PCWorld – January 2025

PCWorld January 2025: The Tech Year in Focus 💻

The January 2025 issue of PCWorld arrives with a clear brief: make sense of the hardware, software, and industry shifts that defined the previous year—and point readers toward what comes next. Across 114 pages, the magazine balances breaking news, candid reviews, and practical how-to reporting for people who build, upgrade, and rely on PCs every day.

At the center is the annual roundup of the best PC hardware and software of 2024–25, a feature that names standout components and tools across categories. It’s a useful reference point for anyone weighing a new graphics card, laptop, or wireless peripheral.

News That Shaped the PC Industry

The issue opens with reporting on the U.S. Justice Department’s request that Google divest Chrome, placing the antitrust case in the context of a changing political landscape. A separate report covers Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger’s exit after a bruising 2024, with co-CEOs stepping in while the board searches for a permanent replacement. Together, the stories capture a turbulent moment for two of the biggest names in tech.

Best PC Hardware and Software of 2024–25 🖥️

This cover feature surveys the products that earned PCWorld’s attention over the past year. The selections span desktops, laptops, GPUs, peripherals, and software, offering a concise snapshot of what stood out in a crowded market. Rather than treating each item in isolation, the feature helps readers see how different parts of the PC ecosystem fit together.

Turn a Flash Drive into a Portable PC Survival Kit 🔧

One of the issue’s most practical features explains how to prepare a flash drive with tools and utilities that can help diagnose, recover, or rescue a PC in a pinch. It’s the kind of hands-on advice that PCWorld has long been known for: specific, tested, and aimed at real-world troubleshooting.

Windows Copilot+ PCs: A Reality Check

The Tech Spotlight section takes a measured look at Windows Copilot+ PCs, asking whether the current generation lives up to the hype. The piece examines what the hardware and software can actually do today, rather than what might arrive later.

Reviews, Ratings, and Here’s How

Regular departments include Reviews & Ratings, where new products are tested and scored, and Here’s How, a section dedicated to step-by-step advice. These pages give the issue a practical rhythm, moving from industry analysis to things readers can try on their own systems.

Who This Issue Is For

PCWorld January 2025 suits readers who follow PC hardware, Windows, and consumer tech closely—whether they’re planning a build, keeping up with industry news, or looking for trustworthy buying guidance. It’s a single-issue snapshot of where personal computing stood at the start of 2025.