Budget laptops have always been a compromise. You either get a machine that struggles to keep up with your browser tabs or one that dies before lunch. And almost all of them feature a cheap plastic body. Qualcomm wants to change that with its new Snapdragon C Platform, a chip built specifically for entry-level laptops starting at $300.
Qualcomm says that the Snapdragon C is designed for students, families, and small businesses that need a reliable, everyday machine without breaking the bank. Devices powered by this chip will handle web browsing, video streaming, productivity apps, and video calls without a hitch.
It also packs an integrated NPU, which means even entry-level laptops will get some AI capabilities baked in.
Can it compete on the battery front?
Qualcomm is leaning hard into power efficiency with the Snapdragon C. The promise is all-day battery life in a cool, quiet design, which sounds almost too good for a $300 laptop.
If Qualcomm delivers on this, it will be a big deal for students who are lugging their laptop chargers around all day. Acer, HP, and Lenovo are already on board, with devices expected to hit shelves later this year.
The laptop is flying off the shelf, as there’s no Windows laptop in sight that can deliver the same level of performance, build quality, and battery life at its price range. Thanks to AI gobbling up the world’s RAM supply, Windows laptops are seeing price increases left and right, which has further boosted MacBook Neo’s sales.
Nadeem Sarwar / DigitalTrends
It’s clear that Qualcomm is launching its Snapdragon C series chipset to power laptops that can compete with MacBook Neo, aiming to provide users with a Windows alternative. Whether it will be a success depends heavily on its OEM partners and the state of Windows 11 on ARM, which is only now beginning to emerge as a viable desktop operating system.
Another week has passed, and Apex is still the top thriller on Netflix and the No. 1 movie in the streamer’s current top 10. Audiences are loving the cat-and-mouse battle between Charlize Theron’s rock climber and Taron Egerton’s serial killer. It will be interesting to see what movie inevitably knocks it down to second place.
If you’re searching for more thrillers, then you’ve come to the right place. Our top recommendation is the fifth entry into one of Hollywood’s iconic horror series. The other movies on this list include a little-seen survival thriller with an A-plus cast and a feature film adaptation of a post-apocalyptic novel. Stream all three of these movies on Netflix in the U.S.
3
Eden
Survival on the island
What the heck happened to Eden? The survival thriller premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and entered limbo immediately after due to its lack of distribution. Nearly a year passed before Vertical finally released Eden in theaters on August 22, 2025. You would think that this movie had an easy sell—recognizable actors stuck on an island, with chaos ensuing. I’m still baffled as to why a major studio didn’t pick it up in the United States.
Eden is inspired by true events surrounding the residents of Floreana Island in the 1930s. Dr. Friedrich Ritter (Jude Law) leaves Germany and moves to Floreana Island with Dore Strauch (Vanessa Kirby). They are eventually joined by Margret Wittmer (Sydney Sweeny), Heinz Wittmer (Daniel Brühl), and Eloise Bosquet de Wagner Wehrhorn (Ana de Armas). Tensions rise as the competing families vie for control of the island, resulting in fatal decisions that lead to multiple tragedies. Eden certainly has some Lord of the Flies elements in its story.
Again, I’m shocked this movie was dumped in August instead of receiving a traditional rollout from a popular studio. Admittedly, Eden has its flaws and heavily leans into melodrama much to its detriment. Still, it’s an entertaining thriller supported by a stacked cast that is much better than it’s given credit for.
2
Leave the World Behind
Technology becomes the villain
What would happen if the collapse of technology led to the end of the world? That’s part of the premise of Leave the World Behind, Sam Esmail’s 2023 psychological thriller for Netflix. The movie is based on Rumaan Alam’s novel of the same name. Right when an oil tanker crashes on the shore, something is not right in Leave the World Behind.
Amanda Sandford (Julia Roberts) is on vacation with her husband Clay (Ethan Hawke) and two children when inexplicable occurrences, like the oil tanker crash, begin happening. The root of the issue is a nationwide blackout that has caused widespread panic. Amanda and Clay are forced to grapple with their trust issues after the arrival of the vacation home’s owner, George H. “G.H.” Scott (Mahershala Ali), and his daughter, Ruth (Myha’la).
Some may view Leave the World Behind as a warning to humanity, which feels ill-equipped to handle a devastating cyberattack. Others might watch strictly for its entertainment purposes. I fell somewhere in the middle. There are some relevant messages about the apocalypse, social inequality, and societal standards. It’s also a great cast of talented performers who elevate the source material. I don’t think the film depicts what actually would happen in a disaster, but it’s certainly fun (and scary) to predict the future.
1
Scream
I would like to play another game
To clarify, I’m referring to 2022’sScream, informally known as Scream V. It’s a nightmare scenario for anyone like myself, who has to write an article about the fifth Scream installment. For bookkeeping purposes, I’m calling it Scream V. Part of the reason for the similar title to the first movie is because Scream V restarted the franchise after an 11-year hiatus. It’s not a reboot or a remake, but a continuation of the series.
The film opens with a similar sequence to 1996’s Scream, where an unsuspecting high school student, Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega), is attacked by a new Ghostface killer in Woodsboro. Tara’s half-sister, Sam (Melissa Barrera), returns to town and learns that Tara’s friend group is now being targeted by Ghostface. If you’re dealing with Ghostface, there’s only one person to call for help: Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), who has survived the killer’s multiple attempts at her life.
I was surprisingly impressed with Radio Silence’s take on Scream. These reboots are typically cash grabs and a way for studios to exploit the IP of a popular entity. Scream V plays the hits—close calls, gory kills, and a propensity for dark humor. For me, it works as one of the franchise’s best entries. I thought Scream was done following Scream 4. Now, you’re probably going to get Scream VIII in a few years.
More Netflix movies to watch
Two new Netflix movies, My Dearest Assassin and Remarkably Bright Creatures, arrive at week’s end just in time for the weekend. You can also stream classic Oscar-winning movies, including Roma and Glory. No matter what you choose, chances are you’ll be occupied for the foreseeable future with Netflix content.
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