Articles by Cliff Joseph, Contributor

Cliff Joseph is a former Editor of MacUser magazine, and a freelance technology writer with 30 year’s experience in the industry (and old enough to remember when Apple was close to going bust…).

His first job involved using Macs for magazine sub-editing and typesetting, which led to the realisation that these computer-thingies might actually turn out to be useful after all. After a few years specialising in the Mac side of the market, he went freelance and embraced the wide world of digital technology, including Windows PCs, digital audio and hi-fi, and networking. Somewhere along the line he also developed a bit of a gaming habit and has stubbornly waved the flag for Mac gaming for far too many years.

Articles by: Cliff Joseph

Asus RP-AX58: low-cost Wi-Fi 6 range extender for tackling Wi-Fi deadspots

By Cliff Joseph published 1 January 26

Have a part of your home or office that your Wi-Fi signal just cannot reach? The Asus RP-AX58 is an affordable way to fix that.

A MacBook Pro and a MacBook Air sitting on a table

Benchmarking Macs: 3DMark and other testing tools that make it easy to test your Apple Mac’s performance

By Cliff Joseph published 27 July 25

Here are all the ways you can test performance on macOS devices, from MacBooks to iMacs.

Acer Predator Connect W6x on a wooden table

Acer Predator Connect W6x: an affordable Wi-Fi upgrade for owners of older computers and mobile devices

By Cliff Joseph published 17 June 25

Great Value

The Predator Connect W6x router sticks with last-gen Wi-Fi 6, but it provides very respectable performance at a competitive price.

Several Apple devices showing a generic skateboarding game.

Apple's WWDC 2025 has a lot to offer - but forget Apple Intelligence, what about the games?

By Cliff Joseph published 9 June 25

Apple's apparent refusal to engage with the gaming industry is slowly becoming a blind spot for the tech giant.

Acer Predator Connect T7 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh Router: super-fast Wi-Fi 7 router for hardcore gamers

By Cliff Joseph published 28 May 25

Recommended

Acer’s gaming router runs faster than a speeding bullet in an FPS arena

Eero 7 mesh Wi-Fi system on a wooden table

Eero 7 review: it’s no speed demon, but Eero’s latest is an affordable Wi-Fi 7 mesh system for larger homes

By Cliff Joseph published 19 March 25

The Eero 7 isn't the single fastest mesh Wi-Fi system on the market, but it is affordable and great for covering large spaces.

Netgear Nighthawk router next to its box on a table

Netgear Nighthawk RS200 review: Netgear’s latest Wi-Fi 7 router is competitively priced – but makes compromises to get there

By Cliff Joseph published 12 November 24

A speedy, affordable upgrade for a certain group

AirPods 4 in their case, with the case lid open

How to connect Apple AirPods to a MacBook (or Mac)

By Cliff Joseph last updated 6 November 24

Want to know how to connect Apple AirPods to a MacBook? Here's all you need to know with step-by-step instructions.

Netgear Orbi 770 router system resting on a table

Netgear Orbi 770 review: fast speeds, low Wi-Fi 7 prices

By Cliff Joseph published 10 October 24

Netgear’s most affordable Wi-Fi 7 mesh system provides excellent performance for home users and small businesses

Netgear Nighthawk RS300 router sitting on a table next to its box

Netgear Nighthawk RS300 review: high-speed Wi-Fi 7 at a competitive price

By Cliff Joseph published 17 September 24

Netgear's Nighthawk RS300 may be half the price of its RS700 counterpart, but it still packs a Wi-fi 7 punch

TP-Link Deco BE63 - 3 devices showing ports

TP-Link Deco BE63 review: impressive Wi-Fi 7 mesh router system at a competitive price

By Cliff Joseph published 10 July 24

Editor's Choice

TP-Link's latest take on its mesh Wi-Fi router system delivers the goods in terms of performance and features.

Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98: lightning-fast Wi-Fi 7 router with impressive features for hardcore gamers

By Cliff Joseph published 11 June 24

Editor's Choice

If you want a ridiculously fast router to give you an edge with online gaming, here it is – but your wallet will take a big hit.

Linksys Velop Pro 7: A high-speed Wi-Fi 7 router at a more competitive price

By Cliff Joseph published 15 May 24

Recommended

The Linksys Velop Pro 7 offers excellent value for money with some strong performance against its competition.

Netgear Orbi 970 review: a state-of-the-art Wi-Fi 7 mesh system for larger homes and offices

By Cliff Joseph published 16 April 24

Recommended

Netgear's latest Orbi mesh router system offers best-in-class range and connection quality, but it's not exactly wallet-friendly.

Linksys Velop Pro 6E review: high-speed Wi-Fi for homes and offices of all sizes

By Cliff Joseph published 16 April 24

Recommended

While it might be too much for some users' at-home Wi-Fi needs, the Linksys Velop Pro 6E is a stellar choice of router.

Netgear Nighthawk RS700S review: Netgear’s first Wi-Fi 7 router provides blistering performance

By Cliff Joseph published 23 February 24

Recommended

While overkill for most people, the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S brings Wi-Fi 7 to those who want the fastest speeds possible.

Acer Aspire 5 laptop on a desk running 3DMark WildLife benchmark

Acer Aspire 5 (2022) review

By Cliff Joseph last updated 30 January 24

Recommended

With a sensible price tag, Acer's latest Aspire is a great pick for anyone who needs a reliable productivity laptop

This is the secret to upgrading your Windows 11 PC's Wi-Fi

By Cliff Joseph published 30 August 23

Do you need a Wi-Fi adapter? It might just be what does the trick to boost your old PC’s Wi-Fi.

Asus RT-AXE7800 review: Wi-Fi 6E technology at a competitive price

By Cliff Joseph published 19 July 23

The Asus RT-AXE7800 provides tri-band Wi-Fi 6E with a top speed of 7.8Gbps while staying at a competitively priced, making it a great upgrade option.

Asus RoG Rapture GT6 review: high-speed gaming router with far-reaching mesh Wi-Fi

By Cliff Joseph published 18 July 23

If you live in a larger home with lots of bedrooms, then the speed and range of the Asus RoG Rapture GT6 is hard to beat.

Netgear Orbi RBK763 review: a Wi-Fi- 6 mesh system for larger homes

By Cliff Joseph published 22 June 23

The Netgear Orbi RBK763 is a fast, easy-to-use Wi-Fi 6 mesh system designed for larger homes.

Asus ExpertWiFi (EBM68) Mesh Wi-Fi System Review

By Cliff Joseph published 14 June 23

Editor's Choice

A new high-performance mesh Wi-Fi system focuses on the needs of business users.

Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro Wi-Fi Router Review

By Cliff Joseph published 31 May 23

The Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro is a fast and versatile mobile router with support for Wi-Fi 6E

Asus RT-AX59U review: an extendable Wi-Fi 6 router with a great price-to-performance ratio

By Cliff Joseph published 17 March 23

The Asus RT-AX59U is an extendable Wi-Fi 6 router that offers a compact design and good performance at a highly competitive price.

Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 review: good range extender with Wi-Fi 6 support

By Cliff Joseph published 3 March 23

The high-speed Devolo WiFi 6 Repeater 5400 is ideal for curing troublesome Wi-Fi ‘dead zones’, but Devolo’s app is a little erratic at times.