The Acer Helios Neo 16 is one of several gaming laptop offerings from Acer in 2024, and it's really worth paying attention to, from what I've experienced in my limited time. Though the chassis is mostly unchanged from last year's version, the specs and display have been upgraded in a way that makes a big difference.
From what I've seen of it so far, it's an impressive machine that features excellent components and port selection as well as a distinct design that instantly sets it apart from other affordable products in the gaming laptop market. It could easily be one of the best cheap gaming laptops or even the best gaming laptops in general.
Acer Helios Neo 16: Price and availability
The Acer Helios Neo 16 will be launching in the US in March 2024, with its price starting at $1,499.99 (around £1,180 / AU$2,250). While not completely a budget gaming laptop, it's a much more affordable option compared to most of its competition, as many gaming rigs tend to be priced in the thousands at least.
There hasn't been confirmation of availability in the UK or Australia as of yet, though it will almost be certainly released in other regions at some point. As we get closer to the release date, that information will be made available.
Acer Helios Neo 16: Design
Image 1 of 8
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 8
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 8
(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 8
(Image credit: Future)
Image 5 of 8
(Image credit: Future)
Image 6 of 8
(Image credit: Future)
Image 7 of 8
(Image credit: Future)
Image 8 of 8
(Image credit: Future)
The Acer Helios Neo 16's design is similar to the 2023 Acer Predator Helios Neo 16, down to the text and decoration engraved on the back and the top of the chassis. The back of the laptop looks particularly striking with this clear plating over the metal engraved with Neo and other decorations around it.
There is one difference between the US version of the Helios Neo 16 and the models that will launch in other regions: the former won't have the cool lid design with engraved 'code'. However, the Helios Neo 18 model will have that in all regions it launches in. A bit disappointing, since it's such a unique feature, but the rest of the laptop is more than cool enough to compensate.
Though the Helios Neo 16 is a bit on the thicker and heavier side, thanks to its distinctive design it maintains an air of style and sleekness that few other cheaper options hit.
It has a great port selection that covers nearly any need and use you could have for this laptop. There's the USB Type-C and Type-A ports, an Ethernet port, HDMI, microSD, a combo jack, and more. The best part is that there are two USB ports for each type, a small but helpful feature that many other budget laptops lack.
The 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) display boasts an incredible 240Hz refresh rate and DCI-P3 100% color gamut, giving users options to expand the use of this gaming laptop to creative and editing work as well. OLED would have been a great addition, but it makes sense to omit it to keep costs down.
As a nice bonus, its RGB-lit keyboard is full-size, which is a boon for those like myself who prefer one with a number pad. The touchpad is solid and responsive, which is all I ask from it.
Acer Helios Neo 16: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
Despite its affordable pricing, the Acer Helios Neo 16 sports some impressive specs. It features 14th-Gen CPUs and Nvidia RTX 4000-series GPUs, up to an Intel Core 9 14900HX and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070. There's also the choice to configure this laptop with up to 32GB LPDDR5 RAM and 2TB PCIe 4 SSD in RAID 0 storage.
While we haven't had the chance to benchmark this machine yet to find out the true scale of its gaming performance, its specs should translate into some serious power. Meanwhile, the ventilation system sounds impressive on paper, with a cooling fan system, liquid metal thermal grease, and vector heat pipes. But we have to see it in action to determine how effective it is in keeping the Helios Neo 16 properly cool.
Acer Helios Neo 16: Early verdict
(Image credit: Future)
The Acer Helios Neo 16 is one of my favorite gaming laptops to come out of CES 2024, because it sports excellent specs, a robust port selection, fantastic display, all packaged in one of the most eye-catching chassis designs around. The fact that it's a refresh of an existing product instead of a brand-new gaming laptop makes it even more surprising.
The price is easily the sweetest part of the Helios Neo 16, as affordably priced products in the gaming laptop market are unfortunately rare to come across, especially ones with current-gen specs.
Hopefully, its gaming and general performance will speak for itself once it comes time for more in-depth reviews.
The Acer Aspire Vero 16 is Acer’s latest budget laptop, and it looks set to outpace other laptops in the affordable 16-inch display market. Between its WQXGA screen, current-gen CPU, and solid RAM and storage, it's a pretty stacked laptop that's perfect for demanding productivity work and light editing projects.
What sets the Vero 16 apart from Acer's other offerings is how eco-friendly the build is, and it shows how dedicated the manufacturer is to building laptops that have less of an impact on the environment while keeping the quality up and the pricing affordable.
Acer Aspire Vero 16: Price and availability
The Acer Aspire Vero 16 is slated for an April 2024 release in the US, with pricing starting at $749.99 – that’s around £590 / AU$1,120, but we don’t yet have confirmed release dates or prices for the UK or Australia.
That list price is impressive, considering that the Vero 16 is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra CPU and a large display. Add in its other solid specs and you have a laptop that's competitive with the best ultrabooks and the best thin and light laptops in the same market that cost at least double the price.
Acer Aspire Vero 16: Design
Image 1 of 5
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 5
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 5
(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 5
(Image credit: Future)
Image 5 of 5
(Image credit: Future)
The Acer Aspire Vero 16 has an impressive 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) screen, though it also being OLED would have made this laptop more competitive with Acer's Swift Go 14 and 16.
As mentioned, this is an eco-friendly laptop, and its chassis is more than 60% PCR (post-consumer recycled) material, with the touchpad made from Acer’s OceanGlass, and the packaging made from 100% recycled material. It feels lightweight for a laptop with such a large screen and with such a high-quality build, and the chassis has an interesting texture, giving the Vero 16 a more distinctive look and feel that I personally enjoy.
Like the Acer Swift Go 14 and 16 laptops, the Aspire Vero 16 has a 1440p webcam, which is a clear upgrade over most other ultrabooks, which still use 1080p or even 720p. And this camera even comes with a physical privacy shutter, a feature that in my opinion should be standard on laptops.
Its port selection is pretty decent, with Type-C and Type-A USB ports, an HDMI port, one 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack, and a Kensington lock. However, it's missing both an Ethernet port and a microSD slot, which is disappointing.
The touchpad is smooth and responsive, and has a built-in fingerprint reader in the top-left corner; rather convenient for avoiding mishaps with a reader and the power button. The keyboard features lovely backlighting and an interesting detail – the 'R' and 'E' keys are backward, which an Acer rep explained is related to the 'recycle' theme of the laptop.
Acer Aspire Vero 16: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
Though we couldn't test the Acer Aspire Vero 16's performance through benchmarks, the Intel Core Ultra CPU all but guarantees a speedy laptop that eats processor-intensive tasks for breakfast.
As for the other specs, the GPU is the standard Intel Graphics, meaning that you won't be squeezing out much power on that end. I wish the Intel Arc Graphics upgrade option was available, as that would have kept the laptop lightweight while still offering a way to customize your laptop to better handle more demanding creative and editing work.
Acer Aspire Vero 16: Early verdict
(Image credit: Future)
The Acer Aspire Vero 16 is a solid laptop that generally holds up well to other 16-inch models. What sets it apart is its price, which is quite budget-friendly, especially for the size of the screen, and its impressive eco-friendly credentials.
It shares most of the same specs and upgrades as the Acer Swift Go 14, and even starts at the same price. However, compared to the Swift Go 14, the Aspire Vero 16 is missing key features like an OLED screen, higher RAM options, and a microSD slot, to name just a few.
But, if you want a larger screen for an affordable price, a webcam that has a physical privacy switch, and if you care about the growing issue of e-waste, then this is the laptop for you. Otherwise, you could get the Swift Go 14 or 16-inch model for at or around the same price, and either would offer you more in terms of specs or features.
Dell continues to overhaul its products' designs, and the Alienware m16 R2 refresh is no exception. The new design has a noticeably smaller chassis, making it more portable, and the gaming laptop has been upgraded with new specs and a reworked ventilation system.
When I first saw the new Alienware m16 R2 against last year's model, I was shocked at how drastic the difference in size was. And beyond that, there were several other design points added to the latest version, as well as the spec upgrades.
From what I saw, this gaming laptop looks quite impressive and will definitely be a more managable beast that will still deliver on power and performance. It could even be one of the best gaming laptops around.
Alienware m16 R2: price and availability
Revealed at CES 2024, the Alienware m16 R2 is set to launch January 11 in the US and in Canada, with an entry-level model starting at $1,499, though more powerful models will be around the $1,649 mark, with more options to come in the first quarter of 2024.
At the time of writing, we don't have any UK or Australian pricing, but going by the US numbers we expect the new m16 R2 to have similar pricing to its predecessor.
Overall, such prices seem rational for the specs (see below) the m16 R2 offers. And, as I was told by a Dell rep, the decision to only go up to a GeForce RTX 4070 was made to keep the pricing a bit more reasonable for potential buyers, with other laptops like the Alienware x16 R2 having the GeForce RTX 4080 and GeForce RTX 4090 options instead. But Alienware will likely face strong competition from other big gaming laptop makers like Asus, MSI and Acer, when it comes to making powerful yet compact machines.
Alienware m16 R2: specs
Here are the specs for the Alienware m16 R2 at a glance.
Alienware m16 R2: design
Image 1 of 9
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 9
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 9
(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 9
(Image credit: Future)
Image 5 of 9
(Image credit: Future)
Image 6 of 9
(Image credit: Future)
Image 7 of 9
(Image credit: Future)
Image 8 of 9
(Image credit: Future)
Image 9 of 9
(Image credit: Future)
The first and most obvious change to the Alienware m16 R2 is its size, which has been reduced by 15%, mainly due to the removal of an overly large and bulky ventilation system that stuck out of the back of its predecessor. As a result, the ventilation system had be completely overhauled with a new Alienware Cryo-tech thermal system being implemented in its place. While it's not as effective as the larger older system, Dell says it still works well in keeping the machine cool.
There's also an interesting feature that the screen can flatten down to 180 degrees. It can't rotate the full 360 degrees like a 2-in-1 laptop to become a tablet, but this feature could help to prevent hinge strain by allowing you to push back the screen that bit further.
The keyboard is broadly the same as before, but by removing the chunky rear cooling, Alienware was able to push the display further back and thus serve up more room on the keyboard desk, resulting in a larger trackpad flanked by Alienware FX lighting.
There's also has a new 'Stealth Mode' that can quickly switch from loud RGB colors to a subtle white; this'll likely be handy for people who want to use the M16 R2 for work as well as play. However, instead of using the Cherry MX switches that previous models like the Alienware m18 featured, it instead uses Alienware's own switches, similar to the Alienware Pro Wireless keyboard.
The display has a 16-inch QHD+ panel, so keeps the screen space of its predecessor despite the slimmer size. It also boasts a 240Hz refresh rate, which guarantees smooth and stutter-free gameplay for the more hardcore gamers; just bear in mind you'll need to tweak the settings of very demanding games to get the frame rates needed to take advantage of the highest refresh rates.
The Alienware m16 R2's port selection is quite generous, as despite the slimmer overall footprint, the laptop still has room for an Ethernet port that's handy for people aiming to use it as potentially a desktop replacement machine, where being able to plug in a Ethernet cable is vital for ensuring a stronger internet connection.
Alienware m16 R2: performance
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 3
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 3
(Image credit: Future)
Once the benchmarks come out, and we put the laptop to the test ourselves, we'll have a complete understanding of the kind of performance that the Alienware m16 R2 is capable of. But judging by the use of the Intel Core Ultra CPUs and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4000-series GPUs in general, this laptop is going to be an absolute beast. Powering all of this is a 240W GaN charger.
The move to the latest RTX graphics cards also mean the m16 R2 can tap into Nvidia's newest DLSS 3.5 upscaling tech, which can cleverly render games at lower resolutions and then use upmixing to deliver visuals that look very close to the native high resolution of the laptop's display without taking the performance hit.
With up to 64GB of RAM and 4TB of SSD storage, the m16 R2 could be a great machine for so-called content creators, with the specs and performance window likely to easily power through video rendering. For pure gaming, such a high amount of RAM might be overkill. As an aside, the RAM and SSD are user upgradable, should you get a lesser-specced model and then want to upgrade at a later date.
The aforementioned Stealth Mode, which is activated by the 'Fn' + 'F2' combo, also sets the performance mode to Quiet. It's a very handy shortcut that allows you to use your gaming laptop outside without the fans ramping up to do a passable impression of a jet engine.
Dell has also beefed up its webcam, with FHD resolution. It's nice to see a gaming laptop take its built in webcam serious, as its usually a weakness of most gaming machines. Hopefully it works well even in poor or normal lighting.
Alienware m16 R2: early verdict
(Image credit: Future)
The Alienware m16 R2 is a promising refresh of last year's model, with a major decrease in its chassis size that still preserves its 16-inch display. The display is excellent with a very high refresh rate, there's a solid port selection, the keyboard has great feedback on its switches, and Alienware has added other quality of life features.
For those looking for a great desktop replacement or just a powerful yet reasonably compact gaming laptop, the Alienware m16 R2 is shaping up to be a top choice, especially as it manages to shave off unnecessary mass and weight to make it easier to transport without the need to compromise on high-end specs.
In short, the Alienware m16 R2 is an example of a well done refresh meets redesign that enhances without detracting from what makes the product well liked in the first place. We'll need to fully test the m16 R2 to see if these tweaks have proved to be effective, so stay tuned for our review.
The MSI Claw is the latest PC gaming handheld to hit the scene since the release of the Steam Deck a couple of years ago, but it's core distinction — being the first Intel-powered device in this category — makes it both exciting as well as somewhat perilous for both MSI and Intel.
Given the strong showing that AMD has had with its AMD Z1 and Z1 Extreme chips powering the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and likely many others to come, Intel can't afford to miss out on this fast growing market.
Meanwhile, MSI is taking a chance on the new Intel Core Ultra processor line that is powering many of the best laptops announced at CES 2024, and as yet, these chips are just getting into the hands of reviewers so it's too soon to tell if the integrated Arc graphics in the MSI Claw will have the same level of performance as the RDNA 3 graphics in the AMD Z1, especially since the MSI Claw and more recent AMD-powered handhelds feature full 1080p displays with high refresh rates.
If there was one thing I've consistently heard here at CES from both MSI and other laptop manufacturers betting their laptop lines on the new chips is that the Intel Arc graphics in the Core Ultra processors is absolutely up to the task and in my limited amount of time messing around with the MSI Claw, I can see why they'd be so confident.
The number of titles I was able to test out on the Claw was limited, but they played brilliantly all the same, and with several major advantages for Intel's iGPU over AMD's competing Z1 series, the MSI Claw might not just be an important beachhead for Intel in a very critical PC gaming market, it can also serve as powerful showcase for what its chips are capable of doing.
MSI Claw: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
There's no firm pricing or release date yet for the MSI Claw, but I've been told by MSI that it should launch between the middle of February and the middle of March, and it will be available in a few configurations, which will dictate its sale price.
The base configuration, with an Intel Core Ultra 5 135H processor and 512GB SSD, is expected to sell for $699 (about £560, AU$980), while the Core Ultra 7 165H processor with 1TB SSD storage configuration is expected to top out at $799, with the Core Ultra 5, 1TB SSD option costing somewhere in between.
Currently, there will only be a 16GB LPDDR5 memory option regardless of configuration, but I expect that depending on the success of the initial production run of the device, the spec configuration range might grow to include more memory as well, but MSI has no official plans for a 32GB memory option at this time.
MSI Claw: Specs
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
MSI Claw: Design
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
On the design side of things, the MSI Claw will be very familiar to anyone who has used one of the new PC gaming handhelds, but there are some design choices that are pretty solidly MSI.
With a very strong gaming laptop pedigree, MSI's Claw is very much in line with many of its best gaming laptops in terms of aesthetic and agressive gamer styling, but there are some functional differences between the Claw and its competitors as well that aren't purely for looks.
The cooling system on the MSI Claw is larger than on the ROG Ally, making for a somewhat thicker device, and the more open venting on the back of the Claw ensures that enough air is being pulled through to keep the Core Ultra processor cool.
Image 1 of 4
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Image 2 of 4
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Image 3 of 4
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Image 4 of 4
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
There are also two buttons on the back of the device that are for programming your own macros into the device as well, something missing on its competitors, and the choice of FHD resolution and 120Hz refresh makes for a slightly less crisp looking picture than the QHD display on the Legion Go, but with such a small-sized screen, 1080p is way more than you probably even need and looks fantastic in practice.
Weight-and-size-wise, the MSI Claw is heavier than the Steam Deck, but it's not inordinantly bulky or unwieldy, at least not any more than its competitors. The buttons along the front could be explained a bit better, since the buttons around the screen that control things like opening the MSI Center M interface or opening the settings screen are important, but it doesn't help of you if you can't remember of immediately tell which button does what.
I will say that the MSI Claw did run somewhat hot under load, but it is hardly alone on that front, and it does an admirable job of helping bleed heat from the device at least.
MSI Claw: Performance
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Given the limited amount of time I had with the MSI Claw, the last thing I'd have been able to do is put the device through any kind of formal battery of benchmarks, and the number of games I had access to were limited to a select few like Sonic Superstars and Assassin's Creed: Mirage, both of which played fantastic with little to no issues.
I spent most of my time playing Sonic as it terns out since I wanted to focus on a game where the speed of the onscreen elements would really show off the 120Hz refresh rate, and it was definitely the right choice. While not necessarily the most taxing title, the Sonic and friends (and enemies, and frenemies) all looked so crisp I kept thinking that the display was a higher resolutions than it was (it was 1080p), or that the display was OLED (it's not). Meanwhile, flying through a level with rings, structures, characters, and much more flew past Tails as I sped towards the end of the course and I couldn't produce any screen blur, ghosting, or screen tearing.
The Intel Arc integrated GPU features 8 Xe cores, which is the same as the Intel Arc A380, though the power draw of the iGPU in the Core Ultra 7 165H is naturally a much lower wattage (I was told it drew about 30-35W). This still manages to deliver some solid graphics performance, however, and the improvements that Intel has made for its Arc graphics driver over the past year has considerably improved my confidence in Arc GPUs. Older games will still likely run into problems though, especially anything from the DX9 era or earlier, so if you're hoping to do a lot of retro gaming on the go with this handheld, well, that is the risk with relying on an Arc GPU going forward. Anything DirectX11 or higher will play much better, however, and this likely includes most of the games that everybody is playing anyway.
The audio was also fairly robust for a handheld, so if you're planning on playing without a headset, you'll be absolutely fine. I only had about 20 minutes of total playing time with an MSI Claw, so I am very happy to report that the 53WHr battery did not noticeably diminish much in that time. How long it will actually last will need to wait until I do a formal review in a few weeks time, but MSI and Intel say that the battery should get you about a two hours of play time with full performance.
MSI Claw: Early verdict
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
While a full evaluation of the MSI Claw will have to wait for more rigorous benchmarking and extended play time, everything I saw was very promising, especially for a chip that's relatively new to the scene. Intel Arc has very strong hardware fundamentals, especially the hardware AI cores that power XeSS super sampling to boost frame rates and visual quality. It should be much easier hitting much higher frame rates on the MSI Claw than on the Asus ROG Ally (for those games that support it) as a result.
The price is a tad too high for my liking, but it's definitely in line with the market, and the MSI Claw is unmistakably an MSI device in terms of aesthetics. The MSI Center M also seems to have learned from the foibles of the ROG Ally and Legion Go's UI and kept things much simpler.
With nothing but my eyes and my gut to go on, I dare say that MSI and Intel have pulled off a hell of a device that is really going to distinguish itself from an increasingly crowded field of devices. Ultimately, February or March will tell the tale of whether Intel's new Core Ultra processors are up to the task of powering the next generation of PC gaming handhelds, or whether AMD can keep its current leadership position in the market.
Acer's refresh of the Swift Go 14 comes in two flavors: the already-released version that's about as a vanilla refresh as you can get, and the upcoming enhanced version that comes with more features. If you waited past the initial release, this new version is shaping up to be quite the
We've had some hands-on time with the upcoming model and it's a thing of beauty, with great specs and a lovely display. Coupled with the more than affordable pricing, this could easily be one of the best thin and light laptops and best cheap laptops around. It seems that Acer has stepped up its game as its offerings are well-balanced.
Acer Swift Go 14: Price and availability
So far, the Acer Swift Go 14 has been revealed for the US market, slated to release in March 2024 for a starting price of $749.99 (around £588 / AU$1,116). However, we don't have official pricing for either the UK or Australian markets at this time.
The pricing is quite good - close to budget even - as buyers would be able to have at least the current-gen Intel Core Ultra 5 CPU built-in for a low cost. Even with higher specs, the pricing would still be well under most Ultrabooks with worse specs.
Acer Swift Go 14: Design
Image 1 of 4
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 4
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 4
(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 4
(Image credit: Future)
The most notable feature of the Acer Swift Go 14 is its incredibly thin and light design, with a weight under three pounds and a thickness of nearly half an inch. It barely weighs anything, yet has a nice metal sleek chassis.
Compared to the current model, this upcoming model has a notch in the bezel due to it being outfitted with a superior 1440p QHD camera that produces an impressive image. It also has a privacy shutter, which is handy - though I wish it was a physical switch rather than a keyboard key.
The keyboard has a nice typing feel to it with well-sized keys and a lovely backlight for late-night typing. Its touchpad, made of Gorilla Glass, is responsive and smooth to use. It also features integrated media controls in the touchpad and has 'Swift' engraved at the bottom corner for a classy touch.
The display is a WQXGA+ OLED (2880 x 1880) screen and it looks stunning, delivering that OLED crispness that few laptops consistently have other than the Dell XPS series. And considering the price point, it's an excellent value.
Port selection is well-balanced, with Type-A and Type-C USB ports, an audio jack, an HDMI port, a micro SD slot, and a Kensington lock for security. It's missing an ethernet port - disappointing but not a deal breaker.
Acer Swift Go 14: Performance
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2
(Image credit: Future)
The Acer Swift Go 14 is outfitted with the latest Intel Core Ultra CPUs, with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H to choose from. Combined with the DCI-P3 100% color gamut, you have the perfect creative machine that's able to tackle both editing and art projects with ease.
The GPU starts at the standard mobile card but can also be configured to have an Intel Arc GPU, which is a solid budget card that means it can handle the more demanding processes of editing and high-end software.
While we don't yet have official benchmarks to properly gauge performance, the specs alone are almost guaranteed to give buyers way more than their money's worth.
Acer Swift Go 14: Early verdict
(Image credit: Future)
The Acer Swift Go 14 model slated for a March 2024 release proves that Acer is offering a great affordable laptop. It's not only for those who need a portable machine for productivity work, but for creatives and editors as well. Its advanced CPU should translate to significant performance gains and if you equip it with an Intel Arc GPU, that bolsters its output even more. Its OLED display with a 100% color gamut and solid port selection serves to enhance an already solid laptop.
The real triumph here is the pricing, which is far cheaper than most other laptops on the market for comparable specs. Considering how expensive most Windows laptops have been for the past several years, it's a breath of fresh air to have one so well-priced. This is definitely a laptop to look forward to, if you ignore the bare-bones version that's already out to market.
Alienware hasn't just been working hard on its monitor and computer lines; it's also been busy revitalizing its gaming keyboard and mouse offerings to better suit competitive players. In fact, the manufacturer worked with 100 professional gamers, including the competitive gaming team Team Liquid, to refine the build and performance of both the Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard and Pro Wireless Mouse to make them among the best gaming mice and best gaming keyboards around.
My brief hands-on time with both showed me how much more advanced these peripherals are compared to last year's offerings. It's impressive that Dell has gone the distance in improving these designs, rather than simply resting on its laurels and turning out a perfunctory refresh.
Alienware Pro Wireless mouse and keyboard: Price and availability
While there's no official pricing for the Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard or Pro Wireless Mouse as yet, we know that their release date will be January 11 2024 for the US and UK, with other countries and regions seeing a later release, although it's not clear right now if these peripherals will be released in Australia.
Going by the price of last year's models, the list price for the keyboard will most likely be around, or possibly a bit higher than, $150 / £145 / AU$240, while we'd expect the mouse to come in at around $130 / £125 / AU$150.
Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard and Mouse: Design
The new Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard is a tenkyless marvel. It features two silicone sound-dampening layers, which makes for a richer and higher-quality typing experience. Compared to last year's model, which I also briefly tested out, and the Alienware AW420K, which I reviewed in full, the difference is noticeable.
It also looks beautiful, especially with the RGB lighting illuminating it. Alienware has a way of making an otherwise boring black finish look stunning and sleek, with this keyboard being no exception, and you can choose between that color – Dark Side of the Moon – or the white Lunar Light. It's well-built yet lightweight at under two pounds, and feels able to withstand a drop while still being easily portable.
Image 1 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 5 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 6 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
The Alienware Pro Wireless Mouse has also been improved in most ways spec-wise, though its outward appearance is mainly the same design as the 2023 Alienware AW720M. While the latter weighed 3oz / 86g, the new model is remarkably light at under 2.12oz / 60g. As I was told by Team Liquid, thanks to the lost weight movement speed and response time were incredibly fast, helping to improve gaming performance.
There is one caveat, however. In 2023 I praised the Alienware AW720M for being one of the few truly ambidextrous gaming mice; but here, the new design and reduced weight have come at the cost of the two buttons on the right side, making this a right-handed mouse only. It's disappointing that left-handed players are left behind again for the sake of a few grams.
As with the keyboard you can choose between the Dark Side of the Moon and Lunar Light colors.
Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard and Mouse: Performance
The Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard's linear mechanical switches have an actuation force of 40g, and I could feel how much lighter it was to use than either of the two aforementioned Alienware keyboards, with its sound quality being much softer. A member of Team Liquid remarked to me that the keyboard felt easier and more responsive to use.
It's not just the actuation force that's been completely overhauled. Unlike the 2023 model, this keyboard is using Alienware Linear Mechanical switches instead of the Cherry MX switches. This means that Dell has been able to better customize them to suit the more esports-minded goals of this year's release.
The switches are also hot-swappable, and compatible with pretty much any 3-pin and 5-pin switches, including the Cherry MX ones.
Image 1 of 7
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 7
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 7
(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 7
(Image credit: Future)
Image 5 of 7
(Image credit: Future)
Image 6 of 7
(Image credit: Future)
Image 7 of 7
(Image credit: Future)
While I had limited time using the Alienware Pro Wireless Mouse, it does feel very noticeably lighter that its predecessor, which will make gaming with it that much more responsive – and when it comes to competitive gaming, every moment saved can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
It seems that the mouse has lost its Bluetooth connectivity in the overhaul process, which makes sense since it's easily the slowest type of connectivity, and this mouse is built specifically for esports. However, this means there's one less option for non-competitive gamers and general users.
Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard and Mouse: Early verdict
(Image credit: Future)
Both the Alienware Pro Wireless Mouse and Keyboard have been nearly completely overhauled for these new releases, and I applaud Dell for putting in significant effort in terms of research and development – it pays off in spades for both peripherals.
Both the keyboard and mouse benefit from increased response times due to lighter and more efficient builds. The keyboard switches' decreased actuation force is impressive, as is how much lighter the mouse is to move, even if that came at the cost of ambidextrous functionality.
Despite that one misstep, it's still impressive to see how much progress Dell has made in improving both of these accessories. I'm looking forward to fully testing how well they perform – and to what improvements Dell brings to future models.
Dell showcased the upcoming releases of its popular XPS line of laptops, including a refresh of the Dell XPS 13 and two new sizes, the 14 and 16-inch. The designs are mainly based on what Dell offered last year, specifically the clean and sleek ultra-modern look that the Dell XPS 13 Plus from 2022 made into the series standard.
The Dell XPS 16 in particular is meant to be the more luxury-minded and larger-screened Ultrabook for those who want an even more robust display resolution and specs. Despite its larger size and weight, it's still easy to carry around.
Dell XPS 16: Price and availability
Though pricing is currently unknown for the Dell XPS 16, last year's XPS 15 model started at a premium pricing of $2,799 / £2,649 / AU$4,500.10 which is a solid indication of what kind of price point we could be looking at for this version.
Availability has also not been confirmed as of now but, with Dell's track record, the XPS 14 will almost assuredly be released in the US, UK, and Australia markets, as well as many other regions and countries.
Dell XPS 16: Design
The design is a slightly modified version of the Dell XPS 15 (2023) with borrowed aesthetics from the Dell XPS 13 Plus (2022), the latter which cemented what the ultrabook line would look like since then. The Dell XPS 16's chassis is made from machined aluminum with Gorilla Glass 3 for the touchpad. It comes in two colors, Platinum or Graphite, which are normally standard palettes that have been heightened by the lovely finishes enhancing the aesthetic.
Though it's heavier than the XPS 14, it still feels lighter than other laptops in the same market and could still be considered one of the best thin and laptops. It's an Ultrabook through and through.
It features a fully 4K resolution OLED display, equipped with crisp and bright visuals that pop beautifully. This is one of the top features of the XPS series and the XPS 16 delivers in spades. Its distinctive keyboard is stunning, a sleek marvel that wastes almost zero space, and feels satisfying to type on to boot. Port selection is still a bit lacking but at least you have access to three Thunderbolt 4 plots and one Type-A USB via an included adapter.
Image 1 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 5 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 6 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Like the XPS 14, there are speakers on either side of the keyboard, allowing for crisper audio. The webcam has finally been upgraded to 1080p, which has been a glaring omission from past models, and it's a pretty solid quality one that frames you well in a conference call. It's redesigned to fit the thin bezels (complete with a slight notch) while retaining the improved resolution. The ventilation system has also been redesigned to be more efficient, so hopefully, it will go the distance once properly tested out.
Unfortunately, the biggest offense design-wise has yet to be addressed: the non-tactile function key touch bar and the invisible touchpad. Both are similar to past models - incredibly stylish but an accessibility nightmare for those with low to no vision. It's a shame since the touchpad is well-made and responsive but a slight ridge to establish boundaries would have made it perfect.
Dell XPS 16: Performance
Image 1 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 5 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 6 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Though I couldn't personally test out the Dell XPS 16's performance through benchmarks, the specs themselves are more than promising and should allow gamers to run some of the best PC games with no issues. It can be equipped with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9, one of the brand-new CPUs from the AI-enhanced processor line. If the CPU's dedicated neural processing unit is as strong as Intel makes it out to be, then it'll be able to handle any workload including creative and editing.
The XPS 14 can also be equipped with up to an impressive Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, an excellent GPU that can handle any of the top AAA titles at high settings. Despite it being mid-range, it should play nice with the high-end CPU. Only future benchmarking can determine exactly how far this laptop can go, but fingers crossed that it lives up to its impressive specs.
Dell XPS 16: Early verdict
(Image credit: Future)
I'm very impressed with Dell's offerings this year, as it seems that its refresh has addressed most of the issues we've found in previous iterations of the Dell XPS line. The only exceptions are the touchpad and function taskbar, which are both invisible with no buttons or ridges.
The aesthetics are gorgeous and distinctive as befitting the series, with a great keyboard and incredibly vibrant display. Coupled with a revamped webcam and ventilation system, it finally feels every bit one of the best ultrabooks that it was meant to be.
There are also the upgraded specs, including a CPU from the upcoming Meteor Lake line, that should guarantee some excellent performance once it can be properly benchmarked. If the Dell XPS 16 could finally live up to the illustrious Dell XPS 15 (2022), then we'll truly have a perfect laptop on our hands. And maybe someday the non-tactile function key touch bar will be permanently retired.
Dell showcased the upcoming releases of its popular XPS line of laptops, including a refresh of the Dell XPS 13 and two new sizes, the 14 and 16-inch. The designs are mainly based on what Dell offered last year, specifically the clean and sleek ultra-modern look that the Dell XPS 13 Plus from 2022 made into the series standard.
As its display is only an inch larger than the 13-inch, it's impressive how much has been improved between the two models from the specs to the display resolution to the port selection and more.
While the 13-inch has an advantage in pure portability, if you want a more well-rounded laptop then the 14-inch is the much better choice due to the superior specs, port selection, and display.
Dell XPS 14: Price and availability
Though the pricing is currently unknown for the Dell XPS 14, we can assume that it would be a bit more expensive than last year's Dell XPS 13 Plus, which went for $1,249.00 / £1,198.99 / AU$2,398. It's Dell's ultrabook line, which means it will command a price point matching that designation.
Availability has also not been confirmed as of now but, with Dell's track record, the XPS 14 will almost assuredly be released in the US, UK, and Australia markets, as well as plenty of other regions and countries.
Dell XPS 14: Design
The design is a slightly updated version of the Dell XPS 13 Plus from 2022, which cemented what the ultrabook line would look like since then. The Dell XPS 14's chassis is made from machined aluminum with Gorilla Glass 3 for the touchpad. It comes in two colors, Platinum or Graphite, which are normally standard palettes that have been heightened by the lovely finishes enhancing the aesthetic.
It weighs less than four pounds and feels even lighter, close to how little the XPS 13 feels. This could easily be one of the best thin and light laptops, made to be carried around freely and fit into most bags.
Opening the laptop, the 3.2K resolution OLED display is what pops out first with crisp and bright visuals. This is one of the top features of the XPS series and the XPS 14 doesn't disappoint in the slightest. Its distinctive keyboard is stunning, a sleek marvel that wastes nearly zero space, and feels so satisfying to type on to boot. Port selection is still a bit lacking but at least you have access to three Thunderbolt 4 plots and one Type-A USB via an included adapter.
Image 1 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 5 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
Image 6 of 6
(Image credit: Future)
It features speakers on either side of the keyboard, allowing for crisper audio. Thankfully the webcam has been upgraded to 1080p, a glaring omission from past models, and it's a pretty solid quality one. It's been redesigned to fit the thin bezels (complete with a slight notch) while retaining the higher resolution. The ventilation system has also been redesigned to be more efficient, so hopefully it will go the distance once properly tested out.
Unfortunately, the biggest offense design-wise has yet to be addressed: the non-tactile function key touch bar and the invisible touchpad. Both are similar to past models which means they're incredibly stylish to look at but an accessibility nightmare for those with low to no vision. It's a shame since the touchpad is well-made and responsive but a slight ridge to establish boundaries would have been perfect.
Dell XPS 14: Performance
Image 1 of 5
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 5
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 5
(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 5
(Image credit: Future)
Image 5 of 5
(Image credit: Future)
While I wasn't able to test out performance directly through benchmarks, the specs are quite impressive, easily allowing gamers to run some of the best PC games around. Its CPU is the newly announced Intel Core Ultra 7, which is the flagship model of the AI-enhanced processor line. If the CPU's dedicated neural processing unit is as strong as Intel makes it out to be, then it'll be able to handle any workload including creative and editing.
The XPS 14 can also be equipped with up to a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, an excellent GPU that can handle any of the top AAA titles at high settings without overtaxing your laptop. Only future benchmarking can determine exactly how far this laptop can go, but fingers crossed that it lives up to its impressive specs.
Dell XPS 14: Early verdict
(Image credit: Future)
Overall I'm impressed with what Dell is offering this year, as it seems that its refresh has addressed most of the issues we've found in previous iterations of the Dell XPS line. The only exceptions are the touchpad and function taskbar, which are both invisible with no buttons or ridges.
The aesthetics are gorgeous and distinctive as befitting the series, with a great keyboard and incredibly vibrant display. Coupled with a revamped webcam and ventilation system, it finally feels every bit one of the best ultrabooks that it was meant to be.
There are also the upgraded specs, including a CPU from the upcoming Meteor Lake line, that should guarantee some excellent performance once it can be properly benchmarked. Hopefully, the Dell XPS 14 will finally surpass the previous models with these enhancements. And maybe someday the non-tactile function key touch bar will be permanently retired.
When we reviewed the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Founders Edition earlier this year, we were slightly disappointed with the mid-range offering from its small performance boost compared to the base 4060 (let alone 3060 Ti) alongside 8GB VRAM and design issues. Regardless of its faults, it was still a worthy buy for many reasons, like DLSS 3 being the current standard when it comes to AI upscaling tech while overall ray tracing performance saw significant improvements as well. As third-party versions of the GPU have been released, the PNY Geforce RTX 4060 Ti is a strong contender for the best graphics card using the RTX 4060 Ti GPU available on the market.
Despite still inheriting the under-the-hood flaws of Founders Edition, the PNY take on the GPU makes some significant improvement in terms of its design. The most obvious is that it only needs a single-power 8-pin PCIe power connector and not the special 16-pin adapter. Of course, this means opportunities for overclocking are severely diminished.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Meanwhile, having only 8GB VRAM is a shame considering that many of the most visually impressive AAA games released over the past year blows past that even at 1080p. When it comes to best bang for buck, the 16GB RTX 4060 Ti can be purchased for around $50 more. With DLSS 3 also comes Frame Generation. This employs AI-enhanced hardware to enhance resolution by generating new frames and interleaving them among pre-rendered GPU frames. While this enhances the fluidity and visual smoothness of games during rendering, it comes with the trade-off of heightened latency and input lag. Then there’s the reality that only around 50 games even support Frame Generation.
Even when pushing the PNY RTX 4060 Ti past its limit, it still manages to keep cool and quiet. Just be mindful that aesthetically, the overall design is a bit bland. If a potential buyer is looking for something to complement their RGB lighting extravaganza build, it’ll unfortunately stand out like a sore thumb. Compared to the Founders Edition, Nvidia still is unmatched with the sleek unified build.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Those looking for raw native power in the 1440p or above range will need to look at the best 1440p graphics cards and best 4K graphics cards, but this GPU becomes more of a testament to how awesome DLSS 3 is in terms of AI upscaling. Not only can this make 1440p gaming a pleasurable experience, it can handle some games at 4K with some settings tinkering.
If a fantastic 1080p experience playing more esports games at high frame rates like Fortnite and League of Legends matters more than playing Cyberpunk 2077 or Alan Wake II at max settings, the PNY GeForce RTX 4060 Ti could be considered a seriously attractive purchase, especially when it comes to form over function.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
PNY GeForce RTX 4060 Ti: Price & availability
How much does it cost? MSRP listed at $389 but can be found for around $350 (around £395/AU$575)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The PNY Geforce RTX 4060 Ti is currently available now in the US, UK and Australia. Though the MSRP on PNY’s online store is $389, it can be found for as low as $350 on other stores like Amazon or Newegg. Due to the more 1:1 nature of the PNY take vs. the Founders Edition, interested buyers are usually going to save a solid $10 for the same performance.
For PC Gamers on a budget, those looking for one of the best cheap graphics cards for their new rig can look toward its AMD rival the RX 7700 XT. Be mindful that AMD FidelityFX isn’t as good as DLSS, Nvidia simply does ray tracing better at the moment and that card is about $40 more. However, the Radeon RX 7700 XT comes packed in with 12GB VRAM if that matters. When it comes to overall gaming experience between the two, the Geforce RTX 4060 Ti is a very solid performer.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
PNY GeForce RTX 4060 Ti: Specs
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Should you buy the PNY GeForce RTX 4060 Ti?
Buy the PNY GeForce RTX 4060 Ti if...
You require great native 1080p performance The AD106 GPU features phenomenal 1080p performance even with Ray Tracing enabled where it applies.
You want the best upscaling tech available
DLSS3 improves on the steller upscaling tech and allows some fantastic performance alongside image quality at 1440p. For games that use it, Frame Generation pushes that even further.
Don't buy it if...
You require more than 8GBs of VRAM Right now, running visually demanding games at 1080p with max settings alongside ray-tracing may bring the graphics card down to its knees with only 8GBs of VRAM. It may be best to get the 16GB 4060 Ti for around $50 more.
You are looking to push your graphics card to the absolute limit Compared to the 16-pin PCIe power connector set-up of the Founders Edition, slicing that in half does limit potential overclocking.
PNY GeForce RTX 4060 Ti: Also consider
How I tested the PNY GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
I spend about two weeks with the PNY GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
I played games alongside Adobe creative Suite including Premier Pro and Photoshop
I used the PNY GeForce RTX 4060 Ti as the graphics card on my main computer for about two weeks.
Some of the games played included Dead Space (2023), Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake II, and Starfield. Outside of gaming, video and photo content was created on Photoshop and Premiere Pro. Considering this is a 1:1 spec of the 4060 Founders Edition, the benchmarks were the same.
We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.
Choosing the best photo editing software is very much a matter of personal choice, with cost, features, and ease of use playing important roles in the decision-making process. Adobe dominates this area as the market leader for professionals and enthusiasts, but despite being the best available, it’s certainly not for everyone. This has opened up opportunities for alternative solutions, and an option for Windows users is ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2024.
If you’re unfamiliar with this software, Photo Studio Ultimate offers a similar workflow to Lightroom and Photoshop, but its features are combined within a single interface rather than two separate programs. For some people, this will provide a more seamless editing experience, although Lightroom and Photoshop do integrate well despite being two separate programs for performing different tasks.
In a nutshell, Photo Studio Ultimate lets you view and manage images on your computer and process raw files with excellent functionality available alongside photo editing. This all-in-one photo editing solution for Windows provides an attractive alternative to the Likes of Affinity Photo 2, Lightroom, and Photoshop. Photo Studio Ultimate is available in two licensing flavors: a subscription and a perpetual license. Users can choose the licensing model that meets their needs and preferences, with pros and cons for each option mainly relating to cost over time, updates, and cloud storage.
(Image credit: James Abbott)
ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2024: Pricing & plans
Released in September 2023
Subscription and perpetual license options
Windows-only software
ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2024 was released in September 2023. This latest version of the Windows-only software delivers a range of AI-powered tools and additional feature updates. The software offers a comparable package to the Adobe Photography Plan within a single interface and is targeted more towards beginners and enthusiasts.
ACDSee Home Plan is a monthly or annual subscription that costs $8.90 / £7.99 / AU$13.99 per month or $89 / £72 / AU$137 per year. This includes continuous free updates for the duration of the subscription, free tech support, up to five device installs, recording and video editing software, 200GB of cloud storage, and exclusive tutorials.
The ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2024 perpetual license costs $150 / £121/ AU$230 and includes free updates and tech support for one year, alongside one device install. While this is Windows-only software, Mac users can use ACDSee Photo Studio for Mac 10, which is similar to Photo Studio Ultimate and costs $100 / £81 / AU$153.
Pricing & plans: 4/5
ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2024: Interface & tools
(Image credit: James Abbott)
Seamless Mode-based interface
Excellent raw processing functionality
Edit Mode offers photo editing
Photo Studio Ultimate provides a single, seamless interface that's divided into five Modes: Manage, Media, View, Develop and Edit. You can click on the desired Mode name at the top of the interface or begin with Manage for a raw file, for instance, and the software will take you through to Develop and then Edit if required. It’s an intuitive interface, but it could be further improved by combining the functionality of Manage, Media and View into a single Mode. In fact, Media could be eliminated because it’s not particularly useful or even necessary when you have Manage.
Manage is where you can view folders on your computer using the file tree on the left to select the desired image folder. You can move, delete, copy, rate, keyword, and even print images from here, as well as open them in the Develop and/or Edit Modes. Double-clicking on an image opens it in View with a film strip of thumbnails below. Double-clicking the image in View takes you back to Manage. In terms of how it works, it's great, but this functionality could be combined within a single Mode as previously mentioned. Media is simply images from folders that have been opened and is an unnecessary mess. That said, you can completely avoid it if, like me, you have no use for it.
(Image credit: James Abbott)
The Develop Mode is primarily for raw image processing, but you can also run other file types, such as JPEGs, through these controls if you want to take advantage of the tools available. The Develop Mode is extremely feature-packed and provides a similar level of control and functionality as Lightroom, with all the controls you need, including masking for localized adjustments and presets for quick fixes. And although it’s not intimidating for enthusiasts, even professionals could achieve their desired results here.
Edit Mode is comparable to Photoshop and the Photo Persona in Affinity Photo with a wide variety of adjustments available, including Layers, Adjustment Layers, Layer Masks, Layer Effects, and Blending modes. Then there are Tools for performing specific tasks and what you might call direct common adjustments grouped on the left of the interface to keep things simple.
(Image credit: James Abbott)
While the interface here is well laid out and doesn’t throw up any surprises, the Edit Mode lacks the features and functionality advanced users and professionals would expect and need. For instance, you can only clone on pixel-based Layers rather than empty Layers, and you can’t group Layers. This area of the software would benefit from improved functionality, although the revamped Brush Tool now provides control over flow, shape, angle and jitter alongside the older Size, Feather and Opacity options.
This certainly doesn’t mean that the Edit Mode is bad. However, where the Manage and Develop Modes have always impressed and continue to do so with advanced functionality suitable for professional use, the Edit mode remains geared more towards beginners to intermediate users. You can undoubtedly achieve a lot here, and with just a few small improvements in functionality, it could become a much more capable section of the software.
Interface & tools: 4/5
ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2024: Performance
(Image credit: James Abbott)
Easy to use and intuitive
Zoomed images in View Mode are blurred
Inconsistent performance of features
Photo Studio Ultimate is fairly easy to use and intuitive overall, though, of course, there's a small learning curve involved. I’ve used several versions of the software in the past, so it's familiar to me, but in all honesty, it’s the kind of software where just watching a few of ACDSee’s tutorial videos is enough to get you started. The interface is logical, so anyone with existing experience in photo editing software will find that while it has its own approach to some tasks, everything remains within familiar territory.
Image rendering and loading in other Modes can be a little slow compared to other software options, even with a powerful computer. In View Mode, when zoomed in at 100% to view image details, images appear blurred, even if they are sharp. This even occurs at 30%, which makes image assessment tricky when zoomed in, while at the default amount of 23% images look fine. Despite this, there are no slowdowns with tools or other features, which is most welcome. However, image assessment is important, and ultimately let down by this.
Overall, despite the limitations of the Edit mode, you can achieve many effects, and image quality can be great thanks to the excellent Develop Mode. Results of features, however, are inconsistent. Also, one issue that has remained from previous versions of the software is that the level of control available in more advanced features, including HDR, Panorama and Focus Stacking, lack controls, and results are inconsistent to the point where their inclusion feels like more of a box-ticking exercise than a meaningful inclusion of the features.
Performance: 3/5
ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2024: New AI functionality
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 2 of 2
(Image credit: James Abbott)
New features focus mainly on AI
Content-aware keyword suggestions
AI-powered selections and masks
In Photo Studio Ultimate 2024, the main focus of new features is predominantly on AI functionality. Incorporating AI into photo editing software is commonplace at the moment, with most software options available offering varying degrees of AI-powered functionality. What’s new in ACDSee doesn’t raise any ethical questions around image creation and manipulation, with time-saving being the key term here. Well, except for AI Sky Replacement and AI Face Edit, these have been standard features in other software for some time.
Within the Manage Mode, AI Keywords provide content-aware keyword suggestions, making applying keywords to images quicker and easier, alongside the ability to manually type in keywords. Keywords can be added to IPTC data within images and can also be used for filtering images by category and keywords. Together, this is incredibly useful if you use keywords for searching images and/or for search engine optimization.
The Develop mode has also seen some AI improvements, which focus on masking for localized adjustments. These are self-explanatory and include AI Subject, AI Background, and AI Sky. At a basic level, they’re almost as effective as those in Lightroom, but they can't be intersected with other Masking Tools. There is a Brush Tool to add to masks, but unfortunately, no ability to delete from them that I could find.
Moving on to Edit Mode, this is where there are the most AI-powered features, and they work with varying degrees of success. Of course, the image or subject being edited does play a role here, with some performing better than others. AI Sky replacement allows you to use either ACDSee skies or your own images of skies that can be loaded in.
The feature even has a reflection option if water and a reflection are present in an image. This, as you’d expect, is most effective with less complex horizons, but on the whole, the controls available are comprehensive.
(Image credit: James Abbott)
AI selections have been incorporated into the software with the AI Object Selection Tool. With this, you draw loosely around an object, and the mask will snap to the object alongside three one-click menu-based selection options: AI Select Sky, AI Select Subject and AI Select Background. They do work, but results can be inconsistent depending on the complexity of the subject and background. They’re still useful, but not quite as effective as similar AI features in other editing software.
Finally, there are upgrades to Face Edit, which lets you adjust facial features in portrait images and, on the whole, works well if you don’t push settings too far. The new additions include the ability to change the direction of eyes both horizontally and vertically, although effectiveness does depend on the angle of the face. Then there are upgrades to the Skin section, which adds the functionality of the Skin Tune Tool (Smoothing and Glow) alongside the ability to smooth wrinkles and crow’s feet.
New AI functionality: 4/5
ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2023: Scorecard
Should I buy ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2023?
(Image credit: James Abbott)
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2023: Also consider
The Adobe Photography Plan featuring Lightroom and Photoshop is the industry standard and market-leading photo editing software, although Photoshop does have a steep learning curve. Features, functionality and the quality of results are hard to beat, so if you’re happy with the subscription-based licensing model this is the best software of its type available. The software is also available for both Mac and Windows.
Affinity Photo 2 is the next best software alternative to Photoshop, offering much of the same functionality and a much lower price for the perpetual license. The only downside is that there’s no image management available, with raw processing being more akin to Adobe Camera Raw than Lightroom. An image management solution is needed alongside this software for the best workflow experience.
