Feed aggregator

Eleven people were stabbed at a Walmart in Traverse City on Saturday — with six in critical condition — in what a Michigan sheriff said appeared to be a random act.

(Image credit: Ryan Sun)

The employees who have chosen to leave the agency amount to about 20% of NASA's workforce.

(Image credit: John Raoux)

Can anyone look at the Nothing Headphone 1 for the first time without cracking a smile? It was the talk of TechRadar's Sydney office when I unboxed it for the first time and has practically everyone else I've shown cooed over. And that's because it wears its best aspects on the outside.

The Nothing Headphone 1 is a breath of fresh air among otherwise well-tuned but very same-same headphones. I'm sure I'll have stirred some strong reactions with that statement, but hear me out, please.

I might be focused on covering smartphones at TechRadar (having just gone hands-on with the Nothing Phone 3), but it's still pretty obvious in my opinion that the overwhelming majority of over-ear headphones feature neutral, uninspired aesthetics, incorporating ovular cups and typically single-tone colorways without much style to speak of. Touch buttons are common, as are limited color options.

In protest, the Headphone 1’s cups are squared, with the exterior sporting an aesthetic evoking retro sci-fi hits like Blade Runner and Akira. A combination of metals and plastics have been employed to make the Headphone 1 feel unique wherever your fingers may land, and unlike the company's phones – which you'd be inclined to put in a case – the aesthetic of these headphones are on full display at all times.

And, best of all, there are no touch controls – a feature I’m growing increasingly tired of across all the tech that I review, from wearables to electric cars. This is the bit I’m most head over heels for, and when mixed with a fairly modest price point, I believe the Headphone 1 represents the best realization of Nothing’s vision yet.

The Nothing Headphone 1 is iconic and, by my estimation, it's the tech of the moment.

Nothing’s cooking

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

I don’t believe Nothing needs its headphones to offer the best sound quality among its close competition. Indeed as you would have read in our Nothing Headphone 1 review, sound can come across as compressed from these cans – but I’m smitten by all the aspects that the company aces to place too much weight on its soundscape – after all, sound is a personal preference.

Nothing’s distinctive aesthetic will no doubt weed out many potential customers, but as with Nothing’s phones, the style has its fans. This is exactly the kind of aesthetic that appeals to me, harking back to retro designs while also feeling fresh and unique in its own regard. It’s bold, different and to some extent underscores the design chops that companies like Apple were known for years ago (think the iMac G3).

And I could harp on about the aesthetics for an entire article, but I’ll save you the boredom by moving onto Nothing’s silver bullet – real buttons. The tech industry at large, so dedicated to efficiency and maximized savings, forgot that tactile buttons actually feel really great to use, and give the user much more confidence over their product (in that they’ll be better informed about what buttons have been pressed, ergo what functions are activated).

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The volume is controlled by what Nothing calls the Roller, a horizontally moved cylinder on the edge of the headphones, which can also be pressed to pause, play, and switch between ANC and transparency (more on that later). It’s a button of all trades, in effect, and something rarely seen in the headphone industry these days. The Sonos Ace and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones have multi-function buttons, but I’m not aware of many sets that give one button so many functions.

Meanwhile, a ‘paddle’ below the Roller selects the next or previous track, while also offering answering and rejecting calls. An additional button to the top right of the right cup then activates your voice assistant on Android and iOS platforms, but can also be bound to several other functions on Nothing OS (or if you use a Nothing Phone). There's one more button on the inside of the right cup, but that's only used for Bluetooth pairing.

This just makes me so happy! So long and farewell to the annoyance of not activating a function like skip or pause because a touch control failed to notice the delicacy of your finger press.

Better yet, with most of the headphones’ exterior left without any buttons in the way, the headphones are showing off quite a lot of free space. On the one hand, that’s space I’m happy to leave exposed as they look great. On the other, I want to cover these bad boys in stickers, and that’s the kind of thought Nothing’s fun philosophy feeds into.

Wrapping up the things I really love about these headphones, the active noise cancellation is extremely impressive – on par with Sony headphones I've used in the past – and powerful enough to sufficiently remove the audio from a room with a live DJ standing right beside me. I like getting work done with noise cancellation turned all the way up, so this is super satisfying for me.

Nothing’s perfect

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

There are only a couple of things that I’m hoping Nothing will change with either software updates or upcoming product releases.

The first might seem kind of strange, but believe me when I tell you it’s unnerving. Nothing’s sound effects with the Headphone 1 are uncomfortable. Switching to transparency mode gives an effect that sounds like someone’s breathing in your ear, while other sound effects feel aggressive and way too tight – such as a bass thud when switching on noise cancellation, or a sci-fi computer beep when switching off ANC or transparency.

I get it, Nothing has a very deliberate approach to aesthetics and design, and that extends to its sound effects, but this is just too much – you can be unique without being weird.

Another is that the headphones are quite tight on my head – and I have a fairly average-sized head! After a while of use, the Headphone 1 starts to feel uncomfortable, so I’m hoping the company releases an upsized model or makes an adjustable band for the second-gen model.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

There’s also obviously the issues reviewers have raised with sound. Indeed my Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones produce more balanced sound despite being a slightly older set of cans, with deeper bass and richer audio. For a pair of headphones as expensive as they are, you’d certainly expect the Headphone 1 to be up to scratch – especially as they’ve been tuned in collaboration with British hi-fi stalwart KEF.

Now, don't get me wrong: the sound is great and passable, but I’d certainly like it to be better. Unfortunately, while you’re given a decent amount of audio profile tweaking via the Nothing X app, you can’t make the headphones produce sound that just sounds more dynamic.

I would still encourage anyone who appreciates the design to audition the Headphone 1, of course, as what may not sound quite right for me may sound fantastic to you – as I've already alluded, sound is personal. Reviews can only provide so much information, if you like the sound a product produces, then that’s the right one for you.

Apart from that, I genuinely don’t think there’s anything else wrong with the Nothing Headphone 1: it’s well weighted, can go flatly compact and has some of the best ANC I’ve ever heard.

Nothing’s on the rise

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Four years after releasing its first product, the Ear 1 earbuds in 2021, followed by a competitive portfolio of aesthetically interesting tech, Nothing has finally tipped its hand to reveal its most impressive product yet – a device that genuinely one-ups the competition with an exceptional user interface.

It’s really that simple. The Nothing Headphone 1 might not have the best sound quality of all the headphones on the market, but it’s certainly one of the most exciting options. The aesthetic rocks, it has a great feature set and ultimately it’s not priced inaccessibly (and chances are you might find it getting a good discount when Black Friday 2025 comes calling later in the year).

I’m really excited to see what a next-generation set of Headphones from Nothing shapes up to be like. For now, I think I’ll be using the Nothing Headphone 1 as my daily audio device instead of my Sonys or my Samsung buds, and that is saying something.

You might also like...

• The Nothing Phone 3 might be the most distinctive smartphone of 2025 – but is it enough to lure in Apple and Samsung fans?
• The best wireless headphones, chosen by our experts for all budgets
• I tested the Sony WH-1000XM6 against 5 top-tier rivals – here’s which wireless headphones I’d recommend

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for July 27.

• Sandisk enlists top computing minds to shape flash-based memory alternative for AI
• HBF memory backed by RISC and GPU leaders promises high bandwidth and massive capacity
• Patterson and Koduri join Sandisk to guide flash memory expansion beyond HBM limits

Sandisk has appointed two leading figures in computing to help shape the direction of its high-capacity memory tech for AI workloads.

Professor David Patterson and Raja Koduri have joined Sandisk’s new Technical Advisory Board to provide strategic and technical input on High Bandwidth Flash (HBF), a flash-based alternative to High Bandwidth Memory (HBM).

Patterson is credited for co-developing Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) and Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID), and will lead the advisory board. Koduri is known for his leadership in graphics architecture, having overseen GPU designs at AMD and Intel.

Decades of experience

Together, they bring decades of experience across computing, memory systems, and large-scale architecture.

“We’re honored to have two distinguished computer architecture experts join our Technical Advisory Board,” said Alper Ilkbahar, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Sandisk.

“Their collective experience and strategic counsel will be instrumental in shaping HBF as the future memory standard for the AI industry, and affirming we not only meet but exceed the expectations of our customers and partners.”

Patterson said, “HBF shows the promise of playing an important role in datacenter AI by delivering unprecedented memory capacity at high bandwidth, enabling inference workloads to scale far beyond today’s constraints. It could drive down costs of new AI applications that are currently unaffordable.”

Koduri added, “HBF is set to revolutionize edge AI by equipping devices with memory capacity and bandwidth capabilities that will support sophisticated models running locally in real time. This advancement will unlock a new era of intelligent edge applications, fundamentally changing how and where AI inference is performed.”

HBF is designed to match the bandwidth of HBM while offering up to 8 times the capacity at a similar cost.

Built with BiCS flash, CBA wafer bonding, and proprietary stacking that allows 16 dies per package, HBF offers a new way to expand GPU memory without relying entirely on expensive DRAM.

While not a direct replacement for HBM, HBF shares the same electrical interface and only requires minimal protocol changes.

Sandisk previously demonstrated how an AI GPU using only HBM might support 192GB of memory, but by combining it with HBF, that figure could reach 3TB.

In a configuration using only HBF, memory capacity could scale up to 4TB.

The technology was first revealed at Sandisk’s Future FWD 2025 investor event back in February 2025, alongside its roadmap for future HBF generations.

These updates show increases in capacity and bandwidth over time, with some tradeoffs in energy efficiency.

By forming an advisory board and seeking open standard development, Sandisk is trying to avoid locking the market into proprietary solutions.

This may help it gain traction against rivals like Samsung and SK Hynix which are both heavily invested in the HBM space.

(Image credit: Sandisk)You might also like

• Sandisk could use architecture called Stargate to power its 256TB and 512TB SSDs
• Samsung HBM roadmap shows Google will be Nvidia's fiercest competitor in AI
• Sandisk quietly puts 2TB SD card on sale - Extreme Pro is as fast as a hard drive

Israel's military said the airdrops would begin Saturday night in Gaza, after mounting accounts of starvation-related deaths. Israeli officials also said humanitarian corridors will be established.

(Image credit: Jehad Alshrafi)

As the deadline for the start of 30 percent tariffs on the EU, Cecilia Malmstrom, former European Commissioner for Trade, explains the scope and scale of the EU-US trading partnership and what's at stake if a deal isn't reached.

A months-long recall effort to oust lawmakers considered pro-Chinese has failed in the self-governing island's legislature.

(Image credit: Jan Camenzind Broomby for NPR)

This pre-season friendly match sees the Red Devils take on the Hammers at MetLife Stadium.

The U.S. president is spending a long weekend in his late mother's birth country of Scotland. There, he's been confronted by protesters waving photos of Jeffrey Epstein.

(Image credit: Jacquelyn Martin)

• Dell’s $250 laptop beats its own entry-level desktop and rivals more expensive models
• The cheapest Dell desktop lacks Windows, while next options start at $599.99
• At under half the price, Dell's laptop offers full PC experience with modern specs

Desktops used to be the default for affordable computing, offering more power, easier upgrades, and better value.

Components can be swapped out, memory increased, and parts repaired when needed - which is much harder to do with laptops, which typically have elements like memory soldered in place.

But if you’re in the market for a budget PC, then you might not want to be considering a desktop -case in point, Dell is now offering a 15-inch laptop for just $250.

Far cheaper than a desktop

The Dell 15 laptop is currently $130 cheaper than its usual $379.99 asking price. That’s nearly half the price of Dell’s least expensive desktop, the $439 OptiPlex 3000 Thin Client. It’s not just about cost either.

The default laptop configuration comes with Windows 11 Home, an AMD Ryzen 3 7320U processor, 8GB of LPDDR5 memory, and a 512GB SSD. It also includes a 15.6-inch Full HD 120Hz screen, Wi-Fi, and ports for basic connectivity, including one USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port, one USB 2.0 port, and a universal audio jack.

The OptiPlex desktop doesn’t run Windows, rather it uses Dell’s ThinOS, only has 64GB of onboard storage, and lacks Wi-Fi entirely.

It’s meant for narrow business environments, not general use, so for the average buyer, it’s hard to recommend unless they’re locked into a specific setup.

Looking beyond that, Dell’s next Windows-ready desktops start at $599.99. The Dell Slim Desktop includes a Core Ultra 5 processor, 16GB of DDR5 memory, and a 512GB SSD. It does offer more power but also costs more than twice as much as the laptop.

The Dell Tower Desktop at $749.99 bumps things up with a Core Ultra 7 chip, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. But again, that’s triple the price.

For most users, especially students, small business owners or casual users, those upgrades may not be needed anyway.

The $250 Dell 15 Laptop delivers a full experience that covers everything from web browsing to light productivity.

Desktops still make sense for users who need expansion or maximum performance of course, but on the low end, the gap is closing fast. In some cases, it may already be gone.

You might also like

• These are the best business laptops you can buy right now
• And these are the best Dell laptops on the market
• Dell will have a laptop with 256GB RAM later this year thanks to CAMM2

The Southwest Boeing 737 dropped almost 500 feet to avoid another aircraft.

(Image credit: Mario Tama)

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for July 27, No. 307.

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for July 27, #777.

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for July 27 No. 511.

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for July 27, No. 1,499.

Confused about which 3D printer filament to buy? CNET's experts have found the best ones for all experience levels.

• Bitdefender Security for Creators now monitors Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for unauthorized account changes or mass deletions
• Over 184 million login credentials are exposed, many tied to creator social media accounts
• Financial losses from online scams have crossed $1 trillion, with creators becoming prime targets

Influencers and digital creatives are increasingly targeted by phishing scams and account hijacking, and Bitdefender has revealed a new platform in order to address this threat.

The company says it is expanding its reach into the online creator economy with new updates to its Security for Creators suite, now offering coverage for Facebook and Instagram.

Bitdefender claims its new product offers creators a more focused and proactive form of protection, covering not only their content accounts but also their devices.

Rising threats underline the need for creator-focused security

Online scams and credential leaks are reportedly accelerating, with Bitdefender claiming over 184 million sets of login credentials were recently found exposed online, many linked to Instagram and Facebook.

At the same time, scam-driven financial losses have topped $1 trillion globally, according to recent data.

“Online creators are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals who weaponize trust to take over accounts and scam followers out of money or into downloading malware,” stated Ciprian Istrate, senior vice president of operations, Consumer Solutions Group at Bitdefender.

“Bitdefender Security for Creators offers the first end-to-end service to help safeguard creators’ accounts, content, and devices across Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, delivering continuous, always-on security as online threats evolve.”

The continuous monitoring feature across the different social media platforms looks for signs of unauthorized activity, such as mass deletion of content or unapproved changes to profile settings.

Bitdefender says these signs can point to possible account takeovers, and that alerts are sent immediately if anomalies are detected.

Creators are also offered the ability to manage their account security, malware scans, and threat alerts from a unified control panel.

Regular antivirus scans mostly protects the device, and this all-in-one design could appeal to influencers juggling multiple platforms.

From a single dashboard, users can track device scans across different operating systems, with support for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

Bitdefender places particular emphasis on its AI-based anti-phishing features, claiming they can detect scams disguised as partnership requests and even spot phishing content generated using large language models.

The company also introduces support for collaborative protection, allowing creators to extend coverage to team members like editors or social media managers.

In the event of a compromise, users are given a recovery playbook to restore account access and manage communications with their audience.

For Bitdefender, the expansion reflects an attempt to capture a market it describes as underserved.

Yet whether digital creators will adopt a dedicated service in place of existing Android antivirus apps or broader social media management tools remains the big question.

You might also like

• These are the best VPNs with antivirus you can use right now
• Take a look at our pick of the best internet security suites
• Cheap eGPU docking station uses TB5, but you'll need an external power supply

Fortnite OG is running its first ever live event later today (July 26, 2025). It's a recreation of the rocket launch that happened all the way back in 2018, which culminated in the first appearance of the crack in the sky that has now become a mainstay of the game.

Fortnite OG Blast Off live event - key info on the rocket launch

Fortnite OG Blast Off live event start time
Fortnite OG Blast Off event duration
What to expect from the Blast Off live event
How to watch the Fortnite OG rocket launch event
Live coverage as it happens

Now that Fortnite OG is a permanent mode, we can look forward to a new Fortnite OG season launching in early August. Before then, there's the Blast Off event, as well as regular updates that add new weapons into the loot pool. So far, this season has really switched things up, and it's been a real treat to revisit Risky Reels and Dusty Divot. It's changes like these that have kept Fortnite well and truly cemented as one of the best free games to play in 2025.

Here's TechRadar Gaming's live coverage of the Fortnite OG rocket launch live event. I'll be detailing everything you need to know in the hours leading up to the event, as well as some details on what to expect. Once the rocket launch is live, I'll be giving my impressions as it unfolds. Stay tuned to see how this one compares to the 2018 original.

Fortnite OG Blast Off live event start time

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite OG's Blast Off live event will start on July 26 at 2pm ET / 11am PT / 7pm BST. You'll likely want to load into the game half an hour prior to the start, just to make sure you've secured a spot in the queue.

Fortnite OG Blast Off event duration

(Image credit: Epic Games)

The original rocket launch event in Fortnite only lasted a few minutes, but I'm betting things will be a bit different this time around.

We'll have to wait and see what tricks Epic has planned, but given that this is the first major live event for Fortnite OG, we could see a remix on the original event's pacing. If it's just the exact same sequence again, expect the live event to last around 5 minutes at most.

What to expect from the Blast Off live event

(Image credit: Epic Games)

So far, we don't know all that much about the upcoming Blast Off live event that'll take place on Saturday (July 26). If it ends up just being a repeat of the same event that aired back in 2018, then we'll see the rocket launch, before it's intercepted and steered through multiple rifts. The event will culminate in voice lines from The Visitor, and a huge rift crack will be left in the skies above the Fortnite OG island.

I'm hoping that Epic Games finds a way to remix the original event, adding a bit more player interaction and spectacle to proceedings. Fortnite events have gotten quite a bit more complex since 2018, so it'd be great to see a modern take on the classic rocket launch event.

Personally, I'd love to be a little closer to the action than before, perhaps following the rocket as it makes its way into space.

How to watch the Fortnite OG rocket launch event

From the darkest depths of space… pic.twitter.com/u6ygBDy8HuJuly 15, 2025

To watch the Fortnite OG rocket launch event, make sure to load into the game 30 minutes before the specified start time. Select Fortnite OG and wait for the event to start.

It's possible that there may be a separate playlist, which will go live prior to the event. Then, you just need to sit back and find a place to watch.

With the rocket launch, you'll be able to look up into the skies to see the rocket get intercepted. Last time, you were given a sort of floating drone view of things, so shouldn't have to worry about missing anything.

Live coverage as it happensLet's launch a rocket!

Mystery is on a collision course with danger.Strap in, the OG Rocket Launch Event is live today at 2 PM ET! pic.twitter.com/Hje3UD3DQkJuly 26, 2025

Hello and welcome to my live coverage of Fortnite OG's Blast Off event. I'll be giving my impressions as the event happens, detailing the event that starts in just over an hour.

Here's the key info

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite OG will air its first ever live event at 2pm ET / 11am PT / 7pm BST. It's a recreation of the rocket launch that happened back in 2018, and we should see the spacefaring craft get intercepted and thrown through multiple rifts.

How to watch the rocket launch

You'll be able to jump into Fortnite OG and watch the rocket launch live. Make sure you get in a little early, I'd recommend half an hour, just to make sure you get your place in the queue.

Blast Off event - Live Soon

(Image credit: Epic Games)

If you head into Fortnite OG now, you'll see a pop up message indicating that the Blast Off event will soon go live. We'll have to wait and see whether there's a separate playlist, or if the event will just naturally trigger during matches.

You can still play Fortnite OG while you wait

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite OG won't be experiencing any downtime around the rocket launch, so you can still hop in and play. We're currently on Season 4

Just 45 minutes to go!

(Image credit: Epic Games)

The Fortnite OG Blast Off event will begin in just 45 minutes. Make sure your game is updated to the latest version, and select a Fortnite OG playlist to get entry into a match once the show starts.

Fortnite original rocket launch

(Image credit: Epic Games)

The original rocket launch happened in Fortnite during Season 4. This was the season that ran in 2018, so it's been a while since players were able to witness the now iconic event.

Last time, the rocket launched, and players could watch it climb up high into the skies above the island. Then, a transmission from The Visitor played out, and the rocket was intercepted. The rocket travelled through multiple rift portals before leaving a huge crack in the sky.

20 minutes to go!

Rocket launch tailgate this weekend @ where? pic.twitter.com/2mLDQ3ippsJuly 23, 2025

Fortnite OG's Blast Off rocket launch will start in 20 minutes. I'll be jumping into a match 15 minutes beforehand to see if there's a safe zone of any kind. Stay tuned!

Matchmaking Error (#1)

(Image credit: Epic Games)

It seems Fortnite OG servers are currently overloaded, as players are being greeted with a Matchmaking Error (#1) message. Keep trying to load in, hopefully servers will be opened up closer to the event. I had the error previously, but got in eventually, so keep trying!

Damage has been turned off

It seems as if the storm circle and player damage have been turned off for the event. You won't have to worry about surviving long enough to see the rocket launch then.

Just 1 minute to go!

Get yourself a good view of the rocket launch. Sit back, and enjoy the show!

We have liftoff!

(Image credit: Epic Games)

The rocket has launched, and is now soaring up towards space. The Visitor can now be heard too.

The final rift is red this time around!

(Image credit: Epic Games)

It appears that the Blast Off event played out precisely as before, except for one key detail. The crack that appeared in the sky at the end is red this time, rather than blue. We'll have to see what this means, but it's clear that Epic Games has some tricks up its sleeves.

A red butterfly

Just before the rocket launch, I saw a red butterfly appear and circle around my character. This matches the color of the rift crack that appeared at the end of the event.

So, what's next?

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite OG Season 4 still lasts until August 8, 2025. If things follow the pattern of the original run, we'll start to see rifts appearing around the island, in the aftermath of the Blast Off event. These rifts will pull objects out of the island and replace them with objects from other worlds. This all leads into Season 5, which will have the theme of "Worlds Collide".

The Dell Pro 14 Plus is the portable version of Dell's new line of Pro Plus monitors, following their recent name change.

The Pro 14 Plus features a 14-inch display, making it one of the smaller portable monitors I have tested, and it's probably the simplest in all respects. It's highly portable, easy to use, with no frills and no extra mess. It's sturdy, well-built, and offers a respectable price. It's a clear market for those who need more screen space on the go, without needing anything fancy or power-hungry.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Dell Pro 14 Plus: Pricing and Availability

The Dell Pro 14 Plus is typically available for just over $300, and it's currently listed on Dell's site for $323.74. For this price, you get a standard 3-year warranty on a WUXGA 1920 x 1200, 14-inch display with two USB-C ports, a built-in multi-functional stand, and an easy-to-use package.

Dell ships these products worldwide, so they are available anywhere. Better yet, due to its compact size, you can also take it almost anywhere. It can slip into a backpack, briefcase, suitcase, or even just along in your arms without adding much bulk.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Dell Pro 14 Plus: Unboxing & first impressions

At this point, I've tested several portable monitors. This one functions much like the others, except it feels simpler. The other portable monitors I have tested have cooler features or nicer displays, but what they cannot top is this one in terms of simplicity and ease of use. The Dell Pro 14 Plus comes with only two USB-C cables and a fold-out stand, so you're good to go. You plug in, and it works. Nothing fancy, no setup time, no wondering which port to plug into - nothing like that. It's plug-and-play in the best way.

Amidst all the other portable displays, what makes this one so interesting is that it provides more screen real estate when needed. You don't need 4K, you don't need OLED, or a fancy stand; you don't need something with ports, speakers, or any other features. This display checks those boxes of simplicity very easily.

Dell Pro 14 Plus: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Specs

Display: 14″ IPS
Resolution: 1920×1200
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
Brightness: 400 nits
Contrast: 1500:1
Ports: 2× USB‑C (DP Alt + PD 65 W pass-through)
Weight: 0.57 kg, 0.62 kg with built-in stand

There isn't a whole lot to say about design -- and that's a good thing. This is a simple panel with a fold-out stand. It features two USB-C ports, one on either side of the stand, for easy use. The shell is constructed from slim aluminum with a plastic casing and rubber edges for enhanced grip and protection against scratches.

The bottom of the monitor, when used in landscape mode, features a slight chin with minimal branding, nothing too elaborate or complicated. The top of that same orientation view has a smaller chin, but still retains a slight bezel.

Due to its design, this monitor can be easily rotated to a vertical or portrait orientation, making it a more functional stand by far. This also explains why they placed one USB-C port on either side, allowing for a spot to plug the monitor into your computer from any angle.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Dell Pro 14 Plus: In use

This has been a fantastic little display to keep in a lightweight backpack for a trip, to use when working away from my desk, or even to add just a bit more screen space to my main desk. One thing to note right off the bat is that yes, this is only a 1080p display. It's nothing brilliant, and it's not overly impressive, but that's also what makes it great for certain things. I think of it like why I love my iPad Mini 7. It's not the best by any means, but the size and simplicity help me realize that it's not supposed to replace my primary machine. This display is unapologetically secondary; it's meant to enhance, not replace or become primary. Some of these other portable displays have become my primary workspace when I use them, for better and for worse. But the Pro 14 Plus stays secondary in every situation.

With that in mind, it's fine that it's not the best in terms of graphics, colors, or size. The ergonomics with the fold-out kickstand make it easy to set up, the anti-glare screen helps reduce distractions, the easy USB-C port means that I won't try to use it as a dock too, or try to run anything through it, I'll remember that all this is used for is expanding my workspace just a tad. There are no speakers, no high refresh rate, no mics, and no cameras. No frills, just a simple 14-inch addition to my screen.

The simplicity of this screen is what makes it special, just like the iPad mini. I can throw this in my bag and forget it's there, except when I want to be able to throw Notion, Slack, Spotify, Jira, Basecamp, Asana, metrics, or my email up on a dedicated screen to keep an eye on it while I knock out my work on my laptop. It's great for that, and for some, that's exactly what they want.

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Sleek and minimal

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ease of use

Very easy to use

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practicality

Practical for many

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price

Understandably priced

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dell Pro 14 Plus: Final verdict

The Dell Pro 14 Plus is simple, easy to use, easy to move, and easy to remember its purpose. It's got okay specs, but what makes it great is that it knows what it is and isn't. And that's a lot more than what some tech these days can say.

For more screen options, we've tested and reviewed the best business monitors.