Eliana Willis

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The high-end configuration of the Microsoft Surface Laptop is on sale for $1,399 with the Snapdragon X Elite 12-core processor, 16GB of RAM, and 15-inch screen. It’s a well-designed Copilot+ PC with a light, stylish form factor, and a marathon battery life. It might be lacking in port selection for some […] More

June Wan/ZDNETIf you’re looking for a new smartwatch this fall, there are plenty of deals ahead of the big Black Friday shopping weekend next month: right now, you can get $130 off of the Galaxy Watch 6 More

This Belkin battery pack is not only an upgraded version of a good original, but it’s also ZDNET’s pick for the best MagSafe battery pack right now. I really liked the first iteration of this battery pack, and I like the newly upgraded Qi2 version even more. This new model has the USB-C connector on the side instead of the bottom of the pack, making it easier to use your phone standing upright while the pack is charging. Instead of the charging indicator lights being on the side, they’re now more visible, located on the back of the pack. This model is also a tad slimmer and lengthier than its predecessor, making it easier to transport. Also: My new favorite MagSafe battery pack supports Qi2 charging, has a kickstand, and isn’t made by Anker or BaseusAnd while this Belkin pack is a true embodiment of a classic brick-style battery booster, there is still a place in my heart for it because it just works so well. Similarly to many options on our Best MagSafe battery pack list, it provides 5,000mAh of extra juice to your phone, which is a standard capacity for many MagSafe packs. Its design, though simple, fits snugly against my phone (no bumping onto the lip of my camera lens) and remains secure. Its secure grip and competitive battery speak for themselves. I took this pack to a Yankees game, to several late-night outings, to work, and even on errands, and I am impressed with the charging. You can expect between a 25-30% battery boost in about an hour to your phone.What’s more is that it comes with a built-in stand that easily swings in and out — no folding required — and while I originally thought this would be useless, I rather enjoyed being able to prop my phone up whenever. Perhaps the best thing about this Belkin pack is that it comes in a few fun colors, a nice feature many competitors still haven’t matched.Like the previous iteration, this pack is still not the slimmest design I’ve ever seen. But the newly upgraded design offers a more comfortable and sleek user experience that feels great in the hand and doesn’t feel as boxy as the pack really is. Overall, I’m impressed with the new shape and think it was a much-needed facelift. Apple is the only retailer that sells the blue, green, pink, and sand color options right now (as well as black), which is a bit of a downside. On the flip side, Belkin only carries the black and white iterations as well as the 8k and 10k models. Regardless, Redditors who own this battery pack really like the intentional upgrades. Some Redditors said that this is a great pack to replace Apple’s discontinued battery pack, too. Belkin Boostcharge Pro Qi2 Magnetic Power Bank 5K features: Capacity: 5,000mAh | Charging Port: USB-C | Power button: Yes | Available in a few colors (some Apple exclusive) More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETThe battle between Xbox and PlayStation for video game console supremacy has been raging for decades, but neither of those is the hottest device right now.Looking at Amazon’s current best-selling items in the video game category More

Kerry Wan/ZDNETWhat’s the deal?The OnePlus Open More