ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Lenovo’s Tab Plus is a mid-range tablet currently selling for $330 on Best Buy.
• Contrary to its small size, the model houses a booming eight-speaker system and a long-lasting battery.
• The MediaTek Helio chipset and dim display won’t be winning any awards.

more buying choices

What’s the deal?

Even though the Lenovo Tab Plus is new, it’s already been discounted. The tablet has dropped down $250 on Best Buy and Lenovo’sdigital store.

It’s the end of the year, and that means a lot of people are looking for holiday presents. If you’re having a hard time deciding what to gift, may I recommend the Lenovo Tab Plus? This is Lenovo’s latest lightweight tablet, capable of doubling as a mini-home theater. Everything that you could want in an entertainment system is here.

Also: Why the iPad Mini 7 is the ultraportable tablet to beat in 2024

The Lenovo Tab Plus is compact, measuring 11.5 inches and weighing about 1.4 pounds. It’s similar in size to an iPad Air, but unlike Apple’s device, this tablet doesn’t have a smooth back as the bottom half juts out. The lower section measures 13.58 mm thick, while the upper half is only 7.7 mm. There’s a good reason Lenovo designed its tablet with this unique look as the bottom half houses two of the model’s outstanding features.

First, there is the integrated kickstand that sits flush with the tablet’s rear. Popping it out provides a stable base and lets the device tilt up to 175 degrees. Praising a kickstand may seem silly, but remember that most tablets — without the addition of a protective case –don’t have a way to prop themselves up. It’s a great quality-of-life feature that enhances the viewing experience, and it’s one I wish other manufacturers capitalized on. 

Also, when combined with smartphone support, the Tab Plus can double as a powerful Bluetooth speaker. 

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

Speaking of audio, the sound system is my favorite feature of the Tab Plus. It has eight JBL speakers consisting of four tweeters and four woofers, all finetuned by Dolby Atmos. In comparison, the M4 iPad Pro, Apple’s current premium tablet, only has four speakers.

I found the system’s audio performance outstanding. As part of the testing, I watched the entire second season of Arcane on Netflix. From the first episode to the last, I enjoyed crystal-clear sounds powerful enough to fill a room. That said, the bass is a little lacking — it’s nowhere near as punchy as bass from a soundbar.

The screen quality is great, too. It’s a 2K display running at a refresh rate of 90Hz, delivering bright colors and smooth animations. It performed well across most applications. However, I didn’t like how dim it looked. The screen’s brightness peaks at 400 nits, which is fine for indoor viewing but not outdoors. The display struggled to shine in a bright environment.

Also: This surprisingly impressive Android tablet is $60 off for Black Friday

Under the hood is the MediaTek Helio G99 SoC (system on a chip), along with 8GB of RAM — hardware that’s typical in budget devices. The G99 isn’t a very powerful chipset, and it’s a couple of years old, but it gets the job done. I never once ran into performance drops while casually browsing with Google Chrome or playing mobile games.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

The Lenovo Tab Plus functions decently well as a work tablet. You can connect accessories like keyboards via Bluetooth. Thanks to Android 14, there’s a desktop mode for mimicking desktop setups. The operating system also delivers engaging gesture controls. My favorite is where swiping up sends you to a carousel of open apps, and you can hop between any one of them. Smartphones have similar functionality.

Android 14 brings with it years of updates. Lenovo has pledged to continuously roll out security patches to the Tab Plus until June 2028.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

Multiple accessories are available, but even with all those gadgets equipped, don’t expect Lenovo’s machine to be a powerhouse. I ran the PCMark Work 3.0 benchmark tests to see how well the tablet would perform across multiple workflows. At the time I performed the tests, the Lenovo Tab Plus did pretty well, earning 32nd place out of 200 on the developer’s best tablets list for November 2024. However, it fell far behind contemporaries like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE and the OnePlus Pad 2.

Also: Save $225 on the 8TB T5 SSD at Samsung for Black Friday

These numbers tell me that the Tab Plus may not be amazing at tackling tough workloads like video editing, but it won’t be terrible either. Hardware performance may be middling, but the battery sure isn’t. On average, the tablet lasts 15 hours on a single charge. I left it running one afternoon and was pleasantly surprised to see it still playing the test livestream the following morning.

The storage space is unsurprisingly small, at 256GB. It would’ve been nice to have access to a bigger drive, but with a tablet this cheap, you have to expect some cuts. Luckily, you can expand storage by inserting a 1TB mini SD card into the slot at the top. 

ZDNET’s buying advice 

Lenovo’s Tab Plus normally retails for $330 at Best Buy. Even at its full price, I would recommend this device. Luckily, you can purchase this model from Lenovo’s storefront at a discounted $288. This is a great Christmas present for loved ones who enjoy watching the latest shows on Netflix or want a multimedia tablet.

The MediaTek Helio G99 isn’t the best work device. Those looking for a tablet with muscle should check out Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S10 Plus. The OnePlus Pad 2 is another solid, midrange option for those who don’t mind spending extra cash.

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Boox Note Air4 C is a color ePaper tablet for notes and reading, available for $500.
• The tablet’s display is crisp and paper-like, and the included pen is accurate and pressure-sensitve, making it easy to create highly detailed sketches.
• The Note Air4 C isn’t cheap, at $500, and the included pen is much thicker than the tablet, so it falls off easily.

I’ve used the Boox Note Air4 C tablet for several weeks now as my go-to digital notebook. This tablet is the perfect companion for those who like taking notes on the go, but it’s also become an effective substitute for my bullet journal.

Writing on the Boox Note Air4 C tablet feels similar to writing on paper, though it’s never exactly the same. However, the included pen is fast and responsive. The pressure-sensitive Boox pen is unforgiving, providing a contrasting experience to the Apple Pencil Pro. 

Also: I tested Amazon’s new Kindle Paperwhite and it finally nails the feature I’ve been waiting for

I’ve been using the Apple Pencil Pro on the iPad Mini 7 and found that it makes calligraphy easy, disguising mildly uneven strokes and making most handwritten cursive font look appealing. The Boox pen on the Note Air4 C is better than the Apple Pencil Pro for more precise, meticulous work, like sketching and drawing. The pressure-sensitive mechanism also works beautifully for calligraphy, but it sometimes fails to transition smoothly from thick to thin lines. 

I’m an avid bullet-journaler — I love the freedom of creating calendar and page layouts that suit my needs. Naturally, I transitioned to making the Boox Note Air4 C my new journal, especially because bullet journaling as a hobby is hard to maintain, with work consuming a lot of my time and kids consuming my pens.

The Boox Note Air4 C’s 10.3-inch display is a Kaleido 3 color E Ink screen. This display’s black-and-white resolution is 300 ppi, but its color resolution is only 150 ppi. Color images won’t appear crisp and detailed on the Boox Note Air4 C; instead, they look slightly blurry and noisy. 

Also: The best drawing tablets: Expert tested and recommended

The Kaleido 3 display, also used in the Kindle Colorsoft, uses a base monochromatic E Ink layer with electrophoretic technology that renders sharp detail at 300 ppi. But adding color is done through a color filter array layered on the black-and-white screen. This divides each pixel into RGB subpixels, each taking up the space of a single pixel, halving the color display’s resolution. 

An example of the visual texture when using color

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Aside from photos often looking unintelligible from up close, this display also shows some color images with a denim-like texture, which bothers some users. The Boox Note Air4 C colors are also limited, so you don’t get a full spectrum of over 16 million colors, and they look more muted than on traditional tablets. The same applies to other color ePaper devices, like the Kindle Colorsoft and reMarkable Paper Pro. 

Though muted, I like the Boox Note Air4 C colors because they keep the same aesthetic throughout my work. I like having a dedicated note-taking tablet, so I don’t mind the limitations of color ePaper. 

Also: The best Black Friday Kindle deals: Early sales available now

Performance-wise, the Boox Note Air4 C runs on Android 13, with an octa-core processor and 6GB of RAM. It has up to 64GB of internal storage, expandable up to 2TB with a microSD card. Don’t expect it to be as fast as an iPad, though. While you can speed up its refresh rate considerably by changing its settings, the Note Air4 C is sluggish compared to a traditional tablet — but is not as slow as a Kindle. 

Pressure-sensitive pen test

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Some ghosting issues are common with E Ink tablets, including the Note Air4 C, when switching from one page to another, but this didn’t bother me.

My bigger complaints with the Boox Note Air4 C are highly specific. Depending on the content, each page takes a long time to render, up to 30 seconds, which can get annoying. The display’s palm recognition fails when I’ve zoomed in to work on detailed drawings, shifting my image with the accidental touch of my hand and causing the tablet to pause to render for a few seconds.

Also: How the new iPad Mini renewed my love for photo editing

The Boox’s AI features have a lot of room for improvement, but that’s common across many companies’ AI offerings. I tried all the features and found they failed so often that it was best to keep them toggled off. The most glaring one was when the tablet automatically “corrected” my drawings, inadvertently deleting part of my work.

The Boox Note Air4 C tablet’s Smart Scribe AI features.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

I also wish handwriting optical character recognition (OCR) was possible by default, but it’s included as an AI feature and isn’t very accurate. Handwriting conversion tends to require computer resources that are often beyond a tablet’s capabilities, which may be why the Boox Note Air4 C, like the reMarkable Paper Pro, doesn’t offer it as a default feature.

The Boox’s pen attaches magnetically to the side of the tablet but is prone to falling off, likely due to the tablet’s 5.8-mm thin profile. I recommend buying a case to keep the pen attached when transporting. The pen works with electromagnetic resonance (EMR), so it doesn’t need charging; it attaches magnetically for convenience. 

Also: I spent the weekend reading on Amazon’s newest Kindle – and it’s more capable than it looks

The Boox Note Air4 C works wonderfully as a bullet journal, especially because the pen is accurate and responsive, making precise drawing or coloring easy. I can save all my pages in a single, lightweight device and don’t have to lug around a pencil case full of pens and markers when I want to sit down and catch up on my journaling. I also like the bonus of adding external files, like photos, to add memories without printing them out. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

After weeks of use, my nib is ready for a replacement.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

The Boox Note Air4 C is great for professionals and creatives. It’s not a productivity tablet or one to replace a laptop, but it is perfect for note-takers who like handwriting, journalers, reading enthusiasts, and even designers.  

Aside from other Boox tablets, the only real competitor for the Boox Note Air4 C is the reMarkable Paper Pro, a color ePaper tablet that retails for $629. Though both tablets share similar shortcomings, I’d choose the Boox Note Air4 C of the two. Aside from being $129 cheaper, the new Boox is an Android tablet and doesn’t require a paid subscription to access extra features, as reMarkable does with the Connect membership.

Like any traditional Android tablet, the Boox Note Air4 C lets you download any apps available in the Google Play Store, like games and social media apps. But those looking for a device focused on writing and reading can keep their Boox tablet distraction-free. I downloaded the Kindle app and OneDrive to transfer files and add photos to my notes, keeping my Boox Note Air4 C as a dedicated device.

If you do a lot of video and photo editing on location, you know what a hassle it is to move media files between your laptop and your desktop PC or Mac. 

So, what’s the best way to transfer those files from one device to another? As with just about every tech-related question ever, the correct answer is: “It depends.”

Also: How to transfer data from Android to an iPhone: 2 simple and fast ways

In general terms, you’ve got three options to choose from. Which one’s right for you? That depends on your hardware, your available networks, and your patience.

Option 1: Use an external storage device

Is this transfer the sort of thing you do only a few times a year? In that case, the simplest option might be to copy the files from the laptop to a portable storage device, then plug that drive into your desktop PC or Mac and use File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) to copy the files to your preferred folder.

The Elders of the Internet called this process sneakernet. It involved dealing with literal stacks of floppy disks — and it was mind-numbingly tedious.

Also: How I recovered ‘irreplaceable’ photos off an SD card for free

In the modern era, you can do pretty much the same thing, although you have much faster options, using portable storage devices that hold enough data to handle the entire transfer in a single swap. 

For huge video files, your best transfer vehicle is an external SSD or flash drive that uses the highest data transfer standard supported by both devices: Thunderbolt 3 or 4, or SuperSpeed+ USB 10Gbps (formerly known as USB 3.2 Gen 2 and before that as USB 3.1). 

Plug one of those drives into a USB Type-C port, and you’ll be astonished at how fast the bits fly from Point A to Point B. If that’s not an option, an external flash drive using USB 3.0 or later will probably be fast enough to get the job done.

Option 2: Use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth

What if you don’t have a portable drive handy, or you don’t want to go through the two-step hassle of copying and transferring? If both devices are running the same operating system, you can use wireless networks (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) to transfer files.

Send the file from one machine, approve the request on the other, and your files begin transferring. You’ll get the best results if both the sending and receiving device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and you’re signed in with the same Microsoft or Apple account on each device. The screenshot below shows Nearby Sharing in action on a Windows PC.

Use Nearby Sharing to transfer files between two PCs running Windows 10 or Windows 11.

Screenshot by Ed Bott/ZDNET

Option 3: Use the cloud

Both of the previous file copying options require some manual labor on your part. What’s more, there’s also built-in risk. If you make changes to a file on one device and forget to copy that file to the other, you could end up with edits that are out of sync. When that happens, you’ve got two different versions with no easy way to reconcile them.

Also: This feature lets you transfer folders between Android and Windows

The best way to avoid this possibility is to store those files using a cloud storage platform (OneDrive, Google Drive, Adobe Creative Cloud, Dropbox, etc.) and let a software agent on each device keep them in sync. If your work is mainly asynchronous — that is, if you do most of your edits on one machine and only need to transfer your files when everything’s complete — this option is ideal.

There is a dangerous chemical in your home that’s affecting your productivity.

If you’ve been wondering:

• How to improve your productivity?
• How to work from home and still get things done?
• How to manage unexpected interruptions?

This article is for you.

Also: There’s a new king of online shopping, and it’s built an unstoppable monopoly 

I’ll share what this little-discussed chemical is and how it’s quietly destroying your productivity (and yes, it’s in the room with you right now).

I’ll also share my unconventional methods for dealing with this chemical, as well as hacks and tips to help you get more done in a day and unlock your full productivity potential.

The last hack is extreme, but it works. 

Who am I?

My name’s Lester, but you can call me Les.

I’m a founder and chairman of a group of DTC brands.

Also: ChatGPT Search could destroy online businesses – how you can stay ahead 

I spend my day managing a relatively large team, talking to customers, and steering the vision of marketing and strategy.

Oh, and somewhere in there, I make time for my family and friends.

Trust me, I get how difficult it is to stay productive, especially when it feels like you’re running in circles and getting nowhere. 

The invisible chemical that’s stealing your focus

I hope you’re ready for this…

The sneaky culprit in your home that is quietly wrecking your productivity is…

Dopamine!

It’s delivered through every screen in your home and has been weaponized by big tech to keep you hooked.

That urge to check social media or your messages… that’s your body craving another hit of that sweet, sweet dopamine.

If you are unfamiliar with dopamine, you know that feeling you get when you find money in your pocket. That’s dopamine.

In a word, it’s Intoxicating!

Here’s why it’s so dangerous not only to your productivity but your well-being:

You’re always chasing that next high

Dopamine’s got us hooked on instant rewards like checking our phones, scrolling social, and chasing likes. Our brains run from one shiny thing to the next, making it impossible to lock in and focus on anything meaningful.

Your focus is toast

The average person can only stay locked in for 40 seconds before something pulls their attention. That’s barely enough time to read this sentence. If you paused or thought about checking your phone while reading, it’s not hard to see how this chemical is so addictive.

Stuck in the loop

Here’s the kicker: dopamine rewards what triggers it, so you keep returning for more. More scrolling, clicking, and swiping feed the cycle.

Meanwhile, the real stuff that matters, like long-term goals, gets pushed to the side because they don’t feel as good as the rush dopamine gives us.

Also: 25 AI tips to boost your programming productivity with ChatGPT

This endless loop keeps us prioritizing quick hits of gratification over real progress on our long-term goals. That’s why we spend the day feeling busy but end up questioning what we actually accomplished.

You may be wondering why I’m sharing all this. 

I’m sharing it because understanding what was happening to me was how I made my first breakthrough, so stay with me; this is important.

How I became more productive

My journey toward taming my focus probably started the same as yours… 

Googling and watching videos on YouTube. 

But for whatever reason, most suggestions wasted more time or were just another thing to manage.

Also: I’ve tested a lot of AI tools for work. These 4 actually help me get more done every day

One day, my phone had no service during a flight, and I wasn’t about to pay extortion prices to stay connected.

I realized just how productive I was without phone service.

For whatever reason, that plane noise made me feel calm.

Then it hit me: I should take more flights to be productive.

I quickly realized how unsustainable that would be, lol, so I figured there must be this noise on YouTube.

What I discovered next shocked me. I came across several videos with millions of views. It turns out this is a thing, and I’ve found my people!

This video is my go-to.

(Spoiler, I’m listening to this right now.)

PRO TIP: Use an ad blocker or YouTube Premium so you don’t get the ads.

The hacks that got me to the next level 

I quickly realized I can’t be trusted with my phone so the best thing to do is not have it around. 

To stay locked in, I leave my phone in the car. The idea is simple: I’m not walking all the way back to get it.

Also: I test AI tools for a living, and these are the only two worth paying for

If you live in a city or area where your car will likely get broken into, try leaving it in another room.

Here are some other things I do. 

1. My secret weapon!

I bought a digital kitchen timer on Amazon, and let me tell you, this little device is clutch . It’s become a key part of my everyday routine.

What I love most is that I can use it as a countdown timer or track how long it takes me to complete a task.

Here’s how I use it: I set a timer for 30 minutes to an hour (depending on what I’m doing), and during that time, it’s a game. If I deviate from the task, I lose.

Yes, I’ve replaced one dopamine hit with another… I’m a genius!

In all seriousness, the clock is important, but what really makes this work so well is the mental game I play.

2. A tangible to-do list

One thing about me is I love a pen and a piece of paper. For me, writing things down just hits different. There’s something about “putting it to paper” that feels better than using a digital Kanban board. 

So, every night, I sit with my thoughts and plan what to do for the next day, and then I time block it. It usually looks something like this:

• 9:00 – 11:00: Create Productivity Article 
• 11:15 – 12:00: Create LinkedIn Post 

I always give myself a little buffer between tasks.

PRO TIP: It’s easy to overestimate what we can accomplish in a day. I do it all the time. To fix this, I create a list with at most 5 tasks. The first few focus on driving revenue, while the last two are usually admin tasks. A mentor once told me, “Do the things that make the most money first.”

3. The only app I need to stay focused

The only app I use doesn’t let me use other apps.

Trust me, the irony isn’t lost on me. 

Let me tell you about Opal. It’s a screen time management app that helps people like you and me reduce distractions and enhance focus.

It blocks access to selected apps and websites.

Also: How to use ChatGPT’s Advanced Data Analysis to create quality charts and tables

I like to call it notifications jail because, as we’ve already established, I leave nothing to chance. 

Here’s how Opal works: you pick the apps you don’t want access to and set a session for when you can access them.

I’m on the paid plan that doesn’t let me cancel a session while it’s in progress, and honestly, it works.

BTW, if you’re using a productivity app that you think is better or you have a tip you would like to share, connect with me on LinkedIn.

My final thoughts

Often, gurus paint a picture of productivity as this incredible utopia where they crush it every second of every day, and that’s not the case.

Dopamine is one hell of a drug, and you’ll have good days and bad days.

Managing our distractions isn’t about perfection; it’s about becoming a better version of yourself.

Simply put, it’s a journey, not a destination. 

Find what works for you because that’s the only way to stick with it. 

Also: 5 ways to tell people what to do at work

Set realistic goals, don’t be too hard on yourself, and focus on the basics.

• Have a clean workspace
• Prioritize what really needs to get done
• Sleep enough
• Create a routine
• Practice saying no and protecting your time

And yes, I know I’ve been a little dramatic, but trust me on this, if unchecked, chasing dopamine can quietly rob you of your time and future.

Hope this helps; I’m rooting for you.

P.S. Want more data-driven marketing insights or more content like this? Sign up for my free newsletter, No Fluff Just Facts. I share what’s working in the world of digital marketing, the latest trends, and the occasional pep talk to keep you inspired. If this sounds like your jam and you wanna be besties forever, click here to sign up. It’s totally FREE!

Get Windows 11 Pro at a big discount right now.

StackSocial

Need an operating system upgrade? Windows 11 Pro puts productivity in your hands with features that make everything from hybrid work to streaming entertainment easy, and you can grab the software for a discounted price right now through Stack Social. A lifetime subscription for the software is $20 right now, saving you 89%.

Windows 11 Pro brings an improved user interface and heightened customization to the table. You’re getting more advanced security features with this software, like biometrics login, TPM 2.0 Smart App Control, and encrypted authentication and antivirus protection to keep your personal and business data secured. 

The system works great for users with refurbished computers needing an up-to-date operating system. In addition, you’ll also get Microsoft’s Copilot embedded into the software for answering queries and optimizing your workflow. Copilot can answer your questions like a virtual assistant, write emails for you, brainstorm creative work, generate code, and more. 

Also: Get Microsoft Office on sale now

Windows 11 Pro improves on productivity features from previous versions, like snap layouts for personalized window customization, upgraded redocking and voice typing, and enhanced search. 

The software doesn’t stop at productivity. With DirectX 12 Ultimate API, you’ll get gaming graphics that bring your favorite video games to life. 

It’s important to note, however, that while Stack Social offers “lifetime” access to Windows 11 Pro, Microsoft could end the license. But that’s not to say that it will. ZDNET managing editor Alison DeNisco Rayome bought Stack Social’s Microsoft Office package deal that has been on sale for years, and it’s still working on her personal laptop. The Stack Social deal on Windows 11 Pro has been running for many months, and verified reviews say the software is a worthy upgrade. 

Deals are subject to sell-out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We’re sorry if you’ve missed out on this deal, but don’t fret — we’re constantly finding new chances to score savings and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com. 

Don’t miss this Sam’s Club membership to save big on everything from groceries to electronics.

Sam’s Club/ZDNET

A Sam’s Club membership will get you discounts on groceries, clothing, electronics, and just about everything else you might need. And right now, StackSocial is offering a deal that will get you a Sam’s Club membership for $25 for the year with auto-renew — down from the usual price of $50. That’s 50% off. 

Your Sam’s Club membership will work at nearly 600 US Sam’s Club locations. This deal is only open to new Sam’s Club members in the US or those whose membership lapsed more than six months ago. The membership will expire one year from the activation date and will automatically renew at the full price of $50 per year after that unless you cancel it. To cancel, you can visit SamsClub.com or a club or call 1-888-746-7726. 

To take advantage of this deal, you’ll redeem your unique code through the link above, and then sign up for the membership. Once you purchase your code, you must redeem it within 30 days. The limit is one membership per person, but you can buy an additional membership as a gift.

I signed up for a similar deal for a Costco membership through StackSocial and can confirm the process was easy, and I’d vouch for the deal. 

Don’t miss out on 50% off a Sam’s Club membership right now. 

Deals are subject to sell out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We’re sorry if you’ve missed out on this deal, but don’t fret — we’re constantly finding new chances to score savings and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com. 

Score a Microsoft Office license now at a big discount.

StackSocial

Whether you’re setting up your new laptop or using a machine you’ve had for years, access to Microsoft Office is a necessity for many of us to get things done. Right now, you can buy a lifetime license to the 2019 version of Microsoft Office Professional Plus for either Windows or Mac from StackSocial for $33 — that’s 85% off. 

Also: The best Black Friday deals: Live updates

The only major difference between Office 2019 and later versions is that it doesn’t include Microsoft Teams. However, it does include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access — so if that’s all you need, it’s a great deal for the price. (If you do want a version of Microsoft Office with Teams, you can check out this deal for Microsoft Office Professional 2021.)

A caveat: While StackSocial is an authorized Microsoft partner and offers “lifetime” access to Office, it is possible that Microsoft could end the license. But the site has been running these Microsoft deals for years now, and I can personally vouch for them — I purchased an Office license from StackSocial about two years ago, and it’s still working on my personal MacBook today. 

This deal won’t give you the benefits of the latest Microsoft Office 365 subscription, either — but you won’t have to pay a $70 yearly fee to access Office apps, either. Windows users must have their OS updated to Windows 10 or 11, while Mac users should have at least Monterrey Version 12 or newer to download the software. 

Buy your lifetime license Microsoft Office Professional 2019 right now.

Deals are subject to sell-out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We’re sorry if you’ve missed out on this deal, but don’t fret — we’re constantly finding new chances to score savings and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com. 

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• It offers sharp and vibrant picture quality that’s well above its price tag.
• New gimbal design is convenient and easy to setup.
• Minimal port selection might be a problem for some

more buying choices

The Xgimi Horizon S Max is one of the brightest projectors I’ve tested. It includes my favorite design element from the JMGO N-series of projectors, which makes it easy to plug, set up, and play. I’m also fond of the form factor and functionality; while it builds upon the physical limitations of the predecessor, one software hindrance will annoy you. 

Or maybe a few, depending on your use case. With that being said, I still like the Horizon S Max, and here’s why you should consider it.

I love the new design

Unlike the Horizon Ultra, the new Xgimi projector comes with a built-in rotating stand, so you don’t need to spend extra on a stand to hold the projector. It’s very similar to the one you can find on the JMGO N1 Ultra and the newly-launched N1S Ultimate. Personally, I love it because it’s extremely simple to adjust the screen placement — both vertically (135 degrees) and horizontally (360 degrees). Also, the mounting system is solid and stays at the angle you set it unless you connect a heavy HDMI cable that pulls it down.

Also: I replaced my TV with this long-throw projector, and it’s absolutely worth it

The new Xgimi projector retains the sliding cover on the front. Apart from looking classy, it protects the lens from attracting dust. On the back, you’ll find two USB 2.0 ports and an HDMI (eARC) port. The port situation sees a downgrade from the Horizon Ultra, which had another HDMI port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and an ethernet port, in addition to the ones present on the Horizon S Max. 

The lack of a 3.5mm audio jack means I couldn’t connect my Marshall Stanmore 2 for sound, while one HDMI port means you can either connect a soundbar or a gaming console. Most rival projectors have a 3.5mm audio port and two HDMI ports. It’s a minimal port selection alongside the power button and heat vents on the back. 

Oh, so bright!

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

The Xgimi Horizon S Max features a dual light source that brings the brightness up from 2,300 lumens on the Horizon Ultra to 3,100 lumens. The screen size can expand up to 200 inches with a throw ratio of 1.2:1. In my experience, I’ve found it brighter and more detailed than the JMGO N1 Ultra and on par with the more expensive N1S Ultimate. 

I’ve enjoyed my time with the Horizon S Max. The keystone correction is quicker and more reliable than its predecessor. It’s also quicker at adjusting the picture on any surface and autofocus. 

Also: The most charming projector I’ve tested has now replaced my TV for movie nights

However, I still pull the curtains if I power it on during the day, but it is bright enough to be visible in light. The screen is vibrant, colorful, and immersive. You’ll definitely enjoy watching movies on it. When I had it projected on a pink wall, it didn’t affect the picture quality — thanks to a new feature that adjusts the color balance of the picture based on wall color. 

Like the Horizon Ultra, the Horizon S Max comes with support for MEMC, Dolby Vision, and a game mode for reduced latency. Watching Dolby Vision content with varying lighting is an immersive experience and It’s also elevated by the great speaker setup, which sounds louder than expected. 

Xgimi Horizon S Max ports

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET

I have my Stanmore 2 connected to the JMGO N1S Ultimate because it doesn’t get loud enough but the dual 12W drivers on the Horizon S Max are enough for a small room. So, you wouldn’t require an external speaker. But, I’m disappointed that there’s no audio port for my speaker and I have to connect a soundbar through HDMI if I want to elevate the sound experience. 

In my experience, navigating on the Android TV 11-based Horizon S Max software was smooth. But, there were times when I noticed a lag between remote input and the UI. As for the remote, it’s well-built, yet it lacks quick action buttons that allow one press to go to your favorite streaming apps.

Also: The best projector screens of 2024

It took me just a few minutes to pair the remote, set up my Google accounts, and download my desired apps. Horizon S Max houses 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage onboard, which is powered by quad Cortex A55 cores. You also get built-in Chromecast support, Bluetooth 5.1, and WiFi 5 for wireless connectivity. 

One annoyance from last year that remains is the absence of Netflix support. You can’t run the native Netflix app on the Horizon S Max. This is surprising because rivals like JMGO fixed this issue with the latest N1S lineup. You can still run Netflix with a streaming stick, but the lack of Netflix support could be a deal breaker for many. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

At $1,900, the Xgimi Horizon S Max features better image quality than its competitors. It rivals the $2,500+ JMGO N1S Ultimate and it’s better than the similarly-priced JMGO N1 Ultra. I love the new design with an integrated gimbal-like stand. It makes the projector very convenient to set up and play. However, the lack of port selection and Netflix support may counter that convenience.

Additionally, the Xgimi Horizon S Max offers excellent image quality and sound. The user interface is manageable and I’ve enjoyed watching movies on it. So, if you have a budget of $2,000 and want a projector purely for its image quality, the Xgimi Horizon S Max is an easy recommendation. 

Xgimi is offering a dongle and stand with the purchase of the Horizon S Max as part of its Black Friday sale. The free dongle solves the no-Netflix issue because you can use the streaming service by plugging it into the projector.

Wearable tech is getting so good at monitoring your health that it might even predict when you’re about to get sick. That’s what smart ring giant Oura’s new feature, released Thursday, claims to do. 

Oura’s Symptom Radar, a previously experimental feature through Oura Labs, just got a permanent spot on the smart ring app’s interface. Here’s how it can detect when your body needs a break. 

Also: Can Oura predict when you’re about to get sick?

Symptom Radar uses the biometric data collected through the smart ring to assess and detect signs of strain or illness. This could be a higher resting heart rate, heart rate variability, body temperature, or breathing rate. If it detects a fluctuation in a user’s baseline health metrics, Oura will notify the user with one of three severity levels in the Symptom Radar tab: no signs, minor signs, or major signs. If Oura detects minor or major signs of strain, it will encourage the user to turn on Rest Mode and prioritize recovery.

Oura users can view their Symptom Radar status every morning when they wake up, as they do for their sleep and readiness scores. The feature initially debuted through Oura Labs, the smart ring’s user feedback-generated testing lab where people test out new features and provide feedback before a possible and permanent relaunch. The smart ring brand updated the feature from its original run in Oura Labs to improve upon historical insights and contextual factors that inform the three severity levels, so people can understand the patterns behind their health trends, like the trend of an elevated body temperature or resting heart rate. 

Also: Oura Ring 3 vs 4: Which model should you buy?

By constantly monitoring and collecting your health data, the Oura Ring creates a baseline for your health metrics. This makes it easy to spot fluctuations in those metrics that tend to indicate illness. 

The feature will begin rollout Thursday and hit all Oura Ring 3 and Oura Ring 4 member’s phone’s by Dec. 11, according to an Oura spokesperson. 

This might be the official launch of a tool that monitors when someone will get sick, but Oura has been monitoring and — sometimes even predicting —  illness from the get-go. Last month, Oura’s senior vice president of science told me about how his Oura Ring had waved the red flag on his health days before he experienced a dental infection that resulted in an emergency surgery.  

Also: How old is your heart? This new Oura Ring feature could tell you

The smart ring has collected health data that members take to their doctor to get diagnoses of autoimmune disease, pregnancy, and more, according to stories shared on Reddit.  

I’m looking forward to testing out Symptom Radar now that it will be officially available on the app. Some users on the Oura Ring Reddit reported that the feature failed to detect illness during its experimental run on Oura Labs. I’ll put it to the test to see just how accurately it can detect signs of strain and report back. 

I’ve been on Bluesky for a while now (@jlwallen.bsky.social) and found it to be exactly what the Social Networking Doctor ordered. There are several reasons why I’ve found Bluesky to be a perfect respite from the chaos of the times, and one of them is a feature called Feeds.

Essentially, feeds are lists you can follow to see posts, updates, and interactions from specific users or a selected topic. For instance, you could add feeds for Linux, gardening, books, writers, running, cycling, or whatever topic piques your interest.

Also: Why I don’t regret leaving X for Bluesky

Feeds are also very easy to find, add, and remove (when you no longer wish to see them); overall, they make Bluesky an even easier platform to interact with. Because, in the end, that’s what it’s all about — interaction.

But how do you add a feed to your Bluesky account? 

I’m here to show you.

How to add your first feed in Bluesky

What you’ll need: First, you’ll need a valid Bluesky account. If you’ve not already signed up, head over to the site and do so. You can manage feeds from either the web-based version or the mobile app (Android/iOS). That’s it! Let’s get to the feeds.

The first thing to do is open Bluesky either on your desktop web browser or the mobile app.

On the web-based version of Bluesky, Feeds are found in the left sidebar, under Chat. On the mobile app, you can access Feeds by tapping the # character in the upper right corner of the app.

The left sidebar is where you’ll find Feeds.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

In either the web or mobile app, scroll down until you see the Discover New Feeds section, where you’ll find a search field. Type a topic in the field and it should auto-populate with related feeds. 

You can search for anything within Feeds.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Also: How to use Bluesky Social: Everything to know about the popular X alternative

When you find a feed you like, click (or tap) + to add it to your Feeds section. You should immediately see it appear under My Feeds. You can add as many feeds as you like. Don’t worry if you’re on either the mobile app or web-based version; all you have to do is click Feeds (in the left sidebar of the web-based version) or the # character (on the mobile version), and simply scroll down to find what you’re looking for. 

You’ll find an endless supply of feeds to add on Bluesky.

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

You can also remove feeds as needed. To do that, access the Feeds section again, tap (or click) the feed in question, tap (or click) the three-dot menu in the upper right corner of the feed, and then tap (or click) “Remove from my feeds.”

You can also report a feed from here (if necessary).

Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Adding feeds makes it exponentially easier to view the posts you want. When you click on a feed, you’ll only see posts related to that topic. I will say this: It’s not a perfect system. I’ve found random, unrelated posts in my feeds. It doesn’t happen often, but they can sneak in under the radar.

Also: How to use Bluesky starter packs to find greener social media pastures

If you feel it’s become a nightmare to navigate around X’s deluge of randomness, Bluesky is a fine alternative to that. With Feeds, you can make it easy to view only what you want to view. Give Feeds a try and see if they don’t make the skies even bluer.