have also been reports that the macOS Big Sur comes with technology that makes the system more tamper-proof, which could also be one of the reasons that the process of installing updates could be speeded up. 

The report says that the new OS would incorporate a cryptographically signed system volume that protects against tampering while also ensuring that the device is aware of your system's processing activities, thus allowing it to initiate the process of software updates in the background while work can go on without hindrance. 

This could definitely be a valuable addition for Apple users who have long felt the need for quicker updates in much the same manner that their iPhones get the job done.

The multiple boot option

Of course the other feature that has been talked about relates to the multiple boot options that the macOS Big Sur is reportedly bringing in once Apple brings its own CPUs to the device. 

The new boot process for future Macs will allow customers to install multiple instances of macOS, including different versions, which makes data recovery a lot easier. With the current OS, one needs to remember several keyboard shortcuts to get to the boot menu while the new OS would make things easier as we only have to press and hold down the Touch ID button to open up a menu with several startup options. 

At first glance, the macOS Big Sur update caught our attention due to the redesign, which is probably Apple's biggest since macOS 10. What's more, it borrows  elements liberally from its predecessor including a customizable Control Center, a notification center and redesigned widgets. 

The macOS Big Suris available now on beta developer mode with the first public beta likely to arrive later in July. Apple is expected to launch the new OS to everyone during the fall this year. 

• The 50 best Mac tips, tricks and timesavers
• Check out the best laptops under Rs.30,000 in India for July

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The Google Pixel 4a needs to launch now more than ever. Just this week, the search engine company officially discontinued the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, then it removed both phones from its online store without any explanation or comment.

It's been over a year since Google's budget Pixel phones first launched – they both came out in May 2019 at last year’s Google IO keynote. If you're thinking we should have the sequel, the Google Pixel 4a, by now – you're right.

The coronavirus outbreak has seemingly delayed the suspected Pixel 4a release date again and again; Google IO 2020 was cancelled, alternate Pixel 4a launch dates came and went without a phone launch, and to this day, we aren’t sure if it will come out.

Which is unfortunate given the rumors that the handset seems like it’s close to release. Whether you believe a French price listing, an image of several alleged boxed up and sealed Pixel 4a phones, or the recent US FCC and Indian BIS and Sinaporan IMDA certifications, the amount of news would suggest that a launch is coming, if not imminent. 

And yet, we have no official reason why the phone hasn’t come out.

Which is a shame given how ready the market is for Google’s handset: as the outbreak has reportedly reduced consumer spending on phones, and among a strong lineup of budget phones released this year, the iPhone SE 2020 has led our picks for mid-range phones. We raved over the Pixel 3a for bringing so many flagship Pixel 3 features to consumers at half the price, and that was in a year without a strong affordable Apple phone. 

The Pixel 4a already had its work cut out for it, and now it’s late to its own party.

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(Image credit: Future)

Google Pixel 4a: a mountain to climb

Google has to defend its budget crown with the Pixel 4a, not just against the new iPhone SE but the new crop of Moto G8 phones and discounted 2019 flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S10e and OnePlus 7T that top our best cheap phones list.

Some rumors peg the Pixel 4a date as July 13

Many of these phones have a wider camera suite than budget phones of years past, and while the Pixel phones have always held their own against phones with more varied photography setups, this year’s crop has stepped up with rear-facing triple- and even quad-camera arrays. While we liked the Pixel 4’s telephoto lens, we still loved the ultrawide cameras appearing on flagship phones last year – and on budget handsets this year. 

Thus, we were eager to see what the Pixel 4a offered that had trickled down from the Pixel 4. But we were also excited for another phone that, since it’s one of Google’s first-party phones, would get Android 11 on the day it’s publicly released – an update that’s poised to overhaul messaging and multi-device management. As phones (especially non-flagship phones) are still struggling to get Android 10, we looked forward to the Pixel 4a becoming a solution for getting Android 11 to people who didn't want to pay a lot out of pocket for a brand new phone.

The Pixel 4a could still be revealed soon – as soon as next week, as some rumors peg July 13 as the next possible launch date. But even if it is, another suggests that the phone’s actual release could still be pushed back until October. Which would put it alongside the actual Google Pixel 5 release. 

Not so far that we won’t appreciate the phone, but long enough for the iPhone SE 2020 to solidify its hold – and other contenders like the recently confirmed OnePlus Nord or the rumored Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition to beat Google to the punch. 

• Best cheap phones: the top phones at budget prices

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At the beginning of the pandemic many enterprise workers did not have the equipment they needed to work from home and this led organizations to purchase new devices for their employees but unfortunately it proved difficult to set them up remotely using Windows Autopilot.

Up until now, provisioning new devices into an existing Azure Active Directory (AD) environment required that the devices themselves be connected to to an organization's network in order to complete the process. At the office, this would have been simple but while working remotely, organization's couldn't set up new devices for their employees.

Microsoft has now removed this restriction and enterprise organizations can now send new devices directly to end users who can set them up on their own. However, businesses will need to leverage a Win32-based VPN client to do so.

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Provisioning new devices

In order to provision new Windows devices remotely, a new “Skip AD connectivity check” option has been added to the Windows Autopilot Hybrid Azure AD Join profile.

When enabled, a device will go through the entire provisioning process up to the point where a user needs to sign into Windows for the first time without needing any corporate network connectivity.

As part of device enrollment status page (ESP) tracking, Windows Autopilot and Intune can ensure that the needed VPN configuration to sign onto a company's corporate network remotely is put in place before a user needs to sign in. However, depending on the VPN client's capabilities, this could be automatic or a user might have to initiate the connection before logging on directly from the Windows logon screen.

Being able to provision new devices quickly and add them to a company's Azure Active Directory will make the whole process of working remotely easier for both employees as well as for IT admins.

• Also check out our complete list of the best VPN services

Via Redmond Mag

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