Information Technology

Maria Diaz/ZDNETWith the adoption of remote and hybrid working, having a reliable internet connection at home is imperative — not just for one device, but for several. If you have a family, maybe even dozens. So what’s better, one single access point, or a mesh network spread about the home?The answer depends on how your home and office are set up and what kind of connection you need. Wi-Fi routers are so good these days that a single access point is often the most straightforward solution. But if you have a larger home or your office is located far away from your router, a mesh network could be a game-changer, boosting the signal no matter where you are.  Also: The best VPN routers of 2025If you’re not sure of the difference, that’s okay, too. Let’s examine both types of connection and consider their pros and cons to determine which one is best for you. What is a traditional Wi-Fi router?A traditional router acts as a central hub for internet connectivity. The router acquires the connection from your internet service provider (ISP), and then allows other devices around the home to connect to it, either via Wi-Fi, or by simply plugging in an Ethernet cable. Typically, routers are password-protected so only your household can connect to it.  You should buy a traditional Wi-Fi router if… More

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNETChoosing the right laptop can feel overwhelming — even for someone like me who’s lived and breathed laptops for years. You get all these options, configurations, and feature lists that it’s impossible not to know up from down. So, to make things easier for you, I’ll be breaking down laptops and their essentials using three broad usage categories: school, work, and gaming.Also: The best laptops you can buy: Expert testedMost laptops fall into one of these buckets, and while there is some crossover regarding hardware, each type is designed with a specific purpose in mind. Below, I walk through what defines each category, highlighting key features to look out for and providing example products along the way.Keep in mind, this advice is based on my own experience and expertise. Ultimately, the best laptop is the one that fits your needs best.How to pick a laptop for school More

These days, it feels like AI and machine learning algorithms are being stuffed into every device, whether it makes sense to do so or not. And with almost every major brand announcing that AI will be a standard feature in new releases going forward, you may be looking for a way to opt out or avoid it entirely. Thankfully, there are still plenty of options on the market for phones that don’t force AI as an integral feature; you can even find a few “dumb” phones if you’re thinking of a total digital detox.Also: The best phones we’ve tested this yearWhat is the best phone without AI features right now?Almost every major brand still offers older phones that either allow you to opt out of or remove AI features, or that simply don’t support AI at all. The Apple iPhone 15 More

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET ZDNET’s key takeaways Firefox Focus is a security and privacy-focused mobile browser.This browser offers a minimal UI and maximum privacy features.Firefox Focus is available for both Android and iOS.I’ve run the gamut of web browsers on Android, and every time I think I’ve found “the one,” I discover a reason not to use it. That reason might be a cluttered UI, a lack of options, or not enough security.Recently, however, I came across a browser that checked all the boxes… especially within the realm of privacy and security. No, it’s not Tor or Brave, it’s Firefox Focus, which is ironic given I’d only recently sworn off Firefox browsers. However, Firefox Focus is good enough to make me overlook that claim. Firefox Focus has been around for a bit and is a mobile-only browser that aims to be a simple and private web browser. It delivers on that promise. Also: The Firefox I loved is gone – how to protect your privacy on it nowImagine stripping a browser to its bare bones and leaving just the features necessary to render pages properly (and quickly) and remain private and secure. That’s what Firefox Focus is. The UI doesn’t include all the finery found in other browsers (the start page offers a URL bar, a menu button, and the keyboard once you tap the URL bar). That’s it. There are no bookmarks, suggested sites, news, or any other bloated features you might find on other browsers. Firefox Focus is lean and ready to do the one thing browsers should do… render pages securely and privately.Firefox Focus is free and can be found in both the Google App Store and the Apple App Store. What makes Firefox Focus so special? As you’ve most likely surmised, Firefox Focus is all about privacy. Also: 5 reasons why Firefox is still my favorite browser – and deserves more respectIf you open the Settings page, you’ll find only five sections: General, Privacy and Security, Search, Advanced, and Mozilla. Tap the General section, and you’ll see only three options: Theme, Language, and Make Firefox Focus default browser. It’s not until you tap the Privacy and Security section that you finally see what this browser is really all about. More

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETZDNET’s key takeawaysOppo Find X8 Ultra performs better than its Samsung rival in almost every scenario.The Galaxy S25 Ultra comes close in ultrawide camera comparison.Oppo’s flagship has unique features like XPAN mode, Hasselblad color science, and Master mode.The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra houses one of the most versatile camera systems on a mainstream phone, thanks to its two telephoto cameras and an ultrawide sensor coupled with a 200MP primary camera.Also: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13: I compared the best Android phones, and it was very closeBut the Oppo Find X8 Ultra is equally, if not more, versatile. It has bigger sensors on the four 50MP cameras on its back. Plus, the Oppo flagship is paired with a renewed Hasselblad partnership — for extra features like XPAN mode, better Portraits, and Hasselblad Natural Color Solution, re-engineered for mobile. I was confused about which phone to take on my trip to Sweden, so I took both and compared the results, which are… interesting.Comparing the camera specsCategoryOppo Find X8 UltraSamsung Galaxy S25 UltraMain Camera50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1.0″-type sensor, 1.6µm, OIS200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3″, 0.6µm, OISTelephoto 150 MP, f/2.1, 70mm (periscope), 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, 3x optical zoom, OIS10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm, 1/3.52″, 1.12µm, 3x optical zoom, OISTelephoto 250 MP, f/3.1, 135mm (periscope), 1/1.95″, 0.8µm, 6x optical zoom, OIS50 MP, f/3.4, 111mm (periscope), 1/2.52″, 0.7µm, 5x optical zoom, OISUltrawide Camera50 MP, f/2.0, 15mm, 120˚ FoV, 1/2.75″, 0.64µm50 MP, f/1.9, 120˚ FoV, 1/2.5″, 0.7µm,Oppo and Samsung flagships are some of the best phones of 2025. Both sport four rear cameras, but the Find X8 Ultra houses bigger sensors on three of those. It is led by a 1-inch-type 50MP main sensor, which snaps better quality photos than Samsung’s 200MP primary camera. But it’s the rest of the sensors that help it take the lead. The 10MP 3x optical zoom Samsung telephoto camera stands no chance against Oppo’s 50MP 3x optical zoom supported periscope camera, while it competes closely in ultrawide shots and 50MP secondary 5x (6x on Oppo) periscope zoom photos.Also: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra vs. OnePlus 13: I compared the best Android phones, and it was very closeThere’s no doubt that the Find X8 Ultra has a better camera package than the Galaxy S25 Ultra, thanks to its bigger sensors and Hasselblad color science. But it can also be inconsistent at times, giving the edge to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. Here’s how the two compare in my vacation photos.It’s all about the color science More

ZDNETWith the adoption of remote and hybrid working, having a reliable internet connection at home is imperative — not just for one device, but for several. If you have a family, maybe even dozens. So what’s better, one single access point, or a mesh network spread about the home?The answer depends on how your home and office is set up, and what kind of connection you need. Wi-Fi routers are so good these days, that a single access point is often the most straightforward solution. But if you have a larger home or your office is located far away from your router, a mesh network could be a game-changer, boosting the signal no matter where you are.  Also: The best VPN routers of 2025If you’re not sure of the difference, that’s ok, too. Let’s take a look at both types of connection and break down the pros and cons for both to figure out which one is best for you. What is a traditional Wi-Fi router?A traditional router acts as a central hub for internet connectivity. The router acquires the connection from your internet service provider (ISP), and then allows other devices around the home to connect to it, either via Wi-Fi, or by simply plugging in an Ethernet cable. Typically, routers are password-protected so only your household can connect to it.  You should buy a traditional Wi-Fi router if… More

TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways TCL’s 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G is on sale on Amazon for $222. It has a unique display, and a feature set that promotes minimalism and digital well-being. I just wish the camera system and general performance were better. –> Being glued to your smartphone’s screen all […] More

Sony Get this: The beloved Sony WH-1000XM4<!–> with a 30-hour battery life and stellar sound is on sale for $198 right now at Amazon. If you’re in the market for a comfortable-fitting headset and some silence, you can’t go wrong with a pair of Sony’s noise-canceling headphones. This deal extends to all three color options: […] More