PC Pro Issue 381 (June 2026)

Your monthly guide to the technology that matters

PC Pro Issue 381 lands in June 2026 with a full-sized 132-page briefing on the hardware, software and IT decisions shaping the months ahead. It is written for people who want more than press releases: rigorous lab testing, plain-English analysis and advice they can apply to their own setup.

This month’s centerpiece is a wide-ranging mini PC group test. Eleven compact systems are put through their paces, covering buyers who need a business workhorse, a gaming-capable machine or simply the best value for money. The issue also reviews Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite in the Asus Zenbook A16, a 16in OLED laptop that promises long battery life and serious performance.

Hardware reviews with real-world context 💻

Beyond the headline mini PC test, the labs section examines Apple’s Studio Display XDR, Dell’s XPS 16 (2026), Nothing Phone (4a) Pro, Huion Kamvas Pro 24 drawing tablet, Cherry Xtrfy K5 Pro TMR keyboard, and a broad selection of desktops, all-in-ones, monitors and VoIP systems. Each review is presented with the kind of measurements and practical observations that help readers separate genuine upgrades from expensive sidegrades.

Features that go beyond the specs ⚙️

The features section tackles IT from the inside out. Barry Collins explains how to run your home or office like an IT department, Nik Rawlinson shows how to turn an unwanted old PC into a backup server using the free UrBackup platform, and Darien Graham-Smith explores sandboxing and containerisation as alternatives to full virtual machines. There is also a detailed look at shadow AI: the AI tools employees are already using, whether their bosses know it or not.

People, retro tech and the wider industry 🧠

PC Pro Issue 381 includes an interview with Brewster Kahle, the founder of the Internet Archive, about building a home for a trillion web pages. The retro section revisits the Atari Portfolio, the pioneering palmtop that now costs £100 less than it did when it launched in 1989. Regular columns from Dick Pountain, Nicole Kobie, Barry Collins, Jon Honeyball and others bring opinion and perspective to the month’s news.

Who will get the most from this issue?

If you build, buy, manage or repair PCs, this issue is aimed squarely at you. It suits IT professionals, small-business owners, PC enthusiasts and anyone who wants independent testing rather than marketing copy. The mix of reviews, step-by-step projects and industry analysis makes it a useful snapshot of where desktop, laptop and infrastructure technology stands in mid-2026.

Digital Delights is pleased to offer this issue as a digital publication, ready to read on the device you already use.