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Oppo Pad 5: two-minute reviewThe Oppo Pad 5 delivers in almost every area that matters. It has a delightfully vibrant display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, a user-friendly interface with years' worth of OS and security updates, and boasts a huge battery life to boot.I’ve been testing the tablet for three weeks now and, overall, I think that it’s worth the £349 asking price, which gives you 8GB of RAM and 128GB worth of storage. It serves up a bloat-free software experience, looks sleek and surprisingly premium, and even performs pretty decently when all’s said and done.Sure, the MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra processor isn’t the mightiest around, so you shouldn’t expect the sort of performance that the best tablets around can deliver (the Pad 5's bigger brother, the Oppo Pad 5 Pro, has a more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset), but for simple tasks like drawing and note-taking, scrolling on social media, and light gaming, I found it to be perfectly capable.You’ll notice some occasional hiccups when running more intensive gaming software or using the split view mode with more demanding programs but, for most users, it will almost certainly do the job.Some aspects of performance could be better, though. For instance, the built-in speakers don’t sound great, and the onboard cameras are hardly the most impressive (though good enough for video calls). My biggest criticism, though, is that the tablet only supports 33W wired charging, which is too slow for a device with a gigantic mAh battery capacity. As a result, you’ll be waiting for a good couple of hours to get to 100% again.Still, I didn’t need to charge the Oppo Pad 5 very much during testing at all — only a handful of times across a three-week period. And, all in all, I think it offers plenty for £349. It may not have an OLED screen, but the 2.8K LCD display looks great, with punchy colors, solid contrast, and even Dolby Vision support. The tablet’s standard of build is also pretty admirable — the aluminium frame and understated colour options make it seem more luxurious than it truly is.Yes, it's not the lightest tablet around, and there’s no stylus or keyboard bundled in here, but I’d still recommend the Oppo Pad 5 overall. It's a relatively stylish option with largely stable performance and a stand-out display, helping it to compete against pricier rivals, such as the iPad 11-inch (2025).(Image credit: Future)Oppo Pad 5 review: price & availabilityPriced at £349Available now in the UKNot sold directly in the USThe Oppo Pad 5 was revealed in 2025, but widespread availability in the UK only came about in 2026. It can't be purchased directly in the US, but could potentially be imported. The tablet is priced at £349, placing it somewhere between the entry level and mid-range categories. It's worth noting, though, that there’s no stylus or keyboard bundled in at this price, so for the full experience you could end up spending upwards of £400 here.Oppo Pad 5 review: specsOSColorOS 16.0ChipsetMediaTek Dimensity 7300-UltraRAM8GBStorage128GBDisplay12.1-inch LCD (2800 x 1980)Weight597gBattery10,050mAhCharging33W wiredCameras8MP rear, 8MP front(Image credit: Future)Oppo Pad 5 review: display12.1-inch LCD screen2800 x 1980 resolution with 120Hz refresh rateSolid 900 nits peak brightnessThe Oppo Pad 5 has a nice and broad 12.1-inch screen, which is plenty large enough for drawing and playing more intensive games. It has an LCD display rather than OLED, which would’ve been nice to see for deeper black levels and enhanced contrast, but it's common for a more budget-friendly model to opt for LCD.In terms of resolution, you’re looking at 2.8K on the Oppo Pad 5. There’s also HDR10 and Dolby Vision support, and when I tried watching a movie in the latter format, I was impressed with the detail, vibrancy of colours and quality of contrast on show. You also get a fairly bright, vivid picture from the Oppo Pad 5, which boasts a peak brightness of 900 nits. I found this to be perfect for brighter indoor spaces, and even moderate outdoor use.As you may expect, the Oppo Pad 5 has an adaptive refresh rate of 120Hz. This makes basic navigation feel silky smooth, and when gaming, will enable you to play select titles at up to 120fps, so long as the software supports this. Overall, I was impressed with the display of the Oppo Pad 5. It looks surprisingly sharp given its use of an LCD panel, and its replication of rich, punchy colours exceeded my expectations. It was also nice and responsive, well-sized, and relatively bright making it convenient for everyday use.(Image credit: Future)Display score: 4/5Oppo Pad 5 review: designSolid aluminium frameSleek, enticing look……but heftier than you may expectThe Oppo Pad 5 is a nice looking tablet, in my view. Its slim, sleek, and its quality aluminium frame makes it seem like a more premium product than it truly is. I tried the Starlight Black version, which appears to be reliably available in the UK, with a seemingly elusive Aurora Pink alternative also exists. I like the look of the Starlight Black colorway — it's understated and classy, only adding to that sense that this tablet is punching above its weight, at least in the looks department.One thing I didn’t love about the Oppo Pad 5, though, was its weight. It comes in at 597g, meaning it’s quite hefty in-use. For reference, that makes the Oppo Pad 5 more than 100g heavier than the Apple iPad 11-inch (2025), so if you want ultimate comfort for long usage sessions, you may be better served elsewhere.As someone who only typically dips in and out of using my tablet, the Oppo Pad 5’s weight was no problem at all, though. And I did like other aspects of its design. For instance, the buttons are fairly small and low-key, which paired with some smart placement, ensured that I never triggered any accidental presses. Some may find its IP40 dust and waterproof rating a bit underwhelming, though. This means that the tablet resists larger particle ingress, but is not waterproof whatsoever — so you’ll want to keep it well protected and dry at all times. The underwhelming IP40 rating and weight of this tablet means that it's not quite a design marvel, but its attractive look and solid build quality ensures that it still feels more premium than its price may suggest.(Image credit: Future)Design score: 4/5Oppo Pad 5 review: softwareColorOS delivers an excellent user experienceNext to no bloat whatsoeverFive years of OS and six years of security updates pledgedHere’s where we get to arguably the best part of the Oppo Pad 5 — the fantastic software experience it provides. Out of the box, this tablet is running Oppo’s ColorOS 16.0 (running on Android 16), which Android users will find familiar and practical. The user interface is well laid out, and even looks relatively stylish. It's seamless to access apps and settings too, and you can easily customize the home screen and switch between button or motion controls during setup.What’s great to see is that the Oppo Pad 5 has excellent, long-term software support too. It will receive five years of OS updates, as well as six years of security patches. That’s a commendable pledge from Oppo, and means that users can confidently use this tablet for years to come.Something else I loved about the Oppo Pad 5 was its almost total lack of bloatware. I’ve reviewed many devices where I’ve been met with a slew of unwanted mobile games, shopping apps, and AI slop, but the Oppo Pad 5 shows more respect to its users. There are a few pre-downloaded third-party apps, like Netflix and LinkedIn, but I’d wager that a large chunk of users would actually want these, so the streamlined app selection gets a big tick from me.Another positive is that the Oppo Pad 5 is far less concerned with the generative AI nonsense that you see elsewhere, including on some of Oppo’s own products. The AI studio is still here, which enables you to generate some imagery, and there are a few other features, like AI Writer (for proof-reading and formatting) and AI-enabled translation, but again, this functionality isn’t being relentlessly pushed onto you.(Image credit: Future)Software score: 5/5Oppo Pad 5 review: performanceSolid yet slightly unremarkable chipset8GB of RAM enough for multi-taskingQuad speakers don’t sound greatThe Oppo Pad 5 runs well overall, but it’s not going to provide you with totally flawless performance.It uses the MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra processor, which we’ve seen in a bunch of similarly priced rival models, like the OnePlus Pad Go 2. In addition, you get 8GB of RAM, which is easily enough for some basic multi-tasking. And I found the Oppo Pad 5 to run smoothly for the most part, with next to no hiccups when performing basic productivity tasks like note-taking, playing lighter games such as Tetris, or simply scrolling on social media.I did pick-up on the occasional frame drop with more demanding software, such as 3D mobile games, and some occasional delays when using the split-view mode with Google Chrome, but unless you’re a more intensive user, I think you’ll get by just fine with this model.One thing that I found to be a little disappointing, though, were the built-in quad speakers. These just don’t sound as refined as I’d hoped, with speech sometimes sounding boxed-in and generally a bit unclear. They’re not plating up super-tinny or shrill sound, sure, and the tablet has excellent codec support for music listening with headphones or speakers, but the built-in sound is lacking.The built-in cameras are fine enough, though. They’re 8MP on both the front and rear, which is totally adequate for taking video calls, though I didn’t find the results to be overly detailed or natural-looking when snapping some photos.(Image credit: Future)Performance score: 3.5/5Oppo Pad 5 review: batteryHuge 10,050mAh batteryGot me through multiple days of use when testingWired charging is disappointingly slowThe Oppo Pad 5 has a huge, 10,050mAh battery capacity, which really impressed me during testing. Unless you’re an especially intensive user, you’ll easily be able to use the Oppo Pad 5 for multiple days without needing to juice it up whatsoever — I could count on one hand the amount of times I had to charge it across my three weeks of testing. On top of this, you get a number of battery settings, including a power saving, super-power saving, and high-performance mode, and some battery health options. However, I do have one critique of the Oppo Pad 5 in the battery life department: its underwhelming charging speeds. It supports 33W wired charging, which definitely feels on the low side for a device with a battery this large. After one hour of charging, I discovered that the Oppo Pad 5 hadn’t even hit 50% yet, which is just too slow in my view.(Image credit: Future)Battery score: 4/5Should I buy the Oppo Pad 5?AttributesNotesRatingDisplayIt may not be OLED, but the display is bright, detailed, and colorful.4/5DesignSleek, attractive, well-made tablet, but lacks waterproofing and is a tad hefty.4/5SoftwareClean and easy to use UI, excellent OS and security support, next to no bloat.5/5PerformanceGood enough for light everyday use, but not the most powerful, and built-in speakers could be better.3.5/5BatteryGiant battery capacity let down slightly by underwhelming 33W charging.4/5Buy it if...You want a top-tier Android user-experienceThe Oppo Pad 5 plates up an excellent software experience, with the neat ColorOS, almost no bloatware whatsoever, and years worth of OS and security updates on the way. If you’re looking for an Android tablet that gives you a seamless user-experience, this is one to go for.You want seriously long battery lifeThe Oppo Pad 5 comes equipped with a 10,050mAh capacity battery, meaning it will last for multiple days without needing to be charged, unless you’re an especially intensive user.Don't buy it if...You want peak performanceYou can get better performance from some of the Oppo Pad 5’s rivals, largely due to its slightly middling chipset — even if it's still steady enough for general everyday use.You’re looking for something ultra-lightweightThe Oppo Pad 5 is slightly on the heavy side, so if you’re looking for an almost feather-weight model that you can take on the go, it may be worth looking elsewhere. Oppo Pad 5 review: also considerOppo Pad 5Apple iPad 11-inch (2025)OnePlus Pad Go 2Price£349Starts at £429Starts at £319OSColorOS 16.0iPadOS 18OxygenOS 15.0.1ChipsetMediaTek Dimensity 7300-UltraA16MediaTek Dimensity 7300-UltraRAM8GB6GB8GBStorage128GB128GB / 256GB / 512GB128GB / 256GBDisplay12.1-inch LCD (2800 x 1980)11-inch LED Backlit (2360 x 1640) IPS LCD12.1-inch LCD (2800 x 1980)Weight597g475g597gBattery10,050mAh28.93Wh10,050mAhCharging33W wired45W wired33W wiredCameras8MP rear, 8MP front12MP rear, 12MP front8MP rear, 8MP frontApple iPad 11-inch (2025)With ongoing global RAM shortages raging, Apple decided to increase the prices of a lot of its gadgets, and unfortunately, the iPad 11-inch (2025) was among those affected. Now, it starts at £429, but this is still a solid price for the quality on offer. This tablet is stunning, delivers impressive performance, and is lighter than the Oppo Pad 5. Read our full Apple iPad 11-inch (2025) review.OnePlus Pad Go 2Just look at that specs table. There are almost no differences whatsoever between the Oppo Pad 5 and the OnePlus Pad Go 2. But if you can grab this one for cheaper, or if you prefer its overall look, it may well be worth picking up instead. It can also be purchased with 256GB of storage in the UK, unlike the Oppo Pad 5. Read our full OnePlus Pad Go 2 review.How I tested the Oppo Pad 5(Image credit: Future)Tested across the course of three weeksTried all major featuresUsed for streaming video, playing games, and doing everyday tasksI used the Oppo Pad 5 as my main tablet across the course of three weeks. During this time, I gradually tested all of its core features and made sure to assess everything from display quality to battery life.During testing, I tried out video streaming, playing games, and performing everyday tasks to measure the tablet’s performance across the most crucial areas.More generally, I’ve spent years testing gadgets here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve tested everything from Dolby Atmos soundbars like the Sonos Beam Ultra to phones like the Nothing Phone 4(a). I’ve also reviewed tablets during my time here, such as the Huawei MatePad 11.5.Read more about how we testFirst reviewed: October 2026

The Celebrity Traitors season 2 episode 9 is out tonight, and we're desperate to see it. We're all dying to know who Youtuber King Kenny has banished. After (hilariously) being voted the three most trustworthy, the three traitors were awarded a dagger which gave the holder two votes at that evening's round table. Maya and James decided to let Kenny have the dagger, and we've been waiting all week to see how he's going to use it. When we left off, Sharon and Joanne had been forced into a head-to-head at the round table. Sharon then received 4 votes, while Joanne got 3, meaning that Kenny's double dagger is the decider for who goes home.We cant believe there's only 2 episodes left!!! Episode 9 airs October 29 at 8pm BST. Here's how you can watch The Celebrity Traitors online from anywhere with a VPN (75% off) and potentially for free.Next episode: Thurs, 29 Oct (Ep.9)Watch LIVE: BBC iPlayer🌎 Use NordVPN to watch when abroadCan I watch The Celebrity Traitors for free?Yes. Faithfuls (and everybody else) in the UK can watch The Celebrity Traitors FREE of charge on BBC One and the channel's BBC iPlayer streaming platform and app. Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, episode 5, episode 6 and episode 7 are streaming now; Episode 9 airs on Thurs, Oct 29.Watch The Celebrity Traitors S2 for FREE on iPlayerSeason 2 of Celebrity Traitors streams for free in UK on BBC iPlayer. The streaming service doesn’t require an account or subscription – merely a TV licence. Stream and watch away.Going abroad during season 2? Unlock iPlayer with NordVPN – our No.1 streaming VPN – details below.View DealHow to watch The Celebrity Traitors from anywhereIf you're keen to watch The Celebrity Traitors S2 but you're away from home and access to the show is geo-blocked, you can always use a VPN to access it (assuming you're not breaching any broadcaster T&Cs, of course). You may be surprised by how simple it is to do.Use one of the best VPNs to watch The Celebrity Traitors 2026 (season 2) from anywhere:🟩 NordVPN – get the world's best VPNNot having a VPN is like leaving your front door wide open in a busy city – anyone can walk right in and take a peek.TechRadar regularly reviews all the biggest and best VPN providers and NordVPN is our #1 choice.✅ 75% Off Today✅ 3 Extra Months Free✅ Unlocks BBC iPlayerGet NordVPN and stream The Celebrity Traitors for free.View DealUsing a VPN is incredibly simple:1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're visiting the US and want to view your usual UK service, you'd select a UK-based server from the list.3. Binge the backstabbing. Head to your usual local streaming service and watch Traitors.*SPOILERS*In case you missed the first eight episodes, here's a quick rundown to get you up to date. The two original Traitors were Richard E. Grant and Maya Jama. they decided to go with two very different styles of game play... Maya Jama played the game as you're meant to, while Richard E. Grant immediately told everyone he was a traitor. Unsurprisingly, he was voted out at the first Round Table. The Traitors have since been recruiting, meaning that the line-up of backstabbers now includes James Acaster and Prof. Hannah Fry. Those among the dead include Bella Ramsey, of The Last Of Us fame and Amol Rajan, of Amal Rajan fame. After successfully voting out a traitor in the first round table, the faithfuls banished two of their own; Julie Hesmondhalgh and Myha'la. Rob Beckett was murdered after a tense game of hide-and-seek, but the faithful got their revenge by banishing Traitor Prof. Hannah Fry. Youtuber King Kenny took her place in the turret, and immediately got into the spirit of treachery. He has none of the hangups that James Acaster has about murdering, and so far seems as though he was born to be a traitor. The traitors murdered Ross in plain sight by boring him to death, spraying 'poisonous perfume' and then making him yawn. Ross' death caused confusion, and threw a lot of suspicion onto Leigh-Anne, who didn't help her case by sporting some very villainous gloves at the round table. It was Jerry, though, who was banished in the end. A comment made by Michael Sheen about having 'the strongest possible group of faithfuls' was what seem to put paid to Jerry's time in the castle. Episode 8 saw Miranda murdered, which to be quite honest has ruined it for us, she was 70% of why we were still watching. Now we're dying to know who got banished... Sharon or Joanne?Read on as we explain how to watch episode 9 of The Celebrity Traitors 2026 from anywhere – as well as the spinoff Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked, and the final on Friday, October 30.Can I watch The Celebrity Traitors UK in the US?The Celebrity Traitors (2026) will arrive on Peacock in "Q4 2026", which is not a surprise – NBC/Peacock is home to all things The Traitors. The US release date is due to be announced shortly.If you're a UK resident who is currently across the pond, a VPN will help you tune in to your BBC. NordVPN is our recommended provider, and you can find out why with our in-depth NordVPN review.Can I watch The Celebrity Traitors 2 in Canada?In Canada, subscription service Crave is streaming all 6 previous episodes of The Celebrity Traitors season 2. Viewers can also chose between French and English.Crave plans start from CA$11.99 a month and offers classic HBO series, on-demand movies and Crave originals alongside TV shows such as The Traitors Canada season 4.Visiting Canada from the UK? Use a VPN to watch The Celebrity Traitors season 2 online – plus all the other content you'd normally stream at home.Can I watch The Celebrity Traitors season 2 in the UK?The Celebrity Traitors continues tonight, Thursday 29 October 2026 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The series airs two nights a week on Thursday and Friday evenings at 8pm.Visiting the UK? from Ireland Use a VPN to access your usual The Celebrity Traitors on iPlayer.Can I watch The Celebrity Traitors 2 in Australia?The Celebrity Traitors season two is available in Australia for free on 10. Fans can catch up on the first 8 episodes, as well as watch new episodes at exactly the same time as they air in the UK. All you need is a 10 account, and they're completely free. Episodes are also available on Paramount Plus.Outside Australia? NordVPN will help you gain access to free 10 streams while you're out of the country.Can I watch The Celebrity Traitors 2 in New Zealand?For Kiwi viewers, The Celebrity Traitors UK season 2 will stream on ThreeNow starting October 4 – three days after it starts in the UK on BBC iPlayer.Visiting New Zealand? Grab this VPN (75% off) now to watch all your usual British streaming services when traveling. Missed the first 6 episodes?First of all, sorry for the spoilers. However, there's good news! You can catch up with the first 8 episodes of The Celebrity Traitors for free via BBC iPlayer (as long as you've been faithful and paid your license fee).Not in the UK? Have no fear. You can access your iPlayer from anywhere in the world with a VPN.The Celebrity Traitors series 2 (2026) – Need to KnowWho is in The Celebrity Traitors 2 cast?Amol Rajan — journalist and broadcaster ❌Bella Ramsey — actor (The Last of Us, Game of Thrones)❌James Acaster — comedian and podcaster 🔪James Blunt — singer-songwriterJerry Hall — model and actor❌Joanne McNally — comedianJoe Lycett — comedian ❌Julie Hesmondhalgh — actor (Coronation Street)❌King Kenny — YouTuber/content creator 🔪Leigh-Anne Pinnock — singer, formerly of Little MixMaya Jama — presenter 🔪Michael Sheen — actorMiranda Hart — comedian, actor and author ❌Myha’la — actor (Industry)❌Professor Hannah Fry — mathematician and broadcaster❌Richard E. Grant — actor❌Rob Beckett — comedian❌Romesh Ranganathan — comedianRoss Kemp — actor and presenter❌Sebastian Croft — actor (Heartstopper)Sharon Rooney — actor (My Mad Fat Diary) The Celebrity Traitors 2 trailerHow many episodes of The Celebrity Traitors season 2 are there?There will be 10 episodes in The Celebrity Traitors series 2 – one more than season one, which had nine.It continues Thursday, 29 October 2026 at 8pm BST on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with episodes airing Thursday and Friday evenings in Great Britain.Episodes 1-8 are available now on BBC iPlayer, with Episode 9 out at 8pm on Thursday, Oct 29.The Final episode airs tomorrow, on October 30, at 8pm.You may also enjoy watching...How to watch The Celebrity Traitors: Uncloaked season 2 for freeHow to watch The Traitors Ireland season 2The Traitors India season 2: free streams and how to watchWatch The Traitors: New Blood season 1 onlineWe test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

ExpressVPN's latest Android update adds three new ways to sign in: an email code, a login token, and a passkey.Login tokens expire after a short time and are replacing ExpressVPN's old, never-changing activation codes.The options are rolling out gradually, and ExpressVPN expects every Android user to have them by the end of the year.ExpressVPN has released a fresh version of its Android app, and it adds three new ways to sign in to your account directly in the app.Users can now choose between a one-time code sent to their inbox, a login token copied from the ExpressVPN web portal, or a passkey. The same options are already available on iOS, and ExpressVPN told TechRadar it's using the switch to gradually retire activation codes altogether.Three new ways to sign in to ExpressVPN on AndroidThe first option is the simplest. Enter the email address linked to your account, and ExpressVPN sends a verification code to your inbox.The second option, a login token, is the bigger change. You generate one from the setup page of the ExpressVPN+ web portal, then paste it into the app or scan it as a QR code. Unlike the old activation code, which stayed the same and never expired, a new token is created each time you ask for one and expires after a short period.The third option is a passkey. If you created one for your Android device when you signed up, you enter your email and follow the on-screen prompt to authenticate.Email and password login isn't going anywhere for now. You'll still find it among the "legacy" options by tapping the ExpressVPN icon on the app's welcome screen. Activation codes, however, are the "first to make way for these newer methods," according to an ExpressVPN representative.Why this is good news for Android usersPasskeys are a big win, as they're both more secure and easier to input than traditional passwords. ExpressVPN's version follows the FIDO2/WebAuthn standard, so a passkey synced through a passkey manager should work across your devices, while one saved on a hardware security key stays on that key. The company is also encouraging users to store passkeys in its own password manager, ExpressKeys, which it says makes them available on iOS, Android, Mac, and in the browser.Login tokens are also an improvement on the old activation code. Only someone already signed in to the portal can generate one, and because they're time-limited, a token that's lost or exposed simply stops working once it expires. ExpressVPN still advises treating a token like a password: "don’t share it or post screenshots of it, and only scan the QR code on a device you own." They're handy, too, as setting up a new phone no longer means pecking out a long password on a touchscreen.

If you’ve just picked up a shiny new iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max, you’re probably sifting through a gazillion case options to better protect it from drops and scratches.The very best iPhone cases are stylish, durable, and feel great in the hand, but having tested hundreds of different models over the years, let me tell you: not all iPhone cases are created equal.So, to help you find the treasure in a sea of trash, I’ve rounded up nine of my favorite iPhone 18 Pro-specific cases from Moft, Troubadour, CASETiFY, and more.Apple Silicone Case with MagSafeThe Apple Silicone Case with MagSafe in Burgundy (Image credit: Future)Apple’s classic Silicone Case for the iPhone 18 Pro is the definition of a safe bet. As we’ve come to expect from these largely unchanging models, this case feels great in the hand and is grippier than many of the leather options included elsewhere on this list. But if by some miracle Apple’s Silicone Case does slip from your grasp, its rubbery construction provides a good amount of shock absorption for your precious iPhone.If I’ve got any criticisms of Apple’s Silicone Case, it’s that it picks up lint pretty easily (a consequence of that extra grippiness) and it's prone to showing circular marks when attached to MagSafe charging accessories for long periods. These circles are temporary, only appearing when the case itself heats up during charging, but their existence is worth noting nonetheless.For extra protection, you can pair Apple’s Silicone Case with a compatible Wrist Strap or Crossbody Strap, which are both sold separately. I'm not cool enough to pull off either of those things, but you might be.Buy the iPhone 18 Pro Silicone Case with MagSafeESR Atelier Silicone Leather Magnetic CaseThe ESR Atelier Silicone Leather Magnetic Case in Deep Burgundy (Image credit: Future)Crafted from soft silicone leather (which I can only assume is a synthetic leather-adjacent material), the ESR Atelier Silicone Leather Magnetic Case feels comfortable to hold and is chunky enough to protect your iPhone from reasonably high drops.But the selling point of this case is its built-in stand, which sits around the iPhone 18 Pro’s camera plateau. It can be adjusted from 15 to 69 degrees and is sturdy as heck at all angles, so whether you’re watching a YouTube video with breakfast or a movie on the train, you don’t have to worry about your iPhone collapsing backwards on itself.A 90-degree extension option would’ve been nice, but if going beyond 69 degrees would necessitate a bulkier module around the camera plateau, I’m happy with the trade-off.Buy the ESR iPhone 18 Pro Atelier Silicone Leather Magnetic CaseTroubadour Modular CaseThe Troubadour Modular Case in Terracotta (Image credit: Future)I’ve written about my favorite iPhone cases from Troubadour (formerly Mujjo) before, and for the iPhone 18 Pro, the case-maker has shaken up its lineup with a modular version of its classic Leather Case.This Terracotta model features a removable magnetic back panel, which lets you pop out a portion of the case if you’d rather leave the rear of your iPhone 18 Pro exposed. I’m not entirely sure why anyone would want to do this — a backless phone looks cool, but feels strange in the hand — but I suppose it’s nice to have the option to do so.The bigger benefit of having a removable back panel is that you can swap out the standard piece for custom MagSafe accessories that sit inside the cavity, rather than stacking onto the back of the case itself. Troubadour’s MagSafe Card Leather Wallet Stand is sold separately, but it’s absolutely worth picking up: it’s big enough to hold three cards, and features a fold-out stand that can prop up the iPhone 18 Pro in either portrait or landscape positions.Buy the Troubadour iPhone 18 Pro Modular CaseCASETiFY Ripple CaseThe CASETiFY Ripple Case in Fig Purple (left) and Banana Yellow with Grip Stand (right) (Image credit: Future)CASETiFY never does things by halves (remember when the brand partnered with The Andy Warhol Foundation?), and its latest Ripple Case for the iPhone 18 Pro is characteristically fun and durable.Featuring four raised corners, this silicone case has been engineered to absorb and disperse force when dropped from multiple angles. CASETiFY says it’s been tested to withstand drops from up to 6.6 feet high, and while I wasn’t brave enough to raise my own iPhone 18 Pro above my 6-foot frame and drop it to the floor, I can believe the company’s claim: this thing bounces around like a ping-pong ball (complimentary).Another nice feature of the Ripple case is its ability to withstand light-induced yellowing and object staining. You can rub ketchup, crayons, and coffee all over it — or even leave it out in the sun all day — and it’ll look good as new after a quick wipe. Parents, rejoice!Buy the CASETiFY iPhone 18 Pro Ripple CaseWave MagSafe CaseThe Wave case in White (Image credit: Future)Wave’s MagSafe cases are unfussy, eco-friendly, and devoid of flashy features. Crucially, they’re made from biodegradable wheat straw, so they’re (much) better for the planet than many of the other options in this list — including those made from vegan leather.I don’t love that Wave’s cases leave your iPhone’s Camera Control button exposed, which makes the button itself harder to reach given the width added to the phone by the case. But if you’re conscious about what might happen to your case after you’re done with it, there aren’t many better options than the Wave case.Buy the Wave iPhone 18 Pro MagSafe Compatible CasePeak Design SlimLink Everyday Loop CaseThe Peak Design SlimLink Everyday Loop Case in Sage (left) and Everyday Case in Redwood Clarino (right) (Image credit: Future)If you’re someone who likes to attach your phone to your vehicle, Peak Design’s SlimLink cases are the way to go. The SlimLink Everyday Loop Case for the iPhone 18 Pro can be attached to the brand’s car, bike, and motorcycle mounts (sold separately) via a novel magnetic-plus-mechanical mount system, which is more resistant to vibrations and bumps than magnets alone.But even if you’re not fussed about mounting your phone to your, err, mount, the SlimLink Everyday Loop Case feels awesome in the hand, looks super smart (particularly in the Sage color pictured above), and features an optional finger loop for added peace of mind when you’re leaning over the railings at Niagara Falls to get the perfect shot.I’m going to cheat and add a second Peak Design option in this same entry: the brand’s MagSafe-only Everyday Case is also a great pick if you’d rather avoid the bells and whistles of its SlimLink system and finger loop. It’s available in Charcoal, Sage, Ocean, Redwood Clarino (pictured above), Dusk Clarino, Cirrus Clarino, Black Leather, and Amber Leather.Buy the Peak Design SlimLink Everyday Loop Case for iPhone 18 ProMoft Snap Case MOVASThe Moft Snap Case MOVAS in Blackberry (left) and Brownie (right) (Image credit: Future)The Moft Snap Case MOVAS is an absolutely gorgeous iPhone 18 Pro case, but I urge you to exercise patience if, when putting it on your iPhone for the first time, it seems defective. This is the tightest iPhone case I have ever used, which means it’s a bit of a challenge to get on and off. And once you do manage to snap it around your iPhone, it can sometimes ‘lock’ the power button into depression erroneously, which will force you to remove and re-apply the case until the power button becomes clickable as normal. However, once you do find the perfect fit (I suggest leading with the power button side, and ‘pushing down’ with the volume rocker side), I’d wager that this is the nicest-feeling and nicest-looking iPhone 18 Pro case around.There is something remarkably soft about Moft’s proprietary vegan leather, which is topped with a silicone-based surface treatment for a skin-like feel. And the aforementioned tightness of this case means it adds almost zero bulk to your iPhone 18 Pro. If you’re concerned about aesthetics above all else, this is the case to choose — especially in the Blackberry color, which complements Apple’s new Burgundy shade perfectly.Buy the Moft Snap Case MOVAS for iPhone 18 ProMoment Camera Case IIThe Moment Camera Case II in Burgundy (left) with SuperTele 240mm lens (center) and AntiGlare CPL QuickLock Filter (right) (Image credit: Future)Here’s one for the camera aficionados: the Moment Camera Case II lets you attach extra mobile lenses, physical photo filters, and mounting hardware to your iPhone 18 Pro.Maybe you want to add some cinematic depth to your wide shots, or more optical character to your macro shots? Moment has attachments that help you do both those things, and the Camera Case II is the rig onto which these attachments, well, attach.The brand’s twist-and-lock system works seamlessly, and the Camera Case II’s Camera Control button is the best of any case I’ve tested. Sure, this is a chunky piece of kit, and I don’t particularly like the ribbed material on the rear panel (think mild carpet burn), but this is the case to choose if you’re looking to take your iPhone photography to the next level.Buy the Moment Camera Case II for iPhone 18 Pro

We called Windows 11 "the best operating system made by Microsoft," when we took the OS out for a spin in our review. Since then, I'd argue it's grown from strength to strength. And while I'm not sure the company will ever hit the highs of Win98 and XP, Windows 11 still the operating system I use on all my personal and professional computers. And I've just found a Windows 11 Pro license with BitLocker, Azure AD, and Hyper-V priced at $10 (was $199) on StackSocial. A 95% discount is enough to make anyone sit up and take notice. The site says it's sold by an authorized Microsoft partner, and is a verified license key. • Best for: Professionals upgrading to Microsoft's latest OS without paying full price for additionals like BitLocker. • Why we like it: The price is the eye-catching feature here - at $10 you're getting a perpetual license to the operating system, alongside business-critical security and virtualization services.• What you need to know: This is a download key, not sold direct from Microsoft, and I'd recommend checking your system requirements before purchase. Windows 11 Pro with Bitlocker, Hyper-V, and Azure AD: was $199 now $9.97This license key offers full access to Windows 11 Pro, as well as Bitlocker security, virtual machines manager Hyper-V, and identity and access management service Azure AD. A Windows 11 Home license is also available for the same price, and from the same seller. View DealWhy we recommend itUpgrading to Windows 11 Pro is pricey, at $200. And with Microsoft dropping support for Windows 10 this time last year, more and more businesses are looking for ways to upgrade. The operating system itself scored 4 stars in our review. With regular updates and improvements, we called it "a great operating system, and if you use a Windows-powered device that’s currently on Windows 10, it’s probably time to consider an upgrade and take advantage of what Windows 11 has to offer. As things stand, Windows 11 has earned its place as a new classic in Microsoft’s lineup, ready to embrace what AI and handheld gaming will offer in the future."Value verdictThis Windows 11 Pro deal is exceptionally good value. For comparison, Microsoft sells a license for Windows 11 Pro for $200 on its site. There, you can also buy a pre-loaded USB version, but if you're happy with a download code, this is the better deal.

Attackers used SEO-poisoned GitHub pages and fake AI clients to lure victims into downloading malwareThe Yoba malware establishes persistence, evades analysis, and ultimately deploys XMRig cryptominersCampaign abuses interest in popular AI tools like GPT and Claude to monetize victims’ computing resourcesCybercriminals are, once again, exploiting people’s interest in AI tools to distribute cryptojackers and make money - this time around, opting for a combination of spoofed popular products, trusty old GitHub, and a little SEO poisoning.The campaign was spotted by security experts from Check Point Research (CPR), who’ve been tracking it for the past two months, noting that the unnamed attackers created fake downloadable clients for GPT-5.6 Sol, GPT-6 Astra, and Claude Opus, and hosted them on GitHub.Usually, when threat actors spoof legitimate software and try to disseminate it via GitHub, they go the extra mile to feign legitimacy - they artificially inflate download numbers, deploy bots to ramp up stars or forks numbers, and post fake comments. That way, when a victim opens the page, they have no reason to doubt they’re looking at legitimate, popular software.In this case, however, they didn’t bother with GitHub. However, CPR says that the pages still appear at the very top of Google’s search engine results pages for certain keywords, indicating that they’ve invested heavily in SEO poisoning.SEO poisoningSearch Engine Optimization (SEO) poisoning is a simple practice - criminals purchase hundreds (if not thousands) of articles, blogs, and social media posts on the dark web, and have them uploaded and published across the internet. Each post carries a link to the desired GitHub page, giving Google the signal that that specific page is popular and relevant for certain terms. As a result, Google pushes it to the top of its results, unknowingly aiding the attackers into reaching their targets quicker. The attackers have also created separate GitHub websites to serve as descriptions for the applications and linked them directly to downloadable installation files. As a practice, SEO poisoning was popular even before the advent of AI, but now it’s gotten even easier, since the tools can easily generate as many articles as needed, for a fraction of the previous cost. Obviously, these texts are extremely low-quality, and Google has been working on labeling them as spam, but the process is still ongoing.When victims land on these GitHub pages and download the executables, they think they’re getting a standalone client for an AI tool. What they’re getting instead is a piece of malware called Yoba. Once a victim downloads and runs it, Yoba establishes persistence by creating a mechanism that would launch it automatically every time the system restarts. Average computer users might have a tough time spotting it, too, since it presents itself as legitimate Windows software. Yoba then checks the device it’s running on to make sure it’s not in a sandbox, or infecting someone in a “friendly” country. It can deliberately delay execution for two weeks to make analysis more difficult, and checks the computer’s keyboard to avoid infecting systems from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. CPR did not say where the attackers are from, but this filter could give a strong indication. Deploying XMRigThe malware’s final step is to contact the C2 server and pull the final payload. While this can be virtually anything - from infostealers to ransomware encryptors, CPR says it is currently being used to deploy XMRig. XMRig is an entirely legitimate, open-source program used to mine the Monero cryptocurrency. Unfortunately, it is extremely popular among cybercriminals because Monero is designed to be a “privacy first” coin and, unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, cannot be as easily tracked across the blockchain. Mining requires significant computing and electricity resources, as well as for the devices to be connected to the internet. By installing XMRig to countless devices, crooks can generate a hefty amount of tokens, leaving the victims to pick up the inflated energy and compute bill.

UK Budget extends temporary VAT relief on domestic electricity£100 million of funding will support more residential public charge pointsYet the future of the £3,750 Electric Car Grant remains unclearLabour Party chancellor John Healey has announced his first budget statement under the recently-installed Prime Minister Andy Burnham — and while there was some welcome news for owners of internal combustion engine cars, chiefly in the form of a frozen fuel duty increase, EV owners arguably fared better.Firstly, for anyone that can plug in their electric vehicle and charge at home, Healey confirmed that the temporary removal of VAT on domestic electricity will be extended until July 2027.This means electric motorists won’t have to face the 5% increase until July 2027, making domestic charging by far and away the cheapest way to run any vehicle.Irritatingly, the faster and generally more convenient public charging network still adds an additional 20% VAT rate to the already astronomical prices, with no plans to relax these rules. Thirdly, in an attempt to remove any barriers for those without at-home charging facilities, the government announced £100 million of funding available, split over two years, to install more lower-powered public charge points near homes. The government says this will cover chargers typically found on residential streets, where drivers can leave their vehicles to charge for several hours or overnight.(Image credit: Char.gy)What’s more, the government also recently announced that anyone thinking of installing a pavement gutter, which allows cables to be safely trailed from the house to an EV parked on the road, won’t have to apply for planning permission.Not only is it a costly undertaking, but gaining planning permission can also be confusing and a painful time-drain due to the bureaucracy involved. Pavement gutters or sidewalk trenches make it much easier for those living in busy residential areas or terraced streets, where driveway space is at a premium or non-existent, to charge from a wall-mounted outlet and take advantage of cheaper, off-peak energy tariffs.However, with the good news comes the bad. Chancellor John Healey failed to address the future of the Electric Car Grant, which was first introduced by then-chancellor Rachel Reeve in July 2025 and reduces the cost of some new EVs by up to £3,750. Although here, no news is arguably good news for the consumer, as it means the aforementioned savings are still very much up for grabs until further notice.Analysis: The future is uncertain (Image credit: Ohme)Politicians have already made noises about introducing a pay-per-mile tax for EV owners in an attempt to make up for the losses in fuel duty, seeing as fewer motorists are visiting the pumps, as well as leveling the current Vehicle Excise Duty playing field, which is predominantly shouldered by those with petrol or diesel vehicles.Snappily-titled the Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (or eVED for short), Chancellor John Healey confirmed that the tax is due to be introduced in 2028 and that the government is in the process of developing a new digital tool that will allow electric vehicle owners to opt in and have their annual mileage automatically recorded.But critics are already calling for greater clarity. John Cassidy, Managing Director of Close Brothers Motor Finance, explained that his company’s research found that nearly half (49%) of EV drivers want the proposed charge delayed or scrapped, underlining the importance of explaining "how the policy will affect drivers’ costs"."Clear communication and long-term certainty will be crucial to maintaining consumer confidence,” he said.So while it feels like the UK government is still on the side of promoting the transition to greater electrification in the transport sector, it hasn’t gone as far as to state how long for, with the likes of eVED suggesting that EV owners will have to get used to more taxation, an uncertainty around new car grants and potentially unchecked public charging network prices.

A wheeled robot lays battlefield wire while engineers remain under coverA remote-controlled frame unwinds wire across exposed battlefield terrain without nearby engineersUkrainian ground-robot missions rose from 7,511 in January to 19,940 in July 2026Ukrainian troops are using remotely-operated wheeled robots to construct defensive obstacles in dangerous locations where military engineers face direct exposure.The ground robot carries coils of wire on specially designed frames, releasing the material across designated areas as it moves forward.Images from the Ukrainian military show one of these autonomous vehicles with six wheels, but the manufacturer and model remain unknown.Ground robots take over dangerous engineering dutiesThe ground robot comes with a specially constructed framework mounted above its wheels that helps it to hold the wire rolls in place.Its sloping support structure permits the material to unwind gradually while the machine advances, creating obstacles along the chosen route.This machine is remotely operated by Ukraine's 16th Separate Support Brigade while remaining under cover.This minimizes the risk and removes the need for engineering teams to stand outside protected positions while manually deploying wire across exposed terrain.Ukrainian military officials acknowledge these dangers, explaining that robotic machines are now being deployed to construct battlefield obstacles instead of exposing soldiers.“Installing barriers in an open area is always a risk for combat engineers. But today, this hard work is done by ground-based drones,” the Ground Forces of Ukraine said on social media.At the moment, details regarding the carrying capacity, operational distance, and the amount of fencing that this robot can deploy in a single mission remain undisclosed.Robotic missions increase sharply across UkraineThis latest deployment extends Ukraine's expanding employment of unmanned terrestrial machines, protecting soldiers from confrontations.Similar systems already transport ammunition and essential battlefield provisions, reducing the frequency of dangerous supply missions.Data from Ukraine’s DELTA military management platform shows that robotic activity has increased considerably during the ongoing war with Russia.Recorded operations reached 19,940 in July 2026, compared with only 7,511 in January, which points to much greater reliance on remotely operated ground equipment.By the beginning of September, the total had reached roughly 112,000 recorded missions, showing how quickly these machines have become part of military operations.These numbers cover robotic operations in general rather than wire installation specifically, so they cannot show how often these particular vehicles are used.The military has not said how many barrier installation vehicles are currently in use, or whether other units operate similar equipment on the battlefield.No figures have been released for successful installations, equipment losses or the distance these machines cover during each assignment, so their real effectiveness remains unclear.Via Drone Front

AI firm DeepGreen has suggested building data centers underwaterThis would help to keep the locations cool and running efficientlyBut the proposed locations could seriously harm endangered whale speciesAI data centers need an awful lot of water to keep their machines running at optimal temperatures, and that creates a problem: just how do you get that much water on-site? One potential solution seems almost blindingly obvious: why not build them underwater? Yet as residents across the US are discovering, that idea is proving to be highly controversial. Take the recently-pitched $100m underwater data center located off the coasts of Maine and Alaska, for example. AI firm DeepGreen Holdings has proposed building data centers off Western Passage, Maine, and Upper Cook Inlet, Alaska, and they would cover some 1,650 acres and comprise 66 compute pods and 300 tidal turbines. The problem? Both locations are home to endangered whale populations that could be significantly impacted by the developments. In the case of the Maine site, the Gulf of Maine is linked to critical habits for the North Atlantic right whale. As for Upper Cook Inlet, that’s a designated critical habitat for the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale. Whales rely heavily on echolocation to aid their feeding, navigation and social activities. Construction of enormous data centers of this scale would produce sizable noise pollution that could adversely affect the whale populations, potentially threatening what are already endangered animals. According to researchers (via Gadget Review), the heat produced by the data centers, meanwhile, could scare off the cold-water prey that the whales need to survive.Putting whales at risk(Image credit: datacenterdynamics)As you might expect, these projects have not gone down well with researchers and the public. For instance, Cooper Freeman of the Alaska Center for Biological Diversity described the move as “just really outrageous.” Freeman added that “We’re deeply concerned about all the harms this project could bring,” adding that the proposal lacks an awareness of “how dangerous this is for the inlet.” On Reddit, meanwhile, members of the public seem equally upset at the idea. One described it as “Evil. May these people be judged one day and punished for this level of absolutely evil. Disgusting.” Others were even skeptical that underwater data centers are even feasible in the long run, due to the hardware's longevity.With AI data centers consuming untold amounts of energy and requiring significant cooling to keep everything humming along, it’s not surprising that some companies are looking to submerge their facilities beneath the waves as a remedy. But when that idea involves worsening the situation for endangered species, perhaps it’s time to find another solution.

Report says AI is being given too much authority and autonomy to handle business-critical security decisions70% of organizations delegate decisions to AI that would have been made by a human 12 months agoA “control gap” exists between the authority given to AI and an organization’s ability to audit itDelegating complicated decisions to AI is leading organizations to place relatively new technology in charge of user permissions, in control of sensitive data, and risk security issues, new research has claimed. A study by Illumio looked into how organizations are handing decision recently performed by humans to AI, without apparently taking into account the potential for serious issues to arise.It found the majority (70%) of organizations are delegating previously human-made decisions to AI, but only around half (49%) can see what action is taken by an AI agent an audit it.AI recommendationsThe nature of AI agents makes this a particularly risky strategy, and the research has found that an incredible 56% of organizations are willing to accept greater cyber risks than 12 months ago. Almost half of that group (47%) have admitted to permitting AI actions in production environments.Allowing AI agents to have free run of enterprise data, applications, and infrastructure is leading to wholly avoidable situations. Illumio’s research found that a control gap between the rules that organizations believe AI agents are operating within and what the technology is actually capable of.Some 76% of organizations have experienced one or more security issues thanks to AI in the past year, with 35% revealing that following AI recommendations would result in a security risk. Meanwhile, 26% reported AI agents or tools had connected to other systems without the necessary approval.More worrying is the 24% of organizations reporting AI’s drive to access data it shouldn’t be able to see, and another 24% stating it has triggered (or produced) an unauthorized action.Strict limitsOf course, AI is already used within cybersecurity, and has proved successful with multiple vendors rolling out AI-enhanced solutions. But while 67% of organizations are using AI cybersecurity tools, 32% let AI conduct investigations without human oversight and 29% permit the software to deploy code changes completely unsupervised.“The biggest AI risk may not be a system that breaks its rules. It may be one that was never given meaningful limits in the first place," noted Raghu Nandakumara, VP of Industry Strategy at Illumio. Unleashing AI agents without constraints has left businesses struggling to control the software. As Nandakumara observes, AI agents are persistent, and attempting to outwit their next move is pointless. Instead, “businesses must set strict limits on what they can access and do, then enforce those limits within the application and across the underlying infrastructure. That is how you contain unexpected behavior before it causes real damage.”

Saab develops a working underwater drone demonstrator in less than a yearSweden's new underwater vehicle has completed its initial sea trialsMilitary authorities will evaluate the drone before deciding on procurement useSaab has built a large uncrewed underwater vehicle demonstrator, known as LUUV, in collaboration with Swedish defense authorities.The company finished development in less than a year after receiving its contract, and the prototype has already passed its first sea trials successfully.This means the drone now counts as a working demonstrator, giving engineers a real platform they can test and improve in the water.Quick progress and real-world testingThe Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Swedish Armed Forces are also involved, and they will help judge whether the technology suits military needs.Saab says the fast progress came from officials and engineers working side by side to develop and test the equipment in a short period.“This project demonstrates how new technologies can be rapidly translated into practical operational value,” said Mats Wicksell, head of Saab’s business area Naval.“The fact that we have also been able to develop and test the system in such a short timeframe demonstrates the strength of the collaboration between the Swedish Armed Forces, FMV and Saab.”Saab argues this kind of partnership can shorten the time between spotting a military requirement and testing a practical solution at sea.The completed sea trials offer a first look at how the vehicle performs in actual ocean conditions, rather than only during development testing.A demonstrator is an early working model built to prove that an idea functions, rather than a finished product ready for regular service.However, this milestone applies only to a demonstrator, so further development is still needed before the system can be considered ready for operational use.Going forward, Saab expects the next phase to bring more autonomous functions, software improvements and additional sensors.Software, benefits, and open questionsThe project relies on Saab's Autonomous Ocean Core, a proprietary software platform designed to let underwater and surface vessels operate autonomously without constant human control.This software-focused approach lets developers build automated functions into marine platforms and adjust them later as operational requirements change over time.Saab believes uncrewed underwater vehicles could extend mission endurance, improve awareness of activity beneath the surface and strengthen a navy's overall capabilities under the sea.Such platforms could prove useful for maritime surveillance and other underwater missions, although Saab has not shared the full specifications of this particular demonstrator.The company has not announced the vehicle's size, maximum depth, endurance, speed or payload capacity, so many important details remain unknown for now.The next development phase will therefore be important, because it should show which capabilities the platform can actually deliver to the armed forces.Swedish authorities will, however, use these results to decide whether the technology deserves more investment.Whatever happens next, Saab has shown that close collaboration between industry and government can deliver a working underwater vehicle in a remarkably short time.Via Drone Front

I did not expect to love the AirPods Max 2 so much, upon testing them. Nobody is more surprised than me that I chose Apple's new over-ears for Headphones of the Year at the TechRadar Product of the Year Awards 2026. Bowers & Wilkins has won this award the last few years, and I even hovered over the excellent five-star HEDD HEDDPhones D1 for a moment. But despite being trailblazing cans from a pioneering new audio outfit (and for some, that will fit the bill perfectly) the D1 are open-back, wired, passive beasts. And the thing is, AirPods Max 2 just do so much more for the money. Even though you, the readers, also voted the AirPods Max 2 for this award in our TechRadar Readers' Choice Awards 2026, I'm certain there will still be some cries of discontentment about this. 'Wait, so Apple's AirPods Max 2, the set that look almost identical to the 2020 originals, and have lower battery life than any of the competition, and have no wireless hi-res codecs (and the wired lossless support also came to first-gen model anyway), and that still come with the weird headphone bra case, those won?'Yes. Yes really. And if you give me a few minutes, I'm going to explain why. That said, if you still want to comment below, I'm all ears. (Image credit: Future)Yes, AirPods Max 2 look similar to their 7-year-old siblings — they're just that good OK, so the lossless stuff with a wired connection isn't new, and neither is the look of the things. But what has changed with these March 2026 issue cans is the inclusion of a new H2 chip and all of its computational wizardry. And this makes them punchier sonically, ups the ANC efficacy significantly (and it wasn't at all bad beforehand, remember), and adds new perks such as Live Translation, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Head Gesture control and the Camera Remote feature.The one caveat is that some features require an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. Android owner? This isn't your day I'm afraid, and I'm sorry about that — your closest pick would be last September's Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Gen 2). But the box-fresh Apple Intelligence features genuinely make for an excellent, full-throttle music and call-handling experience that does everything you need and does it with minimal fuss, app consultations, screen taps or button pushing. For me, the right way to go about Apple's incredible implementation of ANC here is to deploy both noise cancellation and the Conversation Awareness toggle, which you'll find with a tap of the AirPods Max bubble near the top of the settings tab on your iPhone, or by swiping down from the top-right of your screen, to get the Control Center. What it means is that by default, you will not be interrupted, but when you speak up, music is automatically lowered and external noises are piped in as you need them. And I'm mentioning this specifically because so many rival headphones aim to offer this (ie. a cocoon of silence as a backdrop for your music, but with a decent bit of software that kicks in when you speak to take it all away and pipe ambient sound in) and don't get anywhere near achieving what Apple has done. OK so it's not groundbreaking. But it is so, so good in your everyday work life — I implore you to try it, if you get the chance.That said, if you take just one thing away from this particular feature let it be that the claim in the marketing release is true: the noise-cancellation in AirPods Max 2 really is 1.5 times better than before. It's outstanding. These headphones are almost deviously, head-shakingly good at isolating and melting away the noise from my surroundings, but without the wind-tunnel effect or pressure sensation I have occasionally found disconcerting or nauseating in other cans — the handful that offer ANC anywhere near this effective, at any rate. I maintain that for emotive music or movies using Apple's special (and decidedly specific) brand of head-tracked Spatial Audio with a backdrop of near-silence wherever I tested them, Apple's AirPods Max 2 went straight to the top of a big pile. Did I mention how comfortable they are? So many headphones start to dig in across the top of my head. That never happens with Apple's slightly odd-looking but delightfully nonrestrictive mesh headband. Simply put, they're the headphones I started reaching for on the daily since I acquired them in March of this year, and they're still the set I reach for now. I didn't think this would happen, but it would be wrong of me to deny it, all the same.Despite several other new releases resting on my desk at any given moment, it's the AirPods Max 2 I always go for when the working day is done. And I was taught a long time ago that this can only mean they're the best product you've currently got — we cannot argue with our own subliminal preference. I mean, that is as long as they haven't run out of battery…

Astell & Kern PD5: Two-minute reviewIt’s been a long time since Astell & Kern has had a genuinely affordable digital audio player in its line-up, and the launch of the PD5 does nothing to change that. It’s been a while since the company had anything as visually unremarkable as this in its catalog, too — but try not to get hung up on the perceived value and instead concentrate on the priceless nature of its sound quality.And besides, a considerable amount of money put Astell & Kern’s way for a PD5 may not buy you much in the way of design or tactility but it gets you an extremely thoroughly specified device. Eight Cirrus Logic DACs? 20-point EQ adjustment? Balanced and unbalanced headphone outputs? The ability to work as a desktop DAC? Enough power to get a tune out even the most uncooperative headphones? The PD5 has all of this, and more — and it’s all in the service of audio performance that’s as good as any portable device at anything like this price point.When it comes to clarity, to detail retrieval and to outright fidelity, the PD5 is extremely hard to criticise and yes, it fully emphatically deserves a place in our best MP3 players guide. And its talents don’t stop there, not even close — its sound is punchily robust, effortlessly dynamic, brilliantly controlled and organised, and thoroughly engaging. If you take your portable listening experience seriously (or your desktop listening experience for that matter — the PD5 is also an excellent USB DAC), this Astell & Kern absolutely demands your attention. Away from audio quality the PD5 isn’t perfect; there are rare occasions on which it can be glitchy in operation, its on-screen menus are approaching ‘miniscule’, and it neither looks nor feels quite as expensive as it actually is. All of this, though, is made to seem fairly trivial by the way the PD5 performs its primary function. (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Astell & Kern PD5 review: Price and release datePriced $1,049 / £899 / AU$1,349Announced in August 2026; released in September 2026The Astell & Kern PD5 digital audio player is on sale now, and in the United Kingdom it costs £899. In the United States it will set you back $1,049, while in Australia it goes for AU$1,349. Anyone familiar with such devices knows that for an A&K player, that's actually not so expensive — again, note my 'for an A&K player' wording there. This company's flagship DAPs go for $3,999 / £3,799 / AU$6,599 (Astell & Kern A&ultima SP4000 and its newer T-suffixed sibling, I'm looking at you), but you can also get a hi-res player from A&K's sub-brand — called the Activo P1 — for $430 / £399 (around AU$869). There are crucial differences in the specifications which I'll go into, but it's good to have an idea of the market at least, when looking at such a fee and being told by its makers that it is "entry level". (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Astell & Kern PD5 review: FeaturesEight (count ‘em!) Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs Balanced and unbalanced headphone outputsBluetooth 5.3 with aptX HD supportThe PD5 isn’t the first Astell & Kern product that’s been so thoroughly specified that discussing every one of its features in any kind of depth might take up most of your day. So let’s say right from the off that no eventuality has been overlooked where the PD5 is concerned, and then let’s deal with the headlines and then try not to get too bogged down in all the rest of it…Never knowingly understated, Astell & Kern has fitted eight Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chipsets here. The user interface gives you the option of listening using four, or all eight — listening in octa-mode offers optimal sound quality, but eats into battery life quite badly (engage all eight DACs and you’re looking at 15 hours of playback as opposed to the 28 or so you should get when listening to ‘just’ four). Taking the battery from ‘flat’ to ‘full’ takes around two-and-a-half hours.In terms of feeding digital audio content to that considerable digital-to-analog conversion line-up, you have a few options. The bare-bones Android user interface Astell & Kern has deployed here, along with dual-band wi-fi, allows you to download the app of your favourite music streaming service(s), and 64GB of internal memory allows you to store some content to the PD5’s local storage. There’s a microSD card slot on the bottom of the frame (next to the USB-C slot that’s used for data transfer and for battery charging) too — it can accept cards of up to 1.5TB, which should prove adequate for all the hi-res content you might desire. The player can deal with resolutions of up to 32bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256, and is Roon Ready as well as featuring full-on Qobuz Connect integration. Or you might decide to bypass the fancy-pants D-to-A circuitry altogether and use Bluetooth to drive a pair of wireless headphones (although it does seem a bit of a weird idea to spend £899 on a player in order to use it like a smartphone). (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)The PD5 features Bluetooth 5.3 with codec support up to and including aptX HD. It also has two headphone outputs: an unbalanced 3.5mm socket and a balanced 4.4mm alternative that’s compatible with five-pole jacks. Use the 4.4mm output, select octa-DAC mode, and the Astell & Kern can summon a mammoth 8Vrms of power — so even the most demanding headphones will have to do as they are told. But there are quite a few ways in which the sound can be affected, both by the device and by the person using it, before it reaches these outputs.The ‘EnviroTune’ feature uses a mic integrated into the top edge of the PD5 to analyse ambient noise in real time and correct those frequencies affected by it without just making everything louder. The ‘Teraton Alpha’ audio engine that’s familiar from some of Astell & Kern’s uber-pricey DAPs minimises noise from the power supply and creates amplification that’s as stable and distortion-free as possible. And ‘Enhanced Signal Alignment’ technology synchronises outgoing signals in an effort to negate phase distortion and deliver the most coherent sonic image possible. The end user, meanwhile, gets a choice of digital filters and some quite in-depth EQ adjustment to look into. The default filter is ‘low latency fast’, and it is as distinct in its effect as ‘low latency slow’, ‘phase compensated fast’ and ‘phase compensated slow’ are from each other. A ten-band EQ offers fairly granular adjustment of the sound, and an ‘advanced’ EQ interface allows frequency response to be defined using a graph with 20 (!) plotting points. The PD5 will function as a desktop too, thanks to its USB-C slot’s ability with data transfer. Simply make a hard connection to, say, your laptop, select ‘DAC input’ in the ‘USB Mode’ sub-menu, and the Astell & Kern automatically switches on octa-DAC mode in order to give your computer a proper go at sounding decent for once.Features score: 5 / 5(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Astell & Kern PD5 review: Sound qualityClarity, detail and dynamism in equal measureOrganised and fully resolved soundWell-controlled punch and driveThe Astell & Kern PD5 is an admirably unpicky device, although obviously there are limits. Give it the sort of standard content available on a proper music streaming service (which means a CD-quality resolution of 16bit/44.1kHz) and it does an admirable job of maximising the information available to it. Step down from there, though, to the sort of squashed nonsense served up by Apple Music or Spotify, and the PD5 struggles to conceal its disdain. But you didn’t spend proper money to listen to compressed poverty-spec streams, did you? So a 16bit/44.1kHz stream of Hood’s Western Housing Concerns is delivered in tremendous fashion. The presentation is open and spacious, with an expansive soundstage on which each element of the recording gets ample room in which to stretch out and express itself. The layout is rigorously observed, and the PD5’s powers or organisation mean the stage is locked in place and completely convincing.Tonality is absolutely neutral, the player offering neither heat nor chill to the colour of the recording. There’s excellent clarity to the presentation, a really dark and quiet background in front of which the band perform — and at every stage of the frequency range, there’s absolutely fanatical attention to detail. No matter how minor an occurrence, how far back in the mix, or how fleeting, the Astell & Kern will seize upon it and give it precisely the amount of weight and emphasis it requires.Frequency response is similarly even-handed, and similarly convincing as a result. A switch to a DSD64 file of Michael Jackson’s Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough reveals deep, textured, tremendously varied and thrillingly solid low-frequency response, and bass is controlled to the point that rhythmic expression is never less than positive and confident. Midrange resolution is no less accomplished, with the singer’s mic technique made every bit as apparent as his tone and timbre. The top of the frequency range strikes a lovely balance between substance and brilliance, and again there’s an absolutely stack of information available. The PD5 doesn’t over- or underemphasise any part of the frequency range, and as a result this glossy, audibly expensive recording sounds as natural and polished as it ever did.Dynamic headroom is considerable when it’s time to describe big variations in volume or intensity or attack, and the more subtle dynamics of harmonic variation and transient response are never overlooked. The entire presentation hangs together seamlessly, the Astell & Kern offering a proper sense of unity and singularity to recordings of every type.And perhaps best of all, there’s nothing show-y or even especially analytical about the way the PD5 goes about things. As far as insight into a recording goes it’s basically untouchable at the money, but that’s not what defines the Astell & Kern. It’s the energy of its sound, the engaged and engaging nature of its performance, that makes it as entertaining a listen as you’ll get from a portable device costing less than four figures. Sound quality score: 5 / 5(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Astell & Kern PD5 review: Design120 x 70 x 16mm (HxWxD)4.1in touchscreen display198gThere’s absolutely nothing wrong with the Astell & Kern PD5 as a physical object, let me make that clear from the off. The dimensions are nicely palm-sized, the weight is sufficient to make it feel like a premium product without being a burden to a jacket pocket, and the standard of fit and finish is impeccable.And I’m not about to pretend I miss the painfully pointy edges of some previous Astell & Kern models, either — the PD5 is a much friendlier proposition in this respect — nor the painfully self-conscious offset screen of the old SR35. But there’s nothing remarkable about the design of the PD5, nothing to set it apart from the pack of products competing with it for your hard-earned. Even the volume dial, previously a little Astell & Kern design flourish, is unremarkable here. I realise I can’t have it all ways, and a calm and sensible aesthetic is preferable to something overwrought and wilful. But I find myself slightly concerned that for the PD5, Astell & Kern may have bypassed its industrial design team altogether… Design score: 4.5 / 5 (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Astell & Kern PD5 review: Usability and setupBright, rather reflective screenIn-depth menusOccasional operational odditiesAs mentioned, the PD5 uses a stripped-back version of Android as its user interface — and it’s all the better for it. Too many digital audio players pointlessly include a lot of your smartphone’s functionality for no reason, as far as I can tell, other than to eat into the machine’s local memory.The 4.1in touchscreen is bright, although rather more reflective than is ideal, and it’s responsive without being on a hair trigger. The Astell & Kern’s menus are extensive, and as a result the font size is really very small — but squint and you should be able to make out what’s what (even if the occasional use of ‘red on black’ for text is a terrible idea).Setting up the PD5 to your satisfaction isn’t the work of a moment. But when you finally get finished you can at least be sure you have a digital audio player that’s primed to do exactly what you want, and in the manner you want it. There are occasional glitches in operation, though — or, at least, that’s my experience. I install the Tidal music streaming app, and also insert a microSD card full of hi-res content. But every now and then, both sources will play at the same time. Pressing ‘play’ on a Tidal file usually stops playback from the local storage and vice versa — but not always, which is a weird one and no mistake.Usability and setup score: 3.5 / 5 (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Astell & Kern PD5 review: ValueBecause the majority of the money you’ve spent on a PD5 has gone on the internals, it’s difficult to suggest its perceived value is especially high even if you accept that it’s beautifully constructed and even quite tactile. No, the value for money Astell & Kern is offering here doesn’t reveal itself until you start listening — and then it becomes quickly apparent that your money has been very well spent indeed.Value score: 4.5 / 5Should I buy the Astell & Kern PD5? Buy it if... You have needy headphonesThe PD5 is equipped to make even the most difficult headphones bend to its will.You’re after uncompromised sound qualityWith the Astell & Kern you get what you pay for and then some.You’re sharp-eyed as well as sharp-earedNavigating those set-up menus is no job for anyone who’s misplaced their spectacles. Don't buy it if... You want to see, as well as hear, where your money has goneThe PD5 is a perfectly pleasant little device, but its appearance doesn’t exactly shout “almost a grand!”You don’t own decent wired headphonesThe Astell & Kern sounds perfectly fine via Bluetooth, but really your smartphone will do a pretty similar job. Astell & Kern PD5 review: Also considerFiiO M23The FiiO M23 has been around for a couple of years now, but really this only means it’s now competing almost directly with the PD5 on price. It remains a biggish, bulky-ish device, it’s true, but it also remains one of the most poised, direct and downright musical digital audio players around. Give it the right stuff to work with in terms of content and headphones, and the sound quality is enthralling. Read our full FiiO M23 reviewHow I tested the Astell & Kern PD5Listened using Tidal and Qobuz filesPopped a 512GB microSD card loaded with extremely hi-res content into itUsed Sennheiser IE900 and Meze Audio Strada for most of my testingI installed the Tidal music streaming app and also deployed Qobuz Connect (it’s a slicker experience altogether than installing the app onto the player), and I inserted a 512GB microSD card loaded with extremely high-resolution content. Then I connected a pair of Sennheiser IE900 IEMs using the 4.4mm balanced output, and also used a pair of Meze Audio Strada headphones connected the same way. I also investigated the PD5’s desktop DAC credentials by plugging it into an Apple MacBook Pro and using the Qobuz and Tidal desktop apps to listen to hi-res using the same pairs of headphones.First reviewed in October 2026Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Now that I've seen and touched the touchscreen MacBook Pro, I'm starting to understand that, despite the invention of a Frankenstein-ed new display term ('PROLED'?), this display might be something special. It looks extraordinary, and when compared visually with, say, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Aura Edition, which also has a Tandem OLED, it doesn't even seem to be of the same species.There are good reasons for this, which span from the fabrication process to the core specs of what is clearly Apple's most advanced laptop display yet. Starting with manufacturing, Apple says it employed an unnamed manufacturing partner to build these panels in what's known as a Gen-8 OLED Fab. Seeing as there are just four of these cutting-edge facilities in the world, and that one of them is operated by Samsung Display, which has reportedly partnered with Apple on display tech previously, I'd guess it's Samsung.One of the most notable features of these manufacturing facilities is their massive size. Whoever the partner is, we know that the touchscreen MacBook Pro's panels are being manufactured in a chamber around the size of the Colosseum in Rome. These huge facilities improve yield, efficiency, and costs.Though less than a millimeter thick, the laptop PROLED XDR panel is comprised of 50 layers. Even what appear to be individual panels have many layers, sometimes just a nanometer thick. The two stacks of OLED have, for instance, 30 layers, though the organic self-emissive material is layered onto the panels and dried, making the layers range from one nanometer to hundreds of nanometers thick. FWIW, I held some of these individual panels, and they are incredibly thin and light.Behind the OLED is the TFT (thin-film transistor) glass substrate that powers and drives the imagery on the surface.What's not mentioned here is the digitizing layer (basically the same touch technology you find on the iPhone and iPad) that drives touch; that's because it's integrated with the whole in a process that, if it isn't already, probably should be patented.(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Despite working with a third party, the production is another Apple trademark bespoke process, and one not necessarily replicated in other Tandem OLED or even basic OLED display manufacturing processes.The specs bear that out. Where the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Aura Edition touch display has a pleasing 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, Apple's touchscreen MacBook Pro boasts 10,000,000:1. In person, and even under bright lighting conditions, the blacks and definition I saw on the touchscreen MacBook Pro PROLED XDR are stunning.The MacBook Pro display also looks better because Apple equipped it with up to 2,000 nits for HDR and SDR content, and both an anti-reflective screen and the option of the nano-etched one, as well. Essentially, I could see myself reflected in the Lenovo, and could not detect my reflection in the MacBook Pro.Also, for those concerned about fingerprints collecting on the touchscreen MacBook Pro, Apple has applied an oleophobic coating to the standard and etched displays. In my hands-on time with several of the new laptops, I didn't notice any significant fingerprints.Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureCompared to the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i's 1,600 nits, the touchscreen MacBook Pro looks better equipped for working in direct sunlight. Based on what I saw, the MacBook Pro also maintains much better off-axis color quality. Looking beyond direct visual comparisons with pro-grade Windows laptops, Apple is positioning the touchscreen MacBook Pro display as both a color reference screen and one that has grayscale precision reportedly sufficient for medical diagnostics. This is basically a reference monitor on a laptop frame.So, sure, the story is that we finally have a touchscreen MacBook, but it may be the visual quality that ultimately wins over creative, business, medical, and film professionals. It's probably the best display Apple has ever produced, not just for a laptop, but possibly for any Mac system.Of course, a screen panel alone does not make a laptop, and there are questions around whether everyone wants or needs touch, if the redesigned hinge is stable enough to keep the laptop from wobbling with every touch — and if touch capability is worth the almost $1,000 premium.

Getac's B360X and B360X Pro are bringing Intel Panther Lake chips, 14-inch 1,400-nit screens, and Wi-Fi 7 to its rugged B360 lineThe 180 TOPS headline only applies to the B360X with a Core Ultra X7, a chip Getac doesn't offer in the defense-focused ProThe Pro's integrated AI rating is about 98 TOPS, in line with last year's model, leaving an optional Nvidia RTX PRO 500 as its main AI upgradeGetac has unveiled the B360X and B360X Pro, a pair of fully rugged 14-inch notebooks built around Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" processors and pitched at people who need to run AI workloads far from a reliable connection.The Taiwanese company says the new machines deliver up to 180 TOPS of AI compute with both models due in November 2026 and no pricing announced.Getac isn't subtle about who the Pro is for. Its product page calls it "purpose-built for defense and military professionals" and lists defense as its only industry, while the B360X is pitched at public safety, utilities, and industrial manufacturing. Our 2023 review noted that the B360 Pro is "sold as military-grade and mission-ready, out of the box," and that still seems true in 2026.What has grown is the breadth of the push. In March, Getac launched CommandCore, a rugged drone ground control station that it pitches to "Army aviation and integrated air defense systems." Rivals are chasing the same customers, with Durabook's triple-screen Z14I-DX3 aimed at command posts and drone teams.Plenty of upgrades under the hood even as focus remains centric to AIBoth notebooks replace the outgoing B360 and B360 Pro's 13.3-inch 1080p panel with a 14-inch, 1920 x 1200 LumiBond display rated at 1,400 nits, plus a touchscreen that Getac says works with compatible gloves or in the rain.According to Getac's B360X spec sheet, the larger screen fits in the same 342 x 281mm footprint as the 13.3-inch models, with a slightly slimmer chassis and a 2.38kg weight.Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 are standard, with 4G LTE, 5G Sub-6, and a dedicated L1/L5 GPS module optional, alongside up to two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a smart card reader, TPM 2.0, a 5MP Windows Hello camera, and an optional second SSD for up to 4TB in total. The usual rugged credentials are included: MIL-STD-810H, MIL-STD-461G, and IP66 ratings; a 6ft (1.8m) drop rating while operating; and optional salt fog certification.Intel calls the 180 TOPS figure platform TOPS, which adds the NPU, integrated graphics, and CPU together. Only Panther Lake's "X" chips reach it because only they carry the 12-core Arc B390 graphics, which accounts for 122 TOPS on its own, plus a 50 TOPS NPU, according to Intel's figures.Getac offers exactly one such chip, the Core Ultra X7 358H, and its own footnotes confirm it is only available on the B360X. The B360X Pro tops out at the Core Ultra 7 356H and 366H, which use a four-core graphics version, and the 356H is rated at 98 TOPS on the same measure.That is essentially level with last year's hardware. The Core Ultra 7 255H offered in Getac's 2025 B360 range is rated at 96 TOPS, so on Intel's own yardstick, the defense-focused model's integrated AI budget has barely moved.A lot of AI muscle on offerWhat has changed is where those TOPS live. The NPU jumps from 13 TOPS on the older Arrow Lake H chips to as much as 50 TOPS, clearing the 40 TOPS bar Microsoft set for Copilot+ PCs, and Getac now lists both models under that banner on its website. That matters to the target audience and the need to know it is achievable on battery, since NPUs are built around sustained, low-power inference.Even that isn't new for the family. Getac billed its Lunar Lake-based B360 Plus as the first fully rugged Copilot+ PC when it launched in June 2025, with a 48 TOPS NPU, and the Core Ultra 7 258V it offers is rated at around 115 platform TOPS. When we covered that machine, we warned that the practical benefits "may not be as clear-cut as the branding suggests," and things have since come full circle.Microsoft has also cooled on the NPU push. As PCWorld pointed out in January 2026, few applications make use of NPUs, and Windows' newer AI tooling lets developers run inference on GPUs and CPUs as well. Getac's generational AI claims hold up for the top B360X configuration, and for NPU-bound work across the range. For the Pro, they are a stretch.Getac hasn't explained why it reserves the X7 for the B360X, but Intel's platform rules likely explain it. The X-series models seem locked to LPDDR5x memory, and Notebookcheck's spec comparison shows the X7 358H exposes 12 PCIe lanes, versus 20 on the Core Ultra 7 356H. A machine built around a discrete GPU option and an expansion bay needs those lanes more than it needs a bigger iGPU. This means Getac's stated specs might need a small tweak to note that the B360X also comes in an LPDDR5X-touting trim, since it makes no mention of any memory but "DDR5" so far.The B360X Pro takes a different route, offering an optional RTX PRO 500 Blackwell with 6GB of GDDR7. Getac's release frames it as a graphics upgrade, but this is where the Pro's real AI headroom sits.Nvidia rates the RTX PRO 500 at 294 AI TOPS, but its own RTX PRO line card carries a crucial footnote: "NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs are based on FP4 AI TOPS with sparsity." Intel quotes 8-bit integer (INT8) operations without that sparsity assumption, so the two numbers can't be compared directly.For context, the RTX 5090's headline 3,352 AI TOPS corresponds to 838 INT8 TOPS without sparsity, a four-to-one ratio. Applying the same ratio to the RTX PRO 500 puts it at roughly 74 dense INT8 TOPS, below the 122 TOPS Intel claims for the X7's integrated graphics.That doesn't make the B360X the better AI machine for every job. The Nvidia card brings 288GB/s of dedicated memory bandwidth, native FP4 support, and CUDA, still the default target for much AI software, although 6GB of VRAM limits the size of the model it can hold. Getac hasn't published benchmarks for either configuration.Via TechPowerUp

Watch the Ghosts US Halloween Special onlineGhosts season 6 Halloween Special premiere: Thursday, October 29 at 9/8cUS broadcast: CBS via Fubo Free TrialUS stream: Paramount PlusUse NordVPN to watch from anywhereGet set for not one, but two special Halloween episodes of Ghosts, with a one-hour-long two-parter titled "The Mirror".While Samantha is away in Australia working on a new movie, it's up to Kyle to step in and help Jay look after all the spirits at Woodstone Manor. Keeping things in order won't be easy, especially as the ghosts are desperately trying to locate Pete, who is still missing months later.Meanwhile, that mirror reference relates to Hetty and her estranged sister, Margaret, as the pair reunite thanks to a mysterious, antique mirror. If that wasn't enough, Bela decides to throw a Halloween party at the manor, and we all know that is unlikely to go smoothly.If you're ready for more snickering spirits and supernatural comedy, read on as this guide explains how to watch Ghosts season 6 Halloween Special online – and potentially for FREE.Can I watch Ghosts season 6 Halloween Special for free?Yes. The special is on CBS which means you can watch Ghosts season 6 Halloween Special for FREE in the US with the Fubo Free TrialYouTube TV also features CBS and offers a free trial period. You'll have to pay to keep watching the show after that, though.Happy to wait a day? The show streams the next day on Paramount Plus. The Walmart Plus 30-day trial costs just $1, and includes Paramount Plus Essential.Away from home? You can use a VPN to watch your US service abroad. How to watch Ghosts season 6 Halloween Special from anywhereA VPN is handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it's back in your home country, so you can unlock your usual service. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with a 75% discount.Use one of the best VPNs to watch Ghosts season 6 Halloween Special from anywhere:🟩 NordVPN – get the world's best VPNNot having a VPN is like leaving your front door wide open in a busy city – anyone can walk right in and take a peek.TechRadar regularly reviews all the biggest and best VPN providers and NordVPN is our #1 choice. ✅ Up to 75% Off Today✅ 3 Extra Months Free✅ Unlocks Paramount PlusGet NordVPN now and watch Ghosts season 6 Halloween Special from anywhere.View DealHow to watch Ghosts season 6 Halloween Special online in the USGhosts season 6 Halloween Special premieres on CBS on Thursday, October 29 at 9/8c.The show is available on Linear TV, or you can watch on-demand on the CBS website. Cord-cutters will be able to watch Ghosts season 6 Halloween Special on Paramount+ Premium ($13.99 per month) live alongside its TV broadcast. You can also stream CBS with Fubo ($79.99/mo).Subscribers to the Essential tier ($8.99 per month) will be able to catch the episodes the following day. The $1 30-day trial to Walmart+ comes with the Essential tier as a member bonus.Not in the US? Anyone from the US who wants to watch their usual streaming service from abroad can do so by using a VPN.How to watch Ghosts season 6 Halloween Special online in CanadaGhosts season 6 Halloween Special will be on Paramount+ in Canada, with the two-parter released on October 29, same as in the US.A Paramount+ subscription costs $7.99 per month, for the basic, ad-supported package.Alternatively... Use a VPN to gain access to all the content you'd normally stream at home.Can you watch Ghosts season 6 Halloween Special online in Australia?Ghosts season 6 Halloween Special is expected to land on Paramount+ in Australia, but no specific release date has been announced just yet.The solution? By using a VPN you can tap into your usual services.Can you watch Ghosts season 6 Halloween Special online in the UK?Like in Australia, there is no release date for Ghosts season 6 Halloween Special in the UK at the moment. It will more than likely end up on Paramount+ at some point.The UK version of the show is on BBC iPlayer while you wait, and past seasons of the US iteration are there, too.US viewer in Blighty? You can still stream the show on your usual streaming service from abroad by using a VPN.All you need to know about Ghosts season 6 Halloween SpecialGhosts season 6 Halloween Special castRose McIver as Samantha ArondekarUtkarsh Ambudkar as Jay ArondekarBen Feldman as Kyle RosenblatBrandon Scott Jones as IsaacDanielle Pinnock as AlbertaRichie Moriarty as PeteAsher Grodman as TrevorSheila Carrasco as FlowerDevan Chandler Long as ThorfinnRebecca Wisocky as HettyRomán Zaragoza as SasappisMaria Thayer as Margaret WoodstoneBetsy Sodaro as NancyTristan D. Lalla as MarkPunam Patel as Bela ArondekarGhosts season 6 Halloween Special trailerWe test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Just 24% of employees verify the results of an AI-generated answer before proceedingA worrying 39% of employees have acted upon AI-generated responses that turned out to be inaccurate or unsuitableThe research was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of learning company O’ReillyAI chatbots are preferred to colleagues and managers for work-related matters, according to a survey of 2,000 UK workers, with under a quarter (24%) bothering to confirm the results or directions from an AI-generated solution.Meanwhile, with over a third of employees revealing that guidance from an AI has resulted in inaccurate and incomplete answers (if they were even suitable in the first place), almost as many have received no AI training or guidance in the past year.The research from O’Reilly Media raises some serious questions, not just about how AI is being used in the workplace, but what controls, oversight, and training accompany its use.An AI training gap?The use of AI in the workplace has had some interesting outcomes, but one that few will have predicted is the use of AI chatbots as a substitute for advice from colleagues. O’Reilly’s survey has unlocked not just the concerning 24% bothering to verify AI-generated answers, but also the paltry 16% that are provided with AI training that relates to their role, and 35% say no AI guidance or training has been given at all.Without the full context of individual workplaces to consult, it appears that AI has been introduced and teams simply left to get on with it, while training attempts to catch up."We're seeing a workforce that has fully embraced AI as a first port of call, but the safety net hasn't caught up with the speed of adoption," said Alexia Pedersen, SVP International at O'Reilly. "People are moving faster than their organizations' training and governance.”Pedersen describes that gap as a place where “mistakes happen.” But the obvious answer isn’t necessarily the right one. There is an alternative to putting the breaks on AI, she says. “The answer isn't to slow down AI adoption; it's to close the gap with the right training, verification habits, and trusted expertise to back it up."Building a culture of verificationWhile the results of the survey raise questions about AI use, the statistics do point towards a challenge in the delivery of training, as well as trust in colleagues and organizational structures.Pedersen observes, "This is a training and trust problem, not an AI problem." Some solutions will need to be found to ensure that AI training is as important as other work-based learning."Organizations that invest now in structured, role-specific AI training and in building a culture of verification rather than uncritical acceptance will be the ones who turn today's AI adoption into a genuine productivity advantage," Pedersen concludes.

Looking for a different day?A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, October 29 (game #1739).Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,500 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today — or scroll down further for the answers.Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.Quordle today (game #1740) — hint #1 — VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Quordle today (game #1740) — hint #2 — repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.Quordle today (game #1740) — hint #3 — uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.Quordle today (game #1740) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:Quordle today (game #1740) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?• U• D• B• BRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.Quordle today (game #1740) — the answers(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)The answers to today's Quordle, game #1740, are…ULCERDIMLYBRAINBEGUNMy fear that the week would end with a difficult game proved unfounded.Fortunately, the only roadblock was guessing “dilly”, but a lack of alternatives made getting to DIMLY an easy task.Daily Sequence today (game #1740) — the answersThe answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1740, are…BEADYSIXTHTHROBTWEAKQuordle answers: The past 20Quordle #1739, Thursday, 29 October: PRUDE, MINUS, SAVOY, USHERQuordle #1738, Wednesday, 28 October: DEALT, FLUME, SLEEK, RELICQuordle #1737, Tuesday, 27 October: ANKLE, HAVOC, SULKY, WHITEQuordle #1736, Monday, 26 October: ASSAY, GLEAM, MUCUS, WRINGQuordle #1735, Sunday, 25 October: RAINY, BUSED, PROXY, UNDIDQuordle #1734, Saturday, 24 October: TOXIN, SMART, MOUSE, STYLEQuordle #1733, Friday, 23 October: BLIMP, HOIST, FRIED, LURIDQuordle #1732, Thursday, 22 October: DECAL, WIDTH, WOKEN, LEVERQuordle #1731, Wednesday, 21 October: MOIST, VALVE, VERSE, NORTHQuordle #1730, Tuesday, 20 October: COYLY, SAUNA, TRIAL, RASPYQuordle #1729, Monday, 19 October: EXIST, DECOY, HITCH, FLUIDQuordle #1728, Sunday, 18 October: FLINT, FUROR, WEDGE, RODEOQuordle #1727, Saturday, 17 October: QUARK, ENEMY, SPASM, BLOCKQuordle #1726, Friday, 16 October: SHORT, WORTH, JOIST, SLUNKQuordle #1725, Thursday, 15 October: STALE, EPOCH, PIANO, CORNYQuordle #1724, Wednesday, 14 October: TIMID, GROUP, GRILL, EVERYQuordle #1723, Tuesday, 13 October: FLUFF, DEBUT, TEETH, STEINQuordle #1722, Monday, 12 October: HELLO, BELOW, RIGHT, SLANTQuordle #1721, Sunday, 11 October: LILAC, INLET, TRIAD, SHAPEQuordle #1720, Saturday, 10 October: SWEAT, THIRD, RURAL, CLASP

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Thursday, October 29 (game #1236).Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints. What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Connections today (game #1237) - today's words(Image credit: New York Times)Today's NYT Connections words are… DEMONPITHANDSWINGSSHUTTERGLUMCURTAINSHADEDRAPEFLASHRUGGRANGELENSPILLOWBACKDROPVIEWFINDERNYT Connections today (game #1237) - hint #1 - group hintsWhat are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: Bits required for a snapshotGREEN: Found on BroadwayBLUE: A word that rhymes with “glow” in commonPURPLE: Altered foodNeed more clues? We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…NYT Connections today (game #1237) - hint #2 - group answersWhat are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?YELLOW: PARTS OF A CAMERAGREEN: AROUND A THEATER STAGEBLUE: THROW____PURPLE: FRUIT WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGEDRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Connections today (game #1237) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Connections, game #1237, are…YELLOW: PARTS OF A CAMERA: FLASH, LENS, SHUTTER, VIEWFINDERGREEN: AROUND A THEATER STAGE: BACKDROP, CURTAIN, PIT, WINGSBLUE: THROW____: HANDS, PILLOW, RUG, SHADEPURPLE: FRUIT WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED: DEMON, DRAPE, GLUM, GRANGEMy rating: HardMy score: 2 mistakesI got confused by home furnishings twice in this game.The first time I was thinking that I was collecting a group of things you’d put around a window — SHADE, CURTAIN, SHUTTER, DRAPE. Then later on, things you’d use to dress up a room: RUG, THROW, DRAPE and PILLOW.Fortunately, on both occasions I was able to recover and put some actual groups together, but it was all a bit of a struggle.Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Thursday, October 29, 2026, game #1236)YELLOW: THINGS YOU PUT COINS INTO: PARKING METER, PAYPHONE, PIGGY BANK, WISHING WELLGREEN: ASSOCIATED WITH PENGUINS: ANTARCTICA, EMPEROR, TUXEDO, WADDLEBLUE: ENDS OF FAMOUS FONTS: GOTHIC, ROMAN, SANS, TYPEWRITERPURPLE: THINGS THAT FEATURE THREE COLORS: CALICO, CANDY CORN, NEAPOLITAN, TRAFFIC LIGHTWhat is NYT Connections?NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, October 29 (game #970).Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.NYT Strands today (game #971) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?• Today's NYT Strands theme is… All charged upNYT Strands today (game #971) - hint #2 - clue wordsPlay any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.JUGGLECITYLUCKDICEGLUETARPNYT Strands today (game #971) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?• Spangram has 9 lettersNYT Strands today (game #971) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?• First side: left, 1st row• Last side: right, 2nd rowRight, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.NYT Strands today (game #971) - the answers(Image credit: New York Times)The answers to today's Strands, game #971, are…JUICEELECTRICITYPOWERENERGYSPARKCURRENTSPANGRAM: PLUGGEDINMy rating: EasyMy score: PerfectAs nice as it is to be congratulated for completing a round without the need of any hints, missing out on a Spangram First makes it far from perfect — especially when you've spotted it immediately after the first game word.The reason for my Spangram blindness was a rare outing for the letter J, something that is rarely seen on the Strands board, making JUICE impossible to resist connecting.From here on it was low-wattage fare with little to, erm, get the brain fired up.Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, October 29, game #970)WORMFIRETONGUESNAKENEWTBUBBLELIZARDBLOODSPANGRAM: CAULDRONWhat is NYT Strands?Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Stream LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 on Prime (free trial)Watch Prime from anywhere with NordVPN (75% off)First episode drops Friday, October 30Host Vice Ganda is back with 10 more comedians for another round of Last One Laughing in the Philippines, with Long Mejia, Epy Quizon, Candy Pangilinan, Ethel Booba, Donna Cariaga, Chariz Solomon, and James Caraan among those involved.As fans of the show will know, the premise is very simple: the comedians must do everything possible to make their peers laugh, without letting out a laugh themselves. There's a wonderful blend of experienced comedians and fresh talent on the roster this time around, and with episodes airing weekly, you'll be set for entertainment for the next six weeks.Read on as this guide explains how to watch LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 online – and potentially for FREE.TV tips email: Never be stuck for anything to watch againHow to watch LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 in the USIn the US, you can watch LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 via Prime Video from October 30. New customers can get a 30-day free trial if you've never signed up to the service before.Away from home? Access your usual steams from anywhere with a reliable VPN like NordVPN (get 75% off below).How to watch LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 from anywhereOut of the country but eager to stream LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 online? You’ll likely be restricted from accessing your usual Prime Video library and other usual domestic streams due to geo-blocking.Luckily, there’s an easy solution. Downloading a VPN will allow you to watch no matter where you are. It's a simple bit of software that changes your IP address, meaning that you can access on-demand content or live TV as if you were back at home.Use a VPN to watch LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 from abroad:🟩 NordVPN – get the world's best VPNNot having a VPN is like leaving your front door wide open in a busy city – anyone can walk right in and take a peek.TechRadar regularly reviews all the biggest and best VPN providers and NordVPN is our #1 choice.✅ 75% Off Today✅ 3 Extra Months Free✅ Unlocks Prime VideoGet NordVPN and stream LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 on Prime Video from anywhere in the world.View DealHow to watch LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 in CanadaLOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 premieres on Friday, October 30 on Prime Video. Episodes will release weekly from there onwards.A subscription to Prime Video includes a 30-day free trial for new users. A subscription then costs CA$9.99 or CA$99 per year.Traveling abroad? You can stream LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 on Prime Video from anywhere with a reliable VPN.How to watch LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 in Australia(Image credit: free)It's the same deal in Australia, with LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 releasing on Amazon Prime Video from Friday, October 30.Not at home? Not a problem. You can sign up to a reliable VPN like NordVPN and bypass geo-locked content.How to watch LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 in the UKLOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 will be available on Prime from Friday, Oct 30 in the UK.Abroad? Sign up to NordVPN. Having a reliable VPN can help you access your streams as if you were at home, even if you're on holiday in the UK.What you need to know about LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2When is the LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 release date?LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 starts on October 30, with a new episode every Friday through to the finale on December 4.LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 contestantsLong MejiaEpy QuizonCandy PangilinanEthel BoobaPoohDonna CariagaChariz SolomonEsnyrJames CaraanCharuthCan I watch LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 for free?Yes! If you’ve not subscribed to Prime Video before, you can watch LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines free with its 30-day free trial promo. The streaming service is available in over 200 countries around the world, including the US, Canada and Australia.LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines season 2 trailerVPN services are evaluated and tested by us in view of legal recreational use. For example:a) Access to services from other countries, (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).b) Safeguarding your online security and making your online privacy more robust when abroad.Future plc does not support nor condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. We do not endorse nor approve of consuming pirated content that is paid-for.